Greasing method for linear motion guide unit and grease injector

Abstract

To provide a greasing method which enables easy greasing to a linear motion guide unit, and to provide a greasing injector.SOLUTION: A linear motion guide unit includes: a rail; and a slider straddles the rail and has a greasing hole on an end surface of the slider. A method for supplying grease to the linear motion guide unit includes: a step in which an injector which contains the grease and includes a needle is prepared; a step in which the needle is inserted into the greasing hole; and a step in which the grease is injected into the linear motion guide unit. The needle has a shape that bends 30 to 60° at a position 5 to 10 mm apart from its tip.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of supplying grease to a linear guide unit and a grease injector. [Background technology]

[0002] In a linear guide unit that includes a rail and a slider that slides on the rail, a grease supply hole is provided on the longitudinal end face of the slider to supply lubricant to the inside of the linear guide unit. A grease nipple is attached to the grease supply hole (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] It is known that when lubricating through a grease nipple, grease is injected using a grease gun. It is also known that grease is injected using a syringe. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a method in which a plug member is placed in a lubrication hole of a linear motion guiding device, and a nozzle at the tip of the syringe is inserted into the plug member to inject lubricant from the syringe into the lubrication hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-351251 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-2254096 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is desirable that the linear guide unit be easily greased. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a grease supply method and a grease injector that allow easy grease supply to the linear guide unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A method for greasing a linear motion guide unit according to the present disclosure is a method for supplying grease to a linear motion guide unit that includes a rail and a slider mounted on the rail, with a greasing hole on an end face of the slider. The method includes the steps of (1) preparing an injector that contains grease and has a needle, (2) inserting the needle into the greasing hole, and (3) injecting the grease into the linear motion guide unit. The needle has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip.

[0007] A lubrication injector according to the present disclosure includes a syringe, a needle attached to the syringe, and an adapter attached to the needle. The needle has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip. The adapter is made of an elastic material and is an annular or tubular member that surrounds the outer periphery of the needle. The tip of the needle is exposed 5 to 7 mm from the adapter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the above-described method for supplying grease to a linear motion guide unit, the linear motion guide unit can be easily supplied with grease. Furthermore, the linear motion guide unit can be easily supplied with grease using the above-described grease injector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a linear motion guide unit to be lubricated. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the slider of the linear motion guide unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the end cap, with some of the configuration removed from FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 3 as seen from another direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an outline of an injector used in the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the injector shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the injector according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one state of the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one state of the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one state of the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a method for manufacturing an injector used in the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Outline of the embodiment] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A method according to the present disclosure is a method for supplying grease to a linear motion guide unit that includes a rail and a slider straddling the rail, with the slider having a greasing hole on its end face. The method includes the steps of (1) preparing an injector that contains grease and has a needle, (2) inserting the needle into the greasing hole, and (3) injecting the grease into the linear motion guide unit. The needle has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from its tip.

[0011] A lubricant is used to ensure the smooth operation of a linear motion guide unit. Because the lubricant is consumed as the linear motion guide unit operates, it is desirable to be able to supply lubricant from the outside to the inside of the device as needed. Conventionally, in linear motion guide units, a grease supply hole is provided on the longitudinal end face of the slider, and grease is supplied by inserting a syringe needle into this grease supply hole (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The grease supply hole is formed perpendicular to the slider end face, i.e., parallel to the rail. For this reason, it was necessary to insert the syringe needle into the grease supply hole while holding the syringe so that the rail and the syringe were parallel.

[0012] The rails and sliders of linear guide units vary in size. Furthermore, the location and orientation of the linear guide unit also vary. For example, another device may be located very close to the linear guide unit. The linear guide unit may also be installed in a location or orientation that is difficult for workers to reach, such as on the side or back of the base. In such cases, inserting a needle into the grease hole can be difficult. Small linear guide units, in particular, are often installed in narrow spaces, and the distance between the top surface of the rail and the grease hole of the slider is short. For this reason, when attempting to grease, the syringe itself gets in the way, making it difficult to insert a needle into the grease hole.

[0013] In the lubrication method of the present disclosure, the needle provided in the injector has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip. This eliminates the need to hold the syringe and the rail parallel. Furthermore, the needle can be inserted into the lubrication hole from a position oblique to the linear guide unit, depending on the surrounding conditions of the linear guide unit. The lubrication method of the present disclosure makes it easy to lubricate even small linear guide units or linear guide units installed in hard-to-reach locations. Furthermore, lubrication to the linear guide unit can be made easier without any changes to the configuration of the linear guide unit.

[0014] In the above method, a lubricating member may be provided inside the slider. Furthermore, the length n from the end face of the slider to the inner end face of the lubricating member and the length m from the tip of the needle to the bent portion of the needle may have a relationship of m > n. If a lubricating member is provided inside the slider, there is a risk that the lubricating member will be compressed and deformed by the injected grease when grease is injected. Deformation of the lubricating member may prevent the lubricating member from functioning properly, potentially affecting the running of the linear motion guide unit. In this regard, if the length m from the tip of the needle to the bent portion of the needle is greater than the length n from the end face of the slider to the inner end face of the lubricating member, the tip of the needle can be inserted deeper than the lubricating member. Therefore, the grease dispensed from the tip of the needle does not directly press against the lubricating member. This configuration prevents the lubricating member from deforming when grease is supplied, reducing the possibility of malfunctions in the linear motion guide unit.

[0015] In the above method, the needle may be provided with an adapter made of an elastic material. The adapter may be an annular or tubular member surrounding the outer periphery of the needle, and the tip of the needle may be exposed 5 to 7 mm from the adapter. In the step of injecting the grease into the linear motion guide unit, the grease may be injected while pressing the adapter against the end face of the slider. The needle is provided with an elastic adapter, and when this adapter is pressed against the end face of the slider, the adapter seals the periphery of the oil supply hole into which the needle is inserted. This prevents the grease from leaking out of the oil supply hole when the grease is injected through the oil supply hole, allowing for efficient oil supply.

[0016] The end face of the adapter on the tip side may be a surface perpendicular to the direction in which the tip of the needle extends, thereby more reliably sealing the periphery of the oil supply hole and preventing grease leakage.

[0017] A lubrication injector according to the present disclosure includes a syringe, a needle attached to the syringe, and an adapter attached to the needle. The needle has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip. The adapter is made of an elastic material and is an annular or tubular member that surrounds the outer periphery of the needle. The tip of the needle is exposed 5 to 7 mm from the adapter. By using a lubrication injector with this configuration, lubrication can be performed while holding the syringe in a position oblique to the lubrication hole of the linear motion guide unit. Furthermore, by pressing the adapter against the end face of the linear motion guide unit to perform lubrication, grease can be prevented from leaking from the lubrication hole.

[0018] In the above-described grease injector, the end face of the adapter at the tip end side may be a surface perpendicular to the direction in which the tip end of the needle extends. With this configuration, when the needle is inserted into a grease supply hole provided in the slider of the linear motion guide unit, the slider and the end face of the adapter are likely to come into close contact with each other, making it possible to more reliably prevent grease from leaking from the grease supply hole.

[0019] [Specific example of embodiment] Next, an example of a specific embodiment of the linear motion guide unit of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated.

[0020] (Linear motion guide unit) 1 is a perspective view of a linear motion guide unit 1, which is an example of a linear motion guide unit that is a target of the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. First, the linear motion guide unit 1 will be described as a whole. Referring to FIG. 1, the linear motion guide unit 1 includes a rail 10 and a slider 20. The slider 20 is mounted across the rail 10 and is slidable relative to the rail 10.

[0021] The slider 20 has a platform portion that is the upper surface and sleeve portions that hang down from both side ends of the platform portion. The slider 20 includes a casing 21, end caps 22, and end seals 23. A plurality of mounting holes 28 are formed on the upper surface of the casing 21 for mounting external components such as workpieces and equipment. The end caps 22 are provided in contact with both end faces of the casing 21 in the longitudinal direction. The end seals 23 are provided in contact with the end face of the end cap 22 on the side opposite to the side that contacts the casing 21. The end seals 23 and the end caps 22 are fixed to the casing 21 with two screws 15. A grease hole 55 is formed in the center of the end seal 23 in the width direction.

[0022] The rail 10 has upper and lower raceway surfaces 10a, 10b on both longitudinal sides. A pair of raceway surfaces is formed in the casing 21 at positions facing the raceway surfaces 10a, 10b. The raceway surfaces 10a, 10b and the pair of raceway surfaces formed in the casing 21 form two rows of raceways that are load-bearing areas. In other words, the linear motion guide unit 1 has two rows of raceways, one above the other. Rollers, which are rolling elements, are inserted into each of the two rows of raceways. As the slider 20 moves, the rollers roll on the raceways.

[0023] The rail 10 has a plurality of mounting holes 18 formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The mounting holes 18 are used to fix the rail 10 to a base or an external device. Once the rail 10 is fixed and the linear motion guide unit 1 begins operation, the rail 10 is not generally removed. In other words, lubrication is usually performed at the location where the rail 10 is fixed. There are no particular restrictions on the dimensions of the rail, but the rail width may be approximately 5 to 25 mm, for example. The lubrication method according to the present disclosure is suitable for small linear motion guide units.

[0024] Although the linear guide unit 1 has rollers as rolling elements and two rows of raceways, this is not limitative. For example, the rolling elements of the linear guide unit that is the target of the lubrication method of the present disclosure may be balls, and the raceways may be a single row. There are no particular limitations on the specific shapes of the rolling elements and rolling grooves.

[0025] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the slider 20 of the linear guide unit 1. Referring to Fig. 2, the end seal 23 is a member located at the outermost side of the slider 20. Note that the side of the slider 20 closer to the center in the longitudinal direction of the slider 20 is referred to as the inner side, and the side farther from the center in the longitudinal direction of the slider 20 is referred to as the outer side. The end seal 23 may be made of a steel plate, or may be made of a material in which a metal plate is coated with a resin material such as silicone rubber.

[0026] A lip 24 is formed in the portion of the end seal 23 that surrounds the rail 10 (FIG. 1). The lip 24 prevents dust and other contaminants from entering from outside the device and prevents grease from leaking from inside the device. An upper edge 24a of the lip 24 is adjacent to the upper surface 10c of the rail 10 (FIG. 1). A grease hole 55 is formed in the upper part of the upper edge 24a of the lip 24. The grease hole 55 is a through-hole that has a diameter of, for example, about 0.6 to 0.8 mm and penetrates the end seal 23 in the thickness direction. The end seal 23 may be made up of a single member, or may be made up of two or more members.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the interior of the end cap 22, with some components, including the end seal 23 and the screws 15, removed from FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, a lubricating member 31 is housed in a recess formed inside the outer surface of the end cap 22. The end cap 22 is made of, for example, a hard resin that is integrally molded. The end cap 22 has a grease supply hole 225 formed at a position that communicates with the grease supply hole 55 of the end seal 23. In the outer end surface of the end cap 22 shown in FIG. 3, the cross section of the grease supply hole 225 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has an arc shape that is open at the bottom. The lubricating member 31 is exposed at an opening 225a at the bottom of the grease supply hole 225.

[0028] The lubricating member 31 is a porous member impregnated with a lubricant such as grease. The lubricating member 31 may be a porous sintered resin member. A sintered resin member is, for example, a member sintered into a porous structure by filling a predetermined mold with fine particles of synthetic resin and then hot-molding the material. Specifically, a member formed by sintering fine particles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene resin can be used. The porous structure can be a structure consisting of open pores with a void ratio of, for example, 40 to 50%. Due to this structure, the lubricating member 31 may be deformed when subjected to pressure.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end cap 22 of FIG. 3, seen from a different direction. FIG. 4 mainly illustrates the inner end surface (the surface that contacts the casing 21) of the end cap 22. Referring to FIG. 4, the cross section of the inner end surface of the end cap 22, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, of the grease supply hole 225 is circular. That is, the opening 225a of the grease supply hole 225 extends in the thickness direction (longitudinal direction) from the outer end surface of the end cap 22 and terminates midway in the thickness direction. An oil groove 222 is formed in communication with the grease supply hole 225. The oil groove 222 is in communication with the rolling element direction change passage 102 formed in the end cap 22. Grease supplied from the grease supply hole 225 passes through the oil groove 222 and is supplied to the rolling element. Furthermore, the lubrication member 31 (FIG. 3) is exposed to the direction change passage 102 from the opening 223 and comes into contact with the rolling element passing through the direction change passage 102. With this configuration, grease is supplied to the rolling elements via the lubricating member 31.

[0030] (injector) FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an outline of an injector according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 5, injector 50 includes syringe 51 and needle 52 attached to syringe 51. Needle 52 is attached to syringe 51 via connecting portion 53. Syringe 51 includes a main body 58 that contains grease, a cylindrical tip 56 having a threaded inner surface, and a flange 57 for holding a finger. A plunger 54 is inserted into main body 58. When plunger 54 is manually pressed with grease contained in main body 58, the grease is forced out from the tip of needle 52. Syringe 51 and plunger 54 may be made of resin such as polypropylene resin. Needle 52 and connecting portion 53 may be made of metal such as stainless steel (e.g., SUS404).

[0031] Although the specific dimensions of injector 50 are not particularly limited, it is preferable that it can hold, for example, 1.5 to 12 mL of grease. For example, when the capacity of the injector is 2.5 mL, the diameter of main body 58 is about 10 mm, and the maximum width of flange 57 is about 20 mm. For example, when the capacity of the injector is 10 mL, the diameter of main body 58 is about 17 mm, and the maximum width of flange 57 is about 30 mm.

[0032] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the injector 50. The needle 52 is a hollow cylindrical needle formed with the same outer diameter throughout. Referring to FIG. 6, the needle 52 includes a first portion 521 that is a linearly extending portion continuous with the connecting portion 53, a second portion 522 that is a bent portion, and a third portion 523 that is a linearly extending tip portion. The needle 52 is an angled pipe with a bent portion formed midway. When greasing the linear guide unit, the third portion 523 is inserted into the grease supply hole 55 (FIG. 1) of the linear guide unit and stops at the bent second portion 522. In the injector 50, the angle θ1 formed between the first portion 521 and the third portion 523 is 45°. That is, the needle 52 is bent 45° at the second portion 522. The length L1 of the third portion 523 is 8.5 mm. That is, the needle 52 is bent at a position 8.5 mm from the tip.

[0033] The bending angle of the needle and the length of the tip are not limited to these. For example, the angle θ1 formed by the first portion 521 and the third portion 523 may be 30 to 60°. Within this range, lubrication to the linear motion guide unit becomes easy, and the bent portion of the needle can be formed without crushing the needle hole. Furthermore, the length from the tip to the bent portion may be 5 mm to 10 mm. Within this range, the effect of providing the bent portion can be obtained. Furthermore, when the needle is inserted into the lubrication hole, the tip of the needle is located deeper than the lubricating member. This prevents the lubricating member from being deformed by the lubricant discharged from the needle.

[0034] Because the needle 52 has a bent portion, the tip of the needle 52 can be inserted into the grease supply hole 55 while the injector is held at an angle to the linear guide unit (see, for example, Figure 8). This configuration makes it easy to grease a linear guide unit that is installed in a narrow space or in a direction that is difficult to reach, or a small linear guide unit.

[0035] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an injector 60 according to the present disclosure. The syringe and plunger of the injector 60 are similar to the syringe 51 and plunger 54 of the injector 50 (Figure 5), and are therefore not shown. Referring to Figure 7, the injector 60 includes a needle 52, a connecting portion 53, and an adapter 61 attached to the needle 52. The configurations of the needle 52 and the connecting portion 53 are similar to those of the injector 50, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The injector 60 differs from the injector 50 in that it includes the adapter 61.

[0036] The adapter 61 is an elastic member made of an elastic material, such as fluororubber. The material constituting the adapter is not limited to fluororubber, and elastic materials such as silicone rubber and elastomer can also be used. The adapter 61 is a rubber tube inserted around the outer periphery of the needle 52 so as to surround the outer periphery of the needle 52. Because the adapter 61 is an elastic member, it is bent along the curvature of the needle 52. An end face 61a on the base end side of the adapter 61 abuts against a nut portion 531 included in the connecting portion 53. An end face 61b on the tip end side of the adapter 61 extends to the third portion 523 of the needle 52. The end face 61b on the tip end side of the adapter 61 is perpendicular to the direction in which the third portion 523 of the needle 52 extends. A length L2 of the tip of the needle 52 exposed from the adapter 61 is 5 mm. The length L2 is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the invention can be obtained, but it can be, for example, approximately 5 mm to 7 mm.

[0037] (Greasing method) The method for greasing a linear guide unit according to the present disclosure includes the steps of (1) preparing an injector containing grease and having a needle, (2) inserting the needle into a greasing hole, and (3) injecting the grease into the linear guide unit. The needle is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip.

[0038] In step (1), for example, grease is poured into the syringe 51 of the injector 50, 60. Alternatively, a syringe 51 pre-filled with grease may be procured and used. There are no particular restrictions on the type of grease, and a known grease may be selected and used depending on the configuration and application of the linear motion guide unit. Specific examples of the needle that can be used include needle 52. The syringe and needle may be set up in advance, or may be attached to each other before use.

[0039] Step (2) is performed following step (1). In step (2), a needle is inserted into the grease supply hole of the linear guide unit. Because the needle has a bent portion, it is inserted into the grease supply hole from the tip to the bent portion. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing one state of step (2). In Figure 8, the third portion 523 of the needle 52 is inserted partway. As shown in Figure 8, because the needle 52 is bent, the needle 52 can be inserted into the grease supply hole 55 while holding the injector 50 in an oblique position relative to the linear guide unit 1. The position in which the injector 50 is held relative to the linear guide unit 1 is not limited to one position, and it can be positioned to be easy to work in depending on the orientation of the linear guide unit 1 and the surrounding conditions.

[0040] 9 is a perspective view showing one state of step (2) when injector 60 is used as the injector. Injector 60 has adapter 61, and when a needle is inserted into the oil supply hole, end face 61b of adapter 61 abuts against the end face of end seal 23 and stops. Because adapter 61 is made of an elastic material, it can deform to fit along end seal 23. As a result, the periphery of oil supply hole 55 is sealed by end face 61b.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 9. As described above, the end cap 22 is provided with the lubrication member 31 inside. The lubrication member 31 is exposed to the lubrication hole 225 through the opening 225a at the bottom of the lubrication hole 225 of the end cap 22. The tip of the needle 52 inserted into the lubrication hole 225 reaches further inside than the lubrication member 31. That is, the length L2 of the tip of the needle 52 exposed from the adapter 61 is longer than the length n from the end face of the slider (i.e., the end face of the end seal 23) to the inner end face of the lubrication member 31. Furthermore, the length m from the tip of the needle 52 to the bent portion of the needle is longer than the length n from the end face of the slider to the inner end face of the lubrication member 31. With this configuration, the tip of the needle 52 reaches further inside than the lubrication member 31, regardless of whether the adapter 61 is present or not.

[0042] Step (3) is performed following step (2). In step (3), the plunger of the injector is manually pressed in, causing the grease contained in the syringe to be discharged from the tip of the needle. The discharged grease passes from the oil supply hole 225 through the oil groove 222 (FIG. 4) and reaches the direction change path 102. The discharged grease also accumulates in the oil supply hole 225 and is impregnated into the lubrication member 31. If the tip of the needle 52 reaches further than the lubrication member 31, the discharged grease will not directly press against the lubrication member 31. Furthermore, the periphery of the oil supply hole 55 is sealed by the adapter 61, preventing the grease from leaking out of the oil supply hole 55.

[0043] (Variation) The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications are possible. For example, the adapter attached to the needle is not limited to a circular cross-sectional shape, but may be a tube with a square or hexagonal cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the adapter is not limited to a tubular member, but may be a ring fitted at a predetermined position along the length of the needle.

[0044] (Manufacturing method) The injector according to the present disclosure can be manufactured by bending the needle of a commercially available injector. An example of a manufacturing method will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a manufacturing method for an injector used in the lubrication method according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 11, a nozzle member 70 made of stainless steel (specifically, SUS404, for example) is prepared. The nozzle member 70 includes a needle 72 and a connecting portion 73. In summary, the needle 72 is pressed using a press unit 80 consisting of a lower mold 81, an upper mold 82, and a pressing mold 83, thereby producing a needle with a bent portion. The needle with the bent portion formed is combined with a part such as a syringe or an adapter to obtain the injector according to the present disclosure.

[0045] A recess 81a is provided on the upper surface 81b of the lower mold 81. The connecting portion 73 connected to the base end of the needle 72 is placed in the recess 81a. The lower mold 81 has a first mold surface 81c for forming a bent portion in the needle 72. In the lower mold 81, the angle θ2 formed between the upper surface 81b and the first mold surface 81c is equal to the set angle θ of the bent portion. s For θ s It is preferable to set the angle to be about 15 to 25 degrees larger than the angle θ2. For example, θ2=180-(θ s +20) can also be used. In the press process, the setting angle θ s By bending the needle 72 at an angle that is approximately 15 to 25° larger than the set angle θ s A first receiving surface 81d extends from one end of the first molding surface 81c.

[0046] A recess 82a is provided on the lower surface 82b of the upper mold 82. The recess 82a is located opposite the recess 81a. The recesses 81a and 82a hold the connecting portion 73 in place. The end surface 82c of the upper mold 82 is provided perpendicular to the lower surface 82b so that the pressing mold 83 can be assembled from above. The nozzle member 70 is placed on the lower mold 81, and the upper mold 82 is placed on top of it. The lower mold 81 and the upper mold 82 are fixed to each other, whereby the nozzle member 70 is fixed to the press unit 80.

[0047] When the nozzle member 70 is fixed to the press unit 80, a portion of the tip of the needle 72 protrudes from the lower mold 81 and the upper mold 82. A pressing mold 83 is pressed against this surface to press it. The pressing mold 83 has a second mold surface 83c in which a groove 83a is formed. The second mold surface 83c faces the first mold surface 81c. The pressing mold 83 is pressed from above until the lower surface 83d of the pressing mold 83 contacts the first receiving surface 81d of the lower mold 81. In the pressed state, the first mold surface 81c and the second mold surface 83c are in close contact with each other. At this time, the needle 72 deforms to fit along the groove 83a, forming a bent portion. The diameter of the groove 83a is preferably larger than the diameter of the needle 72 by, for example, about 5% (e.g., about 0.5 mm). By providing a slight clearance for the needle, it is possible to form a bent portion at a constant angle, and at the same time, even if there are individual differences in the needle, it is possible to form a bent portion at the desired angle without collapsing the hollow portion of the needle.

[0048] The groove 83a of the pressing die 83 extends across the second die surface 83c. As a result, a relief portion 87 is formed between the end surface 82c of the upper die 82 and the groove 83a. It is believed that the relief portion 87 prevents excessive stress from being generated in the bent portion when the needle 72 is bent, making it possible to efficiently produce a uniformly bent needle 72. After applying a predetermined pressure, the press unit 80 is disassembled to obtain the needle 72 with the bent portion formed.

[0049] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting in any respect. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Linear motion guide unit, 10 Rail, 10a, 10b Raceway surface, 10c Upper surface, 15 Screw, 18 Mounting hole, 20 Slider, 21 Casing, 22 End cap, 23 End seal, 24 Lip, 24a Upper edge, 28 Mounting hole, 31 Lubrication member, 50, 60 Injector, 51 Syringe, 52 Needle, 521 First portion, 522 Bent portion, 522 Second portion, 523 Third portion, 531 Nut portion, 53 Connection portion, 54 Plunger, 55 Grease hole, 56 Nozzle tip, 57 Flange portion, 58 Main body portion, 61 Adapter, 61a, 61b End surface, 70 Nozzle member, 72 Needle, 73 Connection portion, 80 Press unit, 81 Lower die, 81a, 82a Recess, 81b Top surface, 81d first receiving surface, 82 upper mold, 82b lower surface, 82c end surface, 83 press mold, 83a groove, 83c second mold surface, 83d lower surface, 87 relief part, 102 direction change path, 222 oil groove, 223 opening, 225 greasing hole, 225a opening.

Claims

1. A method for supplying grease to a linear motion guide unit comprising a rail, a slider mounted on the rail and equipped with a lubricating member therein, the slider having a grease supply hole on an end face thereof, preparing an injector containing grease and including a needle having a bent portion, wherein a length n from an end surface of the slider to an inner end surface of the lubricating member and a length m from a tip of the needle to the bent portion of the needle satisfy a relationship of m>n; inserting the needle into the oil supply hole so that the tip of the needle reaches deeper than the lubricating member; injecting the grease into the linear motion guide unit; Including, The needle has a shape that is bent 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip. How to grease the linear motion guide unit.

2. the needle includes an adapter constructed of a resilient material; The adapter is a tubular or annular member that surrounds the outer periphery of the needle, The tip of the needle is exposed from the adapter by 5 to 7 mm, In the step of injecting the grease into the linear motion guide unit, The grease is injected while the adapter is pressed against the end surface of the slider. A method for greasing a linear motion guide unit according to claim 1.

3. The end surface of the adapter on the tip side is a surface perpendicular to the direction in which the tip of the needle extends. A method for greasing a linear motion guide unit according to claim 2.

4. A syringe and a needle attached to the syringe; an adapter attached to the needle; An injector comprising: the needle has a shape that is bent by 30 to 60 degrees at a position 5 to 10 mm from the tip, The adapter is an annular or tubular member made of an elastic material and surrounding the outer periphery of the needle, The tip of the needle is exposed from the adapter by 5 to 7 mm. Grease injector.

5. 5. The oil injector according to claim 4, wherein an end surface of the adapter on the tip side is a surface that is perpendicular to a direction in which the tip of the needle extends.

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