Lubricant supplier and linear guide device equipped with lubricant supplier

Abstract

To provide a lubricant supply body capable of adding functions other than lubricant supply and reducing a weight, while securing an amount of oil released to lubrication portions such as rails, and a linear motion guide device comprising the lubricant supply body.SOLUTION: A lubricant supply body is provided at an end part of a linear motion body that moves straight in an axial direction, and supplies lubricant in contact with a lubricated portion. In the lubricant supply body, a protrusion part 17 is formed so as to have the same end surface shape as an end surface shape of the linear motion body, and includes a region that is in contact with the lubrication portion and protrudes thickly in a stepped shape on a surface part perpendicular to the movement direction of the linear motion body. The entire supply body or at least the protrusion part is made of a lubricant-containing polymer member, and a stepped space 19 is formed above the protrusion part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement in a lubricant supplier provided in a linear guide device, and to a linear guide device provided with the lubricant supplier. [Background technology]

[0002] A linear guide device is configured to include, for example, a guide rail extending in the axial direction and a slider that straddles the guide rail and moves relative to the guide rail in the axial direction. Rolling element rolling grooves that extend in the axial direction are formed on both side surfaces of the guide rail, and rolling element rolling grooves that face the rolling element rolling grooves on the guide rail are formed on the inner surfaces of both sleeves of the slider body. A large number of balls (rolling elements) are incorporated between these facing rolling element rolling grooves, and the slider moves relative to the guide rail in the axial direction via the rolling of these balls.

[0003] Conventionally, in order to stably supply lubricant to the rolling elements in such linear guide devices, techniques have been proposed in which a lubricant supplier is disposed at the end of the slider in the moving direction, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

[0004] Patent document 1 is an invention in which, in order to attach a lubricant supplier to a slider without increasing the number of components of a linear guide device, a protective plate attached to the end of the slider is provided with two opposing protrusions, and a lubricant-containing member formed with a width greater than the width between the protrusions is fitted between the protrusions, thereby pressing and urging the lubricant-containing member toward the guide rail. However, in the case of the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the lubricant supplier only had the functions of supplying lubricant and pressing against the guide rail. Also, there was a problem that if it was desired to change the amount of pressing, it was not possible to change it without disassembling the slider.

[0005] In addition, Patent Document 2 describes a lubricant supply body that is composed of a lubricant application section, a unit containing a lubricant-containing body, and a box body that contains these, and is an invention that combines a compact structure with reduced effort in replenishing lubricant. However, the lubricant supplier disclosed in Patent Document 2, like Patent Document 1, is structurally unable to have any function other than supplying lubricant. Furthermore, there is also the problem that space is required for applying and retaining the lubricant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-232350 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-080601 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve such problems in the prior art, and its object is to provide a lubricant supplier that can be provided with functions other than lubricant supply while ensuring the amount of oil discharged to lubricated parts such as rails, and that can be made lighter, and a linear motion guiding device equipped with the lubricant supplier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve this object, the first aspect of the present invention is A lubricant supplier provided at an end of a linear moving body that moves linearly along a rolling body rolling groove of a guide rail extending in an axial direction, the lubricant supplier contacting the rolling body rolling groove to supply lubricant, a thin rear surface portion having the same cross-sectional shape as the end surface shape of the linear moving body and perpendicular to the moving direction of the linear moving body; a protrusion that includes an area that contacts the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and that protrudes in a stepped manner from a lower area that is divided into upper and lower halves of the rear surface portion; a stepped space formed by an upper surface of the protrusion and the rear surface portion in a substantially L-shape in cross section, in which an additional unit is disposed; The lubricant supplier is characterized in that the entire lubricant supplier or at least the protrusions are made of a lubricant-containing polymer material.

[0009] The second invention is the first invention, The additional unit is a lubricant supply body characterized in that it is a lubricant holding and supply unit made of synthetic resin fiber material.

[0010] The third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention, The lubricant supplier is characterized in that the additional unit is a temperature sensor unit.

[0011] The fourth aspect of the present invention is In any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the lubricant supplier is characterized by comprising a pressing unit that presses the protrusion toward the rolling element rolling groove from a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the linear moving body.

[0012] The fifth aspect of the present invention is a guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction; a slider having a rolling element rolling groove opposing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and straddling the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction; a rolling element incorporated between both the rolling element rolling grooves so as to be able to roll freely; and a lubricant supplier attached to an axial end of the slider and in sliding contact with the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail to supply lubricant, The linear guide device is characterized in that the lubricant supplier is the lubricant supplier according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lubricant supply body that can add other functions such as a lubricant retention unit or an oil supply unit while ensuring the amount of oil released from the lubricant-containing member to the rail, and that can be made lighter, and a linear guide device equipped with the lubricant supply body. Furthermore, by providing multiple insertable pressure units, the amount of pressure can be easily changed without disassembling the slider, realizing a lubricant supplier that can add functions for multiple applications and allows easy attachment and detachment of additional units. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a linear guide device equipped with a lubricant supplier of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a lubricant supplier of the present invention, illustrating a state in which the lubricant supplier is covered by a case. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of a lubricant supplier of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an additional unit is provided in a stepped space of a lubricant supplier according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of a lubricant supplier of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It should be noted that this embodiment is merely one embodiment of the present invention and is not to be construed as being limited in any way, and that appropriate design modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. "First embodiment"

[0017] In this embodiment, for example, a linear guide device shown in FIG. 1 is assumed. The linear guide device includes a guide rail 1 having a first rolling element rolling groove 3 extending in the axial direction, a slider (linear element) 5 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that has a second rolling element rolling groove (not shown) facing the first rolling element rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 and is mounted across the guide rail 1 and relatively movable in the axial direction (direction L1 in the figure), a rolling element (not shown) incorporated so as to be rollable between the first rolling element rolling groove 3 and the second rolling element groove, a lubricant supplier 13 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is attached to an axial end of the slider 5 and that slides against the first rolling element rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 to supply lubricant, and a sealing material (side seal) 9 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is arranged to sandwich the lubricant supplier 13 together with the slider 5. An end cap 11 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is provided at an axial end 5a of the slider 5. The slider 5, the end cap 11, the lubricant supplier 13 and the side seal 9 are configured to have substantially the same U-shaped cross section. The present invention has a characteristic configuration in the lubricant supply body 13, and since well-known configurations of the guide rail 1, slider 5, side seal 9, and end cap 11 can be adopted within the scope of the present invention, detailed explanations will be omitted here, and the following will describe in detail the lubricant supply body 13, which is a characteristic component of the present invention.

[0018] In this embodiment, the outer periphery of the lubricant supplier 13 is covered by a case 15 formed in a generally U-shaped cross section that is the same size as the slider 5, side seal 9, and end cap 11, and is disposed in a state where it is sandwiched between the side seal 9 and the end cap 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The shape of the case 15 is arbitrary and can be modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0019] The lubricant supplier 13 is formed as a rectangular plate of a desired thickness having an end face shape that is approximately U-shaped in cross section, the same as the end face shape of the slider 5, and at its rear surface 23 perpendicular to the movement direction of the slider 5 (the same direction as the axial direction indicated by arrow L1), it has a protrusion (also called a thick portion) 17 that protrudes in a stepped manner and is thick, including an area (inner surface) 17c that contacts the first rolling element rolling groove (lubrication portion) 3 of the guide rail 1.

[0020] 1 to 3, the protrusion 17 protrudes in a stepped manner with a predetermined thickness over the entire lower region that divides the rear surface portion 23 into upper and lower halves, and a stepped space 19 is formed above the protrusion 17 in the vertical direction A1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, in this embodiment, the region consisting of the sleeve portions 17a, 17a on both sides and the installation surface portion 17b installed between the sleeve portions 17a, 17a constitutes the protrusion 17, and the upper region including the upper surface of the installation surface portion 17b constitutes the stepped space 19.

[0021] In this embodiment, it is assumed that at least the entire area of ​​the protrusion 17 is made of a polymer material containing a lubricant. The entire lubricant supply body 13 may be made of a lubricant-containing polymer material, and this is within the scope of the present invention. The lubricant-containing polymer member is assumed to be, for example, a lubricant-containing polymer member in which a lubricant and a resin are kneaded together.

[0022] The step space 19 is formed as a step having an approximately L-shape in side view, between the erection surface portion 17b of the protrusion 17 formed on a flat surface and the rear surface portion 23 formed by rising vertically (in the vertical direction) from the rear end of the erection surface portion 17b (see Figures 2 to 4).

[0023] It is also envisioned that a pressing unit (not shown) may be provided to press the protrusion 17 made of the lubricant-containing polymer member 13 from above and from the left and right directions perpendicular to the axial direction L1.

[0024] Although not shown in the drawings, the pressing unit may have any configuration as long as it can press the protrusion 17, and the design can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, a space may be formed between the inner surface of the case 15 and the protrusion 17, and a pressing member made of an elastic material may be formed in the space with an inner circumference smaller than the outer circumference of the protrusion 17, and elastically deformed to fit into the space. The elastic member can be made of rubber, soft synthetic resin, or a spring member, and the design can be changed as desired.

[0025] By configuring it in this manner, the pressing member presses the inner surface 17c of the protrusion 17, which is made of a lubricant-containing polymer material, against the rolling element rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 from the outer periphery, thereby achieving stable contact (lubricant supply) with the rolling element track groove 3 of the guide rail 1 (in Figure 3, arrow P indicates the pressing direction). Furthermore, the amount of pressure can be easily changed simply by changing the pressing member with a different elastic force, which improves workability and ease of handling.

[0026] According to this embodiment, the structure having the stepped space 19 allows various additional units 21 to be arranged in the stepped space 19 while ensuring the amount of oil discharged to the rolling element raceway groove 3 of the guide rail 1, so that it is possible to add other functions such as pressing a lubricant-containing member against the rail, a lubricant supply unit made of synthetic resin fiber material, a temperature sensor, etc. (Figure 4).

[0027] For example, if a lubricant holding and supplying unit made of synthetic resin fiber material is arranged as an additional unit 21 in the step space 19, it is possible to retain the lubricant and supply the lubricant to the lubricant-containing polymer component while ensuring the amount of oil released to the rolling element raceway groove 3 of the guide rail 1. It is also envisioned and within the scope of the present invention that a temperature sensor unit may be provided as an additional unit 21 in the step space 19 . By installing a temperature sensor unit, it is possible to measure the temperature of the operating environment and the temperature of the oil-impregnated material while ensuring the amount of oil released into the rolling element raceway groove 3 of the guide rail 1, which makes it possible to perform environmental testing of oil-impregnated materials, manage temperatures while the linear guide device is in use, and predict when maintenance will be required.

[0028] Furthermore, since the protrusion 17 is provided and the step space 19 is formed in the upper half, the upper half region can be made thinner, which allows the weight of the lubricant supplier to be reduced. Second Embodiment

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the protrusion 17 has a different shape. In this embodiment, the shape of the protrusion 17 is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0030] The protrusion 17 is formed by a part of the sleeve portions 17a, 17a and a bridge surface portion 17b that is bridged across the sleeve portions 17a, 17a. That is, the protrusion width, including the lubrication portion region (inner surface region) that contacts the rolling element rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1, is about 1 / 3 of the sleeve portion 17a of the first embodiment. Therefore, the width of the installation surface portion 17b constituting the step space 19 (the width in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction L1) is also narrower than that of the first embodiment. The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, so the description of the first embodiment will be used and detailed description will be omitted here. In this embodiment, when the pressing unit is arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment, since the protrusion 17 is formed small, when the outer periphery of the lubricant supply body 13 is covered with the case 15, a space is inevitably formed between the inner surface of the case 15 and the outer periphery of the protrusion 17, and the pressing member can be inserted into this space. [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] The present invention can be applied to linear guide devices in general. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Guide rail 3 Rolling element rolling groove (lubrication area) 5 Slider (linear motion) 7 Rolling element rolling groove 9 Side seal 11 End cap 13 Lubricant supply body 15 cases 17 protrusion 19 Step space 21 Additional Units

Claims

1. A lubricant supply body provided at an end of a linear moving body that moves linearly along a rolling body rolling groove of a guide rail extending in an axial direction, the lubricant supply body contacting the rolling body rolling groove to supply lubricant, a thin rear surface portion having the same cross-sectional shape as the end surface shape of the linear moving body and perpendicular to the moving direction of the linear moving body; a protrusion that includes an area that contacts the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and that protrudes in a stepped manner from a lower area that is divided into upper and lower halves of the rear surface portion; a stepped space formed in a substantially L-shape in cross section by an upper surface of the protrusion and the rear surface portion, in which an additional unit is disposed; A lubricant supplier, wherein the entire lubricant supplier or at least the protrusions are made of a lubricant-containing polymer material.

2. A lubricant supplier as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the additional unit is a lubricant holding and supply unit made of synthetic resin fiber material.

3. A lubricant supplier as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the additional unit is a temperature sensor unit.

4. A lubricant supplier as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided with a pressing unit that presses the protrusion toward the rolling body rolling groove from a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the linear moving body.

5. A guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction, a slider having a rolling element rolling groove opposing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and straddling the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, a rolling element incorporated so as to be able to roll freely between both the rolling element rolling grooves, and a lubricant supply body attached to the axial end of the slider and slidingly contacting the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail to supply lubricant, The linear guide device according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant supplier is the lubricant supplier according to claim 4.

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