US 12,257,724 B2
Automated O-ring processing stations and related methods
Kenneth Wayne Nicholson, Cambridge (CA); Philip David Munroe, Cambridge (CA); James Mark McLean, Cambridge (CA); Robert James MacGregor, Cambridge (CA); David Andrew Tait, Cambridge (CA); Gustavo Barea, Cambridge (CA); and Roger Craig Hogan, Cambridge (CA)
Assigned to ATS CORPORATION, Cambridge (CA)
Filed by ATS CORPORATION, Cambridge (CA)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,654.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/167,968, filed on Mar. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0331965 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B23P 19/08 (2006.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01); B25B 27/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 9/1687 (2013.01) [B23P 19/084 (2013.01); B25J 9/0093 (2013.01); B25J 9/0096 (2013.01); B25B 27/0028 (2013.01); G05B 2219/39001 (2013.01); G05B 2219/45063 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49872 (2015.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing O-rings in an automated mass production system, comprising:
a) advancing an O-ring retainer of an indexing device toward a loading position in alignment with an output end of a feed device;
b) discharging a leading O-ring from the output end of the feed device in electronic synchronization with advancement of the O-ring retainer to the loading position to initiate loading of the O-ring into the retainer prior to the retainer arriving at the loading position;
c) after loading the O-ring into the retainer, advancing the retainer away from the loading position toward an unloading position; and
d) moving an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of the retainer to the unloading position to synchronize arrival of the retainer at the unloading position with arrival of the end effector at a pick-up position in alignment with the O-ring in the retainer at the unloading position for pick up of the O-ring by the end effector.