Linear guide device

A linear guide device, comprising

• a guide base having a longitudinal axis,
• a runner assembly guided for movement in the direction of said longitudinal axis relative to said guide base,
• a linear drive means for driving said runner assembly along said longitudinal axis, said linear drive means including a drive spindle supported at spindle ends for rotation relative to said guide base and fixed against axial movement in the region of at least one of said spindle ends, and including a spindle nut in driven engagement with said spindle and driving engagement with the runner assembly, respective axial distances being defined between said runner assembly and said spindle ends,
• at least one pair of spindle support units with a respective spindle support unit of said pair being arranged within each of said axial distances, said spindle support units each being guided relative to said runner assembly on said guide base in the direction of said longitudinal axis and being movable within a respective axial distance in dependence on movements of said runner assembly, and
• flexible traction means for providing a mutual dependence of movement of the spindle support units of said at least one pair of spindle support units,
• wherein said guide base includes a guide housing having walls defining a guide cavity, said runner assembly and said spindle support units are received within said guide cavity, said runner assembly has a portion that extends through a longitudinal opening of said guide housing and has a portion outside of said guide cavity adapted for receiving an object to be moved in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of said flexible traction means extends within a traction means receiving channel separate from said guide cavity.

A linear guide device, comprising

• a guide base having a longitudinal axis,
• a runner assembly guided for movement in the direction of said longitudinal axis relative to said guide base,
• a linear drive means for driving said runner assembly along said longitudinal axis, said linear drive means including a drive spindle supported at spindle ends for rotation relative to said guide base and fixed against axial movement in the region of at least one of said spindle ends, and including a spindle nut in driven engagement with said spindle and driving engagement with the runner assembly, respective axial distances being defined between said runner assembly and said spindle ends,
• at least one pair of spindle support units with a respective spindle support unit of said pair being arranged within each of said axial distances, said spindle support units each being guided relative to said runner assembly on said guide base in the direction of said longitudinal axis and being movable within a respective axial distance in dependence on movements of said runner assembly, and
• flexible traction means for providing a mutual dependence of movement of said spindle support units of said at least one pair, said flexible traction means contributing to provide a closed spindle support unit displacement loop and including a first flexible traction section extending between said spindle support units of said at least one pair via respective motion reversing units provided adjacent each of said spindle ends in substantially stationary relationship with respect to said spindle ends, and further including a second flexible traction section movably running past said runner assembly and extending directly between said spindle support units of said at least one pair substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first and second flexible traction sections being fixedly attached to both said spindle support units of said at least one pair,
• wherein respective groups of mutually engageable abutment portions are allocated to said runner assembly and each of said spindle support unite of said at least one pair and both said spindle support units of said at least one pair are commonly displaceable in a respective longitudinal direction along said longitudinal axis in response to movement of said runner assembly in said respective longitudinal direction by abutting engagement of a respective one of said groups of abutment portions.