Linear motion guide device

Abstract

To provide a linear motion guide device which enables a slider attached with a lubrication unit to be formed compactly while securing a storage space of a lubricant supply member in the lubrication unit.SOLUTION: A linear motion guide device includes: a slider which is slidably engaged with a guide rail so as to stride over the guide rail; and a lubrication unit attached to an axial end of the slider. The lubrication unit has: a lubricant supply member configured to supply a lubricant to the guide rail side; and a case in which a storage part which stores the lubricant supply member is formed. The storage part has a space penetrating through the case in an axial direction, and at least a part of the lubricant supply member is stored in the space penetrating through the case in the axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a linear guide device having a slider to which a lubrication unit is attached. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a linear guide device includes a guide rail extending in the axial direction and a slider mounted on the guide rail so as to be movable relative to the guide rail, and the slider moves relative to the guide rail in the axial direction via a plurality of rolling elements (balls) that circulate between rolling element rolling grooves formed on the guide rail and the slider. Such linear guide devices are widely used in the linear movement mechanisms of various production facilities. In order to use this linear guide device stably for a long period of time, it is important to supply a sufficient amount of lubricant to the rolling element rolling grooves and the balls to maintain a good lubricated state.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a linear guide bearing device in which a porous lubricant supplying member containing a lubricant is housed in a case and attached to the end of a slider, and lubricant is supplied from the lubricant supplying member that comes into contact with the rolling element rolling grooves of a guide rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-40389 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] 9, the lubrication unit 33 of Patent Document 1 has a lubricant supplying member 50 containing a lubricant and a case 40 that houses the lubricant supplying member 50, and the case 40 is formed in a U-shape by recessing a portion through which the guide rail 20 is inserted, and a housing portion 43 that houses the lubricant supplying member is formed by an outer peripheral wall 41 that covers the outer periphery of the lubricant supplying member 50 and an end wall 42 that covers the axial end side of the slider 30. The case 40 is configured so as to be attached and fixed to the end cap 32 side of the end of the slider 30 by a screw insertion portion 47 formed along the axial direction, which is the sliding direction of the slider 30.

[0006] However, since the slider 30 is increased in size in the axial direction due to the lubrication unit 33 being attached to the axial end side, the range in which the slider 30 can move along the guide rail 20 may be restricted.

[0007] On the other hand, the lubrication unit 33 can be configured to be compact in the overall length direction of the slider 30 by reducing the axial thickness of the lubricant supply member 50 and the case 40 that houses it. In this case, however, the dimensions of the lubricant supply member that can be housed in the case 40 become smaller, and therefore the amount of lubricant that the lubrication unit 33 can contain becomes smaller.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a linear guide device that can ensure storage space for a lubricant supply member in a lubrication unit and make the slider more compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. (1) A linear guide device comprising a slider that slidably engages with a guide rail so as to straddle the guide rail, and a lubrication unit attached to an axial end of the slider, The lubrication unit includes a lubricant supplying member that supplies lubricant to the guide rail side, and a case having a housing portion that houses the lubricant supplying member. A linear guide device characterized in that the accommodating portion has a space that axially penetrates the case, and at least a portion of the lubricant supplying member is accommodated in the space that axially penetrates the case. (2) The linear guide device according to (1), wherein the length of the lubricant supplying member in the axial direction of the slider is equal to or less than the length of the case in the axial direction of the slider. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the linear guide device of the present invention, the case constituting the lubrication unit has a housing portion capable of housing the lubricant supply member by being penetrated at least partially in the axial direction, so that the lubricant supply member can be housed in the case with good space efficiency. In addition, since the case can be formed to be short in the axial direction without reducing the capacity of the housing portion, the slider to which the lubrication unit is attached can be made more compact in the overall length direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a linear guide device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the slider shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4(A) is a side view showing a state in which the lubricant supplying member is housed in a case, and FIG. 4(B) is an exploded view of the lubrication unit. [Diagram 5] 5(A) to 5(D) are diagrams showing the case. [Figure 6] 6(A) to 6(C) are views showing the lubricant supplying member. [Figure 7] 7(A) and 7(B) are a side view and a front view showing a case of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7(C) and FIG. 7(D) are a side view and a front view showing a lubricant supplying member of the second embodiment. [Figure 8]8(A) to 8(D) are a side view, a front view, a bottom view and a rear view showing the case of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional example of a lubrication unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, a linear guide device (linear guide) according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction, width direction, and axial direction of the slider respectively represent the directions in a state where the slider is assembled to a guide rail arranged with the longitudinal direction horizontal, the width direction of the slider is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and the vertical direction of the slider, and is also called the left-right direction, and the axial direction of the slider is a direction along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and is also called the front-rear direction.

[0013] (First embodiment) The configuration of the linear guide device will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the linear guide device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a slider, and Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the slider. As shown in Fig. 1, the linear guide device 10 of the first embodiment includes a linear guide rail 20 and a slider 30 that is assembled so as to straddle the guide rail 20 and slidably engages with the guide rail 20 via a plurality of rolling elements (balls) (not shown).

[0014] On both side surfaces 23 of the guide rail 20, a rail-side track surface 21 having an approximately semicircular or gothic arch-shaped cross section is formed in the axial direction, and on the ridge where the top surface 24 of the guide rail 20 and both side surfaces 23 intersect, a rail-side track surface 22 having an approximately quarter-circular arc-shaped cross section is formed in the axial direction.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the slider 30 comprises a slider body 31, end caps 32 attached to both axial ends of the slider body 31, and lubrication units 33 attached to the axial ends of each end cap 32.

[0016] The slider body 31 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and has slider-side raceway surfaces (not shown) that face the rail-side raceway surfaces 21, 22 of the guide rail 20 on the inner surfaces of both sleeves, as well as a rolling element return path. The end cap 32, which is formed in a substantially U-shape, has a curved path (not shown) that connects the slider-side raceway surfaces of the slider body 31 and the rolling element return path, and the rail-side raceway surfaces 21, 22, the slider-side raceway surfaces, the rolling element return path, and the curved paths at both ends form a rolling element circulating path. A plurality of balls are loaded in the rolling element circulating path so as to be able to roll freely.

[0017] Next, the lubrication unit 33 will be described with reference to Fig. 4(A) to Fig. 6(C). Fig. 4(A) is a front view showing a state in which the lubricant supplying member is housed in a case, Fig. 4(B) is an exploded view of the lubrication unit, Fig. 5(A) to Fig. 5(C) are a front view, a side view, and an AA cross-sectional view showing the lubricant supplying member, and Fig. 6(A) to Fig. 6(C) are a front view, a BB end view, and a CC cross-sectional view showing the case.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the lubrication unit 33 includes a case 40 made of synthetic resin, a lubricant supplying member 50 housed in the case 40, and a side seal 60.

[0019] The side seal 60 is a generally U-shaped steel plate that matches the outer shape of the end cap 32, and both sleeve portions 62 have through holes 61 for mounting screws, and a connecting portion 63 that connects both sleeve portions 62 has a through hole 64 for a grease nipple. The side seal 60 and the guide rail 20 are not in contact with each other, and an elastic body 65 such as nitrile rubber or grease-containing polyurethane rubber is provided on the inside of the generally U-shaped steel plate to seal the gap between the slider 30 and the guide rail 20.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 5(A) to Fig. 5(C), the lubricant supplying member 50 has a plate-shaped main body 50a formed in a substantially U-shape so as to face both side surfaces 23 including the upper surface 24 and the rail-side raceway surfaces 21 and 22 of the guide rail 20, and a fitting protrusion 50b provided on the surface of the main body 50a facing the end cap 32 (see Fig. 4(B)). The lubricant supplying member 50 is formed of a porous body such as rubber or synthetic resin, a fibrous entanglement body, or the like, and is configured to be impregnated with a lubricant. As the lubricant, mineral oil, synthetic oil, grease, or the like can be used. As the synthetic resin, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like can be used. As the fibrous entanglement body, wool felt, polyester fiber, nylon fiber, acrylic fiber, or the like can be used.

[0021] Approximately semicircular protrusions 51 are provided on the inner sides of both side surfaces of the approximately U-shaped main body 50a of the lubricant supplying member 50, for supplying lubricant by sliding against the rail-side raceway surface 21 of the guide rail 20. Furthermore, quarter-circular arc protrusions 52 are provided on the inner corners of both side surfaces and the upper surface of the approximately U-shaped main body 50a, for supplying lubricant by sliding against the rail-side raceway surface 22 of the guide rail 20.

[0022] A first recess 53 that opens upward is formed in the approximate center of the upper end of the main body 50a of the lubricant supplying member 50. A second recess 54 that is approximately U-shaped and opens laterally is formed on both outer surfaces of the main body 50a of the lubricant supplying member 50. The first recess 53 is formed in an approximately U-shape with two parallel flat surfaces that face each other in the width direction, and the second recess 54 is formed in an approximately U-shape with two parallel flat surfaces that face each other in the up-down direction, and a corner 54a between the two flat surfaces and the vertical surface is curved.

[0023] 5(C), the main body 50a and the fitting protrusion 50b constituting the lubricant supplying member 50 are formed by axially recessing (or protruding) the surface of the lubricant supplying member 50, which is formed in a substantially U-shape by both sleeve portions and a connecting portion, facing the end cap 32. In other words, the fitting protrusion 50b is formed by providing a recess on one side of the surface of the lubricant supplying member 50 perpendicular to the axial direction to avoid a beam portion 42, which will be described later, formed inside the case 40.

[0024] Specifically, the mating protrusions 50b are composed of a pair of left and right first mating protrusions 50b1, 50b1 arranged on the connecting portion side, a pair of left and right second mating protrusions 50b2, 50b2 arranged in the middle of the vertical direction of both sleeve portions, and a pair of left and right third mating protrusions 50b3, 50b3 arranged on the lower side of both sleeve portions.

[0025] The first fitting protrusions 50b1 are rectangular protrusions extending in the left-right direction along the connecting portion, and are provided in a pair on the left and right sides with the first recess 53 as the boundary. Furthermore, on one of the left and right sides of the first fitting protrusions 50b1, an L-shaped first cutout 55 is formed along the first recess 53, and the first cutout 55 has an arc-shaped second cutout 55a formed along both sides of a first cylindrical portion 44 of the case 40 described later.

[0026] The second fitting protrusions 50b2 are rectangular protrusions provided on the upper sides of both sleeves, and a pair of left and right fitting protrusions are provided. Also, an L-shaped first cutout 56 is formed along the second recess 54 on the lower side of the left and right outer sides of the second fitting protrusions 50b2, and an arc-shaped second cutout 56a is formed in the first cutout 56 along the upper side of a second cylindrical portion 45 of the case 40 described later.

[0027] The third fitting protrusions 50b3 are rectangular protrusions provided on the lower sides of both sleeves, and a pair of left and right fitting protrusions are provided. An L-shaped first cutout 57 is formed along the second recess 54 on the upper side of the left and right outer sides of the third fitting protrusions 50b3, and an arc-shaped second cutout 57a is formed in the first cutout 57 along the lower side of a second cylindrical portion 45 of the case 40 described later.

[0028] 4(A) and 4(B), case 40 is manufactured by injection molding a hard resin such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is formed in a generally U-shape with approximately the same size as end cap 32. Case 40 forms housing portion 43 for fitting and housing lubricant supplying member 50, with outer peripheral wall 41 covering the outer periphery of lubricant supplying member 50 housed therein, and pressing means 44, 45 protrudingly formed to press lubricant supplying member 50 housed therein inward. The case 40 may be made by cutting or pressing a metal material such as steel or aluminum.

[0029] The outer peripheral wall 41 is formed in a substantially U-shape to cover the upper surface, both outer side surfaces, and the lower end surface of the lubricant supplying member 50. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the lubricant supplying member 50 accommodated in the accommodating portion 43 is formed so that only the portion recessed to face the guide rail 20 is exposed.

[0030] As the pressing means 44, 45, a first cylindrical portion 44 serving as upper pressing means is formed approximately in the center in the left-right direction on the upper inside of the outer peripheral wall 41, and second cylindrical portions 45 serving as side pressing means are formed symmetrically on both the left and right sides of the inner side of the outer peripheral wall 41 approximately in the center in the height direction. In addition, the second cylindrical portion 45 is provided with a screw insertion hole for fixing the lubrication unit 33 to the slider body 31 by screwing.

[0031] The accommodation portion 43, when viewed in the axial direction of the slider 30, is a substantially U-shaped space surrounded by the inside of the outer peripheral wall 41, the first cylindrical portion 44, the second cylindrical portion 45, and the guide rail 20 into which the slider 30 is fitted. The accommodation portion 43 has a first accommodation portion 43a that accommodates the main body portion 50a and a second accommodation portion 43b that accommodates the fitting protrusion 50b that are continuously formed side by side in the axial direction (see FIG. 4(B)).

[0032] The first housing portion 43a is disposed on the side of the side seal 60 in the axial direction, and its end side is formed to be open all over. On the other hand, the second housing portion 43b is disposed on the side of the end cap 32 in the axial direction, and is configured by a plurality of through-holes formed by the beam portion 42 described later. The first housing portion 43a and the second housing portion 43b may be configured with their axial positions interchanged.

[0033] According to the above, as shown in Fig. 4(A), the first cylindrical portion 44 of the case 40 is fitted into the first recess 53 of the lubricant supplying member 50, and the second cylindrical portions 45 are fitted into the pair of second recesses 54, respectively, so that the main body portion 50a of the lubricant supplying member 50 can be accommodated in the first housing portion 43a of the case 40. At this time, as shown in Fig. 4(B), the fitting protrusion 50b of the lubricant supplying member 50 is accommodated in the second housing portion 43b of the case 40 so as to be fitted therein.

[0034] In this way, by housing the lubricant supplying member 50, the case 40 can prevent the lubricant supplying member 50 from being damaged during handling. In particular, when the amount of lubricant impregnated in the lubricant supplying member 50 is 70% by weight or more, the amount of resin decreases accordingly, and the strength of the lubricant supplying member 50 decreases, so the use of the case 40 is effective.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4A, the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 44 is set to be larger than the inner width (left-right width) of the first recess 53, so that the first cylindrical portion 44 and the first recess 53 interfere with each other by T1. The outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 45 is set to be larger than the inner width (top-bottom width) of the second recess 54, so that the second cylindrical portion 45 and the second recess 54 interfere with each other by T2. That is, the first cylindrical portion 44 is press-fitted into the first recess 53 with an interference T1, and the second cylindrical portion 45 is press-fitted into the second recess 54 with an interference T2. The interferences T1 and T2 between the cylindrical portions 44, 45 and the recesses 53, 54 are preferably about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. For example, as one example of this embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 44 is pressed into the first recess 53 of the lubricant supplying member 50 with a clamping margin T1 = 0.3 mm, and the second recess 54 is pressed into the second recess 54 with a clamping margin T2 = 0.2 mm.

[0036] The first cylindrical portion 44 applies a pressing force to the first recess 53 in the width direction, but movement in the up and down direction is permitted and not restricted. The second cylindrical portion 45 applies a pressing force to the second recess 54 in the up and down direction, but movement in the width direction is permitted and not restricted. In addition, in this embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 44 and the second cylindrical portion 45 are provided continuously with the outer peripheral wall 41 of the case 40, and therefore the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 44 and the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 45 are determined by opposing arc surfaces, respectively.

[0037] When the first cylindrical portion 44 is press-fitted into the first recess 53 with the interference T1, a pressing force acts on the first recess 53 in a direction that widens the inner width of the first recess 53. As a result, the protrusions 51, 52 of the lubricant supplying member 50 are displaced in the width direction, and the pressing force of the protrusions 51, 52 against the rail-side raceway surfaces 21, 22 of the guide rail 20 increases.

[0038] Furthermore, by press-fitting the second cylindrical portion 45 into the second recess 54 with the interference T2, a pressing force acts on the second recess 54 in a direction widening the inner width of the second recess 54. As a result, the protrusions 51 and 52 of the lubricant supplying member 50 are displaced in the up-down direction toward each other, and the pressing force of the protrusions 51 and 52 against the rail-side raceway surfaces 21 and 22 of the guide rail 20 increases.

[0039] Therefore, the lubricant is reliably supplied to the rail-side raceway surfaces 21, 22 by the protrusions 51, 52 of the lubricant supplying member 50. The pressing force of the protrusions 51, 52 against the rail-side raceway surfaces 21, 22 is adjusted by the dimensions of the first and second recesses 53, 54 and the first and second cylindrical portions 44, 45.

[0040] 6(A) to 6(C), the second housing portion 43b of the case 40 is formed at the end portion of the case 40 on the end cap 32 side in the axial direction. The second housing portion 43b is composed of a plurality of through-holes 43b1, 43b2, 43b3 formed by providing beam portions 42, which are reinforcing portions that span the inside of the outer peripheral wall 41 in the vertical and horizontal directions. That is, at least a portion of the housing portion 43 in the axial direction, in other words, the position where the second housing portion 43b is formed as viewed in the axial direction, is formed open (through).

[0041] The beam portion 42 has a generally U-shaped edge-like beam portion 42a that is formed to protrude along the inside of the outer peripheral wall 41, a horizontal beam portion 42b in the left-right direction that is formed to bridge both side surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 41, and vertical beam portions 42c, 42c that are extended from the inside of the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 41 toward the horizontal beam portion 42b. In the storage portion 43, a recess that fits the generally U-shaped lubricant supplying member 50 (or the slider 30) is formed by the horizontal beam portion 42b and the vertical beam portions 42c, 42c.

[0042] The cross beam portion 42b has a vertical reinforcing rod 42b1 formed at approximately the center in the left-right direction, which is connected to the first cylindrical portion 44. As a result, the case 40 has a pair of left and right first through portions 43b1, 43b1 surrounded by the cross beam portion 42b, the edge-like beam portion 42a, the first cylindrical portion 44, and the reinforcing rod 42b1 when viewed in the axial direction.

[0043] The vertical beam portion 42c has a left-right reinforcing rod 42c1 formed near the upper part of the vertical middle portion, which is connected to the second cylindrical portion 45. As a result, the case 40 has a pair of left and right second through-holes 43b2, 43b2 surrounded by the vertical beam portion 42c, the left and right end sides of the horizontal beam portion 42b, the edge-like beam portion 42a, the upper part of the second cylindrical portion 45, and the reinforcing rod 42c1 when viewed in the axial direction. Similarly, the case 40 has a pair of left and right third through-holes 43b3, 43b3 surrounded by the vertical beam portion 42c, the edge-like beam portion 42a, the lower part of the second cylindrical portion 45, and the reinforcing rod 42c1 when viewed in the axial direction.

[0044] At this time, the first through-portion 43b1 is formed so as to be able to fit and accommodate the first fitting protrusion 50b1 of the lubricant supplying member 50, the second through-portion 43b2 is formed so as to be able to fit and accommodate the second fitting protrusion 50b2 of the lubricant supplying member 50, and the third through-portion 43b3 is formed so as to be able to fit and accommodate the third fitting protrusion 50b3 of the lubricant supplying member 50. In other words, the second accommodation portion 43b of the case 40 is configured to accommodate the fitting protrusion 50b of the lubricant supplying member 50.

[0045] On the other hand, the axial protruding width of the fitting protrusion 50b of the lubricant supplying member 50 is configured to be within the axial width of the second housing portion 43b. In this embodiment, the lubricant supplying member 50 is configured so that the axial length of the fitting protrusion 50b is the same as the axial width of the second housing portion 43b, and the axial length of the main body portion 50a is the same as the axial length of the first housing portion 43a, so that the axial lengths of the lubricant supplying member 50 and the case 40 (housing portion 43) are the same. As shown in FIG. 3, a side seal 60 is attached to the axial outside of the case 40 and the lubricant supplying member 50. Therefore, the axial length of the lubricant supplying member 50 is preferably equal to or less than the axial length of the case 40 so that the protrusions 51 and 52 can move in the width direction, and it is more preferable that the axial length of the lubricant supplying member 50 is slightly shorter than the axial length of the case 40 (for example, 0.1 to 0.2 mm). If the axial length of the lubricant supplying member 50 is longer than the axial length of the case 40, there is a risk that the lubricant supplying member 50 will be sandwiched between the end cap 32 and the side seal 60, which may hinder the pressing of the protrusions 51, 52 against the rail side track surfaces 21, 22, which is not preferable.

[0046] According to the above-described lubrication unit 33, the accommodation portion 43 for accommodating the lubricant supplying member 50 can be formed over the entire axial length of the case 40, so that the lubricant supplying member 50 can be accommodated in the case 40 with good space efficiency. In other words, the second accommodation portion 43b is formed by removing (forming a through hole) a part of the end wall that was conventionally provided at the end portion on the axial end cap 32 side of the case 40, so that the space for accommodating the lubricant supplying member 50 can be increased while maintaining the strength of the case 40.

[0047] Furthermore, since the lubrication unit 33 can more efficiently accommodate the lubricant supplying member 50 inside the case 40, the axial direction of the case 40 can be shortened without reducing the amount of lubricant retained (performance). In other words, the axial direction of the slider 30 can be made more compact.

[0048] Second embodiment 7(A) and 7(B) are a side view and a front view showing a case of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7(C) and FIG. 7(D) are a side view and a front view showing a lubricant supply member of the second embodiment. In the lubrication unit of this embodiment, a frame-shaped case 40A is used instead of the case 40 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, a plate-shaped lubricant supply member 50A is used in which the fitting protrusion 50b is omitted. Other parts are the same as those of the lubrication unit 33 of the first embodiment, and the same parts are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and the description is simplified or omitted.

[0049] The frame-shaped case 40A of the present embodiment is also produced by injection molding a hard resin such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is formed in a generally U-shape with substantially the same size as the end cap 32. The rigidity of the frame-shaped case 40A may be increased by using a resin containing reinforcing fibers.

[0050] In the frame-shaped case 40A of this embodiment, an accommodating portion 43 is formed by an outer peripheral wall 41 that covers the outer peripheral portion of the accommodated lubricant supplying member 50A, and a first cylindrical portion 44A and a second cylindrical portion 45A, 45A that are pressing means formed to protrude inward and press the accommodated lubricant supplying member 50A inward, so as to grip the outer peripheral surface side of the lubricant supplying member 50A.

[0051] 7(A) and 7(B), the frame-shaped case 40A is different from the case 40 of the first embodiment in that the beam portion 42 (second accommodating portion 43b) formed at the axial end portion of the accommodating portion 43 is omitted. Therefore, the accommodating portion 43 is formed to have a substantially U-shaped penetrating shape in the axial direction along the lubricant supplying member 50A.

[0052] 7(C) and 7(D), the lubricant supplying member 50A does not have the axial fitting protrusion 50b compared to the lubricant supplying member 50 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the lubricant supplying member 50A is formed in a plate shape by only a substantially U-shaped main body portion.

[0053] According to this configuration, the housing portion 43 is simplified by omitting the member corresponding to the beam portion 42, and the housing space (volume) of the lubricant supplying member 50A can be increased without enlarging the frame-shaped case 40A (including the lubrication unit 33). In addition, the shapes of the frame-shaped case 40A and the lubricant supplying member 50A are simpler, and therefore the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by incorporating reinforcing fibers into the resin used to mold the frame-shaped case 40A, the occurrence of deflection caused by the omission of the beam portion 42 and the simplified configuration can be suppressed.

[0054] Third embodiment 8(A) to 8(D) are a side view, a front view, a bottom view, and a back view showing the case of the third embodiment. In the lubrication unit 33 of this embodiment, a frame 40B is used instead of the case 40 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, as in the second embodiment, a lubricant supplying member 50A is used in which the fitting protrusion 50b is omitted. Since the other parts are the same as those of the lubrication unit 33 of the above-mentioned embodiment, the same or corresponding symbols are used for the same parts, and the description is simplified or omitted.

[0055] The frame 40B of this embodiment is formed by pressing or bending a metal plate, and includes an outer peripheral wall 41 that fits over the outer peripheral surface of the lubricant supplying member 50A, and pressing means 44, 45.

[0056] The molding process of the frame 40B will be described below. First, a metal plate is pressed or otherwise processed to form a processed plate having a first pressing portion 44B, which is a T-shaped plate portion provided at the center of the belt-shaped metal plate in the longitudinal direction, and second pressing portions 45B, 45B, which are T-shaped plate portions provided at both ends of the metal plate in the longitudinal direction.

[0057] Next, the processed plate is bent into a substantially U-shape to form a frame-shaped outer peripheral wall 41. The base side of the T-shaped plate is bent into the frame, and the sleeve side of the T-shaped plate is bent in the axial direction to form a first pressing portion 44B having pressing surfaces 44B1, 45B1 for pressing the recesses 53, 54 of the lubricant supplying member 50A, and a second pressing portion 45B, 45B. This forms the frame 40B. The second pressing portions 45B, 45B are also provided with screw holes for mounting to the lubrication unit 33.

[0058] 8(B) and 8(D), the housing portion 43 does not have the beam portion 42 (second housing portion 43b) formed at the axial end portion, similar to the frame-shaped case 40A of the second embodiment. Therefore, the housing portion 43 is formed in a substantially U-shape penetrating the axial direction along the lubricant supplying member 50A. That is, the housing portion 43 formed in the frame-shaped frame 40B can fit and accommodate a simple lubricant supplying member 50A from which the fitting protrusion 50b is omitted, similar to the frame-shaped case 40A.

[0059] According to this configuration, similarly to the frame-shaped case 40A, it is possible to increase the accommodation space (volume) of the lubricant supplying member 50A without enlarging the frame-shaped frame 40B (including the lubrication unit 33), and to form the lubrication unit 33 in a compact axial direction without reducing the accommodation space of the lubricant supplying member 50A. In addition, since the frame-shaped frame 40B can be molded by pressing and bending a metal plate, it is possible to improve the strength of the frame-shaped frame 40B while keeping the manufacturing cost low.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified and improved as appropriate.

[0061] As described above, the present specification discloses the following: (1) A linear guide device comprising a slider that slidably engages with a guide rail so as to straddle the guide rail, and a lubrication unit attached to an axial end of the slider, The lubrication unit includes a lubricant supplying member that supplies lubricant to the guide rail side, and a case having a housing portion that houses the lubricant supplying member. A linear guide device characterized in that the accommodating portion has a space that axially penetrates the case, and at least a portion of the lubricant supplying member is accommodated in the space that axially penetrates the case. According to this configuration, the case constituting the lubrication unit can accommodate the lubricant supplying member in a space that penetrates at least a part of the accommodation portion when viewed in the axial direction. This allows the lubrication unit to be formed to be short in the axial direction without reducing the accommodation capacity of the lubricant supplying member, and therefore the overall length of the slider to which the lubrication unit is attached can be made more compact.

[0062] (2) The linear guide device according to (1), wherein the length of the lubricant supplying member in the axial direction of the slider is equal to or less than the length of the case in the axial direction of the slider. According to this configuration, the lubricant supplying member can be accommodated in the case with high space efficiency, occupying the entire axial length of the case. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10 Linear guide (linear guide device) 20 Guide rail 30 Slider 33 Lubrication Unit 40 cases 40A Frame Case 40B Frame 43 Storage unit 50 Lubricant supply member

Claims

1. A linear guide device comprising a slider that slidably engages with a guide rail so as to straddle the guide rail, and a lubrication unit attached to an axial end of the slider, The lubrication unit includes a lubricant supplying member that supplies lubricant to the guide rail side, and a case having a housing portion that houses the lubricant supplying member. A linear guide device characterized in that the accommodating portion has a space that axially penetrates the case, and at least a portion of the lubricant supplying member is accommodated in the space that axially penetrates the case.

2. 2. The linear guide device according to claim 1, wherein the length of said lubricant supplying member in the axial direction of said slider is equal to or less than the length of said case in the axial direction of said slider.

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