O-ring inspection method and apparatus

Claim 1

A method for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter thereof comprising driving an O-ring through a twisted path by stretching and twisting the O-ring over a pair of spaced mandrels, the mandrels being crossed at an angle to effect twisting of the O-ring and rotating one of the mandrels to progressively move the O-ring through a twisted path, optically sensing the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations spaced along the path of the O-ring such that due to the twist of the O-ring, a different angular aspect of the O-ring cross section is presented for inspection at each said location, and repetitively sampling the said diameter at each said location during the progressive movement of the O-ring thereby obtaining a plurality of diameter measurement of O-ring cross section at each location.

Claim 2

A method for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter thereof comprising driving an O-ring through a twisted path by stretching and twisting the O-ring over a pair of spaced mandrels, the mandrels being crossed at an angle to effect twisting of the O-ring and rotating one of the mandrels to progressively move the O-ring through a twisted path, optically sensing the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations spaced along the path of the O-ring such that due to the twist of the O-ring, a different angular aspect of the O-ring cross section is presented for inspection at each said location, and repetitively sampling the said diameter at each said location during the progressive movement of the O-ring thereby obtaining a plurality of diameter measurement of O-ring cross section at each location.

Claim 3

A method for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter thereof comprising inserting the ends of a pair of mandrels through the opening of an O-ring, separating the mandrels to engage and stretch the O-ring, the mandrels being crossed at an angle to effect twisting of the O-ring, and driving the O-ring through a twisted path by rotating one of the mandrels to progressively advance the O-ring around the mandrels, optically sensing the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations spaced along the path of the O-ring such that due to the twist of the O-ring, a different angular aspect of the O-ring cross section is presented for inspection at each said location, repetitively sampling the said diameter at each said location during the progressive advancement of the O-ring thereby obtaining a plurality of diameter measurement of O-ring cross section at each location, and electrically comparing the measured diameters to preset limits and to each other to detect any dimensional anomaly in the O-ring cross sections.

Claim 4

A method for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter thereof comprising inserting the ends of a pair of mandrels through the opening of an O-ring, separating the mandrels to engage and stretch the O-ring, the mandrels being crossed at an angle to effect twisting of the O-ring, and driving the O-ring through a twisted path by rotating one of the mandrels to progressively advance the O-ring around the mandrels, optically sensing the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations spaced along the path of the O-ring such that due to the twist of the O-ring, a different angular aspect of the O-ring cross section is presented for inspection at each said location, repetitively sampling the said diameter at each said location during the progressive advancement of the O-ring thereby obtaining a plurality of diameter measurement of O-ring cross section at each location, and electrically comparing the measured diameters to preset limits and to each other to detect any dimensional anomaly in the O-ring cross sections.

Claim 5

An apparatus for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations thereon comprising an optical device for measuring the cross-sectional diameter of an O-ring segment placed within the optical field of the device. a pair of mandrels, the mandrels being crossed at an angle, means for presenting an O-ring to a position adjacent the mandrels with the O-ring axis aligned with the mandrels, means moving the mandrels generally along said axis for inserting the mandrels through the opening of the O-ring, means for moving at least one of the mandrels laterally with respect to the axis to move the mandrels apart and move the O-ring into the optical field whereby the O-ring is securely gripped and stretched between the mandrels and contorted into a twisted path due to the crossed disposition of the mandrels, a motor connected to rotate one of the mandrels to drive the O-ring through the twisted path for presenting various angular aspects of each cross section of the O-ring to the optical field, and electronic control means for directing a plurality of measurements of cross-sectional diameters and comparing such measurements to identify any anomaly in O-ring dimension.

Claim 6

An apparatus for inspecting O-rings by measuring the cross-sectional diameter at a plurality of locations thereon comprising an optical device for measuring the cross-sectional diameter of an O-ring segment placed within the optical field of the device. a pair of mandrels, the mandrels being crossed at an angle, means for presenting an O-ring to a position adjacent the mandrels with the O-ring axis aligned with the mandrels, means moving the mandrels generally along said axis for inserting the mandrels through the opening of the O-ring, means for moving at least one of the mandrels laterally with respect to the axis to move the mandrels apart and move the O-ring into the optical field whereby the O-ring is securely gripped and stretched between the mandrels and contorted into a twisted path due to the crossed disposition of the mandrels, a motor connected to rotate one of the mandrels to drive the O-ring through the twisted path for presenting various angular aspects of each cross section of the O-ring to the optical field, and electronic control means for directing a plurality of measurements of cross-sectional diameters and comparing such measurements to identify any anomaly in O-ring dimension.