Bearings – Linear bearing – Recirculating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-07-17
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Linear bearing
Recirculating
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roller guiding apparatus to be incorporated into a machine tool etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The applicant of the present application previously developed a roller guiding apparatus shown in
FIG. 8
to be incorporated into a machine tool. This roller guiding apparatus has a guide rail
3
provided with upper rolling paths
1
in its upper surface and with side rolling paths
2
in its side surfaces, a moving block
8
having an upper portion
4
provided with rolling paths
6
corresponding to the upper rolling paths
1
and side portions
5
extending vertically downward from the upper portion
4
and provided with rolling paths
7
corresponding to the side rolling paths
2
, upper rollers
9
retained on the upper portion
4
of the moving block
8
so as to roll along the upper rolling paths
1
of the guide rail
3
, and side rollers
10
retained on the side portions
5
of the moving block
8
so as to roll along the side rolling paths
2
of the guide rail
3
. The moving block
8
supported by the upper rollers
9
and the side rollers
10
on the guide rail
3
moves along the guide rail
3
.
The entire upper surface of the guide rail
3
of the roller guiding apparatus is flat and the upper rolling paths
1
are parallel to the upper surface. The side rolling paths
2
are flat and inclined surfaces which are inclined to the upper surface of the guide rail
3
. The rolling paths
6
formed in the upper portion of the moving block
8
so as to correspond to the upper rolling paths
1
of the guide rail
3
are flat surfaces which are parallel to the upper rolling paths
1
. The rolling paths
7
formed in the side portions
5
so as to correspond to the side rolling paths
2
of the guide rail
3
are flat and inclined surfaces which are parallel to the side rolling paths
2
. The rollers
9
and
10
retained on the upper portion
4
and the side portions
5
, respectively, of the moving block
8
are cylindrical rollers.
Generally, a plurality of roller guiding apparatuses, for example, four roller guiding apparatuses, are incorporated into a machine tool to support an object.
In the foregoing known roller guiding apparatus, the cylindrical rollers
9
and
10
retained on the upper portion
4
and the side portions
5
, respectively, of the moving block
8
roll along the flat upper rolling paths
1
formed in the upper surface of the guide rail
3
and the flat side rolling paths
2
formed in the side surfaces of the guide rail
3
, respectively, as the moving block
8
moves along the guide rail
3
.
When a lateral force, i.e., a force acting in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail
3
, acts on the moving block
8
due to a positional error in installing the guide rail
3
and the moving block
8
is displaced laterally relative to the guide rail
3
, the cylindrical rollers
9
and
10
are tilted. Consequently, end surfaces of the cylindrical rollers
9
and
10
come into irregular contact with side surfaces defining the flat rolling paths
1
and
2
and the cylindrical rollers
9
and
10
are unable to roll smoothly. If the guide rail
3
meanders slightly, the moving block
8
is unable to move smoothly. Thus, this known roller guiding apparatus does not have sufficient ability necessary to deal properly with problems that arise when a lateral force is applied to the moving block
8
.
The flat upper rolling paths
1
and the flat side rolling paths
2
of the foregoing roller guiding apparatus are bottom surfaces of grooves. Therefore end surfaces of the cylindrical rollers
9
and
10
, and the side surfaces of the grooves defining the flat upper rolling paths
1
and the flat side rolling paths
2
must accurately be formed, which increases the manufacturing cost.
The moving block
8
of the foregoing roller guiding apparatus is formed of steel. Therefore, through holes for receiving the rollers
9
and
10
therein must be formed in the moving block
8
by machining. When forming the through holes by machining, pilot holes are formed in the moving block
8
and then the pilot holes are machined in a desired shape by broaching. Thus, the through holes are formed by several machining steps. The pilot holes must be formed straight with a high machining accuracy.
Accordingly, it is difficult to manufacture this known roller guiding apparatus at high productivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a roller guiding apparatus comprising a guide rail, a moving block guided for movement by the guide rail and rollers supporting the moving block on the guide rail, and capable of insuring the smooth rolling of the rollers and the smooth movement of the moving block even when a lateral force is applied to the moving block due to a positional error which was produced during the installation of the guide rail.
A roller guiding apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a guide rail having an upper surface, side surfaces, a pair of upper rolling paths formed in opposite side regions of the upper surface, and a pair of side rolling paths formed in the side surfaces, the upper rolling paths being formed as a pair of concave surfaces declining toward a middle portion of the guide rail with respect to a width, the concave surfaces extending along arcs of a common circle; a moving block provided with a groove receiving therein the guide rail, the moving block being mounted on the guide rail so as to be able to move along the guide rail; a plurality of upper rollers arranged in rows on the moving block so as to roll along the upper rolling paths, each of the upper rollers having a convex side surface; and a plurality of side rollers arranged in rows on the moving block so as to roll along the side rolling paths.
Preferably, the side rolling paths are formed as a pair of convex surfaces extending along arcs of a common circle, and each of the side rollers has a concave side surface.
Preferably, the roller guiding apparatus further comprises: upper retainers for retaining the upper rollers in rows, and side retainers for retaining the side rollers in rows.
Preferably, the roller guiding apparatus further comprises: a retainer holding member formed on a lower portion of the moving block, the retainer holding member having spaces formed at positions corresponding to the upper rolling paths to receive the upper rollers retained by the upper retainers therein and spaces formed at positions corresponding to the side rolling paths to receive the side rollers retained by the side retainers therein.
Preferably, each of rotating axes of the upper rollers is inclined downward toward a longitudinal middle plane passing the middle portion of the guide rail at an angle of 45° to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal middle plane.
Preferably, each of rotating axes of the side rollers is inclined downward toward the longitudinal middle plane at an angle of 45° to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal middle plane.
Preferably, the upper rollers and the side rollers are disposed opposite to each other.
Preferably, the side rolling paths are formed as a pair of concave surfaces, and each of the side rollers having a convex side surface.
Preferably, the roller guiding apparatus further comprises: upper retainers for retaining the upper rollers in rows, and side retainers for retaining the side rollers in rows.
Preferably, the roller guiding apparatus further comprises: a retainer holding member formed on a lower portion of the moving block, the retainer holding member having spaces formed at positions corresponding to the upper rolling paths to receive the upper rollers retained by the upper retainers therein and spaces formed at positions corresponding to the side rolling paths to receive the side rollers retained by the side retainers therein.
Preferably, each of rotating axes of the upper rollers is inclined downward toward a longitudinal
Footland Lenard A.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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