Linear motion guide device and actuator

Abstract

To provide a linear motion guide device and an actuator that are able to prevent leakage of a lubricant and enable smooth operation.SOLUTION: A device includes a base, a moving body that is installed so as to be movable with respect to the base via a plurality of rolling elements between the moving body and the base, a circulation path that is formed in the moving body and through which the rolling elements are circulated, return members that are installed on both sides in a traveling direction of the moving body and circulate the rolling elements from the circulation path to a space between the moving body and the base, and a resin-molded pipe that is disposed inside the circulation path and has, on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a mesh-shaped grease circulation groove.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a linear guide device and an actuator, and more particularly to a linear guide device and an actuator that are devised to prevent leakage of lubricant and enable smooth operation. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional linear guide device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. The linear guide bearing device described in Patent Document 1 has a slider that is installed so as to be movable along a guide rail. A rolling element rolling path is provided between the guide rail and the side surface of the slider, and the slider has a rolling element return path into which a tubular member made of resin is inserted. End caps are installed on both sides of the slider in the direction of movement, and rolling element rolling paths are also provided within the end caps. Rolling elements circulate within the rolling element rolling path between the guide rail and the side surface of the slider, within the tubular members within the rolling element rolling path of the slider, and within the rolling element rolling path within the end caps.

[0003] A plurality of strip-shaped walls and annular walls are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member, and a lubricant is held in the space surrounded by the strip-shaped walls and the annular walls. When the rolling elements pass through the tubular member, the lubricant adheres to the rolling elements and functions as a lubricant. Furthermore, since the rolling elements roll within the tubular member along the radial tip of the strip-shaped wall, the movement of the rolling elements is not hindered by the space surrounded by the strip-shaped wall and the annular wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-291975 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above conventional configuration has the following problems. In the linear guide bearing device described in Patent Document 1, the lubricant is held in a space surrounded by a band-shaped wall and an annular wall on the inner surface of the tubular member, so there is a concern that an excessive amount of lubricant will be present inside the tubular member, and the lubricant will leak out and contaminate the surrounding area.

[0006] The present invention has been made based on the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a linear guide device and an actuator that can prevent leakage of lubricant and operate smoothly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the linear guide device according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a base; a moving body installed movably relative to the base via a plurality of rolling bodies between the base; a circulation path formed in the moving body and through which the rolling bodies circulate; return members installed on both sides of the moving body in the direction of travel and circulating the rolling bodies from the circulation path to the space between the moving body and the base; and a resin molded pipe installed within the circulation path and having a mesh-like grease circulation groove formed on its inner surface. The linear guide device according to claim 2 is the linear guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of grease reservoirs are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe. Moreover, a linear guide device according to claim 3 is the linear guide device according to claim 2, characterized in that the grease reservoir is deeper than the grease circulation groove. Furthermore, a linear guide device according to claim 4 is the linear guide device according to claim 2, characterized in that the grease reservoirs are arranged at the intersections of the mesh of the grease circulation grooves. Further, a linear guide device according to claim 5 is the linear guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that a recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe, and a space is secured between the outer peripheral surface of the circulation path of the moving body and the recess forms an outer peripheral grease reservoir, and the outer peripheral grease reservoir is connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe. Moreover, a linear guide device according to claim 6 is characterized in that in the linear guide device according to claim 5, a plurality of the outer peripheral side grease reservoirs are provided. A linear guide device according to claim 7 is characterized in that in the linear guide device according to claim 5, the outer peripheral grease reservoirs are provided on both ends and in the center of the circulation path. Further, a linear guide device according to claim 8 is the linear guide device according to claim 5, characterized in that an oil supply passage communicating with the outer peripheral side grease reservoir is formed in the moving body. Furthermore, the linear guide device according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the linear guide device according to claim 1, the resin molded pipe is configured by combining a plurality of elements divided along the circulation direction of the rolling elements. An actuator according to claim 10 is characterized in that it is provided with the linear guide device according to claims 1 to 9. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, the linear guide device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a base, a moving body installed movably relative to the base with a plurality of rolling elements between the base, a circulation path formed in the moving body and through which the rolling elements circulate, return members installed on both sides of the moving body in the traveling direction and for circulating the rolling elements from the circulation path to the space between the moving body and the base, and a resin molded pipe installed within the circulation path and having a mesh-like grease circulation groove formed on its inner surface, thereby preventing leakage of lubricant and enabling smooth operation. According to the linear guide device of claim 2, in the linear guide device of claim 1, a plurality of grease reservoirs are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe, so that an effective and appropriate amount of lubricant can be retained. According to the linear guide device of claim 3, in the linear guide device of claim 2, the grease reservoir is deeper than the grease circulation groove, so that a more effective and appropriate amount of lubricant can be retained. According to a linear guide device of claim 4, in the linear guide device of claim 2, the grease reservoirs are arranged at the intersections of the mesh of the grease circulation grooves, so that the lubricant can be held more effectively. According to the linear guide device of claim 5, in the linear guide device of claim 1, a recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe to ensure a space between the recess and the inner peripheral surface of the circulation path of the moving body, thereby forming an outer peripheral grease reservoir, and the outer peripheral grease reservoir is connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe. Therefore, by holding lubricant in the outer peripheral grease reservoir as well, an appropriate amount of lubricant can be held by the grease circulation groove on the inner peripheral side of the resin molded pipe and the grease reservoir, and even if the lubricant on the inner peripheral side of the resin molded pipe decreases, lubricant can be supplied from the outer peripheral grease reservoir. According to the linear guide device of claim 6, in the linear guide device of claim 5, a plurality of outer circumferential grease reservoirs are provided, so that the lubricant can be divided and held in the plurality of outer circumferential grease reservoirs, and an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively held on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipe. Furthermore, according to the linear guide device of claim 7, in the linear guide device of claim 5, the outer circumferential grease reservoirs are provided at both ends and the center of the circulation path, so that an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively retained on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipe, and even if the lubricant on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipe decreases, the lubricant can be supplied evenly in the longitudinal direction of the resin molded pipe. According to the linear guide device of claim 8, in the linear guide device of claim 5, an oil supply passage that communicates with the outer circumferential grease reservoir is formed in the moving body, so that by supplying lubricant from the outside, an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively retained on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipe. Furthermore, according to the linear guide device of claim 9, in the linear guide device of claim 1, the resin molded pipe is configured by combining multiple elements divided along the circulation direction of the rolling elements, making assembly easy. Furthermore, according to the actuator of claim 10, since the linear guide device of claims 1 to 9 is provided, an effective and appropriate amount of lubricant can be retained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an actuator provided with a linear guide device, showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of an actuator provided with a linear guide device, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIb-IIb of FIG. 2(a), with the ball screw shaft and ball screw nut removed. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 2A, with the ball screw shaft and ball screw nut removed, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIb-IIIb in FIG. 2A, with the ball screw shaft and ball screw nut removed. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of a slider, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the slider taken along the circulation direction of the steel balls at the center of the resin molded pipe. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a molded resin pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a resin molded pipe element, and FIG. 6B is a view taken along the line VIb-VIb in FIG. 6A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an actuator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a linear guide device 3. The configuration of the linear guide device 3 will be described below together with the configuration of the actuator 1.

[0011] The actuator 1 has a base 5. The base 5 has a base body 7. As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the base body 7 is open at both front and rear ends (both left and right sides in Figure 2(a)) and at the side opposite the bottom (top side in Figure 2(b)), and has side walls 9, 9 erected on both sides in the width direction (both left and right sides in Figure 2(b)). The base 5 has guide rails 11. The guide rails 11 are installed on the inside of the side walls 9, 9 of the base 5. A guide groove 12 extending in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in FIG. 2(a)) is formed on the upper side of the guide rail 11 in FIG. 2(a), and a guide groove 13 extending in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in FIG. 2(a)) is also formed on the lower side of the guide rail 11 in FIG. 2(a).

[0012] A front end cap 15 is installed at the front end (left end in FIG. 2(a)) of the base 5. A bearing holder 17 is installed at the rear end (right end in FIG. 2(a)) of the base 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, side covers 19 are installed on the opposite side of the bottom of the side walls 9 of the base 5 (upper side in FIG. 1). A stainless steel sheet 21 is installed in the opening between the side covers 19. Both ends of the stainless steel sheet 21 in the front-to-rear direction (from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 1) are fixed to the front end cap 15 and the bearing holder 17.

[0013] A ball screw shaft 23 is installed in the space between the side walls 9, 9. The ball screw shaft 23 is rotatably supported by a bearing 25 installed in the front end cap 15 and bearings 27, 27 installed in the bearing holder 17. A spiral groove 29 is formed on the outer periphery of the ball screw shaft 23.

[0014] A slider 31 serving as a moving body is movably installed on the base 5. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the slider 31 has a slider main body 33. A through hole 35 is formed in the slider main body 33, and the ball screw shaft 23 is disposed passing through the through hole 35. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the through hole 35 has a diameter enlarged at its rear end (left side in Fig. 2(a)) to form a ball screw nut accommodating portion 35a. Also, as shown in Fig. 3(a), an annular oil supply passage 35b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the ball screw nut accommodating portion 35a. Furthermore, a female screw portion 34 for fixing a load object (not shown) is formed on the upper side of the slider body 33 in FIG. 4(a). Furthermore, an oil supply nipple 37 is provided on the side surface (the surface on the lower right side in FIG. 4(a)) of the slider body 33 on the upper side in FIG. 4(a). As shown in FIG. 1, a slider cover 36 is installed on the upper side of the slider body 33 in FIG.

[0015] The slider 31 has slider-side guide rails 39. The slider-side guide rails 39 are installed on both sides of the slider main body 33 in the width direction (from the upper left to the lower right in FIG. 4(a)). A guide groove 41 extending in the front-rear direction (from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 4(a)) is formed on the upper side of the slider-side guide rail 39 in FIG. 4(a). Furthermore, a guide groove 43 extending in the front-rear direction (from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 4(a)) is formed on the lower side of the slider-side guide rail 39 in FIG. 4(a).

[0016] An end cap 45 serving as a return member is provided on each side of the slider body 33 in the front-rear direction (direction from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 4(a)). A return path 47 is provided on the upper side of FIG. 4(a) on both sides of the end cap 45 in the width direction (direction from upper left to lower right in FIG. 4(a)), and a return path 49 is provided on the lower side of FIG. 4 on both sides of the end cap 45 in the width direction (direction from upper left to lower right in FIG. 4(a)).

[0017] Circulation paths 51 are formed on both sides of the slider body 33 in the width direction (from the upper left to the lower right in FIG. 4(a)), extending in the front-rear direction (from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 4(a)). The cross-sectional shape of the circulation paths 51 is like two circles connected in the vertical direction in FIG. 4. As shown in Figure 4(b), on the slider body 33 side of the end cap 45 (the right side in Figure 4(b) for the end cap 45 on the left in Figure 4(b) and the left side in Figure 4(b) for the end cap 45 on the right in Figure 4(b)), an engaging protrusion 52 to be inserted into the circulation path 51 is provided on the outer periphery of the end of the return path 47 on the circulation path 51 side, and an engaging protrusion 54 to be inserted into the circulation path 51 is provided on the outer periphery of the end of the return path 49 on the circulation path 51 side. A resin molded pipe 53 is inserted into each of the circulation paths 51 at the upper side in FIG. 4(a), and a resin molded pipe 55 is inserted into each of the circulation paths 51 at the lower side in FIG. 4(a).

[0018] As shown in Figure 5, the resin molded pipe 53 and the resin molded pipe 55 are the same, and are composed of two resin molded pipe elements 57 and 59. The resin molded pipe element 57 and the resin molded pipe element 59 are members of the same configuration. Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), an engaging recess 60 is provided on the inside of both ends of the resin molded pipe elements 57 and 59, and in the case of the resin molded pipe 53, the engaging recess 60 engages with the engaging protrusion 52 of the end cap 45, and in the case of the resin molded pipe 55, the engaging recess 60 engages with the engaging protrusion 54 of the end cap 45. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the resin molded pipe elements 57, 59 are approximately semi-cylindrical resin members formed by dividing the approximately cylindrical resin molded pipes 53, 55 along the circulation direction of the steel balls 81, 83 described below (the direction from the upper right to the lower left in Figure 5), and have a mesh-like grease circulation groove 61 formed on their inner surfaces.

[0019] Furthermore, a plurality of grease reservoirs 63 are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the resin molded pipe elements 57 and 59 . The depth of the grease reservoir 63 is set to be deeper than the depth of the grease circulation groove 61 . The grease reservoirs 63 are also arranged at the intersections of the mesh of the grease circulation grooves 61 .

[0020] A recess 65 is formed in the center of the lengthwise direction (from the lower left to the upper right in Figure 5(a)) of the outer surface of the resin molded pipe elements 57, 59, and as shown in Figures 3(b) and 4(b), a space is secured between this recess 65 and the inner surface of the circulation path 51 of the slider main body 33, forming an outer grease reservoir 67. The outer peripheral grease reservoir 67 is connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe 53 by a through hole 69 . A recess 71 is formed at each end of the outer peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe elements 57, 59 in the longitudinal direction (from the lower left to the upper right in Figure 5(a)), and as shown in Figures 3(a) and 4(b), a space is secured between the inner peripheral surface of the circulation path 51 of the slider main body 33, thereby forming an outer peripheral grease reservoir 73. The outer peripheral grease reservoir 73 is connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe 53 by a through hole 75 . The outer peripheral grease reservoir 67 is provided in the center of the circulation path 51, and the outer peripheral grease reservoirs 73 are provided on both end sides of the circulation path 51, respectively.

[0021] Furthermore, oil supply passages 72, 76, and 78 are provided within the slider body 33, and the oil supply passages 72, 76, the oil supply passage 35b, and the oil supply passage 78 connect the oil supply nipple 37 to the circulation passage 51. This makes it possible to supply lubricant (not shown) from the oil supply nipple 37 to the outer peripheral grease reservoir 67, the outer peripheral grease reservoir 73, the grease circulation groove 61, and the grease reservoir 63. The width of the oil supply passage 35b (the size in the direction of the page in FIG. 3(a)) is set to be the same as the diameter of the oil supply passages 76, 78, for example.

[0022] An engaging protrusion 77 and an engaging recess 79 are formed on a dividing surface 80 of the resin molded pipe element 57. The resin molded pipe element 59 is the same as the resin molded pipe element 57, and when the resin molded pipe element 57 and the resin molded pipe element 59 are combined with each other with the dividing surface 80 facing each other, the engaging protrusion 77 and the engaging recess 79 are engaged with each other to form the resin molded pipes 53, 55.

[0023] A plurality of steel balls 81 serving as rolling elements are circulated by rolling within the resin molded pipe 53, within the return path 47 of the end cap 45, and between the guide groove 41 of the slider side guide rail 39 and the guide groove 12 of the guide rail 11. A plurality of steel balls 83 serving as rolling elements are circulated by rolling within the resin molded pipe 55, within the return path 49 of the end cap 45, and between the guide groove 43 of the slider side guide rail 39 and the guide groove 13 of the guide rail 11.

[0024] The linear guide mechanism 3 is configured by the base 5, the slider 31, the end cap 45, the steel balls 81, 83, and the resin molded pipes 53, 55.

[0025] 2(a), a ball screw nut 85 is installed inside the ball screw nut accommodating portion 35a of the slider main body 33. The ball screw nut 85 includes a ball screw nut main body 86 and end caps 87 installed on both ends of the ball screw nut main body 86 in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in FIG. 2(a)). A spiral groove 89 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball screw nut main body 86. The ball screw nut main body 86 is provided with a circulation path (not shown). The end cap 87 is provided with a return path (not shown). Steel balls 88 roll and circulate between the spiral groove 29 of the ball screw shaft 23 and the spiral groove 89 of the ball screw nut main body 86, in the circulation path (not shown) of the ball screw nut main body 86, and in the return path (not shown) of the end cap 87. The ball screw nut body 86 is provided with an oil supply passage (not shown) that communicates with the oil supply passage 35b, and lubricant is also supplied to the steel balls 88 via the oil supply passage (not shown).

[0026] 1 and 2(a), a motor case 90 is installed on the rear end side (right end in FIG. 2(a)) of the bearing holder 17. A motor 91 is installed inside the motor case 90. An output shaft 93 of the motor 91 is connected to the rear end (right end in FIG. 2(a)) of the ball screw shaft 23 by a coupling mechanism 95. When the output shaft 93 of the motor 91 rotates, the ball screw shaft 23 rotates, and the slider 31 is guided by the linear guide device 3 to move in the front-to-back direction (left-to-right direction in Figure 2(a)).

[0027] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the output shaft 93 of the motor 91 rotates, the ball screw shaft 23 rotates, and the slider 31 moves in the front-to-rear direction (the left-to-right direction in FIG. 2(a)) while being guided by the linear guide device 3. At this time, steel balls 81 as rolling elements roll and circulate within the resin molded pipe 53 of the linear guide device 3, within the return path 47 of the end cap 45, and between the guide groove 41 of the slider-side guide rail 39 and the guide groove 12 of the guide rail 11, and steel balls 83 as rolling elements roll and circulate within the resin molded pipe 55, within the return path 49 of the end cap 45, and between the guide groove 43 of the slider-side guide rail 39 and the guide groove 13 of the guide rail 11.

[0028] A lubricant (not shown) is supplied from an oil supply nipple 37 provided on the slider body 33. The lubricant (not shown) is moved into the circulation path 51 via the oil supply paths 72, 76, 35b, and 78 of the slider body 33, and further into the outer peripheral grease reservoirs 67 and 73, and further into the resin molded pipes 53 and 55 via the through holes 69 and 75. The lubricant (not shown) is held in the grease circulation groove 61 and grease reservoir 63 on the inner peripheral surfaces of the resin molded pipe elements 57 and 59 of the resin molded pipes 53 and 55 . When the steel ball 81 passes through the resin molding pipe 53, the lubricant (not shown) adheres to the steel ball 81, and when the steel ball 83 passes through the resin molding pipe 55, the lubricant (not shown) adheres to the steel ball 83.

[0029] The depth of the grease reservoir 63 is set to be deeper than the depth of the grease circulation groove 61, and excess lubricant in the grease circulation groove 61 is collected in the grease reservoir 63. Furthermore, the inside of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 and the outer peripheral grease reservoir 67 are connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe 53 by a through hole 69, and the inside of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 and the outer peripheral grease reservoir 73 are connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe 53 by a through hole 75, so that excess lubricant on the inner surface side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 is also evacuated to the outer peripheral grease reservoirs 67, 73 side. Therefore, excess lubricant does not adhere to the steel balls 83, and contamination by excess lubricant is prevented.

[0030] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. First, a mesh-like grease circulation groove 61 is formed on the inner surface of the resin molded pipes 53 and 55, and the grease circulation groove 61 holds an appropriate amount of lubricant, preventing leakage of the lubricant and enabling smooth operation. Furthermore, since the grease reservoir 63 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the resin molded pipes 53, 55, excess lubricant also accumulates in the grease reservoir 63, and leakage of the lubricant can be prevented more effectively. Furthermore, since the grease reservoirs 63 are also arranged at the intersections of the mesh-like shape of the grease circulation grooves 61, excess lubricant can be more effectively collected and leakage of the lubricant can be prevented. Furthermore, since the grease reservoir 63 is deeper than the grease circulation groove 61, excess lubricant can be more effectively stored in the grease reservoir 63, thereby preventing leakage of the lubricant. Furthermore, the inside of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 and the outer peripheral grease reservoir 67 are connected to the inside of the resin molded pipe 53 by a through hole 69, and the inside of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 and the outer peripheral grease reservoir 73 are connected to the inside of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 by a through hole 75. Therefore, excess lubricant on the inner surface side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 is also evacuated to the outer peripheral grease reservoirs 67, 73 side. As a result, an appropriate amount of lubricant can be held in the grease circulation groove 61 and the grease reservoir 63, and leakage of lubricant can be more effectively prevented. Furthermore, since a plurality of outer peripheral grease reservoirs 67, 73 are provided, an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively retained on the inner peripheral side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55. Furthermore, since the outer circumferential grease reservoir 67 is provided in the center of the circulation path 51 and the outer circumferential grease reservoirs 73 are provided on both ends of the circulation path 51, an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively held on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55, and even if the lubricant on the inner circumferential side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55 decreases, it can be supplied from the outer circumferential grease reservoirs 67, 73 without bias in the longitudinal direction of the resin molded pipes 53, 55. In addition, the slider 31 is provided with oil supply passages 72, 76, 78 that connect the oil supply nipple 37 to the outer peripheral grease reservoirs 67, 73, so that lubricant can be replenished from the outside, and an appropriate amount of lubricant can be more effectively retained on the inner peripheral side of the resin molded pipes 53, 55. Furthermore, the resin molded pipes 53, 55 are constructed by combining resin molded pipe elements 57 and 59, which are divided along the circulation direction of the rolling elements, with their divided surfaces 80 facing each other, and by engaging each other's engaging convex portions 77 and engaging concave portions 79, making assembly easy.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The number of resin molded pipe elements that constitute the resin molded pipe may vary. The number and location of the grease reservoirs on the outer periphery may vary. There are various possible shapes for the grease circulation groove 61. There are also various possible arrangements, numbers, sizes, depths, etc. of the grease reservoirs. Although the return path is formed in the end cap serving as the return member, a separate member provided with a return path may be used as the return member and attached to the end cap. The shape and number of circulation paths may vary. The actuator may be of a folded type or a rod type. The illustrated configuration is merely an example, and various other cases are possible. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The present invention relates to a linear guide device and an actuator, and in particular to one that is designed to prevent lubricant leakage and enable smooth operation, and is suitable for linear guide devices used in industrial robots, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 actuator 3 Linear guide device 5. Bass 31 Slider (moving object) 35b Fuel Line 45 End cap (return member) 51 Circulation route 53 Resin molded pipe 55 Resin molded pipe 57 Resin-molded pipe element 59 Resin-molded pipe elements 61 Grease circulation groove 63 Grease reservoir 65 recess 67 Grease reservoir on outer periphery 69 Through Hole 71 Recess 72 Fuel Line 73 Grease reservoir on outer periphery 75 through holes 76 Fuel Line 78 Fuel Line 80 split plane 81 Steel ball (rolling element) 83 Steel ball (rolling element)

Claims

1. With the base, a moving body disposed movably relative to the base via a plurality of rolling bodies between the moving body and the base; a circulation path formed in the moving body and through which the rolling elements circulate; return members provided on both sides of the moving body in the direction of travel for circulating the rolling elements from the circulation path to a space between the moving body and the base; a resin molded pipe disposed inside the circulation path and having a mesh-like grease circulation groove formed on its inner circumferential surface; A linear guide device comprising:

2. The linear guide device according to claim 1, A linear guide device characterized in that a plurality of grease reservoirs are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe.

3. The linear guide device according to claim 2, The linear guide device is characterized in that the grease reservoir is deeper than the grease circulation groove.

4. The linear guide device according to claim 2, The linear guide device is characterized in that the grease reservoirs are arranged at the intersections of the mesh of the grease circulation grooves.

5. The linear guide device according to claim 1, a recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the resin molded pipe, and a space is secured between the recess and the inner peripheral surface of the circulation path of the moving body, thereby forming an outer peripheral grease reservoir; The linear guide device is characterized in that the outer peripheral grease reservoir is in communication with the inside of the resin molded pipe.

6. The linear guide device according to claim 5, The linear guide device is characterized in that a plurality of outer peripheral grease reservoirs are provided.

7. The linear guide device according to claim 5, The linear guide device is characterized in that the outer peripheral grease reservoirs are provided at both ends and the center of the circulation path.

8. 6. The linear guide device according to claim 5, The linear guide device is characterized in that the movable body is formed with an oil supply passage that communicates with the outer peripheral grease reservoir.

9. The linear guide device according to claim 1, The linear guide device is characterized in that the resin molded pipe is constructed by combining a plurality of elements divided along the circulation direction of the rolling elements.

10. An actuator comprising the linear guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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