O-ring mounting machine

Claim 1

An apparatus for mounting O-rings over the male end of a part fitting at the desired mounting position, which comprises a. a supporting frame, b. a mandrel of circular cross-section detachably mounted on such frame having a width sufficiently small to permit O-rings to be mounted to slide readily down the sides thereof over a substantial portion of its length, the lower end of said mandrel being flared to a width greater than that of the normal diameter of the openings of said O-rings, and the upper end being tapered to a narrow diameter. c. an axial chamber provided at said flared end having a width sufficient to receive the end of the fitting upon which the Oring is to be mounted, and of sufficient length so that when the end of said fitting is completely inserted in said chamber, an O-ring which slips off the edge of said flared end is received directly over the desired mounting position of said fitting, d. means for engaging a single O-ring and moving it axially over said flared end, thereby mounting said O-ring over a fitting contained within said axial chamber, and e. means for automatically loading O-rings on said mandrel and permitting said O-rings to drop to the lower end of said mandrel, comprising 1. a hopper having a housing connected thereto, 2. hub means rotatively mounted in said housing provided with a plurality of spines obliquely mounted thereon leaning forward in the direction of rotation, 3. motor means for rotating said hub, 4. an opening at the bottom of said housing directly over the upper end of said mandrel, whereby rotation of said hub by said motor causes O-rings to be picked up by said spines and dropped through said opening directly over said mandrel, 5. a pair of electrically actuatable clamp means for supporting said mandrel, 6. an electrical supply switch adapted to close when a sufficient number of O-rings have been deposited above the upper one of said clamps, 7. an electrical demand switch adapted to determine when a demand exists at the lower part of said mandrel for more Orings, 8. electrical relay means operatively connected with said switches, said clamp means, and said motor, the arrangement being such that when the supply of O-rings above said upper clamp means is exhausted, said upper and lower clamps are alternately opened to permit O-rings to slide to the lower end of said mandrel, 9. delay means for delaying the opening of said lower clamp until a short period after said upper clamp has closed, and 10. delay means for detaining said lower clamp in open position for a sufficient period to permit the supply of O-rings to drop past said open clamp.

Claim 2

An apparatus for mounting O-rings over the male end of a part fitting at the desired mounting position, which comprises a. a supporting frame, b. a mandrel of circular cross-section detachably mounted on such frame having a width sufficiently small to permit O-rings to be mounted to slide readily down the sides thereof over a substantial portion of its length, the lower end of said mandrel being flared to a width greater than that of the normal diameter of the openings of said O-rings, and the upper end being tapered to a narrow diameter. c. an axial chamber provided at said flared end having a width sufficient to receive the end of the fitting upon which the Oring is to be mounted, and of sufficient length so that when the end of said fitting is completely inserted in said chamber, an O-ring which slips off the edge of said flared end is received directly over the desired mounting position of said fitting, d. means for engaging a single O-ring and moving it axially over said flared end, thereby mounting said O-ring over a fitting contained within said axial chamber, and e. means for automatically loading O-rings on said mandrel and permitting said O-rings to drop to the lower end of said mandrel, comprising 1. a hopper having a housing connected thereto, 2. hub means rotatively mounted in said housing provided with a plurality of spines obliquely mounted thereon leaning forward in the direction of rotation, 3. motor means for rotating said hub, 4. an opening at the bottom of said housing directly over the upper end of said mandrel, whereby rotation of said hub by said motor causes O-rings to be picked up by said spines and dropped through said opening directly over said mandrel, 5. a pair of electrically actuatable clamp means for supporting said mandrel, 6. an electrical supply switch adapted to close when a sufficient number of O-rings have been deposited above the upper one of said clamps, 7. an electrical demand switch adapted to determine when a demand exists at the lower part of said mandrel for more Orings, 8. electrical relay means operatively connected with said switches, said clamp means, and said motor, the arrangement being such that when the supply of O-rings above said upper clamp means is exhausted, said upper and lower clamps are alternately opened to permit O-rings to slide to the lower end of said mandrel, 9. delay means for delaying the opening of said lower clamp until a short period after said upper clamp has closed, and 10. delay means for detaining said lower clamp in open position for a sufficient period to permit the supply of O-rings to drop past said open clamp.