Horological setting machine and setting method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12105477-B2
Application number	US-202117143391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2021
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A setting machine ( 1000 ) for making a setting and/or adjustment on an assembly ( 1 ) attached to a receptacle ( 10 ), including a positioning module ( 100 ) to move this receptacle ( 10 ) on command from control means ( 3000 ) to convey it into a setting and/or adjustment position below an acquisition module ( 200 ), which includes measuring and/or testing means for determining the spatial position of the receptacle ( 10 ), and including a setting and/or adjustment module ( 400 ) for making a setting and/or an adjustment with motorised axes for moving, opening and closing, in a clamp plane perpendicular to a clamp rotation direction (DF, DG), a clamp ( 600 ) arranged to drive or deform a mobile component or a component included in such an assembly ( 1 ) borne by a receptacle ( 10 ), and method for using such a setting machine for setting and/or adjusting at least one horological component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A horological setting machine for making at least one setting or adjustment on at least one horological assembly attached to a receptacle, said setting machine including control means, for coordinating in an automated manner the movements or operation of at least one positioning module, which includes handling means arranged to spatially move said receptacle on command from said control means to convey said receptacle into a setting or adjustment position relative to a frame included in said setting machine, below at least one acquisition module, which includes measuring or testing means arranged to identify and determine the spatial position of said receptacle, or said at least one horological assembly attached to said receptacle, relative to said frame and to communicate to said control means the information for the control or correction of position of said positioning module, said setting machine including at least one setting or adjustment module including setting or adjustment means arranged to make a setting or an adjustment on at least one said assembly borne by said receptacle, or on at least one component or a mobile component included in said assembly, on command from said control means, wherein said setting machine includes at least one said setting or adjustment module, said setting or adjustment means whereof include a plurality of motorised axes which are arranged to move, open and close, in a clamp plane perpendicular to a clamp rotation direction, a clamp which is arranged to drive or deform a mobile component or a component included in said assembly borne by said receptacle.

2. The setting machine according to claim 1 , wherein said setting or adjustment module includes a clamp-holder body arranged to bear a said clamp and which can rotate about a clamp rotation axis along a rotary clamp axis, relative to a clamp carriage which can move along a vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location relative to a structure which is, either attached to the frame, or free to move along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical of the location, or along the vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location, relative to a clamp base attached to said frame.

3. The setting machine according to claim 1 , wherein said setting or adjustment module includes a clamp control body including a spindle which is arranged to exert a force on a surface of said clamp and deform said clamp in an opening or closing movement, said clamp control body being free to rotate, along a rotary clamp opening/closing control axis, either about a clamp rotation axis, or about a spindle axis parallel with the clamp rotation axis, relative to a clamp carriage which can move along a vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location relative to a structure which is, either attached to said frame, or free to move along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical of the location relative to a clamp base attached to said frame.

4. The setting machine according to claim 2 , wherein said setting or adjustment module includes a clamp control body including a spindle which is arranged to exert a force on a surface of said clamp and deform said clamp in an opening or closing movement, said clamp control body being free to rotate, along a rotary clamp opening/closing control axis, either about the clamp rotation axis, or about a spindle axis parallel with the clamp rotation axis, relative to the clamp carriage which can move along the vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location relative to the structure which is, either attached to said frame, or free to move along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical of the location relative to the clamp base attached to said frame, and wherein said clamp control body is arranged to move said spindle over 360° for the opening or closing control of said clamp.

5. The setting machine according to claim 2 , said setting or adjustment module includes a clamp control body including a spindle which is arranged to exert a force on a surface of said clamp and deform said clamp in an opening or closing movement, said clamp control body being free to rotate, along a rotary clamp opening/closing control axis, either about the clamp rotation axis, or about a spindle axis parallel with the clamp rotation axis, relative to the clamp carriage which can move along the vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location relative to a structure which is, either attached to said frame, or free to move along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical of the location relative to the clamp base attached to said frame, and wherein said clamp control body can rotate about said clamp rotation axis, so as to be able, in certain angular positions, to exert offset pressure relative to a plane of symmetry included in said clamp.

6. The setting machine according to claim 1 , wherein said setting machine includes at least one drive module including drive means arranged to drive the component or the mobile component included in said assembly borne by said receptacle, on command from said control means.

7. The setting machine according to claim 6 , wherein said at least one drive module includes a body which can move at least along a vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location, and relative to which a rotary motorised driver can move in an articulated fashion about a driver axis parallel with the vertical direction.

8. The setting machine according to claim 7 , wherein said body includes positioning means which are arranged to position in rotation, about an axis parallel with said vertical direction, at least one return arm relative to which is pivotally mounted, about an intermediate axis parallel with said driver axis, a driver arm bearing said driver, and wherein said body bears drive means for rotating said driver via belt, chain, gear, or cardan joint transmission means.

9. The setting machine according to claim 8 , wherein said positioning means are arranged to angularly position the at least one return arm, to which the return arm is connected which is said driver arm or to which said driver arm is connected.

10. The setting machine according to claim 7 , wherein said body is borne by a cross movement table in a vertical plane through the vertical of the location, including a carriage borne by another carriage which can move relative to a table base attached to said frame.

11. The setting machine according to claim 1 , wherein said setting machine includes at least one holding or bearing module including holding or bearing means, which are arranged to exert a substantially axial pressure on the mobile component or the component of said assembly during or after a setting or an adjustment made on said assembly by said setting or adjustment module, or to keep said mobile component or the component contact-free by the action of a magnetic or electrostatic field, along a direction parallel with the vertical of the location, or along a direction forming an angle of less than 10° with said vertical direction of the location.

12. The setting machine according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one holding or bearing module is borne by said at least one positioning module.

13. The setting machine according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one holding or bearing module includes a rotary body relative to a vertical direction parallel with the vertical of the location and which drives a carrier arm which bears, in a fixed or articulated manner, the holding for bearing means.

14. The setting machine according to claim 13 , wherein said holding

Assignees

• Nivarox Far Sa

Inventors

• Cretenet Davy
• Barthoulot Philippe
• Balossi Joseph

Classifications

• G04D7/00 Primary

  Measuring, counting, calibrating, testing or regulating apparatus {(measuring devices and calibers in general G01B; counters in general H03K)} · CPC title

• G04D1/0021 Primary

  Supporting means facilitating assembly and mechanisation, e.g. magazines for components (machines for assembly G04D1/0071; supports in general G04D1/06) · CPC title

• G04B17/20

  Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency · CPC title

• G04B1/22

  Compensation of changes in the motive power of the mainspring (by mechanical shaping of the mainspring G04B1/14 {; automatic regulation of the pendulum G04B18/003; of the regulator G04B19/28}) · CPC title

• G04B17/063

  Balance construction (balances with frequency adjustment screw G04B18/006; balances with temperature compensation G04B17/222; balancing devices G04B17/28) · CPC title