Patent Application
20130334949
This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-137448, filed on Jun. 19, 2012, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to a slide rail assembly for use in a cabinet or a drawer, tray, or the like slidably attachable to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, and a facsimile machine; a sheet feeder including the slide rail assembly; and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeder.
2. Related Art
As illustrated in
As described previously, the related-art slide rail assembly 101 is constructed of two separate rails, that is, the outer rail 110 and the inner rail 120. The inner rail 120 is slidable against the outer rail 110 by a distance identical to total length L1 or L2 of the outer rail 110 illustrated in
To solve the above-described problem of limited load-bearing capacity, another example of a related-art slide rail assembly 201 is constructed of three separate, telescoping rails as illustrated in
Because the telescopic slide rail assembly 201 is constructed of the three separate rails, a length of each rail can be reduced compared to the slide rail assembly 101, which is constructed of the two separate rails, thereby downsizing the total length of the slide rail assembly 201 in an accommodation state in which both the intermediate rail 220 and the inner rail 230 are accommodated within the outer rail 210. In addition, the shorter length of each rail improves load durability.
However, because the intermediate rail 220, into which the inner rail 230 is inserted, is further inserted into the outer rail 210 in the accommodation state, a height of the slide rail assembly 201 is increased compared to the slide rail assembly 101 constructed of the two rails.
In view of the foregoing, illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide a compact slide rail assembly with improved strength, a novel sheet feeder including the slide rail assembly, and a novel image forming apparatus including the sheet feeder.
In one illustrative embodiment, a slide rail assembly includes an inner rail unit, a pair of first and second outer rails to sandwich the inner rail unit, and first, second, third, and fourth rollers. The inner rail unit includes a rectangular inner substrate assembly, a pair of first bent portions provided to a first side of the inner substrate assembly in thickness directions, one end of which is continuous with both edges of the inner substrate assembly in width directions, and opposite ends of which are bent toward each other, and a pair of second bent portions provided to a second side of the inner substrate assembly opposite the first side in the thickness directions, one end of which is continuous with both edges of the inner substrate assembly in the width directions, and opposite ends of which are bent toward each other. The first outer rail includes a rectangular first outer substrate, and a pair of third bent portions, one end of which is continuous with both edges of the first outer substrate in width directions, and opposite ends of which are bent toward each other. The second outer rail includes a rectangular second outer substrate, and a pair of fourth bent portions, one end of which is continuous with both edges of the second outer substrate in the width directions, and opposite ends of which are bent toward each other. The pair of first and second outer rails is disposed with the pairs of third and fourth bent portions facing inward, and slidable against the inner rail unit in both a withdrawal direction and an accommodation direction along longitudinal directions of the inner substrate assembly. The first roller is mounted to a leading end of the inner rail unit in the withdrawal direction to slidably contact inner surfaces of the pair of third bent portions. The second roller is mounted to a leading end of the inner rail unit in the accommodation direction to slidably contact inner surfaces of the pair of fourth bent portions. The third roller is mounted to a leading end of the first outer rail in the accommodation direction to slidably contact inner surfaces of the pair of first bent portions. The fourth roller is mounted to a leading end of the second outer rail in the withdrawal direction to slidably contact inner surfaces of the pair of second bent portions.
In another illustrative embodiment, a sheet feeder includes a sheet tray withdrawable from the sheet feeder to accommodate sheets, and the slide rail assembly described above mounted to both lateral sides of the sheet tray to guide the sheet tray in a withdrawal direction.
In yet another illustrative embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes the sheet feeder described above and the slide rail assembly described above.
Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the associated claims.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be more readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In describing illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have substantially the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a later-described comparative example, illustrative embodiment, and exemplary variation, for the sake of simplicity the same reference numerals will be given to identical constituent elements such as parts and materials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereof omitted unless otherwise required.
A description is now given of an example of a configuration of a slide rail assembly 1 for use in an image forming apparatus 100 according to a first illustrative embodiment.
The slide rail assembly 1 is employed in the image forming apparatus 100 including a body and a sheet feeder 200 withdrawably accommodatable in the body. The sheet feeder 200 includes a sheet tray 202 that accommodates a stack of recording media such as sheets of paper and a pair of the slide rail assemblies 1 mounted to both lateral sides of the sheet tray 202, respectively. The pair of the slide rail assemblies 1 guides the sheet tray 202 in a withdrawal direction in which the sheet tray 202 is withdrawn from the body of the image forming apparatus 100.
The slide rail assembly 1 is constructed of an inner rail unit 10, first and second rollers 11 and 12, both of which are rotatably mounted to the inner rail unit 10, an outer rail unit 20 including a pair of first and second outer rails 20A and 20B that sandwich the inner rail unit 10 on opposite sides thereof, a third roller 21 rotatably mounted to the first outer rail 20A, and a fourth roller 22 (shown in
The inner rail unit 10 is constructed of two separate rails, that is, a first inner rail 10A and a second inner rail 10B, both of which are fixed together. It is to be noted that the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B have the same basic shape and structure. Two sheets of metal laminated one atop the other are blanked and bent to form the first or second inner rail 10A or 10B. Thus, the same mold may be used for both the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B.
The inner rail unit 10 has a first through-hole, that is, a first mounting hole 10a, to which the first roller 11 is mounted, and a second through-hole, that is, a second mounting hole 10b (shown in
The first inner rail 10A is constructed of the rectangular first inner substrate 13 and a pair of first bent portions 14 that is continuous with longitudinal edges of the first substrate 13, respectively, with opposed ends thereof that are bent inward toward each other and generally parallel to the first substrate 13.
It is to be noted that double-headed arrow Y in the drawings indicates directions in which the inner rail unit 10 and the pair of first and second outer rails 20A and 20B are slidable (hereinafter referred to as slide directions), which correspond to the longitudinal directions of the first and second substrates 13 and 15 and third and fourth substrates 23 and 25 described later. Double-headed arrow X indicates directions of a height of each of the inner rail unit 10 and the pair of first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, which correspond to the width directions of each of the first, second, third, and fourth substrates 13, 15, 23, and 25. Double-headed arrow Z indicates directions of a thickness of each of the inner rail unit 10, the pair of first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, the first, second, third, and fourth substrates 13, 15, 23, and 25.
A length of the first substrate 13 is longer than a length of each first bent portion 14 in the longitudinal directions. Specifically, as illustrated in
Each first bent portion 14 is L-shaped in cross-section and is constructed of a first standing plate 14A, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate 13, and a first parallel plate 14B, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the first standing plate 14A to be parallel to the first substrate 13. The pair of first bent portions 14 is formed on one side of the first substrate 13 in the thickness directions, respectively.
Similarly, the second inner rail 10B is constructed of the rectangular second inner substrate 15 and a pair of second bent portions 16 that is continuous with longitudinal edges of the second substrate 15, respectively, with opposed ends thereof that are bent inward toward each other and generally parallel to the second substrate 15. The first and second inner substrates 13 and 15 together form an inner substrate assembly 135 of the inner rail unit 10.
A length of the second substrate 15 is longer than a length of each second bent portion 16 in the longitudinal directions. Specifically, as illustrated in
Each second bent portion 16 is L-shaped in cross-section and is constructed of a second standing plate 16A, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the second substrate 15, and a second parallel plate 16B, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the second standing plate 16A to be parallel to the second substrate 15. The pair of second bent portions 16 is formed on the other side of the second substrate 15, respectively, in the thickness directions opposite the side in which the pair of first bent portions 14 is formed in the first substrate 13 of the first inner rail 10A.
The first and second substrates 13 and 15 of the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B are fixed together back-to-back by welding, bonding, or any well-known method to form the inner rail unit 10 with the pairs of first and second bent portions 14 and 16 protruding outward in opposite directions, respectively. As a result, the first and second mounting holes 10a and 1013 are formed in the inner rail unit 10 at the withdrawal and accommodation ends, respectively.
As shown in
The shaft 4A is constructed of a main body 41, a reduced diameter portion 42 continuous with one end of the main body 41, and an increased diameter portion 43 continuous with the opposite end of the main body 41. A diameter D42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is smaller than a diameter of the main body 41, and a diameter of the increased diameter portion 43 is larger than the diameter of the main body 41. The main body 41, the reduced diameter portion 42, and the increased diameter portion 43 are coaxial. An axial length T41 of the shaft 4A, that is, a total thickness of the main body 41 and the increased diameter portion 43, is slightly longer than a total thickness T11 of the main body 2A and the pedestal 3 of the first roller 11. When the first roller 11 is mounted to the first inner rail 10A, an end face of the main body 41 of the shaft 4A contacts the first substrate 13 of the first inner rail 10A. The diameter D42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is slightly smaller than a diameter of the first mounting hole 10a, and an axial length T42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is slightly longer than a total thickness of the first and second substrates 13 and 15 laminated together.
The first roller 11 on the pedestal 3 side is positioned closer to one face of the first substrate 13 in the thickness directions so that the first hole 11a formed in the first roller 11 communicates with the first mounting hole 10a. The shaft 4A of the first roller 11 is inserted into the first hole l la and the first mounting hole 10a communicating with each other, and the leading end of the shaft 4A is fixed to the first substrate 13 on the opposite face of the first substrate 13 using a well-known method. Thus, the first roller 11 is rotatably mounted to the first inner rail 10A. In a manner similar to the first roller 11, the second roller 12 is rotatably mounted to the second inner rail 10B as described in detail below.
It is to be noted that, the first and second rollers 11 and 12 have the same basic shape and structure, and the same reference numerals are partially used for those components of the second roller 12 identical to the components of the first roller 11. The second roller 12 is constructed of a disk-shaped second main body 2B, a pedestal 3 that is tapered toward a leading end and continuous coaxially with the main body 2B, a second hole 12a penetrating in the center of both the main body 2B and the pedestal 3, and a shaft 4B inserted into the second hole 12a. A diameter of the main body 2B increases approaching the center thereof in the thickness directions. A maximum diameter D2 of the main body 2B is slightly smaller than a height C20 between fourth standing plates 26A of a pair of fourth bent portions 26 provided to the second outer rail 20B, which are described in detail later, and a thickness T2 of the main body 2B is slightly smaller than a width T20 between the fourth substrate 25 of the second outer rail 20B and fourth parallel plates 26B of the pair of fourth bent portions 26, which are also described in detail later. Thus, the second roller 12 having the main body 2B slidably engages inner surfaces of the pair of fourth bent portions 26 of the second outer rail 20B.
Similarly, the first and second shaft 4A and 4B of the first and second rollers 11 and 12 have the same basic shape and structure. The shaft 4B is constructed of a main body 41, a reduced diameter portion 42 continuous with one end of the main body 41, and an increased diameter portion 43 continuous with the opposite end of the main body 41. A diameter D42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is smaller than a diameter of the main body 41, and a diameter of the increased diameter portion 43 is larger than the diameter of the main body 41. The main body 41, the reduced diameter portion 42, and the increased diameter portion 43 are coaxial. An axial length T41 of the shaft 4B, that is, a total thickness of the main body 41 and the increased diameter portion 43, is slightly longer than a total thickness T11 of the main body 2B and the pedestal 3 of the second roller 12. When the second roller 12 is mounted to the second inner rail 10B, an end face of the main body 41 of the shaft 4B contacts the second substrate 15 of the second inner rail 10B. The diameter D42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is slightly smaller than a diameter of the second mounting hole 10b, and an axial length T42 of the reduced diameter portion 42 is slightly longer than a total thickness of the first and second substrates 13 and 15 laminated together.
As described previously, the outer rail unit 20 is constructed of two separate rails, that is, the first outer rail 20A and the second outer rail 20B. It is to be noted that the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B have the same basic shape and structure. Two sheets of metal laminated one atop the other are blanked and bent to form the first or second outer rails 20A or 20B. Thus, the same mold may be used for both the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B.
The first outer rail 20A is constructed of the rectangular third outer substrate 23 and the pair of third bent portions 24. One end of the third bent portions 24 is continuous with longitudinal edges of the third substrate 23, and opposite ends thereof are bent inward toward each other. A length of the third substrate 23 is longer than the length of the first substrate 13 in the longitudinal directions. The pair of third bent portions 24 is provided to the third substrate 23 across the longitudinal directions.
As illustrated in
Each third bent portion 24 is L-shaped in cross-section and is constructed of the third standing plate 24A, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the third substrate 23, and the third parallel plate 24B, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the third standing plate 24A to be parallel to the third substrate 23. The pair of third bent portions 24 is formed on the other side of the third substrate 23 in the thickness directions, respectively.
The second outer rail 20B is constructed of the rectangular fourth outer substrate 25 and the pair of fourth bent portions 26. One end of the fourth bent portions 26 is continuous with longitudinal edges of the fourth substrate 25, and opposite ends thereof are bent inward toward each other. A length of the fourth substrate 25 is longer than the length of the second substrate 15 in the longitudinal directions. The pair of fourth bent portions 26 is provided to the fourth substrate 25 across the longitudinal directions.
As illustrated in
Each fourth bent portion 26 is L-shaped in cross-section and is constructed of the fourth standing plate 26A, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the fourth substrate 25, and the fourth parallel plate 26B, which is bent in a direction perpendicular to the fourth standing plate 26A to be parallel to the fourth substrate 25. The pair of fourth bent portions 26 is formed on one side of the fourth substrate 25, respectively, in the thickness directions opposite the other side in which the pair of third bent portions 24 is formed in the third substrate 23 of the first outer rail 20A.
The third roller 21 is constructed of a disk-shaped third main body 5, a pedestal 6 that is tapered toward a leading end and continuous coaxially with the main body 5, a hole 5a penetrating in the center of both the main body 5 and the pedestal 6, and a shaft 7 inserted into the hole 5a. The main body 5 of the third roller 21 is cylindrically shaped and has the same outer diameter across the thickness directions. A maximum diameter D5 of the main body 5 is slightly smaller than a height CIO between the first standing plates 14A of the pair of first bent portions 14 provided to the first inner rail 10A, and a thickness T5 of the main body 5 is slightly shorter than a width T 14 between the first substrate 13 of the first inner rail 10A and the first parallel plates 14B of the pair of first bent portions 14. Thus, the third roller 21 having the main body 5 slidably engages inner surfaces of the pair of first bent portions 14 of the first inner rail 10A.
The shaft 7 is constructed of a main body 71, a reduced diameter portion 72 continuous with one end of the main body 71, and an increased diameter portion 73 continuous with the opposite end of the main body 71. A diameter D72 of the reduced diameter portion 72 is smaller than a diameter of the main body 71, and a diameter of the increased diameter portion 73 is larger than the diameter of the main body 71. The main body 71, the reduced diameter portion 72, and the increased diameter portion 73 are coaxial. An axial length T71 of the shaft 7, that is, a total thickness of the main body 71 and the increased diameter portion 73, is slightly longer than a total thickness T21 of the main body 5 and the pedestal 6 of the third roller 21. When the third roller 21 is mounted to the first outer rail 20A, an end face of the main body 71 of the shaft 7 contacts the third substrate 23 of the first outer rail 20A. The diameter D72 of the reduced diameter portion 72 is slightly smaller than a diameter of the third mounting hole 20a, and an axial length T72 of the reduced diameter portion 72 is slightly longer than the thickness of the third substrate 23.
It is to be noted that, the third and fourth rollers 21 and 22 have the same basic shape and structure, and the same reference numerals are partially used for those components of the fourth roller 22 identical to the components of the third roller 21. The fourth roller 22 is constructed of a disk-shaped fourth main body 5, a pedestal 6 that is tapered toward a leading end and continuous coaxially with the main body 5, a hole 5a penetrating in the center of both the main body 5 and the pedestal 6, and a shaft 7 inserted into the hole 5a. The main body 5 of the fourth roller 22 is cylindrically shaped and has the same outer diameter across the thickness directions. A maximum diameter D5 of the main body 5 is slightly smaller than a height CIO between the second standing plates 16A of the pair of second bent portions 16 provided to the second inner rail 10B, and a thickness T5 of the main body 5 is slightly shorter than a width T 14 between the second substrate 15 of the second inner rail 10B and the second parallel plates 16B of the pair of second bent portions 16. Thus, the fourth roller 22 having the main body 5 slidably engages inner surfaces of the pair of second bent portions 16 of the second inner rail 10B.
A description is now given of the process of assembly of the slide rail assembly 1. First, the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B are assembled into the inner rail unit 10 with the first and second rollers 11 and 12 rotatably mounted as described previously. Next, the third and fourth rollers 21 and 22 are rotatably mounted to the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, respectively. Then, the accommodation end of the first inner rail 10A is positioned closer to the withdrawal end of the first outer rail 20A to insert the first inner rail 10A into the first outer rail 20A, so that the third roller 21 is positioned within the pair of first bent portions 14 of the first inner rail 10A and the first roller 11 within the pair of third bent portions 24 of the first outer rail 20A, respectively. Thus, the first roller 11 slidably engages the pair of third bent portions 24, and the third roller 21 slidably engages the pair of first bent portions 14. Thereafter, the withdrawal end of the second inner rail 10B is positioned closer to the accommodation end of the second outer rail 20B to insert the second inner rail 10B into the second outer rail 20B, so that the second roller 12 is positioned within the pair of fourth bent portions 26 of the second outer rail 20B and the fourth roller 22 within the pair of second bent portions 16 of the second inner rail 10B, respectively. Thus, the second roller 12 slidably engages the pair of fourth bent portions 26, and the fourth roller 22 slidably engages the pair of second bent portions 16. Accordingly, the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B are slidable against the inner rail unit 10, respectively, to construct the slide rail assembly 1 as illustrated in
A description is now given of functions and effects of the present illustrative embodiment. The inner rail unit 10 has the pair of first bent portions 14 and the pair of second bent portions 16, both of which protrude outward in the opposite directions, respectively. The pair of first and second outer rails 20A and 20B has the pair of third bent portions 24 positioned opposite the pair of first bent portions 14 of the inner rail unit 10 and the pair of fourth bent portions 26 positioned opposite the pair of second bent portions 16 of the inner rail unit 10. The pair of first bent portions 14 and the pair of third bent portions 24 slidably engage each other via the first and third rollers 11 and 21, and the pair of second bent portions 16 and the pair of fourth bent portions 26 slidably engage each other via the second and fourth rollers 12 and 22. As a result, the three separate rails, that is, the inner rail unit 10 and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, do not overlap one another in the vertical directions upon accommodation of the inner rail unit 10 within both the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, thereby downsizing the slide rail assembly I in the vertical directions compared to the related-art slide rail assembly 201 in which the three separate rails are inserted into one another. As described above, the slide rail assembly 1 is constructed of three separate rails, that is, the inner rail unit 10 and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, both of which sandwich the inner rail unit 10. The four rollers 11, 12, 21, and 22 are appropriately positioned within the slide rail assembly 1 so that a load applied to the withdrawal end of the slide rail assembly 1 with the fourth roller 22 as a fulcrum is spread across the inner rail unit 10 and one of the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, thereby improving load capacity of the slide rail assembly 1 as a whole.
The first substrate 13 and the second substrate 15 are laminated and fixed together to form the inner substrate assembly 135. The pair of first bent portions 14 is provided to one side of the inner substrate assembly 135. One end of the first bent portions 14 is continuous with the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the first substrate 13, and opposite ends of the first bent portions 14 are bent inward toward each other. The pair of second bent portions 16 is provided to the other side of the inner substrate assembly 135 opposite the one side thereof. Thus, the first and second bent portions 14 and 16 protrude outward in the opposite directions, respectively. One end of the second bent portions 16 is continuous with the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the second substrate 15, and opposite ends of the second bent portions 16 are bent inward toward each other. The inner rail unit 10 is constructed by laminating the first substrate 13 of the first inner rail 10A and the second substrate 15 of the second inner rail 10B together, thereby facilitating manufacture of the slide rail assembly 1.
The first roller 11 includes the first main body 2A having the first hole 11a at the center therein. The first hole 11a communicates with the first mounting hole 10a that penetrates both the first and second substrates 13 and 15 so that the shaft 4A of the first roller 11 is inserted into both the first hole 11a and the first mounting hole 10a to rotatably mount the first roller 11 to the inner rail unit 10. The second roller 12 includes the second main body 2B having the second hole 12a at the center therein. The second hole 12a communicates with the second mounting hole 10b that penetrates both the first and second substrates 13 and 15 so that the shaft 4B of the second roller 12 is inserted into both the second hole 12a and the second mounting hole 10b to rotatably mount the second roller 12 to the inner rail unit 10. As a result, the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B, both of which are laminated together, are securely fixed to each other.
The first, second, third, and fourth rollers 11, 12, 21, and 22 are rotatably provided to the slide rail assembly 1, respectively. Accordingly, the slide rail assembly 1, in which the inner rail unit 10 and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B are slidable against one another, has improved slidability.
In the above-described example, the first and second substrates 13 and 15 are laminated and fixed together back-to-back by bonding, welding, or any well-known method such that the pairs of first and second bent portions 14 and 16 protrude outward in the opposite directions, respectively. As a result, the first and second inner rails 10A and LOB are fixed together to be assembled into the inner rail unit 10. Alternatively, the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B may be fixed together by inserting the shafts 4A and 4B of the first and second rollers 11 and 12 into the first and second mounting holes 10a and 10b, respectively, without bonding, welding, or the like.
A description is now given of a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention with reference to
As illustrated in
The first stopper receiver 18 is provided between the third mounting hole 20a, to which the third roller 21 is rotatably mounted, and the third bulge 23A of the third substrate 23 in the longitudinal directions. A part of the third substrate 23 is cut in and bent toward the first inner rail 10A to form the first stopper receiver 18. In other words, in the slide rail assembly 1, the first stopper receiver 18 is provided downstream from the first stopper 17 in the accommodation direction of the sheet tray 202.
As illustrated in
The second stopper receiver 28 is provided between the fourth mounting hole 20b, to which the fourth roller 22 is rotatably mounted, and the fourth bulge 25A of the fourth substrate 25 in the longitudinal directions. A part of the fourth substrate 25 is cut in and bent toward the second inner rail 10B to form the second stopper receiver 28. In other words, in the slide rail assembly 1, the second stopper receiver 28 is provided downstream from the second stopper 27 in the withdrawal direction of the sheet tray 202.
Thus, in the second illustrative embodiment, a part of the first substrate 13 is cut in and bent toward the first outer rail 20A to form the first stopper 17, and a part of the third substrate 23 is cut in and bent toward the first inner rail 10A to form the first stopper receiver 18. As a result, slippage of the first outer rail 20A from the inner rail unit 10 is prevented without increasing the number of components. In addition, a part of the second substrate 15 is cut in and bent toward the second outer rail 20B to form the second stopper 27, and a part of the fourth substrate 25 is cut in and bent toward the second inner rail 10B to form the second stopper receiver 28. As a result, slippage of the second outer rail 20B from the inner rail unit 10 is prevented without increasing the number of components.
It is to be noted that, although being L-shaped in cross-section in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, alternatively, the pairs of first, second, third, and fourth bent portions 14, 16, 24, and 26 may be either V-shaped in cross-section as shown in
Although the two separate first and second inner rails 10A and 10B are fixed together to be assembled into the inner rail unit 10 in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, alternatively, the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B may be formed together as a single integrated member by casting or the like.
In the foregoing illustrative embodiments, the first, second, third, and fourth rollers 11, 12, 21, and 22, are rotatably provided to the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, respectively. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the first, second, third, and fourth rollers 11, 12, 21, 22 may be provided unrotatably to the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B, respectively, or be not cylindrically shaped, as long as a portion in which each roller contacts the corresponding rail has a reduced frictional coefficient.
Although having the same shape and structure in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, the first and second inner rails 10A and 10B may have a different shape and structure and the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B may have a different shape and structure, as long as the first and second outer rails 20A and 20B are slidable against the inner rail unit 10, respectively. In addition, although having the same shape and structure, the first, second, third, and fourth rollers 11, 12, 21, and 22 may have different shapes and structures, respectively, as long as the first, second, third, and fourth rollers 11, 12, 21, and 22 are slidable against the respective bent portions 14, 16, 24, and 26.
Elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such exemplary variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
The number of constituent elements and their locations, shapes, and so forth are not limited to any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-137448 | Jun 2012 | JP | national |
