Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Patent
1986-01-28
1987-11-17
Staab, Lawrence J.
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
74566, 384 15, F16H 1902, G05G 100
Patent
active
047065109
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a protective device for protecting the guide track of one machine part which receives a guiding element of another machine part that is mounted for movement on the one machine part.
If the two machine parts are to be moved relative to each other with great accuracy, such as is the case with manipulators, for instance, there is the problem that the guide surfaces must be protected from contamination; in particular from deposits of dust, grease, oil, etc. Such deposits impair not only the free wheeling and guidance of the machine parts, but also have an adverse effect on the accuracy of the motion, which has negative consequences in particular for travel-controlled actuator drives such as are found in manipulators, for example. The actual motion then no longer comes as close to the computer specification as it should.
Hitherto, one has attempted in practice to solve this problem by covering the tracks with bellows-type boots. It is also known from German-OS No. 29 46 825 to cover the tracks with two blinds which can be wound up and unwound and which are connected to the movable machine part. The blinds, however, have the disadvantage of being able to cover the tracks from the top only and not from the sides and, moreover, of being sensitive and susceptible to trouble. The bellow-like boots are not satisfactory either because they are associated with considerable space and cost requirements and with a not inconsiderable susceptibility to trouble.
Furthermore, it is known from German Pat. No. 11 01 096 to cover the rack of a drill spindle sleeve with a belt, but to leave the guide surfaces of the drill spindle sleeve unprotected and to wipe dirt accumulations off the drill spindle sleeve by means of sealing lips on the guiding means of the other machine part. Such a measure is inadequate for highly precise drives because such seals are suited for rotation symmetrical guiding means only, and also because they wear and become useless relatively quickly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to protect the tracks of the two machine parts mounted so as to be movable longitudinally relative to each other from deposits in a different and simpler manner.
The invention solves this problem by using a belt that lies over an open slot on a guide channel, the channel being otherwise closed and containing guiding means for the machine parts.
In this way, the guiding means of the two machine parts are disposed in a guide channel completely closed towards the outside, thus making it impossible for dirt particles like dust, grease, oil or the like to reach the guiding means and a rack possibly present therein. To make a relative motion of the two machine parts possible, the guide channel to the one machine part must have a slot through which the guide elements of the other machine part protrude. This slot is covered partly by the housing of the other machine part whose guide elements protrude into the channel. In the other areas, the slot is closed by the covering belt placed on it. The slot is thus covered completely, also in all travel positions of the machine parts.
The protective device according to the invention does not depend on whether the one machine part is being moved relative to the other or vice versa and on how the drive is designed. By the same token, it is immaterial for the protective device whether the rigid guide track is disposed on the moved or on the stationary machine part and the guide elements on the respective counterpart. To keep the masses to be moved as small as possible, it is recommended, of course, to dispose the guide track on the stationary and in the generally longer machine part and to provide the guide element on the moved, usually shorter machine part.
It is particularly advantageous when the protective device is combined with the drive of the machine parts in that a toothed belt is provided as the covering belt. The toothed belt may either be fixed stationarily or move in revolving fasion. Depending on the embodiment, the drive
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Kuka Schweissanlagen & Roboter GmbH
Staab Lawrence J.
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