Method for Decorating Watch Component, Watch Component, Watch Movement, and Watch
20210402513 · 2021-12-30
Inventors
- Atsuhiko SUGITA (Suwa, JP)
- Ai YOSHINAGA (Shiojiri, JP)
- Yuki TAKISHITA (Shiojjiri, JP)
- Wataru UEHARA (Matsumoto, JP)
Cpc classification
G04B45/0015
PHYSICS
B23K26/082
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G04D3/0069
PHYSICS
G04B19/10
PHYSICS
B23K26/364
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B23K26/082
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B44C1/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A method for decorating a dial includes deeply digging and forming a first groove by repeatedly scanning, in a predetermined scanning direction, a place where laser light is applied to a base material. In the scanning, a depth of the first groove is controlled by the number of irradiation times that the laser light is applied. An area where a depth of the first groove is shallow and an area where a depth of the first groove is deep are present according to the number of irradiation times.
Claims
1. A method for decorating a watch component made of metal, comprising deeply digging and forming a groove by repeatedly scanning, in a predetermined scanning direction, a place where laser light is applied in the watch component, wherein, in the scanning, a depth of the groove is controlled by the number of irradiation times that the laser light is applied, and an area where a depth of the groove is shallow and an area where a depth of the groove is deep are present according to the number of irradiation times.
2. The method for decorating a watch component according to claim 1, wherein processing is performed so that an angle formed between a side surface of the groove and an optical axis of the laser light is smaller in an area where a depth of the groove is deep than in an area where a depth of the groove is shallow.
3. The method for decorating a watch component according to claim 1, wherein the groove includes a plurality of grooves extending in the predetermined scanning direction, and an interval between bottoms of two of the grooves adjacent to each other is constant.
4. The method for decorating a watch component according to claim 3, wherein an interval between the bottoms of the grooves is from 0.025 mm to 0.075 mm, and a cross-sectional shape of the groove in a direction that intersects the predetermined scanning direction is a fine needle shape.
5. A watch component, wherein a plurality of grooves processed by laser light are provided at a metal base material, and the grooves have an area where a depth of the groove is shallow and an area where a depth of the groove is deep, and 0<B≤6×A, wherein a width of the groove is A and a depth of the groove is B.
6. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein an angle formed between aside surface of the groove and a normal line direction of a front surface of the base material is smaller in an area where a depth of the groove is deep than in an area where a depth of the groove is shallow.
7. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein the groove includes a plurality of first grooves that do not intersect each other, and a plurality of second grooves that do not intersect each other, and the first grooves and the second grooves intersect each other.
8. The watch component according to claim 7, wherein the first grooves and the second grooves are orthogonal to each other.
9. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein a width of the groove is from 20 μm to 30 μm.
10. The watch component according to claim 8, wherein, for each of the first grooves and the second grooves, an interval between bottoms of two of the grooves adjacent to each other is constant.
11. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein the groove includes third grooves that do not intersect each other, and fourth grooves that do not intersect each other, and a depth of the third grooves and a depth of the fourth grooves are different.
12. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein a material of the base material is any of brass, pure iron, stainless steel, and nickel silver.
13. The watch component according to claim 5, wherein a metal film is provided at the front surface of the base material.
14. A watch movement comprising the watch component according to claim 5.
15. A watch comprising the watch component according to claim 5.
16. A watch, wherein the watch component according to claim 15 is any of a dial, a train wheel bridge, a magnetic shield plate, a main plate, and a reception component.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
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[0016]
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[0028]
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0029] As illustrated in
[0030] A dial 5 serving as a circular and flat metal watch component is disposed on the back surface side of the cover glass 3. A graduation is disposed on the front surface side of the dial 5. In plan view of the dial 5, a hand shaft 6 is disposed at the center of the dial 5. A seconds hand 7, a minute hand 8, and an hour hand 9 are attached to the hand shaft 6. Hereinafter, the seconds hand 7, the minute hand 8, and the hour hand 9 are hands. The hand shaft 6 is formed of three rotary shafts to which the seconds hand 7, the minute hand 8, and the hour hand 9 are attached. The cover glass 3 is transparent, and the dial 5 and the hands are visible through the cover glass 3.
[0031] On the back surface side of the dial 5, a movement 11 is housed as a watch movement. The movement 11 includes a main plate 12 serving as a watch component, and a reception component 13 serving as a watch component. A train wheel mechanism 14 is disposed between the main plate 12 and the reception component 13. A step motor 15 is disposed on the main plate 12. A magnetic shield plate 16 serving as a watch component is disposed on the back surface side of the step motor 15. A battery that supplies power to the step motor 15 is disposed between the main plate 12 and the case back 4. The case back 4 is transparent, and the reception component 13 and the magnetic shield plate 16 are visible through the case back 4.
[0032] As illustrated in
[0033]
[0034] The first groove 18 will be described by using
[0035] An interval between the first bottoms 19 adjacent to each other is a pitch 23. The pitch 23 is preferably equal to or greater than 0.025 mm and is equal to or less than 0.075 mm. Furthermore, the pitch 23 is preferably 0.035 mm. When the first groove depth 18a is set deeper, the dial 5 can reduce lightness of light 20 reflected by the first groove 18. In the present embodiment, the pitch 23 is constant.
[0036]
[0037] When the first groove 18 is shallow in such a manner as the groove 22a in the first stage, a first angle 26 formed between a tangent line of a side surface 18b and a normal line direction 17b of the front surface 17a is great. For example, when a position of the side surface 18b is assumed to be a first comparison place 18e moved by 174 of a width of the first groove 18 in the X direction from the first bottom 19, a tangent line of the side surface 18b in the first comparison place 18e is used for comparison. At this time, the light 20 applied to the side surface 18b easily advances toward an opening 18c of the first groove 18. As the first groove 18 becomes deeper, the angle formed between the tangent line of the side surface 18b and the normal line direction 17b of the front surface 17a becomes smaller.
[0038] For example, when the first groove 18 is deep in such a manner as the groove 22f in the sixth stage, a sixth angle 27 formed between the tangent line of the side surface 18b and the normal line direction 17b of the front surface 17a is smaller than the first angle 26. At this time, the light 20 applied to the side surface 18b easily advances toward the first bottom 19. Thus, when the first groove 18 is shallow, the first groove 18 appears bright, and the first groove 18 appears darker as the first groove 18 becomes deeper.
[0039] According to the configuration of the dial 5, the light 20 applied to the first groove 18 is reflected by the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 and advances to the first bottom 19. When a depth of the first groove 18 is deep as compared to a case in which the depth is shallow, the number of times that the light 20 reaching the first bottom 19 is reflected by the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 when returning to the opening 18c is greater. As the light 20 reflected by the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 has a greater number of reflection times, the light 20 is absorbed by the side surface 18b, and thus the light 20 is less likely to return to the opening 18c. Thus, when a depth of the first groove 18 is deep as compared to a case in which the depth is shallow, the reflected light 20 becomes weaker, which makes it darker. Since the first grooves 18 include portions varying in the first groove depth 18a, the first grooves 18 can include a portion where the intensity of the reflected light 20 is strong and a portion where the intensity is weak. Since the first groove depth 18a gradually changes from a shallow area to a deep area, the dial 5 can perform rich representation having gradual shades of color. Note that, in addition to the first groove depth 18a being gradually changed from a shallow area to a deep area, representation having a variety of lightness can be performed by, for example, alternately providing regions having a deep groove depth and a shallow groove depth and by varying a ratio of regions having a deep groove depth and a shallow groove depth per unit area.
[0040] 0<B≤6×A, wherein the first groove width 18d is A and the first groove depth 18a is B. For example, when A=25 μm, 0 μm<B≤150 μm. The first groove width 18d is preferably equal to or greater than 20 μm and equal to or less than 30 μm. When the first groove width 18d is less than 20 μm, the number of the first grooves 18 per unit length is increased. Since the number of times that the laser light 21 is applied when the first groove 18 is formed is increased, productivity is poor. When the first groove width 18d exceeds 30 μm, a width of the laser machining groove increases and an interval for providing a lightness difference increases, and thus fine design representation becomes difficult.
[0041] According to the structure of the dial 5, 0 μm<B, and thus the first groove 18 has a shape being recessed from the front surface 17a. When B>6×A, darkness of the first groove 18 is not different from that when B=6×A. Therefore, by setting B≤6×A, effort to form the first groove 18 can be reduced.
[0042] The angle formed between the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 and the normal line direction 17b of the front surface 17a of the base material 17 is smaller in the area where the first groove depth 18a is deep than in the area where the first groove depth 18a is shallow.
[0043] According to the structure of the dial 5, the first groove 18 at a place where an angle formed between the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 and an optical axis 21a of the laser light 21 is greater has greater intensity of the light 20 reflected toward the Z positive direction than the first groove 18 at a place where the angle is smaller. Therefore, a place where the first groove depth 18a is shallower can be made brighter, and a place where the first groove depth 18a is deeper can be made darker.
[0044] A method for manufacturing the first groove 18 will be described by using
[0045]
[0046] Note that the YAG laser is infrared light, but the laser light 21 having a wavelength of green or purple shorter than that of infrared light may be used. A cross-sectional shape of the first groove 18 that is finer can be made into a fine needle shape. A diameter of the condensation portion 21h on which the laser light 21 is condensed is preferably equal to or greater than 5 μm and equal to or less than 60 μm. Furthermore, a diameter of the condensation portion 21h is preferably equal to or greater than 20 μm and equal to or less than 30 μm. Furthermore, a diameter of the condensation portion 21h is preferably 25 μm. The first groove 18 having a cross-sectional shape that the light 20 is less likely to be reflected can be formed. A diameter of the condensation portion 21h indicates a length in a plane orthogonal to the traveling direction of the laser light 21. When a cross section of the condensation portion 21h is an ellipse, an average diameter acquired by averaging a long axis and a short axis is assumed to be a diameter of the condensation portion 21h.
[0047] As illustrated in
[0048] As illustrated in
[0049] As illustrated in
[0050] In this way, a depth of the first groove 18 is controlled by the number of irradiation times that the laser light 21 is applied. The number of irradiation times in an area where the first groove depth 18a is deep is greater than the number of irradiation times in an area where the first groove depth 18a is shallow.
[0051] According to a method for decorating the dial 5, the first groove 18 is formed by irradiation of the laser light 21 having a pulse of a duration of less than 1 picosecond. There are a place having a greater number of times that the laser light 21 is applied and a place having a smaller number of times that the laser light 21 is applied. The first groove 18 is formed deeper at the place having a greater number of times that the laser light 21 is applied than at the place having a smaller number of times that the laser light 21 is applied. Therefore, the first grooves 18 have a deep place and a shallow place, and thus the method for decorating the dial 5 can form a portion where the intensity of the reflected light 20 is strong and a portion where the intensity is weak.
[0052] In the method of JP-T-2015-514582, the first groove 18 in a 10-th stage is formed while the pitch 23 is 0.01 mm and a movement speed of the laser light 21 to be applied is 100 mm/sec. At this time, the time for processing 1 mm2 is 10 seconds. Lightness L* of the light 20 reflected by the base material 17 is 19.4. Note that the lightness is a value obtained by reproduction processing for comparison with the present exemplary embodiment. In the method according to the present exemplary embodiment, at the time when the first groove 18 having 25 stages is formed while the pitch 23 is 0.035 mm and a movement speed of the laser light 21 to be applied is 1000 mm/sec, the time for processing 1 mm2 is 1.43 seconds. When processing is reproduced under the processing condition of JP-T-2015-514582, the lightness L* of the light 20 reflected by the base material 17 is 12.7. In this way, a low reflection surface is formed in a short time. A value of the lightness L* described above is a measurement result of a colorimetric value (incident angle 45°). The same holds true for the lightness L* used hereinafter.
[0053] As illustrated in
[0054] According to the method for decorating the dial 5, the first groove 18 at a place where the angle formed between the side surface 18b of the first groove 18 and the optical axis 21a of the laser light 21 is greater has greater intensity of the light 20 reflected toward the Z positive direction than the first groove 18 at a place where the angle is smaller. Therefore, a place where the first groove depth 18a is shallower can be made brighter, and a place where the first groove depth 18a is deeper can be made darker.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0055] As illustrated in
[0056] The second groove 31 will be described by using
[0057] According to this configuration, since the first groove 18 and the second groove 31 include portions varying in depth of the groove, the first groove 18 and the second groove 31 can include a portion where the intensity of reflected light 20 is strong and a portion where the intensity is weak. An appearance of shades of color changes depending on a viewing direction when the second groove 31 is not provided and only the first groove 18 is provided. Since the first groove 18 and the second groove 31 intersect each other, the dial 5 can reduce a change in shades of color due to the viewing direction.
[0058] According to this configuration, the first groove 18 and the second groove 31 are orthogonal to each other. By disposing the dial 5 on the XY table and forming the first groove 18 and the second groove 31, the first groove 18 and the second groove 31 can be easily formed.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0059]
[0060] The third groove 40 will be described by using
[0061] A depth of the third groove 40 is a third groove depth 40a. A depth of the fourth groove 41 is a fourth groove depth 41a. A depth of the fifth groove 42 is a fifth groove depth 42a. The fourth groove depth 41a is deeper than the third groove depth 40a. The fifth groove depth 42a is deeper than the fourth groove depth 41a. Therefore, the depth of the third groove 40 and the depth of the fourth groove 41 are different.
[0062] According to this configuration, the third groove depth 40a and the fourth groove depth 41a are different. Therefore, light 20 reflected by the third groove 40 and the fourth groove 41 can have different intensities. As a result, rich representation having gradual shades of color can be performed by changing a depth of the groove.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0063]
Fifth Exemplary Embodiment
[0064]
[0065] As indicated by the first data line 76 to the fourth data line 79, the lightness L* changes stepwise in a range of a depth of the groove of 25 μm to 50 μm. In this way, a material of the base material 17 can be applied to any of brass, pure iron, stainless steel, and nickel silver. The base material 17 of brass, pure iron, stainless steel, and nickel silver can have a place where the intensity of the light 20 reflected by the first groove 18 is different.
Sixth Exemplary Embodiment
[0066]
[0067] The “3 direction” indicates a case of a layout of the first groove 18 illustrated in
[0068]
[0069] As illustrated in
Seventh Exemplary Embodiment
[0070]
[0071] When a material of the base material 17 is brass, pure iron, stainless steel, and nickel silver, the lightness L* of the light 20 to be reflected can be set equal to or less than 20.
Eighth Exemplary Embodiment
[0072] In the first exemplary embodiment, the first groove 18 is formed by using the laser light 21. A metal film may be provided on the front surface 17a of the base material 17. The metal film can be easily formed by plating. The metal film may also be formed on the first groove 18. According to this configuration, a color tone of the front surface 17a of the base material 17 can be changed. This content can also be applied to the second exemplary embodiment to the eighth exemplary embodiment.
Ninth Exemplary Embodiment
[0073] The first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 describe above are disposed in the dial 5. The first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 described above may be disposed in a watch component of the movement 11. In other words, a watch component of the movement 11 may include the first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39. According to this configuration, the watch movement 11 can include a watch component having a place where the intensity of the light 20 reflected in a region including the first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 is different. In this way, a variety of lightness representations can be achieved, and design of the watch component can be enhanced.
Tenth Exemplary Embodiment
[0074] The first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 described above may be disposed in a watch component other than the dial 5. According to this configuration, the watch 1 can include a watch component having a place where the intensity of the light 20 reflected in a region including the first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 is different. In this way, a variety of lightness representations can be achieved, and design of the watch component can be enhanced.
Eleventh Exemplary Embodiment
[0075] The first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 described above may be disposed in any of the dial 5, a train wheel bridge, the magnetic shield plate 16, the main plate 12, the reception component 13, a crown, and the like that are watch components. According to this configuration, the dial 5, the train wheel bridge, the magnetic shield plate 16, the main plate 12, the reception component 13, the crown, and the like can have a place where the intensity of the light 20 reflected in a region including the first groove 18, the second groove 31, and the groove 39 is different. In this way, a variety of lightness representations can be achieved, and design of the watch component can be enhanced.