JP2010223891A - Method of manufacturing pointer for timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing the pointer for a timepiece having a cubic massive feeling of a curved surface shell round shape combined with high-class texture, and also possessing high visibility. <P>SOLUTION: The method of manufacturing the pointer for the timepiece is adopted, consisting of the first step of implementing continuous press working of a flat metal strip material followed by forming a sheath hole, bleaching out an outer shape, and finally producing a flat pointer blank, the second step of implementing polishing of the top face of pointer blank with elastomer tools to round off and chamfer the outline contour edge line of the pointer blank, and the third step of forming a coated top layer with plating and coating of the surface of pointer blank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a timepiece manufacturing method, a timepiece hand, and an analog display timepiece.

  Needless to say, the basic performance required of a watch is to display an accurate time. However, in general, a watch is required to have both a beautiful appearance and a high-quality texture as furniture and decoration.

  In particular, a wristwatch is both a tool for knowing the time and an accessory, and it must have a beautiful appearance and high-quality texture. It is no exaggeration to say that the product value is determined by this. Wristwatches are not just tools for knowing the time, they are accessories worn with attachments to express and insist on as well as fashion clothing. There are many consumers who are particular about it, and there is a constant demand for better products for the beauty of the appearance and the high quality texture.

  Watch exterior components that make up the appearance of an analog display type watch include a case with a built-in clock driver, a dial with a time scale of hour, minute, second, hands such as an hour hand, minute hand and second hand indicating the time scale, dial And windshield to protect the pointer. In wristwatches, there is also a band for mounting the watch on the wrist. Since these timepiece exterior members determine the quality of the appearance of the timepiece, naturally, the appearance is required to have beauty and luxury texture.

  For this reason, various ingenuity has been proposed for imparting a beautiful appearance and high-quality texture to watch exterior members such as watch cases, dials, hands, windshields, and bands.

  Regarding the pointer, as a manufacturing method for the purpose of providing a high-quality pointer with a curved surface shape (carapace shape) and a three-dimensional feeling, the tip of the watch is pressed by a male outer die having a curved convex shape at the tip. A manufacturing method including a step of simultaneously performing the curved surface forming process and the outer shape redrawing process has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  The manufacturing method of the timepiece pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 will be described below.

  The method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 is a method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer that continuously presses a metal strip to form a hook hole. It is characterized by comprising two steps, a third step, and a fourth step.

  The manufacturing method of the timepiece pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 includes a first process, a second process, a third process, and a fourth process described below as a first process, a second process, a third process, and a fourth process. By passing through the order of the steps, a pointer having a curved surface shape (carapace shape) on the upper surface is obtained.

  A 1st process is a process of giving surface finishing, such as buffing and a diamond cut, to the part of a strip | belt material containing a hook hole.

  In the second step, the part of the band material including the hole is pressed by a press external punching die having a male die having a curved tip at the tip, and curved surface forming processing of the watch hands and external shape pulling back processing are performed. It is a process performed simultaneously.

  The third step is a step of forming a coating finish layer by plating, painting, or the like on the surface of the band member including the hook for the watch, the curved surface forming process, and the timepiece pointer whose outer shape has been pulled back.

  The fourth step is a step of removing the watch hands from the band material on which the coating finish layer is formed.

  Of the above first step, second step, third step, and fourth step, the step of imparting a curved surface shape (carapace shape) to the pointer is the second step.

  In the second step, the means for imparting a curved surface shape (carapace shape) to the pointer is to use a press outer shape male die having a curved convex shape at the tip for a press-back process of the shape outside the pointer. In the second step, the outer shape of the needle is pulled back and pressed, and at the same time, the convex curved surface provided at the tip of the male die with the outer shape of the press is struck (embossed) on the pointer, so that the curved surface of the pointer (round shape) Has been transferred.

  As described above, according to the timepiece pointer manufacturing method proposed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to impart a curved surface shape (carapace shape) to the upper surface of the pointer.

JP-A-1-317646

  However, in the method in which the convex curved surface provided at the tip of the press-extruded male die is struck (embossed) on the pointer, there is a springback due to the elastic deformation of the pointer, so it is provided at the tip of the press-extruded male die. There is a problem that the curvature does not match the curvature of the convex curved surface, and only a curved surface shape having a larger curvature than the convex curved surface provided at the tip of the male die without the press outer shape can be obtained.

  In order to give a more three-dimensional effect, the curvature of the convex curved surface provided at the tip of the male die without the press outer shape may be made smaller, and the curvature of the curved surface shape (round shape) to be transferred to the pointer may be made smaller. In general, the pointer has an elongated shape, and the width is smaller than the length. Therefore, it is difficult to transfer and impart a curved surface having a small curvature.

  Further, FIG. 10 of Patent Document 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the pointer manufactured by the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 described above. Further, the side surface of the pointer is a vertical fractured surface that has been punched, and a ridge line (corner) is formed at the boundary between the side surface of the pointer and the upper surface of the convex curved surface.

  Considering what the presence or absence of the three-dimensional effect of the pointer is, the presence or absence of the three-dimensional effect is whether the height difference between the vertex of the upper surface of the pointer on the convex curved surface and the ridge line can be visually observed. There is also a problem that the height difference can only be a small dimension less than the thickness dimension of the pointer material.

  Due to the above problems, there is a slight three-dimensional effect when compared with a flat pointer that does not have a convex curved upper surface. There was a problem that only a guideline in a state where it was unsatisfactory even if it could not be obtained, and it could be obtained in reality.

In addition, in the method for manufacturing a watch pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 described above, the surface of the band material that becomes the upper surface of the pointer is finished by buffing or diamond cutting in the first step. The surface finished by diamond cutting or the like is in a mirror state. Then, in the subsequent second step, the strip material that has already been mirror-finished is pressed with a male outer die having a curved convex shape at the tip, and the outer shape extraction processing of the pointer and the curved surface forming processing are performed simultaneously. At this time, the pointer is plastically deformed by the curved surface forming process, and fogging due to the influence of plastic deformation (the surface is stretched) occurs on the mirror-finished surface that is the upper surface of the pointer. That is, even if the upper surface of the band material, which becomes the upper surface of the pointer in the first step, is finished with a high-quality and beautiful mirror surface, the mirror surface of the upper surface of the pointer may become cloudy depending on the curved surface forming (plastic) processing in the second step. .

  In the subsequent third step, a coating layer is formed by plating, painting, etc., but there was also a problem that the final finish of the pointer was damaged by the influence of fogging of the base .

  For this reason, in the timepiece pointer that is one of the watch exterior members that require a beautiful appearance and a high-quality texture, the pointer obtained by the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer proposed in Patent Document 1 is used. Further, there has been a demand for a material that combines a three-dimensional feeling of a curved surface shape (a round shape) and a high-quality texture.

  In addition, in order to realize a timepiece hand that has such a beautiful appearance and a high-quality texture, it has also been desired to propose a manufacturing method thereof.

  Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to meet the above-described demands, and even in a timepiece hand whose thickness dimension is limited thinly by design, a curved surface that is thicker than before. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a timepiece hand that has a three-dimensional solid feeling and a high-quality texture and has high visibility.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece hand that has a three-dimensional profound feeling and a high quality texture produced by the method for producing a timepiece handpiece of the present invention and has high visibility.

  Furthermore, the present invention has a three-dimensional profound feeling produced by the method for producing a timepiece for a timepiece according to the present invention and a high-quality texture, and also has a high-visibility timepiece for the time reading. It is also an object to provide an analog display timepiece.

  In order to achieve the above object, the method for manufacturing a timepiece for a timepiece according to the present invention includes a first step of producing a flat pointer blank by continuously pressing a flat metal band material to form a hole and removing an outer shape. And the second step of rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank by polishing the upper surface and the outer side of the pointer blank produced in the first step with an elastic tool, and the outer contour edge in the second step And a third step of forming a coating finish layer by plating or painting on the surface of the rounded chamfered pointer blank.

  Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing the timepiece hand of the present invention, the elastic tool is a polishing pad made of a nonwoven fabric sheet material, a foamed polyurethane sheet material, or a laminate of these materials.

  Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing a timepiece hand of the present invention, the elastic tool is a buffing wheel made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt.

  The timepiece hand of the present invention is characterized by rounding and chamfering an outer contour edge.

  The analog display type timepiece of the present invention is characterized by comprising a timepiece hand with a rounded and chamfered outer contour edge.

  As described above, in the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer of the present invention, the upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank are polished with an elastic tool in the second step, and the outer contour edge of the pointer blank is rounded and chamfered. Thus, the boundary ridge line between the upper surface and the side surface of the pointer blank disappears, and the upper surface and the side surface of the pointer blank become a convex curved surface connected to one.

  In this case, the thickness of the pointer blank corresponds to the convex amount of the convex curved surface as it is. That is, unlike the conventional method (the pointer manufactured by the method for manufacturing a watch pointer of Patent Document 1), the entire thickness dimension of the pointer blank is visually recognized as a three-dimensional effect (a level difference between the apex and the skirt of the convex curved surface). That is why.

  Therefore, a three-dimensional convex curved surface (circle shape) that is thicker than before is formed, and as a result, it is possible to manufacture a timepiece hand that has a three-dimensional feeling and a high-quality texture.

  In the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer of the present invention, the elastic tool for polishing the upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank in the second step (rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank) is a non-woven sheet material or a foamed polyurethane sheet. The polishing pad is made of a material or a laminate of these materials, but when the upper surface of the pointer blank is pressed against the surface of these elastic tools and polished, the surfaces of these elastic tools are elastically deformed. Accordingly, the upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank can be polished simultaneously, and the outer contour edge of the pointer blank is rounded and chamfered by natural polishing sagging.

  Therefore, in the second step, the elastic body tool for polishing the upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank (rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank) is composed of a nonwoven fabric sheet material, a polyurethane foam sheet material, or a laminate of these materials. It is preferable to use a polishing pad, and as a result, it is possible to produce a timepiece hand with a three-dimensional feeling and a high-quality texture.

  Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing the timepiece pointer of the present invention, the elastic tool for polishing the upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank in the second step (rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank) is a laminate of circular fabrics, It is characterized by a buffing wheel made of disc-like felt, but when the upper surface of the pointer blank is pressed against the surface of these elastic tools, the elastic tool follows the outer shape of the pointer blank. The upper surface and the outer side surface of the pointer blank are deformed at the same time, and the outer contour edge of the pointer blank is rounded and chamfered by natural polishing sagging.

  Therefore, in the second step, a buffing wheel made of a laminated body of circular fabric or a disc-like felt is used for an elastic tool for polishing the upper surface and outer side surface of the pointer blank (rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank). This is preferable, and as a result, it has become possible to manufacture timepiece hands having a three-dimensional profound feeling and high-quality texture.

The timepiece hand of the present invention is characterized by rounding and chamfering the outer contour ridge line by the method for manufacturing a timepiece hand of the present invention. It has become a watch hand that has a three-dimensional profound feeling and high-quality texture. Depending on the three-dimensional profound feeling more than before, visibility has improved more than before, and it has become a watch pointer with high visibility. As a result, it combines a three-dimensional profound feeling and luxury texture,
In addition, it is possible to provide a timepiece hand having high visibility.

  The analog display timepiece of the present invention is characterized in that it has a timepiece hand having a contour edge that is rounded and chamfered by the timepiece manufacturing method of the present invention. It is a watch hand with a higher visibility than before because it has a feeling. By providing an analog display type timepiece with a highly visible timepiece for the timepiece, it has become possible to provide an analog display type timepiece having excellent time readability.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a timepiece hand pointer that has a three-dimensional solid feeling of a curved surface shape (carapace shape) and a high-quality texture, and has high visibility as compared with the prior art. Became possible. In addition, it has become possible to provide a timepiece hand that combines a solid curved surface shape (round shape) with a three-dimensional solid feeling and high-quality texture, and also has high visibility. Furthermore, it has become possible to provide an analog display timepiece that is more time readable than in the past.

It is explanatory drawing which shows preparation of the minute hand blank 100 for wristwatches in the 1st process by the manufacturing method of the pointer for timepieces of this invention. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG.1 (3). Explanatory drawing which shows the state which bonded and fixed the minute hand blank 100 to the grinding | polishing jig 200 with the hot-melt wax 201 in order to grind the several minute hand blank 100 in the 2nd process by the manufacturing method of the timepiece pointer of this invention. It is. It is YY sectional drawing of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the grinding | polishing process of the minute hand blank 100 in the 2nd process by the manufacturing method of the pointer for timepieces of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the grinding | polishing processing local part of the minute hand blank 100 in the 2nd process by the manufacturing method of the timepiece pointer of this invention shown in FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the minute hand blank 100 after grinding | polishing in the 2nd process by the manufacturing method of the timepiece pointer of this invention shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the grinding | polishing process of the minute hand blank 100 in the 2nd process by the manufacturing method of the pointer for timepieces of this invention.

  In the production of hands for an analog display type timepiece (hour hand, minute hand, and second hand), a method of sequentially performing the first step, the second step, and the third step is adopted as described below.

First, in the first first step, a flat metal strip is continuously pressed to form a hook hole and to remove an outer shape, thereby producing a pointer blank having a flat upper surface.
The hook hole is a hole that fits into a shaft for turning the pointer in the timepiece driving body, and is a hole for attaching the pointer to the timepiece driving body.

  In the second step, following the first step, the upper surface of the pointer blank produced in the first step is pressed against the surface of the elastic tool supplied with the abrasive, and the elastic tool and the pointer blank are relative to each other. The pointer blank is polished.

At this time, by pressing the upper surface of the pointer blank against the surface of the elastic tool, the surface of the elastic tool is elastically deformed and recessed following the outer shape of the pointer blank, and the pointer blank sinks into the elastic tool surface. When the pointer blank sinks to the surface of the elastic tool, the ridgeline (corner) formed by the upper surface, outer shape side surface, and both surfaces of the pointer blank slides in contact with the surface of the elastic tool supplied with the abrasive. The upper surface and the outer side surface of the outer shape are polished at the same time, and the corners of the outer contour edge are smoothly rounded (rounded and chamfered).

    In the third step following the second step, a coating finish layer is formed by plating or painting on the surface of the pointer blank whose outer contour ridge line is rounded and chamfered in the second step, thereby manufacturing a completed pointer.

  The hands (hour hand, minute hand, second hand) manufactured through the first step, second step, and third step described above are assembled by assembling the pointer rotation shaft of the timepiece and the hook hole, To manufacture.

  Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an embodiment in which a minute hand for a wristwatch is manufactured by a method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer according to the present invention.

  In the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer according to the present invention, first, in a first step, a flat metal strip is continuously pressed to form a hook hole and to remove an outer shape, so that the top surface of the pointer is flat. Prepare a state pointer blank.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the production of a minute hand blank 100 for a wristwatch in the first step by the method for manufacturing a timepiece hand of the present invention.

  In the first step, the flat brass strip 10 shown in FIG. 1 is successively pressed successively to produce a minute hand blank 100 having a flat top surface. It is as follows.

  The first press working site is shown in FIG. The first press working part is a pilot hole 11, and the band material 10 is drilled. The pilot hole 11 is used to determine the relative position between a press die (not shown) and the band material 10 when the successive press processing of each part following the pilot hole drilling is sequentially performed. It is used for press working.

  The second press working site is shown in FIG. The second press-worked part is a hole 101a of the hook hole 101, and the band material 10 is punched. Note that the diameter of the hole 101a at this stage is made smaller than the diameter at the time of completion of the minute hand blank, and the diameter of the hole 101a is finished by the third press work performed subsequently.

  The third press working site is shown in FIG. The third press-worked portion is a hook-like portion 101b of the hook-like hole 101. The periphery of the hole 101a formed in the band material 10 by the second press-working is plastically deformed, and the hook-like portion is formed on the lower surface 10a side of the band material 10. The portion 101b is formed into a cylindrical shape, and at the same time, the diameter of the hole portion 101a is finished to a finished dimension.

  In FIG. 1 (3), the hook part 101b is located in a hidden place and cannot be shown. Therefore, the XX cross section of FIG. 1 (3) is shown in FIG. 2, and the hook part 101b is shown. FIG. 2 is a view showing the shape of the hook part 101b, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1 (3).

  It should be noted that the diameter of the hole portion 101a was intentionally made smaller than that in the completed state at the time of the second press processing, so that the surplus material of the material was left to form the hack portion 101b by the third press processing. Because it was necessary to keep.

  The cylindrical hook part 101b is provided in order to ensure sufficient fixation when the wristwatch is assembled by fitting the hook hole of the minute hand to the minute hand rotating shaft of the wristwatch driver. In general, not only the minute hand of the wristwatch of this embodiment, but also the method of assembling and fixing the timepiece pointer to the timepiece driving body is generally a press-fitting and fitting assembly (pointer rotation) between the hook hole of the timepiece and the pointer rotation shaft of the timepiece driving body. (The hook hole diameter is smaller than the shaft diameter, and the hook hole tightens and fixes the pointer rotation shaft.) However, if the length of the press-fitting fitting is only the thickness of the pointer, the fixing force is weak and the fixing is insufficient. It becomes a state. Therefore, a hook part is provided in the hook hole of the watch pointer to increase the length of the press-fitting fitting, strengthening the fixing force with the pointer rotating shaft of the watch driving body, and ensuring a sufficiently reliable fixed state It is common to do.

  The fourth press-processed part is shown in FIG. The fourth press-worked site is the outer shape 100a of the minute hand blank 100, and the minute hand blank 100 is pulled out from the band material 10.

  As described above, in the first process, the first press process, the second press process, and the fourth press process are successively performed on the strip 10 in order, and the upper surface 100b shown in FIG. A brass minute hand blank 100 is prepared.

  In the second step, following the first step, the elastic tool and the minute hand blank 100 are placed in a state where the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 produced in the first step is pressed against the surface of the elastic tool supplied with the abrasive. The upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 is polished by being relatively slid.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which a plurality of minute hand blanks 100 are bonded and fixed to a polishing jig 200 with a hot melt wax 300 in order to polish the minute hand blanks 100 in the second step according to the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows. The minute hand blank 100 is bonded and fixed to the disc-shaped polishing jig 200 with the upper surface 100b to be polished facing upward. Needless to say, in the continuous pressing process of the first step, the minute hand blank 100 contaminated with the press working oil is cleaned and cleaned and then bonded and fixed to the disc-shaped polishing jig 200.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 3. The polishing jig 200 is provided with a hook portion relief hole 201, and the hook portion 101 b located on the lower surface side of the minute hand blank 100 is inserted into the hook portion relief hole. In the state of being submerged in 201, the minute hand blank 100 is bonded and fixed to the polishing jig 200 with hot melt wax 300.

  Hot melt wax 300 is a commercially available wax adhesive that is solid at room temperature, but melts and becomes liquid when heated to about 80 ° C.

  As a working method for bonding and fixing the minute hand blank 100 to the polishing jig 200 with the hot melt wax 300, a solid state is used on the polishing jig 200 heated to a temperature at which the hot melt wax 300 melts using a hot plate (not shown). After melting the hot melt wax 300 and placing the minute hand blank 100 thereon, the polishing jig 200 is cooled to room temperature. When the temperature of the polishing jig 200 is lowered to room temperature, the hot melt wax 300 returns to a solid state, and the minute hand blank 100 can be bonded and fixed.

  In addition, when the minute hand blank 100 is peeled from the polishing jig 200 after the minute hand blank 100 is polished in the second step, the hot melt wax 300 can be obtained by heating it again with a hot plate in the same manner as in the adhesive fixing. Since it melts, it can be peeled off.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the polishing of the minute hand blank 100 in the second step by the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention, and is a polishing apparatus 40 of a type generally called a single lap type.
A state where 0 is used to polish the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 is shown.

  When polishing the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100, the polishing surface plate 402 with the elastic tool 401 attached to the upper surface is rotated counterclockwise (arrow A direction) by a motor (not shown).

  As the elastic body tool 401 to be attached to the upper surface of the polishing surface plate 402, a polishing pad made of a nonwoven fabric sheet material, a polyurethane foam sheet material, or a laminate of these materials is preferable.

  Specifically, in this example, a polishing pad (Supreme RN-H) commercially available from Nittah Haas was used as the elastic body tool 401.

  The elastic tool 401 is continuously drip-fed through a tube 601 by a polishing liquid 500 pump 600 containing abrasive grains 501. Note that the polishing liquid 500 containing the abrasive grains 501 is put in a bottle 602 and is constantly stirred by a stirrer 700 so that the abrasive grains 501 do not settle in the polishing liquid 500.

  In addition, the supply method of the polishing liquid in the method for manufacturing the timepiece hand of the present invention is not limited to the drip supply described above. The drip supply method described above is a polishing liquid supply method suitable for supplying a minimum amount of polishing liquid so as not to be wasted when a polishing liquid containing expensive abrasive grains such as diamond fine powder is used. A polishing solution that is commercially available in a bottle can be used as it is.

  When relatively inexpensive alumina fine powder is used as abrasive grains, a large amount of polishing liquid may be prepared and polished while flowing a large amount of jab jab onto the elastic tool. In this case, the polishing apparatus is provided with a recovery pipe in addition to the polishing liquid supply pipe to circulate the polishing liquid.

  When the polishing liquid is made by itself using alumina fine powder as abrasive grains, it is preferable to add 1 wt% to 3 wt% of the fine alumina powder and a soluble type water-soluble processing oil to pure water, respectively. In addition, as a soluble type water-soluble processing oil agent, STF-300 marketed from Neos is preferable.

  Further, a column 403 is provided on the polishing apparatus 400, and an L-shaped guide jig 404 is attached to the upper end of the column 403. Further, a pair of rollers 405 having an outer ring that can be rotated clockwise (in the direction of arrow B) are attached to the two tip portions of the guide jig 404. As for the arrangement of the rollers 405, the outer ring that can rotate in the clockwise direction (arrow B direction) of the rollers 405 is in contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the hollow cylindrical work carrier ring 406 placed on the elastic body tool 401, and the work carrier ring 406. The outer cylindrical surface is arranged so that the roller 405 receives it.

  The work carrier ring 406 is placed on an elastic tool 401 that rotates counterclockwise (arrow A direction), and at the same time, the outer cylindrical surface of the work carrier ring 406 can be rotated clockwise (arrow B direction). The position of the work carrier ring 406 on the elastic tool 401 is positioned by being received by the roller 405 with an outer ring.

When the elastic tool 401 rotates, on the upper surface of the elastic tool 401 that is in contact with the annular lower end surface of the work carrier ring 406, there is a difference in peripheral speed due to the difference in the radius of rotation between the inner part and the outer part. Arise. The rotational radius of the upper surface of the elastic tool 401 is naturally larger at the outer side than at the inner side, so that the peripheral speed of the outer side is probably faster than the peripheral speed of the inner side. When the circumferential speed difference between the inner and outer portions of the upper surface of the elastic tool 401, that is, the outer peripheral speed of the upper surface of the elastic tool 401 is faster than the inner peripheral speed, the work carrier ring 406 is counterclockwise ( The work carrier ring 406 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (arrow C direction) by applying a rotational force in the direction of arrow C). At this time, the outer ring that can rotate in the clockwise direction (arrow B direction) of the roller 405 serves as a guide for the work carrier ring 406 to rotate counterclockwise (arrow C direction).

  A polishing jig 200 to which the minute hand blank 100 is bonded and fixed is disposed inside the hollow cylindrical work carrier ring 406. As a matter of course, the polishing jig 200 is disposed in a state where the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 to be polished faces downward and the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 contacts the elastic body tool 401. Since this polishing jig 200 is placed on the elastic tool 401, it is moved counterclockwise (arrow A direction) by the counterclockwise rotation (arrow A direction) of the elastic tool 401, and the work carrier ring 406 is moved. The outer peripheral surface is pressed against the inner cylindrical surface. Since the work carrier ring 406 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (arrow C direction) as described above, the polishing jig 200 is also rotated in the counterclockwise direction (arrow D direction).

  As described above, the polishing jig 200 is disposed on the elastic tool 401, and the polishing jig 200 is held with the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 to be polished facing downward. The polishing jig 200 is rotated counterclockwise by a work carrier 406 that rotates counterclockwise (arrow C direction) on the elastic tool 401 rotating counterclockwise (arrow A direction). Therefore, the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 and the elastic tool 401 are relatively slidable, and the polishing liquid 500 containing the abrasive grains 501 is put on the upper surface of the elastic tool 401 by the pump 600 with the tube 601. Therefore, the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 is polished.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the main part of the polishing local part of the minute hand blank 100 in the second step by the method for manufacturing the timepiece hand of the present invention shown in FIG.

  In the polishing process of the minute hand blank 100 in the second step by the method for manufacturing a timepiece hand of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the load of the polishing hand 200 and the weight of the minute hand blank 100 itself cause the minute hand blank 100 to move. The upper surface 100 b is pressed against the surface of the elastic tool 401. According to this, the surface of the elastic tool 401 is elastically deformed and recessed following the outer shape of the minute hand blank 100, and the minute hand blank 100 is sunk into the surface of the elastic tool 401. The outer side surface 100c is simultaneously polished.

  When the upper surface 100b and the outer side surface 100c of the minute hand blank 100 are simultaneously polished, the ridgeline (corner) 100d formed by the upper surface 100b and the outer side surface 100c is smoothly rounded (rounded chamfered).

  At this time, it goes without saying that in order to properly sink the minute hand blank 100 into the surface of the elastic tool 401, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the pressure for pressing the minute hand blank 100 against the surface of the elastic tool 401. As a specific method for adjusting the pressure, the load on the polishing jig 200 is increased or decreased according to the area of the surface to be polished (the number of minute hand blanks 100), or the surface to be polished according to the load on the polishing jig 200. Area (quantity of minute hand blank 100).

  As conditions for the polishing process, in addition to the pressure described above, adjustment of the polishing process time is also important. Depending on the length of the polishing time, the rounding chamfering degree of the outer contour edge of the minute hand blank 100 may become excessive or insufficient, and therefore the time for forming the optimal curved round shape should be determined.

  The importance of polishing pressure conditions and processing time conditions has been described above. However, these optimum values differ depending on the shape of the minute hand blank, so the preliminary conditions for determining the optimum conditions in advance for mass production of minute hands It is preferable to perform an experiment and set conditions.

  FIG. 7 shows an external perspective view of the minute hand blank 100 after being polished in the second step according to the method for manufacturing the timepiece hand of the present invention shown in FIG. Note that a simple perspective view drawn on a plane cannot fully represent the shape (bulge) of the curved surface 100e obtained by the above polishing process, so FIG. 7 shows contour lines E and auxiliary lines F representing ridges on the curved surface. It is. Needless to say, the contour line E and the auxiliary line F representing the ridge are not actually present on the minute hand blank 100 and are not visually recognized. It is a line entered for the purpose of assisting in expressing a curved surface in a perspective view.

  The top surface of the minute hand blank 100 that has been polished and the outer side surface form a curved surface 100e that is smoothly connected, and the appearance swells like water drops placed on a water-repellent lotus leaf. It becomes a round shape.

  Compared with the appearance of the pointer blank having a flat upper surface before polishing in the second step, the appearance after polishing clearly has a three-dimensional effect and a heavy feeling, and has a high quality texture. By increasing the three-dimensional feeling and the solid feeling, the visibility is improved as compared with the minute hand blank shown in FIG.

  In the timepiece pointer manufacturing method of the present invention, in the third step following the second step, a coating finish layer is formed on the surface of the pointer blank polished in the second step by plating, painting, etc. The finished product. The purpose is to finish the appearance color and give corrosion resistance.

  In the third step, it is needless to say that the coating finish layer is formed on the surface of the polished minute hand blank 100 by plating, painting, or the like, but as described above, the polishing jig 200 is heated with a hot plate. Then, the hot melt wax 300 is melted and the minute hand blank 100 is peeled off. Further, the peeled minute hand blank 100 is washed to remove the hot melt wax 300, and after the surface of the minute hand blank 100 is cleanly prepared, a coating finish layer is formed.

  For the minute hand blank 100 of this example, in the third step, gold or rhodium was wet plated to obtain a finished minute hand for a wristwatch.

  Since light is reflected at a reflection angle equal to the incident angle on a flat surface, the direction in which external light is reflected is limited to a narrow range, so the reflected light will shine brightly and be reflected in the eyes unless viewed from the line of sight. Absent.

  In contrast, the completed minute hand for a wristwatch obtained by the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention has a curved surface 100e formed by polishing in the second step. Because the reflection direction of the light varies depending on the position on the curved surface and the reflection angle range of the external light is widened, the reflected light from somewhere on the curved surface is seen by the eyes and shines locally, regardless of the direction of the line of sight . In addition, the fact that there is a part that appears to shine locally means that the other part also has a shadowed part, and the appearance with contrast is visually recognized.

  As a result, the completed minute hand for a wristwatch obtained in the above-described embodiment has a three-dimensional effect and a profound feeling, and has both a high-class feeling and high visibility.

As described above, according to the timepiece hand manufacturing method of the present invention, as in this embodiment, the curved surface shape (carapace shape) has a three-dimensional profound feeling and luxury texture, and also has high visibility. It has become possible to manufacture watch hands having the same.

  In this embodiment, when the polishing of the minute hand blank 100 in the second step is performed, as shown in FIG. 5, a single wrap type polishing apparatus 400 is used, and the elastic body tool 401 has a non-woven sheet. A polishing pad made of a material, a polyurethane foam sheet material, or a laminate of these materials was used. However, as a method of polishing the minute hand blank 100 in the second step, a table-type or floor-type free polishing device is used, and an elastic tool is a buffing wheel made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt. It is also preferable that

  The free polishing apparatus is a simple polishing apparatus that holds an object to be polished in hand and presses it against a disk-shaped tool that is driven to rotate to perform polishing.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the grinding process of the minute hand blank 100 in the second step by the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention, and a laminate of circular fabrics as an elastic tool using the desktop free grinding device 800. It is explanatory drawing of the method of grind | polishing using the buff grinding | polishing wheel 801 which consists of a disk-shaped felt.

  In FIG. 8, a desktop free polishing apparatus 800 has a built-in motor (not shown), and drives a spindle 802 to rotate. At the end of the spindle 802, a buffing wheel 801 made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt is mounted, and is driven to rotate together with the spindle. A commercially available solid buffing agent (not shown) containing alumina abrasive grains or the like is applied to the polishing work surface 801a of the buffing wheel 801. On the other hand, the polishing jig 900 is different in shape from the disc-shaped polishing jig 200 shown in FIG. 3, but has a hook portion relief hole like the polishing jig 200, and similarly the hot melt wax 300. A plurality of minute hand blanks 100 are bonded and fixed.

  Holding the polishing jig 900 to which the minute hand blank 100 is bonded and fixed in hand, the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 is applied to the polishing work surface 801a of the buffing wheel 801 which is coated with a solid buffing abrasive and is driven to rotate. Is applied to the upper surface 100 b of the minute hand blank 100.

  At this time, the buffing wheel 801 made of a laminated body of circular fabrics or a disc-like felt is a soft tool, so the object to be polished is polished according to the shape of the object to be polished. In polishing the minute hand blank 100, the upper surface 100b and the outer side surface 100c are simultaneously polished in accordance with the shapes of the upper surface 100b and the outer side surface 100c of the minute hand blank 100, and a ridge line (corner) formed by the upper surface 100b and the outer side surface 100c is formed. ) There is an effect of smoothly rounding 100d (rounding chamfering).

  Depending on this effect, similarly to the result of polishing by the polishing method shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 100b of the minute hand blank 100 and the outer side surface 1000c become one curved surface smoothly connected. Then, similarly to the minute hand blank 100 shown in FIG. 7, the minute hand blank 100 having a rounded and rounded appearance is obtained.

  As a result, even if the buffing wheel 801 made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt is used as an elastic body tool for polishing the minute hand blank 100 in the second step in the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the invention, It has become possible to manufacture timepiece hands that have a three-dimensional profound feeling and a high-quality texture and also have high visibility.

Therefore, it is also preferable to use a buffing wheel made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt as the elastic tool for polishing the pointer blank in the second step of the timepiece pointer manufacturing method of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the method of manufacturing the minute hand for a wristwatch has been described. However, the hands to be manufactured are not limited to the minute hand, and the hour hand and the second hand can be manufactured by the method for manufacturing a timepiece for a timepiece according to the present invention. Needless to say.

  In the present embodiment, the minute hand for a wristwatch is described from the brass band material 10, but the pointer may be manufactured from a band material other than brass. A second hand for a wristwatch is generally manufactured using an aluminum material having a lighter specific gravity than a brass material.

  The hands manufactured by the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention can be any hour hand, minute hand, second hand, and similarly, the curved surface shape (carapace shape) has a three-dimensional profound feeling and high quality texture. High visibility.

  In the above-described embodiment, the minute hand having a rhombus outer shape and a relatively simple shape design has been illustrated and described. However, the outer shape of the pointer manufactured by the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer of the present invention is limited to the rhombus. Instead, it is possible to deal with a wide variety of external shape pointers other than the diamond shape.

  In addition, the variety of design variations of hands produced by the method for producing timepiece hands according to the present invention is not limited to being compatible with a wide variety of external shapes, but can also be applied to the following design variations. It is.

  For example, in the first step of the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention, the flat metal strip 10 is continuously pressed to produce a flat hand blank 100. In this first step, the upper and lower surfaces of the hand blank 100 are formed. After forming a coating finish layer by plating or painting in the third step, fill the hole (window) with luminescent paint, even in a dark place. It can be finished with a guideline with a visible nightlight design.

  Alternatively, in the first step in the timepiece manufacturing method of the present invention, the flat metal strip 10 is continuously pressed to produce a flat pointer blank 100, but the pointer is completed later before the first step is performed. If various patterns are provided by cutting engraving on the surface of the strip 10 which is the upper surface of the pointer, or if a groove which is the center line in the longitudinal direction of the pointer is provided, the curved surface shape (the former In addition to exhibiting a round shape, design guidelines having various patterns and center lines on the curved surface can be obtained. In this case, various patterns and centerline ridges provided in advance in the first process are also polished and smoothly rounded together with the shape outside the pointer in the second process to have various patterns and centerlines with a soft impression. Can be finished as a design guideline.

  In order to guide the design with various patterns and centerlines on the curved surface as well as exhibiting a curved surface shape (carapace shape), various patterns and centerlines are cut and engraved on the curved surface after the second step. It is also possible to do. In this case, unlike the case described above, the edges of the various patterns and the center line are not rounded by the polishing process, so the design guideline having various patterns and center lines with a clear impression on the curved surface is finished. be able to.

In addition, for example, in the third step of the method for manufacturing a watch hand of the present invention, a coating finish layer is formed by plating, painting, or the like, but after that, the coating finish layer by plating or painting in the third step has a color tone. It is also possible to print various patterns and center lines on the curved surface with different inks. In this case, it is possible not only to exhibit a curved surface shape (carapace shape) but also to create a pointer with a design having various patterns and center lines of different colors from the pointer main body on the curved surface.

  As described above, in the method for manufacturing a timepiece for a watch according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain various design variation hands, but in any case, the curved shape (carapace shape) is a three-dimensional profound feeling. And there is no change in obtaining a high quality texture and high visibility.

  And, by attaching and assembling the hands manufactured by the watch manufacturing method of the present invention, that is, the three-dimensional profound feeling, luxury texture and high visibility hour hand, minute hand, second hand, etc. on the analog display type watch In addition, we were able to obtain an analog display watch that had both a beautiful appearance and a high-quality texture, and also had excellent time readability.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a method for manufacturing a timepiece hand that has both a three-dimensional solid feeling of a curved surface shape (a round shape) and a high quality texture, and also has high visibility. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an analog display timepiece having both a beautiful appearance and a high-quality texture, and having excellent time readability.

10 Band material 10a Bottom surface of band material 11 Pilot hole 100 Minute hand blank 100a External shape of minute hand blank 100b Upper surface of minute hand blank 100c External side surface of minute hand blank 100d Ridge (corner)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100e Curved surface 101 Hack hole 101a Hack hole hole 101b Hack hole hole 200 Polishing jig 201 Hack hole relief hole 300 Hot melt wax 400 Polishing device 401 Elastic body tool 402 Polishing surface plate 403 Post 404 Guide jig 405 Roller 406 Work carrier ring 500 Polishing liquid 501 Abrasive grain 600 Pump 601 Tube 602 Bottle 700 Stirrer 800 Desktop free polishing apparatus 801 Buffing wheel 801a Polishing work surface of buffing wheel 802 Spindle 900 Polishing jig

Claims (6)

        In the method for manufacturing a watch pointer, a first step of forming a flat pointer blank by continuously pressing a metal band material to form a hook hole and removing an outer shape, and a pointer prepared in the first step And a second step of rounding and chamfering the outer contour edge of the pointer blank by polishing the upper surface of the blank with an elastic tool.         3. A timepiece manufacturing method comprising a third step of forming a coating finish layer by plating, painting or the like on the surface of a pointer blank whose outer contour ridge line is rounded and chamfered in the second step.         The method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic tool is a polishing pad made of a nonwoven fabric sheet material, a polyurethane foam sheet material, or a laminate of these materials.         3. The timepiece pointer manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tool is a buffing wheel made of a circular fabric laminate or a disc-like felt.         A timepiece indicating hand, which is formed by the method for manufacturing a timepiece pointer according to claim 1.         An analog display timepiece comprising the timepiece pointer according to claim 5.

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