Automatic Watch-Component Polishing With Brush-Wear Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual surface treatment of high-end ornamental objects, such as watch components, requires skilled personnel, leading to productivity issues and inconsistent results due to human variability, and existing automatic apparatuses lack autonomy in managing critical variables like brush radius and abrasive paste amount.
Innovation Solution
An automatic apparatus with a gripping and movement system, a polishing brush, and a guide station for abrasive paste, controlled by processing means that adjust for brush wear and paste distribution autonomously, ensuring consistent treatment quality and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual polishing by specialized personnel is used, then high-quality surface treatment with aesthetic effect is achieved, but productivity is reduced and repeatability cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic apparatus performs surface treatment autonomously without requiring specialized human operators. The system self-regulates polishing parameters, manages abrasive paste application, and maintains consistent treatment quality through automated control mechanisms, thereby eliminating the need for highly skilled manual labor while increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical polishing operations with an automated mechanical system. The gripping and movement group automatically positions and moves components relative to the rotating polishing brush, substituting human hand movements with programmable robotic motion control to achieve both high quality and efficiency.
2Productivity
If automatic apparatus with gripping and movement group is used, then productivity increases and repeatability is achieved, but autonomy in managing critical variables like brush radius and abrasive paste amount is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The processing means continuously monitor and adjust critical variables during the polishing process. The system detects changes in brush radius due to wear and automatically compensates by adjusting motion parameters or triggering brush replacement. Similarly, the system monitors abrasive paste consumption and automatically replenishes it, maintaining optimal polishing conditions throughout production.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic apparatus manages its own operational parameters autonomously. The system self-regulates the amount of abrasive paste on the brush, automatically replenishes it when depleted, and adjusts motion trajectories to compensate for brush wear, eliminating the need for human intervention in managing these critical variables.
3Reliability
If pre-programmed trajectories are used, then consistent treatment is achieved, but adjustments for brush wear and paste variation cannot be made
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-programmed trajectories to dynamic adaptive trajectories. The processing means continuously adjusts motion paths and parameters based on real-time conditions such as brush wear and abrasive paste distribution, allowing the system to maintain treatment consistency while adapting to changing operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters during the polishing process. The system adjusts trajectory parameters, polishing speed, and pressure based on detected variations in brush radius and abrasive paste amount, maintaining optimal treatment quality despite wear and consumption throughout the production cycle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus achieves high-quality, repeatable surface treatment without human intervention, increasing productivity and profitability by managing critical variables automatically.
Implementation Method 1
a surface treatment tool 2 for said components C, in particular a polishing brush 7, substantially discoidal or ring-wound tape in shape and operatively connected at its centre 21 to electrical rotation means 3 configured to rotate the same surface treatment tool 2 around this centre 21
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3a
AI summary
Automatic apparatus (1) for the surface treatment of components (C) for the manufacture of ornamental objects, in particular watches, comprising: - a surface treatment tool (2) for the components (C) operatively connected to electrical rotation means (3); - a gripping and movement group (4) for hooking one of the components (C); - processing means (5) operatively connected to the electrical rotation means (3) and to the gripping and movement group (4) so as to control the rotation speed of the surface treatment tool (2) and so as to move the component (C) based on a predefined trajectory. The apparatus comprises a guide station (6) of an abrasive paste (PA) in the solid state, the processing means (5) being operatively connected to the guide station (6) so as to command the approach of the abrasive paste (PA) towards the surface treatment tool (2), in order to apply an amount of the abrasive paste (PA) on the circumferential surface (22) of the tool.