Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
  • B29C64/10—Processes of additive manufacturing
  • B29C64/106—Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
  • B29C64/112—Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
  • B29C64/30—Auxiliary operations or equipment
  • B29C64/386—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
  • B29C64/393—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y50/00—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
  • B33Y50/02—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y80/00—Products made by additive manufacturing
• • 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
  • 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
  • G04B19/12—Selection of materials for dials or graduations markings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element and a system implementing such a method.
• the invention also relates to such a dial and a timepiece provided with this dial.
• the invention also relates to a computer program.
• timepiece dials are generally planar with only three-dimensional elements such as hour numerals and indexes placed at regular intervals around the periphery of these dials in order to facilitate the reading of the time relative to the angular position of the needles.
• the realization of appliques and indexes remains a complex process and puts them on a dial a tedious operation.
• document EP2452231 discloses a method of manufacturing a dial provided with three-dimensional elements at least partially coated with a decorative layer.
• the method consists in forming the dial and then selectively modifying the surface condition of the dial in order to locally change its adhesion to the decorative layer.
• the decorative layer is then deposited directly on the entire dial and finally the parts of the deposited layer that have not adhered to the dial are removed.
• EP2370865 describes a method of manufacturing a dial provided with three-dimensional elements consisting in producing a mask on a dial of a timepiece of a thickness corresponding to the desired thickness of the three-dimensional elements intended for decorate this dial, and having at least one opening. This mask is then placed against the dial with the opening disposed at the part of the part of the dial to be decorated in order to fill by hot forming the opening of the mask with an at least partially amorphous material. Finally the mask is removed to obtain the three-dimensional element on the dial of this timepiece.
• the method of conventionally manufacturing a dial blank, on which three-dimensional elements are applied generally involves several operations.
• a dial plate for example aluminum or brass, is first stamped to cut the outer contour, the central hole and depending on the type of movement or windows of the dial blank. This is followed by a softening operation using abrasive paper in order to remove the machining residues, a sanding operation of the surface and then a polishing operation using brushes equipped with a cotton disc. to obtain a perfectly smooth surface.
• a dial plate for example aluminum or brass
• a softening operation using abrasive paper in order to remove the machining residues
• a sanding operation of the surface and then a polishing operation using brushes equipped with a cotton disc.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method that allows the manufacture of a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element such as a decorative element or a relief pattern defined on a surface of this dial quickly and easily and which also helps to improve the large-scale production in an automatic and economical way of such dials.
• the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element, the method comprising the following steps:
• the manufacturing method makes it possible to produce a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element in a small number of operations which are of simple and rapid implementation.
• a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element in a small number of operations which are of simple and rapid implementation.
• the construction step comprises a sub-step of producing a dial blank comprising the phase of applying at least one layer of particles to the support element and the treatment phase of said at least one layer; printed particles;
• the construction step comprises a sub-step of producing at least one three-dimensional element comprising the phase of selective application, of at least one layer of at least one particle on said dial blank and the treatment phase; at least one layer of at least one particle;
• control unit to execute said at least one control instruction comprising layer descriptive data constituting said reference digital graphic representation to be reproduced;
• the application phases provide for the deposition of at least one ink comprising said at least one particle
• said ink comprises a fluid carrying said at least one particle or particles, the fluid being chosen from a solvent, a viscoelastic polymer, an oil, water and / or an aqueous solution;
• the processing phases comprise a sub-phase for fixing said layer on the dial blank or on the support element;
• the fixing phase provides for an exposure of the layer to a particularly hot air flow and / or to a luminous radiation, especially to ultraviolet or infrared radiation, and
• the particle is comprised in an ink such as a colored ink comprising pigmented or colored particles, or a colorless or transparent or translucent ink comprising colorless or transparent or translucent particles, or a functional ink comprising functional particles.
• an ink such as a colored ink comprising pigmented or colored particles, or a colorless or transparent or translucent ink comprising colorless or transparent or translucent particles, or a functional ink comprising functional particles.
• the invention also relates to a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element that can be obtained from such a method.
• the dial forms with said at least one three-dimensional element a monobloc piece.
• the invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such dial.
• the invention also relates to a system for manufacturing a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element implementing the method, the system comprising a printing device and a control unit, said printing device being connected to said control unit.
• control unit comprises hardware and software resources, said hardware resources comprising memory elements comprising at least one reference digital graphic representation relating to the dial to be manufactured and descriptive data relating to said at least one digital graphic representation of reference.
• the invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of the method when said program is executed by a control unit.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a dial manufacturing system comprising at least one three-dimensional element, according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a logic diagram relating to a method of manufacturing a dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element, according to the embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a timepiece comprising at least one dial, according to the embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a printing device of the system suitable for participating in the construction of a full-form dial blank, according to the embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5A represents a schematic view of the printing device of the system capable of participating in the construction of a skeleton-type dial blank, according to the embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5B represents a view from above of the skeleton-type dial blank, according to the embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5C represents a sectional view of FIG. 5B along the axis
• AA according to the embodiment of the invention
• - Figure 6, 7, 8 and 9 each show a view of an example dial obtained, according to the embodiment of the invention.
• the manufacturing system of a dial 11 of a timepiece 40 comprising at least one three-dimensional element 30 comprises a control unit 2 and a printing device 3.
• the dial 11 may be for example a solid-shaped dial or a skeleton type dial.
• the dial as well as the three-dimensional element that it comprises may be in color, multicolored, monochrome, transparent or translucent.
• the three-dimensional element 30 can comprise an Arabic or Roman numeral, an index or a wall mounted on the periphery of the dial.
• the dial comprising at least one three-dimensional element is formed from several layers applied to a support member, the layers being superimposed and each comprising at least one particle which is then printed on said support member.
• This particle otherwise called “useful particle” or “characterizing particle” is the one that characterizes the corresponding layer on at least one of the aspects of this layer, for example its nature, its texture, its character, its color, its hue, and / or its function, etc ... It is therefore understood that it is a particular particle of the layer, said layer may consist of a plurality of other types of particle different from “this useful particle”.
• control unit 2 is connected to the printing device 3 in order to control the device 3.
• the control unit 2 may be a computer or a microcontroller including hardware resources and software in particular at least one processor 4 cooperating with memory elements 5.
• This control unit 2 is able to execute instructions for the implementation of a computer program.
• the memory elements 5 comprise, in addition to the computer program, data relating to at least one reference digital graphic representation 9a to be reproduced relative to the dial 11, as well as descriptive data 9b relating to said at least one digital reference graphic representation 9a.
• a reference numerical graphical representation 9a comprises, for example, a three-dimensional reference 3D graphical representation or a 2D reference 2D graphical representation.
• the reference numerical graphical representation 9a is generated by a system design module 1 which is connected to the control unit 2 which may comprise a two-dimensional / three-dimensional scanning device, or by a software tool executed by the control unit 2 for virtual 2D / 3D modeling from photographs or images, or still allowing the design of a three-dimensional virtual digital object (for example computer-aided design software better known by the acronym CAO).
• a system design module 1 which is connected to the control unit 2 which may comprise a two-dimensional / three-dimensional scanning device, or by a software tool executed by the control unit 2 for virtual 2D / 3D modeling from photographs or images, or still allowing the design of a three-dimensional virtual digital object (for example computer-aided design software better known by the acronym CAO).
• Such a printing device 3 visible in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5A comprises a printing member 6, a fixing member 7 and a driving member 8.
• the printing member 6 comprises several entities of FIG. printing including inkjet print cartridges each cartridge comprising a print head 12a to 12d in the present embodiment a print head and at least one ink jet reservoir 12a to 12d.
• the ink comprises at least one particle that can be included in a fluid.
• a fluid is provided to ensure the transport of this said at least one particle on the support on which it must be deposited here a support member and the dial formed during its ejection of the cartridge.
• Such a fluid may be any body capable of providing this transport.
• This fluid may be chosen in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner from a solvent, a viscoelastic polymer, an oil, water and an aqueous solution.
• this fluid is a non-polymerized liquid phase viscoelastic polymer fluid which is preferably photopolymerizable.
• said at least one particle can be deposited on this support without requiring such a fluid to ensure its transport.
• the cartridges of this printing member 6 may comprise inks such as for example:
• a colored ink comprising pigmented or colored particles, or
• a colorless or transparent or translucent ink such as a lacquer, comprising colorless or transparent or translucent particles, or
• a functional ink comprising functional particles and which is selected from the group consisting of an electroluminescent ink, a phosphorescent ink, photoluminescent ink, a conductive ink, a semiconductor ink, an electroactive ink, a magnetic ink, a photochromic ink, electrochromic ink, thermochromic ink, ionochrome ink and mechanochromic ink.
• a layer consisting of at least one functional particle and / or at least one colored or pigmented particle, and / or at least one colorless or transparent or translucent particle, may present in a non-exhaustive manner and not limiting:
• CMYK system fundamental colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow and black
• such a printing device 3 is also able to participate in the manufacture of such a dial 11 with low resolution or with a high resolution that may be greater than or equal to 2400 dpi (pixels per inch).
• the drive member 8 is able to cause the displacement of the printing member 6 in different directions with respect to a support element of the system 1 on which it is likely to be manufactured.
• This support element which is able to scroll in front of the print heads 12a to 12d, may for example take the form of a non-adhesive sheet and lubricated so that the dial 11 can be easily detached once its manufacture is complete.
• the fixing member 7 it is intended to ensure the attachment of a layer of at least one particle or particles on the support element, or on a first layer or initial layer already present on this component. watchmaker 10.
• This fastener 7 comprises a module capable of emitting ultraviolet UV and / or infrared radiation and / or an air flow, in particular a flow of hot air.
• This module is able to generate radiation or an air flow over all or part of a mounting area of the support element on which the dial 11 may be built.
• the module is a photo-polymerization module provided with a source of UV ultraviolet radiation and which is therefore able to generate UV radiation on all or part of the mounting area of the surface of the support member on which the dial 11 can be constructed.
• Such a system 1 is able to implement a method of manufacturing a dial 11 comprising at least one three-dimensional element 30 shown in FIG.
• This method comprises a generation step 41 of at least one digital reference graph 9a.
• this reference numerical graphical representation 9a may be produced from a three-dimensional digitization or else from the execution by the control unit 2 of virtual 2D / 3D modeling software a virtual three-dimensional digital object (for example computer-assisted design software better known by the acronym CAO).
• this reference numerical graphical representation 9a is archived in the format of a digital data file in the memory elements 5 of the control unit 2. In other words, such a file comprises relative information data. to the numerical graphical representation of reference 9a.
• the method then provides a step 42 for determining descriptive data 9b relating to said digital reference graphic representation 9a.
• a step 42 is implemented by the control unit 2 and thus makes it possible to determine descriptive data 9b that notably participate in selecting the type or types of inks necessary for producing the dial 11 on the mounting zone of the supporting member as well as the direction of movement of the printing member 6 relative to the mounting area.
• a processing of this file and in particular information data relating to the reference digital graphic representation 9a is then carried out by implementing in particular a digital division / cutting process of this graphical representation 9a into at least two layers according to:
• - longitudinal direction that can be horizontal, vertical or oblique.
• control unit 2 determines characteristic elements of each layer obtained such that:
• each layer it may be for example for each layer, of a thickness, length width, surface, a volume, etc ...;
• the dial 11 provided with at least one three-dimensional element 30 and which are linked, for example, to:
• photoluminescence for example a reaction to ultraviolet radiation
• each layer constitute the descriptive data 9b relating to the digital graphical representation of reference 9a which are stored in the memory elements 5 of the control unit 2.
• the manufacturing method of this dial 11 also comprises a selection step 43 of the reference numerical graph 9a to be reproduced on the mounting area of the support member to form the dial 11 having at least one three-dimensional element 30. During this selection step 43, it is then possible to choose this reference numerical graphical representation 9a from a human-machine interface (HMI) connected to the control unit 2.
• HMI human-machine interface
• the method then provides a generation step 44 by the control unit 2 of at least one control command for controlling the printing device 3, said at least one instruction for reproducing the digital reference graphic representation. 9a.
• This generation step 44 of said at least one control instruction is carried out from the descriptive data 9b relating to the constituent layers of the reference digital graphic representation 9a to be reproduced.
• Said at least one instruction comprises criteria for controlling the printing device 3 and in particular the printing member 6 and the fixing member 7. These criteria include data relating to
• ink flow ejected from the printheads 12a to 12d in particular the number of drops ejected for reproduction of at least one dimension and / or visual / aesthetic / structural aspects and / or functional characteristics of each layer of the numerical graphical representation of reference 9a.
• the method comprises a step of building 45 by jet of at least particles from the printing device 3 of at least two superimposed layers comprising together particles printed on the support element, said layers forming the dial. 11 provided with at least one three-dimensional element 30.
• the particles are projected onto the support member.
• These particles can be included in the same nozzle or several different nozzles of the print head. It will thus be noted that we have previously mentioned that the particle may be deposited on the support by being included in a fluid or in a variant without requiring such a fluid to ensure its transport.
• Each printed particle is included in one of the functional, colored and / or colorless / transparent / translucent inks previously mentioned.
• a layer can be formed solely from at least one type of printed particle or from several different types of particles, namely functional, colored and / or colorless / transparent / translucent printed particles.
• This construction step 45 comprises a sub-step of producing a dial blank 10, 20.
• This dial blank 10, 20 has a generally flat surface which is therefore devoid of relief.
• This substep 46 comprises an application phase 47 of at least one layer of particles on the mounting area of the support element.
• This application of the layer can be carried out continuously or discontinuously.
• each particle may be a functional particle, colored and / or colorless / transparent / translucent. It is understood that this layer may comprise several different types of particle or not chosen from functional particles, colored or colorless / translucent / transparent.
• this sub-step of application provides an execution by the control unit 2 of said at least one control instruction comprising descriptive data of said reference numerical graphical representation 9a to be reproduced.
• the execution of said at least one instruction makes it possible to control in the context of the application of this layer, the deposition of at least one ink comprising the particles and possibly other inks comprising other functional particles, colored or colorless / translucent / transparent.
• Sub-step of embodiment 46 then comprises a treatment phase 48 of said at least one layer of particles directly succeeding the application phase 47. This phase of treatment 48 of said layer of particles comprises a sub-phase of attaching said particle layer to the support member.
• This sub-phase of fixing provides exposure of the particle layer to a particularly hot air flow and / or light radiation including ultraviolet (UV) or infrared radiation.
• This sub-phase of attachment thus aims to transform the layer of particles which is in the pasty or liquid state into a layer of at least one printed particle which is in the solid state, rigid, elastic, dry, crosslinked and / or infusible.
• the result of this transformation is the obtaining of a layer of particles printed on the support element. It will be noted that such a transformation has the advantage of being carried out very rapidly in general in less than one second.
• control unit 2 executes said at least one control instruction comprising descriptive data 9b of a constituent layer of said digital reference graphic representation 9a to be reproduced.
• the printing device 3 applies a first layer of particles, otherwise called initial layer, directly on the mounting area of the support member provided for this purpose according to said at least one control instruction executed.
• the deposition / application on the mounting zone of the layer of particles is carried out continuously.
• the first layer is then applied continuously to the mounting area during a first pass of the printing heads 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d above the support element producing and a first portion of the height of the dial blank 10.
• This first layer of particle then undergoes the sub-phase of fixing the treatment phase 48 during which the first layer is exposed to a particular air flow hot and / or light radiation including ultraviolet (UV) or infrared radiation.
• UV ultraviolet
• a second layer of particles may be continuously applied to the first layer of particles printed on the support member during a second pass of the printheads 12a to 12d at the above the mounting zone in order to make a second portion of the height of the dial blank 10.
• This second layer of particles also undergoes the sub-phase of fixing the processing phase 48 in order to transform this second layer into a second layer of particles printed on the first layer of particles printed on the support member.
• the application and treatment phases 47, 48 may be repeated a third time in order to obtain a dial blank 10 whose thickness is approximately 0.5 mm in order to ensure good mechanical stability of the 11.
• This operation can also be renewed a fourth, a fifth or even a sixth time depending on the thickness of the desired dial blank.
• the thickness of the solid dial blank 10 obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention can vary between 0.3 mm and 1 mm or more. Therefore, the number of printed particle layers may vary depending on the thickness of the dial blank 10. A minimum of two superimposed layers of printed particles is desirable to obtain a good mechanical strength of the dial 11 although it can not be excluded that a single layer of printed particles provides a satisfactory mechanical strength according to the properties of the inks used.
• sub-step 46 aimed at obtaining a skeleton-type dial blank (visible in FIGS. 5B and C)
• the deposit / application on the mounting area of the particle layer is formed so discontinuous.
• the first layer is then applied discontinuously to the mounting area during a first pass of the printing heads 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d above the support element producing and a first portion of the height of the dial blank 20.
• This first layer of particles then undergoes the sub-phase of fixing the treatment phase 48 during which the first layer is exposed to a particularly hot air flow and / or light radiation, in particular ultraviolet (UV) or infrared radiation.
• UV ultraviolet
• a second layer of particles may be applied discontinuously to the first layer of particles printed on the support member during a second pass of the printheads 12a to 12d at the above the mounting zone in order to make a second portion of the height of the dial blank 20.
• This second layer of particles also undergoes the sub-phase of fixing the processing phase 48 in order to transform this second layer into a second layer of particles printed on the first layer of particles printed on the support member.
• the application and treatment phases 47, 48 may be repeated a third time in order to obtain a dial blank 20 whose thickness is about 0.5 mm in order to ensure good mechanical stability of the 11.
• This operation can also be renewed a fourth, a fifth or even a sixth time depending on the thickness of the dial blank 20 desired.
• the thickness of the skeleton dial blank obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention can vary between 0.3 mm and 1 mm or more. Therefore, the number of printed particle layers may vary depending on the thickness of the dial blank 20. A minimum number of two superimposed layers of printed particles is desirable to obtain a good mechanical strength of the dial 11. it can not be ruled out that a single layer of printed particles provides satisfactory mechanical strength depending on the properties of the inks used
• the construction step then comprises a substep of embodiment 49 of at least one three-dimensional element 30.
• This substep 49 comprises a selective application phase 50 of a layer of at least one particle on said blank of dial 10, 20.
• This selective application of the said at least one layer makes it possible to create the three-dimensional element 30 so that it has a relief relative to a flat surface of the dial blank 10, 20. Otherwise said, this application of the layer is performed discontinuously on this dial blank 10, 20.
• the particle can be colored and / or functional and / or colorless / translucent / transparent. It is understood that this layer may comprise several types of particle chosen from colored particles, functional and or colorless / translucent / transparent.
• the sub-step of embodiment 49 then comprises a treatment phase 51 of said at least one layer of at least one particle succeeding directly to the application phase 50.
• This processing phase 51 comprises a sub-phase for fixing said layer of at least one particle on the dial blank 10, 20.
• This sub-phase of fixing provides exposure of the layer of at least one particle to a particularly hot air flow and / or light radiation especially to ultraviolet (UV) or infrared radiation.
• This sub-phase of attachment thus aims to transform the layer of at least one particle which is in the pasty or liquid state into a layer of at least one printed particle which is in the solid state, rigid, elastic, dry , crosslinked and / or infusible.
• the result of this transformation is the obtaining of a layer of at least one particle printed on the dial blank 10, 20. It will be noted that such a transformation has the advantage of being carried out very quickly in general in less than one second.
• the control unit 2 executes said at least one control instruction comprising descriptive data 9b of a constituent layer of said digital reference graphic representation 9a to be reproduced.
• the printing device 3 applies a first layer of at least one particle directly to the dial blank 10, 20 according to said at least one driving instruction executed.
• This first layer of at least one particle then undergoes the sub-phase for fixing the treatment phase 51 during which this first layer is exposed to a particularly hot air flow and / or to a luminous radiation, in particular to a radiation ultraviolet (UV) or infrared.
• UV radiation ultraviolet
• the printing device 3 can provide for the application of a second layer of at least one particle to the first layer of at least one printed particle already present on the dial blank 10, 20 and , according to said at least one driving instruction executed.
• This second layer of at least one particle also undergoes the fixing sub-phase of the treatment phase 51 in order to transform this second layer into a second layer of at least one particle printed on the first layer of at least one particle printed on the dial blank 10, 20.
• the three-dimensional elements 30 such as the Arabic numerals in FIGS. 6 and 7 or else the indexes in FIG. 8 are made by superposing several layers of at least one particle printed on specific areas of the blank of FIG. 10, 20 so as to have figures and indexes with a thickness greater than 100 microns so that they are visible to the naked eye by the wearer of a watch comprising the dial 1 1 obtained with the method according to the invention. 'invention.
• the superposition of three The layers of at least one printed particle are sufficient to give a relief to the dial 11.
• a method of manufacturing a dial 11 having a three-dimensional element 30 with a thickness of at least 100 microns by superimposing only two layers of at least one printed particle may be implemented.
• Figure 9 illustrates a dial 11 having a more pronounced three-dimensional element whose thickness can be obtained by superimposing four or five layers of at least one printed particle.
• the three-dimensional element 30 may comprise a pattern or an image sufficiently elevated with respect to the flat surface of the dial blank 10, so that it constitutes a relief decoration which is visible to the naked eye of the carrier of the timepiece 40 comprising the dial 11 made according to the method of the invention.
• the three-dimensional element 30 may especially be the hour digits (for example Arabic or Roman numerals), indexes or a drawing extending over the majority or part of the draft of dial 10, 20.
• each layer of at least one viscoelastic polymer fluid may have a thickness of between 10 and 150 microns, and is preferably 100 microns.
• the method may provide a possible step of depositing a layer of at least one colorless / translucent / transparent ink on the whole dial 11 or on parts specific dial 11 can be performed to have a matte or glossy rendering.
• this method comprises a step 52 of removing the dial 11 obtained from the support element of the system 1 before being conditioned to the cladding of a timepiece 40.
• the invention also provides a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of this method when said program is executed by the control unit 2.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=60702426

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (34)

• 2018
  • 2018-11-30 US US16/771,310 patent/US20200338809A1/en active Pending
  • 2018-11-30 EP EP18807646.7A patent/EP3729202A1/de active Pending
  • 2018-11-30 JP JP2020533054A patent/JP6987994B2/ja active Active
  • 2018-11-30 KR KR1020207017012A patent/KR102441114B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2018-11-30 CN CN201880082967.5A patent/CN111542786A/zh active Pending
  • 2018-11-30 WO PCT/EP2018/083083 patent/WO2019120933A1/fr unknown

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events