ELASTIC RING ASSEMBLING METHOD

PURPOSE: To provide an elastic ring assembling method using only a holding member by providing claws, which hold an elastic ring and which can be freely slid in relation to the other claws in the axial direction of the elastic ring. CONSTITUTION: An annular O-ring is deformed in the radial direction by opening and closing claws (first claws) 1a, 1b, and sliding claws (second claws) 2a, 2b are slid so as to bend and deform the O-ring to the V-shape. At the same time, sliding fluid pressure cylinders 9a, 9b are moved backward so as to slide the sliding claws 2a, 2b, and an opening and closing fluid pressure cylinder 7 is moved backward so as to close the opening and the closing claws 1a, 1b until the outer shape of the O-ring is shrunken to a dimension smaller than the hole diameter of a work. In this condition, the O-ring is assembled into an annular groove of the circumferential surface of the hole of the work. The O-ring can be thereby assembled by using the only opening and closing claws 1a, 1b and the sliding claws 2a, 2b as the holding member.