Patent ID: 6132093
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A linear motion guiding apparatus comprising:a guide member provided with at least one rolling member running track, anda movable member arranged so as to be movable along the guide member, said movable member being provided with (i) a rolling member running counter-track corresponding to each of the at least one rolling member running track of said guide member, (ii) a rolling member returning passage arranged in parallel with each said rolling member running counter-track and (iii) a direction changing passage for connecting each said rolling member running counter-track and the corresponding rolling member returning passage to permit circulation of a plurality of rolling members,wherein:said movable member comprises a movable main body and a separate resin-formed body for providing a rolling member circulation passage;said resin-formed body comprises a pair of rolling member passage forming portions extending along both longitudinal sides of said rolling member running counter-track and a pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions for providing inner peripheral guide portions of said direction changing passage; andsaid resin-formed body is divided into a plurality of parts so that at least two of said pair of rolling member passage forming portions and said pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions are integrally formed, and a remainder of said pair of rolling member passage forming portions and said pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions is separated independently from said at least two, whereby said resin-formed body can be built in said movable main body;said guide member comprises a guide rail provided with two said rolling member running tracks on each of right and left-hand side surfaces of the guide rail, so as to provide a total of four said rolling member running tracks;said movable member comprises a movable block, said movable block comprising:a pair of wing portions, between which the guide rail is held at the right and left-hand side surfaces thereof, each of said wing portions having on an inner surface thereof two said rolling member running counter-tracks corresponding to said two rolling member running tracks on each said side of the guide rail, so as to provide a total of four said rolling member running counter-tracks in the movable block;four rolling member returning passages arranged in parallel with said four rolling member running counter-tracks, respectively; anddirection changing passages for connecting both ends of each of said four rolling member running counter-tracks with ends of a respective one of said four rolling member returning passages;said four rolling member running counter-tracks, said four rolling member returning passages and said direction changing passages providing four endless circulation passages;said resin-formed body comprising, for each of said four endless circulation passages, the pair of rolling member passage forming portions, a returning passage forming portion for providing the rolling member returning passage and the pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions;said resin-formed body being divided into two body-parts, which are arranged on the wing portions of the movable block, respectively, so as to form the two endless circulation passages at an inner side of each of the wing portions; andin each of the two body-parts, the pair of rolling member passage forming portions and the pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions are provided as an integral body, and the returning passage forming portion is provided separate from said integral body.