LINEAR GUIDE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a linear guide device.

[0002] Linear guide devices have a wide range of applications, for example, they are used in profile rails, measuring systems, linear tables, roller tables, positioning systems, etc.

[0003] A linear guide, also known as a linear motion guide, generally comprises a rail, which may be fixedly mounted, and a carriage, slide, or table that can be moved linearly back and forth in a longitudinal direction along the linear guide by means of rolling elements rotatably mounted on a cage. The rolling elements on the cage are in contact with both the rail and the slide, so that when the slide moves relative to the rail, the cage moves a defined amount or stroke both relative to the rail and the slide.

[0004] The cage stroke ideally corresponds to half the table or carriage stroke. In reality, however, the actual cage stroke deviates from this, meaning the cage shifts, a phenomenon also known as cage wander. During the stroke movements, the cage typically moves continuously in small increments in one direction with each stroke, usually downwards if the linear guide is mounted vertically. Cage wander can significantly impair the guiding function of the linear guide. In particular, cage wander can prevent optimal load distribution. If the full stroke is required after several smaller strokes, the cage will be stuck against the end sections of the linear guide and can no longer be extended smoothly, requiring increased force to move the guide further. This can lead to damage, such as...abrasion or sliding surfaces on the raceway or rolling elements, deformation of the cage, up to and including the falling out of rolling elements, bending or breaking of the end parts, as well as damage to the drive elements.

[0005] Cage wandering is also promoted by other factors, such as inaccurate rail, raceway and rolling element geometries, vertical installation of the linear guide device, uneven preload (assembly errors), occurring accelerations, unfavorable operating cycles, temperature differences, connection design, and uneven load distributions.

[0006] Cage movement can be prevented by providing a cage-forced control system, also known as cage-forced guidance, which causes the cage to always shift by half the stroke.

[0007] DE 10 2015 205 922 A1 describes a linear drive comprising an output slide mounted on a drive housing for executing a stroke movement by means of a rolling guide device. A coupling roller is rotatably mounted on a cage body of the rolling guide device and simultaneously bears against rolling surfaces of the drive housing and the output slide. The outer surface of the coupling roller or one of the rolling surfaces is elastically compliant, so that the coupling roller is pressed against the two rolling surfaces with preload while simultaneously compensating for tolerances.

[0008] US 5,076,715 describes a linear guide unit with a U-shaped table and a U-shaped rail, as well as a holder with ball-type rolling elements for relative linear movement between the table and the rail. To prevent slippage, a gear is attached to the holder, which engages with racks in the table and the rail.

[0009] Linear guide devices with a coupling element to prevent the movement of a cage of the linear guide device according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from EP 1 277 976 A2 and JP 2003 262224 A.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative or improved linear guide device in which cage wandering can be prevented and / or the construction and assembly of the linear guide device can be simplified.

[0011] This problem is solved by a linear guide device according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] A linear guide device according to the invention comprises a rail having a first feed device extending along a longitudinal direction, a carriage that is movable relative to the rail along the longitudinal direction and has a second feed device extending along the longitudinal direction, a cage that is movable relative to the rail and the carriage along the longitudinal direction, and a coupling element configured to engage simultaneously with the first and the second feed devices in order to cause movement of the cage relative to the rail and / or the carriage when the carriage is moved along the longitudinal direction. The coupling element has at least one projection that interacts with a stop surface formed on the rail and / or the carriage to hold the coupling element in the linear guide device.The linear guide device is free of any attachment of the coupling element to the cage, so that the coupling element is floating.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one projection of the coupling element rests against the stop surface of the rail and / or the slide at a distance, particularly when the slide performs a longitudinal movement relative to the rail, also referred to as a lifting movement. Preferably, the at least one projection of the coupling element forms a shoulder designed to prevent unwanted displacement of the coupling element. During movement of the slide relative to the rail, the at least one projection can, for example, contact the stop surface and thus laterally grip the coupling element. The coupling element can be positively engaged or spaced apart within the linear guide device by means of the at least one projection and the stop surface.

[0014] The coupling element is fixedly mounted or held in the linear guide device solely by the interaction of at least one projection with the stop surface. According to the invention, the coupling element is provided without a connection to the cage. und The linear guide device is free of a holder that holds or fastens the coupling element to the cage. In other words, the interaction of at least one projection with the stop surface preferably prevents movement of the coupling element in at least one direction transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction of the linear guide device. At the same time, movement of the coupling element in the longitudinal direction relative to the rail and / or the carriage is enabled. According to the invention, the coupling element is therefore floatingly mounted in the linear guide device. Preferably, the coupling element acts as a driver that causes the movement of the cage, also referred to as cage stroke, during a feed (stroke movement) of the carriage relative to the rail. This allows for cage forced control or cage forced guidance.

[0015] In particular, the linear guide device can be a miniature linear guide device. The design of a miniature linear guide device, for example, can be simplified by installing the coupling element without a mounting bracket, i.e., specifically without holding the coupling element to the cage by means of its axes or projections. Preferably, the coupling element is designed as a gear that is rotatably mounted in the linear guide device about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction, and the at least one projection extends away from the gear in the direction of the axis of rotation. Alternatively or additionally, the first and / or second feed structure is preferably designed as a rack.By designing the coupling element as a gear and / or the feed structure as a rack, for example, an easy-to-implement and / or cost-effective cage forced control or cage forced guidance can be provided.

[0016] Preferably, the cage has a recess through which the coupling element extends, and the projection of the coupling element rests against a boundary of the recess to effect the movement of the cage relative to the rail and / or the carriage. This makes it possible, for example, to easily couple the movement of the cage (cage stroke) with the movement of the carriage and / or the rail.

[0017] Preferably, at least one projection of the coupling element is substantially cylindrical, with a diameter of the cylindrical projection being smaller than a diameter of the coupling element. More preferably, the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical projection is parallel, and in particular identical, to an axis of rotation of the coupling element. A cylindrical projection can, for example, allow the projection to slide or rub against the stop surface during relative movement between the cage and the slide and / or rail, and / or reduce friction-related losses.

[0018] Preferably, the stop surface is a boundary of the slide and / or rail facing the cage, in particular an underside of the slide and / or an upper side of the rail, to prevent movement of the coupling element towards the rail and / or the slide. Preferably, a radial circumferential surface of the cylindrical projection rests against the stop surface. This can, for example, prevent vertical movement of the coupling element or hold the coupling element stationary in the vertical direction.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the rail and / or the slide preferably has a groove, in particular a groove extending longitudinally and / or provided laterally to the first or second feed mechanism, and the stop surface is formed by a wall of the groove to prevent movement of the coupling element parallel to the slide and / or the rail. The groove can, in particular, be a recess formed in the underside of the slide and / or in the top side of the rail, with preferably a side surface of the groove serving as the stop surface. This can, for example, prevent horizontal movement of the coupling element or hold the coupling element stationary in the horizontal direction. Preferably, an axial limit of the cylindrical projection rests against the stop surface.

[0020] More preferably, the coupling element has at least one first projection that abuts the groove of the rail and / or the slide, and a second projection that abuts the cage-facing edge of the slide and / or the rail, wherein preferably one dimension, in particular a diameter, of the first projection is larger than a dimension, in particular a diameter, of the second projection. The first and / or second projection can, for example, form a shoulder that can prevent undesired displacement of the coupling element in the horizontal and / or vertical direction, i.e., generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. When the slide moves relative to the rail, the at least one projection (shoulder) can, for example, contact the groove or the cage-facing edge and thus laterally grip the coupling element.

[0021] Preferably, the cage is arranged between the rail and the carriage. Alternatively or additionally, the cage preferably has a plurality of rolling elements, each of which bears in rolling contact with both the carriage and the rail. This makes it possible, for example, to provide a simple rolling element guide for relative movement of the carriage with respect to the rail. Preferably, the rolling elements are rotatably mounted in the cage, with each rolling element bearing in rolling contact with both a guide track of the carriage and a guide track of the rail. Thus, for example, during the lifting movement of the carriage relative to the rail in the longitudinal direction, the cage can be moved relative to both the rail and the carriage, in particular by half the stroke. Preferably, the carriage is supported on the rolling elements perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the cage is supported on the rail via the rolling elements.

[0022] Preferably, the cage has a base body, preferably a substantially planar base body, and two legs extending away from the base body, preferably perpendicularly extending, which are configured to receive the rail in a space formed between the two legs. Alternatively or additionally, the slide is substantially U-shaped in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the legs of the U-shaped slide are configured to receive the cage in a space formed between the two legs.

[0023] This allows, for example, a cage that is essentially U-shaped. Preferably, a recess through which the coupling element extends is provided in the base body of the cage, and / or the rolling elements are provided on the legs of the cage.

[0024] Preferably, the legs of the slide have a guide track on their inner side along which the rolling elements can move. Preferably, the rail has a guide track along which the rolling elements can move. Preferably, the slide has a base body, in particular a substantially planar base body, on which the legs are provided. Preferably, the second feed device and / or the stop surface is provided on the base body of the slide.

[0025] The linear guide device can also be constructed in reverse, i.e., the legs of the cage can be designed to accommodate the carriage in the space formed between them, and the rail is U-shaped and accommodates the cage in a space formed between its legs.

[0026] Preferably, the linear guide device further comprises an end stop that limits the longitudinal movement of the cage relative to the rail and / or the carriage, wherein the end stop is preferably designed as an elongated opening in the cage and a screw, pin, or other protruding geometry extending through the opening and attached to the rail or the carriage. This allows, for example, a simple way to limit the longitudinal movement of the cage.

[0027] Preferably, the linear guide device further comprises a drive designed to drive the carriage so that it can be moved along the longitudinal direction relative to the rail.

[0028] Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a linear guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of the in Fig. 1 The linear guide device shown with the slide removed, Fig. 3 shows a schematic, perspective and enlarged view of the in Fig. 2 The area marked B of the linear guide device, Fig. 4 shows a schematic, perspective view of a section in the linear guide device of the Fig. 1-3 The coupling element shown in Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the coupling element shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 1-4 The linear guide device shown in the front top view, Fig. 6 shows a schematic and enlarged view of the in Fig. 5 The area of ​​the linear guide device marked C, Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the area marked C. Fig. 1-6 Linear guide device shown in section along line FF in Fig. 1 , and Fig. 8 shows a schematic and enlarged view of the in Fig. 7 Area of ​​the linear guide device marked with E.

[0029] The following refers to the Figuren 1 bis 8 a linear guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0030] The linear guide device 1 comprises a rail 2, a carriage or slide 3 and a cable arranged between the rail 2 and the slide 3. fig 4 up. Rail 2, sled 3 and the chevron fig 4 They share a common longitudinal axis L. At the Kä fig 4 A plurality of rolling elements 5 are provided, each of which bears rolling contact against the slide 3 and the rail 2. Thus, the fig 4 The carriage 3 is provided to be movable on rail 2 in the longitudinal direction L, and the carriage 3 is attached to the track. fig 4 Provided to be movable in the longitudinal direction L. In the illustration of the Fig. 1 is the cheese fig 4 concealed by sled 3.

[0031] Furthermore, the linear guide device 1 has a coupling element in the form of a gear 6, which is characterized by a [missing information] in the [missing information]. fig 4 the provided recess 7 extends through to engage with the respective feed devices of the rail 2 and the slide 3, designed as racks 8, 9.

[0032] The rail 2 has a boundary designed in the present embodiment as a top surface 11, which is attached to the rail. fig 4 or is facing the sled 3. Furthermore, the rail 2 has two side surfaces 12, one of which faces one of the legs 22a, 22b of the track described below. figs 4 is turned towards.

[0033] On its upper surface 11, the rail 2 has the rack 8 into which the gear 6 engages. The rack 8 extends along the upper surface 11 of the rail 2 in the longitudinal direction L. The rack 8 is non-centric with respect to a central axis of the rail 2 extending in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the rack 8 is offset from the central axis towards one side of the slide. Furthermore, the rail 2 has two grooves 13 extending in the longitudinal direction L on its upper surface 11 (see figure). Fig. 6 , 8 In the present embodiment, the grooves 13 are provided laterally to the rack 8 on the upper surface 11 of the rail. The grooves 13 are oriented in the direction of the rack. figs 4 , i.e., in the present embodiment, open at the top. They are designed to receive a first projection 43 of the gear 6, described below. A side wall 13a of the groove serves as a stop surface for the first projection 43 of the gear (see figure). Fig. 6 , 8 ).

[0034] Optionally, a recess 14 is provided in the top surface 11 to the side of each of the grooves 13 (see. Fig. 6 , 8 ), which serves as a stop surface for the second projections 44 of the gear 6 described below, as detailed below. Alternatively, the top surface 11 can also be formed without the recesses 14, and the second projections 44 of the gear 6 can rest directly against the top surface 11, which then forms the stop surface.

[0035] On each of the side surfaces 12 of the rail 2, a guide track 15 extending in the longitudinal direction L is provided, on which the rolling elements 5 of the track figs 4 to be passed on. In Fig. 1 und 2 The guide track 15 is designed as a projection on the side surface 12, on which the rolling elements rest. The Kä fig 4 its rolling elements 5 rest on the guide tracks 15 of the rail.

[0036] Rail 2 is preferably permanently mounted, e.g. in a machine tool, a measuring system, etc.

[0037] The cheese fig 4 In a cross-section of the linear guide device 1, the cross-section is essentially U-shaped and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In detail, the cross-section exhibits... fig 4 The linear guide device 1 comprises a base body or base plate 21, which in the present embodiment is essentially planar, and two legs 22a, 22b extending away from the base plate 21, preferably perpendicularly. The legs 22a, 22b are designed such that they form a gap between them in which the rail 2 is at least partially received. In the present embodiment of the linear guide device 1, the fig 4 placed on the rail 2 in an inverted U-shape (i.e. with the base plate 21 pointing upwards and the opening of the U-shape pointing downwards).

[0038] The base plate 21 of the Kä figs 4 has the aforementioned recess 7, through which the gear 6 extends.

[0039] Furthermore, the base plate 21 of the Kä shows figs 4 an elongated opening 25 in the longitudinal direction L of the linear guide device 1 (see Fig. 2 A screw 10 extends through this opening 25 (see...). Fig. 1 , 7 ), which is attached to the rail 2 or the carriage 3. The ends of the elongated opening 25 in the longitudinal direction L form an end stop that prevents the movement of the carriage. figs 4 limited in the longitudinal direction L opposite rail 2 and / or sled 3.

[0040] The rolling elements 5 of the Kä figs 4 The rolling elements 5 are provided on the legs 22a and 22b of the cage. For this purpose, the rolling elements 5 are rotatably mounted in the legs 22a and 22b of the cage. figs 4 The rolling elements 5 are mounted and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L, preferably at regular intervals. The rolling elements 5 can, for example, be designed as balls and / or rollers. They extend from the legs 22a, 22b both towards the inside and the outside of the U-shaped cage. figs 4 in such a way that they can roll against the guide rails 15, 33 of the rail 2 and the carriage 3. Thus, the Kä fig 4 arranged to be movable both relative to rail 2 and relative to the carriage 3 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0041] Sled 3 is similar to the Kä fig 4 The cross-section of the linear guide device 1 is essentially U-shaped, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In detail, the slide 3 has a base body or base plate 31, which in the present embodiment is essentially planar, and two legs 32a, 32b extending away from the base plate 31, preferably perpendicularly. The legs 32a, 32b are designed such that they form a gap between them in which the fig 4 at least partially incorporated. In the embodiment of the linear guide device 1 shown in the figures, the slide 3 is mounted on the Kä in an inverted U-shape (i.e., with the base plate 31 pointing upwards and the opening of the U-shape pointing downwards). fig 4 set up.

[0042] On the underside 34 of the base plate 31, i.e. the side facing the Kä fig 4 or the boundary of the base plate 31 facing the rail 2, the slide 3 has the rack 9 into which the gear 6 engages (see. Fig. 6 , 8The rack 9 extends along the underside 34 of the base plate 31 in the longitudinal direction L. The rack 9 is non-centric with respect to a central axis of the slide 3 extending in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the rack 9 is offset with respect to the central axis towards one side of the slide. Furthermore, the underside 34 of the base plate 31 has two grooves 35 extending in the longitudinal direction L (see figure). Fig. 6 , 8 In the present embodiment, the grooves 35 are provided laterally to the rack 9 on the underside 34 of the base plate 31. The grooves 35 are oriented in the direction of the rack. figs 4 , i.e., in the present embodiment, open at the bottom. They are designed to receive the first projection 43 of the gear 6 described below. A side wall 35a of the groove serves as a stop surface for the first projection 43 of the gear (see figure). Fig. 6 , 8 ).

[0043] Optionally, a recess 36 is provided on the underside 34 of the base plate 31 to the side of each of the grooves 35 (see figure). Fig. 6 , 8 ), which serve as a stop surface for the second projections 44 of the gear 6 described below, as detailed below. Alternatively, the underside 34 of the base plate 31 can also be designed without the recesses 36, and the second projections 44 of the gear 6 can rest directly against the underside 34 of the base plate 31, which then forms the stop surface.

[0044] On the inside, i.e., the side facing the cheese fig 4 On the side facing the leg 32a, 32b, the slide 3 has guide tracks 33 extending in the longitudinal direction L, on which the rolling elements 5 of the slide 3 are mounted. figs 4 The carriage rests on the rolling elements 5 of the guide rail via the guide tracks 33. figs 4 away.

[0045] Furthermore, the linear guide device 1 has a drive, not shown in detail in the figures, which is designed to drive the carriage 3 so as to be movable relative to the rail 2 along the longitudinal direction L.

[0046] In the following, gear 6 is described with reference to Fig. 4 described in more detail. The gear 6 is rotatable about an axis of rotation A in the linear guide device 1, wherein the axis of rotation A is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L (see also Fig. 2 ). The gear 6 comprises a plurality of teeth 41 separated circumferentially by gaps 42, which are formed into the racks 8, 9 of the rail 2 and the slide 3 (see. Fig. 2 , 5-8 ) to intervene. The bottoms of the gaps 42 define a first diameter D1 of the gear 6.

[0047] Furthermore, the gear 6 has a first projection 43, which is designed to simultaneously bear against the groove 13 of the rail 2 and the groove 35 of the slide 3, and a second projection 44, which is designed to simultaneously bear against the upper surface 11 of the rail 2 or the recess 14 formed therein and against the lower surface 34 of the slide 3 or the recess 36 formed therein.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the first projection 43 and the second projection 44 are each cylindrical, with the axis of rotation A of the gear serving as the cylinder axes. In detail, each of the projections 43, 44 has a circumferential surface 43a, 44a, which forms the lateral surface of the cylindrical projection, and an end face 43b, 44b, which forms the base of the cylindrical projection.

[0049] The first projection 43 has a second diameter D2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation A, which is smaller than the first diameter D1 of the gear 6. The second projection 44 has a third diameter D3 perpendicular to the axis of rotation A, which is smaller than the first diameter D1 of the gear 6 and, in the present embodiment, also smaller than the second diameter D2 of the first projection 43. The first projection 43 is provided on the gear 6 and extends away from the gear 6 in the direction of the axis of rotation A. The second projection 44 is provided on the first projection 43 and extends away from the first projection 43 in the direction of the axis of rotation A.

[0050] The width of the first projection 43 in the direction of the axis of rotation A is selected such that the end face 43b of the first projection abuts the side wall 13a of the groove 13 of the rail 2 and the side wall 35a of the groove 35 of the slide 3, or substantially abuts it when the gear is provided in the linear guide device 1. The third diameter D3 of the second projection 44 is selected such that its circumferential surface 44a abuts the recess 14 of the top surface 11 of the rail 2, or the top surface 11 itself, and the recess 36 of the bottom surface 34 of the slide 4, or the bottom surface 34 of the slide itself, when the gear 6 is provided in the linear guide device 1. The side walls 13a, 35a of the grooves 13, 35 thus serve as stop surfaces for the first projection 43 and the second projection 44, respectively.whose front face 43b, and the recesses 14, 36 or the top 11 of the rail 2 and bottom 34 of the slide 3 serve as stop surfaces for the second projection 44 or its circumferential surface 44a.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the gear has two first projections 43 and two second projections 44, which are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the gear 6 along the axis of rotation A. In the view of the Fig. 4 The rear projections are partially obscured by the gear.

[0052] The following describes the recess 7 in the base plate 21 of the Kä. figs 4 , through which the gear 6 extends, with reference to Fig. 3 und 4 The recess 7 is described in more detail below. It has a first recess section 51 and a second recess section 52, each of which is elongated and intersects perpendicularly and crosswise, respectively. The first recess section 51 is designed to receive the gear 6 with its first projections 43, and the second recess section 52 is designed to receive the second projections 44 of the gear 6.

[0053] In detail, the first recess section 51 extends along the longitudinal direction L of the linear guide device 1 over a length M1 that is greater than a width N1 of the first recess section 51 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The length M1 of the first recess section 51 is greater than a maximum diameter of the gear 6, which is defined by the free ends of the teeth 41 of the gear, so that the gear 6 is freely rotatable about its axis of rotation A when it is provided in the recess 7. The width N1 of the first recess section 51 is greater than or equal to a width of the gear 6 between the end faces 43b of the first projections 43 arranged on opposite sides of the gear 6 along the axis of rotation A.

[0054] The second recess section 52 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the linear guide device 1 (i.e., along the axis of rotation A of the gear 6) over a length M2 that is greater than a width N2 of the second recess section 52 in the longitudinal direction L. The length M2 of the second recess section 52 is greater than a total width of the gear 6 between the end faces 44b (see figure). Fig. 4 ) the second projections 44 arranged on opposite sides of the gear 6 along the axis of rotation A. The width N2 of the second recess section 52 is greater than or equal to the third diameter D3 of the second projection 44 of the gear 6.

[0055] The second recess section 52 is designed such that the second projections 44 of the gear 6 provided therein can abut the wall, i.e., boundary, of the second recess section 52 in the longitudinal direction L of the linear guide device 1, in order to permit movement of the gear 6 in the longitudinal direction L on the guide. fig 4 to transfer. In other words, gear 6 acts as a driver for the Kä. fig 4 during movement in the longitudinal direction L.

[0056] In the present embodiment of the linear device 1, the gear 6 is not attached to the cable. fig 4 Rather, the gear 6 is held or fixed in the linear guide device 1 in a floating manner solely by the interaction of the projections 43, 44 with the corresponding stop surfaces formed on the rail 2 and the slide 3.

[0057] How best to Fig. 6 and 8As can be seen, the end faces 43b of the two first projections 43 of the gear 6, when installed, rest against the side walls 13a, 35a of the grooves 13, 35 formed in the rail 2 and the slide 3, or rest at a distance from each other. This prevents movement of the gear 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and parallel to the rail 2 and the slide 3, and in the present embodiment, prevents lateral movement of the gear 6. Furthermore, the circumferential surfaces 44a of the two second projections 44 rest against the recesses 14, 36 formed in the underside 34 of the slide 3 and the upper side 11 of the rail. This prevents movement of the gear 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and in the direction of the rail 2 or in the direction of the slide 3, and in the present embodiment, prevents vertical movement of the gear 6.

[0058] In other words, the gear 6 is held in a fixed position within the linear guide device 1 by the side walls 13a, 35a of the grooves 13, 35 and the recesses 14, 36 (or the underside 34 of the slide 3 and the top side 11 of the rail 2 itself) as stop surfaces with respect to movements perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. No additional support for the gear on the cage is required.

[0059] During operation of the linear guide device, a drive force (not shown in the figures) is exerted on the carriage 3, which moves the carriage 3 by a defined amount, also called stroke, in the longitudinal direction L relative to the rail 2. During this movement, the gear 6 rolls between the racks 8, 9 by half the travel distance of the carriage 3 (half the stroke) along the longitudinal direction L relative to the rail 2. As the gear 6 moves, its projections 43, 44 rub against the contact surfaces of the carriage 3 and the rail 2. This prevents movement of the gear 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, i.e., in the vertical and horizontal directions of the linear guide device. The circumferential surface 44a of the second projections comes into contact with the wall of the second recess section 52 of the recess 7 of the guide. figs 4 and causes the cheese to change fig 4 together with the gear 6, in the longitudinal direction L, the carriage 3 is moved by half the travel distance (half the stroke) relative to the rail 2. Thus, the carriage is fig 4 Its movement along the longitudinal direction L is coupled to the movement of the carriage 3 along the rail 2. In other words, the gear acts as a driver for the carriage. fig 4 during movement in the longitudinal direction L.

[0060] Alternatively or in addition to providing the elongated opening 25 which interacts with the screw 10, the ends of which form an end stop in the longitudinal direction L for the movement of the Kä figs 4An end stop can be formed by appropriately shaping the grooves 13, 35, in relation to the rail 2 and / or the slide 3 in the longitudinal direction L. For example, the grooves can have projections in the longitudinal direction L against which the gear 6 abuts to limit its movement in the longitudinal direction L.

[0061] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the linear guide device described above and illustrated in the figures. Rather, modifications of the linear guide device are possible. For example, the individual elements may differ in size and / or shape from those described. For example, the shape of the first projection 43 and / or the second projection 44 may deviate from a cylindrical shape.

[0062] Instead of the gear, a different coupling element can be provided, which is designed to engage simultaneously with the first and second feed devices of the rail or slide, respectively, in order to cause movement of the cage relative to the rail and / or the slide when the slide is fed relative to the rail. Accordingly, the feed devices can also be designed differently from the racks described above. For example, the coupling element can be designed for a rotary feed in conjunction with the feed devices, wherein a rotation axis of the coupling element is preferably provided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail, and / or wherein the rotation axis is preferably fixed relative to the rail and the slide.

Claims

1. Linear guide device, comprising a rail (2), which has a first feed device (8) that extends along a longitudinal direction (L), a carriage (3), which is provided to be movable along the longitudinal direction (L) in relation to the rail (2), and has a second feed device (9) extending along the longitudinal direction (L), a cage (4), which is provided to be movable along the longitudinal direction (L) in relation to the rail (2) and the carriage (3), and a coupling element (6), which is designed to engage into the first and the second feed device simultaneously, so as to make the cage (4) move in relation to the rail (2) and / or the carriage (3) while feeding the carriage (3) relative to the rail (2) along the longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that the coupling element (6) has at least one projection (43, 44), which interacts with an impact surface (13a, 14, 35a, 36) formed on the rail and / or on the carriage, so as to keep the coupling element (6) in the linear guide device (1), wherein the linear guide device (1) is free from any attachment of the coupling element (6) to the cage (4), so that the coupling (6) is mounted on floating bearings.

2. The linear guide device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element is designed as a gear (6), which is provided so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation (A) in the linear guide device (1), wherein the axis of rotation (A) runs transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction (L), and the at least one projection (43, 44) extends away from the gear (6) in the direction of the axis of rotation (A).

3. The linear guide device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cage (4) has a recess (7, 51, 52), through which the coupling element (6) extends, and wherein the projection (43, 44) of the coupling element abuts against a border of the recess, so as to cause the cage (4) to move in relation to the rail (2) and / or the carriage (3).

4. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one projection (43, 44) of the coupling element is essentially cylindrical in design, wherein a diameter (D2, D3) of the cylindrical projection is smaller than a diameter (D1) of the coupling element.

5. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the impact surface is a border (11, 14, 34, 36) of the carriage (3) and / or the rail (2) facing the cage (4), in particular a lower side (34, 36) of the carriage (3) and / or an upper side (11, 14) of the rail (2), so as to prevent the coupling element (6) from moving in the direction of the rail (2) and / or the carriage (3).

6. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rail (2) and / or the carriage (3) have a groove (13, 35), in particular a groove that extends in the longitudinal direction (L) and / or is provided to the side of the first or second feed device (8, 9), and the impact surface is formed by a wall (13a, 35a) of the groove, so as to limit a movement by the coupling element (6) parallel to the carriage (3) and / or to the rail (2).

7. The linear guide device according to claim 5 and 6, wherein the coupling element (6) has at least one first projection (43), which abuts against the groove (13, 35) of the rail and / or the carriage, and a second projection (44), which abuts against the border (11, 14, 34, 36) of the carriage and / or the rail facing the cage (4), and wherein preferably a dimension, in particular a diameter (D2), of the first projection (43) is larger than a dimension, in particular a diameter (D3), of the second projection (44).

8. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cage (4) is arranged between the rail (2) and the carriage (3).

9. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cage (4) has a plurality of roller bodies (5), which each rollably abut against the carriage (3) and against the rail (2).

10. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cage (4) has a base body (21), preferably a base body with an essentially flat design, and two legs (22a, 22b) extending away, preferably perpendicularly away, from the base body (21), which are designed to accommodate the rail (2) in a gap formed between the two legs.

11. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the carriage (3) has essentially a U-shaped design in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the legs (32a, 32b) of the U-shaped carriage are designed to accommodate the cage (4) in a gap formed between the two legs.

12. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising an end stop, which limits the movement of the cage (4) in relation to the rail (2) and / or the carriage (3) in a longitudinal direction (L), wherein the end stop preferably is designed as an oblong opening (25) in the cage (4) and a screw (10) extending through the opening and fastened to the rail (2) or the carriage (3).

13. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first and / or the second feed structure is designed as a toothed rack (8, 9).

14. The linear guide device according to one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a drive, which is designed to movably drive the carriage (3) in relation to the rail (2) along the longitudinal direction (L).