EP3882719A1 - Packaging of timepiece hands - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging (1) for watch hands (2) with barrel (4) and body (5), comprising a pallet (10) for receiving, holding, storing and transporting hands (2) of the same height , comprising bores (11) to receive the barrels (4) at a constant pitch, contiguous with housings (12) for accommodating the needle bodies (5) resting on an upper surface (13), each pallet (10 ) comprising position indexing means (20), and a spacer (15) to cooperate in abutment with a lower surface (14) of another pallet (10) and extending from the upper surface (13) , over a height greater than that of the needle bodies (5), each pallet (10) comprising a transverse bearing surface (130) to receive the bearing surfaces (3) of the needles (2), and, parallel thereto, oblongs (131) of suitable width for the insertion of tweezers or robot grippers for loading / unloading needles.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to packaging for watch hands, said hands each comprising at least one barrel defining a needle axis, a bearing surface connected to the barrel and substantially perpendicular to the needle axis, and a body of the needle. 'needle substantially radial with respect to the barrel, said packaging comprising at least one pallet provided for the reception, maintenance, storage and transport of said needles of the same needle height, said at least one pallet comprising a series of bores for receiving said guns at a constant pitch, each said bore being contiguous with a housing arranged to house a said needle body resting on an upper surface of the pallet opposite to a lower surface of the pallet.

The invention also relates to an automated production means for the manufacture of such watch hands, said automated production means comprising at least one manufacturing unit by stamping and / or milling and / or diamond coating.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such watch hands.

The invention relates to the field of manufacturing small clock display components, in particular hands or the like.

Background of the invention

The manufacture of small clockwork display components, such as hands or the like, is always tricky, because these small components, difficult to handle without scratching, are appearance parts that determine at first glance the level of finish and quality of a watch or timepiece. When such components are made of precious metal, it is important not to lose them among chips or in a treatment or washing bath.

The usual technique is the insertion of the needles on paper cards, pierced and split, and grouped in boxes. Inserting is carried out manually by threading, which can deform the needle, and damage it by friction on the paper, the exit of the needle presents the same risks. Such a paper support makes it difficult to carry out correctly and completely inspection operations, retouching the diameter of the barrel, or even stripping to re-align the geometry of the needle body, due to the lack of a bearing surface. rigid under the needle. Any automation project with such support is therefore difficult to achieve.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to develop a packaging ensuring, from the initial shaping, generally by stamping and / or machining, but which can also come from foundry or three-dimensional printing, needles or small components of. display for a timepiece of similar geometry to needles, the collection of blanks, their intermediate storage during all the operations of their production range, and their washing, these components preferably remaining permanently on the packaging tool according to the invention, as soon as the initial shaping has been carried out.

To this end, the invention relates to packaging according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to an automated production means for the manufacture of such watch hands, said automated production means comprising at least one production unit by stamping and / or milling and / or diamond coating, according to claim 19.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such watch hands, according to claim 23.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessus, une carte en papier, selon l'art antérieur, comportant des trous de passage des canons, et des fentes pour l'insertion de corps d'aguille, une aiguille étant représentée dans sa position enfilée ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon schématisée, et en coupe passant par l'aiguille, l'ensemble de la figure 1 comportant une carte et une aiguille ;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée, et en perspective vue de dessus, une première variante de palette constitutive d'un conditionnement selon l'invention, sur laquelle sont positionnées plusieurs aiguilles;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessus, une deuxième variante de palette constitutive d'un conditionnement selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de côté dans sa longueur, la palette de la figure 4;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessous, la palette de la figure 4;
• la figure 7 représente, de façon schématisée, et en section dans sa longueur, selon la figure 4, un assemblage de deux palettes selon la figure 4;
• les figures 8, 9, 11 et 12 sont des détails de la figure 7 ;
• la figure 10 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de côté dans sa largeur, la palette de la figure 4;
• la figure 13 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessus, la première variante de palette de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 14 représente, de façon schématisée, et en section dans sa largeur, un assemblage de deux palettes selon la figure 13;
• la figure 15 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessus, une troisième variante de palette;
• la figure 16 représente, de façon schématisée, et en section dans sa largeur, un assemblage de deux palettes selon la figure 15;
• la figure 17 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de dessus, une quatrième variante de palette pour aiguilles cambrées telles que visibles en figure 18, ou galbées telles que visibles en figure 19;
• la figure 20 représente, sous forme d'un schéma-blocs, un moyen de production automatisé qui comporte, desservies par un palettiseur associé à des moyens d'identification, une unité de mise en forme par usinage, un équipement de traitement et de lavage, et un poste d'inspection et de contrôle ;
• la figure 21 représente, sous forme d'un schéma-blocs, les opérations d'un procédé de fabrication d'aiguilles, comportant des étapes de préparation de conditionnements, de préparation de matière première, de fabrication, de traitement de surface, de lavage, et de visitage.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where:

• the figure 1 shows, schematically, and in top view, a paper card, according to the prior art, comprising holes for passage of the barrels, and slots for the insertion of the needle body, a needle being shown in its threaded position;
• the figure 2 represents, schematically, and in section passing through the needle, the whole of the figure 1 comprising a card and a needle;
• the figure 3 represents, schematically, and in perspective view from above, a first variant of a pallet constituting a packaging according to the invention, on which several needles are positioned;
• the figure 4 represents, schematically, and in top view, a second variant of the pallet constituting a packaging according to the invention,
• the figure 5 represents, schematically, and in side view in its length, the pallet of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 represents, schematically, and in view from below, the palette of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 7 represents, schematically, and in section along its length, according to the figure 4 , an assembly of two pallets according to the figure 4 ;
• the figures 8, 9, 11 and 12 are details of the figure 7 ;
• the figure 10 represents, schematically, and in side view in its width, the pallet of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 13 represents, schematically, and in top view, the first variant of the pallet of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 14 represents, schematically, and in section across its width, an assembly of two pallets according to figure 13 ;
• the figure 15 represents, schematically, and in top view, a third variant of pallet;
• the figure 16 represents, schematically, and in section across its width, an assembly of two pallets according to figure 15 ;
• the figure 17 represents, schematically, and in top view, a fourth variant of a pallet for curved needles such as visible in figure 18 , or curved as visible in figure 19 ;
• the figure 20 represents, in the form of a block diagram, an automated production means which comprises, served by a palletizer associated with identification means, a machining forming unit, treatment and washing equipment, and a inspection and control post;
• the figure 21 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the operations of a process for manufacturing needles, comprising stages of preparation of packaging, preparation of raw material, manufacture, surface treatment, washing, and visitage.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The invention proposes to develop a packaging ensuring, from the initial shaping, generally by machining, but which can also come from foundry or three-dimensional printing, needles, or small display components for workpiece. 'watchmaking with a shape similar to hands, the collection of blanks, their intermediate storage during all the operations of their production range, these components preferably remaining permanently on the packaging tool according to the invention, as soon as the initial shaping has been carried out.

For simplicity, the first shaping operation will be referred to hereinafter as “manufacturing operation”, whether it is carried out by adding material (foundry, 3D printing, welding), or by removing material with the cutting tool ( stamping and / or milling and / or diamond coating) or by abrasion (rectification), or both by adding and then removing material.

We will call “needle 2” a small display component comprising at least one barrel, carrying an indicator blade, called “needle body 5”, extending substantially radially in a plane passing through the axis of the barrel. Such a needle 2 may also include a counterweight 6 extending diametrically opposed to this needle body 5, which is more massive and of radial amplitude less than that of the blade. The needle body 5 can for its part be straight or curved.

The invention relates to a packaging 1 for watch hands 2.

A needle 2 comprises at least one barrel 4 defining a needle axis D, a bearing surface 3 connected to the barrel 4 and substantially perpendicular to the needle axis D, and a needle body 5 substantially radial with respect to barrel 4. The most common needles have a single barrel 4. Certain deformable needles can include at least two barrels, as described in the patent. EP2863274B1 . Needle height is the maximum dimension of a needle, in the direction of its needle axis D, above its bearing surface 3.

This packaging 1 comprises at least one pallet 10 which is provided for receiving, maintaining, storing and transporting such needles 2; preferably but not limited to, a given pallet 10 is provided for needles 2 of the same height in the direction of axis D, and, more particularly still, for needles 2 of the same type. This pallet 10 comprises a series of receptacles, in particular constituted by bores 11, or else of journals 110, for receiving such barrels 4, and preferably at a constant pitch. Each receptacle or bore 11 or journal 110 is contiguous with a housing 12, which is arranged to house a needle body 5, resting on an upper surface of pallet 13, opposite a lower surface of pallet 14 located on the opposite face of the considered pallet.

According to the invention, these housings 12 are mutually parallel, each arranged to receive such a needle 2 in a longitudinal direction DL of the pallet. 10. Each housing 12 is delimited by at least two lateral stops 120 in a transverse direction DT perpendicular to the longitudinal direction DL and to the needle axes D. And at least one pallet 10 comprises at least one transverse bearing surface 130, which is arranged to receive all the bearing surfaces 3 of a series of needles 2, and which is oriented in the transverse direction DT. This at least one pallet 10 comprises, substantially parallel to this transverse bearing surface 130 and on a first side thereof, first oblongs 131, the width of which in the longitudinal direction DL is suitable for the insertion of tweezers or robot grippers for loading or unloading such needles.

More particularly, these first oblongs 131 have a width greater than or equal to 1.0 mm. More particularly still these first oblongs 131 have a width greater than or equal to 1.4 mm.

These first oblongs 131 are also arranged to limit, as much as possible, any plating by capillary action of the needles 2 on the upper surface of the pallet 13 which would be detrimental to the handling of the needles 2, so as to facilitate the removal or recovery of the needles 2. by a vacuum handling means, and to facilitate the passage of leaching fluids and / or the application of certain treatments, such as PVD, galvanization, or others, on the needles 2 placed on this at least one pallet 10, at through the thickness of this pallet 10.

More particularly, this transverse bearing surface 130 is continuous and flat, between the bores 11 or respectively journals 110 that it comprises.

More particularly, each first oblong 131 has, in the transverse direction DT, a length which is greater than or equal to the total length of at least two contiguous housings 12.

More particularly still, each first oblong 131 has, in the longitudinal direction DL, a width which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

More particularly, at least one pallet 10 comprises, substantially parallel to the transverse bearing surface 130 and on a second side thereof opposite to the first side, second oblongs 132, the width of which in the longitudinal direction DL is suitable for the insertion of tweezers or robot grippers for loading or unloading needles 2 at the counterweight 6 when these needles 2 include them. These second oblongs 132 are also arranged to limit a plating by capillary action of the needles 2 on the upper surface of pallet 13 so as to facilitate their removal or their recovery by a vacuum handling means, and to facilitate the passage of leaching fluids and / or the application of certain treatments on the needles 2 deposited on this at least one pallet 10.

More particularly, each said second oblong 132 has, in the transverse direction DT, a length which is greater than or equal to the total length of at least two contiguous housings 12.

More particularly still, each second oblong 132 has, in the longitudinal direction DL, a width which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

Advantageously, each pallet 10 comprises indexing means in position 20, to ensure its precise positioning with respect to a production means and / or with respect to a handling means.

And, more particularly, each pallet comprises at least one spacer 15, which extends in a vertical direction (that is to say parallel to the direction of threading of the barrels 4 in their receptacles or bores 11, itself parallel to the needle axes D), and which is arranged to cooperate in abutment with a lower surface of the pallet 14 of another pallet 10, or else with a lower surface of the wedge which comprises a wedge included in the packaging 1. A such a wedge is of planar size identical to a pallet 10, and it may be necessary to keep the needles 2 arranged on the upper pallet 10 in a stack of pallets.

Each spacer 15 extends in particular, from the upper surface of the pallet 13, over a height of the pallet, which is greater than the needle height by the value of a predefined functional clearance J, in particular but not limited to the order at least 0.05 mm.

These spacers 15 may be formed of flanges surrounding the pallet 10, in particular of angled flanges such as visible in the figures, or of discrete protrusions distributed over its upper surface.

These spacers 15 may also, for some, constitute polarizers, guaranteeing the stacking of pallets in a particular direction, and preventing head-to-tail superimpositions. For example, an angled rim may have dimensions greater than the others, in particular at the level of a projection 16, paired with a housing 17 of corresponding profile on the opposite face.

More particularly, as visible on the figure 17 , at least one pallet 10 comprises, substantially parallel to the transverse bearing surface 130, a release pocket 135 or a succession of release pockets 135 for housing the distal ends of needles 2 bent according to the figure 18 or arched, or curved depending on the figure 19 .

More particularly, at least one pallet 10 comprises, in the transverse direction DT, at least one series of bores 11 or respectively of journals 110 at a constant pitch.

More particularly, each pallet 10 and / or wedge is inscribed in a rectangle in each plane perpendicular to the direction of the needle axes D.

Preferably, the packaging 1 comprises a plurality of the same pallets 10, of identical plan dimensions to each other. Thus, securing such pallets by stacking makes it possible to ensure full protection of all the needles which they carry.

In a particular embodiment illustrated by the figures, each pallet 10 and / or said wedge is inscribed in a rectangle in each plane perpendicular to the direction of the needle axes D

In a particular variant, allowing precise relative positioning in space of the pallets 10 of the same stack, or even clipping between neighboring pallets, at least one pallet 10, and more particularly each pallet of a stack, comprises, extending beyond each spacer 15 from the upper surface of the pallet 13, at least one centering or clipping pin 16, which is arranged to cooperate with a centering or clipping implantation 17, and which has a lower surface pallet 14 of another pallet 10, or a lower wedge surface that includes a wedge.

Different layouts of the pallet can be made. In a particular variant, at least one housing 12, or more particularly each housing 12, is separated from the adjacent housing 12 by at least one lateral stop 120, which is interrupted at each first oblong 131 that the pallet 10 in question comprises. This separation can, again, be carried out by bosses, which can themselves constitute spacers 15. More particularly, at least one such lateral stop 120 is interrupted at the level of each second oblong 132 that comprises the pallet 10 concerned.

To facilitate production management, in an advantageous variant, at least one, or more particularly each pallet 10 and / or wedge comprises means of identification 50 of its dimensioning, readable by an automatic, optical, magnetic, inductive detection means. , mechanical, or other, and / or recognizable by an operator, in particular by a colored and / or identification marking; the palette 10 can, in particular, be entirely produced in a color allowing its identification. In particular, these identification means 50 comprise at least one colored pin, characteristic of the type of pallet or of the type of needle 2 which the pallet 10 in question can receive, inserted into a bore 31 which the upper surface of the pallet 13 comprises. identification 50 may also consist of an RFID chip embedded in the material of the pallet, or other, allowing identification and traceability of the lot, at the same time as ensuring a guarantee of origin to the Customer.

Preferably, at least one, or more particularly each pallet 10 and / or wedge is entirely in a material which is insensitive and resistant to the treatments included in the range of manufacture of the needles 2 concerned, for example in plastic or in a material prepared for this. effect, for example polycarbonate in case of cold processing.

More particularly, and in a safe and economical manner, the packaging 1 comprises a plurality of pallets 10 and / or wedges of the same plane size, each comprising at least two cutouts 40 made on opposite edge faces 41, 42, and arranged to receive at least one elastic strap 43 or clamping means arranged to temporarily secure all of the pallets resting on one another. More particularly, this packaging 1 then comprises only a plurality of identical pallets 10 and at least one such elastic strap 43. It is thus easy to group together in a small volume a large production of needles of a given model. Preferably, the elastic strap 43 is made of a material without latex or sulfur, and without degassing.

In an advantageous variant, at least one, or more particularly each pallet 10 and / or wedge comprises, in addition to the first oblongs 131 and the second oblongs 132, a plurality of other recesses which are arranged to allow the passage of fluid through its thickness. In a variant, for at least one, or more particularly each pallet 10, each bore 11 is away from at least one such recess by a value less than or equal to the constant pitch between the bores 11.

The illustrated pallets 10 comprise markings 25 in the transverse direction DT, and 26 in the longitudinal direction DL, which make it possible to easily designate the position of a bore 11 or of a journal 110 by its Cartesian coordinates according to this marking, for example. 5B or 6A, which simplifies programming of a position, or even the designation of a needle having a defect, or the like.

The invention also relates to an automated production means 100 for the manufacture of such watch hands 2.

This automated production means 100 comprises at least one manufacturing unit and initial shaping, in particular a manufacturing unit 1100 by stamping and / or milling and / or diamond coating, or by manufacturing on another manufacturing station suitable for the production. performing a needle manufacturing operation.

According to the invention, this automated production means 100 also comprises a palletizer mechanism 120, which is arranged to receive and identify a pallet 10 provided for the reception, maintenance, storage and transport of needles 2 of the same needle height. , and which comprises indexing means in position 20 for its precise positioning on this palletizing mechanism 120.

Advantageously, this palletizer mechanism 120 comprises at least one automatic detection means 150, which is arranged to identify identification means 50 that each pallet 10 comprises.

In a particular variant, the automated production means 100 comprises surface treatment means 160 for the treatment of needles 2 held in position on pallets 10 after their shaping or machining.

In a particular variant, the automated production means 100 comprises control and / or inspection means 170 for the inspection of needles 2 held in position on pallets 10 after their shaping or machining.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such watch hands 2.

• dans une étape 910 on se munit, pour chaque lot de fabrication d'aiguilles 2, d'une hauteur d'aiguille donnée, d'au moins un tel conditionnement 1 adapté à ce dimensionnement ;
• dans une étape 920 on se munit de matière première utilisable par un tel moyen de production automatisé 10 ;
• dans une étape 930 on effectue au moins l'usinage des aiguilles 2 sur un tel moyen de production automatisé 100, lequel dépose des aiguilles 2 usinées sur au moins une palette 10 de dimensions adéquates ;
• dans une étape 950 on effectue au moins un lavage des aiguilles 2 usinées en position sur leur palette 10 ;
• dans une étape 960 on effectue un visitage des aiguilles 2 en position sur leur palette 10.

According to the invention:

• in a step 910, for each manufacturing batch of needles 2, a given needle height is provided with at least one such packaging 1 adapted to this dimensioning;
• in a step 920, raw material is provided which can be used by such an automated production means 10;
• in a step 930 at least the machining of the needles 2 is carried out on such an automated production means 100, which deposits the needles 2 machined on at least one pallet 10 of suitable dimensions;
• in a step 950, at least one washing of the needles 2 machined in position on their pallet 10 is carried out;
• in a step 960, the needles 2 are inspected in position on their pallet 10.

More particularly, after washing and before final inspection, at least one surface treatment and / or covering with a peripheral layer is carried out on these needles 2 machined and held in position on their pallet 10, in a step 940.

• l'entraxe des alésages de réception de canons, avec notamment des valeurs comprises entre 0.39 mm et 4.08 mm ;
• le diamètre de ces alésages, avec notamment des valeurs comprises entre 0.4 mm et 0.6 mm ;
• la hauteur des entretoises 15, définissant la distance entre les surfaces fonctionnelles de deux palettes successives, pour conserver la qualité des corps d'aiguille, avec notamment des valeurs d'espacement comprises entre 0.42 mm et 1.1 mm ;
• les moyens de repérage, notamment la couleur pour une identification rapide par les opérateurs de préparation.

In particular, different versions of pallets 10 can be produced, which are distinguished in particular by:

• the center distance of the cannon receiving bores, in particular with values between 0.39 mm and 4.08 mm;
• the diameter of these bores, with in particular values between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm;
• the height of the spacers 15, defining the distance between the functional surfaces of two successive pallets, to maintain the quality of the needle bodies, with in particular spacing values of between 0.42 mm and 1.1 mm;
• the identification means, in particular the color for rapid identification by the preparation operators.

• leur utilisation directement sur un moyen de fabrication grâce à un palettiseur, ce qui évite la remise en vrac des aiguilles après fabrication, en permettant un rangement facile pour toute la fin de gamme de fabrication ;
• le maintien des aiguilles sans nécessiter le moindre appui direct sur le corps d'aiguille, un tel appui se traduisant souvent par des défauts d'aspect : ici le maintien est gravitaire, et le débattement des aiguilles est limité grâce aux butées latérales ; chaque aiguille est ainsi maintenue de façon indépendante, sans contact avec les aiguilles voisines ;
• la manutention des aiguilles avec un manipulateur robotisé, grâce aux oblongs permettant le passage des outils de préhension ;
• le choix d'une épaisseur de palette supérieure à celle des cartes en papier de l'art antérieur, et notamment de l'ordre de 3 à 5 mm, apporte de la rigidité à la palette, nécessaire pour une manutention fiable, et aussi pour autoriser des retouches d'aiguilles directement sur la palette laquelle constitue une surface d'appui rigide qui autorise une remise en géométrie sans détérioration ;
• le retournement éventuel de la palette et de son contenu sur une surface plane, pour effectuer une opération sur la surface d'appui des aiguilles, puis une reprise de l'ensemble des aiguilles par la même palette avant son retournement ;
• une autonomie augmentée de la machine, suffisamment alimentée pour un lot de production par l'équipement d'une palette complète ;
• le lavage, ou un traitement de surface, ou un traitement thermique, ou autre, des aiguilles directement sur les palettes ;
• le visitage des aiguilles directement sur les palettes ;
• le maintien dans de bonnes conditions d'une bonne quantité d'aiguilles, au moins dix dans les exemples illustrés par les figures ; une même palette permet aussi l'arrangement de plusieurs rangées d'aiguilles de petite taille, permettant alors le rangement de plusieurs dizaines d'aiguilles.

The use of such pallets 10 is advantageous because it allows:

• their use directly on a manufacturing means by means of a palletizer, which prevents the needles from being replaced in bulk after manufacture, by allowing easy storage for the entire end of the manufacturing range;
• maintaining the needles without requiring any direct support on the needle body, such support often resulting in appearance defects: here the maintenance is gravity, and the movement of the needles is limited thanks to the lateral stops; each needle is thus maintained independently, without contact with neighboring needles;
• the handling of needles with a robotic manipulator, thanks to the oblongs allowing the passage of the gripping tools;
• the choice of a pallet thickness greater than that of the paper cards of the prior art, and in particular of the order of 3 to 5 mm, brings rigidity to the pallet, necessary for reliable handling, and also for allow needles to be touched up directly on the pallet which constitutes a rigid bearing surface which allows re-geometry without deterioration;
• the possible overturning of the pallet and its contents on a flat surface, in order to carry out an operation on the bearing surface of the needles, then a recovery of all the needles by the same pallet before its inversion;
• increased autonomy of the machine, sufficiently supplied for a production batch by equipping a complete pallet;
• washing, or surface treatment, or heat treatment, or the like, of the needles directly on the pallets;
• visiting the needles directly on the pallets;
• maintaining in good conditions a good quantity of needles, at least ten in the examples illustrated by the figures; the same pallet also allows the arrangement of several rows of small needles, thus allowing the storage of several dozen needles.

Indeed, once out of the means of production which ensure the initial shaping, the needles no longer leave the pallet, in order to minimize handling costs, and to preserve the aesthetic quality of the product as much as possible until delivery. to the client.

The invention can also be used for watch components other than hands, such as counter disks, which can be plugged into journals, or the like.

The figures illustrate four variants of pallets, which alone are sufficient to cover at least 90% of the production of a manufacturer of watch hands, by allowing correct removal of the hands with the extreme geometries.

Claims (24)

Packaging (1) for watch hands (2), said hands (2) each comprising at least one barrel (4) defining a needle axis (D) and a bearing surface (3) connected to said barrel (4) ) and substantially perpendicular to said needle axis (D), and at least one needle body (5) substantially radial with respect to each said barrel (4), said packaging (1) comprising at least one pallet (10) provided for receiving, maintaining, storing and transporting said needles (2), said at least one pallet (10) comprising a series of bores (11) or journals (110) for receiving said barrels (4) ), each said bore (11) or respectively journal (110) being contiguous with a housing (12) arranged to house a said needle body (5) resting on an upper surface of the pallet (13) which is at the opposite a lower pallet surface (14) located on the opposite face of said at least one pallet (10), characterized in that said housings (12) are parallel to each other, each arranged to receive a said needle (2) in a longitudinal direction (DL) of said pallet (10), each said housing (12) being delimited by at least two lateral stops (120) in a transverse direction ( DT) perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (DL) and to said needle axes (D), and in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises at least one transverse bearing surface (130) arranged for the reception of all said bearing surfaces (3) of a series of said needles (2) and oriented in said transverse direction (DT), and, substantially parallel to said transverse bearing surface (130) and on a first side thereof -Here, first oblongs (131) whose width in said longitudinal direction (DL) is suitable for the insertion of tweezers or robot grippers for loading or unloading said needles (2), and which are arranged for limit plating by capillary action of said needles (2) on said upper pallet surface (13) so as to facilitate their removal by a vacuum handling means, and to facilitate the passage of leaching fluids and / or the application of certain treatments on said needles (2) deposited on said at least one pallet (10), through its thickness. Packaging (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said transverse bearing surface (130) is continuous and planar between the said bores (11) or respectively the journals (110) which it comprises. Packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each said first oblong (131) has, in said transverse direction (DT), a length which is greater than or equal to the total length of at least two contiguous said housings (12). Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each said first oblong (131) has, in said longitudinal direction (DL), a width which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises, substantially parallel to said transverse bearing surface (130) and on a second side thereof opposite to said first side, second oblongs (132), the width of which in said longitudinal direction (DL) is suitable for the insertion of tweezers or robot grippers for loading or unloading said needles (2) at the counterweight level (6) when said needles (2) have them, and which are arranged to limit a plating by capillary action of said needles (2) on said upper pallet surface (13) so as to facilitate their removal by vacuum handling means, and to facilitate the passage of washing fluids and / or the application of certain treatments on said needles (2) deposited on said at least one pallet (10). Packaging (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each said second oblong (132) has, in said transverse direction (DT), a length which is greater than or equal to the total length of at least two said housings (12 ) contiguous. Packaging (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each said second oblong (132) has, in said longitudinal direction (DL), a width which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises position indexing means (20) and comprises at least one spacer (15) extending in a vertical direction and arranged to cooperate in abutment with a said lower surface of the pallet (14) of another said pallet (10) or with a lower surface of the wedge that includes a wedge that comprises said packaging (1) and of bulk plane identical to a said pallet (10), each said spacer (15) extending, from said upper pallet surface (13), over a pallet height (HP) which is greater than the maximum axial size of each said needle (2) above its said bearing surface (3), with a deviation from the value of a predefined functional clearance (J). Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises, substantially parallel to said transverse bearing surface (130), a release pocket (135) or a succession of release pockets (135) for housing the distal ends (53) of said bent or bent needles (2). Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises, in said transverse direction (DT), at least one series of said bores (11) or respectively of said journals (110) at a constant pitch. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each said pallet (10) and / or said wedge is inscribed in a rectangle in each plane perpendicular to the direction of said needle axes (D). Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one said pallet (10) comprises, extending beyond each said spacer (15) from said upper pallet surface (13) , at least one centering or clipping pin (16) arranged to cooperate with a centering or clipping implantation (17) that comprises a said lower surface of the pallet (14) of another said pallet (10) or a said lower wedge surface that comprises a said wedge. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each said housing (12) is separated from said adjacent housing (12) by at least one said lateral stop (120) which is interrupted at each level. said first oblong (131) that comprises said pallet (10) concerned. Packaging (1) according to claim 5 and one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each said housing (12) is separated from said adjacent housing (12) by at least one said lateral stop (120) which is interrupted at the level of each said second oblong (132) that comprises said pallet (10) concerned. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that each said pallet (10) and / or said wedge comprises means (50) for identifying its size, readable by an automatic detection means and / or recognizable by an operator, and / or at least one colored pin, characteristic of the type of pallet or of the type of needle that can be received, inserted into a bore (31) that comprises said upper surface of the pallet (13). Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that each said pallet (10) and / or said wedge is entirely in a material which is insensitive and resistant to the treatments that the production range of said needles (2) includes. . Packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said packaging (1) comprises a plurality of said pallets (10) and / or said wedges of the same plane size, each comprising at least two cutouts (40 ) provided on opposite edge faces (41; 42) and arranged to receive at least one elastic strap (43) or clamping means arranged to temporarily secure all of said pallets resting on one another. Packaging (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that said packaging (1) comprises only a plurality of said identical pallets (10) and at least one said elastic strap (43). Automated production means (100) for the production and / or packaging of watch hands (2), said hands (2) comprising, on either side of a bearing surface (3), a barrel (4), and a needle body (5) which extends over a needle height (HA) above said bearing surface (3), said automated production means (100) comprising at at least one manufacturing unit (1100), characterized in that said automated production means (100) comprises a palletizing mechanism (120) arranged to receive and identify a pallet (10) of a package (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 18, provided for the reception, maintenance, storage and transport of said needles (2) of the same said needle height and which comprises position indexing means (20) for its precise positioning on said palletizing mechanism (120). Automated production means (100) according to claim 19, characterized in that said palletizing mechanism (120) comprises at least one automatic detection means (150) arranged to identify identification means (50) which each said pallet ( 10) of a packaging (1) according to claim 15. Automated production means (100) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that said automated production means (100) comprises surface treatment means (160) for the surface treatment of said needles (2) held positioned on said pallets (10). Automated production means (100) according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that said automated production means (100) comprises means of control and / or inspection (170) of said needles (2) kept in position on said pallets (10) after their machining. A method of manufacturing watch hands (2), said hands (2) each comprising at least one barrel (4) defining a needle axis (D) and a bearing surface (3) connected to said barrel (4) ) and substantially perpendicular to said needle axis (D), and at least one needle body (5) substantially radial with respect to each said barrel (4), characterized in that one is provided, for each production batch of said needles (2) of a given needle height, of at least one packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, and that we are provided with raw material usable by said automated production means (100) according to one of claims 19 to 22, in that at least the manufacture of said needles is carried out on said automated production means (100) according to one of claims 19 to 22, which deposits said needles (2) machined on at least one said pallet (10) of suitable dimensions, in that at least one washing of said sharpeners is carried out They (2) machined in position on their said pallet (10), in that a visitage of said needles (2) is carried out in position on their said pallet (10). Manufacturing process according to Claim 23, characterized in that , after washing and before final inspection, at least one surface treatment and / or of covering by a peripheral layer.

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