Patent ID: 7770287

Claim:
A machine for assembling an annular wear washer around a compressible sleeve wherein said wear washer has a central opening and a projection extending inward of said central opening and further has an alignment surface, and said compressible sleeve has a longitudinal slot and said compressible sleeve is fitted around a cylindrical shank of a rotatable tool wherein said cylindrical shank has a longitudinal axis and a distal end and wherein said rotatable tool has a tapered cutting end opposite said cylindrical shank, said machine comprising: a frame, a holder for retaining said tool with said shank retained against movement with respect to said frame, a pusher having a tubular portion, said tubular portion having a distal end, with an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said shank and said tubular portion having a longitudinal axis, said pusher retained on said frame with said longitudinal axis of said tubular portion coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said tool retained in said holder, a motor on said frame for moving said pusher towards said holder wherein said distal end of said tubular portion is moved from a first position spaced from said distal end of said cylindrical shank to a second position surrounding a portion of said shank and wherein a wear washer positioned around said distal end of said shank is forced around said sleeve as said distal end of said tubular portion is moved to said second position, and a first alignment member and a second alignment member on said frame, said first alignment member having a dimension less than a spacing between outer edges of said slot while said compressible sleeve is in an uncompressed position, said second alignment member engaging said alignment surface, wherein said wear washer is aligned with respect to said compressible sleeve.