Guiding body and motion-guiding device provided with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10030700-B2
Application number	US-201314406434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2012
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A guide body can be prevented from being disengaged from a track rail even where the track rail is made of a low-rigidity material, thereby securing reliable movement along the track rail. The guide body includes: a large number of rolling elements that roll on a rolling surface formed along a structure, the guide body being movable relative to the structure; an endless circulation path through which the large number of rolling elements circulate; a load opening portion for allowing the large number of rolling elements in the endless circulation path to be held in contact with the rolling surface of the structure; and a guide portion formed on at least one side of the load opening portion so as to project toward the structure side with respect to projecting ends of the large number of rolling elements projecting from the load opening portion toward the structure side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for moving a movable body, comprising:
a structure having swelling portion formed continuously along the moving direction of the movable body, and having at least a single rolling groove formed in a distal end surface of the swelling portion, the rolling groove facing in a horizontal direction; and
a guide body fixed to the movable body and configured to move relative to the structure, the guide body comprising
a plurality of rolling elements that roll on the rolling groove and are held in contact with the rolling groove along the horizontal direction;
at least one endless circulation path through which the plurality of rolling elements circulate;
a load opening portion formed so as to open to the rolling groove, the load opening portion allowing the plurality of rolling elements in the endless circulation path to be held in contact with the rolling groove; and
a guide portion formed on a side of the load opening portion such that, in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is held in contact with the rolling groove, the guide portion faces a side surface of the swelling portion with a gap therebetween,

wherein, in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is separated from the rolling groove, the guide portion is held in sliding contact with the side surface of the swelling portion such that the guide body is configured to move relative to the structure,
wherein projecting ends of the plurality of rolling elements project from the load opening portion toward the structure side, and
wherein a part of the guide portion opposite to the side surface of the swelling portion protrudes a first distance toward the structure side, wherein the plurality of rolling elements protrudes a second distance from the load opening portion toward the structure side, and wherein the first distance exceeds the second distance.

2. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 1 ,
wherein the guide body comprises a pair of halves having the same shape, the pair of halves being coupled to each other,
wherein each of the pair of halves comprises an endless rolling-element rolling groove, and
wherein the endless circulation path for the plurality of rolling elements and the load opening portion are formed by coupling the pair of halves so as to face each other.

3. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 2 , wherein the pair of halves are fixed to each other at both end portions of each of the pair of halves in a moving direction thereof.

4. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 3 , wherein the pair of halves are fixed to each other in a snap-fit manner.

5. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 1 ,
wherein the endless circulation path of the guide body comprises a load rolling surface for allowing the plurality of rolling elements to roll under a load between the load rolling surface and the rolling groove, and
wherein the load rolling surface is formed into a convex curved surface along a longitudinal direction of the load opening portion.

6. A motion guide device, comprising:
a track rail having a swelling portion formed continuously along a longitudinal direction, the track rail having at least one rolling groove formed in a distal end surface of the swelling portion, the rolling groove facing in a horizontal direction; and
a guide body assembled to the track rail through intermediation of a plurality of the rolling elements in a freely movable manner, the guide body comprising
at least one endless circulation path through which the plurality of rolling elements circulate;
a load opening portion which is open to the rolling groove of the track rail, the load opening portion allowing the plurality of rolling elements in the endless circulation path to be held in contact with the rolling groove; and
a guide portion formed on a side of the load opening portion such that, in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is held in contact with the rolling groove, the guide portion faces a side surface of the swelling portion with a gap therebetween,

wherein, in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is separated from the rolling groove, the guide portion is held in sliding contact with the side surface of the swelling portion such that the guide body is configured to move relative to the track rail,
wherein projecting ends of the plurality of rolling elements project from the load opening portion toward the track rail side, and
wherein a part of the guide portion opposite to the side surface of the swelling portion protrudes a first distance toward the track rail side, wherein the plurality of rolling elements protrudes a second distance from the load opening portion toward the track rail side, and wherein the first distance exceeds the second distance.

7. A device for moving a movable body, comprising:
a structure having swelling portion formed continuously along the moving direction of the movable body, and having at least a single rolling groove formed in a distal end surface of the swelling portion, the rolling groove facing in a horizontal direction; and
a guide body fixed to the movable body and configured to move relative to the structure, the guide body comprising
a plurality of rolling elements that roll on the rolling groove and are held in contact with the rolling groove along the horizontal direction;
at least one endless circulation path through which the plurality of rolling elements circulate;
a load opening portion formed so as to open to the rolling groove, the load opening portion allowing the plurality of rolling elements in the endless circulation path to be held in contact with the rolling groove; and
a guide portion formed on a side a pair of guide portions formed on opposing sides of the load opening portion so as to surround the load opening portion therebetween, each of the guide portions such that; in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is held in contact with the rolling groove, the guide portion faces facing a side surface of the swelling portion with a gap therebetween,

wherein; in a case where the plurality of rolling elements is separated from the rolling groove; the guide portion is portions are held in contact with the side surface of the swelling portion such that the guide body is configured to move relative to the structure, in a case where the plurality of rolling elements are separated from the rolling groove,
wherein projecting ends of the plurality of rolling elements project from the load opening portion toward the structure side,
wherein a part of the guide portion opposite to the side surface of the swelling portion horizontally protrudes toward the structure a first distance, wherein the first distance is greater than a depth along the horizontal direction of the rolling groove formed in the swelling portion.

8. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 7 ,
wherein the guide body comprises a pair of halves having the same shape, the pair of halves being coupled to each other,
wherein each of the pair of halves comprises an endless rolling-element rolling groove, and
wherein the endless circulation path for the plurality of rolling elements and the load opening portion are formed by coupling the pair of halves so as to face each other.

9. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 8 ,
wherein the pair of halves are fixed to each other at both end portions of each of the pair of halves in a moving direction thereof.

10. The device for moving a movable body according to claim 9 ,
wherein the pair of halves are fixed to each other in a snap-fit manner.

11. The device for moving a mo

Assignees

• Thk Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hoshide Kaoru
• Mochizuki Hiroaki
• Kuribayashi Hiroomi
• Kaneko Akito

Classifications

• F16C29/063

  with a bearing body, e.g. a carriage or part thereof, provided between the legs of a U-shaped guide rail or track · CPC title

• A47B2210/0032

  Balls · CPC title

• A47B2210/0035

  cages therefor, e.g. for telescopic slides · CPC title

• F16C2314/72

  Drawers · CPC title

• F16C29/005

  Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along · CPC title