Patent Publication Number: US-10766689-B2

Title: Packaging for timepiece appliques

Description:
This application claims priority from European patent application No. 16204370.7 filed on Dec. 15, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention concerns a packaging for timepiece appliques, said appliques comprising, on either side of a bearing surface, at least one foot, and an applique body extending over an applique height above said bearing surface, said packaging including at least one tray arranged for the reception, holding, storage and transport of said appliques of said same applique height, said tray comprising a series of bores for the reception of said feet at a constant pitch, each said bore being adjacent to a housing arranged for housing one said applique body resting on an upper tray surface as opposed to a lower tray surface. 
     The invention also concerns an automated means of production for manufacturing such timepiece appliques, said automated means of production including at least one machining unit for profile-turning, and/or milling and/or diamond polishing. 
     The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing such timepiece appliques. 
     The invention concerns the field of manufacturing small timepiece display components, in particular appliques, indices, hands, or suchlike. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The manufacture of small timepiece display components, such as appliques, indices, hands, or suchlike, is always difficult, as these small-sized components which are difficult to handle without scratching, are visible components which determine, at first glance, the level of finish and quality of a watch or of a timepiece. When such components are made of precious metal, it is important not to lose them among chips or in a treatment or cleaning bath. 
     CH 702 688 B1 MONYCO discloses a working and handling support for dial index of watch in timepiece field, having fixation unit that fixes sheet to another sheet, and positioning and fixing components that are connected with index to allow positioning of index. 
     EP 2 455 824 A1 METALEM discloses a method for treating elements intended for being fixed to a watch dial, involving positioning blanks of elements on a support that is configured such that machining operations and surface treatment operations are performed on the blanks mounted on the support, where the support is in form of a disk. The machining operations are performed on surfaces of the blanks of the elements by units cooperating with the blanks mounted on the support. The surface treatment operations are performed on the blanks of the elements mounted on support by electroplating. 
     EP 2 799 940 A1 SWATCH GROUP MAN SERV AG discloses a packaging for the transport and handling of elongate elements such as watch hands comprising a support having a face known as receiving the elongate elements and means, for fixing said elongate elements, said the fixing means is at least one pad of adhesive material of sufficient height to hold the elongated element at a distance from the receiving face. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention proposes to develop a packaging which, immediately after the initial shaping of small display components for timepieces, generally by machining, but which may also be achieved by casting or three-dimensional printing, ensures the collection of the blanks, the intermediate storage thereof throughout all the manufacturing process operations and the cleaning thereof, these components preferably remaining permanently in the packaging tool according to the invention, once the initial shaping has been carried out. 
     To this end, the invention concerns a packaging. 
     The invention also concerns an automated means of production for manufacturing such timepiece appliques, said automated means of production including at least one machining unit for profile-turning and/or milling and/or diamond polishing. 
     The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing such timepiece appliques. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic, front view of a tray constituting a packaging according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic, perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  represents a partial, schematic, cross-section passing through an applique arrangement, of the tray of  FIG. 1  in which a timepiece applique is mounted. 
         FIG. 4  represents a schematic and perspective view of a case in two parts, comprised in the packaging of the invention, these two parts, which are complementary to each other, each including a half chamber, arranged for the reception of a compact stack of trays according to  FIG. 1 , possibly supplemented with spacers. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of two superposed trays placed in a position of cooperation. 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of the case of  FIG. 4  containing a secured stack of trays according to  FIG. 1 , supplemented by an upper spacer to occupy with minimal play all the space of the chamber defined inside this case by the juxtaposition of the two half chambers. 
         FIG. 7  represents, in the form of a block diagram, an automated means of production that includes, served by a tray loader associated with identification means, a shaping and machining unit, treatment and cleaning equipment, and an inspection and checking unit. 
         FIG. 8  represents, in the form of a block diagram, the operations of an applique manufacturing method, comprising steps of preparing packagings, preparing raw material, machining, surface treatment, cleaning and inspection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention proposes to develop a packaging which, immediately after the initial shaping of small display components for timepieces, generally by machining, but which may also be achieved by casting or three-dimensional printing, ensures the collection of the blanks and the intermediate storage thereof throughout all the manufacturing process operations, these components preferably remaining permanently in the packaging tool according to the invention, once the initial shaping has been carried out. 
     For the sake of simplicity, hereinafter the term “machining operation” will refer to the first shaping operation, whether it is achieved by addition of material (casting, 3D printing, soldering), or by removal of material using a cutting tool (profile-turning and/or milling and/or diamond polishing) or by abrasion (grinding), or both by addition and then removal of material. 
     The term “applique” will refer to a small display component including at least one foot, such as an applique or index as they are commonly known, or including a pipe instead of a foot, such as a hand. 
     The invention concerns a packaging  1  for timepiece appliques  2 . These appliques  2  comprise, on either side of a bearing surface  3 , at least one foot  4 , and an applique body  5  extending over an applique height HA above bearing surface  3 . 
     This packaging  1  includes at least one tray  10  provided for the reception, holding, storage and transport of such appliques  2 , of the same applique height HA. This tray  10  includes a series of receptacles  11 , in particular formed by bores, for the reception of such feet  4 , and preferably at a constant pitch. Each receptacle or bore  11  is adjacent to a housing  12 , which is arranged to house an applique body  5 , resting on an upper tray surface  13 , as opposed to a lower tray surface  14 . 
     According to the invention, each tray  10  includes position indexing means  20 , for ensuring the precise positioning of the tray with respect to a means of production and/or with respect to a material handling means. 
     Each tray also includes at least one mounting spacer  15  which extends in a vertical direction (i.e. parallel to the direction of insertion of feet  4  into their receptacles or bores  11 ), and which is arranged to cooperate in abutment with a lower tray surface  14  of another tray  10 , or with a lower spacer surface  34  of a spacer  30  comprised in packaging  1 . This spacer  30  is of identical planar dimensions to a tray  10  and it may be necessary in order to hold the components disposed on the top tray  10  in a stack of trays. 
     Each mounting spacer  15  extends, from the upper tray surface  13 , over a tray height HP, which is greater than applique height HA by the value of a predefined operating play J, in particular but not limited to around at least 0.05 mm. 
     These mounting spacers  15  may be formed of raised edges surrounding tray  10 , or discrete protruding portions arranged on its upper surface. 
     Preferably, packaging  1  includes a plurality of the same trays  10  of identical planar dimensions. Thus, securing such trays in a stack ensures the complete protection of all the components that they carry. 
     In a particular embodiment illustrated by the Figures, each said tray  10  and/or said spacer  30  is inscribed in a square in each plane perpendicular to said vertical direction. 
     In a particular variant, allowing precise relative positioning in space of trays  10  in the same stack, or even a snap-fit between neighbouring trays, at least one tray  10  and more particularly each tray in a stack, includes, extending beyond each mounting spacer  15  starting from upper tray surface  13 , at least one centring or snap-fit pin  16 , which is arranged to cooperate with a centring or snap-fit arrangement  17 , and which is comprised in a lower tray surface  14  of another tray  10 , or a lower spacer surface  34  of a spacer  30 . 
     Different planar arrangements of the tray may be achieved. In a particular variant, at least one housing  12 , or more particularly each housing  12 , is separate from the adjacent housings  12 . This separation can be achieved by bosses  19 , which may in turn constitute mounting spacers  15 . 
     To facilitate production management, in an advantageous variant, at least one, or more particularly each tray  10  and/or spacer  30 , includes dimension identification means  50 , readable by an automatic, optical, magnetic, inductive, mechanical or other detection means, and/or recognisable by an operator, notably via coloured and/or identification marking; tray  10  may, in particular, be entirely made in a colour allowing it to be identified. 
     Preferably, at least one, or more particularly each said tray  10  and/or said spacer  30 , is entirely made of a material insensitive and resistant to the manufacturing process treatments for appliques  2 , for example made of plastic material or a material prepared for this purpose. 
     In an advantageous variant, at least one, or more particularly each tray  10  and/or spacer  30  includes a plurality of recesses  18  arranged to allow the passage of fluid through its thickness. 
     In a variant, in at least one, or more particularly each tray  10 , every bore  11  is spaced apart from at least one recess  18  by a value lower than or equal to the constant pitch between bores  11 . 
     For secure storage and transport after the applique manufacturing and finishing operations, packaging  1  advantageously includes a case  40 , in at least two complementary parts  41  and  42 , which together define, in the closed position of case  40 , a prismatic chamber  43 , whose dimensions are adjusted to receive, with minimum play in the vertical direction, a plurality of trays  10  and/or spacers  30  of the same planar dimensions, and to receive, with minimum play, in each plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, each tray  10  and/or spacer  30 . 
     In a particular variant, this minimum play is zero, case  40  is then made of deformable material, and may even apply a slight clamping force on the trays  10  and spacers  30  that it encloses. 
     In a particular variant, this case  40  is made of expanded polystyrene, and each of the at least two parts  41 ,  42  includes a half-chamber  44 ,  45 , arranged to hold alone one stack of trays  10  and/or spacers  30 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Case  40  may also be made of another polymer, such as PC, POM, PP, PE, PEHD, PS or suchlike. 
     The invention also concerns an automated means of production  100  for manufacturing such timepiece appliques  2 . 
     This automated means of production  100  includes at least one initial shaping unit, particularly a machining unit  110  for profile-turning and/or milling and/or diamond polishing. 
     According to the invention, automated means of production  100  further includes a tray loader mechanism  120 , which is arranged to receive and identify a tray  10 , arranged for the reception, holding, storage and transport of appliques  2  of the same applique height HA, and which includes position indexing means  20  for the precise positioning of the tray on tray loader mechanism  120 . 
     Advantageously, this tray loader mechanism  120  includes at least one automatic detection means  150 , which is arranged to identify the identification means  50  of each tray  10 . 
     In a particular variant, automated means of production  100  includes surface treatment means  160  for the treatment of appliques  2  held positioned in trays  10  after shaping or machining. 
     In a particular variant, automated means of production  100  includes checking and/or inspection means  170  for the inspection of appliques  2  held positioned in trays  10  after shaping or machining. 
     The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing such timepiece appliques  2 . 
     According to the invention:
         in a step  10 , for each batch of appliques  2  of a given applique height HA, there is provided at least one such packaging  1  adapted to these dimensions;   in a step  20 , there is taken the raw material for use by an automated means of production  100 ;   in a step  30 , there is performed at least the machining of appliques  2  in an automated means of production  100 , which deposits machined appliques  2  in at least one tray  10  of suitable dimensions;   in a step  50 , there is performed at least one cleaning operation on machined appliques  2  in position in their tray  10 ;   in a step  60 , an inspection is made of appliques  2  in position on their tray  10 .       

     More particularly, after cleaning and prior to final inspection, in a step  40 , there is performed on machined appliques  2  held in position on their tray  10  at least one surface treatment and/or coating with a peripheral layer. 
     In particular, it is possible to make various versions of trays  10 , which are distinguished notably by:
         the distance of centres between the feet reception bores, particularly with values comprised between 0.39 mm and 4.08 mm;   the diameter of these bores, particularly with values comprised between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm;   the height of mounting spacers  15  defining the distance between the functional surfaces of two successive trays, to maintain the quality of the applique bodies, particularly with spacing values comprising between 0.42 mm and 1.1 mm;   the identification means, particularly the colour for fast identification by the preparation operators.
 
The use of such trays  10  is advantageous, since it allows:
   their immediate use in a machining means, as a result of the tray loader;   increased autonomy of the machine, sufficiently loaded for one production batch when equipped with one complete tray;   the cleaning or surface treatment, or heat or other treatment of components directly in the trays;   the inspection of components directly in the trays.       

     Indeed, once they leave the production means ensuring their initial shaping, the appliques do not leave the tray, so as to minimise handling costs and maintain as far as possible the aesthetic quality of the product until delivery to the client. 
     In an economical version, the outer packaging is an expanded polystyrene case  40 , devised to close quickly, and to protect several trays at once against shocks during transport. For example, one such case  40  contains around ten trays.