Linear guide apparatus

A linear guide apparatus comprising:

• a guide member including a guide surface formed on an outer surface thereof;
• a slider disposed on said guide member so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of said guide member and including a load guide surface formed so as to face said guide surface of said guide member;
• a brake member disposed so as to face the side surface of said guide member and contactable with the other portions of said side surface of said guide member than said guide surface thereof;
• a drive device including an advance and retreat member movable in a direction to be contacted with and separated from said side surface of said guide member, said drive device being capable of driving said advance and retreat member in a direction to approach said side surface of said guide member to thereby press said brake member against said side surface of said guide member and also capable of driving said advance and retreat member in a direction to part away from said side surface of said guide member to thereby remove the pressure thereof;
• and
• a support member for supporting said brake member with high rigidity in other directions thereof than said direction to be contacted with and separated from said side surface of said guide member,
• wherein said drive device comprises a unit main body, said advance and retreat member is movable relative to said unit main body, and said support member is a linear guide which comprises a bearing and a guide element extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said guide member, and
• further wherein one of said guide element and said bearing is mounted on said unit main body, and the other is mounted on said advance and retreat member.