Method for treatment of timepiece components on a rack, and a rack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11150608-B2
Application number	US-201615286107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

Method for treatment of timepiece components on a rack including the steps consisting in:
equipping said rack with grippers made of the same shape memory alloy, and each arranged to return to a reference shape above a martensite finish temperature specific to said alloy; bringing said rack to a temperature higher than said martensite finish temperature; bringing said rack equipped with said grippers to a preparation temperature; loading said rack with a batch of said components to be treated; performing said treatment on said rack loaded with said batch; unloading said rack.

Rack comprising grippers made of shape memory alloy, arranged to return to a reference shape above a martensite finish temperature specific to said alloy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack for the treatment of timepiece components, said rack comprising
a plurality of grippers adapted to the geometry and to the treatment of said timepiece components,
wherein each of said plurality of grippers is made of the same shape memory alloy and arranged to return to a reference shape through heating above a martensite finish temperature specific to said shape memory alloy,
wherein at least one of the plurality of grippers includes a first strand which is open in the reference shape and configured to be closed on itself in a loop closing around the component during a mechanical deformation, and
the at least one of the plurality of grippers includes opposite a distal end of the first strand, a second strand configured to form with the first strand a loop closing around the component during a mechanical deformation.

2. The rack according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of grippers is arranged to return to a reference shape through heating above an austenite finish temperature specific to said shape memory alloy.

3. The rack according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said gripper is removable.

4. The rack according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of grippers having a reference shape that is open to allow placement of the timepiece component on the gripper; and each of said plurality of grippers closes around a timepiece component placed on the gripper due to a sufficient rise in temperature.

5. A rack for the treatment of timepiece components, said rack comprising:
a plurality of grippers adapted to the geometry and to the treatment of said timepiece components; and
a support element provided within the rack,
wherein each of said plurality of grippers is made of a same shape memory alloy, and arranged to return to a reference shape through heating above a martensite finish temperature specific to said shape memory alloy,
wherein at least one of the plurality of grippers includes a first end portion having at least one spring portion, arranged to cooperate with elastic retention on the support element comprised in said rack, the at least one of the plurality of grippers includes a second end portion projecting away from and out of contact with the support element and configured to engage the timepiece components, and
wherein the at least one spring portion is wound around the support element.

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Peters Jean-Bernard

Classifications

• C22F1/006

  Resulting in heat recoverable alloys with a memory effect · CPC title

• G04D1/06

  Supporting devices for clockworks or parts of time-pieces {(for automatic assembly G04D1/0021)} · CPC title

• G04D1/0078 Primary

  Automated gripping means (hand-operated gripping means G04D1/02) · CPC title

• C25D1/00

  Electroforming · CPC title

• C25D7/005

  Jewels; Clockworks; Coins · CPC title