Linear guide device for positioning applications, has two guide rails, which extend along x-axis of Cartesian coordinate system, where carriage base of guide carriage is linearly displaced on former guide rail

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Patent center

The Netherlands © 2011522

APPLICATION FOR APPLICATION © Application number: 2011522 © Application submitted: 30.09.2013

Int.CI .:

F16C 29/00 (2006.01)

<td>©</td><td>Priority: 01.10.2012 DE 102012019307</td><td>©</td><td>Applicant (s): Festo AG &amp; Co. KG in Esslingen, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (DE).</td>

<td>©</td><td>Application registered: 02.04.2014</td><td>©</td><td>Inventor (s):</td>

<td>©</td><td>Request published:</td><td></td><td>Bob van der Ree in Berschenkhoek. Bart van Let in Delft.</td>

<td></td><td>09.04.2014</td><td>©</td><td>Authorized representative: ir. CM Jansen et al. in The Hague.</td>

© Linear guidance device.

A linear guide device (11) is proposed with at least two guide rails (12a, 12b) extending along an X-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system stretched by X, Y and Z coordinates, with a first guide rail (12a) a first carriage base (14a) of a first guide carriage (15a) is linearly slidably guided, and which, apart from the X direction, has no additional degree of freedom, wherein a first adapter element (21a) is provided that is rotatably mounted on the first carriage base (14a) relative to a Z-axis fixed in the XY plane in the space, and thus in the X and Y directions is relatively immovably supported relative to the first carriage base (14a), wherein a second carriage base (14b) of a second guide carriage (15b) is linearly slidably guided on a second guide rail (12b) which, apart from the X direction, has no additional degree of freedom, wherein a second adapter element (21b) is provided that is slidable in the Y direction on the second carriage base (14b) and in the XY plane about a Z-fixed in space in the Y direction shaft is rotatably mounted, and wherein the two adapter elements (21 a, 21 b) are connected to each other by means of a coupling bridge (35).

NL A 2011522

This publication corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Title: Linear guidance device

The present invention relates to a linear guide device with at least two guide rails extending along an X axis of a cartesian coordinate system stretched by X, Y, and Z coordinates.

Machines or other devices often have conductive parts mounted by means of a linear guiding device, on which parts to be moved for specific purposes are arranged. This may, for example, concern transport slides on which workpieces to be positioned are arranged. The movement of the conductive part can be realized by using linear drives that are activated, for example, electrically or pneumatically.

With such linear guide devices it is necessary to install the guide rails exactly parallel to each other in order to limit wear caused by the possibly non-parallel nature of the rails. However, due to production and assembly tolerances, exact parallel alignment is very difficult to achieve. Moreover, such linear guide devices are often mounted on a machine frame that often consists of a different material, a material that has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the linear guide device, which causes the components to expand or shrink with variations in temperature, and this to varying degrees, a phenomenon that can give rise to the aforementioned non-parallel character in the XY plane. In addition, the problem may also arise that the two guide rails are not located in the same XY plane, but are offset in the Z direction with respect to each other. In addition, there may be a third type of error, namely when one of the guide rails is rotated relative to the other about an axis of rotation oriented in the X direction.

All this gives rise to higher loads in the operation of the linear guide device, and more specifically higher forces and moments are exerted on the guide members. All in all, the aforementioned errors cause higher wear and therefore give rise to a shorter service life.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a linear guiding device of the aforementioned kind, a device which also operates as reliably and as wear-free as possible under the aforementioned bad conditions, so as to be able to withstand the conventional linear guide devices to achieve a longer service life.

This object is realized on the basis of a linear guiding device with the features of the independent claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The linear guide device according to the invention has at least two guide rails extending along an X-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system stretched by X, Y, and Z coordinates, with a first carriage base of a first guide carriage on a first guide rail is linearly slidably guided, and which, apart from the one in the X direction, has no additional degree of freedom, wherein a first adapter element is provided that is on the first sled base, is rotatably mounted with respect to a Z-axis fixed in space in the XY plane, and is thus relatively immovably supported in the X and Y directions relative to the first sled base, with a second guide rail sled base of a second guide slide is linearly slidably guided which, apart from that in the X direction, has no additional degree of freedom, wherein a second adapter element is provided which is slidable in the Y direction on the second sled base and is rotatable in the XY plane about a Z axis not fixed in space in the Y direction, and wherein both adapter elements are mounted by means of of a coupling bridge are connected to each other.

The first guide carriage provided with the first adapter element thus determines the position, because with a specific displacement path in the X direction the coordinates in the Y and in the Z directions are also fixed because the adapter element in the X and Y directions degree of freedom. Parallel errors in the XY plane can, however, be compensated because the adapter element is rotatably mounted around a Z axis fixed in the space in the XY plane, and because the second adapter element is, in addition, rotated around a Z axis in addition to the Y direction is slidable. The second adapter element is therefore floating mounted and can thus compensate for changing distances between the guide rails, wherein, for example, the second adapter element is shifted outwards in the Y-direction when the guide rails diverge in the direction of movement. In principle, therefore, the first guide carriage is designed to be as rigid as possible, while the second guide carriage has more degrees of freedom and can therefore compensate for errors. It is self-evident that it is possible to reverse the principle and thus to make the second guide carriage rigid and rigid while the first guide carriage is flexible. With the aid of this embodiment, parallel errors in the XY plane can be compensated, which significantly reduces wear during the operation of the linear guide device and thus increases the service life.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the adapter elements are in each case rotatably mounted with respect to the carriage base associated with them, about an axis of rotation extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. Due to this rotatability by means of the axis of rotation running in the X direction, it is possible to compensate for parallel errors which occur when one of the guide rails is located in a different XY plane than the other guide rail, i.e. when the one guide rail is located relative to the other guide rail in the Z direction. The coupling of the coupling bridge rotatably movable about the X-axis around the two adapter elements makes it possible to compensate for a shift of the two guide slides in the X direction.

It is possible that the adapter elements are in each case provided with a rotary element that can be rotatably mounted on the associated adapter element about a axis of rotation running in the Y direction, and whose top facing away from the associated adapter element forms a mounting location for the coupling bridge . The rotary element on the first adapter element is preferably rigidly connected to the latter, so that no rotating mobility is possible, while the rotary element is pivotally mounted on the second adapter element. This can be achieved because the first guide carriage is preferably rigid and rigid. However, the rotary element on the first adapter element is capable of performing a rotary movement if the principle is reversed and the second guide carriage is rigid and rigid. The adapter elements can therefore also be equipped with a rotary element with the aid of which for instance compensation can be made for moments occurring around a moment axis oriented in the Y-direction. This can occur, for example, when the guide rails are installed on an uneven surface or even due to deformations due to thermal stresses that occur due to thermal expansion and contraction.

In a particularly preferred manner, the sled base may in each case have a base body on which a guide groove or a guide edge is provided for the purpose of cooperating with a corresponding guide edge or guide groove on the associated guide rail. In addition, the sled base may be in the possession of a particularly plate-shaped fixation element that can be releasably mounted on the base body and which serves to mount the associated adapter element. The sled base can thus be composed of several parts. The releasable attachment of the fixation element to the basic body makes it easy to exchange it, for example, it is possible to use a different type of adapter element by means of a differently designed fixation element. In addition, the fixation element, the adapter element, and the coupling bridge can be removed without having to dismantle the basic body from the guide rail.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, supporting means may be provided on the first sled base and on the first adapter element, as well as on the second sled base and on the second adapter element, with a view to preventing relative movement in the X direction between the sled bases and adapter elements associated with each other, means which, however, simultaneously allow rotation of the adapter elements, in each case about the Z-axis.

The supporting means of each sled base and adapter element can be provided with at least two supporting edges running in the Y-direction and with two supporting flanks curved in the XY plane and cooperating with the supporting edges. The corresponding supporting edges and supporting flanks thus provide support in the X direction, wherein the arcuate curvature of the supporting flanks allows rotatability in the XY plane.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the supporting edges are each formed on the associated adapter element, and the arcuate supporting flanks through outer surfaces of the fixation elements oriented in the Y direction, the supporting edges being present on the left and right of the associated fixation element and wherein, as a function of the rotated position of the adapter element relative to the fixation element, different curvature parts of the supporting flanks are in contact with the corresponding supporting edge.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a bearing rod is associated with the carriage base, which bearing rod is rigidly attached to the associated fixing element of the carriage base by means of fastening means, the bearing rods forming the axis of rotation for the adapter elements mounted thereon.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, bearing openings extending in the X direction are provided on the adapter elements for the purpose of receiving the associated bearing rod, with per bearing element preferably two bearing openings formed, in particular in the supporting edges. to be provided.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bearing openings are each designed in the Y direction in the form of an elongated hole. This permits relative movement of the second adapter element in the Y direction relative to the second slide base.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, bearing bushes are in each case arranged in the bearing openings, in particular made of a plastic material. These bearing bushes are capable of absorbing forces and moments occurring between the bearing rod and the adapter element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, blocking elements are associated with the first sled base and with the first adapter element with a view to blocking the relative movement directed in the Y direction between the first adapter element and the first sled base. By means of these blocking elements, a relative movement in the Y-direction is prevented in the region of the first adapter elements of the first sled base.

It is possible for the blocking elements in the Y direction to be attached above and below the bearing rod to the first adapter element, and to engage the bearing rod in such a way that movement of the adapter element in the Y direction is blocked, while a rotational movement around the Z axis is possible.

In an additional embodiment, the blocking elements are curved in the XY plane in the shape of an arc and are each provided with bearing receptacles with a semicircular cross-section.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and is explained in more detail below. In addition:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the linear guide device according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first guidance^{_ |}rail of the linear guide device of figure 1,

Fig. 3 shows a broken-away representation of the components of the conducting section of the first conducting rail of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first guide rail with the first slide base without adapter element,

Figure 5 is a perspective view, viewed from the front, of the first adapter element with the fixation element of the first sled base,

Figure 6 is a perspective view, viewed from the rear, of the component group from Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of various components of the first adapter element,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the first adapter plate mounted on the bearing rod,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second adapter plate,

Figure 10 is a rear view of the first adapter plate with the fixation element of the second slide base, the second adapter element being in the base position,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the component group from Fig. 10, wherein the second adapter element is displaced in the Y direction relative to the fixation element,

Figure 12 is a rear view of the component group from Figure 10, wherein the second adapter element is rotated relative to the fixation element about a axis of rotation directed in the Z direction,

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the component group from the first adapter element with the fixation element of the first sled base, or of the second adapter element with the fixation element of the second sled base, the adapter element relative to the associated fixation element around the bearing rod is rotated, and

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the linear guiding device according to the invention, from figure 1, wherein the adapter elements are additionally each furthermore provided with a rotary element.

Figures 1 to 14 show representations of a preferred embodiment of the linear guiding device 11 according to the invention. The linear guide device 11 is used, for example, for positioning purposes in which, for example, a transport carriage (not shown) can be moved by means of the linear guide device 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the linear guide device 11 has two guide rails 12a, 12b extending along an X axis of a Cartesian coordinate system stretched by X, Y and Z coordinates. The guide rails 12a, 12b can, for example, be extruded profiles, in particular extruded profiles from aluminum. In addition, the guide rails 12a, 12b are provided with a guide edge 13a formed simultaneously with the production.

13b which extends in the X direction and which serves to guide carriage bases 14a, 14b in a manner which will be described in further detail below.

As can be more specifically found in Figures 1 and 2, each guide rail 12a, 12b is associated with a guide carriage 15a, 15b, the guide members 15a, 15b each being provided with a carriage base 14a, 14b which in turn is linear along the associated guide edge 13a, 13b of the guide rail 12a, 12b is slidable.

As can be determined more specifically from Figure 2, the slide bases 14a, 14b are each composed of several parts and have a basic body 16a, 16b in which a guide groove 17a, 17b which is in contact is arranged on the rear side with the associated guide edge 13a, 13b. The corresponding guide grooves 17a, 17b and guide edges 13a, 13b ensure that the slide bases 14a, 14b have no additional degrees of freedom outside the degrees of freedom in the X direction, i.e. in the direction of movement of the guide members 15a, 15b.

As can be more specifically found in figures 3 and 4, the slide bases 14a, 14b are each provided with plate-shaped fixation elements

18a, 18b which are attached by means of fastening means to the top of the associated basic body 16a, 16b. Fixing means are, for example, fixing screws which are provided through fixing holes formed in the fixing elements and are scorched with the aid of corresponding bores provided in the basic body and provided with screw thread.

The fixation elements 18a, 18b are each provided with two opposite longitudinal sides, each oriented in the Y-direction, which are each curved in the form of an arc and serve as supporting flanks 19a, 19b in a manner which will be described in more detail below. The fixation elements 18a

18b are in each case provided with a window-like opening 20 which is provided substantially in the center of the fixation element 18a, 18b.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 2 and 3, a first adapter element 21a is provided that is rotatably mounted on the first carriage base 14a, in particular on the fixation element 18a, and this with respect to one in the XY Z-axis fixed flat in the space, and thus thus supported relatively immovably in the X and Y directions relative to the fixation element 18a of the first sled base 14a. As can be seen in particular from Figure 3, the first adapter element is plate-shaped and has the shape of a bridge. The first adapter element 2a is provided with a center part 23 oriented in the X direction, on which along the right and left side two supporting edges 24 protruding in the Z direction relative to the center part and in each case oriented in the Y direction, 25 connect. In the middle part 23, two window-shaped openings 26 are provided, which are mutually parallel and extend in the Y-direction. A bearing opening 27, 28 in the form of an elongated hole is provided in the supporting edges 24, 25, each of these bearing openings extending through the associated supporting edge 24, 25 in the X direction, and wherein the elongated hole is oriented in the Y direction. Arranged in the elongated bearing openings 27, 28 is a bearing bush 29, 30 made of a plastic material, for example an elastomeric material.

As is shown in particular in Figure 8, a bearing rod is provided through the two bearing openings 27, 28 of the first adapter element 21a, which rod in turn is rigid on the upper side of the associated fixation element 18a by means of fastening elements in the form of holder brackets 32 is confirmed. For the first adapter element 21a, two holder brackets 32 are provided which protrude through the window-like openings 26 in the middle part 23 and are screwed onto the fixation element by means of fixing screws in associated threaded holes. The holder brackets 32 therefore serve almost as a holding element for the associated bearing rods 31.

The bearing rod 31 serves on the one hand for the bearing of the first adapter element 21a and on the other hand as an axis of rotation oriented in the X direction about which the first adapter element 21a can rotate. Such a rotation is shown in particular in Figure 13.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 7 and 8, blocking elements 33 are associated with the first adapter element 21a, wherein for the first adapter element 21a two, blocking elements 33 mounted on the middle part 23 are provided above and below the bearing rod 31 and which surround the latter in such a way that a movement of the first adapter element 21a in the Y direction is blocked while a rotational movement about the Z-axis 22 is possible. For this purpose, the blocking elements are provided with bearing receptacles 34 which are curved in the XY plane and each have a semicircular cross-section, whereby the bearing rod 31 designed as a cylindrical tube is enclosed in each case to half of the opposing blocking elements 33.

The second guide rail 12b also extends in the X direction and is of identical design to the first guide rail 12a, which means that it is also in the possession of a guide edge 13b. The second guide rail 15b is provided on the second guide rail, the second carriage base 14b being guided linearly movably on the associated guide edge 13b. The second carriage base 14b is also a possession of a base body 16b, with a guide groove 17b arranged on the rear side thereof, and with a fixation element 18b releasably mounted on the upper side thereof by means of fastening means. The fixation element 18b is designed identically to the fixation element 18a of the first slide base 14a.

As more specifically becomes clear from Figure 9, the second adapter element 21b differs from the first adapter element 21a. The second adapter element is not provided with blocking elements 33, so that a relative movement of the second adapter element 11b relative to the associated fixation element 18b in the Y-direction is possible. Here too, in a manner identical to the first adapter element 21a, a bearing rod 31 is inserted through bearing openings 27, 28 in the form of elongated holes in the supporting edges 24, 25. Bearing bushes 29, 30 are again arranged in the bearing openings 27, 28. Due to the absence of the blocking elements 33, the adapter element 2b can move in the Y-direction relative to the associated fixation element 18b thanks to the design of the bearing openings in the form of elongated holes.

Figure 10 shows a basic position of the second adapter element 11b or also of the first adapter element with the associated fixation element 18b. Figure 11 shows a position in which the second adapter element 11b is displaced in the Y-direction relative to the fixation element 18a, 18b. Figure 12 shows an additional position in which the second adapter element 21b is rotated relative to the associated fixation element 18b about an axis 22 oriented in the Z20 direction.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 1, the two adapter elements 21a, 21b are connected to each other by means of a plate-shaped coupling bridge 35. When the two guide members 15a, 15b are then driven, for example by using a linear drive (not shown), the rotatability of the coupling bridge 35 around the Z-axis makes it possible to compensate for a displacement of the two guide members 15a, 15b in the X direction. Such a shift can occur in particular with relatively long guide rails 12a, 12b.

If the two guide rails 12a, 12b have parallel errors in the XY plane, that is to say that they are not parallel to each other, this arrangement of the two guide rails 15a, 15b can be compensated for with the adapter elements 21a, 21b and the coupling bridge 35. . The first adapter element 21a is mounted relatively immovably relative to the associated fixation element 18a by means of the corresponding supporting flanks 19a and the side surfaces of the supporting edges 25 directed thereto. A movement in the Y direction is prevented by the blocking elements 33. However, the adapter element 21a and the Z-axis 22 can rotate relative to the associated fixation element 18a, as is shown, for example, in Figure 12. Such a rotational movement is also possible with the second adapter element 21b. At the same time, the second adapter element can also be shifted in the Y-direction relative to the associated fixation element 18b, so that the second adapter element 21b is mounted virtually on the associated fixation element 18b. The rotation of the two adapter elements, on top of the movability of the second adapter element in the Y direction, makes it possible to compensate for parallel errors in the Y direction.

Figure 14 shows a variant in which each adapter element 21a, 21b is furthermore provided with a rotary element 36a, 36b which is designed in the form of a seesaw. The first rotary element 36a is non-rotatable, while the second rotary element 36b is rotatably mounted on the associated adapter element about a rotary axis oriented in the Y direction. In the corresponding case, the respective top sides of the rotary elements 36a, 36b form the mounting location for the attachment of the coupling bridge 35.

If the two guide members 12a, 12b show a parallel error in the XY plane, that is, they are not mutually aligned, then this parallel error can be compensated for by using the component group consisting of the two adapter elements 21a, 21b , the fixation elements 18a, 18b, and the coupling bridge

35. The first adapter element 21a is arranged relatively immovable in the X direction relative to the associated fixation element 18a. This is achieved thanks to the mutually cooperating supporting flanks 19a and the associated side surfaces of the supporting edges 24, 25. Movement of the first adapter element 21a in the Y-direction is prevented by the blocking elements 33. However, a rotational movement of the first adapter element 21a about the Z axis with respect to the associated fixation element 18a is possible. This rotary movement can also be performed by the second adapter element 21b. Moreover, the second adapter element 11b is also slidable in the Y-direction relative to the associated fixation element 18b because the blocking elements 33 are missing there. This makes it possible to compensate for the aforementioned parallel errors.

If the two guide rails 12a, 12b are not arranged in the same XY plane, this means that the one guide rail is shifted in the Z direction with respect to the other guide rail, whereby compensation can also be made for this. For this purpose the adapter elements 21a, 21b mounted around the bearing rods 31, that is to say rotatable in the X direction, as in particular can be found in figure 13. This also makes it possible to compensate for a rotation of the guide rail in the XY plane.

Finally, it should be mentioned that, for example, it is possible to compensate for moments acting on the coupling bridge, around a moment axis running in the Y-direction, because the two adapter elements 21a, 21b are each provided with the turning elements 36a, 36b which are each a rotary axis oriented in the Y-direction can be rotated.