A linear guide apparatus, comprising:
- a guide rail;
- a slider;
- and
- a plurality of rolling elements, wherein:
- the guide rail and the slider are configured to form rolling faces disposed to oppose each other for forming a rolling passage for the plurality of rolling elements,
- the slider includes a return passage for the plurality of rolling elements, and a direction changing path for communicating the return passage and the rolling passage,
- a circulation path of the plurality of rolling elements is configured with the rolling passage, the return passage, and the direction changing path,
- the guide rail or the slider are configured to relatively move linearly with respect to each other, by the plurality of rolling elements circulating in the circulation path,
- the slider comprises:
- (1) a body including a pair of leg portions arranged on both sides in a width direction of the guide rail and a trunk portion connecting the pair of leg portions, the rolling faces being respectively formed on inner sides of the pair of leg portions,
- (2) a pair of retainers made of a synthetic resin and respectively arranged on the pair of leg portions, the pair of retainers being integrally formed with plate-shaped portions to be in contact with both end faces of the body and a holding portion arranged on an inner face of each of the pair of leg portions and holding the plurality of rolling elements on the rolling faces,
- (3) an end cap including an oil supply opening to be connected with a lubricant supplying pipe, a recess portion forming an outer circumference of the direction changing path on a body side face of the end cap, and a deposition face for the plate-shaped portion lower than an abutting face to be in contact with the body, the end cap being secured to either or both of the end faces of the body, and
- (4) a return guide forming an inner circumference of the direction changing path,
- an oil groove configured to form an oil path from the oil supply opening to the recess portion between the plate-shaped portion and the end cap, the oil groove being arranged on an end cap side face facing the plate-shaped portion,
- the plate-shaped portion includes a leg part to be in contact with one of the pair of leg portions and a trunk part to be in contact with a part of the trunk portion, and
- end faces of the trunk parts of the pair of retainers oppose each other or contact with each other at a central portion in a width direction of the trunk portion of each of the end faces of the body, wherein a recess portion and a projection portion fit the end faces of adjacent trunk parts with each other.