# US 11,440,170 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for separating, feeding and mounting O-rings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,170 B2 - Document ID: US11440170B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/991,541 - Filed: 2020-08-12 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-13 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Cheng Li; Feifei Zhao; Yichao Mao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440170B2 ## CPC - B25B 11/007: {portable, e.g. handheld} - B25B 27/0028: {Tools for removing or installing seals (B25B27/0092 takes precedence)} - B23P 19/084: {for placing resilient or flexible rings, e.g. O-rings, circlips} - B25J 15/0019: {End effectors other than grippers} - B23P 19/105: {using sensing means} - B25J 11/00: Manipulators not otherwise provided for - B25J 13/086: {Proximity sensors} - B25J 15/0023: {Gripper surfaces directly activated by a fluid (flexible fingers B25J15/12)} - B25J 15/0616: {with vacuum} - B25J 15/0658: {Pneumatic type, e.g. air blast or overpressure} - B25J 15/0683: {Details of suction cup structure, e.g. grooves or ridges} - Y10T 29/49872: Confining elastic part in socket - Y10T 29/53657: to apply or remove a resilient article [e.g., tube, sleeve, etc.] - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present application discloses an apparatus for mounting an O-ring to a work piece, which includes a body including a plurality of connecting holes for connecting a pressure source to the body; an annular groove formed on the body and adapted to receive the O-ring; and a plurality of air channels formed in the body, the plurality of air channels being in fluid communication with the annular groove and the plurality of connecting holes to provide negative pressure with the pressure source in the annular groove to suck the O-ring in the annular groove, the annular groove is coaxial with a groove formed on a surface of the work piece during the mounting so that the O-ring is dropped into the groove when the pressure source is disconnected from the body or provides positive pressure to the plurality of air channels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for mounting an 0-ring to a work piece, comprising: a body comprising a plurality of connecting holes for connecting a pressure source to the body; an annular groove formed on the body and adapted to receive the O-ring; and a plurality of air channels formed in the body, the plurality of air channels being in fluid communication with the annular groove and the plurality of connecting holes to provide negative pressure with the pressure source in the annular groove to suck the O-ring in the annular groove, wherein the annular groove is coaxial with a groove formed on a surface of the work piece during the mounting so that the 0-ring is dropped into the groove when the pressure source is disconnected from the body or provides positive pressure to the plurality of air channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a radial cross-section of the annular groove is of an arc shape, a radius of the arc being substantially the same as a wire diameter of the O-ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one edge of the annular groove has chamfers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first portion, a second portion and at least one sealing component arranged between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the annular groove and the plurality of air channels are formed in the second portion, and the plurality of connecting holes are formed in the first portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a vacuum chamber formed on the first portion for connecting the plurality of air channels and the plurality of connecting holes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vacuum chamber is ring-shaped and coaxial with the annular groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of air channels are arranged evenly and circumferentially between the annular groove and the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting portion arranged on the body and adapted to couple the body to a robot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a positing positioning sensor mounted on the body and adapted to detect a position of the 0-ring or the groove. ### Claim 10 A method for mounting an 0-ring to a work piece, comprising: providing negative pressure in an annular groove formed on a body with a pressure source to suck the O-ring in the annular groove, wherein a plurality of connecting holes are formed on the body for connecting the pressure source to the body, and wherein a plurality of air channels are in fluid communication with the annular groove and the plurality of connecting holes; moving the body over the work piece, wherein the annular groove is coaxial with a groove formed on a surface of the work piece; and dropping the O-ring into the groove by disconnecting the pressure source from the body or providing positive pressure to the plurality of air channels using the pressure source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: moving the body, before moving the body over the work piece, back and forth in multiple directions while moving the body towards and away from the O-ring to ensure the O-ring to be sucked in the annular groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: moving the body, after dropping the O-ring into the groove, back and forth in multiple directions while moving the body towards and away from the O-ring to ensure the O-ring to be in the groove. ### Claim 13 A system, comprising: a robot; a pressure source; and an apparatus operatively coupled with said robot for mounting an O-ring to a work piece, the apparatus comprising: a body comprising a plurality of connecting holes for connecting the pressure source to the body; an annular groove formed on the body and adapted to receive the O-ring; and a plurality of air channels formed in the body, the plurality of air channels being in fluid communication with the annular groove and the plurality of connecting holes to provide negative pressure with the pressure source in the annular groove to suck the 0-ring in the annular groove, wherein the annular groove is coaxial with a groove formed on a surface of the work piece during the mounting so that the O-ring is dropped into the groove when the pressure source is disconnected from the body or provides positive pressure to the plurality of air channels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a radial cross-section of the annular groove is an arc shape, a radius of the arc being substantially same as a wire diameter of the O-ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein at least one edge of the annular groove has chamfers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a first portion, a second portion and at least one sealing component arranged between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the annular groove and the plurality of air channels are formed in the second portion, and the plurality of connecting holes are formed in the first portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a vacuum chamber formed on the first portion for connecting the plurality of air channels and the plurality of connecting holes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the vacuum chamber is ring-shaped and coaxial with the annular groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of air channels are arranged evenly and circumferentially between the annular groove and the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 further comprising at least one mounting portion arranged on the body and adapted to couple the body to a robot.