Abstract: A linear guide apparatus which can be applied to both straight rail and curved rail comprising a pair of upper and lower rolling grooves and for rolling members are formed in each side surfaces of a guide rail. A pair of upper and lower grooves for loaded rolling members, which respectively correspond to the rolling grooves, are formed in each inner surfaces of a slider which straddle the guide rail. One of the rolling grooves is a straight rolling groove which is formed to be parallel with the corresponding straight groove formed in the opposite inner surface of the slider. The other of the rolling grooves is a curved rolling groove in circular arc shape which has the same curvature as the corresponding curved rolling groove formed in the opposite inner surface of the slider.

Abstract: A linear guide apparatus comprises: a slider body having ball rolling grooves opposed to ball rolling grooves of a guide rail which are extended axially in parallel to each other; end caps secured respectively to both ends of the slider body, each end cap having a ball retainer locking portion in a joining surface which is in contact with the slider body; and a ball retainer having engaging portions which are engaged with the ball retainer locking portion of the end caps, and both side walls each of which defines with an edge of one of the ball rolling grooves of the slider body an opening which is slightly smaller than a diameter of rolling balls. The engaging portions are movably engaged with the ball retainer engaging portions of the end caps so that the ball retainer is movably held on the slider body. Thus, the apparatus is excellent in operability in which the balls are not excessively pushed by the ball retainer.

Abstract: A linear guide apparatus, capable of displaying a well-balanced performance both in the aspects of vibration damping capacity, rigidity, load capacity, shock resistance, and others, and of the follow-up sensitivity to minute and precise operations, is provided by arranging the apparatus with a combined structure of four-point contact and two-point contact ball rolling grooves. Of the upper and lower two ball rolling grooves, one row of the ball rolling grooves is of a four-point contact type and the other row of the ball rolling grooves is of a two-point contact type.

Abstract: A linear guide table system includes a pair of linear guide apparatuses connected in parallel to each other by a common table fixed to upper surfaces of sliders of the pair of linear guide apparatuses. Each slider of the pair of linear guide apparatus has an inverted L1-shaped cross section and has side walls. In each slider, one ball rolling groove is formed in a lower portion of an inner surface of one of the side walls, and one ball rolling grooves is formed in an upper portion of an inner surface of the other of the side walls thereby to form the ball rolling grooves asymmetrically with respect to a vertical plane containing a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A guide rail of a linear guide apparatus has a pair of roller raceway surfaces extending axially and formed in boundary edges between an upper surface and both lateral side surfaces by chamfering the boundary edges at a slant angle of 45.degree.. A slider main body having an U-shaped cross section and straddling the guide rail movably is provided with a pair of roller rolling grooves formed in both inner corners respectively corresponding to the roller raceway surfaces of the guide rail. The rollers inserted in the roller rolling grooves have a chamfered surface inclined at an angle of 45.degree. formed by chamfering an inner or upward boundary edge between an inner end face and an outer peripheral surface. A roller retainer having a rectangular frame shape is disposed in a space between an inner surface of the slider main body and the upper surface of the guide rail by being supported at axial opposite ends thereof by end caps which are secured to opposite axial ends of the slider main body.

Abstract: An attaching device for a bellows type dust cover of a linear guide apparatus includes a plate-shape main body and a bellows attaching plate portion integral with the plate-shape main body. The plate-shape main body has fitting plate portions which are formed by bending lower edge portions of both lateral side plate portions respectively inwardly at right angles so that both the fitting plate portions horizontally oppose each other. The fitting plate portions are respectively fitted into ball rolling grooves formed in both lateral sides of a guide rail, or into retainer relief grooves formed in groove bottoms of the ball rolling grooves. Thus, the plate-shape main body straddles an upper surface of the guide rail and sandwiches both lateral sides of the guide rail so that it is securely held to the guide rail. The bellows attaching plate portion is provided at one axial end of the plate-shape main body perpendicularly to the upper surface of the plate-shape main body.

Abstract: A sliding member made of a thin plastic plate is bonded to the inner surfaces of an upper plate portion and both side wall portions of a slider which is slidably mounted on the guide rail. A slit is formed in at least one of the side walls of the slider and extends vertically from the bottom surface of the side wall to reach an upper base portion of the side wall, and also extends axially in parallel to the outer side surface of the side wall. A pressing bolt is engaged with a threaded screw hole formed laterally at an intermediate position of the overall length of the side wall to reach the slit and to press the slit surface of the slit inwardly to elastically deform the inner part of the side wall to thereby adjust the gap between the sliding member and the guide rail.

Abstract: An upper ball-retainer for holding the balls in a pair of upper ball rolling grooves formed in the inner surface of the slider main body is made of a synthetic resin and has a rectangular dish shape. Supporting portions protrude axially from axial opposite ends of the ball-retainer, and the supporting portions are respectively inserted into supporting holes formed in the end caps attached to opposite ends of the slider main body so that the upper ball-retainer is accommodated in a space between the upper surface of the guide rail and the inner surface of the slider main body. A ball holding groove having a circular arc cross section is formed in each of the lateral sides of the upper ball-retainer and extends over the whole axial length thereof to hold the balls against the corresponding ball rolling groove of the slider main body. A lip portion of a thin wall is formed at lower end of the ball holding groove and protruding downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A ball retainer for holding the balls in the upper ball rolling groove of the slider is made of a synthetic resin material and has a rectangular flat frame shape. The ball retainer has supporting portions protruding axially from opposite ends and side frames which can be deflected inwardly by an elastic deformation when an external force is applied thereto. A ball holding groove of an arcuate cross section is formed in an outer said surface of each of the side frames. The side frames have hook portions at longitudinally intermediate positions protruding inwardly to oppose each other. The hook portions are normally spaced from each other with a predetermined interval, and when the side frames are deflected by the external force inwardly, the hook portions engage each other to maintain the side frame in the deflected state so that the balls can be mounted into the ball rolling grooves of the slider.

Abstract: Each of the pair of under seals which are respectively attached to the lower surfaces of the side walls of a slider includes an elongate core metallic plate and a rubber member secured to the core metallic plate and having a lip portion protruding inwardly from the inner edge of the core metallic plate. Each of the end caps attached to opposite ends of a slider main body is formed with an under seal holding groove in a joining surface of each leg portion of the end cap. The slider main body is formed with a stepped recess portion to accommodate the under seal in the lower surface of each side wall. The opposite ends of the under seal are fitted into and held in the under seal holding grooves of the end caps and the remainder of the under seal is accommodated in the stepped recess portion of the slider main body. The lip portion os the under seal is slidingly in contact with the lateral side of the guide rail to prevent dust from entering into the inside of the slider.

Abstract: In each of the ball rolling grooves formed in the side surfaces of a guide rail and in the inner surface of a slider main body a linear guide apparatus, a boundary ridge portion between a groove flank face and a land face is formed in a circular arc shape connecting continuously and smoothly therebetween.

Abstract: A dust-proof seal has a metal plate attached to a slider and a rubber member adhered to the metal plate. The metal plate has an opening to allow a guide rail to pass therethrough, and the rubber member has protrusion protruding inwardly beyond the inner edge of the opening of the metal plate. A pressing member defined by a wire spring is mounted in a channel formed in the rubber member at the periphery of the lip portions and exerts a spring force to press the lip portions against the surface of the guide rail to thereby bring the lip portions elastically in contact with the guide surface to wipe out any dust deposited thereon.

Abstract: A linear guide apparatus includes a guide rail and a slider mounted on the guide rail movable in the axial direction through balls interposed between corresponding ball rolling grooves of the guide rail and the slider. End caps are joined to opposite ends of the slider, and each of the end caps has a ball circulating path formed therein to connect the ball rolling grooves of the guide rail and the slider to ball rolling paths formed in the slider. An oil feed groove is formed in the end cap, and lubricating oil is normally supplied to the ball circulating path from an oil feed nipple attached to the front of the end cap through the oil feed groove. A blind hole for mounting the oil feed nipple is formed in the side of the end cap as a spare oil feed hole at the time of molding of the end cap so that the bottom of the blind hole is located close to the oil feed groove.

Abstract: A linear guide apparatus includes end caps respectively joined to opposite ends of a slider main body. In each of the end caps, a feed oil channel is formed in the joining end surface thereof to feed lubricating oil to balls rolling in ball rolling paths from a feed oil nipple. Band-shaped protrusions are formed on lands at both sides of the feed channel integrally with the end cap at the time of injection molding of the end cap of synthetic resin. When the end cap is fixed to the slider main body by clamping a screw, the band-shaped protrusions are deformed elastically to fill up a minute gap existing between both end surfaces of the end cap and the slider main body to prevent leakage of the lubricating oil.

Abstract: A dust proof device used with a linear guide apparatus includes a strap-shaped plate fixed to the upper surface of a guide rail throughout the whole length of the guide rail to cover the openings of through holes used for inserting bolts which secure the guide rail to a base. The strap-shaped plate is fixed at opposite ends thereof to the guide rail by fixing screws together with hold-down square blocks placed on the strap-shaped plate.

Abstract: A ball retainer made of wire is provided in a ball rolling path constituted by two opposing rolling grooves respectively formed in a side surface of a guide rail and in each inner surface of a slider for holding the balls inserted in the ball rolling path. The wire retainer includes a central straight portion, arcuate portions at both ends of the straight portion, and fixing portions respectively extending from the ends of the arcuate portions in parallel with the straight portion. The straight portion is accommodated in a wire escape channel formed in the bottom of the ball rolling groove of the guide rail, the arcuate portions are held in wire escape channels formed in end caps, and the fixing portions are fitted into wire holding holes formed in the end caps which are secured respectively to opposite ends of the slider.

Abstract: A slider slidably mounted on a guide rail has a recess formed in the lower surface of the slider, and a pressure vessel made of elastic material is accommodated in the recess. A friction plate is attached to the lower surface of the pressure vessel to abut against the upper surface of the guide rail. Hydraulic pressure is exerted on the upper surface of the guide rail through the friction plate by the pressure vessel and is adjustable by a pressure control valve so as to vary the frictional resistance between the slider and the guide rail.

Abstract: A slide way bearing has a track shaft and a slide member to be slidably mounted on the track shaft. Track shaft has on its side surfaces first ball rolling grooves of circulation cross-section. Slide member has at its inner surface second ball rolling grooves corresponding to the grooves in the track shaft, and within the slide member through-holes at the back of the respective second grooves. The first and second grooves and through-holes form ball circulating paths. The intersecting points of lines of contact between the balls and the first ball rolling grooves are located outside of the polygon formed by connecting the centers of the balls. The circulating paths lies on the plane substantially parallel with the bottom surface of the track shaft.

Abstract: A track guide bearing assembly is provided with a slide table having a plurality of axial ball rolling grooves and an axial through-bore providing ball paths formed rearwardly of the ball rolling grooves, side plates fixed to the opposite end surfaces of the slide table and havng arcuate ball paths formed as recesses, the arcuate ball paths having narrow escape grooves at the bottom thereof, a number of balls rollably disposed in the ball rolling grooves of the slide table, the through-bore and the arcuate ball paths of the side plates, a retainer comprising a wire rod having a straight portion and arcuate bent portion at the opposite ends of the straight portion, and an elongate track shaft having axial ball rolling grooves fitted to the balls disposed in the ball rolling grooves of the slide table.

Abstract: Each of the pair of under seals which are respectively attached to the lower surfaces of the side walls of a slider includes an elongate core metallic plate and a rubber member secured to the core metallic plate and having a lip portion protruding inwardly from the inner edge of the core metallic plate. Each of the end caps attached to opposite ends of a slider main body is formed with an under seal holding groove in a joining surface of each leg portion of the end cap. The slider main body is formed with a stepped recess portion to accommodate the under seal in the lower surface of each side wall. The opposite ends of the under seal are fitted into and held in the under seal holding grooves of the end caps and the remainder of the under seal is accommodated in the stepped recess portion of the slider main body. The lip portion os the under seal is slidingly in contact with the lateral side of the guide rail to prevent dust from entering into the inside of the slider.