Bench for disassembling a watch with secured fastening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11003140-B2
Application number	US-201715729726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A disassembly bench is for unlocking and disassembling a first component and a second component of a watch with secured fastening including handling devices to transmit a relative disassembly movement between this first component and this second component. The bench also includes centrifuging devices and/or pneumatic or hydraulic devices for simultaneous application of a centrifugal force and/or an overpressure or an underpressure to such a watch to press into a position of free passage one or more slides arranged to immobilize this first component and this second component in a locked position. A watchmaking set includes such a disassembly bench and such a watch with secured fastening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A disassembly bench for unlocking and disassembling a first component and a second component of a watch with secured fastening comprising at least two slides for immobilising said first component and said second component in a locked position, wherein said disassembly bench comprises:
handling devices arranged to transmit a relative disassembly movement between said first component and said second component; and
centrifuging devices for simultaneous application of a centrifugal force to all said slides and pneumatic or hydraulic devices to apply an overpressure or an underpressure to the watch to press all said slides into a position of free passage,
wherein an action of said handling devices is only possible when all said slides are in said position of free passage, and
wherein said disassembly bench further comprises magnetic means arranged to apply to one or more of said slides a magnetic field against magnetic attraction or repulsion means belonging to said watch to repel or attract said one or more of said slides.

2. A watchmaking set comprising:
a disassembly bench for unlocking and disassembling a first component and a second component of a watch with secured fastening comprising at least two slides for immobilising said first component and said second component in a locked position, wherein said disassembly bench comprises:
handling devices arranged to transmit a relative disassembly movement between said first component and said second component, and
centrifuging devices for simultaneous application of a centrifugal force to all said slides and pneumatic or hydraulic devices to apply an overpressure or an underpressure to the watch to press all said slides into a position of free passage, wherein an action of said handling devices is only possible when all said slides are in said position of free passage; and

said watch with secured fastening, which has said first component and said second component, which are arranged to be fitted together in a complementary manner respectively through a first surface and a second surface, and indexed in assembly position by at least two pairs comprising first indexing means of said first component and second indexing means of said second component that are complementary to one another or to such a respective slide of said at least two slides within each respective pair of said at least two pairs, and said first indexing means and second indexing means of each respective pair of said at least two pairs are aligned two by two in said assembly position to define a chamber, in which a each respective slide of said at least two slides is movable between said position of free passage and a locked position, in which said slide is arranged to lock said first component and said second component,
wherein, in said locked position of said first component and said second component, in at least one of said at least two pairs, said first indexing means, the second indexing means, and a respective slide of the at least two slides are inaccessible to any tool,
wherein said centrifuging devices and said pneumatic or hydraulic devices are arranged for simultaneous application of said centrifugal force and/or said overpressure and said underpressure to each said chamber, and
wherein only the simultaneous application to each said pair of the at least two pairs belonging to said watch of a centrifugal force by said centrifuging devices or a pressure variation by said pneumatic or hydraulic devices actuates a release movement of each said slide of the at least two slides in each said pair of the at least two pairs belonging to said watch to allow the unlocking of said first component and said second component and to permit a relative movement between said first component and said second component under the action of said handling devices.

3. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said watch comprises a plurality of said chambers, and, in each chamber of said plurality of chambers, a respective slide of the at least two slides is movable in a curvilinear or linear direction in which said chamber extends.

4. The watchmaking set according to claim 3 , wherein at least two chambers of said plurality of chambers extend in non-parallel directions.

5. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein at least one slide of the at least two slides is held in the locked position by elastic restoring means, and wherein said disassembly bench is arranged to apply said centrifugal force or said pressure variation to said one slide of the at least two slides and apply a sufficient force thereto to overcome a restoring force of said elastic restoring means and to ensure the displacement of said one slide of the at least two slides in its chamber for said unlocking.

6. The watchmaking set according to claim 5 , wherein said elastic restoring means is a spring.

7. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein at least one slide of the at least two slides is held in the locked position by magnetic attraction or repulsion means, and wherein said disassembly bench comprises magnetic means and is arranged to apply to said one slide of the at least two slides during said application of said centrifugal force and said pressure variation by said disassembly bench for the unlocking, the application of a magnetic field by these magnetic means against said magnetic attraction or repulsion means.

8. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said first indexing means and/or second indexing means are non-magnetic.

9. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said first indexing means and/or second indexing means are electrostatic conductors.

10. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said first surface and second surface are contact surfaces arranged to cooperate with one another in a bayonet type assembly.

11. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said watch comprises at least one aperture arranged to display a position of a slide of said at least two slides in said locked position of said first component and said second component.

12. The watchmaking set according to claim 11 , wherein said watch comprises at least one aperture arranged to display a position of each slide of the at least two slides in said locked position of said first component and said second component.

13. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said first component and said second component are arranged to be screwed to one another during their assembly, and wherein at least one slide of said at least two slides is freely movable only in translation in its said chamber and on a first side has an oblique or curved slope arranged to allow said one slide of said at least two slides to be slid over during screwing, and on a second side has a steep edge arranged to prevent passage of said one slide of said at least two slides during unscrewing when said one slide of said at least two slides cooperates simultaneously with said first indexing means and said second indexing means.

14. The watchmaking set according to claim 2 , wherein said watch comprises an inlet for insertion or extraction of a fluid through a channel in or outside each said chamber belonging to said watch.

15. The watchmaking set according to claim 14 , wherein said watch comprises at least one helium release valve for evacuation of said fluid in case of an overpressure above a safe value.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Vuille Pierry

Classifications

• G04D1/10 Primary

  Devices for opening or closing watch bottoms or covers {(machines therefor G04D3/00)} · CPC title

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• G04D1/0014 Primary

  Workbenches, supports; Workbenches provided with suction devices; for dust; Illumination · CPC title

• G04D1/00 Primary

  Gripping, holding, or supporting devices {(stands in general F16M; for instruments G01D11/30, B01L)} · CPC title