JP7488783B2 - Manufacturing method of decorative part, decorative part and watch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a decorative part, a decorative part, and a watch.

For example, decorative parts such as wristwatch bands and dials are often decorated. One example of this decoration is a hairline pattern, which is created by arranging many thin lines at close intervals to form grooves on the surface, creating a pattern created by the reflection of light (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The hairline pattern is created by scratching the surface of the decorative part with a tool such as a brush. However, processing using such tools tends to increase manufacturing costs because it requires many steps, such as masking, cleaning after processing to form the hairline pattern, and peeling off the masking material.

In place of the tools mentioned above, processing using laser light (laser processing) has been proposed. In laser processing, laser light is irradiated onto the surface of the decorative part, causing the irradiated surface to melt and sublimate, and the laser light is scanned to form grooves that extend along the scanning direction, thereby forming irregularities on the surface of the decorative part. Laser processing does not involve many steps, as does processing using tools such as brushes, and therefore can reduce manufacturing costs (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-221688 JP 2019-195979 A

By the way, the technology described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 can obtain a hairline pattern that has a texture similar to a hairline pattern formed with a tool such as a brush by overlapping multiple lines that are slightly different in the scanning direction of the laser light.

However, the laser processing described above only reproduces the texture of the hairline pattern created by tools such as brushes.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a method for manufacturing a decorative part whose surface is decorated with light and dark patterns, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same, and a decorative part and a watch whose surface is decorated with light and dark patterns, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same.

The first aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a decorative part that is decorated by forming a plurality of grooves extending linearly along the scanning direction on the surface of the decorative part by scanning with a pulsed laser light, and the plurality of grooves are formed at at least two different intervals, a relatively wide interval and a relatively narrow interval, to form a decoration with different light and dark depending on the difference in the intervals.

The second aspect of the present invention is a decorative part in which a plurality of grooves extending linearly along the scanning direction are formed on the surface by scanning with a pulsed laser light, and the plurality of grooves are formed at at least two different intervals, a relatively wide interval and a relatively narrow interval, and a decoration with different light and dark colors is formed according to the difference in the intervals.

The third aspect of the present invention is a watch having a decorative part according to the present invention.

The method for manufacturing decorative parts according to the present invention makes it possible to manufacture decorative parts with light and dark decorations on the surface, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same or different.

In addition, with the decorative part according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a decorative part with a light and dark decoration on the surface, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same or different.

In addition, with the watch of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a watch having a decorative part with a light and dark decoration on the surface, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same or different.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wristwatch band. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing only one center link of the band shown in FIG. 1, showing the state in which a gradation decoration is formed. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing grooves forming the gradation decoration shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which another gradation decoration is formed. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing grooves forming the gradation decoration shown in FIG. 4 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which another gradation decoration is formed. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing grooves forming the gradation decoration shown in FIG. 6 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which another gradation decoration is formed. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing grooves forming the gradation decoration shown in FIG. 8 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state in which a decoration with different light and dark colors has been formed. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing grooves forming the light and dark decoration shown in FIG. 10 .

Below, the embodiments of the decorative part manufacturing method, decorative part, and watch according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a wristwatch band 1, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing only one center link 12 of the band 1 shown in Figure 1.

The band 1 shown in the figure is worn by the user so that the longitudinal direction L is aligned with the circumferential direction of the wrist of the user of the watch. The band 1 is configured with outer links 11 arranged at both ends of the width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and inner links 12 arranged between both ends of the outer links 11.

The outer link 11 has links 11a and 11b at both ends in the width direction W. These two links 11a and 11b are each joined to a rod-shaped member (not shown) that extends in the width direction W to form an integral outer link 11.

The center link 12 is positioned at a position offset in the longitudinal direction L from the outer link 11, and is connected across two adjacent outer links 11, 11 along the longitudinal direction. This structure of the outer link 11 and the center link 12 connected together is repeated to form a band 1 that extends along the longitudinal direction L.

The outer link 11 and the inner link 12 are formed of a metal such as stainless steel. The material of the outer link 11 and the inner link 12 is not limited to stainless steel, and may be other metals such as titanium. Furthermore, the outer link 11 and the inner link 12 do not have to be metals such as stainless steel or titanium, and may be materials other than metals such as resin. The outer link 11 and the inner link 12 may be made of different materials.

The link 12 is an example of a decorative part that is manufactured by the decorative part manufacturing method according to the present invention, and is also an example of a decorative part according to the present invention. In addition, a watch having this link 12 is an example of a watch according to the present invention.

The upper surface 12d of the center link 12 is decorated with a gradation decoration G that gradually changes from light to dark along the width direction W of the band 1. The gradation decoration G is visible as a change in light and dark caused by the reflection of light.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the gradation pattern is brightest at both ends 12a, 12b of the middle link 12 in the width direction W (the ends adjacent to the links 11a, 11b of the outer link 11), and becomes darker as it approaches the center 12c in the width direction W from both ends 12a, 12b, with the center 12c appearing as the darkest. The gradation pattern is also symmetrical on both sides in the width direction W with respect to the center 12c in the width direction W.

The gradation decoration G is formed by a decorative processing method using a laser. Specifically, a laser beam emitted in pulses from the laser head of a laser processing machine is irradiated onto the upper surface 12d (surface) of the center piece 12, and this laser beam is scanned along the longitudinal direction L to form a groove K on the upper surface 12d that extends linearly along the scanning direction (longitudinal direction L).

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the grooves K that form the gradation decoration G shown in Figure 2. A number of these grooves K are formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction W, and the spacing between the grooves K in the width direction W is switched to have differences (for example, the spacing is switched to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mm, etc.), thereby forming a decoration G with a gradation of light and dark according to the difference in spacing.

Specifically, on the upper surface 12d, as shown in FIG. 3, the spacing between the grooves K formed by the laser light is gradually narrowed as it approaches both ends 12a and 12b, and is gradually widened as it approaches the center 12c.

In areas where the spacing between the grooves K is relatively narrow, the unevenness formed by the multiple grooves K (the grooves K become relatively concave recesses, and the areas where no grooves K are formed and are sandwiched between the grooves K become relatively convex convex portions) diffuses and reflects light incident from any direction, making it visible as bright in any direction.

On the other hand, in areas where the spacing between the grooves K is relatively wide, the areas between the grooves K become convex with respect to the grooves K, but the flatness of the original top surface 12d is maintained over a wide area, so that while strong reflected light is visible at angles where the light is reflected symmetrically to the angle at which it is incident, the reflected light is barely visible at other angles. Therefore, the reflected light appears relatively dark in many angle ranges where it is not reflected.

Therefore, according to the decorative processing method for the center piece 12 of this embodiment, regardless of whether the scanning direction of the laser light is the same or different, by gradually changing the spacing of the grooves K shown in Figure 3, it is possible to obtain a gradation decoration G with a gradual change in light and dark on the upper surface 12d of the center piece 12, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the state in which a different gradation decoration G has been formed, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the groove K that forms the gradation decoration G shown in Figure 4.

The gradation is not limited to the above-mentioned gradation pattern, and may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a gradation pattern in which both ends of the middle piece 12 in the width direction W are darkest, and the gradation pattern becomes brighter as it approaches the center in the width direction W from both ends, with the center being the brightest. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the spacing between the grooves K formed by the laser light is set to become wider as it approaches one of the ends 12a, 12b, and narrower as it approaches the center 12c.

Figure 6 shows the state in which a different gradation decoration G has been formed, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the groove K that forms the gradation decoration G shown in Figure 6.

The gradation does not have to be a gradation pattern that is symmetrical with respect to the center in the width direction W. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the gradation pattern may be brightest at one end 12a in the width direction W, darken toward the other end 12b, and be darkest at the other end 12b. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the spacing between the grooves K formed by the laser light is set to become narrower as it approaches one end 12a, and wider as it approaches the other end 12b.

The gradation may also be a tone pattern in which light and dark change along the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the gradation may also be a tone pattern in which light and dark change along diagonal directions that intersect with both the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W.

Figure 8 shows the state in which a different gradation decoration G has been formed, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the groove K that forms the gradation decoration G shown in Figure 8.

The gradation does not have to be a gradation pattern in which the direction of change in light and dark is a straight line, such as the longitudinal direction L or the width direction W. For example, as shown in Figure 8, it may be a gradation pattern in which the light and dark changes along the radial direction, or a gradation pattern in which the light and dark changes along other straight or curved directions.

In the case of the gradation shown in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 9, the spacing between the grooves K formed by the laser light is set to become wider as it approaches the center 12e of the top surface 12d, and narrower as it approaches the periphery 12f.

Furthermore, this type of gradation decoration G, in which light and dark change radially from the center, can be said to be a decoration suitable for the dial of a wristwatch, which spreads radially from the center.

In the center link 12 and the manufacturing method of the center link 12 in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the grooves K are formed at at least three different intervals, and a decoration G with a gradation of light and dark is formed according to the change in the intervals, but the manufacturing method of the decorative part, the decorative part, and the watch according to the present invention are not limited to those that form a decoration G with a gradation of gradually changing light and dark as decoration.

In other words, the decorative part manufacturing method, decorative part, and watch according to the present invention are such that, when a pulsed laser beam is scanned to form multiple grooves K on the surface of the decorative part, the multiple grooves K are formed at at least two different intervals, a relatively wide interval and a relatively narrow interval, and a decoration with different light and dark colors is formed according to the change (difference) in the intervals.

Figure 10 shows a state in which a decoration G with different light and dark tones has been formed, rather than a gradation decoration G, and Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the groove K that forms the decoration with different light and dark tones shown in Figure 10.

For example, in the case of the center piece 12, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, any manufacturing method that forms a decoration G on the center piece 12 with two regions R1 and R2 of different brightness, that is, a relatively bright region R1 in which grooves K are formed at relatively wide intervals, and a relatively dark region R2 in which grooves K are formed at relatively narrow intervals, can be applied as a manufacturing method for a decorative part according to the present invention.

The center piece 12 on which the decoration G is formed by the two regions R1 and R2 of different light and dark can be used as a decorative part according to the present invention. The number of regions of different light and dark is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

However, the decorative part manufacturing method, decorative part, and watch of the present invention do not include a decoration with two areas, one area where grooves K are formed at a fixed interval and one area where grooves K are not formed. In other words, it is essential that the decorative part manufacturing method, decorative part, and watch of the present invention have at least two areas, one where the intervals between grooves K are relatively narrow and one where they are wide.

The above-described embodiment is an example of application of the decorative part to be decorated by the decorative part manufacturing method according to the present invention, or the decorative part according to the present invention, to a center link 12 used in a wristwatch band 1, but the decorative part to be decorated by the decorative part manufacturing method according to the present invention, or the decorative part according to the present invention, is not limited to a center link.

In other words, the decorative part to be decorated by the decorative part manufacturing method according to the present invention, or the decorative part according to the present invention, may be an outer link other than a center link, or may be other decorative parts of a wristwatch other than the band, such as the dial or the watch body case (the exterior housing the dial, hands such as the hour hand, the movement, etc.).

In addition, the decorative parts that can be decorated using the decorative part manufacturing method of the present invention are not limited to decorative parts for watches, but can also be used for decorative items other than watches, such as cases for information terminals such as smartphones, tablet terminals, and laptop PCs.

The decorative part according to the present invention may be a part of a finished product, or may be a finished product. The clock according to the present invention is not limited to a wristwatch, but may be a table clock, a wall clock, a decorated clock, or any other clock.

1 Band 11 Outer link 12 Inner link 12d Top surface (front surface)
L: Longitudinal direction W: Width direction G: Gradient decoration

Claims (5)

A method for manufacturing a decorative part that is decorated by forming a plurality of grooves extending linearly along a scanning direction on a surface of the decorative part by scanning with a pulsed laser light, comprising:
The method for manufacturing a decorative part includes forming the plurality of grooves at at least two types of intervals, namely, a relatively wide interval and a relatively narrow interval, and forming an ornament in which, at any angle other than the angle at which light is incident and the angle at which it is reflected symmetrically, the grooves are relatively dark where they are relatively widely spaced and relatively bright where they are relatively narrowly spaced. 2. The method for manufacturing a decorative part according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed at at least three different intervals, such that the intervals change from a wide interval to a gradually narrower interval or from a narrow interval to a gradually wide interval, and a decoration with a light-dark gradation changing from a dark state to a light state is formed by the grooves switching from a wide interval to a gradually narrower interval, or a decoration with a light-dark gradation changing from a light state to a dark state is formed by the grooves switching from a narrow interval to a gradually wide interval. A plurality of annular grooves are formed in the surface;
The plurality of grooves are formed at at least two types of intervals, namely, relatively wide intervals and relatively narrow intervals, without crossing or contacting each other , and the decorative component is formed with a decoration in which, at any angle other than the angle at which light is incident and the angle at which it is reflected symmetrically, the grooves are relatively dark where they are relatively wide and the grooves are relatively bright where they are relatively narrow . 4. The decorative part according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed so that the spacing between the grooves changes from wide to narrow or from narrow to wide, so that a light-dark gradation decoration is formed in which the grooves change from wide to narrow, or the grooves change from narrow to wide, so that a light-dark gradation decoration is formed in which the grooves change from wide to narrow, or the grooves change from narrow to wide, so that a light-dark gradation decoration is formed in which the grooves change from narrow to wide. A watch having a decorative part according to claim 3 or 4.