A small-sized finite linear motion guide unit is provided in which there is provided a rack-and-pinion arrangement to prevent any discrepancy between retainer plates to make sure of relative sliding movement of guideways. A rack is composed of teeth portions and a pair of connecting bars to fasten the teeth thereon. The connecting bars are different in widthwise length to form asymmetrical shapes. The grooves for a rack made on the guideway includes a middle groove to get the rack to mate with the pinion, and sidewise grooves lying on both sides of the middle groove and having the connecting bars different in widthwise length to make an asymmetric shape.

Gripping or clamping device comprising a housing body and at least one jaw guide which is provided in the housing body and has two lateral walls, including at least one jaw which can be moved in the jaw guide along a movement direction, guide surfaces being provided on the lateral walls and the jaw having sliding surfaces which interact with the guide surfaces to form a sliding guide, characterized in that at least one raceway part and rolling elements are provided in the jaw guide, the jaw and the raceway part each having a raceway for abutting against the rolling elements to form a roller guide, and in that pretensioning means are provided for generating a pretensioning force, the pretensioning force acting on the raceway part such that the rolling elements are pressed against the jaw-side raceways.

A gripping or clamping device including a housing body and at least one jaw guide which is provided in the housing body and has two lateral walls, including at least one jaw which can be moved in the jaw guide along a movement direction, guide surfaces being provided on the lateral walls and the jaw having sliding surfaces which interact with the guide surfaces to form a sliding guide, wherein at least one raceway part and rolling elements are provided in the jaw guide, the jaw and the raceway part each having a raceway for abutting against the rolling elements to form a roller guide.

A motion device including a carriage for traveling along a rail. The carriage can have at least one rotatable fixed position roller, and at least one rotatable adjustable roller that is movable relative to the at least one fixed position roller for self compensating for play between the rollers and mating surfaces of the rail. Each adjustable roller can be part of a movable roller portion movably mounted to the carriage. The movable roller portion can be adjustably movable by a self adjustment mechanism. The self adjustment mechanism can include a mechanical advantage pushing member for movably engaging the movable roller portion. The mechanical advantage pushing member can be resiliently biased against the movable roller portion by a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement can cause movement of the mechanical advantage pushing member and the movable roller portion for moving the at least one adjustable roller for self compensating for play.

A linear motion guide apparatus that is easily assembled is provided. The linear motion guide apparatus includes: two guide rails that are movable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof via at least one rolling element; and a cage configured to hold the rolling element and hold a gear engaging with a meshing portion provided to at least one of the two guide rails. The cage includes: a first split body in which a rolling element holding portion that holds the rolling element and a gear holding portion that holds the gear are integrally formed; and a second split body in which a rolling element holding portion that holds the rolling element and a gear holding portion that holds the gear are integrally formed. The first split body and the second split body are joined to each other.

A motion device can include a carriage for traveling along a rail. The carriage can have at least one rotatable fixed position roller, and at least one rotatable adjustable roller that is movable relative to the at least one fixed position roller for self compensating for play between the rollers and mating surfaces of the rail. Each at least one adjustable roller can be part of a movable roller portion movably mounted to the carriage. The movable roller portion can be adjustably movable by a self adjustment mechanism. The self adjustment mechanism can include a mechanical advantage pushing member capable of movably engaging the movable roller portion. The mechanical advantage pushing member can be resiliently biased against the movable roller portion by a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement can be capable of causing movement of the mechanical advantage pushing member and the movable roller portion for moving the at least one adjustable roller for self compensating for said play.

A linear motion guide apparatus in which a guide rail can be readily provided with a meshing portion that meshes with a gear is provided. The linear motion guide apparatus includes: two guide rails that are movable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof via at least one rolling element; and a cage configured to hold the rolling element and rotatably hold a gear engaging with a meshing portion provided to at least one of the two guide rails. The meshing portion includes a plurality of circular holes arranged in the longitudinal direction on the guide rail. Each of the circular holes has a wall surface formed in a cylindrical shape.

A guide mechanism includes: a guide member having a first groove; a slide member having a second groove; and rolling bodies arranged in a guide groove comprising the first groove and the second groove. A stopper for preventing the rolling bodies from moving out of the guide groove is affixed to the second groove by welding. A method for manufacturing the guide mechanism includes a welding step in which the second groove and the stopper are welded by resistance welding while the stopper is pressed against the second groove.

In one embodiment, a roller-retainer connected body is formed by connecting a plurality of roller retainers each accommodating a roller to one another. Each roller retainer includes a base part, a first block provided at one end of the base part, and a second block provided at the other end of the base part. Each roller retainer accommodates a roller in a roller accommodating part between the first block and the second block, and has a connector provided on each of an outer end face of the first block and an outer end face of the second block. The connectors of the plurality of roller retainers are connected to each other such that the rollers accommodated in the roller accommodating parts of the plurality of roller retainers rotate on different axes including rotation around a connecting axis.

A guide mechanism (10) is provided with: a guide member (72) having a first groove (81); a slide member (74) having a second groove (82); and rolling bodies (76) arranged in a guide groove (98) comprising the first groove (81) and the second groove (82). A stopper (100) for preventing the rolling bodies (76) from moving out of the guide groove (98) is affixed to the second groove (82) by welding. A method for manufacturing the guide mechanism (10) includes a welding step in which the second groove (82) and the stopper (100) are welded by resistance welding while the stopper (100) is pressed against the second groove (82).