MAGNETIC-SCALE-EQUIPPED MOTION GUIDE APPARATUS

• US 20160215825A1
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: THK Company Limited
• Original Assignee: THK Company Limited
• Inventors: Sakagami, Tetsuya, Yoshida, Akimasa, Kaneshige, Hiroshi, Horie, Takuya, Moriyuki, Yoshinobu, Ooka, Teruaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/005 Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/06 in which the rolling bodies circulate partly without carrying load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/0602 Details of the bearing body or carriage or parts thereof, e.g. methods for manufacturing or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/065 with rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/08 Arrangements for covering or protecting the ways protective coverings for parts of machine tools B23Q11/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/082 fixed to the way
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/00 Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles

Abstract

A magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus is provided which can scrape iron powder adhered to a magnetic scale by a scraper or seal of a movable member without inviting adverse effects such as wearing away and deformation of the magnetic scale. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus of the present invention comprises a track member 1 having a rolling element rolling portion 1b and also an upper surface where through holes 18 into which fastening members are inserted open, a movable member 2 movably assembled to the track member 1 via a plurality of rolling elements 3, a groove 1a formed in the track member 1 and extended in a longitudinal direction, a magnetic scale 7 accommodated in the groove 1a and having north and south poles alternately formed in the longitudinal direction, and a cover member 8 that covers the magnetic scale 7 and also the through holes 18 of the track member 1.

Claims

1. A magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus comprising:

a track member including a rolling element rolling portion extended in a longitudinal direction, and an upper surface where a through hole into which a fastening member is inserted opens;

a movable member movably assembled to the track member via a plurality of rolling elements;

a groove formed in the track member and extended in the longitudinal direction;

a magnetic scale accommodated in the groove, on which north and south poles are alternately formed in the longitudinal direction; and

a cover member covering the magnetic scale and covering the through hole of the track member,

wherein the cover member that covers the magnetic scale also serves as the cover member that covers the through hole of the track member.

2. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic scale includes a rare-earth magnet magnetized to the north and south poles.

3. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed between a plurality of the through holes in the upper surface of the track member and a widthwise end of the upper surface of the track member.

4. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes

a central portion covering the upper surface of the track member along the entire width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and

engagement portions provided at both widthwise ends of the central portion and bent along the central portion.

5. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes

a main body portion fitted into the groove of the track member to cover a plurality of the through holes of the track member, the main body portion having a scale fitting groove into which the magnetic scale is fitted, and

a lid body covering the magnetic scale fitted into the scale fitting groove.

6. The magnetic-scale-equipped motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an end cover member covering the groove or the scale fitting groove in an end surface in the longitudinal direction of the track member, the end surface being continuous to the upper surface of the track member.