Slider transfer spacer of linear motion guide device

Abstract

To provide a slider transfer spacer of a linear motion guide device which can transfer a slider to a guide rail from above a temporary shaft without damaging a dustproof seal at a low cost and by a simple constitution.SOLUTION: A slider transfer spacer of a linear motion guide device is used by being attached between an axial end part of a temporary shaft and an axial end part of a guide rail coaxially therewith, and so as to form a linear shape when the slider is transferred to the guide rail from above the temporary shaft. The spacer comprises: a rail-side end face opposing the axial end part of the guide rail; a temporary-shaft side end face opposing the axial end part of the temporary shaft; and a contour face extending in an axial direction along an upper face and both-side faces of the guide rail, and connecting the rail-side end face and the temporary-shaft side end face. A salient part formed of an inner face along a rail-side chamfered part which is formed at the axial end part of the guide rail and an outer face formed by extending the contour face in the axial direction while protruding in the axial direction is provided at a point including at least a part of a portion through which a dustproof seal passes out of outer edge parts of the rail-side end face and the contour face.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spacer for transferring a slider of a linear guide device, which is used when transferring the slider of the linear guide device from a temporary shaft to a guide rail. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a general linear guide device will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the linear guide device. In the linear guide device 100, a slider 102 is mounted on a guide rail 101 that extends in the axial direction and has a generally rectangular cross section so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. The cross section of the slider 102 is generally U-shaped, and the cross section of its inner surface is shaped to match the cross section of the outer surface of the guide rail 101. Two rolling element raceway surfaces 110, 110 extending in the axial direction are formed on both side surfaces of the guide rail 101, respectively.

[0003] The slider 102 also comprises a slider body 102A and end caps 102B, 102B attached to both axial ends thereof, and rolling element track surfaces (not shown) that face the rolling element track surfaces 110, 110 of the guide rail 101 are formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right sleeve portions 106, 106 of the slider body 102A.

[0004] The rolling element raceway surfaces 110, 110 of the guide rail 101 and the rolling element raceway surfaces of both sleeve portions 106, 106 form a rolling element rolling path, and these rolling element rolling paths extend in the axial direction. Note that the number of rolling element raceway surfaces provided on the guide rail 101 and the slider 102 is not limited to two on one side, and may be, for example, one line or three or more lines on one side.

[0005] Furthermore, within this rolling body rolling path, a number of rolling bodies (not shown) are arranged along the axial direction so as to be able to roll freely, and the slider 102 moves smoothly in the axial direction along the guide rail 101 via the rolling of these rolling bodies. When such a linear guide device 100 is attached to an injection molding machine, a machine tool (e.g., various grinding machines), a robot, or the like, foreign matter such as dirt and dust may accumulate on the rolling element raceway surface 110 of the guide rail 101 and other exposed surfaces, causing problems with the rolling of the rolling elements. Therefore, a dust-proof side seal 105 is usually attached to the end cap 102B.

[0006] That is, approximately plate-shaped side seals 105, 105 are attached to both axial ends of the slider 102 (the axial end faces of each end cap 102B), and the portion of the opening of the gap between the guide rail 101 and the slider 102 that opens to the axial end face of the end cap 102B is sealed, preventing the intrusion of foreign matter from the outside into the gap and the leakage of lubricant from the gap to the outside.

[0007] Furthermore, dust-proof seals 109 are provided along the top and both side surfaces of the guide rail 101 on the slider body 102A and the end cap 102B to prevent foreign matter such as dirt, dust, etc. that has entered the slider 102 beyond the side seal 105 from entering the rolling element raceway surface.

[0008] When the slider 102 is mounted on the guide rail 101 to assemble the linear guide device 100, a temporary shaft 30 is used to prevent the rolling elements held in the slider 102 from falling off the rolling element raceway surface, as shown in Fig. 7. Specifically, the slider 102 is temporarily assembled to a temporary shaft 30 made of resin and formed in substantially the same shape as the guide rail 101, and the temporary shaft 30 is then arranged coaxially and in a straight line with the guide rail 101. The slider 102 on the temporary shaft is then moved axially onto the guide rail 101.

[0009] When a general temporary shaft 30 as described above is used, a step 130 is formed between the upper surface or side surface of the temporary shaft 30 and the upper surface or side surface of the guide rail 101. For this reason, when the slider 102 is transferred from the temporary shaft 30 to the guide rail 101, the step 130 comes into contact with the side seal 105 and the dust seal 109 in a caught state, which may cause damage to the side seal 105 and the dust seal 109.

[0010] Patent document 1 describes a protective part (spacer for slider relocation) that has a plate-shaped member that covers the longitudinal end faces of the guide rail and a number of arms that are arranged in an elastically deformed state on the outside of both side faces of the guide rail, with inclined surfaces formed on the upper and side faces of the plate-shaped member.

[0011] 8, Patent Document 2 discloses a temporary shaft attachment (slider relocation spacer) 140 for transferring a slider 102 attached to a temporary shaft of a linear guide device 100 from the temporary shaft 30 to a guide rail 101. This temporary shaft attachment 140 is disposed at the axial end of the temporary shaft 30, forms an outer circumferential surface having a cross-sectional shape larger than that of the temporary shaft 30, and includes a thin plate-like protruding portion 141 that protrudes toward the guide rail 101 and extends in the axial direction at the end on the guide rail 101 side. A plurality of slits 142 extending in the axial direction are formed in the protruding portion 141, and each protruding portion 141 is elastically deformable inwardly.

[0012] By using this temporary shaft attachment 140, the side seal 105 and dust seal 109 of the slider 102 are pressed by the outwardly extending protrusion 141 while the slider 102 is moved from the temporary shaft 30 to the guide rail 101, thereby preventing damage to the side seal 105 and dust seal 109 due to steps 130, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-125600 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-67838 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] However, the protective part described in Patent Document 1 is fixed to the guide rail by multiple arms, but since the axial end face of the guide rail and the end face of the protective part are only in contact with each other, there is a possibility of misalignment, which may damage the side seal and dust seal.

[0015] Furthermore, in the temporary shaft attachment described in Patent Document 2, the slits formed in the protrusion are also positioned on the rolling path along which the rolling bodies move, and the protrusion is configured to be elastically deformed to allow the rolling bodies to pass through, but this configuration is complex and expensive.

[0016] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device, which can relocate the slider from the temporary shaft to the guide rail with a low cost and simple configuration and without damaging the dustproof seal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. (1) A linear motion guide device includes a guide rail, and a slider that is movable relative to the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail via rolling elements and has a dustproof seal that can slide on the outer surface of the guide rail. The slider is attached to a temporary shaft to which the temporary shaft is attached, and the temporary shaft is used to move the slider from the temporary shaft to the guide rail. The temporary shaft is used to attach the slider to the temporary shaft so as to be coaxial and in a straight line between an axial end of the temporary shaft and an axial end of the guide rail, A rail side end surface facing the axial end of the guide rail, a temporary shaft side end surface facing the axial end of the temporary shaft, and an outer surface extending in the axial direction along the upper surface and both side surfaces of the guide rail and connecting the rail side end surface and the temporary shaft side end surface, a protrusion formed by an inner surface along a rail side chamfer formed at an axial end of the guide rail and an outer surface extending from the outer surface in the axial direction, the protrusion protruding in the axial direction is provided at a location of an outer edge between the rail side end face and the outer surface, the location including at least a part of a portion through which the dustproof seal passes; A spacer for relocating the slider of a linear guide device. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the slider relocation spacer of the linear guide device of the present invention, the slider can be relocated from the temporary shaft to the guide rail with a low-cost and simple configuration and without damaging the dustproof seal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a linear guide device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider relocation spacer and a guide rail of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider relocation spacer according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 11 is a sectional side view of a main portion illustrating a mode of use of the slider relocation spacer. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a main portion illustrating a chamfered portion. [Figure 6] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion illustrating a modified example of a chamfered portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a main part showing a general method for relocating a slider. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional example of a slider relocation spacer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of a spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The slider relocation spacer 40 of this embodiment is used when the slider 102 assembled to the temporary shaft 30 is transferred from the temporary shaft 30 to the guide rail 101 when assembling the linear guide device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Specifically, the slider relocation spacer 40 is arranged coaxially and in a straight line between the temporary shaft 30 and the guide rail 101, and then the slider 102 on the temporary shaft 30 is moved in the axial direction toward the guide rail 101 via the slider relocation spacer 40 to be transferred onto the guide rail 101. Moreover, regarding the configuration of the linear guide device 100, the same reference numerals as those of the linear guide device 100 shown in FIG. 1 are used, and the description will be omitted or simplified. Here, the description will be centered on the temporary shaft 30 to which the slider is assembled and the spacer 40 for relocating the slider, based on FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0021] The temporary shaft 30 is made of resin or metal, and has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same as a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 101. On the other hand, since the temporary shaft 30 is for temporarily assembling the slider 102, it is sufficient that the axial length of the temporary shaft 30 is slightly longer than the axial length of the slider 102. In this embodiment, corresponding to the rolling element raceway surfaces 110, 110 of the guide rail 101, two rolling element raceway surfaces (not shown) extending in the axial direction are also formed on both side surfaces of the temporary shaft 30, respectively.

[0022] The slider relocation spacer 40 is made of resin or metal, and has a cross-sectional shape along the axial direction that is approximately the same as the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail 101 (and the temporary shaft 30) as shown in Fig. 2. The slider relocation spacer 40 has a rail side end face 40a facing the axial end of the guide rail 101, a temporary shaft side end face 40b facing the axial end of the temporary shaft 30, and an outer surface 41 that extends in the axial direction along the upper surface and both side surfaces of the guide rail 101 and connects the rail side end face 40a and the temporary shaft side end face 40b. In other words, the outer surface 41 of the spacer 40 has a shape approximately similar to the outer surfaces of the guide rail 101 and the temporary shaft 30.

[0023] The outer surface 41 has an upper surface portion 41a and a pair of left and right side portions 41b, 41b, and in the example shown, each side portion 41b, 41b has a pair of upper and lower inclined guide surfaces 41b1, 41b1 corresponding to the rolling body track surfaces 110, 110 of the guide rail 101.

[0024] In this embodiment, the outer dimensions of the outer surface 41 are formed slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the guide rail 101 and the temporary shaft 30. Note that the "outer diameter dimensions" referred to here refer to the total dimensions of the lengths of the upper and side faces as seen from the outside when the guide rail 101, the spacer 40, and the temporary shaft 30 are placed on a base (not shown). In other words, in this case, the upper surface portion 41a of the outer surface 41 of the spacer 40 is located slightly above the upper surface of the guide rail 101, and the side portions 41b, 41b of the outer surface 41 of the spacer 40 are also located slightly outward from the side surfaces of the guide rail 101.

[0025] In addition, at a location of the outer edge of the rail side end face 40a and the outer surface 41, including at least a portion of the area through which the dustproof seal 109 passes, a protrusion 42 is provided that protrudes in the axial direction and is formed by an inner surface 42a that follows the rail side chamfer 101a formed at the axial end of the guide rail 101 and an outer surface 42b that extends from the outer surface 41 in the axial direction.

[0026] That is, in the illustrated example, the protrusion 42 is formed over the entire upper surface and both left and right sides of the outer edge portion between the rail side end face 40a and the outer surface 41, but it may be formed only on at least the portion where the dustproof seal 109 of the slider 102 slides, or may be formed only on the portion where the dustproof seal 109 has a large tightening margin.

[0027] The inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42 is formed along the rail side chamfer 101a formed on the ridge line of the guide rail 101. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the inner surface 42a is an approximately 45° inclined surface extending from the tip of the protrusion 42 toward the rail side end face 40a, and is formed to match the shape of the rail side chamfer 101a.

[0028] Note that the inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42 may be formed according to the inclined surface of the rail side surface 101a of the guide rail 101, and is not limited to an inclined surface of 45°.

[0029] The outer surface 42b of the protrusion 42 extends in the axial direction along the outer shape surface 41 of the guide rail 101, and in this embodiment, is located outside so as to cover the entire rail side surface 101a. Therefore, if the outer dimension of the outer shape surface 41 is equal to or larger than the outer diameter dimension of the guide rail 101, the entire rail side surface 101a can be covered.

[0030] The height dimension H of the protrusion 42 can be changed within an appropriate range according to the chamfering amount c of the rail side surface 101a, but a range less than ±c is preferable based on the chamfering amount c of the rail side surface 101a. Note that the chamfering amount c by the rail side surface 101a is usually about 0.5 mm. That is, in this embodiment, the outer dimension of the outer shape surface 41 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer dimension of the guide rail 101 and the outer dimension of the dummy shaft 30. Preferably, the height dimension H of the protrusion 42 is set such that c≦H<2c. However, the height dimension H of the protrusion 42 may be 0<H<c, and accordingly, the outer dimension of the outer shape surface 41 may also be equal to or less than the outer diameter dimension of the guide rail 101. Furthermore, the angle and length of the inclined surface of the inner surface 42a may be changed according to the shape of the rail side surface 101a on the guide rail 101 side.

[0031] According to this configuration, since the inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42 and the rail side end surface 40a are fitted to the axial end of the guide rail 101, the alignment of the two members can be performed smoothly and easily.

[0032] Furthermore, the slider relocation spacer 40 can be connected as close as possible to the axial end of the guide rail 101 by the inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42, and the outer surface 42b of the protrusion 42 is disposed so as to overlap the guide rail 101 in a plan view. This reduces the step formed between the slider relocation spacer 40 and the guide rail 101. In other words, when the slider 102 moves from the slider relocation spacer 40 to the guide rail 101, the dustproof seal 109 falls less, and the tip of the dustproof seal 109 with which it slides can be prevented from being damaged.

[0033] 2 and 3, the slider relocation spacer 40 is provided with an inverted U-shaped hollowed-out portion 44 that is cut from the lower surface to the upper surface and penetrates in the axial direction. This allows both left and right side surfaces of the slider relocation spacer 40 to be elastically deformed in the left and right direction. In other words, the slider relocation spacer 40 can be elastically deformed in a direction that contracts or expands the space between the pair of left and right side surface portions 41b, 41b.

[0034] The cutout 44 may have any shape as long as both side surfaces of the slider relocation spacer 40 are elastically deformable. The cutout 44 is not limited to an inverted U-shaped notch. The shape and size of the cutout 44 may be set as desired based on the rigidity of the dustproof seal and the amount of deformation required for the slider relocation spacer 40.

[0035] According to this configuration, the slider relocation spacer 40 can be elastically deformed with a low-cost and simple configuration. That is, even if the slider relocation spacer 40 is formed slightly larger than the guide rail 101, the rolling elements of the slider can be moved from the outer surface 41 of the slider relocation spacer 40 to the rolling element track surface 110 of the guide rail 101.

[0036] Second embodiment Next, a slider relocation spacer of a second embodiment will be described. The slider relocation spacer 40 of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is provided with a chamfered portion 43, but the other configurations are the same. Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part explaining the chamfered portion.

[0037] In the slider relocation spacer 40, the outer dimension of the outer surface 41 is larger than the outer dimension of the temporary shaft 30. Similarly to the first embodiment, the slider relocation spacer 40 has a protrusion 42 and a hollowed-out portion 44, while being provided with a chamfered portion 43 formed on the outer edge of the temporary shaft side end face 40b and the outer surface 41 such that the outer dimension of the temporary shaft side end face 40b is smaller than the outer dimension of the axial end of the temporary shaft 30.

[0038] The chamfered portion 43 is an inclined surface formed by chamfering a ridgeline formed by the outer surface 41 and the temporary shaft side end surface 40b among the outer edge portions of the temporary shaft side end surface 40b and the outer surface 41. This chamfered portion 43 makes the temporary shaft side end surface 40b of the slider relocation spacer 40 slightly smaller than the outer shape of the axial end portion of the temporary shaft 30. In other words, when the slider 102 moves from the temporary shaft 30 to the slider relocation spacer 40, a step is formed that drops from the temporary shaft 30 toward the chamfered portion 43.

[0039] 5, the angle of the inclined surface that constitutes the chamfered portion 43 is formed to be smaller (gentler) than the angle of the inclined surface that constitutes the inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42. In other words, the chamfer angle A of the chamfered portion 43 is formed to be smaller than the chamfer angle B of the rail side chamfer 101a (the inner surface 42a of the protrusion 42).

[0040] According to this configuration, when the slider 102 moves from the temporary shaft 30 to the slider relocation spacer 40, the dustproof seal 109 falls onto the chamfered portion 43 that is gently inclined from the outer surface of the temporary shaft 30. This makes it possible to prevent the dustproof seal 109, which extends obliquely in the traveling direction, from coming into contact with the step formed between the temporary shaft 30 and the temporary shaft side end face 40b in such a way that it buckles, and thus being damaged.

[0041] In FIG. 5, the chamfered portion 43 is linear, but as shown in FIG. 6, the chamfered portion 43A may be smoothly curved.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, but rather includes combinations of the various components of the embodiments, and modifications and applications by those skilled in the art based on the description in the specification and well-known techniques, which are also contemplated by the present invention and are included in the scope of protection sought.

[0043] As described above, the present specification discloses the following: (1) A linear motion guide device includes a guide rail, and a slider that is movable relative to the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail via rolling elements and has a dustproof seal that can slide on the outer surface of the guide rail. The slider is attached to a temporary shaft to which the temporary shaft is attached, and the temporary shaft is used to move the slider from the temporary shaft to the guide rail. The temporary shaft is used to attach the slider to the temporary shaft so as to be coaxial and in a straight line between an axial end of the temporary shaft and an axial end of the guide rail, A rail side end surface facing the axial end of the guide rail, a temporary shaft side end surface facing the axial end of the temporary shaft, and an outer surface extending in the axial direction along the upper surface and both side surfaces of the guide rail and connecting the rail side end surface and the temporary shaft side end surface, a protrusion formed by an inner surface along a rail side chamfer formed at an axial end of the guide rail and an outer surface extending from the outer surface in the axial direction, the protrusion protruding in the axial direction is provided at a location of an outer edge between the rail side end face and the outer surface, the location including at least a part of a portion through which the dustproof seal passes; A spacer for relocating the slider of a linear guide device. According to this configuration, the slider can be moved from the temporary shaft to the guide rail without damaging the dustproof seal, with a low-cost and simple configuration.

[0044] (2) The outer dimensions of the outer surface are equal to or larger than the outer dimensions of the guide rail. A spacer for relocating a slider of the linear guide device described in (1). According to this configuration, the chamfered side surface of the guide rail can be covered by the projection of the spacer, so that the dustproof seal can be reliably prevented from getting caught.

[0045] (3) the outer dimensions of the outer surface are larger than the outer dimensions of the temporary shaft; A chamfered portion is formed on the outer edge of the provisional shaft side end surface and the outer surface such that the outer dimension of the provisional shaft side end surface is smaller than the outer dimension of the axial end of the provisional shaft. A spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device according to (1) or (2). According to this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the dustproof seal from getting caught on the step between the temporary shaft and the spacer.

[0046] (4) A cutout portion is provided that is cut from the bottom surface to the top surface and penetrates in the axial direction. A spacer for relocating a slider of the linear guide device according to any one of (1) to (3). According to this configuration, the rigidity in the left-right direction can be reduced, and the spacer can be elastically deformed, so that the slider including the rolling elements can easily pass through the spacer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 30 False axis 40 Slider relocation spacer 40a Rail side end face 40b Temporary shaft side end face 41 External surface 42 Protrusion 43 Chamfered part 44 Hollow section 100 Linear guide device 101 Guide rail 101a Rail side chamfer 102 Slider 109 Dustproof seal

Claims

1. A linear guide device includes a guide rail, and a slider that is movable relative to the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail via rolling elements and has a dustproof seal that can slide on an outer surface of the guide rail. The linear guide device includes a temporary shaft to which the slider is attached, and the temporary shaft is used to move the slider from the temporary shaft to the guide rail. The temporary shaft is used to attach the temporary shaft to an axial end of the temporary shaft and an axial end of the guide rail so as to be coaxial and in a straight line, A rail side end surface facing the axial end of the guide rail, a temporary shaft side end surface facing the axial end of the temporary shaft, and an outer surface extending in the axial direction along the upper surface and both side surfaces of the guide rail and connecting the rail side end surface and the temporary shaft side end surface, a protrusion formed by an inner surface along a rail side chamfer formed at an axial end of the guide rail and an outer surface extending from the outer surface in the axial direction, the protrusion protruding in the axial direction is provided at a location of an outer edge between the rail side end face and the outer surface, the location including at least a part of a portion through which the dustproof seal passes; A spacer for relocating the slider of a linear guide device.

2. The outer dimensions of the outer surface are equal to or greater than the outer dimensions of the guide rail. A spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device according to claim 1.

3. The outer dimension of the outer surface is larger than the outer dimension of the temporary shaft, A chamfered portion is formed on the outer edge of the provisional shaft side end surface and the outer surface such that the outer dimension of the provisional shaft side end surface is smaller than the outer dimension of the axial end of the provisional shaft. A spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device according to claim 1.

4. A cutout portion is provided that is cut from the lower surface to the upper surface and penetrates in the axial direction. The spacer for relocating a slider of a linear guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images