Linear motion rolling guide unit with detection device

Details Linear motion rolling guide unit with detection device Linear motion rolling guide unit with detection device

1999-09-28

2001-12-25

Strecker, Gerard R. (Department: 2862)

Electricity: measuring and testing

Magnetic

Displacement

C324S207150, C324S207220, C310S012060, C318S135000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06333628

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor, and more particularly, to a linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor which can save available space in the linear guide apparatus and thereby minimizing manufacturing cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally speaking, an industrial linear guide apparatus has low friction characteristic but without having any distance sensing function by magnetic induction. If the location of the slide block on the guide rail is desired to be under control from time to time, a gauge acted by a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor is attached to the apparatus which results in both increasing manufacturing cost and causing inconveniency in operation of the apparatus.
In order to eliminate such shortcomings, there were disclosed some new designs of linear guide apparatus with function of locating the position of the slide block on the linear guide apparatus.
One of such conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic induction distance sensor is shown in FIG.
4
. In this cross sectional drawing it is observed that a magnetic tape
3
is adhered on the upper surface of a rail
1
. A chamber
21
for accommodating a magnetic induction element
4
is formed in a part of a slide block
2
. Incidentally, the manufacturing cost will be increased and the strength of the slide block's structure will be lowered by forming a chamber
21
therein. In addition, when a concentrated downward load is applied to the slide body
2
causing the upper portion of the slide block
2
to bend down by a bending force, the point contact force (if using rolling balls), or line contact force (if using rolling cylinders) between the slide block
2
and the rail
1
will be loosened by a slight relative displacement of contact portion therebetween. Consequently the strength of the whole linear guide apparatus in transverse direction will be reduced and positioning accuracy for the location of the slide block
2
will also be degraded. In the linear guide apparatus shown in
FIG. 4
, since the tightening screw bolt for fixing the rail
1
is applied downwardly, the rail
1
has to be made into flatter and wider configuration so as to prevent the magnetic tape
3
from standing in the way of tightening screw bolt hole
11
for fixing the rail
1
.
A second type conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic induction distance sensor is shown in FIG.
5
. In this cross sectional drawing it is observed that since the tightening screw bolt for fixing the rail
1
is upwardly installed, therefore the rail
1
is made into normal configuration.
FIGS. 6 and 7
show drawings of a third type conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic induction distance sensor,
FIG. 6
shows its front view while
FIG. 7
shows a cross sectional view along line I—I of
FIG. 6
respectively. In this conventional linear guide apparatus the magnetic tape
3
is adhered on one of the side surface of the rail
1
, the rail
1
is mounted on the base after attaching the tape
3
in order to facilitate the assembly work, but it is inevitable that the tape
3
is prone to be hurt during the assembly work. When the slide block
2
displaces in the transverse direction by a force in the same direction. The variation of the distance between the magnetic tape
3
and the magnetic induction element
4
will be greater than that in the case when the magnetic tape
3
is adhered right on the rail surface therefore affecting sensor's sensitivity. In this linear guide apparatus an induction element chamber
83
with an induction element therein is formed on a base
8
which is mounted on an end case
5
. Signal wires
7
are laid in a trough
84
A plurality of through holes
82
are provided for tightening screws
83
to fix the end cap s. An outlet terminal block
81
is for connecting and securing signal wires
7
. Slid e block fixing holes
22
are provided for the guide rail
1
and slide block
2
. A wiper
9
is attached to the end cap
5
and oil nipple
91
supplies oil to the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the inconvenience inherent to the conventional technique as mentioned above. According to the present invention, a magnetic tape is adhered right on the upper rail surface so as to minimize the variation of distance between the magnetic tape and the magnetic induction element to assure high distance sensing sensitivity when the slide block is exerted by a thrust force in the transverse direction. The magnetic tape is adhered to the upper surface of the guide rail after the rail has been assembled to its base thereby facilitating the assembly work. The magnetic induction element is installed in an end cap of the slide block so that it is not necessary to form a chamber within the slide block to accommodate the magnetic induction element. In this way the space in the linear guide apparatus is saved and its mechanical strength is enhanced. In order to reduce the influence of the magnetic field generated by the electric current flowing in the proper supplying lines of the guide apparatus, an outlet terminal block is provided on a side surface of the slide block so as to prevent the signal wires from passing right over the magnetic tape and protect the sensor signal from interference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments of the present invention which serve to exemplify the various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows:
FIG. 1
is a three dimensional drawing of the linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is the front view of the linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is the cross sectional view of the present invention cut alone line II—II on
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is the cross sectional view of a first conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor;
FIG. 5
is the cross sectional view of a second conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor;
FIG. 6
is the front view of a third conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance sensor; and
FIG. 7
is the cross sectional view of a third conventional linear guide apparatus with magnetic distance senor of
FIG. 6
cut along line I—I.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5606256 (1997-02-01), Takei
patent: 5945824 (1999-08-01), Obara et al.

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