ANTI-DUST STRUCTURE FOR A SLIDING BLOCK OF A LINEAR GUIDEWAY

Abstract

An anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway comprises a sliding block and a flexible anti-dust strip. A positioning groove is formed in the inner surface of the sliding block and located correspondingly to the upper steel ball groove. The flexible anti-dust strip has a plurality of lip portions that protrude out of the positioning groove, and the lip portions come into contact with the top surface of the rail. In this way, the flexible anti-dust strip can scrape off the grease and dust accumulated on the top surface of the rail at all times, preventing the dust and grease entering the upper steel ball groove via the top surface of the rail, and thus obtaining a better anti-dust function and ensuring the service life of the linear guideway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first conventional U-shaped anti-dust plate;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a second conventional anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway;

FIG. 3 is an assembly cross sectional view of an anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of showing the inner surface structure of the sliding block in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible anti-dust strip in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is assembly perspective of the anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. An anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway comprising: a sliding block having a positioning groove formed on an inner surface thereof and located correspondingly to an upper steel ball groove of the sliding block, the inner surface of the sliding block being located opposite a top surface of a rail; andat least a flexible anti-dust strip sized to correspond to the dimension of the positioning groove of the sliding block, the flexible anti-dust strip being integrally formed with a plurality of protruding lip portions for mating with the positioning groove, and the flexible anti-dust strip being elastically inserted in the positioning groove of the sliding block by its elastic force in such a manner that the protruding lip portions protrude out of the positioning groove and contact with the top surface of the rail.

2. The anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the positioning groove formed in the inner surface of the sliding block is circular, and is comprised of two longitudinal grooves and two transverse grooves, the longitudinal grooves are parallel to an axis of the rail, and the two transverse grooves are transversely formed in both ends of the sliding block; anda flexible anti-dust strip in the form of a closed ring, the length, and the protruding lip portions are formed on the flexible anti-dust strip for mating with the two longitudinal grooves of the sliding block.

3. The anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway as claimed in claim 2, wherein a steel ball retaining portion is assembled on the inner surface of the sliding block, the two longitudinal grooves of the positioning groove are formed in the steel ball retaining portion, and the two transverse grooves of the positioning groove are formed in an inner surface of an end cap fixed at either side of the sliding block.

4. The anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway as claimed in claim 2, wherein a protrusion is formed at a lower edge of each of the transverse grooves and protrudes outward therefrom, and the flexible anti-dust strip contacts with the protrusion at the lower edge of the transverse grooves.

5. The anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway as claimed in claim 3, wherein a protrusion is formed at a lower edge of each of the transverse grooves and protrudes outward therefrom, and the flexible anti-dust strip contacts with the protrusion at the lower edge of the transverse grooves.

6. The anti-dust structure for a sliding block of a linear guideway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible anti-dust tip is shaped in the form of an unclosed ring and is formed with a concave or convex portion for engaging with a concave convex portion of the positioning groove.