Gripper for watch parts

Abstract

To provide a gripper for timepiece components.SOLUTION: A gripper (100) with a radial clamp comprises a plurality of jaws (1) distributed around an axis (D) defining a direction of insertion and / or withdrawal of a watch component and connected to a support (2) of the gripper. Each jaw comprises a bearing surface (10) arranged so as to make reliable radial contact with an opposing surface of a component relative to the axis to apply a radial clamping force to the opposing surface. At least one jaw is movable radially relative to the axis, and has a generally radial stroke relative to the axis (D). Each movable jaw is connected to the support by radially elastic return means (3) extending in a general plane (P) perpendicular to the axis, and it is also preferably arranged between the movable jaw and the axis (D).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of handling and / or holding of watch parts, in particular during their manufacture and / or assembly as part of automated production.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a gripper with radial clamping for a watch part, comprising a number of bearing jaws distributed in opposite directions with respect to an axis defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction and fixed to a support comprised in said gripper, each bearing jaw comprising a bearing surface arranged for positive radial contact with an opposing surface of the part in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and at least one of said bearing jaws being movable approximately radially with respect to said axis. [Background technology]

[0003] The manipulation and / or holding of watch parts during their production is always delicate. For a long time, the only reliable solution was the human hand. With the development of automated production, it was necessary to implement processes that ensured the ability to manipulate or hold the parts without deforming them, especially in the final stages of their creation, when the cross-section of the material may be greatly reduced and the gripping areas may be difficult to reach. The most widespread industrial solution is the use of a vacuum, but this effective solution results in high energy consumption and noise. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The invention proposes to develop a gripper for watch parts, said gripper allowing the manipulation and / or holding of the parts without resorting to a vacuum and requiring no energy other than that already provided to the manipulator supporting the gripper for its movement in space. Another object is to provide a gripper that is small and not bulky. Yet another object is to provide a gripper that is robust and in which relatively delicate elements are effectively protected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a gripper with radial clamping for a watch part, comprising a number of jaws distributed around an axis defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of the watch part and connected to a support of the gripper, each of said jaws comprising a bearing surface arranged in positive radial contact with a facing surface of the part relative to said axis so as to be able to apply a radial clamping force to said facing surface, at least one of said jaws being radially movable relative to said axis and having a stroke substantially radial relative to said axis. According to the invention, each of said movable jaws is connected to said support by radially elastic return means extending in a general plane perpendicular to said axis.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, said radially elastic return means are arranged between said movable jaw, which connects said radially elastic return means to said support, and said shaft.

[0007] In one advantageous embodiment, said support also extends in said general plane.

[0008] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]1 shows a schematic plan view of a gripper according to the invention with a radial clamp for holding and / or manipulating a watch part, which comprises a number of jaws mounted on a support, in the form of a movable jaw with a mobility in a plane perpendicular to an axis around which the part to be held and / or manipulated extends, said axis corresponding in this case to the direction of relative insertion or withdrawal between the gripper and said part, said mobility of said movable jaw being radial to said axis, said movable jaw being elastically connected to said support by at least one elastic connection, which in the particular case of this figure consists of elastic return means in the form of a serpent spring, said movable jaw being mobile in a slot in said support, said slot allowing said movable jaw to move in a radial plane through said axis. The centrifugal and centripetal strokes of the movable jaw are limited by an abutment mechanism, which in this non-limiting example is ensured by cooperation with a series of posts integral with the movable jaw in slots integral with the support, in this non-limiting example the gripper is of one-piece construction. [Diagram 2] Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a gripper similar to that of Figure 1, said multi-part gripper comprising a one-piece gripper body including a support, at least one elastic return means and at least one support back plate carrying a protrusion which is in particular removable, allowing the manufacture of said one-piece gripper body with a constant height H. The protrusion of the mobile jaw comprises, on either side of the bearing surface, in particular the cylindrical surface, of the part, chamfered and / or radial lead-in surfaces to facilitate the relative insertion of a part into or onto the gripper or vice versa, and a frontal abutment surface arranged to cooperate with the part in an axial bearing, thereby stopping the part in a precise axial position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section of the one-piece gripper of FIG. 1 according to the section line AA of this figure, the movable jaw being designed for external clamping of the part to be held and / or manipulated. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a view similar to FIG. 3 of a variant of the one-piece gripper of FIG. 1, in which the movable jaw is designed to internally clamp the part to be held and / or manipulated. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of a variant of the one-piece gripper of FIG. 1, in which the movable jaw is designed to clamp internally or externally the part to be held and / or manipulated. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the multi-part gripper of FIG. 2, where the movable jaw is designed to clamp externally the part to be held and / or manipulated, and where the movable jaw includes a removable protrusion, here assembled by a pin onto a back plate integral with a one-piece support block. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the gripper of FIGS. 2 and 6, in which the movable jaw projection is not provided, and two pins projecting from the back plate are arranged to receive the projection to be attached. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-section through the axis of another multi-part gripper, in which the support is divided into two plates, one upper plate supporting the movable jaw and including the elastic return means, and the other lower plate fixed to the upper plate and including a limiting surface at a non-zero distance from the elastic return means suspending the movable jaw, to prevent any permanent deformation and breakage of said elastic return means. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an axis of another gripper of one-piece construction, said gripper including a limiting surface at a non-zero distance from the elastic return means suspending the movable jaw, to prevent any permanent deformation and breakage of said elastic return means. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a schematic plan view of a detail of another embodiment of a multi-part gripper, in which the suspension of the back plate of the movable jaw is ensured by areas arranged radially on both sides of this back plate, which have a radial elastic deformation capability. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a schematic plan view of a detail of the abutment cooperation between a movable jaw, which here comprises a post, and a support, which here comprises a slot. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a schematic plan view of a detail of the cooperation by abutment between a movable jaw, here comprising a slot, and a support, here comprising a post. [Figure 13] Figures 13 to 18 show schematic side views of several steps of transfer performed by a manipulator including a gripper according to the invention for removing a watch part from a first production or transfer station, in particular from a first movement holder, to another production or transfer station: Figure 13 shows how the gripper with its jaws in a position of minimum radial eccentricity approaches downwards towards the part held on the first movement holder; [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows the relative thrust between the jaws and the part guided on the insertion surface and supported on the bearing surface of the jaws parallel to the axis. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 shows the completion of the vertical stroke with the parts in axial abutment position in the jaws at maximum radial eccentricity E2. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 shows the release of the grippers and separation of the part removed from the original movement holder that had previously supported it. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 illustrates the transfer of the gripper to another manufacturing or transfer station. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a detailed view showing the ejection of said part under the action of an ejector finger inserted between the support of the gripper and the part, for example in a slot provided in the gripper for this purpose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a gripper according to the invention, which relates to a gripper 100 with radial clamping for a watch part 200 .

[0011] By clock part is meant here any elementary part or subassembly that is incorporated into a clock, such as a wristwatch, a clock, etc. The figure shows a non-limiting example of the application of the invention on a part 200, such as a watch blank, a main plate, a middle case, a case, a resonating mass, etc., of a size and mass similar to that of a coin, these particular examples forming rigid elements, to which a reasonable radial gripping force can be applied without causing permanent deformation. However, the invention is also designed for gripping other types of clock parts, in particular parts that include very thin sections of material, such as a balance, for example, and for this purpose it is sufficient to adapt the mechanical characteristics of the gripper to control the application of the gripping force without causing permanent deformation of the part 200.

[0012] A gripper 100 with radial clamping for a watch part 200 comprises a number of jaws 1 distributed around an axis D defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of said watch part and connected to a support 2 of said gripper. Each jaw 1 comprises a bearing surface 10 arranged in a radial direction with respect to said axis in such a way that it can apply a radial clamping force, and thus a radial pressure, to a counter face of said watch part, at least one of said jaws, advantageously a number of said jaws, is radially movable with respect to said axis D and has a stroke which is approximately radial with respect to said axis.

[0013] According to the invention, each movable jaw 1 is connected to said support 2 by radially elastic return means 3 extending in a general plane P perpendicular to said axis D.

[0014] According to one preferred variant, each radially elastic return means 3 is disposed between the axis D and a mobile jaw which connects said radially elastic return means 3 to said support 2 .

[0015] According to one advantageous variant, the support 2 also extends in said general plane P.

[0016] In one particular variant, at least one mobile jaw 1, and more particularly each mobile jaw 1, has a radial stroke defined by the radial elastic deformability of at least one elastic return means 3 suspending said mobile jaw 1 on the support 2, or by the radial elastic deformability of at least one area 5 with radial elastic deformability contained in the support 2 and integral with said mobile jaw 1. The elastic return means 3 may be an attached part, such as a spring, or may be of one-piece construction with the mobile jaw 1 and / or the support 2.

[0017] More particularly, at least one such movable jaw 1, and preferably each movable jaw 1, has a stroke that is generally radial, more particularly strictly radial, relative to the axis D. The generally radial, more particularly strictly radial stroke is provided within the elastic deformation range of the radially elastic return means 3.

[0018] In particular, said stroke, which is strictly radial with respect to the axis D, is defined by the cooperation between a movable abutment surface 6 comprised in the movable jaw 1 and a fixed abutment surface 7 comprised in the support body 2 .

[0019] In one illustrated variant, as can be seen in FIG. 11 , this movable jaw 1 comprises two movable abutment surfaces 6, namely a first movable abutment surface 61 facing in the direction of the axis D and a second movable abutment surface 62 facing in the opposite direction of the axis D, and the support body 2 comprises two fixed abutment surfaces 7, namely a first fixed abutment surface 71 facing in the opposite direction of the axis D and arranged to bear against the first movable abutment surface 61 at the centripetal end of the radial stroke, and a second fixed abutment surface 72 facing in the direction of the axis D and arranged to bear against the second movable abutment surface 62 at the centrifugal end of the radial stroke.

[0020] More specifically, as can be seen in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 11, the movable abutment surface 6 is supported by a post 60 included in the movable jaw 1, and the fixed abutment surface 7 is the surface of a slot 70 included in the support 2, or the reverse of the above-mentioned configuration, as can be seen in Figure 12.

[0021] In one advantageous implementation, the movable abutment surface 6 and the fixed abutment surface 7 are arranged to cooperate in a general plane P.

[0022] In one variant, which is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 and 11 , at least one of the above-mentioned movable jaws 1, and more particularly each movable jaw 1, suspended on a support 2 by at least one elastic return means 3, is guided in a guide slot 4 contained in this support 2.

[0023] More precisely, the guidance of the movable jaw 1 in this guide slot 4 is strictly radial to the axis D.

[0024] In an advantageous variant, at least one elastic return means 3, and preferably all radial elastic return means, have a serpentine shape in the general plane P in which said radial elastic return means extend, with elastic strips 8 forming zigzag loops 9 in a generally radial direction R from the axis D. In other words, said strips become zigzag by defining a winding longitudinal line. Figures 1, 2, 7 and 11 show an arrangement in which the elastic return means 3 have this serpentine / zigzag shape.

[0025] FIG. 10 shows another advantageous variant in which at least one area 5 having radial elastic deformability has a series of pockets in the general plane P separated by relatively thin flexible strips that are symmetrical with respect to a radial plane passing through the axis D and in the radial direction R from the axis D.

[0026] Advantageously, in the case of a serpentine / zigzag shaped strip 8, the cross section of this strip 8 is variable: more precisely, the loop 9 is narrower along the radial direction R than its side edges 91, 92 away from the radial direction R and is closer to the next and / or previous loop near the side edges 91, 92, respectively, than its central portion 93 located on the radial direction R.

[0027] Advantageously, at least one jaw 1 is a jaw 1 that is radially movable with respect to the axis D, and more particularly, each jaw 1 is a jaw 1 that is radially movable with respect to the axis D.

[0028] More precisely, all the elastic return means 3 and areas 5 with radial elastic deformation capacity included in the gripper 100 are arranged such that the resultant force applied by the jaws 1 to the part 200 in the axis D is zero. In one variant shown, three identical elastic return means 3 are arranged at 120°. In another variant, an integer number N of identical elastic return means 3 or an integer number N of identical areas 5 with radial elastic deformation capacity are spaced apart by an equal central angle of value 360° / N with respect to the axis D. In another variant, several identical elastic return means 3 or several identical areas 5 with radial elastic deformation capacity are arranged axially symmetrically, two by two, with respect to the axis D. Other variants can also combine these various configurations.

[0029] To facilitate the insertion of the gripper 100 on or into the part 200, advantageously at least one jaw 1 of said gripper 100, more particularly each jaw 1, comprises at least one projection 11, which, on a first axial side of the gripper 100, called the "insertion side", projects towards the support 2 and is arranged to cooperate the gripper 100 with the watch part 200, and which comprises at its distal end at least one chamfered and / or radial lead-in surface 12 to facilitate the insertion of said watch part 200 into or onto the gripper 100 or the gripper 100 on or into the watch part 200. In particular such a lead-in surface 12 is a chamfer with a very small inclination, for example with an angle of 15° to 35° over a height of a few tenths of a millimeter.

[0030] It will be appreciated that in practice part 200 may be solid and held from the outside, as in the configuration of Figure 3, or annular and the like and held from the inside, as in the configuration of Figure 4. Gripper 100 may be versatile, as in Figure 5, for holding part 200 from the outside or from the inside.

[0031] At least one jaw 1, and preferably each jaw 1, includes a front abutment surface 13 arranged to cooperate with part 200 in an axial bearing to stop part 200 in a precise axial position along axis D.

[0032] Advantageously, the bearing surface 10 is advantageously a bearing surface 15 parallel to the axis D, in particular in the form of a portion of the side of a cylinder.

[0033] In one particular configuration, which can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the gripper 100 comprises, in a plane parallel to the plane P, a limiting surface 35 opposite the jaw, more particularly the protrusion 11, for at least one elastic return means 3, more particularly each elastic return means 3, contained in the gripper, or for at least one area 5 having radial elastic deformability, more particularly each area 5 having radial elastic deformability. This limiting surface 35 is preferably spaced apart from at least one of the above-mentioned elastic return means 3, more particularly from each of the elastic return means 3, or from at least one area 5 having radial elastic deformability, more particularly from each of the areas 5 having radial elastic deformability, by a non-zero spacing value E, so that axial friction is limited, thereby allowing slight bending along the axis D of at least one of the elastic return means 3, more particularly of each of the elastic return means 3, or of at least one of the above-mentioned areas 5 having radial elastic deformability, more particularly of each of the areas 5 having radial elastic deformability, during insertion of the watch part 200 into or onto the gripper 100, or during insertion of the gripper 100 onto or into the watch part 200. This spacing value E is limited to a predefined threshold value for each type of gripper 100 in order to prevent any permanent deformation and breakage of the elastic return means 3, more particularly of each elastic return means 3, or of an area 5 having radial elastic deformability, more particularly of each area 5 having radial elastic deformability.

[0034] In a particular implementation, the gripper 100 is of one-piece construction. This gripper 100 may be made of a metallic material, such as stainless steel, spring steel or other alloys, and may be machined by wire EDM and / or by sinking, in particular with regard to the elastic return means 3 and / or the area 5 with radial elastic deformation capacity that this gripper 100 comprises. Such an implementation is particularly suitable for holding solid parts 200 with high clamping forces and elastic return means of high stiffness. Thus, a gripper 100 of 40 mm diameter for gripping a part of 34 mm diameter, with three serpentine springs at 120°, made of 1.4301 or 1.4310 stainless steel with a minimum cross section of 0.65 mm, and with a support height of 6 mm, has a stiffness of 25 N / mm to 45 N / mm, more particularly 30 N / mm to 40 N / mm, per jaw. The axial thrust can be adjusted to values ​​between 6N and 30N for the insertion of the part 200 into the jaws, depending on the type of part 200 to be manipulated.

[0035] To grip parts 200 of a more delicate nature, the gripper 100 may be manufactured by stereolithography by "LIGA", "DRIE" or similar methods, in particular from nickel, nickel phosphorus, silicon and / or at least one silicon oxide, or from an amorphous or at least partially amorphous material. Naturally, the clamping forces applied here are very small, as are the radial strokes of the jaws. Such a gripper constitutes a good solution for manipulating or holding very fragile parts 200, for example for installing inertia blocks on a balance.

[0036] The figures showing grippers 100 with elastic return means 3 consisting of serpentine springs show them in the working position of the grippers, which are in tension and rest due to the cooperation of the posts and slots. These grippers are manufactured in a free state, in which each serpentine spring is radially stretched in the guide slot 4 and its distal end is beyond the support 2. The serpentine spring is then compressed out of plane to a radially retained position by the post-slot system. In the non-limiting examples shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, 11, the radial stretch of the serpentine spring in the free state is 2.5 to 4.0 times its radial stretch in the compressed state, in particular 3.1 to 3.5 times its radial stretch in the compressed state. The radial stretch of the serpentine spring in the compressed state is 0.10 to 0.24 times the maximum diameter of the support 2, more particularly 0.15 to 0.19 times the maximum diameter of the support.

[0037] More specifically, the cross section (smallest dimension) of the strip 8 is between 0.090 and 0.126 times its own height, more specifically between 0.103 and 0.113 times its own height.

[0038] More specifically, the cross section of the strip 8 is 0.090 to 0.126 times the height of the support 2 , and even more specifically, 0.103 to 0.113 times the height of the support 2 .

[0039] More precisely, the cross section of the strip 8 is between 0.175 and 0.211 times the maximum diameter of the largest part 200 to be gripped, more precisely between 0.185 and 0.201 times the maximum diameter of this largest part 200. Supporting the post-slot assembly perpendicular to the radius, or any other equivalent mechanism, is important to avoid angular deformation of the jaw 1 and of its elastic return means. The embodiment shown ensures that deformations are only in the radial direction, which ensures an optimal grip of the part 200.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one jaw 1 of the gripper 100, more particularly each jaw 1, comprises at least one protrusion 11 protruding on the insertion side relative to the support 2, which protrusion 11 is detachable and attached to a one-piece gripper body comprising: the support 2; at least one elastic return means 3, more particularly each elastic return means 3, or at least one area 5 with radial elastic deformation, more particularly each area 5 with radial elastic deformation; and a support back plate 110, which comprises assembly means arranged to cooperate with complementary assembly means 111, such as a pin comprised in the protrusion 11. Other pins or similar positioning elements may be provided on the gripper 100 for adjusting the position of the parts. This configuration allows the manufacture of a one-piece gripper body with a constant height H, which greatly facilitates the manufacture of the gripper body and allows the manufacture of the gripper 100 at lower manufacturing costs.

[0041] The figure shows the particular case of a very versatile gripper 100, which allows clamping a part 200 of rounded shape by three jaws 1 offset by 120° and deforming in the elastic region. This principle can be adapted to various washer diameters. For example, for a part with a diameter of 34 mm, the stroke of the jaws is advantageously ±0.2 mm, and a clearance of 0.1 mm may already be sufficient. An abutment with a stroke of 0.2 mm or ±0.1 mm for each jaw is therefore suitable to hold many watch parts for machining. This is clearly within the conventional tolerances for watch blanks of the type to be machined with such strokes / such clearances.

[0042] The abutment avoids overtravel and subsequent breakage of the jaws or of the elastic elements 3, 5 contained in the gripper. The specific implementation of the elastic return element in the form of a serpentine spring allows parts with irregular diameters to be gripped without energy contribution. Furthermore, the mechanism is maintenance-free and has an extremely long service life comparable to that of manipulators designed to incorporate such grippers.

[0043] This gripper forming a clamp does not require energy, except for the axial thrust of the part into the jaws, which corresponds to the movements inevitably performed by the manipulator or by the manufacturing machine, This solution has the advantage that it is economical and can be implemented with a small size.

[0044] The choice of material for the gripper is related to the nature of the parts to be manipulated or held and to the resistance of said parts: the use of stainless steels such as 1.4301, 1.4310 or spring steel is well suited for solid blank parts, main plates, resonating masses etc. The use of grippers made of less dense materials such as "nylon" can be envisaged for parts with small cross sections.

[0045] The construction of the gripper body as a one-piece structure, including the support, the elastic return means, and the support back plate for supporting the removable protrusions, allows for a significant simplification of machining and a significant increase in the freedom of design of the shape of the jaw protrusions.

[0046] An advantageous aspect of the invention is the arrangement of the spring in the plane of the base of the clamp forming the gripper. This particular concept of the invention can be summarized as the manufacture of the jaws on a support having radial elastic deformation.

[0047] It should be noted that for application of sufficient radial force a clearance of 0.1 mm may be sufficient. It all depends on the elastic constant of the spring, k, which is chosen depending on the application and the required radial gripping force.

[0048] Many variations are possible: the axial abutment surface 13 can be integrated into the subassembly in one piece or can be separate in the form of an attachment; The principles of the invention can also be applied to axial abutment systems instead of the radial abutment system specific to the invention.

[0049] The invention also relates to a manipulator 1000 for extracting a watch part 200 from a manufacturing or transfer station 500, 600, in particular from a movement holder 510 contained in said manufacturing or transfer station 500, 600, or for placing a watch part 200 on the manufacturing or transfer station 500, 600.

[0050] The manipulator 1000 comprises at least one of the above-mentioned grippers 100, which moves at least one of the grippers 100, more particularly each of the grippers 100, in the direction of the gravitational field towards the watch part 200, and elastically deforms at least one of the above-mentioned elastic return means 3, more particularly each of the elastic return means 3, or at least one of the above-mentioned areas 5 having elastic deformation in the radial direction, more particularly each of the areas 5 having elastic deformation in the radial direction, of the gripper 100, to an axial abutment position, thereby pressing the gripper 100 axially along the axis D onto or into the watch part 200, and elastically holding the watch part 200. The manipulator 1000 comprises means, in particular motorized means, for releasing the gripper 100 held by the support 2 and transferring the watch part 200 to another manufacturing or transfer station 600, in which the manipulator 100 is arranged to cooperate radially with ejection means, in particular but not limited to ejector fingers 650, contained in said other manufacturing or transfer station 600 or in the manipulator 1000 itself, so as to insert said ejection means, in particular said ejector fingers 650, radially between the support 2 and the watch part 200, thereby allowing it to be placed on a container or movement holder contained in said other manufacturing or transfer station 600.

[0051] 13-18 show the steps of this transfer: FIG. 13: gripper 100 with jaws 1 in the position of minimum radial eccentricity E1 approaches downwards towards a part 200 held on a movement holder 510 of a first production or transfer station 500; FIG. 14: relative thrust force between jaw 1 and part 200 guided on insertion surface 12 and supported on bearing surface 15 parallel to axis D; FIG. 15: axial abutment position of part 200 in jaw 1 at maximum radial eccentricity position E2; FIG. 16: Release of the gripper 100 and separation of the part 200 removed from the movement holder 510 which previously supported the part 200; - FIG. 17: Transfer of the gripper 100 to another production or transfer station 600; - Figure 18: Ejection of part 200. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 jaw, movable jaw 2 Support 3. Radial elastic return means 4 Guide Slot 6 Movable contact surface 7 Fixed contact surface 8. Strip 9. Loop 10 Bearing surface 11 Protrusion 12 Introduction 35 Restrictions 60 Posts 61 first movable abutment surface 62 second movable abutment surface 70 Slots 71 first fixed abutment surface 72 Second fixed abutment surface 100 Gripper 110 Support back plate 111 Complementary assembly means 200 Watch Parts D-axis E Interval Value P general plane R Radius direction

Claims

1. A gripper (100) with radial clamps for a watch part (200), comprising: said gripper (100) comprises a number of jaws (1) distributed around an axis (D) defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of said watch part and connected to a support (2) of said gripper (100); each of said jaws (1) comprises a bearing surface (10) arranged to make firm radial contact with a facing surface of said watch part (200) relative to said axis so as to be able to apply a radial clamping force to said facing surface, A gripper (100) in which at least one of said jaws is radially movable with respect to said axis (D) and has a stroke generally radial with respect to said axis, Each of said jaws is connected to said support by radially elastic return means (3) extending in a general plane (P) perpendicular to said axis, Gripper (100), characterized in that said radially elastic return means (3) are arranged between said jaws connecting said radially elastic return means (3) to said support (2) and said axis (D).

2. A gripper (100) with a radial clamp for a watch part (200), comprising: said gripper (100) comprises a number of jaws (1) distributed around an axis (D) defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of said watch part and connected to a support (2) of said gripper (100); each of said jaws (1) comprises a bearing surface (10) arranged to make firm radial contact with a facing surface of said watch part (200) relative to said axis so as to be able to apply a radial clamping force to said facing surface, A gripper (100) in which at least one of said jaws is radially movable with respect to said axis (D) and has a stroke generally radial with respect to said axis, Each of said jaws is connected to said support by radially elastic return means (3) extending in a general plane (P) perpendicular to said axis, A gripper (100), characterized in that said stroke, approximately radial to said axis (D), is provided within the elastic deformation range of said radially elastic return means (3) and is defined by cooperation between a movable abutment surface (6) comprised in said jaws (1) and a fixed abutment surface (7) comprised in said support (2).

3. A gripper (100) with a radial clamp for a watch part (200), comprising: said gripper (100) comprises a number of jaws (1) distributed around an axis (D) defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of said watch part and connected to a support (2) of said gripper (100); each of said jaws (1) comprises a bearing surface (10) arranged to make firm radial contact with a facing surface of said watch part (200) relative to said axis so as to be able to apply a radial clamping force to said facing surface, A gripper (100) in which at least one of said jaws is radially movable with respect to said axis (D) and has a stroke generally radial with respect to said axis, Each of said jaws is connected to said support by radially elastic return means (3) extending in a general plane (P) perpendicular to said axis, said radially elastic return means (3) having a serpentine shape in projection on said general plane (P), said strips (8) forming zigzag loops (9) in a generally radial direction (R) from said axis (D); Gripper (100), characterized in that said strip (8) has a variable cross section.

4. A gripper (100) with a radial clamp for a watch part (200), comprising: said gripper (100) comprises a number of jaws (1) distributed around an axis (D) defining a direction of insertion and / or extraction of said watch part and connected to a support (2) of said gripper (100); each of said jaws (1) comprises a bearing surface (10) arranged to make firm radial contact with a facing surface of said watch part (200) relative to said axis so as to be able to apply a radial clamping force to said facing surface, A gripper (100) in which at least one of said jaws is radially movable with respect to said axis (D) and has a stroke generally radial with respect to said axis, Each of said jaws is connected to said support by radially elastic return means (3) extending in a general plane (P) perpendicular to said axis, A gripper (100), characterized in that at least one of the jaws (1) of the gripper (100) comprises a protrusion (11) which protrudes towards the support (2) on a first axial side of the gripper (100), called the "insertion side", is arranged to cooperate the gripper (100) with the watch part (200), and comprises at a distal end at least one chamfered and / or radial leading surface (12) for facilitating the insertion of the watch part (200) into or onto the gripper, or the insertion of the gripper onto or into the watch part.

5. A gripper (100) as described in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the jaws (1) is guided within a guide slot (4) included in the support (2).

6. A gripper (100) as described in claim 5, characterized in that the guiding of the jaws (1) in the guide slot (4) is strictly radial to the axis (D).

7. A gripper (100) as described in claim 1, characterized in that the radially elastic return means (3) has a serpentine shape in projection onto the general plane (P) and the strips (8) form zigzag loops (9) in a generally radial direction (R) from the axis (D).

8. A gripper (100) as described in claim 1, characterized in that the gripper (100) is of one-piece structure.

9. A gripper (100) described in any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the radially elastic return means (3) is arranged between the jaw connecting the radially elastic return means (3) to the support (2) and the axis (D).

10. A gripper (100) described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support (2) also extends within the general plane (P).

11. A gripper (100) as described in claim 9, characterized in that the support (2) also extends within the general plane (P).

12. A gripper (100) described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the stroke, approximately radial to the axis (D), is provided within the elastic deformation range of the radial elastic return means (3) and is defined by cooperation between a movable abutment surface (6) included in the jaw (1) and a fixed abutment surface (7) included in the support body (2).

13. Each of the jaws (1) includes two of the movable abutment surfaces (6), namely a first movable abutment surface (61) facing in the direction of the axis (D) and a second movable abutment surface (62) facing in the opposite direction to the axis; and the support (2) comprises two fixed abutment surfaces (7), namely a first fixed abutment surface (71) facing in the opposite direction of the axis and arranged to bear against the first mobile abutment surface (61) at the centripetal end of the generally radial stroke, and a second fixed abutment surface (72) facing in the direction of the axis and arranged to bear against the second mobile abutment surface (62) at the centrifugal end of the generally radial stroke; The gripper (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that

14. The movable abutment surface (6) is supported by a post (60) included in each of the jaws (1); and the fixed abutment surface (7) is a surface of a slot (70) included in the support (2); or the movable abutment surface (6) is supported by a post (60) included in the support (2); and the fixed abutment surface (7) is the surface of a slot (70) included in each of the jaws (1). The gripper (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that

15. Gripper (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that said strip (8) has a variable cross section.

16. A gripper (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one of the jaws (1) of the gripper (100) includes a protrusion (11) protruding towards the support (2) on a first axial side of the gripper (100), called the "insertion side", arranged to cooperate the gripper (100) with the watch part (200), and including at a distal end at least one chamfered and / or radial leading surface (12) for facilitating insertion of the watch part (200) into or onto the gripper, or insertion of the gripper onto or into the watch part.

17. A gripper (100) as described in claim 16, characterized in that the gripper (100) includes a limiting surface (35) in a plane parallel to the general plane (P), which is located opposite the protrusion (11) of at least one of the jaws in relation to the general plane (P) and is spaced from the radially elastic return means (3) of each of the jaws by a non-zero spacing value (E) limited by the limiting surface, whereby axial friction is limited to allow slight axial bending of the radially elastic return means along the axis (D) during insertion of the watch part (200) into the gripper or during insertion of the gripper onto the watch part (200), the spacing value (E) being limited to a predetermined threshold value to prevent any permanent deformation of the radially elastic return means.

18. A gripper (100) as described in claim 16, characterized in that the protrusion (11) is removable and attached to a gripper body of one-piece construction, the gripper body extending in the general plane and including the support (2), the radially elastic return means (3) and a support back plate (110), the support back plate including or associated with assembly means arranged to cooperate with complementary assembly means (111) included in the protrusion (11).

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