HK40021187B - Universal device for the preparation of a watch - Google Patents

Description

Universal device for preparing a watch

Technical Field

The invention relates to a universal device for preparing a watch comprising a first crown for correcting the fast/slow time and an oscillating resonator arranged to produce oscillations at a nominal frequency, said universal preparation device comprising means for winding and for correcting the fast/slow time of said watch comprising at least one robotic manipulator for operating said first crown.

The invention also relates to a storage device for a watch magazine comprising such a universal preparation device, at least one said watch having a time base comprising at least one oscillating resonator, means for performing a fast/slow correction via a control stem provided with said first crown, energy storage means or barrel, and energy charging means. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the time speed of a watch.

The present invention relates to the field of watch maintenance and of devices for quickly providing a user with a watch from his collection, said devices having updated fast/slow adjustments, satisfactory travel time difference adjustments, and being completely charged with energy.

Background

Current winder mechanisms use conventional gearing between the motor and the watch-rest (watch-holder). This type of transmission is sufficient to achieve continuous rotation in economical, low cost, low power manufacturing. However, if such a winder mechanism is used for a relatively fast reciprocating motion, in particular an oscillating motion, which involves vibrating the watch at a frequency of up to 10Hz or more, i.e. moving the watch back and forth in a modulated regulating motion, in particular a periodic motion, a striking sound may occur and disturb the user.

The same applicant describes in swiss patents CH713821 and CH713822 an oscillatory motion method which is very advantageous for correcting small variations in the travel time difference. However, it still cannot correct fast/slow errors of more than plus or minus one minute in less than one day.

Finally, if the minute hand and the second hand are not properly positioned relative to each other, information can currently be communicated to the customer, but no correction can be made to the positioning.

German patent No. de102008031124 in the name of GEHRING BERND discloses a device for positioning a watch display comprising an external control device for adjusting data and functions, wherein a plurality of control units comprises a mechanical adjustment unit that can act in the rotation and/or pressing/pulling of a crown or a button.

WO patent application No.2012/126978a1 in the name of IMH discloses a multifunctional case suitable for winding up an automatic or manual watch having one or more displays, wherein the case comprises a box comprising a removable support arranged for receiving the watch; the winder mechanism is used to wind the watch when it is placed on the removable support. The multifunctional housing also includes an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust one or more displays so that the watch accurately travels when placed within the housing. In particular, the apparatus may comprise a camera for capturing the display position, as well as image analysis means and means for comparing with a reference.

German patent DE102013012854B3 in the name of GODER REINHARD discloses a device for correcting the travel time difference deterioration of a watch, or at least for keeping the travel time difference at a constant value when not worn. Different capturing means (e.g. camera with image analysis, laser sensor, microphone) can be connected to a central unit which receives the reference clock signal and controls the mechanism for automatically moving the watch.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention proposes to correct fast/slow errors of more than one minute very quickly, in particular for changes in summer/winter time, changes in different time zones, or for correcting the date.

To this end, the invention relates to a universal device for preparing a watch according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a storage device for a wristwatch according to claim 9.

The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the speed of a watch according to claim 14.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a portion of a universal priming device according to the invention, comprising a winder mechanism carrying several different watches mounted on the same device, each watch being located on a support capable of at least one oscillating movement, in particular a pivoting movement: the winder comprises a fast/slow measuring device with a fixed vision system for estimating the fast/slow of each watch and able to compare the time read with a reference clock, here shown by a GPS chain; the winder further comprises a microphone for estimating the frequency and travel time difference of the watch; the winder is a rotary winder that moves each watch in succession through the vision system and in front of the microphone, in this particular embodiment there is only one vision system and one microphone.

Fig. 2 shows, in a similar way to fig. 1, a winder in which the vision system and the microphone are mobile and the support is in a fixed position.

Fig. 3 shows, in a similar way to fig. 2, another winder in which the vision system and the microphone are mobile and the support is in a fixed position.

Figures 4 to 7 show the steps of a method for adjusting the fast/slow speed of a watch using another part of a universal priming device comprising a robotic manipulator, in which:

in fig. 4, a first removable cap is shown fitted to a first crown of the watch;

in fig. 5, the first crown is extracted;

in fig. 6, a first removable cap is fitted to a first crown;

in fig. 7, the watch is placed on the stand;

in fig. 8, an action is performed on the control means to activate the fast/slow measuring means and to measure the fast/slow of the watch;

in fig. 9, the fast/slow of the watch is adjusted by means of a robotic manipulator controlled by said fast/slow control means and manipulating the first removable cap;

in fig. 10, after a period of time, the user is optionally informed by a signal from the control device that the fast/slow adjustment of his watch is complete.

Fig. 11 is a partially schematic perspective view of the oscillator of the watch held on the support, this oscillator being subjected to fast/slow correction means, this fast/slow correction means comprising fast/slow control means for controlling the fast/slow corrector oscillator, this oscillator being arranged to produce an oscillation at a correction frequency and to cause the watch to oscillate and/or to perform modulated movements at this correction frequency, this fast/slow correction means comprising fast/slow control means arranged to control the oscillation of the fast/slow corrector oscillator and to interact with fast/slow measuring means for measuring the fast/slow of the watch.

Fig. 12 shows a partially schematic perspective view of the watch oscillator of fig. 11, in which the fast/slow control means are also arranged to control the excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator at an excitation frequency approximately equal to the nominal frequency of the watch oscillator or an integer multiple thereof, and to interact with travel time difference measuring means for measuring the travel time difference variations of the watch.

Figure 13 represents a partially schematic perspective view of a watch fixed on a support, comprising a barrel and an automatic winding mass, a first fast/slow corrector crown comprising a handling groove, a second winding crown comprising a handling groove and equipped here with a second removable cap arranged to grip said crown to allow its handling by a robotic manipulator, and an actuator also able to be manipulated by the motorized manipulator.

Fig. 14 shows a block diagram of a storage device for a watch magazine comprising such a generic preparation device, a plurality of watches each having a time base containing an oscillating resonator, a device for fast/slow correction via a control stem provided with a first crown, an energy storage device or barrel, a charging device, which is arranged in particular completely or partially like the watch shown in fig. 13.

Detailed Description

Switzerland patents Nos. CH00698/17 and CH00699/17 of the same applicant disclose an intelligent winder mechanism capable of controlling the frequency of at least one mechanical watch. Various embodiments are envisaged, in particular variants for controlling a plurality of watches on the same device, which is a constant complaint among watch enthusiasts and collectors.

Of course, all that is described herein for a wristwatch, in particular intended for the implementation of the invention in the user's home, applies to capsule-less movements in the factory or in after-market service. The term "watch" is therefore used for the sake of simplicity, both for the complete watch and for its movement.

The present invention proposes to improve such a mechanism by developing a generic priming device 1000, the generic priming device 1000 comprising an intelligent winder with the following functions:

-precisely controlling the frequency of a plurality of mechanical watches having at least one oscillating resonator. The device may access a reference time base. A support integrated in the winder imparts to each watch an oscillating movement, imposing a reference frequency on the watch hairspring;

-unlimited use of a winder with backlash elimination gear to minimize noise during the oscillation phase;

correcting large fast/slow errors by optically reading the time and then manipulating the crown.

Fig. 1 shows a winder 304 with a plurality of different watches mounted on the same device. However, these watches 1 must all have the following characteristics: their time base must be an oscillating resonator and they must have a pendulum that allows automatic winding (unidirectional or bidirectional). The winder 304 of fig. 1 includes a drum (rotation drum) that carries a cradle 305 for receiving a watch. All watches must be mounted on the winder in a vertical or substantially vertical position, i.e. the plane of the movement passes through the direction of the local gravitational field, or the minimum angle between the plane of the movement and the direction of the local gravitational field is less than 45 °. A slightly inclined positioning may be advantageous for display purposes, such as displaying a watch collection in a shop window, museum or elsewhere, thereby improving the visibility of the spectators, especially when the spectators are positioned higher than the winding bar. Advantageously, such a winder can carry a plurality of watches, for example eight watches in the case of fig. 1 and 2, and in particular up to about twelve watches, which still enables the winder to be of reasonable size and to be placed on furniture and easily moved.

However, these watches 1 can have different displays (as long as there is a dial and hands, or an analog dial using discs, rollers, etc., which can be read and interpreted by optical means) and any oscillator (in particular balance spring) frequency, which in practice has a maximum of 20 Hz. When mounted on the device, the barrel can be in any winding condition. In theory, the watch may have any time setting, but in practice a preset of ± 1 minute is recommended.

Each watch passes in front of the fixed vision system 303 (camera 1003+ lighting + CPU 302) in succession in order to evaluate its speed/slowness by reading the time by the GPS chain (but not limited to this) and comparing it with a reference clock (represented by reference sign 1001).

As in the swiss patents nos. ch00698/17 and CH00699/17 of the same applicant, at least one watch-table support 305, more particularly each watch-table support 305, may have a microphone 1003 for evaluating the frequency, travel time difference and amplitude of the balance spring (the amplitude measurement, although approximate, may evaluate the winding condition of the barrel). Fig. 1 shows a variant with a single fixed microphone 1003 for making these measurements when the watch 1 reaches the correct position.

In a variant, at least one cradle 305 is autonomous and integrates a power supply device 308 (for example a battery or battery pack), one such microphone 1003, and in particular a transmitter 307 with an antenna for transmitting to a centralized control device. If the stand itself does not have an own intelligent system, it is arranged to transmit signals by means of a centralized control device.

In another variant, at least one cradle 305 is autonomous and integrates an energy supply device 308 (for example a battery or battery pack), a processor 309(CPU), and in particular a transmitter 307 with an antenna for transmitting to a centralized control device. Since this stand has its own intelligent system, it is able to process the signals and is arranged to transmit the results of its local processing to the centralized control means.

As will be seen below, in one or other of these variants, at least one such support 305 may comprise at least one fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 for correcting the fast/slow of a watch mounted on the support 305, and/or a master oscillator 201 for correcting the travel time difference of the watch.

Alternatively, one such cradle 305 may be completely affected by at least one fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 for correcting the fast/slow of a watch mounted on the cradle 305 and/or by a master oscillator for correcting the travel time difference of the watch.

The microphone 1003 may be a contact microphone or an antenna microphone.

In an advantageous variant, a contactless transmission is used between each microphone 1003 and a control center, which here comprises a fast/slow control device 302. Such a contactless transmission facilitates the design of the rotation mechanism as in fig. 1, and one or more microphones 1003 may be mounted on the drum carrying the watch adjustment table holder 305 and communicate with the stationary CPU 302, or conversely one or more microphones 1003 may be stationary and communicate with the CPU 302 mounted on the drum carrying the watch adjustment table holder 305.

When the frequency, fast/slow and amplitude of each watch are known, as a result of the invention, it is then possible to wind the watch in an optimal manner if necessary without stressing the mechanism or drum and to correct the fast/slow of the watch (to some extent, typically ± 30 seconds a night).

Fig. 2 shows a variant in which the winder 304 does not necessarily have a drum and comprises a fixed structure carrying a watch receiving bracket 305. The fixed vision system 303 and the microphone 1003 are movable and move towards the respective stand. Fig. 3 shows another winder with the vision system and microphones movable and the stands in fixed positions and grouped in rows and columns, the manipulator (not shown) carrying the vision system and microphones then being movable according to cartesian coordinates. Many other geometrical and kinematic arrangements are possible and are limited only by the size and overall mass of the universal priming device according to the invention.

Naturally, it is also possible to combine the embodiments of fig. 1 and 2 with a drum carrying the stands and a fixed vision system 303 and a microphone 1002 that are movable and moved to the respective stands.

In a preferred configuration, each watch adjustment table bracket 305 has a motor or cam or gear system that allows:

moving watch 1 by rotation of the whole support and by means of the movement of pendulum 7 (which may be a clockwise or anticlockwise movement) when watch 1 comprises pendulum 7, to adjust watch 1 while also winding watch 1;

or, by compensating the winding movement caused by the whole support (to avoid excessively winding the completely wound watch, which would lead to premature wear of the drum), move watch 1 in a modulated movement to vibrate watch 1 to make adjustments without winding.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the watch is made to vibrate in the direction of its oscillator's degrees of freedom when there is only one degree of freedom.

The following four examples illustrate different possible scenarios:

the amplitude of watch a is measured to be 200 °, and therefore it must be wound. It is measured to have a 20 second acceleration and a fundamental frequency of 4Hz, and must therefore vibrate at a frequency of less than 4Hz (typically 3.9986Hz, i.e. -30 seconds per day) in order to slow down watch a until it accelerates to 0 seconds (which in this case takes 16 hours);

the amplitude of watch B was measured to be 250 deg., so it had to be wound a little more. It was measured to be 0 seconds fast/slow and the fundamental frequency was 3.5Hz, so it was necessary to vibrate at a frequency equal to 3.5Hz to keep the fast/slow of watch B at 0 seconds.

The amplitude of the watch C was measured to be 300 °, which was considered to have been wound up to maximum capacity. So that its orientation is kept constant. It is measured to slow down for 5 seconds, with a fundamental frequency of 3.5Hz, and must therefore vibrate at a frequency higher than 3.5Hz (typically 3.5012Hz, i.e. every day +30 seconds) in order to accelerate the watch C until its slowing down becomes 0 seconds (in this case, this would take 4 hours);

the amplitude of watch D was measured to be 300 °, and therefore considered wound up to maximum capacity. So that its orientation is kept constant. It was measured to have a fast/slow speed of 0 seconds and a fundamental frequency of 3Hz, and therefore it was necessary to vibrate at a frequency equal to 3Hz to keep the fast/slow speed of 0. The indicators (2 green LEDs in the example of fig. 1 or 2: one for indicating the winding status and the other for indicating the fast/slow adjustment) make it possible to quickly identify the watch that is ready to be worn at the time.

Fig. 2 and 3 show two embodiments in which the vision system 303 is movable, the watch adjustment table support 305 is fixed in position relative to the winder assembly, and each support is movable, in particular pivotable.

The present invention proposes, in a non-limiting manner, the use of backlash-eliminating gears, herringbone gears or direct drives. These solutions minimize the noise generated by the reciprocating movement inherent to the watch vibration principle.

It is known to correct large fast/slow errors by acting on the crown to pivot the fast/slow correction stem, in particular to change the time display.

The invention therefore relates more particularly to a universal device 1000 for preparing a wristwatch 1. The watch 1 comprises a first fast/slow correcting crown 4 and an oscillating resonator 2, the oscillating resonator 2 being arranged to produce oscillations at a nominal frequency N0. This universal preparation device 1000 comprises means for winding and for correcting the speed/slowness of watch 1 and comprises at least one robotic manipulator 306 for operating first crown 4.

According to the invention, this universal preparation device 1000 comprises adjustment means comprising at least one fast/slow correction device 300 for correcting the fast/slow speed of the watch 1. The fast/slow correction device 300 comprises a fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 arranged to generate oscillations at a correction frequency NC and to subject the watch 1 to oscillations and/or modulated movements at the correction frequency NC.

The fast/slow correction means 300 comprise fast/slow control means 302 arranged to control the oscillation of the fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 and to interact with fast/slow means 303 for measuring the watch 1.

The fast/slow correction device 300 comprises an automatic winder 304 for manual or automatic mechanical watches and comprises at least one watch-adjusting table support 305 subject to oscillations and/or movements generated by a fast/slow corrector oscillator 301.

More particularly, the fast/slow control means 302 are also arranged to adjust the travel time difference of the watch. To this end, it is also arranged to control the excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator 201 at an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to the nominal frequency N0 of the watch 1 or an integer multiple of the latter, the master oscillator 201 having a master travel difference variation AM compared to the reference 202 which is lower than the initial travel difference variation DI of the watch 1. These fast/slow control means 302 therefore interact with the travel time difference measuring means 203 for measuring the travel time difference variations of the watch 1.

More specifically, the same oscillator constitutes both the fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 and the master oscillator 201.

State corrector oscillator 301 and/or master oscillator 201 are oscillators with higher precision than common commercial watches, such as a governor oscillator or a quartz oscillator, and are less expensive and more compact, and therefore easier to incorporate in cradle 305, as shown in fig. 13.

In a variant, the automatic winder 304 for automatic or mechanical watches is motorized and can automatically wind the automatic watch by moving the watch 1 and its mass 7 and/or by magnetically driving its mass 7.

In particular, this automatic winder 304 is able to generate vibrations of at least one magnet, in particular for magnetically driving the mass 7.

One improvement involves the use of a cap that is added to the crown manually by the user or positioned on the crown by a robotic manipulator. The user or the manipulator may also place the stem in the fast/slow correction position. Such a cap greatly facilitates the calibration phase of automation. In fact, the conventional operations for operating the watch stem require a certain degree of softness, which is difficult to automate, whereas caps with a standard appearance are relatively simple to operate by the device, without the risk of scratching or breaking. Preferably, in order to adapt to the maximum number of crowns, the user can use various caps so that the most suitable cap can be selected.

In a variant, an automatic vision system is used, which is arranged to recognize the shape and size of the crown and to interact with the control system to determine, in the cap library 410 of caps, the cap that is the most suitable for the crown in question. Therefore, after assembling the cap on the crown (manually or automatically), the robot manipulator can be coupled or engaged with the cap very easily, thereby operating the crown and the stem indirectly. In another variant, a movable disc coated with a suitable material (such as rubber with a suitable hardness) can be used, placed in contact with the crown by means of an optical force sensor, and then driving the crown in rotation in one direction or the other. The advantage of this variant is that it can accommodate crowns of essentially any shape or size.

This allows to realize a usage mode in which the watch is only wound up and the fast/slow of the watch is corrected only when requested by the user or customer: in fact, winding can be performed using the stem within a few minutes, as can the fast/slow correction. The correction by the crown also allows to precisely position the minute hand and the second hand.

Fig. 4 to 10 show one proposed algorithm:

-figure 4: identifying the caps 41 of the array of caps 410 that best fit the crown 4 of the watch 1 to be adjusted;

-figure 5: the stem is extracted, for example manually, by the crown 4;

-figure 6: placing the cap 41 on the crown 4;

-figure 7: placing the watch 1 in the device (standby), the device comprising the robotic manipulator 306 engaged with the cap 41;

-figure 8: when the customer wishes to wear his watch, he performs an action on the control device 18 to activate the fast/slow measuring device 303 and measure the fast/slow of the watch 1, and then activates said device;

-figure 9: the fast/slow of watch 1 is adjusted by means of a robotic manipulator 306 controlled by fast/slow control means 302; the fast/slow correction and the winding operation are performed sequentially by the stem. Comparing the hands with a reference for accurate fast/slow correction and achieving optimal positioning between the minute hand and the second hand;

-figure 10: after a few minutes, the watch is wound and the time is set. Here an indicator on the control device 18 indicates that the watch is ready to be worn.

It is clear that the fast/slow adjustment and winding means seen in fig. 7 to 10 can be used separately.

In a variant, the fast/slow adjustment and winding device is combined with the universal preparation device 100, so that the watch 1 taken from the storage device of the watch magazine 2000 is placed on one of the supports 305, on which support 305 the robotic manipulator 306 can act. For example, the robotic manipulator 306 may be arranged substantially radially with respect to the drum of the automatic winder of fig. 1, the supports 305 thus having a particular indexed position, so that the watch stem is in a particular orientation in space, and the crown is either outside the drum (in the case where the robotic manipulator 306 is arranged outside the drum), or towards the centre of the drum (in the case where the robotic manipulator 306 is arranged inside the drum and between the supports).

Thus, in an advantageous embodiment, at least one robotic manipulator 306, more specifically each robotic manipulator 306, is arranged to manipulate the first removable cap 41 gripping the first crown 4, or is arranged to grip the peripheral groove 40 comprised in the first crown 4.

In particular, automatic winder 304 comprises at least one such robotic manipulator 306, which robotic manipulator 306 is able to wind, i.e. charge the energy storage means 5 comprised in watch 1, by manipulating the first crown 4, or the second crown 9 dedicated to winding, or the removable cap 41 gripping said first crown 4, or the second removable crown 91 gripping the second crown 9, as shown in the watch of fig. 13.

Advantageously, the generic preparation device 1000 comprises a reference clock 1001, or interacts with such a reference clock 1001, to which the fast/slow measurement device 303 comprising the vision system 1002 refers. Thus, if the fast/slow with respect to the clock reference 1001 is less than one minute, the fast/slow control means 302 are arranged to generate at least one oscillation of the fast/slow corrector oscillator 301 to return the fast/slow of the watch to the value of the reference clock 1001 or, if the fast/slow with respect to the reference clock is greater than one minute, to cause the robot manipulator 306 to operate the first crown 4 to adjust the fast/slow of the watch 1.

In an advantageous variant with travel time difference correction, the travel time difference measuring device 203 comprises at least one microphone 1003 for estimating the frequency, travel time difference and amplitude of the oscillating resonator 2 of the watch 1. And, if a variation of the travel time difference is observed greater than a predetermined threshold, the fast/slow control means 302 are arranged to generate at least one excitation oscillation at the excitation frequency NE by means of the master oscillator 201 to return the travel time difference variation to a value desired by the user, more particularly but not exclusively, an intermediate value between the master value AM and the initial value DI of the travel time difference variation of the watch 1.

The present invention is advantageously applied to a storage device for a watch library 2000, which may be a user's collection, or a retail store inventory, or otherwise.

Such a storage device for a watch magazine 2000 advantageously comprises a generic preparation device 1000 of the type described above, and at least one watch 1, the watch 1 comprising a time base with at least one oscillating resonator 2, a fast/slow correction device via a control stem provided with a first crown 4, an energy storage device 5 or a barrel, a charging device 6. More specifically, but not exclusively, these charging means 6 are formed by an automatic winding mechanism comprising at least one mass 7, and/or by a manual winding mechanism using a control stem or by a winding mechanism 8 comprising a second crown 9 or push-button. In a particular variant, the charging device 6 is formed by an automatic winding mechanism comprising at least one wheel set located inside the watch case of the watch 1 and is arranged to be driven in a contactless manner by a contactless driving means comprised in the automatic winder 304 or in the cradle 305, or by a magnetic or electrostatic field.

In order to automatically adjust its speed/slowness, each watch 1 of such a storage device for a watch magazine 2000 advantageously comprises: first groove 40 surrounding first crown 4 and/or first removable cap 41 arranged to grip first crown 4 tightly, to allow manipulation of first crown 4 in translation and/or rotation by robotic manipulator 306.

More particularly, in such a storage device for a magazine 2000 of watches, for its automatic charging, at least one watch 1 comprises a second groove 90 surrounding said second crown 9 and/or a second removable cap 91 arranged to grip the second crown 9 tightly, to allow the second crown 9 to be manipulated in a translational and/or rotational manner by the robotic manipulator 306. One variant comprises a driver, disc, ring or the like, coated with a suitable material suitable for friction driving, such as rubber, and placed in contact with the winding crown to rotate it.

Advantageously, at least one watch 1 of such a storage device for a watch magazine 2000 comprises a removable cap 41, 91 for a watch, the internal contour of which is complementary to the external contour of a crown 4, 9 or of an actuator 10 (push-button or pull-rod or the like) comprised in the watch 1, said removable cap 41, 91 being hinged and/or elastically deformable between a first setting position (first presentation position) in which the removable cap 41, 91 can be inserted radially or frontally onto the crown 4, 9 or actuator 10, and a second clamping position in which the removable cap 41, 91 can grip the crown 4, 9 or actuator 10 tightly longitudinally or radially. And, the removable cap 41, 91 comprises an external gripping means 11, which external gripping means 11 in its second gripping position is arranged to allow manipulation in all degrees of freedom by the robotic manipulator 306. Such removable cap also forms means of protecting the crown when the watch is not in use, and its simplicity makes it particularly low-cost, so that the user can advantageously place the cap systematically on the crown when changing the watch.

The invention enables the management of watch collections by two levels of intervention: firstly correcting for large fast/slow variations by the action of the robotic manipulator on the crown of the watch, and secondly maintaining and fine-adjusting the watch, in particular a plurality of watches, on a winder carrying a support equipped with a fast/slow corrector oscillator and advantageously a running time difference corrector oscillator, which may be the same oscillator as the previous one.

Naturally, both automatic winders and robotic manipulators equipped with travel-time differences and/or fast/slow corrector oscillators are able to perform the first and second level of correction, but the advantage of combining both is: one or the other of these devices is not improperly implemented for a particular watch or the other.

To this end, the fast/slow control means 302 of the generic preparation device are also arranged to manage the duration of time each rack 305 is occupied by each watch 1 of the storage means for the watch magazine 2000 and advantageously comprise an interface with a computer-aided production management system for managing the plan for moving the respective watch 1 on the respective rack 305, which is particularly advantageous in the case of preparing watches before factory shipment or in after-sales services or in the main sales premises.

These control means preferably make self-diagnostics to advise after-market dispatch if necessary, for example to reset fast/slow or correct maximum oscillation amplitude, or to achieve other purposes. This advice or warning is easily implemented by a display on a set of LEDs or the like.

In a particular variant, these control means are arranged to be connected to a GPS or similar signal, in particular for determining the ground position of the watch and the local time zone.

In the latter sales location case, the universal priming device 1000 has the advantage of being very versatile, since it is not dependent on the watch manufacturer, who may have different displays and oscillators set for different frequencies.

The private collectior can therefore also have a single device, which allows him to keep a wide variety of collectibles in the best possible condition of availability, in the best possible condition of accuracy, and at a low price compared to his investment in a timepiece.

Claims (14)

1. Universal preparation device (1000) for preparing a watch (1) comprising a first crown (4) for fast/slow correction and an oscillating resonator (2) set to produce oscillations at a nominal frequency N0, said universal preparation device (1000) comprising fast/slow winding and correction means for winding and for correcting said watch (1) comprising at least one robotic manipulator (306) for operating said first crown (4), characterized in that said universal preparation device (1000) comprises adjustment means comprising at least one fast/slow correction device (300) for correcting said watch (1), said fast/slow correction device (300) comprising a fast/slow correction device (300) set to produce oscillations at a correction frequency NC and subjecting said watch (1) to oscillations and/or modulated movements of said correction frequency NC -a positive oscillator (301), said fast/slow correction device (300) comprising fast/slow control means (302), said fast/slow control means (302) being arranged to control the oscillation of said fast/slow correction oscillator (301) and to interact with fast/slow measurement means (303) for measuring the fast/slow of said watch (1) comprised in said universal preparation device (1000); the fast/slow correction device (300) comprises an automatic winder (304) for a mechanical or automatic watch and comprises at least one watch-adjusting stand support (305), the watch-adjusting stand support (305) being subjected to oscillations and/or movements generated by the fast/slow corrector oscillator (301).

2. Universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said fast/slow control means (302) are further arranged to control the excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator (201) at an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to said nominal frequency N0 or an integer multiple thereof, said master oscillator (201) having a master running difference variation AM with respect to a reference (202) lower than an initial running difference variation DI of said watch (1) with respect to said reference (202), and said fast/slow control means (302) interacting with running difference measuring means (203) comprised in said universal preparation device (1000) for measuring the running difference variation of said watch (1).

3. Universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 2, characterized in that the same oscillator constitutes both the fast/slow corrector oscillator (301) and the master oscillator (201).

4. Universal priming device (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that said automatic winder (304) for mechanical or automatic watches is motorized and can automatically wind an automatic watch by moving said watch (1) and its pendulum and/or by magnetically driving its pendulum.

5. Universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one robotic manipulator (306) is arranged to manipulate a first removable cap (41) tightly gripping said first crown (4), or is arranged to grip a peripheral groove (40) comprised in said first crown (4).

6. Universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said automatic winder (304) comprises at least one said robotic manipulator (306) to charge an energy storage means (5) comprised in said watch (1) by manipulating said first crown (4), or a second crown (9) dedicated to winding, or a first removable cap (41) gripping tightly said first crown (4), or a second removable cap (91) gripping tightly said second crown (9).

7. The universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said universal preparation device (1000) comprises a reference clock (1001) to which said fast/slow measuring device (303) comprising a vision system (1002) is referenced; -if the fast/slow with respect to the reference clock is less than one minute, the fast/slow control means (302) are arranged to generate at least one oscillation of the fast/slow corrector oscillator (301) to return the fast/slow of the watch to the value of the reference clock (1001), or, if the fast/slow with respect to the reference clock is greater than one minute, to cause a robot manipulator (306) to manipulate the first crown (4) to adjust the fast/slow of the watch (1).

8. Universal preparation device (1000) according to claim 2, characterized in that said travel time difference measuring means (203) comprise at least one microphone (1003) for estimating the frequency, travel time difference and amplitude of said oscillating resonator (2); and, if a variation in the travel time difference is observed to be greater than a predetermined threshold, the fast/slow control means (302) are arranged to control at least one excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator (201) at the excitation frequency NE to return the travel time difference variation to a value intermediate between the master travel time difference variation AM and the initial travel time difference variation DI.

9. Watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000), comprising a universal priming device (1000) according to claim 1, at least one watch (1) having a time base comprising at least one oscillating resonator (2), means for fast/slow correction via a control stem provided with said first crown (4), energy storage means (5) or barrel, and energy charging means (6), characterized in that, for automatic adjustment of fast/slow, each said watch (1) of said watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) advantageously comprises a first groove (40) surrounding said first crown (4) and/or a first removable cap (41) arranged to tightly grip said first crown (4), to allow manipulation of said first crown (4) in translation and/or rotation by means of a robotic manipulator (306).

10. The watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) according to claim 9, characterized in that said charging means (6) are formed by an automatic winding mechanism comprising at least one swing-top (7) and/or by a manual winding mechanism using said control stem or by a winder (8) comprising a second crown (9) or push-button.

11. The watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) according to claim 10, characterized in that for automatic charging at least one of said watches (1) comprises a second groove (90) surrounding said second crown (9) and/or a second removable cap (91) arranged to tightly grip said second crown (9) to allow manipulation of said second crown (9) in translation and/or rotation by means of a robotic manipulator (306).

12. Watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) according to claim 9, characterized in that said charging means (6) are formed by an automatic winding mechanism comprising at least one wheel set located inside the case of said watch (1) and arranged to be driven in a contactless manner by contactless driving means comprised in said automatic winder (304) or in said cradle (305), or by a magnetic or electrostatic field.

13. The watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of said watches (1) comprises a removable cap (41, 91) for a watch having an internal profile complementary to the external profile of a crown (4, 9) or of an actuator (10) comprised in said watch (1), said removable cap (41, 91) being hinged and/or elastically deformable between a first setting position in which said removable cap (41, 91) can be inserted radially or frontally onto said crown (4, 9) or said actuator (10) and a second clamping position in which said removable cap (41, 91) can grip tightly said crown (4, 9) or said actuator (10) longitudinally and/or radially, and the removable cap (41, 91) comprises external gripping means (11), the external gripping means (11) being arranged in the second gripping position to allow manipulation by the robotic manipulator (306) in all degrees of freedom.

14. Method for adjusting the speed of the watch (1) of the watch storage device for a watch magazine (2000) according to claim 9, characterized by identifying the first removable cap (41) suitable for the first crown (4) of the watch (1); -pulling out said first crown (4); -fitting said first removable cap (41) on said first crown; -placing the watch (1) on the stand (305) of the universal priming device (1000); -performing an action on a control device (18) to activate said fast/slow measuring device (303) and measure the fast/slow of said watch (1); and adjusting the fast/slow of the watch (1) by means of the robotic manipulator (306) controlled by the fast/slow control means (302).