Lubrication unit and linear guide device for linear guide device

Abstract

The present invention provides a lubrication unit for a linear motion guide device and a linear motion guide device that can efficiently and continuously supply lubricant impregnated in a lubricant supply member to the rail-side track surface. [Solution] The system includes a lubricant supply member that supplies lubricant to the rail-side track surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail by contacting it, and a housing that houses the lubricant supply member and presses the lubricant supply member to contact the rail-side track surface. The lubricant supply member is shaped to allow a neutral position to be set where there is no contact between the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer edge of the guide rail, and the gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface is made smaller than the gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the parts other than the rail-side track surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lubrication unit for a linear guide device and a linear guide device.

Background Art

[0002] A linear guide device includes a guide rail extending in the axial direction and a slider straddling the guide rail so as to be relatively movable. The slider moves relative to the guide rail in the axial direction via a plurality of rolling elements circulating between the rolling element rolling grooves formed in the guide rail and the slider. In order to stably use the linear guide device for a long period of time, it is important to supply a sufficient amount of lubricant to the rolling element rolling grooves and the rolling elements to maintain a good lubricated state.

[0003] For this reason, a configuration of a lubrication unit is disclosed in which a porous lubricant supply member containing a lubricant is housed in a case and attached to an end portion of the slider, and the lubricant is supplied from the lubricant supply member that contacts the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a linear motion bearing device including a lubricant supply member attached to an axial end portion of a slider straddling a guide rail, the lubricant supply member being in sliding contact with a rail-side raceway surface of the guide rail to supply a lubricant, and a case that houses and covers an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant supply member, and an annular pressing member provided on the case applies a biasing force to the lubricant supply member so that the lubricant supply member contacts the rail-side raceway surface of the guide rail.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a linear guide in which the lubricant supply member includes a first recess formed at an upper position of the guide rail, a pair of second recesses formed at left and right side surface positions of the guide rail, and a protrusion capable of slidingly contacting a rail-side raceway surface of the guide rail, and a first cylindrical portion on the case side that presses the first recess outward in the width direction of the slider and a second cylindrical portion on the case side that presses the pair of second recesses downward of the slider apply a biasing force to the lubricant supply member so that the protrusion of the lubricant supply member contacts the rail-side raceway surface of the guide rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-207497 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-150830 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Patent Documents 1 and 2 aim to maintain contact between the sleeves of the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface by deforming a pair of sleeves of the lubricant supply member inward and toward the guide rail by pressing the upper center of the lubricant supply member outward to the left and right, or by pressing the left and right outer sides of the lubricant supply member downward. However, there was a problem that the lubricant supply member may not be able to perform as intended due to dimensional deformation caused by the discharge of lubricating oil from long-term use or dimensional deformation due to friction, which reduces the pressing force toward the rail-side track surface.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned problems, and its objective is to provide a lubrication unit for a linear motion guide device and a linear motion guide device that can stabilize the contact between the linear rail-side track surface and the lubricant supply member over a long period of time, and efficiently and continuously supply the lubricant impregnated in the lubricant supply member to the rail-side track surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The above objective of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration. (1) A lubricant supply member that supplies lubricant to the rail-side track surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail by contacting the rail-side track surface, The system comprises a housing for housing the lubricant supply member, The lubricant supply member has an external shape that allows for the setting of a neutral position that does not come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer edge of the guide rail. The gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface is made smaller than the gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the portion other than the rail-side track surface. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide devices. (2) The guide rail and, A slider having rolling elements that slidably engage with the aforementioned guide rail so as to straddle it, and that roll along a pair of straight rail-side track surfaces, The following is a lubrication unit as described in (1), which is attached to the axial end of the slider that moves along the guide rail: Linear motion guide device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, even if oil release shrinkage, dimensional changes over time, or dimensional changes due to friction occur, contact between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface can be maintained, and lubricant can be stably supplied to the rail-side track surface over a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view of the linear guide according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the linear guide according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the lubricant supply member in the neutral position. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of Figure 3, AA, showing the lubricant supply member in the neutral position. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3, showing the contact state where the lubricant supply member is in contact with the rail-side track surface due to its own weight. [Figure 4C] Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of Figure 3, AA, showing the inclined state in which the lubricant supply member is tilted in the guiding direction. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3 showing an inclined state in which the lubricant supply member of the second embodiment is inclined in the guide direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the linear guide of the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lubricant supply member of the third embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a linear guide device (hereinafter referred to as a linear guide) according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction, width direction, and axial direction of the slider respectively represent the directions with respect to the slider assembled to the guide rail arranged with the longitudinal direction horizontal, and the width direction of the slider is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and the vertical direction of the slider, and is also referred to as 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 referred to as the front-back direction or the guide direction. The front-back direction is also referred to as the thickness direction of the plate-shaped lubricant supply member.

[0013] (First Embodiment) Based on FIGS. 1 to 2, the configuration of the linear guide will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the linear guide according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the linear guide according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the linear guide 10 of the first embodiment includes a guide rail 20 and a slider 30 that is assembled so as to straddle the guide rail 20 and is slidably engaged via a plurality of rolling elements (rollers).

[0014] The guide rail 20 is made of metal, and on both left and right side surfaces thereof, linear rail-side track surfaces 21 extending along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 20 are respectively formed by being recessed in a trapezoidal shape toward the left and right inside. The rail-side track surface 21 has a linear rail-side upper track surface 21a and a linear rail-side lower track surface 21b. The upper rail-side track surface 21a is formed to face obliquely downward at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the guide rail 20. The lower rail-side track surface 21b is formed to face obliquely upward at an acute angle with respect to the lower surface of the guide rail 20.

[0015] The slider 30 includes a slider body 31 having sleeve portions 35 on both left and right sides of the guide rail 20, end caps 32 attached to both axial ends of the slider body 31, and lubrication units 33 attached to further axial ends of each end cap 32.

[0016] On the inner surface of each sleeve portion 35 of the slider body 31, along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 20, there are formed a slider-side upper track surface 34a facing the rail-side upper track surface 21a of the guide rail 20 and a slider-side lower track surface 34b facing the rail-side lower track surface 21b of the guide rail 20. Then, the rail-side upper track surface 21a and the slider-side upper track surface 34a constitute a load rolling path, and the rail-side lower track surface 21b and the slider-side lower track surface 34b constitute a load rolling path. The slider body 31 has two rolling element return paths 36a and 36b in each of the two sleeve portions 35. The rolling element return paths 36a and 36b penetrate through the wall thickness portions of both sleeve portions 35 in the axial direction of the guide rail 20. This configuration can be well understood by referring to FIG. 1.

[0017] The end cap 32 is formed in a substantially U shape and has a curved path (not shown) that communicates the slider-side track surface and the rolling element return path of the slider body 31. The rail-side track surface 21, the slider-side upper track surface 34a, the slider-side lower track surface 34b, the rolling element return paths 36a and 36b, and the curved paths at both ends form a rolling element circulation path. In the rolling element circulation path, a plurality of spherical rolling elements and a holding piece (not shown) that holds the plurality of rolling elements at substantially equal intervals are alternately incorporated and arranged.

[0018] The lubrication unit 33 comprises a synthetic resin case 40, a lubricant supply member 50 housed within the case 40, and a roughly U-shaped side seal 60 that matches the outer shape of the end cap 32. The lubricant supply member 50 is housed in a space formed by the case 40 and other components adjacent to the case 40. This configuration can be seen in Figure 2.

[0019] Next, the specific configuration of the lubricant supply member 50 and case 40 that constitute the lubrication unit 33 will be described based on Figure 3. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the lubricant supply member in a neutral position.

[0020] (Lubricant supply member 50) The lubricant supply member 50 contains a lubricant such as lubricating oil or grease. Examples of the lubricant supply member 50 include molded bodies made of oil-containing materials such as oil-impregnated resin or oil-impregnated rubber. Specifically, examples include molded bodies formed by molding a mixture of lubricant and rubber, or molded bodies of resin or rubber impregnated with lubricant. The type of resin is not particularly limited, but examples include polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Another example of the lubricant supply member 50 is a porous member made of a porous material impregnated with lubricant. Examples of porous materials include porous materials made of polyolefin and fiber entanglements. The type of polyolefin is not particularly limited, but examples include polyethylene and polypropylene. Similarly, the type of fiber entanglement is not particularly limited, but examples include wool felt, polyester fiber entanglements, polyamide fiber entanglements, and acrylic fiber entanglements. The type of lubricant supplied by the lubricant supply member 50 is not particularly limited, but general lubricating oils such as mineral oil and synthetic oil, or general lubricating grease can be used. As a result, the lubricant supply member 50 is made of a material that is highly impregnated with lubricant and is easily elastically deformable.

[0021] The lubricant supply member 50 has a pair of left and right sleeve portions 50A extending in the vertical direction, and a connecting portion 50B connecting the upper ends of the sleeve portions 50A, and is a plate-shaped member formed in a substantially U-shape facing the upper surface and both sides of the guide rail 20.

[0022] The connection portion 50B of the lubricant supply member 50 has a first recess 51 formed in the center of the left-right direction of the upper edge of the connection portion 50B with the recess facing downward, and a pair of second recesses 52, 52 arranged on the left and right outer sides of the first recess 51, with the upper edge of the connection portion 50B with the recess facing downward in an arc shape.

[0023] The sleeve portion 50A of the lubricant supply member 50 has a protruding portion 55 that projects in a trapezoidal shape from the left and right inner sides toward the side surface of the guide rail 20, and an arc-shaped third recess 56 formed by cutting out the left and right outer surfaces of the sleeve portion 50A toward the left and right inner sides toward the guide rail 20. The first recess 51, the second recess 52, and the third recess 56 formed on the edge of the lubricant supply member 50 only need to be shaped in accordance with the end cap 32 to which the case 40 is attached, and their shape is not limited.

[0024] The protruding portion 55 has a first contact portion 55A that abuts against the upper track surface 21a on the rail side, and a second contact portion 55B that abuts against the lower track surface 21b on the rail side. The first contact portion 55A is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the upper part of the protruding portion 55 toward the left and right inward, and is a contact surface that faces the rail-side upper track surface 21a of the guide rail 20 and makes surface contact with the rail-side upper track surface 21a. The second contact portion 55B is an inclined surface that slopes upward from the lower part of the protruding portion 55 toward the left and right inward, and is a contact surface that faces the rail-side lower track surface 21b of the guide rail 20 and makes surface contact with the rail-side lower track surface 21b. The lubricant supply member 50 supplies lubricant to the rail-side track surface 21 via the protruding portion 55.

[0025] (Case 40) The case 40 is manufactured by injection molding of a hard resin such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is formed in a roughly U-shape that is roughly the same size as the end cap 32. The case 40 may also be manufactured from a metal material such as steel or aluminum by machining or press forming.

[0026] The case 40 has an outer peripheral wall 41 that covers the outer periphery of the lubricant supply member 50 and an inner wall 42 that covers one axial end of the lubricant supply member 50 to be housed, forming a housing portion 43 which is a roughly U-shaped space into which the lubricant supply member 50 is fitted and housed.

[0027] The outer peripheral wall 41 is formed in a substantially U-shape, covering the upper surface, both outer sides, and lower end surface of the lubricant supply member 50. The outer peripheral wall 41 has a cylindrical first mounting portion 45 located on the inner side of the center of the upper edge, a pair of second mounting portions 46, 46 located on both the left and right sides of the first mounting portion 45, and a pair of third mounting portions 47, 47 located on the inner sides of both the left and right edges. The first mounting portion 45, the second mounting portions 46, 46, and the third mounting portion 47 only need to be structured for attaching end caps or lubrication parts to the case 40, and their shape and structure are not particularly limited.

[0028] The first mounting portion 45 is a columnar member extending in the axial direction and is housed in a first recess 51 formed in the connection portion 50B of the lubricant supply member 50. The first mounting portion 45 has an insertion hole 45a formed along the axial direction through which a grease nipple or the like (not shown) is inserted.

[0029] The pair of second mounting portions 46, 46 are cylindrical members that extend in the axial direction and are housed in the second recesses 52, 52 of the lubricant supply member 50. The second mounting portions 46 have through holes 46a formed along the axial direction through which fasteners (not shown) for fixing the case 40 to the end cap 32 or the like are inserted.

[0030] The pair of third mounting portions 47, 47 are housed in third recesses 56, 56 formed in the sleeve portion 50A of the lubricant supply member 50. The pair of third mounting portions 47, 47 have through holes 47a formed along the axial direction through which fasteners (not shown) for fixing the case 40 to the end cap 32 or the like are inserted.

[0031] The inner wall 42 covers the axial end face of the lubricant supply member 50 housed in the case 40, on the end cap 32 side. The inner wall 42 is connected to an axially extending first mounting portion 45, a pair of second mounting portions 46, 46, and a pair of third mounting portions 47, 47, and positions the lubricant supply member 50 housed in the housing portion 43. In other words, the case 40 can house the lubricant supply member 50 in the housing section 43 with the protruding portion 55 on the inside of the sleeve portion 50A of the lubricant supply member 50 facing the guide rail 20 side exposed.

[0032] (Side seal 60) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the side seal 60 is formed in a roughly U-shape and is positioned adjacent to the case 40. As a result, the side seal 60 closes one end of the lubricant supply member 50 housed in the case 40 in the front-rear direction.

[0033] According to the lubrication unit 33 described above, the plate-shaped lubricant supply member 50 is housed in the space formed between the case 40 (its inner wall 42) and the side seal 60, which are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction.

[0034] Next, the relationship between the gap between the lubricant supply member 50 and the guide rail 20 and case 40 will be explained based on Figures 3 and 4A. Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3 showing the lubricant supply member in a neutral position. Here, the neutral position refers to a predetermined position of the lubricant supply member 50 such that the gap between the lubricant supply member 50 and case 40 is approximately uniform. As shown in Figure 3, the overall shape of the lubricant supply member 50 on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 20 is molded so that a neutral position can be set, forming a gap between the entire outer edge of the lubricant supply member 50 and the guide rail 20 and case 40, resulting in no contact between them.

[0035] To explain in more detail, in the neutral position, a rail gap S1 is formed between the inner edge of the lubricant supply member 50 and the rail-side track surface 21, a non-rail gap S2 is formed between the inner edge of the lubricant supply member 50 and the part of the guide rail 20 other than the rail-side track surface 21, and a case gap S3 is formed between the outer edge of the lubricant supply member 50 and the case 40. The case gap S3 includes a first gap S31 formed between the first recess 51 and the first mounting portion 45, a second gap S32 formed between the second recess 52 and the second mounting portion 46, a third gap S33 formed between the third recess 56 and the third mounting portion 47, and a fourth gap S34 formed between the outer edge of the lubricant supply member 50 and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 41 of the case 40. This configuration can be seen in Figure 3. Furthermore, the case gap S3 also includes a fifth gap in the front-rear direction formed between the front-rear end face of the lubricant supply member 50 and the inner wall 42 of the case 40.

[0036] In this configuration, the lubricant supply member 50, positioned in the neutral position, made the gap formed between the lubricant supply member 50 and the rail-side track surface 21 (rail gap S1) smaller than the gap formed between the lubricant supply member 50 and the parts other than the rail-side track surface 21 (non-rail gap S2 and case gap S3). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4A, the lubricant supply member 50, which is installed in the neutral position, has inclined gaps S4, which are gaps in the front-rear direction, between its front-rear (thickness direction) end and the side seal 60 and the case 40 (its inner wall 42).

[0037] (Mechanism of Action and Effects)

[0038] Next, the operation and effects of the lubrication unit 33 described above will be explained based on Figures 4A to 4C. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3 showing the contact state in which the lubricant supply member is in contact with the rail-side track surface due to its own weight. Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3 showing the inclined state in which the lubricant supply member is inclined in the guide direction.

[0039] According to the above configuration, when the gap formed between the lubricant supply member 50 and the rail-side track surface 21 in the neutral position becomes uneven due to the reciprocating movement of the slider 30 along the guide rail 20 or due to weight, etc., the lubrication unit 33 ensures that the lubricant supply member 50 and the rail-side track surface 21 make contact almost reliably. The operation of the lubrication unit 33 described above will be explained in detail below, based on Figures 4B and 4C.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4B, when the rail is installed horizontally, the lubricant supply member 50, which can be installed in the neutral position, comes into contact with the rail-side track surface 21, more specifically, the lower rail-side track surface 21b, due to the weight of the lubricant supply member 50 itself. This is because the rail gap S1 < case gap S3. As a result, the lubricant supply member 50 becomes capable of supplying lubricant to the lower rail-side track surface 21b.

[0041] As shown in Figure 4C, the lubricant supply member 50, which is in contact with the rail-side track surface 21 due to its own weight, has a gap S4 for inclination in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the slider 30 moves along the longitudinal direction (guide direction) of the guide rail 20, friction is generated at the part that contacts the rail-side track surface 21, which is moving relative to it. As a result, the lubricant supply member 50 becomes inclined so as to fall in the front-rear direction. At this time, one end of the lubricant supply member 50 in the front-rear direction contacts the side seal 60, and the other end of the lubricant supply member 50 in the front-rear direction contacts the case 40 (its inner wall 42), thereby restricting the inclination (rotation) of the lubricant supply member 50 in the front-rear direction (thickness direction). Furthermore, since the lubrication unit 33 has contact points as shown in Figure 4C on both sleeves 50A, 50A of the lubricant supply member 50, the lubricant supply member 50 contacts a total of four rail-side track surfaces 21.

[0042] As described above, even if the lubricant supply member 50 experiences oil release shrinkage, dimensional changes over time, or dimensional changes due to friction, it can maintain its inclined state as long as it is in contact with the rail-side track surface 21 at at least three points when the slider 30 is guiding it. This allows the lubricant supply member 50 to remain in stable contact with the rail-side track surface 21 and continue to supply lubricant, thereby maintaining the performance of the lubricant supply member 50 over a long period of time.

[0043] At this time, by positioning the center of gravity of the lubricant supply member 50 above the rail-side track surfaces 21a and 21b, when the slider 30 moves along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 20, the lubricant supply member 50 that comes into contact with the relatively moving rail-side track surface 21 is more likely to tilt as shown in Figure 4C. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4C, the protruding portion 55 may have an R-shape, where the first contact portion 55A and the second contact portion 55B, which abut against the rail-side track surfaces 21a and 21b, are curved in an arc shape. With this configuration, the lubricant supply member 50 becomes more prone to tilting, as shown in Figure 4C, and the tilted position becomes more stable.

[0044] Furthermore, the lubricant supply member 50 needs a certain degree of rigidity in order to stably maintain the inclined state shown in Figure 4C. For this reason, the lubricant supply member 50 may be made high-strength by integrally molding a core metal (not shown), or it may be configured to have a core metal embedded inside.

[0045] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the lubricant supply member will be described based on Figure 5. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3 showing the lubricant supply member of the second embodiment in an inclined state in the guiding direction. In the lubrication unit 33 of the second embodiment, a plate-shaped lubricant supply member 50 is housed in the case 40 such that its front-to-rear end faces are sandwiched between the case 40 (its inner wall 42A) and the side seal 60A.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the inner wall 42A and side seal 60A of the case 40 are provided with projections 71 and 72 that protrude in the front-rear direction on a neutral line O in the front-rear direction passing through the midpoint between the upper track surface 21a and the lower track surface 21b on the rail side, in order to reduce a portion of the inclined gap S4, which is the gap in the front-rear direction with the lubricant supply member 50. In other words, the pair of protrusions 71 and 72 are positioned on a neutral line O in the front-rear direction that passes through the neutral point, which is the axis of rotation of the lubricant supply member 50, which is inclined to tilt in the front-rear direction as the slider 30 moves along the guide rail 20. In this embodiment, the neutral point is defined as the intermediate position between the upper and lower pair of first contact portions 55A and second contact portion 55B.

[0047] With this configuration, the pair of protrusions 71 and 72 can control the degree of inclination of the lubricant supply member 50, which is inclined in the front-rear direction within the housing formed by the case 40 and the side seal 60, thereby making the inclined position of the lubricant supply member 50 more stable. Furthermore, the pair of protrusions 71 and 72 ensure that the front-rear end faces of the lubricant supply member 50 are in close contact with the inner wall of the case 40 and the side seal 60A, thereby preventing the lubricant supply member 50 from stabilizing in a position where it does not contact the rail-side track surface 21. In other words, it becomes easier to bring the lubricant supply member 50 into contact with the rail-side track surface 21.

[0048] Furthermore, the pair of protrusions 71 and 72 that reduce a portion of the inclined gap S4 are not limited to being provided on the inner wall 42A of the case 40 and the side seal 60A. The pair of protrusions 71 and 72 may also be configured as a protrusion 71 that protrudes forward from the front end surface of the lubricant supply member 50 and a protrusion 72 that protrudes rearward from the rear end surface of the lubricant supply member 50.

[0049] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the linear guide will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the linear guide of the third embodiment. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lubricant supply member of the third embodiment. The linear guide of the third embodiment includes a straight guide rail having an arc-shaped rail-side track surface, and a slider 30A assembled to straddle the guide rail and slidably engaged via a plurality of rolling elements (balls) not shown. The lubrication unit 33A includes a case 90 made of synthetic resin, a lubricant supply member 80 housed in the case 90, and a side seal 60A.

[0050] The side seal 60A is a steel plate with a roughly U-shape that matches the outer shape of the end cap 32. Through holes 61 for mounting screws are formed in both sleeve portions 62, and a through hole 64 for a grease nipple is formed in the connecting portion 63 that connects the two sleeve portions 62. The side seal 60 and the guide rail 20 are not in contact, and an elastic body 65, such as nitrile rubber or polyurethane rubber containing grease, is provided on the inside of the roughly U-shaped steel plate to seal the gap between the slider 30 and the guide rail 20.

[0051] On the inner sides of both sides of the roughly U-shaped main body portion 80a of the lubricant supply member 80, there are roughly semicircular projections 81 that slide against the rail-side track surface of the guide rail 20 to supply lubricant. In addition, at the inner corners of both sides and the top surface of the roughly U-shaped main body portion 80a, there are quarter-circular projections 82 that slide against the rail-side track surface of the guide rail 20 to supply lubricant.

[0052] Furthermore, a first recess 83 that opens upward is formed approximately in the center of the upper end of the main body portion 80a of the lubricant supply member 80. In addition, a second recess 84 that opens laterally is formed on both outer surfaces of the main body portion 80a of the lubricant supply member 80, and is approximately U-shaped.

[0053] The case 90 is manufactured by injection molding of a hard resin such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is formed in a roughly U-shape that is roughly the same size as the end cap 32. The case 90 has an outer peripheral wall 91 that covers the outer periphery of the lubricant supply member 80 to be housed, and pressing means 94 and 95 that are formed to protrude inward to press the lubricant supply member 80 to be housed, thereby forming a housing portion 93 for housing the lubricant supply member 80.

[0054] The lubricant supply member 80 is formed so that a neutral position can be set. That is, similar to the embodiment described above, the lubricant supply member 80 is molded so that a gap can be set between the outer edge of the lubricant supply member 80 and the guide rail and case 90 so that there is no contact between them. This allows the lubrication unit of the present invention to be applied to a linear motion guide device (ball guide) (not shown) that uses ball-shaped rolling elements.

[0055] Furthermore, even when the case 80 is not used, the lubrication unit 33A can achieve the same effect as described above by forming a neutral position in which a gap is formed between the through hole formed in the lubricant supply member 80 and the entire shaft inserted through the through hole.

[0056] Furthermore, the lubrication unit 33 described above can be attached to any linear motion guide device that moves linearly along a guide rail, and can be applied to, for example, a lubrication unit attached to a ball screw. In this case, the gap between the helical ball groove formed on the screw shaft of the ball screw and the ring-shaped lubricant supply member that contacts the ball groove is made smaller than the gap formed between the member housing the lubricant supply member and the lubricant supply member.

[0057] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate.

[0058] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification: (1) A lubricant supply member that supplies lubricant to the rail-side track surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail by contacting the rail-side track surface, The system comprises a housing for housing the lubricant supply member, The lubricant supply member has an external shape that allows for the setting of a neutral position that does not come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer edge of the guide rail. The gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface is made smaller than the gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the portion other than the rail-side track surface. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide devices. With this configuration, even if oil release shrinkage, dimensional changes over time, or dimensional changes due to friction occur, contact between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface can be maintained, and lubricant can be stably supplied to the rail-side track surface over a long period of time.

[0059] (2) A gap is formed between the longitudinal end faces of the lubricant supply member and the housing that sandwiches the lubricant supply member in the longitudinal direction. (1) Lubrication unit for the linear motion guide device described above. In this configuration, as the slider moves along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, the lubricant supply member becomes tilted in the front-to-back direction, and the lubricant supply member 50 is more likely to come into contact with the rail-side track surface at multiple points when the slider is being guided.

[0060] (3) The lubricant supply member or the housing is provided with a projection that reduces the gap formed between the longitudinal end faces of the lubricant supply member and the housing that sandwiches the lubricant supply member in the longitudinal direction. A lubrication unit for a linear motion guide device as described in (1) or (2). With this configuration, the degree of inclination of the lubricant supply member 50, which tilts to fall in the front-rear direction, can be controlled by a pair of protrusions.

[0061] (4) The projection is positioned near the neutral point which is the axis of rotation of the lubricant supply member that is inclined to tilt in the longitudinal direction, (3) Lubrication unit for the linear motion guide device described above. With this configuration, the tilted position of the lubricant supply member 50 becomes more stable.

[0062] (5) The guide rail and, A slider having rolling elements that slidably engage with the aforementioned guide rail so as to straddle it, and that roll along a pair of straight rail-side track surfaces, A lubrication unit according to any one of (1) to (4) is attached to the axial end of the slider which moves along the guide rail, Linear motion guide device. With this configuration, if the gap between the lubricant supply member in the neutral position and the rail-side track surface becomes uneven due to the reciprocating movement of the slider along the guide rail or due to weight, the lubricant supply member will tilt in the thickness direction, making it easier for it to come into contact with the rail-side track surface 21. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 10 Linear Guides 20 Guide rails 21 Rail-side track surface 21a Rail-side upper track surface 21b Rail-side lower track surface 30 Sliders 31 Slider body 32 End caps 33 Lubrication Unit 34a Slider-side upper track surface 34b Slider-side lower track surface 35 Sleeves 36a Rolling element return path 36b Rolling element return path 40 cases 41 Peripheral wall 42,42A inner wall 43. Detention Unit 45 First mounting section 45a Through hole 46 Second mounting section 46a Through hole 47 Third mounting section 47a Through hole 50 Lubricant supply member 50A sleeve part 50B Connection 51 First recess 52 Second recess 55 Protruding section 55A 1st contact part 55B 2nd contact part 56 Third recess 60 Side Seals 60A Side Seal 71 Protrusion 72 Protrusion S1 Rail gap S2 Non-rail gap S3 Case gap S4 Slope gap

Claims

1. A lubricant supply member that supplies lubricant to the rail-side track surface by contacting the rail-side track surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, The system comprises a housing for housing the lubricant supply member, The lubricant supply member has an external shape that allows for the setting of a neutral position that does not come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the outer edge of the guide rail. The gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the rail-side track surface is made smaller than the gap formed between the lubricant supply member and the portion other than the rail-side track surface. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide devices.

2. A gap is formed between the longitudinal end faces of the lubricant supply member and the housing that sandwiches the lubricant supply member in the longitudinal direction. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide device according to claim 1.

3. The lubricant supply member or the housing is provided with protrusions that reduce the gap formed between the longitudinal end faces of the lubricant supply member and the housing that sandwiches the lubricant supply member in the longitudinal direction. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide device according to claim 1.

4. The projection is positioned near the neutral point which is the axis of rotation of the lubricant supply member that is inclined to tilt in the longitudinal direction. Lubrication unit for linear motion guide device according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned guide rail and, A slider having rolling elements that slidably engage with the aforementioned guide rail so as to straddle it, and that roll along a pair of straight rail-side track surfaces, A lubrication unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is attached to the axial end of the slider that moves along the guide rail, Linear motion guide device.

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