Linear Guide Sensor Mounting for Maintenance Access

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional linear guides face challenges in sensor maintainability and assemblability due to the difficulty in demounting and remounting heavy placing members, leading to poor maintenance and assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A motion guide device with a folder that houses and holds the sensor in the width direction of the track body, allowing for easy mounting and maintenance without demounting placing members, featuring a guide part, holder, and magnet to position and secure the sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sensor is mounted on the end face of the slider block in a small gap between the track rail and the placing member, then the sensor can be positioned close to the encoder scale for accurate detection, but when a malfunction occurs at the sensor, the placing member should be demounted for maintenance which is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsensor maintenability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor mounting structure is segmented from the placing member. The sensor is mounted on a dedicated sensor mounting portion of the slider block, separate from the placing member. This segmentation allows the sensor to be accessed and maintained independently without demounting the heavy placing member, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and maintenability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the sensor is mounted on the slider block with placing members fixed to the placing surface, then the sensor can be integrated into the movable body, but demounting or remounting the heavy placing member is very difficult and requires significant time and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration levelVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor mounting structure is segmented from the placing member. The sensor is mounted on a dedicated sensor mounting portion of the slider block, separate from the placing member. This segmentation allows the sensor to be accessed and maintained independently without demounting the heavy placing member, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and maintenability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the linear encoder is installed afterward on the linear guide, then the linear guide can be assembled first, but it is not easy to accurately install the linear encoder added afterward

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly sequence flexibilityVSAvoidencoder installation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encoder scale is preliminarily disposed on the track rail during the linear guide assembly process, before the sensor is mounted on the slider block. This preliminary action ensures that the encoder scale is accurately positioned on the track rail, and when the sensor is subsequently mounted on the sensor mounting portion, accurate alignment is achieved without requiring complex post-assembly adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If various placing members are fixed to the placing surface of the slider block, then the functional components can be securely mounted, but when sensor maintenance is needed, the placing member must be demounted which is difficult for heavy members

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent securityVSAvoidsensor accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor mounting structure is segmented from the placing member. The sensor is mounted on a dedicated sensor mounting portion of the slider block, separate from the placing member. This segmentation allows the sensor to be accessed and maintained independently without demounting the heavy placing member, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and maintenability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances sensor assemblability and maintainability by allowing for free positioning of the sensor relative to the encoder scale and enabling maintenance without removing placing members, improving the overall reliability and efficiency of the linear guide system.

Implementation Method 1

the holder may include a magnet part that attracts and holds the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS9863478B2Motion guide device

Publication Date: 2018.01.09 THK CO LTD

AI summary

A motion guide device (1) includes: a track body that extends in a longitudinal direction; a movable body (20) that is mounted on the track body and is movable along the track body; an encoder scale that is disposed at the track body in the longitudinal direction; a sensor (50) that is disposed opposite to the encoder scale; and a folder (60) that is disposed at an end face of the movable body (20) in the longitudinal direction, houses the sensor (50) in a width direction of the track body, and holds the sensor such that the sensor faces the encoder scale.