FIELD OF INVENTION:
[0011 The present invention relates to the field of timepiece dial. The present
invention in particular relates to a system and method for plating the index of a
timepiece dial.
5 DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART:
[0021 In general, letters, numerals (so-called time letters, etc.) having functions
such as indicating time, scales, symbols, and indexes such as various marks are
used for the dial of a watch.
[0031 The timepiece dial plate is provided with an index made up of metal or
l 0 plastic on a flat dial I, but the manufacturing method of this index can be roughly
divided into the following three methods there is. 1) Electroforming method: A
method of producing an index by electroforming using a plated metal on a metal
plate, and then transferring and adhering this to the dial. 2) Coining method; using
a press machine etc., make a basement index with a raised base made of a metal
15 with good elongation such as pure copper or brass, and cut the top and sides with
a diamond tool etc. After putting out, a method of fitting a foot in a small hole
provided in a dial, caulking and fastening. 3) Cutting method: A method in which
a plastic or metal material is used as a raw material, and an index machined by an
NC machine or the like is manufactured, and this index is fixed to the dial with an
20 adhesive.
Reference may be made to the following:
[004] Publication NoJP2007240416 relates to an index with a foot that can be
formed at low cost, can form even a thick and complex shape, and has large
mounting strength. Electrocasting plating is performed by providing a conductive
25 metal film 51 in an electrocasting mother die 40, that is made of resin and has a
recess 41 for forming the shape of the index; metal is deposited at the recess 41
for forming a primary index blank 50A; the primary index blank 50A and the
-
electrocasting mother die 40 are subjected to grinding machining or cutting
machining; a secondary index blank SOB, in which a rectangular foot S2b is
provided is formed at the primary index blank SOA; then, the secondary index
blank SOB is peeled from the electrocasting mother die 40; and the secondary
S peeled index blank SOB is subjected to finishing plating and an index with foot is
obtained. This footing index SOC is formed using an electroforming matrix 40
shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the electroforming matrix 40 has a recess 41
at its center, and the shape of the recess 41 is the same as the shape and size of the
indicator main body S2a of the footing indicator SOC. The depth of the recess 41
10 is slightly larger than the total thickness of the footed index SOC. Further, the
inner surface of the concave portion 41 forms a glossy surface, and gloss is
obtained by transfer from a mirror-finished mold. The electroforming matrix 40 is
made of an ABS resin and is molded by an injection molding method.
[005] Publication No JP200S308707 relates to a manufacturing method for an
IS index such as a numeral, a mark and a sign provided in a dial used in a timepiece
or the like. This manufacturing method for the timepiece index wherein the index
for the timepiece 2 is formed on a surface of a conductive base material 110 by an
electrocasting plating technique, wherein the index 2 is separation-transferred to a
pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 of a support material 2S provided with the
20 pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24, wherein a fixing adhesive layer 28 is formed
further in a reverse face side of the index, and wherein the index 2 is bonded onto
the dial 1 for the timepiece via the fixing adhesive layer 28 while separating the
c 2S N
index 2 from the support material 2S is a manufacturing method for the timepiece
index using the conductive base material 110 with a metal sheet 112 bonded on a
resin base plate 111 via a temporary adhesive layer 113.
[006] Publication NoJP200816440 I relates to a time piece dial of beautiful
appearance giving spatial effect, having an index member fixed firmly onto a
plastic base material, a manufacturing method capable of readily and surely
manufacturing the timepiece dial, and to provide a timepiece provided with the
timepiece diai.This manufacturing method for the Lilllepiece dial 1, with at least
one part of the index member 3 embedded in the plastic base material 2, has an
index member installation process for installing the index member 3 at a
prescribed portion of a molding die; a resin material supplying process for
supplying a resin material with fluidity into the molding die; and a solidification
) process for solidifying the resin material.
[007] Publication NoJP2016075702 relates to a method of fabricating an external
timepiece element in which at least one decoration is inserted. To fabricate an
external timepiece element in which at least one decoration 1 is inserted, the
decoration 1 is formed of an anterior part 2 and a posterior part 3 that are formed
LO to exposed from the external element and to have anchoring means to anchor the
decoration 1 to the external element. A master mold 5 is provided which includes
a pattern cavity 6 matching the anterior part 2 of the decoration l. The decoration
l is placed in the pattern cavity 6. The inside of the master mold 5 is filled by the
galvanic deposition of a metal 7. The external element obtained is removed from
L 5 the master mold 5.
[008] Publication No JP2000275362 relates to an index for enabling metal luster
to appear. The exterior parts for clocks such as a bezel, a register ring, a case, a
dial, and a band are composed of base parts ll formed by an ABS resin and cover
parts 12 that are formed integrally with the base parts 11 so that the base parts 11
20 can be covered, an index 11a is provided at the base parts ll, and an opening l2a
is provided at the cover parts 12, so that the index lla that is subjected to metal
plating 14 can be seen from the opening 12a, thus obtaining the exterior parts with
the index ofmetalluster.
[009] Publication No JPS5879181 relates to a highly accurate and efficient
working by design molding an index material with an embossing after a polishing
such as buffing or chemical polishing is conducted. The top surface of material is
buffed 6, rinsed with a rinsing machine 7 and pressed intensely between a punch 8
and a die 9. Then, the outline thereof is trimmed with a pair of tools of trimming
dies I 0 and 11 and a finishing is performed by plating, coloring and the like.
[010] Publication NoJP2005214903relates to a dial plate with an index having a
large height, at low cost. Each index part 420 is transferred and fixed from a
female index mold 300 onto the dial101, by vapor-depositing a metal thin film on
the surface of the female index mold 300 prepared by injection molding of a resin,
5 using a male matrix 200 having equivalent shapes and the positional relation
between the dial lOO with the desired index and the index 102; subjecting it to
thick plating 403, to form an index material 400; molding the index part 420
corresponding to the index 102, by removing a sticking part 410 of the index
material 400 from the female index mold; and performing press contact by
10 positioning the index part 40 settled within the female index mold 300 on the
surface of the dial 101, to which an adhesive 103 is applied at the arrangement
position of each index.
[011] Publication NoJPH07181270 relates to a solid index, etc., by strongly
machining a metal material in advance and annealing it at a recrystallization
15 temperature or higher as a metal substrate and then machining the surface, and
then forming a resist film at the pattern part, and further etching a metal exposed
part without any resist film for exposing a metal crystal pattern and peeling the
resist film and then performing surface treatment.
[012] Publication NoUS20 14299481 relates to a make-up solution for a galvanic
20 bath comprising organometallic components, a wetting agent, a complexing agent
and free cyanide, wherein the make-up solution further comprises copper in the
form of copper II cyanide and potassium, and complex indium allowing, after
addition of alkaline aurocyanide, to galvanically depositing a gold alloy.
25
[013] Publication No CH702688relates to handling and working supports for dial
indexes, these supports comprise: a first sheet defining housings arranged in an
ordered manner, and arranged to each receive an index, a second sheet disposed
on the first sheet, and a spacer, arranged between the first and the second sheet, so
as to define a distance between them, and means for fixing the first to the second
' "
(014) Thus because the whole index is dipped into the plating a lot of plating
material (gold and rhodium) is wasted on the sides and other parts of the plating
fixture.
(015) In order to overcome above listed prior art, the present invention aims to
5 provide a system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial with lesser
wastage and cost reduction.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[016] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a system and
method for plating the index of timepiece dial with lesser wastage and cost
10 reduction
[017) Another object of the present invention is to provide a plating fixture for the
index of timepiece dial which reduces the use of plating material
[018) Still another object of the present invention is to provide lustrous plating of
the index of timepiece dial without any surface imperfections to give an aesthetic
15 look
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[019] The present invention relates to a system and method for plating the index
. .
of timepiece dial with lesser wastage and cost reduction. The index, to be plated,
has been placed on the special fixture. The fixture comprises rectangular or
20 circular fixture guard/ outer frame made up of plastic/ polymeric material to hold
the components. The fixture comprises multiple bars which can move/ slide along
the length of the fixture. All indexes have feet under it. The feet are held between
the moving bars, in the mechanism and the whole thing is dipped into the plating
solution. The side bars of the fixture are made up of special polymeric material,
25 which does not get plated during the plating of the indexes and thus the use of
plating material is reduced significantly .
[020] In another embodiment, the fixture guard/ outer frame of the special
fixture is coated with the plastic/ polymeric material.
[021] In another embodiment, the fixture guard/ outer frame ts rectangular,
square or circular in shape
5 BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[022] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only
typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered
for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
10 [023] Figure l shows a system for plating the index according to the present
invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[024] The present invention provides a system and method for plating the index of
timepiece dial with lesser wastage and cost reduction. The index, to be plated, has
15 been placed on the special fixture. The fixture comprises rectangular or circular
fixture guard/ outer frame made up of plastic/ polymeric material to hold the
components. The fixture comprises multiple bars which can move/ slide along the
length of the fixture. All indexes have feet under it. The feet are held between the
moving bars, in the mechanism and the whole thing is dipped into the plating
20 solution. The side bars of the fixture are made up of special polymeric material,
which does not get plated during the plating of the indexes and thus the use of
plating material is reduced significantly.
[025] The fixture guard/ outer frame of the special fixture is coated with the
plastic/ polymeric material. The fixture guard/ outer frame is rectangular, square
25 or circular in shape. The fixture with polypropylene coating on 30% exposed
metal area reduces the wastage of costly metals like Gold & Rhodium.
1. Brass Metal Nuts (2nos.):- These nuts tighten the metal bars (No.6) and
metal bars are used to clamp the feet of indexes.
2. Top Bar of fixture's frame: - This is a brass metal bar coated with
polypropylene having 2 frame screw (No.5), 2 tightening nuts (No.I) and
lcontact point at the centre.
3. Side Bars (2 nos.): -These are cylindrical brass bars coated with
polypropylene, having sliding slots for metal bars(No.6) and frame screw
on both ends.
4. Bottom Bar: - This is a brass metal bar coated with polypropylene having
2 frame screws on both ends.
5. Frame screws ( 4nos. ): - These are brass metals screws coated with
polypropylene for joining the top, bottom and side bars of fixtures frame. 6
6. Metal Bars (20nos): - These are brass metal bars which slide between .
frame and clamp the index feet during electroplating process of the
indexes.
[026] Brass metal nuts tighten the metal bars 6 and metal bars are used to clamp
the feet of indexes. Top bar of fixture's frame is a brass metal bar coated with
polypropylene having two frame screw, two tightening nuts.land a contact point at
the centre. Side bars are cylindrical brass bars coated with polypropylene, having
20 sliding slots for metal bars 6 and frame screw on both ends. Bottom bar is a brass
metal bar coated with polypropylene having 2 frame screws on both ends. Frame
screws are brass metals screws coated with polypropylene for joining the top,
bottom and side bars of fixtures frame 6. Metal bars are brass metal bars which
slide between frame and clamp the index feet during electroplating process of the
25 indexes.
[027] Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system of the present .... .e.n..
0
~ invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus il is inlcmlcd
by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations
which fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

WE CLAIM:
l. A system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial with lesser
wastage and cost reduction comprises special fixture to place the index to be
plated wherein the fixture with polypropylene coating on 30% exposed metal
area comprises rectangular or circular fixture guard/ outer frame, multiple bars
which can move/ slide along the length of the fixture, the feet of the indexes
are held between the moving bars, in the mechanism, and the whole index is
dipped into the plating solution and side bars and frame screw coated with
polypropylene.
This newly designed.
2. The system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the method of plating includes following steps:
a) Indexes are placed between metal bars and bars are tightened by nuts.
b) Fixture is dipped in electroplating solution and a negative DC current is
applied at fixture.
c) All the metal parts (exposed and conductive) get electroplated.
d) As fixture's frame and screws are coated with polypropylene they do not
get electroplated during the process.
e) The exposed metallic area is 30% lesser in this newly designed fixture as
compared to similar fixture without polypropylene coating.
3. The system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the fixture guard/ outer frame of the special fixture is coated
with the plastic/ polymeric material.
4. The system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the side bars of the fixture are made up of special polymeric material, which does not get plated during the plating of the indexes and thus
the use of plating material is reduced significantly.
5. The system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the frame made up of plastic/ polymeric material to hold the
components.
6. The system and method for plating the index of timepiece dial, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the fixture guard/ outer frame is rectangular, square or
circular in shape.