Mounting rail for mounting a guide carriage of a linear guide onto a guide rail

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting rail for mounting a guide carriage of a linear guide onto a guide rail.

[0002] From DE 10 2012 213 973 A1, a mounting rail according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. The mounting rail is positioned with its mounting head against the end face of the guide rail to actuate a switchable stop, which allows the guide carriage to be moved from the mounting rail onto the guide rail. If an edge is created at the transition from the mounting rail to the guide rail, the guide carriage rolls over this edge during movement. If the guide carriage is equipped with end-face wipers, these wipers can be damaged on this edge.

[0003] DE 10 2013 210695 B3 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The object of the present invention was to provide a mounting rail for a guide carriage that enables the smooth movement of the guide carriage from the mounting rail to the guide rail and vice versa. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the mounting rail according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. The mounting rail for mounting a guide carriage of a linear guide onto a guide rail relates in particular to mounting rails for profile rail roller guides, whose guide carriages are approximately U-shaped in cross-section and encompass the guide rail with their two legs. The legs of the guide carriages carry raceways for rolling elements, which, together with raceways of the guide rail, form rolling element channels in which the rolling elements roll. The raceways of the guide rail are formed on the opposite side surfaces of the guide rail.

[0005] Typically, the carriages of profile rail roller guides grip the guide rail with their legs and, for assembly purposes, also the mounting rail. The carriage legs have raceways for rolling elements on their facing longitudinal sides. These raceways are positioned opposite one of the two side faces of the mounting rail, with the raceways of the legs and the side faces of the mounting rail facing each other. The back of the carriage—which connects the two legs—faces the top surface of the mounting rail with its inner back surface. The inner back surface and the top surface are positioned opposite each other. The mounting rail has a mounting contour that is adapted to the contour of the guide rail to allow the carriage to be easily moved from the mounting rail to the guide rail and vice versa.The mounting contour features side surfaces formed on opposite longitudinal sides of the mounting rail, as well as a roof surface positioned between these side surfaces. The longitudinal sides support any rolling elements inserted in the guide carriage to prevent them from falling out. The roof surface is adapted to the roof surface on the guide rail side. In many cases, the guide carriages are equipped with so-called front wipers that grip the guide rail and can bear against its longitudinal sides and top surface.

[0006] The mounting rail has end faces with contact surfaces arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis for contact with the guide rail. Once the mounting rail is properly seated, the guide carriage can be moved onto the guide rail. One contact surface of the mounting rail has a chamfer at the transition to the side and top surfaces; the other contact surface abuts the side and top surfaces of the other mounting head at a 90-degree angle, and is therefore angular.

[0007] This arrangement offers the advantage of using the same mounting rail for two different types of guide rails: the first type, which has a chamfer on the end face at the transition from the end face to the side faces and to the roof face; the second type, which joins at an angle of 90 degrees on the end face at the transition from the end face to the side faces and to the roof face.

[0008] In the case of the first type of guide rail, the mounting rail is placed against the guide rail with its chamfered contact surface. The chamfers of the mounting rail and guide rail are aligned in such a way that no disruptive edge is formed at the transition between them. During assembly, the wipers of the guide carriage initially slide into a clearance that, viewed perpendicular to the guide rail, is approximately triangular in shape. This triangle is formed by a plane containing the top surfaces of the mounting rail and the guide rail, as well as by the chamfers of both rails. The wiper initially slides along the chamfer of the mounting rail, although it is possible for the wiper to lift off the chamfer.Finally, at the lowest point of the described triangle, the wiper continues to slide along the chamfer of the guide rail until it reaches the outer surface of the guide rail, i.e., its side surfaces and top surface. In this arrangement, the chamfers of the guide rail and the mounting rail are preferably mirror images of each other; this means that the removal of the guide carriage from the guide rail is carried out in the same way as its installation, without the wipers of the guide carriage encountering any edges at the transition between the guide rail and the mounting rail.

[0009] In the case of the second type, the guide rail has sharp edges, meaning there are no chamfers at the transition from the mounting surface to the side surfaces and the top surface. In this case, the mounting rail is positioned with its sharp end against the mounting surface of the guide rail. The side surfaces and the top surfaces of the guide rail and the mounting head lie on common planes. The transition from the mounting rail to the guide rail is smooth, i.e., edgeless. When the carriage is moved onto the guide rail, neither the wipers nor the rolling elements touch any edges. The rolling elements of the carriage can roll over this transition without damage, and the front wipers do not get stuck.

[0010] To further facilitate assembly, the mounting rail is provided with a slot extending from the mounting surface at each of its axial ends. ,which extends towards the other axial end and radially inwards. When the guide carriage is pushed from the mounting rail onto the guide rail and the guide carriage passes over the mounting head, the mounting head can be pushed radially inwards in the area of ​​the slot, but only as far as the guide carriage requires. The slot can form spring-loaded deflectable tongues at the ends of the mounting rail, which can be deflected towards each other against a spring force.

[0011] Preferably, the slot is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and centrally in the mounting rail. This ensures a uniform deflection of the tongues.

[0012] Mounting heads can be formed at both ends of the mounting rail, with a mounting contour adapted to the contour of the guide rail. These mounting heads can be provided with the slots described above, which form spring-loaded, deflectable head tongues of the mounting head.

[0013] The mounting rail can have a central section between the mounting heads to accommodate the carriage, which can also serve as a parking section. The carriage mounted on the rail can be transported without any rolling elements falling out.

[0014] The parking section of the mounting rail can form a circumferential parking contour for the guide carriage, which is radially recessed inwards compared to the mounting contour. This reduction in the cross-section in the central section is dimensioned so that, on the one hand, the wipers mounted on the guide carriage are subjected to as little stress as possible, and on the other hand, the rolling elements are securely held.

[0015] The mounting rail can be made of plastic and consist of two longitudinal parts, each injection-molded from plastic. The longitudinally divided mounting rail allows for undercut-free injection molding. After completion of the longitudinal parts, they can be joined together, for example by gluing or by a form-fit connection using snap-fit ​​elements and locking tabs that were previously molded in during the injection process.

[0016] This mounting rail can be hollow, and its longitudinal sections can have thin walls that form the roof and side surfaces on their outer sides. Ideally, the thin walls are of uniform thickness to reduce manufacturing-related internal stresses within the mounting rail. A mounting rail manufactured in this way is lightweight.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments illustrated in nine figures. These show: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment in perspective view, with a guide carriage with sharp-edged guide rail and mounting rail; Figure 2 shows the mounting rail made of Figure 1 In perspective view, Figure 3: Individual parts of the mounting rail made of Figure 1 Figure 4 shows one end of the mounting rail in perspective view, Figure 5 shows a close-up of the Figure 1Figure 6 shows a further embodiment in a representation as in Figure 5 Figure 7 shows a top view of the guide carriage with guide rail and mounting rail. Figure 1 Figure 8 shows another perspective view of the first embodiment and Figure 9 shows a close-up detail of the Figure 8 .

[0018] Figure 1 Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a mounting rail 1 for mounting a guide carriage 2 of a linear guide onto a guide rail 3. The mounting rail 1 has a central section 4 for receiving the guide carriage 2, as well as mounting heads 6 located at both ends of the central section with a mounting contour 7 adapted to a contour of the guide rail 1.

[0019] The mounting contour 7 comprises side surfaces 8 arranged along the longitudinal axis and facing away from each other, as well as a roof surface 9 located between the side surfaces 8, and contact surfaces 10 located at the ends of both mounting heads 6 and arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis for contact with the mounting rail 1.

[0020] One mounting surface 10 has a chamfer 11 at the transition to the side surfaces 8 and the roof surface 9 of one mounting head 6. The other mounting surface 10 abuts the side surfaces 8 and the roof surface 9 of the other mounting head 6 directly at an angle of 90 degrees.

[0021] The Figure 1 It can be seen that the mounting rail 1, with its angular end, is positioned against the guide rail 3, which also has an angular end. The mounting contour 7 is adapted to the contour of the guide rail 3, ensuring a seamless transition between the two rails.

[0022] The central section 4 has a parking contour 12, which is radially offset from the assembly contour 7. The edge-free transition from the parking contour 12 to the assembly contour 7 is achieved via ramps 13, which merge into the parking contour 12 on one side and the assembly contour 7 on the other.

[0023] Figure 2 The figure clearly shows the formation of a slot 14, which extends from the contact surface towards the other axial end and radially inwards. The slot 14 forms spring-loaded, deflectable head tongues 15 on the mounting head 6, which can be deflected towards each other against a spring force. The slot 14 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail and is centered in the mounting rail.

[0024] Furthermore, the Figure 2 It can be clearly seen that one end of it is angular and that the other end is chamfered.

[0025] Figure 3Figure 1 shows the hollow mounting rail 1, which in this embodiment is made of injection-molded plastic and is composed of two separately manufactured longitudinal parts 16, 17. The walls 18, 19 of the longitudinal parts 16, 17 are thin-walled. The outer surfaces of the walls 18, 19 form the side surfaces 8 and the roof surface 9 described above. Both longitudinal parts 16, 17 are provided with connectors 20 and blind holes 21. Each connector 20 of the two longitudinal parts 16, 17 corresponds to a blind hole 21 of the opposite longitudinal part 16, 17. When the two longitudinal parts 16, 17 are joined together, the connectors 20 engage in the blind holes 21.

[0026] Figure 4 shows the cut-out angular end of the mounting rail 1 with the contact surface 10, which is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis and is set back slightly axially with a radial distance to the mounting contour 7.

[0027] Figure 5 shows a close-up of the Figure 1It is clearly shown that the mounting rail 1 and the guide rail 3 are placed against each other with their angular ends.

[0028] Figure 6 shows a second embodiment in a representation as in Figure 5 Here, guide rail 3 has chamfered ends. In this case, mounting rail 1 is placed against guide rail 3 with its chamfered end.

[0029] The Figures 7 and 8 The figures clearly show the transition from the guide rail 3 to the mounting rail 1 with the angular ends of both rails placed against each other.

[0030] Figure 9 a close-up of the Figure 8 . Here the slot 14 in the mounting head 6 of the mounting rail 1 can be clearly seen. Reference symbol list

[0031] 1 Mounting rail 2 Guide carriage 3 Guide rail 4 Center section 5- 6 Mounting head 7 Mounting contour 8 Side surface 9 Roof surface 10 Mounting surface 11 Chamfer 12 Parking contour 13 Ramp 14 Slot 15 Head tongue 16 Longitudinal part 17 Longitudinal part 18 Wall 19 Wall 20 Plug 21 Blind hole

Claims

1. A mounting rail (1) for mounting a guide carriage (2) of a linear guide onto a guide rail (3), having a mounting contour (7) which has side faces (8) formed on longitudinal sides of the mounting rail (1) that face away from one another and a top face (9) located between the side faces (8), as well as bearing faces (10), arranged at the end sides and transverse to the longitudinal axis, for bearing against the mounting rail (1), characterized in that the one bearing face (10) has a chamfer (11) at the transition to the side faces (8) and to the top face (9) and the other bearing face (10) adjoins the side faces (8) and the top face (9) at an angle of 90 degrees, wherein at least one axial end of the mounting rail is provided with a slot (14) which originates from the bearing face (10) and extends towards the other axial end of the mounting rail and radially inwards.

2. The mounting rail (1) according to claim 1, which has a central portion (4) for receiving the guide carriage (2), and mounting heads (6) which are disposed at both ends of the central portion (4) and have end-side bearing faces (10).

3. The mounting rail (1) according to claim 2, the slot (14) of which forms resiliently deflectable head tabs (15) of the mounting head (6), which can be deflected towards each other against a spring force.

4. The mounting rail (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the slot (14) of which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis and centrally in the mounting rail (1).

5. The mounting rail (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the central portion (4) of which forms a circumferential parking contour (12) for the guide carriage (2), which parking contour is radially offset inwards with respect to the mounting contour (7).

6. The mounting rail (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is composed of two longitudinal parts (16, 17), which are each produced from plastic by injection moulding.

7. The mounting rail (1) according to claim 6, which is hollow, has longitudinal parts (16, 17) that have thin walls (18, 19) forming, on their outer sides, the top face (9) and the side faces (8).