Rolling guiding device

Abstract

The present invention is characterized by comprising a raceway member (200) and a moving member (300) that is mounted on the raceway member (200) with multiple rolling elements (400) interposed therebetween and that has an endless circulation path for the rolling elements (400), the moving member (300) including a main body member (310) that has a load rolling surface (311) and a no-load passage (520) for the rolling elements (400), and a pair of lid bodies (320) that have a direction-changing path (530), the direction-changing path (530) having a changing part (530a), a load passage connecting part (530c), and a no-load passage connecting part (530b), the body member (310) having at both ends of the no-load passage (520) a pair of fitting holes (340) recessed from the end surfaces of the body member (310), the lid body (320) having a protruding part (350) that includes the no-load passage connecting part (530b) and that is fitted into the fitting holes (340) when attached to the main body member (310), and a connection point that connects the center line of the direction-changing path (530) and the center line of the no-load passage connecting part (530b) being provided in the protruding part (350).

Description

Rolling guide device

[0001] The present invention relates to a rolling guide device used in industrial machines such as various conveying devices.

[0002] A rolling guide device used in industrial machinery includes a track member having a rolling surface for rolling elements formed along its longitudinal direction, and a moving member that is assembled to the track member via a large number of rolling elements that roll on the rolling surface and that is capable of reciprocating motion along the track member. The moving member has a loaded rolling surface along which the rolling elements roll while bearing a load, and the loaded rolling surface faces the rolling surface of the track member to form a loaded passage for the rolling elements. The moving member also has an unloaded passage that circulates the rolling elements from one end of the loaded passage to the other, and the loaded passage and the unloaded passage are connected by a pair of direction change passages to form an infinite circulation passage for the rolling elements. This allows the moving member to move along the track member without stroke restriction.

[0003] In order for the rolling guide device to perform to its full potential, it is essential that the rolling elements circulate smoothly within the endless circulation path, and if smooth circulation is impeded, problems such as a deterioration in the operating accuracy of movable bodies such as tables guided by the rolling guide device will occur. Since particularly high precision is required for rolling guide devices used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and the like, there is a demand for rolling guide devices that can achieve smoother circulation of rolling elements. The rolling device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an example of an invention that aims to solve the problem of smooth circulation of rolling elements within the endless circulation path.

[0004] The rolling device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an inner member having rolling element rolling grooves formed therein and an outer member assembled to the inner member via a plurality of rolling elements so as to be movable relative to the inner member. The outer member includes an outer member main body having loaded rolling element rolling grooves that cooperate with the rolling element rolling grooves to form loaded rolling element rolling paths and unloaded rolling element rolling paths, and a pair of lids attached to both end faces of the outer member main body and having direction change paths connecting the loaded rolling element rolling paths and the unloaded rolling element rolling paths. The lids are provided with protrusions that protrude from the connecting surfaces between the lids and the outer member main body toward the outer member main body. A lubricant supply groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion. The lubricant supply groove functions as a lubricant supply path for the rolling device, supplying lubricant into an endless circulation path to promote smooth circulation of the rolling elements. As such, Patent Document 1 is one example of a means for solving the problem of smooth circulation of rolling elements in a rolling guide device, and various other means have been considered in addition to Patent Document 1 for the purpose of solving this problem.

[0005] Patent Publication No. 2015-206456

[0006] In the loaded passage, the rolling elements roll in accordance with the movement of the moving member relative to the raceway, but when the rolling elements roll out of the loaded passage, they are pushed by the following rolling elements and circulate toward the entrance of the loaded passage. In other words, in the pair of direction change paths and the unloaded passage, the rolling elements do not roll by themselves, but are merely moved by the push of the following rolling elements. For this reason, there is a difference in the change in the amount of movement of the rolling elements at the entrance and exit of the loaded passage, and it is presumed that this is one of the factors that hinders the smooth circulation of the rolling elements in the infinite circulation path.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its object is to provide a rolling guide device that reduces the difference in the amount of movement of the rolling elements at the outlet and inlet of the load passage, thereby enabling the rolling elements to circulate smoothly within the infinite circulation path.

[0008] The inventors focused on the difference in the amount of movement of the rolling elements at the entrance and exit of each direction change passage in the circulation path of the rolling elements from the exit to the entrance of the load passage, and discovered that by reducing this difference, the difference in the amount of movement of the rolling elements at the entrance and exit of the load passage is reduced, making it possible for the rolling elements to circulate smoothly within the infinite circulation passage, leading to the present invention.

[0009] That is, the rolling guide device of the present invention comprises a raceway member having a rolling surface along the longitudinal direction, and a moving member assembled to the raceway member via a large number of rolling elements rolling on the rolling surface and movable along the raceway member, and having an infinite circulation path for the rolling elements, the moving member comprising a main body member having a loaded rolling surface opposing the rolling surface of the raceway member and constituting a loaded passage for the rolling elements and an unloaded passage for the rolling elements parallel to the loaded passage, and a pair of lid bodies having a direction change passage for moving the rolling elements back and forth between the loaded passage and the unloaded passage and attached to both end faces of the main body member in the moving direction, The direction change path has a change section that changes the direction of movement of the rolling element, a loaded passage connection section having one end connected to the change section and the other end connected to the loaded passage, and an unloaded passage connection section having one end connected to the change section and the other end connected to the unloaded passage, the main body member has a pair of fitting holes recessed from the end face of the main body member at both ends of the unloaded passage, the cover body includes the unloaded passage connection section and has a protrusion that is fitted into the fitting hole when attached to the main body member, and a connection point that connects the center line of the direction change path and the center line of the unloaded passage connection section is provided within the protrusion.

[0010] The rolling guide device of the present invention can reduce the difference in the amount of movement between the rolling elements at the entrance of the direction change path and the rolling elements at the exit of the direction change path, and can minimize the difference in the amount of movement between the rolling elements on the orbital path of the rolling elements from the exit of the load passage to the entrance of the load passage, thereby achieving smooth circulation of the rolling elements throughout the entire infinite circulation path.

[0011] 1 is a perspective view of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an endless circulation path of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lid body with a direction changer removed of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a direction changer of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an endless circulation path of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of rolling elements in an endless circulation path of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a line graph showing the relationship between the movement amount difference and the movement amount of a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the endless circulation path of a conventional rolling guide device. FIG.

[0012] The rolling guide device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] 1 is a perspective view of a rolling guide device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This rolling guide device 100 is composed of a linearly extending track member 200 and a moving member 300 attached to the track member 200 via a large number of balls as rolling elements. The rolling guide device 100 has the track member 200 installed on a fixed portion of various machinery and devices, and various movable bodies are mounted on the moving member 300, so that the movable bodies can be guided to reciprocate freely along the track member 200.

[0014] The track member 200 is formed as an elongated body with a substantially rectangular cross section. A plurality of bolt mounting holes 201 are formed in the track member 200 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, penetrating from the top surface to the bottom surface. The rolling guide device 100 is designed to be able to firmly fix the track member 200 to the fixed portion using fixing bolts inserted into these bolt mounting holes 201. Two rolling surfaces 202 for the rolling elements 400 are provided on each of the left and right side surfaces of the track member 200, and the track member 200 as a whole is provided with four rolling surfaces 202. The number of rolling surfaces 202 provided on the track member 200 can be changed as appropriate.

[0015] The moving member 300 is composed of a metal main body member 310 and a pair of lids 320A, 320B attached to both ends in the moving direction of the main body member 310. An attachment hole 330 for attaching the moving member 300 to the movable body is provided on the upper surface of the main body member 310. The moving member 300 is provided with a plurality of endless circulation paths for the rolling elements 400 corresponding to each of the rolling surfaces 202 of the track member 200, and the moving member 300 shown in Figure 1 is provided with four endless circulation paths corresponding to the four rolling surfaces 202 provided on the track member 200.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of the perspective view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the endless circulation path 500 of the rolling element 400. This cross-sectional view, taken along line II-II, shows the cross section of the main body member 310 as viewed from the lid 320B side. The main body member 310 has a base portion 310a on which the mounting surface of the movable element is formed, and a pair of legs 310b perpendicular to the base portion 310a. The main body member 310 is positioned so as to sandwich the track member 200 between the pair of legs 310b and straddle the track member 200. The base portion 310a is formed with a female thread 312 used to integrally connect the main body member 310 and the lids 320A and 320B. A load rolling surface 311 on which the rolling element 400 rolls is formed on the inner side of each leg portion 310b. The rolling surface 202 of the raceway member 200 and the loaded rolling surface 311 of the body member 310 face each other, forming a load passage 510 along which the rolling elements 400 roll while bearing a load between the body member 310 and the raceway member 200. The load passage 510 is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the rolling elements 400.

[0017] An unloaded passage 520 corresponding to each loaded rolling surface 311 is formed in each leg portion 310b and parallel to the loaded passage 510. The unloaded passage 520 is provided penetrating the body member 310 in the direction of travel. The inner diameter of the unloaded passage 520 is set slightly larger than the diameter of the rolling elements 400. This allows the rolling elements 400 to move within the unloaded passage 520 without bearing a load. The body member 310 has a pair of fitting holes 340 recessed from the end face of the body member 310 at both ends of the unloaded passage 520.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4 , the lid body 320B has a base portion 321a and a pair of legs 321b perpendicular to the base portion 321a. The lid body 320B is positioned so as to straddle the track member 200, sandwiching the track member 200 between the pair of legs 321b. The lid body 320B has bolt mounting holes for attaching the lid body 320B to the main body member 310. The lid body 320B and the main body member 310 can be integrally connected by inserting bolts into the bolt mounting holes and threading the bolts into the female threads 312 of the main body member 310. The lid body 320A has a configuration similar to that of the lid body 320B and is integrally connected to the main body member 310. In this manner, the pair of lid bodies 320 are attached to both end surfaces of the main body member 310 in the direction of movement.

[0019] The cover body 320B has a direction change path 530 in each leg portion 321b that allows the rolling elements 400 to move between the loaded passage 510 and the unloaded passage 520. As shown in FIG. 3, the direction change path 530 connects one end of the loaded passage 510 to one end of the unloaded passage 520, and can also connect the other end of the loaded passage 510 to the other end of the unloaded passage 520. As shown in the figure, the direction change path 530 reaches the position of the fitting hole 340 formed in the end surface of the main body member 310. In this way, the endless circulation path 500 is composed of the loaded passage 510, the unloaded passage 520, and a pair of direction change paths 530 (see FIG. 3).

[0020] The cover 320B has a recess 531 in each leg 321b recessed from the connecting surface with the main body member 310. The cover 320B also has two outer peripheral protrusions 532 protruding from each leg 321b toward the main body member 310. The cover 320B has an outer peripheral guide groove 533 having a concave curved surface that is formed continuously from the recess 531 to the outer peripheral protrusion 532. The outer peripheral guide groove 533 constitutes the direction change path 530, and two grooves are provided in each recess 531. The outer peripheral guide grooves 533 are arranged vertically in accordance with the positions of the loaded path 510 and the unloaded path 520.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a direction change portion 540 that constitutes a part of the lid body 320B. FIG. 5 shows the direction change portion 540 viewed from different angles on the left and right. The direction change portion 540 is a member that is fitted into the recess 531 of the lid body 320B and has an inner circumferential protrusion 541 and an inner circumferential guide groove 542. The inner circumferential protrusion 541 faces the outer circumferential protrusion 532 when the direction change portion 540 is fitted into the recess 531, and forms part of the inner circumferential guide groove 542. The inner circumferential guide groove 542 constitutes the direction change path 530 and faces the outer circumferential guide groove 533 when the direction change portion 540 is fitted into the recess 531.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the cover 320B with the direction change portion 540 fitted into the recess 531 of the cover 320B. The inner peripheral protrusion 541 of the direction change portion 540 faces the outer peripheral protrusion 532 protruding from the leg 321b of the cover 320B, and the inner peripheral protrusion 541 and the outer peripheral protrusion 532 are integrated to form the protrusion 350. That is, the cover 320B has the protrusion 350. The inner peripheral guide groove 542 faces the outer peripheral guide groove 533 formed in the recess 531, and these guide grooves are integrated to form the direction change path 530. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover 320B is attached to the main body member 310, the protrusion 350 is fitted into the fitting hole 340 provided on the side surface of the main body member 310. As a result, the loaded passage 510 and the unloaded passage 520 are connected by the direction change passage 530. Since the lid body 320A and the lid body 320B have the same configuration, a detailed description of the lid body 320A will be omitted.

[0023] 7 is an enlarged view of the direction change path 530. The direction change path 530 has a change section 530a, an unloaded passage connection section 530b, and a loaded passage connection section 530c. The change path 530a is an intermediate path of the direction change path 530 and changes the moving direction of the rolling element 400. Therefore, the change path 530a guides the rolling element 400 entering from the loaded passage 510 in a curved line, changing the moving direction of the rolling element 400 toward the unloaded passage 520, while the change path 530a guides the rolling element 400 entering from the unloaded passage 520 in a curved line, changing the moving direction of the rolling element 400 toward the loaded passage 510.

[0024] One end of the unload passage connection portion 530b is connected to the switching portion 530a, and the other end is connected to the unload passage 520. Therefore, a portion of the unload passage connection portion 530b is formed within the protrusion 350, and the unload passage connection portion 530b within the protrusion 350 is disposed within the fitting hole 340 of the main body member 310 (see FIG. 7). The switching portion 530a and the unload passage 520 are connected via the unload passage connection portion 530. The unload passage connection portion 530b is formed with a curvature smaller than that of the switching portion 530a. Here, the curvature refers to the curvature of the rolling element raceway path, and the curvature in the following description also refers to the curvature of the rolling element raceway path.

[0025] One end of the load passage connection portion 530c is connected to the turning portion 530a, and the other end is connected to the load passage 510. Therefore, the turning portion 530a and the load passage 510 are connected via the load passage connection portion 530c. The load passage connection portion 530c functions as an introduction path for the rolling elements 400 entering the direction change path 530 from the load passage 510, and as a discharge path for the rolling elements 400 moving from the direction change path 530 toward the load passage 510. The load passage connection portion 530c is formed with a curvature smaller than that of the unload passage connection portion 530b. In other words, the direction change path 530 forms a compound curve in which the curvature changes stepwise along each path, and the curves of each path within the direction change path 530 become gentler in the order of the load passage connection portion 530c, the unload passage connection portion 530b, and the turning portion 530a. As a result, the center line 550 of the no-load passage connection portion 530b and the center line 560 of the no-load passage 520 are smoothly connected within the protruding portion 350. That is, a connection point P, which tangently connects the center line 550 of the no-load passage connection portion 530b and the center line 560 of the no-load passage 520, is provided within the protruding portion 350. In this case, the center line 560 of the no-load passage 520 exists as a tangent to the center line 550 of the no-load passage connection portion 530b.

[0026] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement of the rolling element 400 in the direction change path 530 when the moving member 300 moves from left to right on the page. The rolling element 400 moves in the direction of the arrow. The rolling element 400 gently enters the loaded path connection portion 530c of the direction change path 530 from the loaded path 510 and moves toward the change portion 530a. After entering the change portion 530a, the rolling element 400 changes direction and enters the unloaded path connection portion 530b. After entering the unloaded path connection portion 530b, the rolling element 400 is guided by a gentle curve and moves toward the unloaded path 520.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a line graph showing the relationship between the difference in the amount of movement of the preceding and succeeding rolling elements at a given point and the amount of movement of the rolling elements. Subdivision (a) of FIG. 9 is a line graph showing the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a shown in FIG. 8 and the amount of movement of rolling element 400a. While rolling element 400a is a rolling element moving within load passage 510, rolling element 400b is a rolling element that has been released from load passage 510 and entered load passage connection portion 530c of direction change passage 530. This results in a difference in the amount of movement between leading rolling element 400b and trailing rolling element 400a. The vertical axis of the line graph in subdivision (a) represents this difference in amount of movement in terms of the size of rolling element 400. A difference in amount of movement of 0% indicates that the amounts of movement of rolling element 400a and rolling element 400b are the same, which is the most desirable state for smooth circulation of rolling element 400. The horizontal axis of the line graph in sub-diagram (a) represents the amount of movement of rolling element 400a when it moves to the position of rolling element 400b, expressed in terms of the size of rolling element 400. The rolling element moving to the position of rolling element 400a and the rolling element moving to the position of rolling element 400b periodically exhibit behaviors similar to those shown in the line graph in sub-diagram (a).

[0028] 9(b) is a line graph showing the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c shown in FIG. 8 and the amount of movement of rolling element 400c. Both rolling elements 400c and 400d are rolling elements moving through unloaded passage connection section 530b of direction change path 530. The vertical axis of the line graph in FIG. 9(b) shows the difference in the amount of movement of these rolling elements in terms of the size of rolling element 400, while the horizontal axis of the line graph in FIG. 9(b) shows the amount of movement of 400c when it moves to the position of rolling element 400d in terms of the size of rolling element 400. The rolling elements moving to the position of rolling element 400c and the rolling elements moving to the position of rolling element 400d periodically exhibit behaviors as shown by the line graph in FIG. 9(b).

[0029] In the sub-graph (a), when the movement amount of rolling element 400a is 50%, the difference in the movement amount of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a is approximately minus 2%, which is the highest negative value in the sub-graph (a). That is, in the sub-graph (a), the difference in the movement amount is largest when the movement amount of rolling element 400a is 50%, which is the bottom of the line graph in the sub-graph (a). On the other hand, in the sub-graph (b), when the movement amount of rolling element 400c is 50%, the difference in the movement amount of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c is approximately 0%, which is the value closest to a positive value in the sub-graph (b). That is, in the sub-graph (b), the difference in the movement amount is smallest when the movement amount of rolling element 400c is 50%, which is the peak of the line graph in the sub-graph (b).

[0030] In this way, by aligning the valley of FIG. 4A, where the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a is large, with the peak of FIG. 4B, where the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c is small, at the position where the amount of movement of rolling element 400a and the amount of movement of rolling element 400c are 50%, it is possible to reduce the difference in the amount of movement of the rolling element at the connection point between the loaded passage and the direction change passage and at the connection point between the direction change passage and the unloaded passage. This makes it possible to smooth the movement of rolling element 400 within one of the cover bodies 320, i.e., one of the direction change passages 530.

[0031] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the endless circulation path of a conventional rolling guide device. The direction change path 530 shown in Fig. 10 is formed with a single curvature, and a connection point Q connecting the center line 450 of the unloaded path connection portion 530 and the center line 460 of the unloaded path 420 is provided on the mating surfaces of the cover body 320 and the movable body 310. Fig. 11 (c) is a line graph showing the difference in the amount of movement of rolling body 400b relative to rolling body 400a shown in Fig. 10 and the amount of movement of rolling body 400a, and Fig. 11 (d) is a line graph showing the difference in the amount of movement of rolling body 400d relative to rolling body 400c shown in Fig. 10 and the amount of movement of rolling body 400c.

[0032] [Correction based on Rule 91, 21.10.2024] In sub-graph (c) of Figure 11, when the movement of rolling element 400a is 50%, the difference in the movement of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a is approximately -2%, which is the most negative value in sub-graph (c). This waveform is identical to sub-graph (a) of Figure 9. On the other hand, in sub-graph (d), when the movement of rolling element 400c is 50%, the difference in the movement of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c is approximately -1%, which is the largest difference in the movement of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c. In this way, in the conventional rolling guide device, the bottom of the valley in the partial diagram (c) where the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a appears large coincides with the bottom of the valley in the partial diagram (d) where the difference in the amount of movement of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c appears large, so a large difference in the amount of movement appears in one of the direction change paths. A similar difference in the amount of movement occurs in the other direction change path, so the differences in the amount of movement between the rolling elements that occur at various points in the infinite circulation path from the exit of the load passage to the entrance of the load passage accumulate, sometimes affecting the smooth circulation of the rolling elements.

[0033] [Correction based on Rule 91 21.10.2024] On the other hand, in the rolling guide device 100 of the present application, the curvature of the direction change path 530 forms a compound curve that changes in stages, and part of the direction change path 530 is provided up to a position inside the main body member 310. As a result, the line graph of the sub-diagram (b) of Fig. 9 for the rolling guide device 100 is a shifted line of the line graph shown in the sub-diagram (d) of Fig. 11, and the bottom of the sub-diagram (a), where the difference in the movement amount of rolling element 400b relative to rolling element 400a appears large, and the peak of the sub-diagram (b), where the difference in the movement amount of rolling element 400d relative to rolling element 400c appears small, can be made to coincide at the position where the movement amount of rolling element 400a and the movement amount of rolling element 400c are 50%. This makes it possible to reduce the difference in the amount of movement between the rolling elements at the entrance of the direction change path 530 and the rolling elements at the exit of the direction change path 530. Therefore, the rolling guide device 100 of the present application can minimize the difference in the amount of movement between the rolling elements that occurs in the orbital path of the rolling elements from the exit of the load path to the entrance of the load path by reducing the difference in the amount of movement within each direction change path 530, and can realize smooth circulation of the rolling elements in the infinite circulation path.

[0034] Furthermore, although the curvature of the direction change path 530 of the rolling guide device 100 is limited to decrease in the order of the loaded passage connection portion 530c, the unloaded passage connection portion 530b, and the change portion 530a, the curvature of each path can be changed within this range. This allows the rolling guide device 100 to adjust the shift amount to the left or right of the broken line in the line graphs shown in the sub-diagrams (a) and (b) of FIG. 9 . In other words, the timing at which a large difference in the movement amount between the rolling elements 400 occurs at various points within the direction change path 530 can be adjusted forward or backward. Although the relationship between the difference in movement amount and the movement amount in the direction change path varies depending on the specifications of the rolling guide device, adjusting the shift amount can achieve a difference in movement amount appropriate for the specifications of the rolling guide device. Therefore, the rolling guide device 100 can optimize the difference in movement amount between the rolling elements moving forward and backward within the direction change path in accordance with the specifications of the rolling guide device.

[0035] Although the rolling guide device according to the present invention has been described using balls as the rolling elements, the invention is not limited to balls and rollers may also be used.

Claims

1. A bearing comprising: a raceway member (200) having a rolling surface (202) along the longitudinal direction; and a moving member (300) assembled to the raceway member (200) via a number of rolling elements (400) that roll on the rolling surface (202), movable along the raceway member (200), and having an infinite circulation path for the rolling elements (400), wherein the moving member (300) comprises: a main body member (310) having a loaded rolling surface (311) that faces the rolling surface (202) of the raceway member (200) and forms a loaded passage (510) for the rolling elements (400), and an unloaded passage (520) for the rolling elements (400) that is parallel to the loaded passage (510); a pair of cover bodies (320) attached to both end faces of the body member (310) in the moving direction thereof, the direction changing path (530) having a direction changing path (530) for moving the rolling elements (400) between the loaded path (510) and the unloaded path (520), the pair of cover bodies (320) attached to both end faces of the body member (310) in the moving direction thereof, the direction changing path (530) having a changing portion (530a) for changing the moving direction of the rolling elements (400), a loaded path connecting portion (530c) having one end connected to the changing portion (530a) and the other end connected to the loaded path (510), and an unloaded path connecting portion (530b) having one end connected to the changing portion (530a) and the other end connected to the unloaded path (520), the body member (310) having a pair of fitting holes (340) recessed from the end face of the body member (310) at both ends of the unloaded path (520), The rolling guide device (100) is characterized in that the cover body (320) includes the unloaded passage connection portion (530b) and has a protrusion (350) that is fitted into the fitting hole (340) when attached to the main body member (310), and a connection point that connects the center line of the direction change path (530) and the center line of the unloaded passage connection portion (530b) is provided within the protrusion (350).

2. The rolling guide device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the center line of the unloaded passage (520) exists as a tangent to the center line of the unloaded passage connection portion (530b).

3. The rolling guide device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the converting portion (530a) is formed with a curvature smaller than that of the rolling element (400), the curvature of the unloaded passage connection portion (530b) is smaller than that of the converting portion (530a), and the curvature of the loaded passage connection portion (530c) is smaller than that of the unloaded passage connection portion (530b).

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