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US3677793A - Method for producing dials - Google Patents

Method for producing dials Download PDF

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Publication number
US3677793A
US3677793A US9326A US3677793DA US3677793A US 3677793 A US3677793 A US 3677793A US 9326 A US9326 A US 9326A US 3677793D A US3677793D A US 3677793DA US 3677793 A US3677793 A US 3677793A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
dials
mask
dial
hour
hour symbols
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US9326A
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter Blosch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Liss SA
Original Assignee
Liss SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Liss SA filed Critical Liss SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3677793A publication Critical patent/US3677793A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D3/00—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
    • G04D3/0002—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials for mechanical working other than with a lathe
    • G04D3/0043—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials for mechanical working other than with a lathe for components of the time-indicating mechanisms
    • G04D3/0048—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials for mechanical working other than with a lathe for components of the time-indicating mechanisms for dials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/10—Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D3/00—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
    • G04D3/0069—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials for working with non-mechanical means, e.g. chemical, electrochemical, metallising, vapourising; with electron beams, laser beams

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method for producing dials of which the ground or plate and hour symbols are made in one piece of plastic material.
  • Dials of this type are known of which the ground or plate and thehour symbols are metallized. Usually the ground or plate is coated with silver while the hour symbols are coated with gold or chrome. Since the problem of providing a sufficiently accurate and reliable mask and of an economic production of such a mask could not be solved in a satisfactory manner up to now, the plate was usually coated with silver and afterwards the hour symbols were produced with a gold coating by means of a transfer printing process or a gold-coloured aluminium foil was applied to the hour symbols by means of a thermopress.
  • This invention aims in providing an economic method for producing dials of plastic material having high-quality brilliant hour symbols.
  • This method is broadly characterized in that the side carrying the hour symbols of at least one master dial is completely covered with a masking material, whereafter this masking material is separated from the master dial and is removed within reach of the hour symbols until apertures of a shape corresponding to the 'shape of the hour symbols are formed, whereafter the so produced mask is repeatedly applied to the side carrying the hour symbols of dials with the walls dening said apertures closely mating the hour symbols of such dials, a coating being vapour-deposited onto the unmasked por'- tions of the hour symbols of each dial while a mask is applied thereto.
  • the dials are moulding of the dials by injection or stamping of plastic material in their final form with facets, whereafter the whole front side of the dial may be metallized in a ⁇ rst colour, for instance with silver, whereafter the mask may be applied and according to the form of the mask the uncovered portion of the hour symbols, namely either the faceted upper surface thereof only or the whole hour symbols may be metallized in another colour, for instance with gold or chrome.
  • thev masks are electrolytically deposited on the master dials.
  • the master dials may be taken from a standard manufacturing series of dials so that the masks for thisA series'are fully adapted in shape to the dials of his series.
  • FIGS. 1 ⁇ to 5 illustrate steps of the manufacturing example, 'A
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a first modification
  • FIG. 7 a second modification
  • FIG. 1 shows a' dial of the series to be manufactured in sections.
  • the ground or plate 1 of the dial is injectionmoulded or stamped of plastic material in one piece with the hour symbols 2 which may be faceted at their upper surface in any desired manner.
  • the dial ground has an annular protecting rim 3 with upwardly extending orienting pins 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 1 these orienting pins may be of different diameter. Alternatively more than two orienting pins may be provided in predetermined geometric disposition. As an example, three pins may be disposed in the corners of an irregular triangle.
  • the dial of plastic material shown in FIG. 1 is now metalized by vapour deposit at its upper side provided with the hour symbols, Whereafter a copper layer of about l mm. thickness is electrolytically deposited. In this Way the stage -shown in FIG. 2 with a copper layer 6 is obtained.
  • the dial of plastic material shown in FIG. 1 is now metalized by vapour deposit at its upper side provided with the hour symbols, Whereafter a copper layer of about
  • FIG. 3 wherein the worked copper layer is still assembled with the master dial.
  • the master dial is now solved in a suitable solvent for plastic material so that the copper mask 6 shown in FIG. 4 remains.
  • Any suitable plastic material may be used Afor the dial and any solvent well known in the art for this plastic material may be used for :solving the dial. It has apertures 2', 4 and 5 of which the shape exactly corresponds to the shape of the hour symbols Z, and pins 4 and 5 respectively.
  • This mask is now slightly etched in a chemical etching agent in order to remove f'oo to yoo of a millimeter, whereby apertures 2', 4 and 5 are slightly widened.
  • a vapour deposit of 2 to 3p. of gold or nickel is applied to each mask produced as described above, according to the lat-ter use of the masks, that is, according to the metal to be applied to dials masked by such masks.
  • the so prepared masks may be applied easily and with very small clearance to injection-moulded or stamped plastic dials as shown in FIG. 5, the form of such dials corresponding exactly to the form of the dial shown in FIG. 1.
  • the orienting pins 4 and 5 of the dial first enter into the orienting apertures 4 and-5 of the mask whereby the mask is precisely oriented in a predetermined position above the dial. Only now the hour symbols 2 of the dial may enter into the corresponding apertures 2 of the mask, and since such apertures are preciselyoriented the hour symbols cannot be damaged.
  • a metal coating for instance of nickel, chrome or gold is vapour-deposited on the unmaskedupper surface of the hour symbols.
  • the other portions of the dial surface previously coated with another metal, for instance silver are completely protected by the mask. In this way, a two-colour dial is obtained having for instance a silver ground and hour symbols coated with gold, nickel or chrome.
  • the same mask may be used several times. Assuming that about 0.1; of metal is vapour-deposited on each dial, the mask may be used about times until a layer of about IAO() mm. additionally deposited Yon the mask begins'to hinder applyingof themask onto dials. However, this additional metal deposit ⁇ may be removed from the mask in a suitable etching bath. If the mask serves for vapour depositing gold it is initially coated with nickel or is'made electrolytically from nickel. In this case the gold coating applied to the mask during vapour-coating of dials may electrolytically be removed in concentrated sulphuric acid wherein the nickel surface of the mask is not attackedrlf the mask is used for vapour-depositing chrome or nickel onto the dials, the mask is initially provided with a gold coating.
  • nickel kor chromeis vapour-deposited on the hour symbols of masked dials the layer of any one of these metals deposited on vthe mask may periodically be removed in a suitable etching bath, for instance in nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, wherein the gold-coated surface of the mask is not attacked.
  • the mask illustrated in FIG. 4 has apertures 2 of a -depth practically equal to the height of the. hour symbols 2 ofthe dial so that the side surfaces of the hour symbols are masked and the vapour-deposit of metal is only applied to the top surface of the hour symbols.
  • the mask is faced off to a very small thickness within reach of the hour symbols as shown in FIG. 6, in which case the side surfaces of the hour symbols are also metallized.
  • This mask may have a thickness in the order of 5A00 to 1/10 of a millimeter.
  • a mask of suicient rigidity it may galvanically be produced in a soft nickel bath and stifening ribs may be soldered to it.
  • the depth of apertures 2 of the mask may substantially exceed the height of the hour symbols 2 of the dial to be produced, as shown in FIG. 7. In this way an even higher masking effect is obtained for the side surfaces of the hour symbols for preventing any trace of metalization of such surfaces.
  • FIG. 7 also illustrates that the mask metal above the orienting pins 4 and 5 must not necessarily be removed so that dry holes are obtained instead of apertures 4 and 5.
  • other apertures of the mask corresponding to parts or symbols of the dial, such as calendar windows, trademark signs and the like may be provided.
  • the master dial has somewhat lower hour symbols than the dial to be produced.
  • the original dial illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used for deposition of the mask thereon whereby only the higher portions of the original metal deposit must be turned olf to the desired level in order to obtain the desired depth of the apertures 2 of the mask.
  • a mask of plastic material might also be formed on a suitable master dial.
  • a method for producing dials of which the plate and hour symbols are made in one piece of plastic mas,677v,793 d hterial wherein the side carrying the hour symbols of at least one master dial is completely covered with a masking material, whereafter the master dial is removed from said masking material and said masking material is worked off within reach of the hour symbols until apertures of a shape corresponding to the shape of the hour symbols are formed, whereafter the so produced mask is repeatedly applied to the side carrying the hour symbols of dials with the walls defining said apertures closely mating the hour symbols of such dials, a metal coating being vapourdeposited onto the unmasked portions of the hour symbols of each dial while a mask is applied thereto.
  • dials and master dials are produced with a rim portion surrounding said plate, whereby this rim portion is provided with orienting pins, said masking material being also applied to said rim portion and orienting pins respectively for producing orienting holes herein where said orienting pins engage the masking material.
  • a method according to claim 8 wherein gold is vapour-deposited and masks of nickel or coated with nickel are used, the gold coating on such masks being periodically removed electrolytically in concentrated sulphuric acid.
  • a method according to claim 8 wherein chrome or nickel is vapour-deposited and a mask coated with gold is used, the chrome or nickel coating on the masks being periodically etched away in hydrochoric acid.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
US9326A 1969-02-17 1970-02-06 Method for producing dials Expired - Lifetime US3677793A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH234069A CH507542A (de) 1969-02-17 1969-02-17 Verfahren zur Herstellung von Zifferblättern

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3677793A true US3677793A (en) 1972-07-18

Family

ID=4231515

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US9326A Expired - Lifetime US3677793A (en) 1969-02-17 1970-02-06 Method for producing dials

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3677793A (de)
CH (2) CH234069A4 (de)
DE (1) DE2003999B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2033342A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4022928A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-05-10 Piwcyzk Bernhard P Vacuum deposition methods and masking structure
US4579708A (en) * 1983-10-17 1986-04-01 American Greetings Corporation Molding of resinous embossing elements for greeting cards
US9952559B2 (en) 2013-08-05 2018-04-24 Dolce & Gabbana S.R.L. System for fastening gems to a watch dial and a watch provided with such a system for fastening gems

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1821561A (en) * 1928-06-22 1931-09-01 Wadsworth Watch Case Co Method of decorating watch dials, etc.
FR1165224A (fr) * 1957-01-15 1958-10-20 Fluckiger & Cie Procédé pour la fabrication de cadrans avec signes en creux ou en relief
CH344374A (fr) * 1959-01-26 1960-01-31 Huguenin & Cie Procédé de fabrication d'un cadran à signes en relief dorés
DE1191592B (de) * 1960-12-19 1965-04-22 Continental Elektro Ind Ag Verfahren zur Herstellung von Zeichen-, insbesondere Teilungs-Traegern
CH408791A (fr) * 1964-02-01 1965-11-15 Lapidor Sa Procédé de fabrication d'un cadran d'horlogerie en matière plastique transparente, et cadran obtenu par la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé
USB509825I5 (de) * 1965-11-26

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4022928A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-05-10 Piwcyzk Bernhard P Vacuum deposition methods and masking structure
US4579708A (en) * 1983-10-17 1986-04-01 American Greetings Corporation Molding of resinous embossing elements for greeting cards
US9952559B2 (en) 2013-08-05 2018-04-24 Dolce & Gabbana S.R.L. System for fastening gems to a watch dial and a watch provided with such a system for fastening gems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH234069A4 (de) 1970-12-31
CH507542A (de) 1970-12-31
DE2003999B2 (de) 1972-07-13
DE2003999A1 (de) 1970-08-20
FR2033342A1 (de) 1970-12-04

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