Watch with multicolour components

Abstract

The method involves providing different elementary components (5) in different colors. A random sampling of each elementary component is performed until a complete assembly is obtained, so that colors of the elementary components are different. A random sampling of a component is performed among population of variants of color, and a color taken for the component is memorized. Random sampling of another component is performed among population of variants of color, and another color taken for the latter component is memorized. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for assembling a clockwork assembly (2) a method for assembling a watch (3) a watch.

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a method of constructing a set of different elementary watch components, taken from an assortment where each of these elementary components is available in different color variants, and where at least some of said different elementary components have the same color among themselves.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition.

[0003] The invention further relates to a method of assembling a watch comprising at least a case, a set of hands, and at least one watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition, comprising elementary components each available in different color variants, at least some variants of some of said different elementary components having the same color among themselves.

[0004] The invention further relates to a watch comprising at least one case, a set of hands, and at least one watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition and comprising elementary components each available in different color variants, at least some variants of some of said different elementary components having the same color among themselves, assembled according to such a process. Background of the invention

[0005] To obtain a wide variety of compounds from batches of components available in different forms, it is common to launch specific manufacturing batches according to fixed compositions, which has the disadvantage of putting similar and little-differentiated products on the market at any given time.

[0006] US patent 4,817,064 A describes the possibility of combining different watch bands with a watch case. EP patent 0,217,465 A1 describes a watch sold as a kit including a watch case, bracelet components, and removable bezels in various colors, allowing the user to create a bracelet of the desired length and color, and to change the bracelet's appearance at will using all possible color combinations. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention aims to establish an industrial process for the production of multicoloured watches, from components each available in several colours or aspects, so as to create a randomly produced population without series effect, with a great diversity of finished products obtained.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a method for assembling a set of different elementary watch components, according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims 2 to 8. Claims 9 to 13 define preferred assembly procedures for a watch assembly obtained by such a method of assembling a set of different elementary watch components. Some examples of these preferred assembly procedures are: A method for assembling a watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition, characterized in that a batch is prepared for the assembly of said watch assembly by such a composition method, and characterized in that the assembly of said elementary components of said watch assembly is carried out in position according to a prescribed order. A method for assembling a watch comprising at least one case, a set of hands, and at least one watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition, comprising elementary components each available in different color variants, at least some variants of certain said different elementary components having the same color among themselves, characterized in that the assembly of said at least one watch assembly is carried out on said case according to said assembly method, and in that the assembly of said set of hands is then carried out on said assembled watch assembly. Brief description of the drawings

[0009] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, with reference to the attached drawings, where: there figure 1 represents, schematically and in front view, a watch comprising at least one case, one set of hands, and at least one horological assembly according to a given nomenclature composition and comprising elementary components; the figure 2 represents, schematically, control systems coordinating color recognition methods to identify the color of each sampled component, storage methods to memorize the color of each sampled component, comparison methods, and robotic manipulation methods; figure 3 represents, in a schematic way, sets of elementary components of different colors, from which components are taken to form a watch assembly. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0010] The invention aims to establish an industrial process for the production of multicoloured watches, from components each available in several colours or aspects, so as to create a randomly produced population without series effect, with a great diversity of finished products obtained.

[0011] In this description, "colour" refers to a particular aspect, which may be a colour in the usual sense, or which may be related to the nature of a material, or to a heat and / or surface treatment applied to it.

[0012] The invention relates to a method of constructing a set 4 of different elementary watch components 5, taken from an assortment where each is available in different color variants, and where at least some of said different elementary components 5 have the same color among themselves, characterized in that, until said complete set 4 is obtained, a random selection of each of said elementary components 5 is carried out until at least two elementary components 5 are of different colors.

[0013] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, the number of available colours is chosen to be greater than or equal to the number of different components in said set, and a random sampling of each of said elementary components 5 is carried out until said complete set 4 is obtained, until all the colours of all said elementary components 5 are different from each other.

[0014] According to one variant of the implementation of this process: among these components 5, a first component (P1) is randomly selected from the population of said color variants in which it is available, and the first color (A1) thus selected is stored for said first component (P1); a second component (P2) is randomly selected from the population of said color variants in which it is available with the exception of said first color (A1) selected for said first component (P1), and the second color (A2) thus selected is stored for said second component (P2); as long as said total number (N) of said components (Pi) is not reached, a selection of each other component (Pi) is successively made, each from the remaining population of variants whose color has not already been selected, and the other color (Ai) thus selected is stored for said other component (Pi);The formation of said group ceases when its composition is complete.

[0015] According to one implementation variant of this process, the following is used: color recognition means 10 to identify the color of each of said components taken, memorization means 20 to memorize the color of each of said components taken, comparison means 30 to compare the color of each of said components taken to the colors of the components taken before it, to validate it if it is different, and reject it if it is identical to one of them in which case another variant of said same other component of the same nature is taken to which the same comparison test is applied, until a color different from the colors of the components taken before it is obtained.

[0016] According to one implementation variant of this process, in the event of rejection, the component taken and rejected is redeposited among the population of the same variant and of the same color from which it was extracted.

[0017] According to one implementation variant of this process, at least one robotic manipulator 40 controlled by control means 50 is used to select each said component of said assembly from a population of the same variant of the same color, among several populations each corresponding to a different color variant of said same component.

[0018] According to one implementation variant of this process, the aforementioned control means 50 also control: color recognition means 10 to identify the color of each of said components taken, memorization means 20 to memorize the color of each of said components taken, comparison means 30 to compare the color of each of said components taken to the colors of the components taken before it, to validate it if it is different, and reject it if it is identical to one of them in which case another variant of said same other component of the same nature is taken to which the same comparison test is applied, until a color different from the colors of the components taken before it is obtained.

[0019] According to one implementation variant of this process, said control means 50 include management means with random extraction of at least one said elementary component at random and in a random variant.

[0020] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, said control means 50 include management means with random extraction of at least said first elementary component at random and in a random variant, and complete said composition of said set 4 by a random sampling of each said variant of each said elementary component.

[0021] According to one implementation variant of this process, said control means 50 simulate in advance or in real time the sampling of said variants of said elementary components, so as to control simultaneous sampling by several robotic manipulators 40.

[0022] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, the said control means 50 command the sampling of the said variants of the said components in a random order.

[0023] According to one implementation variant of this process, the said control means 50 command the sampling of the said variants of the said components in a prescribed order.

[0024] The invention further relates to a method of assembling a watch assembly according to a given nomenclature composition, characterized in that a batch prepared for the assembly of this watch assembly, commonly referred to as an assembly preparation, is constituted according to this assembly constitution method, and characterized in that the assembly of said elementary components of said watch assembly is carried out in position according to an imposed order.

[0025] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, for the removal of each of said elementary component 5, at least one robotic manipulator 40 is used which also performs the mounting in position of said component 5, on a structure 7 which comprises said watch assembly 4, either directly, or indirectly by mounting on at least one of said other components 5.

[0026] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, the assembly in position of at least one said elementary component 5 is carried out with a delay relative to its removal.

[0027] The invention further relates to a method of assembling a watch 1 comprising at least one case 2, a set of hands 3, and at least one watch assembly 4 according to a given nomenclature composition, comprising elementary components 5 each available in different color variants, at least some variants of some of said different elementary components having the same color among themselves, characterized in that said at least one watch assembly 4 is mounted on said case 2 according to this assembly method, and in that said set of hands 3 is then mounted on said assembled watch assembly 4.

[0028] According to one variant of the implementation of this process, said case 2 and said set of hands 3 are chosen each in a determined color, and it is forbidden, when constructing said at least one watch assembly 4 according to this construction process, to take any variant of any component in said determined color from said case 2 or said set of hands 3.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a set of N different elementary horology components, selected by at least one automated manipulator (40) controlled by control means (50), from an assortment in which each of these elementary components is available in differently-coloured variants, and in which at least some of said different elementary components are the same colour as each other, the method comprising the following steps: - a first component (P1) is selected at random from among the population of said colour variants in which it is available, and the first colour (A1) thus selected for said first component (P1) is saved in a memory (30) controlled by the control means (50); - a second component (P2) is selected at random from the population of said colour variants in which it is available, the colour of the second component (P2) being identified by colour recognition means (10) controlled by the control means (50) and being compared with the colour of the first component (P1) by comparison means (30), also controlled by the control means (50), so as to validate it if the colours are different and to reject it if they are identical, in which case another variant of the second component (P2) is selected, to which the same comparison test is applied, until a colour different from that of component (P1) is obtained, and the second colour (A2) thus selected for said second component (P2) is saved in the memory; - as long as said total number (N) of components (Pi) has not been reached, each other component (Pi) is successively selected, each from among the remaining population of variants for which the colour has not already been selected, and the other colour (Ai) thus selected for said other component (Pi) is saved in the memory; - the process of assembling said set is stopped when the composition is complete.

2. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to claim 1, characterised in that the number of available colours greater than or equal to the number of different components in said set is chosen, and in that, until said complete set is obtained, a said random selection of each said elementary component is carried out until all of the colours of all of said elementary components are different from each other.

3. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that, if rejected, said component that was selected and rejected is put back among the population of the same variant of the same colour from which it was extracted.

4. The method of assembling a set of elementary horology components according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that said control means comprise management means with random extraction of at least one said elementary component at random and in a random variant.

5. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to claim 4, characterised in that said control means comprise management means with random extraction of at least said first elementary component at random and in a random variant, and supplement said composition of said set by random selection of each said variant of each said elementary component.

6. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said control means simulate beforehand or in real time the selection of said variants of said elementary components, so as to control simultaneous selections by several automated manipulators.

7. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that said control means control the selection of said variants of said components in a random order.

8. The method for assembling a set of elementary horology components according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that said control means control the selection of said variants of said components in a required order.

9. A method for assembling a set of horology components according to a given composition of parts, characterised in that a prepared lot is made up for assembling said set of horology components according to any of claims 1 to 8, and characterised in that said elementary components in said set of horology components are fitted in position in a required order.

10. The method for assembling a set of horology components according to claims 1 and 9, characterised in that, for the selection of each said elementary component, at least one automated manipulator is used which also fits said component in position on a structure comprised in said set of horology components, either directly or indirectly by fitting it on at least one of said other components.

11. The method for assembling a set of horology components according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that fitting at least one said elementary component in position is deferred relative to its removal.

12. A method for assembling a watch comprising at least a case, a set of hands, and at least one set of horology components with a given composition of parts, comprising elementary components which are each available in differently-coloured variants, at least some variants of some of said different elementary components being the same colour as each other, characterised in that said at least one set of horology components is fitted on said case according to any of claims 9 to 11, and in that said set of hands is then fitted on said assembled set of horology components.

13. The method for assembling a watch according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said case and said set of hands are each chosen in a determined colour, and in that, when assembling said at least one set of horology components according to any of claims 1 to 8, the selection of any variant of any component in said determined colour of said case or of said set of hands is prohibited.

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