Insertion jig for linear motion guide device

Abstract

To provide an insertion jig for a linear motion guide device which enables a slider to be inserted into a guide rail smoothly at low costs without damaging a lip of a side seal.SOLUTION: The invention is an insertion jig 1 which is used in a linear motion guide device 10 having a guide rail 13, a slider 11 provided astride on the guide rail 13 so as to be movable relative to the guide rail 13, and side seals 12 which are located at both longitudinal ends of the slider 11 and respectively seal gaps between the guide rail 13 and the slider 11 when the slider 11 is inserted into the guide rail 13. The insertion jig 1 includes: an upper surface open part 2; and auxiliary plate parts 3 located in at least one of both ends of the upper surface open part 2 and respectively formed with inclined surfaces a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an insertion jig for a linear motion guide device used in industrial machines and the like.

Background Art

[0002] When inserting a slider into a guide rail, a general linear motion guide device using an insertion jig, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a guide rail 13 extending in one direction and a slider 11 straddling the guide rail 13 so as to be slidable via a plurality of rolling elements (not shown). The slider 11 consists of a slider body 11a(11) and end caps 11b(11) having rolling element direction-changing paths at both longitudinal ends of the slider 11. A side seal 12 is fixed to both longitudinal ends of the end cap 11b(11) and seals the space between the slider 11 and the guide rail 13 with a lip portion 12a. In such a linear motion guide device, the insertion jig needs to be designed so as not to damage the slider 11 and the guide rail 13 when inserting the slider 11 into the guide rail 13.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to form a ball rolling surface and accurately mold both side surfaces of the guide rail, the upper and lower surfaces of the insertion jig are opened, and reinforcing ribs are arranged in the cross-sectional direction. This is because when either the upper or lower surface is molded as a surface, the shape accuracy decreases due to the sink mark.

[0004] However, in this Patent Document 1, since the upper surface portion of the jig is open, an appropriate pressing margin cannot be provided to the upper surface lip of the side seal. Therefore, when inserting the slider body into the guide rail with the insertion jig, the upper surface lip of the side seal may catch on the end face of the guide rail at the connection surface. As a result, the lip is damaged, and there is a problem that the sealing performance decreases.

[0005] To solve this problem, it is necessary to apply the appropriate tension to the upper lip of the side seal using an insertion jig before moving to the guide rail. Here, the appropriate tension is an amount greater than or equal to the tension applied to the guide rail when moving to the guide rail.

[0006] Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention in which the end of the insertion jig is shaped like a trumpet, providing an appropriate overlap to the upper lip of the side seal. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses an invention in which an auxiliary plate-like component is attached to the upper surface of the insertion jig to provide an appropriate overlap to the upper lip of the side seal. In addition, Patent Document 4 discloses an invention in which an auxiliary plate-like component is attached to the upper surface of the insertion jig to provide an appropriate overlap to the upper lip of the side seal. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-62959 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-82504 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-067838 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-106643 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, in the inventions of Patent Documents 2 and 3, at least the ends of the insertion jig must have a uniform surface shape in order to provide a uniform shrinkage allowance to the seal lip. In contrast, injection molding with an integrated insertion jig results in a complex mold structure and the formation of sink marks on the surface, leading to a decrease in shape accuracy. On the other hand, when manufactured by blow molding, it is difficult to accurately form the rolling groove shape of the rolling elements on both sides, and machining would be excessively costly. Also, if only the end trumpet section is made into a separate small part, some degree of shape accuracy can be maintained even with injection molding, but the insertion jig itself will consist of two parts, increasing management costs and making its handling more complex. Furthermore, even when an auxiliary plate-like component is attached to the upper surface of the insertion jig, as in the invention of Patent Document 4, to provide the appropriate overlap to the upper lip of the side seal, the insertion jig itself still consists of two parts, which increases management costs and complicates its handling.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, and aims to provide an insertion jig for a linear motion guide device that enables smooth and low-cost insertion of a slider into the guide rail without damaging the upper lip of the side seal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The first invention comprises a guide rail and a slider mounted to straddle the guide rail so as to be movable relative to it. Used in a linear motion guide device having side seals located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slider, which seal the gap between the guide rail and the slider. An insertion jig for inserting the slider into the guide rail, The aforementioned insertion jig is The top opening and The upper open portion is provided with an auxiliary plate portion having an inclined surface at at least one end of both ends. 、 The upper open portion and the auxiliary plate portion are injection molded as a single unit. It is characterized by the following: The second invention is, in the first invention, The amount of height change due to the inclination of the auxiliary plate portion is set to be greater than or equal to the difference in the dimensional change of the upper lip of the side seal when the slider is inserted into the insertion jig. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an insertion jig for a linear guide device that can achieve smooth and low-cost insertion of a slider into a guide rail without damaging the lip of the side seal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] (a) is a front view of an insertion jig for a linear guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a partial plan view of the insertion jig for the linear guide device, and (c) is a partial side view of the insertion jig for the linear guide device. [Figure 2] The A-A end view of FIG. 1 and a detailed enlarged view showing the main part of the end view, the B-B end view of FIG. 1 and a detailed enlarged view showing the main part of the end view, the C-C end view of FIG. 1, the D-D end view of FIG. 1, and the E-E end view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] (a) is a front view of an insertion jig for a linear guide device according to another embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a partial plan view of the insertion jig, and (c) is a partial side view of the insertion jig. [Figure 4] The A-A end view of FIG. 3, the B-B end view of FIG. 3, the C-C end view of FIG. 3, the D-D end view of FIG. 3, the E-E end view of FIG. 3, and the G-G end view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] (a) is a partial plan view of an insertion jig for a linear guide device according to another embodiment of the present invention, (b) is the A-A end view of FIG. 5(a), (c) is a partial side view of the insertion jig, and (d) is the B-B end view of FIG. 5(a). [Figure 6] It is a linear guide device of the prior art.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, the insertion jig 1 for the linear guide device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as the insertion jig for the sake of explanation) has an outer shape that is substantially the same as a part of the guide rail of the linear guide device (for example, the guide rail 13 shown in FIG. 6), and includes an upper surface open portion 2 and an auxiliary plate portion 3 having an inclined surface a formed at at least one end of both ends of the upper surface open portion 2.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 6, the linear guide device includes a guide rail 13 extending in one direction, and a slider 11 that is slidably straddled on the guide rail 13 via a plurality of rolling elements (not shown). The slider 11 consists of a slider main body 11a(11) and end caps 11b(11) having a rolling element direction conversion path at both longitudinal ends of the slider 11. The side seal 12 is fixed to both longitudinal ends of the end cap 11b(11) and seals between the slider 11 and the guide rail 13 by a lip portion 12a. The present invention is used as the insertion jig 1 when the slider is inserted into the guide rail of such a linear guide device. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 in the embodiments will be used as they are and described in detail.

[0015] The insertion jig 1 needs to have an outer shape that is substantially the same as a part of the guide rail 13 of the linear guide device, and will be described from its overall shape. First, the slider 11 of the linear guide device straddled on the guide rail 13 has openings formed in a substantially U-shape at both ends in the moving direction of the guide rail 13 along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 13. The slider 11 has sleeve portions (both side surfaces) on both the left and right sides along the longitudinal direction, and on the inner surfaces thereof, slider 11-side rolling element rolling grooves are formed along the longitudinal direction facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail 13. That is, when the insertion jig 1 of the guide rail 13 shown in the linear guide device 10 of FIG. 6 is used, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the front shape of the guide rail 13 and the front shape of the insertion jig 1 need to be substantially the same shape, and as shown in FIG. 1(c), the shape of the temporary rolling element grooves 1b, 1b on the side surface of the insertion jig 1 corresponding to the shape of the rolling element grooves 13a, 13a on the side surface of the guide rail 13 needs to be substantially the same.

[0016] However, even if an insertion jig 1 is manufactured that has substantially the same external shape as the guide rail 13 for the slider 11 in terms of length, width, rolling grooves, etc., when inserting the slider 11 into the guide rail 13 using the insertion jig, if the upper lip of the side seal 12 (see 12a in Figure 6) catches on the end face of the guide rail 13 at the connection surface, the lip will be damaged, and its sealing performance will decrease. The present invention is characterized by providing an auxiliary plate portion 3 to prevent damage to this upper lip.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1(b), a plan view of the insertion jig 1, the auxiliary plate section 3 is provided in multiple parallel arrangements in the longitudinal direction at at least one end of the upper open section 2 of the insertion jig 1 and is equipped with reinforcing ribs, thus also functioning as ribs. In this embodiment, seven auxiliary plate sections 3 are provided, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and there may be several depending on the size of the shape that functions as a rib.

[0018] The longitudinal length L1 of the auxiliary plate portion 3 is formed to be approximately half the length L2, as shown in Figure 1(b). Furthermore, the insertion jig 1 has an inclined surface a from approximately half the length of L2 towards the upper open portion 2 in the longitudinal direction from the end. As a result, the upper lip of the side seal 12 is gradually given an overlap as the slider 11 moves, and at the end, an overlap amount equal to or greater than the overlap amount when the rail is inserted is provided. It is also desirable that this length L2 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the side seal 12.

[0019] The explanation will be given using the end view of Figure 2, which shows the end face of the main part of one of the auxiliary plate sections 3 shown in Figure 1(b) (the outer shape of the cross-section of the insertion jig 1). As shown in the CC end view of Figure 2, no inclined surface a is formed in the section with length L1, and the upper surface 1a of the insertion jig 1 and the outer frame 2c of the opening are at the same height (there is no step, they are flush). Next, as shown in the AA end view of Figure 2 and the enlarged end view of the main part of that figure (indicated within the circle), an inclined surface a is formed that is lower by a height d from length L1 to approximately half the longitudinal length L2 of the upper open portion 2. In other words, this inclined surface a is given a height d by an inclination θ in the auxiliary plate portion 3. This means that, as shown in the enlarged end view of the main part of the BB end view of Figure 2 (indicated within the circle), only the auxiliary plate portion 3 is lower by a height d (there is a short vertical step in the drawing). In this embodiment, the angle of inclination θ is set to a gentle 10 degrees, but it is not limited to this angle.

[0020] Furthermore, four auxiliary plate sections 3 are formed near the rolling grooves 1b, 1b, and three auxiliary plate sections 3 are formed in the area between them, extending from one rolling groove 1b to the other rolling groove 1b of the insertion jig 1. Of these three auxiliary plate sections 3, the lengths L7 and L8 in the downward direction of the cross-section of the two outer auxiliary plate sections 3 are formed to a position near where the inclined surface of the rolling groove 1b ends, and do not extend to the bottom surface 1c of the insertion jig 1. In other words, the auxiliary plate sections 3 are formed vertically elongated with a predetermined thickness, bridging the gap between the end face of the insertion jig 1 and the reinforcing rib 2a. Furthermore, the lengths L7 and L8 in the downward direction of the cross-section of the three auxiliary plate sections 3 may be formed to extend to the bottom surface 1c of the insertion jig 1, rather than forming a bridge. In this case, the ribs are further reinforced.

[0021] Furthermore, the height d is set such that the height change due to the inclination of the auxiliary plate portion 3 is greater than or equal to the overlap of the dimensional change of the upper lip of the side seal 12 when the insertion jig 1 is inserted. As a result, by bringing the auxiliary plate portion 3 into contact with the end face of the guide rail 13 and inserting the slider 11, the upper lip of the side seal 12 is smoothly inserted while maintaining the appropriate overlap. Furthermore, if the auxiliary plate portion 3 is provided on only one side in the longitudinal direction, the slider 11 can be easily inserted into the insertion jig 3 from the other side, and as the slider 11 moves, an appropriate overlap is applied to the upper lip 12a of the side seal 12.

[0022] In this way, the upper lip 12a of the side seal 12 during slider 11 insertion is given the appropriate overlap by the auxiliary plate portion 3, enabling smooth insertion into the guide rail 13 at low cost without damaging the lip. By using the insertion jig 1 of the present invention, damage to the side seal 12 can be suppressed when moving the slider 11 from the insertion jig to the guide rail 13. Furthermore, damage to the insertion jig 1 is also less likely to occur.

[0023] Furthermore, the auxiliary plate section 3 may be provided on only one side of the insertion jig 1, or on both ends. When provided on both ends, the insertion jig 1 can function as a stopper to prevent the slider 11 from falling out, thereby improving the transportability of the slider 11 during delivery. In other words, when the auxiliary plate section is provided on both ends, the appropriate pressure difference of the upper lip 12a of the side seal 12 creates friction at both ends, which also acts as a barrier to prevent the slider 11 from coming loose.

[0024] Furthermore, since the auxiliary plate portion 3 is elastically deformable inward or downward, it can tolerate stress from the upper lip 12a of the side seal 12. In other words, even if pressure is applied from the side seal 12 to the auxiliary plate portion 3 of the insertion jig 1, the elastic deformation of the auxiliary plate portion 3 cushions the pressure, thus preventing damage to the lip portion of the side seal 12 when the slider 11 passes over the auxiliary plate portion. For this reason, it is not necessary to use steel as the material for the insertion jig 1, and resin material can be used instead. Thus, the insertion jig 1 can be manufactured simply and at low cost.

[0025] Next, the overall shape of the insertion jig 1 other than the auxiliary plate portion 3 will be described. When the reinforcing rib 2a shown in the DD end view of Figure 2 is cut by a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion jig 1, the upper surface of the cross-sectional shape is located at a height d lower than the outer frame 2c and is continuous with the inclined surface a of the auxiliary plate portion 3. This makes it difficult for the auxiliary plate portion 3 to come off the insertion jig 1. Also, the upper surface of the reinforcing rib 2a that is not continuous with the inclined surface a of the auxiliary plate portion 3 is located at a height d lower than the outer frame 2c, so there is no strong contact with the upper lip 12a, thus avoiding wear during transportation. Furthermore, unlike the guide rail 13, the insertion jig 1 is for temporarily assembling the slider 11 as a so-called temporary shaft, so it is preferable that the overall axial length of the insertion jig 1 be L2 or longer than the axial length of the slider 11, and more preferably twice L2 or longer.

[0026] Furthermore, the reinforcing rib 2b shown in the EE end view of Figure 2 is the same as the reinforcing rib 2b shown in the BB end view of Figure 2, and is located at a height d lower than the outer frame 2c and is continuous with the inclined surface a of the auxiliary plate section 3. This allows the slider 11 to move smoothly when transferring from the insertion jig 1 to the guide rail 13. Also, because the reinforcing rib 2b is lower by a height d, there is no strong contact with the upper lip 12a, thus avoiding wear during transportation.

[0027] Furthermore, since the purpose of the insertion jig 1 is to temporarily hold the slider 11 and to allow the slider 11 to be smoothly inserted into the guide rail 13, the entire interior of the insertion jig 1 does not need to be functionally thick. As shown in Figure 1(b), the upper and lower surfaces of the areas other than the auxiliary plate portion 3, reinforcing rib 2a, and reinforcing rib 2b are left open, a so-called "material removal" feature is provided. By providing such material removal, the insertion jig 1 can be made lighter and its cost reduced.

[0028] In this area of ​​material removal, reinforcing ribs 2a are formed at equal intervals in the longitudinal and perpendicular directions (four or more in Figure 1(b)), and one longitudinal reinforcing rib 2b is formed in the central part. As shown in the DD end view of Figure 2, it is provided as a single reinforcing plate to reinforce the insertion jig 1. The number of these reinforcing ribs 2a and 2b is not limited to this and is determined according to the size of the insertion jig 1 and the amount of material removal. Furthermore, the strength of the ribs is reinforced because the intersections of the reinforcing ribs 2a and 2b are joined and integrated.

[0029] Furthermore, the auxiliary plate portion 3, the reinforcing ribs 2a and 2b, and the upper open portion 2, which is the part where material removal is provided, can all be manufactured as a single molded resin product with high precision and a simple mold structure. In other words, the cross-sectional shape and end face shape of the insertion jig 1, including the auxiliary plate portion 3, can be formed by injection molding to match the cross-sectional shape and end face shape of the guide rail 13.

[0030] [Embodiment 2] The insertion jig 1 of this second embodiment is provided with a stopper insertion portion 4 on the end side of the insertion jig 1, which was not present in the first embodiment. Except for the difference in the inclined position around the stopper insertion portion 4, it has the same form as the first embodiment, and its effect is also the same.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3(c), the stopper insertion section 4 is formed as a stepped through-hole on the end side of the insertion jig 1. A pin or screw for preventing slide dislodgement is inserted into this through-hole from the guide rail 13. The lower part of the step into which the tip of the pin or screw is inserted is formed as a cylindrical shape with radius L6, and the upper part of the step on the head side is formed as a cylindrical shape with radius L3, and the two parts are in communication with each other.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(b), the center of the through-hole, which is the stopper insertion portion 4, is located at the intersection of the reinforcing rib 2a and auxiliary rib 2b, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the upper open portion 2 of the insertion jig 1, and the auxiliary rib 2a and auxiliary plate portion 3 are shortened by a length of radius L3 due to the through-hole.

[0033] Next, the shape of the stopper insertion portion 4 of this embodiment 2 in relation to the auxiliary plate portion 3 and the upper open portion 2 will be explained with reference to the end view shown in Figure 4. Since the AA end view in Figure 4 does not include the through hole, it is the same as the AA end view in Embodiment 1, and therefore the explanation here is redundant and will be omitted.

[0034] Figure 4, BB end view, is an enlarged end view of the main part from the end of the insertion jig 1 in the longitudinal direction, from the auxiliary plate portion 3 to the upper open portion 2. There is no length L1 on the auxiliary plate portion 3 side, and the same shape of the auxiliary plate portion 3 as in the AA end view is formed from the auxiliary rib 2a side opposite the through hole of the stopper insertion portion 4. That is, from the end of the insertion jig 1 in the longitudinal direction toward the upper open portion 2, starting from the point where the length changes from L4 to L5, the upper lip 12a of the side seal 12 has an inclined surface a with a slope θ of height d, and as the slider 11 moves, it is further given a little more overlap, and at the end, it is given an overlap amount equal to or greater than the overlap amount when the rail is inserted.

[0035] Furthermore, the CC end view is a cross-section at the intersection of the reinforcing rib 2a and the auxiliary rib 2b at the center of the through hole. As shown in this CC end view, the center is empty due to the through hole, and on the upper surfaces of both sides of the empty space, recesses are formed by the inclined surface a on the auxiliary plate portion 3 side, with a height of d lower. The higher ends of the recesses are the auxiliary rib 2a and the upper surface 1a of the upper open portion 2 (which is also the outer frame 2c).

[0036] Furthermore, the DD end view shows a cross-section closer to the auxiliary plate portion 3 than the cross-section in the CC end view. Therefore, the frame of the through hole of the stopper insertion portion 4 and the auxiliary plate portion 3, which is lower by a height d due to the inclined surface a, are shown. The EE end view is a cross-section just before the inclined surface a on the auxiliary plate portion 3 side is formed, and is the same as the CC end view in Figure 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the FF end view is the same as the EE end view in Figure 2, showing that the reinforcing rib 2b is lower by a height d than the upper surface 1a (which is also the outer frame 2c) of the upper open section 2. The GG end view is the same as the DD end view in Figure 2, showing the reinforcing rib 2a of the upper open section 2.

[0038] Thus, in this embodiment 2, the shapes of the multiple auxiliary plate portions 3 do not need to be the same. As described above, by inserting a pin or screw that fits the through hole of the stopper insertion part 4 from the top surface, and having the head of the pin or screw contact the end face of the slider 11, the insertion jig 1 can be given the function of a stopper, thereby improving the transportability and safety of the slider 11.

[0039] [Embodiment 3] As shown in Figure 5(a), the insertion jig 1 of Embodiment 3 has a structure in which the auxiliary plate portion 5 branches into two (approximately Y-shaped) in the longitudinal direction at the end of the insertion jig 1. Therefore, a more uniform tightening allowance can be provided at the end of the insertion jig 3.

[0040] The insertion jig 1 of Embodiment 3 has a bifurcated (approximately Y-shaped) branch in the auxiliary plate portion 5 when viewed from above, which differs from the auxiliary plate portion 5 of the insertion jig 1 of Embodiments 2 and 3. However, the end view in Figure 5A-A is almost the same as the end view in Figure 2A-A of Embodiment 1 and the end view in Figure 4AA of Embodiment 2. Also, the end view in Figure 5B-B differs from the end view in Figure 2C-C of Embodiment 1 and the end view in Figure 4E-E of Embodiment 2 in the number of auxiliary plate portions 5. Specifically, the auxiliary plate portion 5 in Figure 5(a) has 7 sections, and since there is a bifurcated (approximately Y-shaped) section, there are approximately twice as many, totaling 13 sections. Thus, the longitudinal auxiliary plate portion 5 in the insertion jig 1 of Embodiment 3 does not need to be entirely parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 13; it may be arranged diagonally or have a branching structure.

[0041] As described above, the slider 11 on the insertion jig 1 is moved longitudinally toward the guide rail 13. When the slider 11 is inserted into the guide rail 13, it moves along the inclined surface a of the auxiliary plate 5, which is at a lower position by a height d. The upper lip of the side seal 12 is then gradually given an overlap as the slider 11 moves away from the inclined surface a, until at the end, it is given an overlap equal to or greater than the overlap at the time of rail insertion. The height change due to the inclined surface a of the auxiliary plate 5 is set to be greater than or equal to the overlap of the dimensional change of the upper lip of the side seal 12 when the insertion jig 1 is inserted. This ensures that the upper lip of the side seal 12 is inserted smoothly while maintaining an appropriate overlap, preventing damage to the side seal 12.

[0042] Furthermore, the auxiliary plate section 5 may be provided on only one side of the insertion jig 1, or on both ends. When provided on both ends, the insertion jig 1 can function as a stopper to prevent the slider 11 from falling out, thereby improving the transportability of the slider 11 during delivery. In other words, when the auxiliary plate section is provided on both ends, the appropriate pressure difference of the upper lip of the side seal 12 creates frictional force at both ends, which also acts as a barrier to prevent the slider 11 from coming loose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Insertion jig 1a Top surface 1a (insertion jig) 1b Rolling element rolling groove (insertion jig) 2. Open top section (insertion jig) 2a Reinforcement rib 2b Reinforcement rib 2c outer frame 3. Auxiliary plate section 5. Auxiliary plate section 10 Linear motion guide device 11 Sliders 12 Side seals 12a Top lip 13 Guide rails 13a Rolling element rolling groove (guide rail) a Slope

Claims

1. Guide rail and A slider is mounted to straddle the aforementioned guide rail so as to be movable relative to it, Used in a linear motion guide device having side seals located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slider, which seal the gap between the guide rail and the slider. An insertion jig for inserting the slider into the guide rail, The aforementioned insertion jig is An open top section having an outer shape substantially identical to that of the guide rail, The upper open portion is provided with an auxiliary plate portion having an inclined surface at at least one end of each end, An insertion jig for a linear motion guide device, characterized in that the upper open portion and the auxiliary plate portion are injection molded as a single unit.

2. The insertion jig for a linear motion guide device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the amount of height change due to the inclination of the auxiliary plate portion is greater than or equal to the difference in the amount of dimensional change of the upper lip of the side seal when the slider is inserted into the insertion jig.

Images