EP2924518A1 - Turret for operations on clock movements - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for operating on watch movements comprising a plate (2) mounted on a base (3), said plate comprising at least one storage surface (4) able to receive watch movement components, said plate further comprising at least one working support (6) provided with holding means for watch movements, the working support being arranged to extend so as to facilitate access to said movement.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices for operating on watch movements. These devices comprise a plate mounted on a base, said plate comprising at least one storage area capable of receiving components of watch movements.

PRIOR ART

There are known tools to intervene on watch movements, these interventions can be the construction or repair of these movements. In general, the construction or repair of watch movements is done on a movement holder defined as a support with two jaws of shapes adapted to the movement to maintain it during work.

Thus, for the construction or the repair of a movement, the movement is fixed, via its plate, to the movement-carrier. The operator can then assemble or disassemble the movement. Storage boxes are used for the storage of different parts: parts to be assembled, parts removed, spare parts, all being placed on a work bench allowing the operator to have access to parts.

However, a disadvantage of this work configuration is that it does not optimize the operator's time by not allowing serial work.

Indeed, in the case of a revision or repair operation, the operator takes the movement to be overhauled / repaired, fixes it to a movement carrier and takes the parts he will need for the operation on the movement. Once this operation is finished, the operator arranges the different pieces and takes a new movement to perform an operation on it, said operation being similar to the previous one.

Thus, the serial revision of watch movements is not possible with the current configuration because adequate tools and procedures are not available.

This serial revision is even less possible when there is an operator by step, that is to say an operator for the dismantling, an operator for the repair and an operator for the checks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a device for making series operations on watch movements.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a device for operating on watch movements comprising a plate mounted on a base, said plate comprising at least one storage area capable of receiving components of watch movements, characterized in that said plate comprises in in addition to at least one working support provided with holding means for watch movements, the working support being arranged to extend so as to facilitate access to said movement.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the work support comprises a platform having a peripheral rim and holding means for maintaining a watch movement.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the platform comprises an orifice in which the holding means are arranged, these holding means comprising a shim mounted on a tube associated with a worm to change the position of the shim and thus adapt to different sizes of movement.

In a third advantageous embodiment, the holding means further comprise a spring allowing said shim to be able to move elastically.

In a fourth advantageous embodiment, said storage area comprises at least one storage area.

In another advantageous embodiment, said storage area is a recess.

In another advantageous embodiment, said storage zone is an opening into which a container is inserted.

In another advantageous embodiment, said plate is pivotally mounted relative to the base.

In another advantageous embodiment, the device further comprises a latching system for locking the position of the plate relative to the base.

In another advantageous embodiment, said plate comprises five storage surfaces, each associated with a working support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• La figure 1 représente schématiquement le dispositif pour opérer sur des mouvements horlogers selon l'invention;
• La figure 2 représente schématiquement une variante du dispositif pour opérer sur des mouvements horlogers selon l'invention;
• Les figures 3A, 3B, 3C représentent schématiquement différentes vues d'un support périphérique du dispositif pour opérer sur des mouvements horlogers selon l'invention;
• Les figures 4 et 5 représentent schématiquement des vues du système d'encliquetage du dispositif pour opérer sur des mouvements horlogers selon l'invention.
• La figure 6 représente schématiquement la tête de verrouillage du système d'encliquetage du dispositif pour opérer sur des mouvements horlogers selon l'invention;

The aims, advantages and characteristics of the device according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

• The figure 1 schematically represents the device for operating on watch movements according to the invention;
• The figure 2 schematically represents a variant of the device for operating on watch movements according to the invention;
• The FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C schematically represent different views of a peripheral support of the device for operating on watch movements according to the invention;
• The Figures 4 and 5 schematically represent views of the latching system of the device for operating on watch movements according to the invention.
• The figure 6 schematically represents the locking head of the latching system of the device for operating on watch movements according to the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

On the figure 1 , a device 1 according to the present invention is shown. This device 1 is used to perform assembly operations, disassembly, revision of at least one watch movement, it can be electronic, mechanical or electro-mechanical.

The device 1 comprises a circular plate 2. This circular plate 2 is mounted on a base 3. The base 3 comprises a base 3a from which extends a turret 3b, the latter has a height such that when the user works on the device 1, the plate 2 is at working height of the watchmaker that is to say that when the latter with his arms resting on his worktable, the tray 2 is at a short distance.

The tray 3 comprises at least one storage surface 4. This storage surface 4 is used for storing the various watch components. In the case of the revision of a watch movement, the operator must juggle disassembled parts, defective parts and replacement parts.

The storage surface 4 is thus provided with several reception areas 5 at each of which a different type of parts is placed. For example, in the case of the revision of a watch movement, the storage area 4 is provided with three reception areas: one, central, for the disassembled parts, one for the defective parts and one for the replacement parts. . The central reception zone 5 can then be used to receive the washing baskets so that during the course of the operations, the movement is disassembled by an operator, the defective parts being placed at the reception zone 5 for the defective parts. The other disassembled parts of the movement are placed in one or more washing baskets at the central reception area to be washed. During the reassembly of the movement, the parts in the washing basket or baskets are reassembled in the movement while the defective parts are replaced by new parts from the reception area 5 for replacement parts.

These reception areas 5 may, in a first embodiment, be in the form of recesses. It is understood that each reception area 5 is an area of the plate 2 which is hollowed into a particular shape. These recesses are able to receive the different parts and to maintain the different parts on the tray by preventing them from slipping.

In an alternative to this first embodiment, containers may be placed at the level of the recesses.

In a second embodiment, the reception areas 5 are in the form of openings in each of which a container is inserted, this container containing the different parts of the watch movement. For example, this container is a washing basket. These containers can stack on top of each other. The advantage of this second embodiment is that it allows prior conditioning different types of parts in the containers. In addition, it allows to interchange the different containers between them instead of emptying them to fill with other parts. Indeed, with the use of washing baskets, they welcome non-defective parts to be washed during disassembly, these parts remaining in the washing baskets throughout the operations on the movement.

Of course, it may be provided to mix the first and second embodiment so that some reception areas 5 are in the form of a recess and other reception areas 5 are in the form of a recess an opening.

Advantageously according to the invention, the plate also comprises at least one working support 6 visible to the FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C . This working support 6 is used so that the watch movement can be placed there during the various operations it will undergo. This working support 6 is arranged on the periphery of the plate 2. The working support 6 comprises a cross member 60 of parallelepipedal section to which is fixed a platform 61. This platform 61 is substantially similar to a U that is to say that this platform 61 comprises two parallel branches 62 connected together by one of their end, a space 63 being present between the two branches 62. The cross member 60 is used to fix the support 6 to the plate 2, preferably at the bottom surface plateau 2 that is to say the surface facing the ground. The platform 61 includes a peripheral rim 61a allowing the movement to rely on it. The peripheral flange 61 has at the level of the link between the two branches 62 can be realized in order to be rounded or to form at least one angle allowing a better maintenance of the movement carrier. The peripheral flange 61 at the level of the link between the two branches 62 can thus have a triangular shape.

The platform 61 is provided with holding means 64 of the watch movement. More particularly, the holding means 64 serve to maintain the movement, which is mounted on a movement-carrier. In the space 63 present between the two parallel branches 62 of the platform 61, a holding module 64 is arranged. This holding module 64 comprises a tube 66 mounted on a worm 65 disposed along the space 63. This worm 65 allows to advance or retreat the tube 66. This tube 66 is associated with a shim 67 so that the latter moves together with said tube 66. The position of the wedge 67 is modified to accommodate movements or carriers-movements of different sizes. This shim 67 and the longitudinal flanks 63a of the space 63 between the two legs 62 of the platform 61 may be configured so that said shim 67 is mounted on a rail.

The holding means 64 are also arranged to be mounted elastically. For this, the tube 66 is also associated with a spring 68 used for maintaining the watch movement.

Indeed, the holding means 64 are used so that the operator can firstly adjust the position of the wedge 67 to the size of the door movement so that the latter can be maintained by acting on the worm 65. The fact of elastically mounting the holding means 64 allows, during the establishment of the movement holder on the working support 6, to act on the wedge 67 so as to temporarily change its position so that the movement carrier can be placed . The displacement of the wedge can be a distance of the order of 2 to 3mm. This ability to move is similar to a game that is to say that the position of the hold is not completely fixed and can move slightly to adapt. Once it is placed on the working support 6, the operator releases the wedge 67 of the stress that it exerts so that it returns to its initial position, that is to say in its position before the operator applies a constraint. In this case, the hold 67 exerts a force on the movement holder which bears on the peripheral rim 61a of the work support 6 causing its immobilization.

Cleverly, having the spring-loaded wedge 67 having a play in its position makes it possible to adapt to different types of movement carriers. Indeed, these carriers may have asperities or flats or not be completely circular and thus have a substantially oval or elliptical shape.

In the absence of play, the operator who disengages the movement holder of the work support 6 should make sure to re-engage with the same angular position. In addition, the operator could not turn the movement carrier on its axis when it is engaged on the working support 6.

With a wedge 67 having a play so as to be able to move a few millimeters, it becomes possible to turn the movement holder on its axis when it is engaged on the working support 6. Asperities or flats cause the appearance a constraint exerted on the wedge 67 or a disappearance / decrease of the force exerted by the wedge 67 on the movement carrier. This results in a displacement of said wedge 67 so as to obtain an optimal and permanent support of the movement carrier on the support 6.

The advantage of having this working support 6 placed peripherally is that it allows the operator to work directly on the device 1. Indeed, having the support 6 at the periphery of the plate 2 leads to appearance of a free space around said support 6 facilitating access to the movement by the operator who can work on it while it is placed on the device 1.

In a first variant, the plate 3 comprises a plurality of storage surfaces 4, each being provided with a plurality of reception areas 5. On each reception zone 5, a different type of room is placed. These storage surfaces 4 are distributed angularly on the plate. In a preferred version of this first variant, the plate 2 is provided with five storage surfaces 4, angularly distributed but this number is not limited since there may be 2, 3, 4, 6 storage areas 4 and more .

This variant has the advantage of allowing the operator to act in series on several watch movements. Assuredly, this configuration allows the operator to work on a first move, then move on to a second move and so on. Preferably, the same type of operation is practiced for each movement placed on the device 1.

In a second variant, compatible with the first variant, the plate is rotatably mounted on the base 3. In order that the rotation is not permanent, the plate 2 is equipped with a latching system 7 visible to the Figures 4 and 5 . For this, the plate 2 comprises in its center an orifice 8 in which the latching system 7 is arranged to lock the angular position of the plate 2. This latching system 7 comprises a disk-shaped hub 70. This hub 70 is in the form of three superimposed disks, the central disk 72 having a larger diameter than the other two disks 71. This larger diameter of the central disk 72 allows the latter to cooperate with the plate 2. Indeed , the plate 2 has at its orifice 8, an annular zone 8a of smaller thickness whose dimensions are identical to that of the central disk 72. The central disk 72 serves to fix the hub 70 to the plate 2. The system of snap 7 also includes an annular guide piece 75 whose inner wall 76 is carved.

This annular guide piece 75 is dimensioned to cooperate with the plate 2 present at the annular zone 8a of the orifice 8. During assembly, it is performed so that the annular zone 8a of the orifice 8 of the plate 2 is interposed between the hub 70 and the annular guide piece 75, the hub 70 being placed under the plate 2. fastening means 72a as screws are used for securing these different elements.

The hub 70 also has a hole 73 for mounting the plate 2 on the base 3. In fact, the turret 3b further comprises a circular pad 3c whose dimensions allow it to be inserted into the hole 73 of the hub 70. The latching system 7 further comprises a locking element 78 of the angular position visible to the figure 6 . This locking element 78 is mounted on the stud 3c of the turret. This locking element of the angular position 78 comprises a frame 780, preferably U-shaped with two parallel branches 781. These two branches 781 each have an opening 782. In these openings 782, a rod 783 is mounted. The rod 783 is associated with a spring 784. This rod 783 comprises a ring 785 so that the spring 784 is placed between the ring 785 and one of the branches 781. The free end of the inner tube has a locking head 786. locking head 786 comprises a structure 787 in which is mounted a wheel 788. The locking head 786 is configured to cooperate with the inner wall 76 of the annular guide piece 75. Indeed, the inner wall 76 of the annular guide piece 75 is carved to present notches 77 in which the locking head 786 can be inserted. The number of notches is equal to the number of storage surfaces 4. When the operator wants to turn the plate 2, the force exerted by the latter applies to the locking element 78. More particularly, the force is applied on the locking head 786 causing a displacement of the tube 783 and, consequently, a compression of the spring 784. This displacement then releases the plate 2 so that it can rotate. When the lock head 786 abuts a notch 77 of the inner wall 76, the stress on the lock head 786 decreases so that the spring 784 of the locking member 78 loosens. As a result, the 783 tube moves for resume its rest position and the locking head 786 cooperates with said notch 77.

In a variant visible at the figure 2 , the turret 3b can have a near zero height according to the arrangement of the work plan of the operator. The turret 3b which comprises the stud 3c fitting into the hole of the hub is then one so that the plate 2 and the base 3a of the base 3 are almost in contact.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

Device (1) for operating on watch movements comprising a plate (2) mounted on a base (3), said plate comprising at least one storage surface (4) able to receive components of watch movements, characterized in that said tray further comprises at least one working support (6) provided with holding means for watch movements, the working support being arranged to extend so as to facilitate access to said movement. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the working support (6) comprises a platform (61) having a peripheral rim (61 a) and holding means (64) for maintaining a watch movement. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the platform (61) comprises an orifice (63) in which the holding means are arranged, these holding means comprising a wedge (67) mounted on a tube (66) associated with a worm (65) to change the position of the shim and thus adapt to different sizes of movement. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding means (64) further comprise a spring (68) allowing said shim to move elastically. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said storage surface (4) comprises at least one storage area (5). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said storage area (5) is a recess. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said storage area (5) is an opening into which a container is inserted. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (2) is pivotally mounted relative to the base (3). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a latching system (7) for locking the position of the plate relative to the base. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate comprises five storage surfaces, each being associated with a peripheral support.

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