How to make an ebauche attached to a mounting plate

Abstract

A method and system for manufacturing a dial ebauche attached to a mounting plate is provided. [Solution] A method for manufacturing a dial ebauche for a measuring device attached to a positioning plate, comprising: a forming step 34 of forming a central cavity and peripheral cavities formed around the central cavity within an enclosure of a mold, the forming step 34 being formed by reversibly assembling a first mold part and a second mold part of the mold 2; fitting the positioning plate into the enclosure 35; a building step 36 of constructing the dial ebauche within the central cavity and mounting elements within the peripheral cavities; and a demolding step 40 of demolding the positioning plate with the dial ebauche and constructed mounting elements from the mold to ensure the mounting of the dial ebauche on the positioning plate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and system for manufacturing a dial ebauche for a measuring device attached to a mounting plate / strip. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, part of the manufacture of dials for timepieces such as wristwatches (e.g., wristwatches, pocket watches) involves producing an ébauche, which is then finished to produce the dial. In order to manufacture the dial in a mass production process and to reduce production costs, these ébauches are constructed in a mold using a material injection process.

[0003] In particular, this material is injected into a mold enclosure through an injection point located at the center of the ébauche to be constructed in the mold, and then extracted from the enclosure by separating the ébauche from the components that should not be included in the resulting dial. This separation is generally carried out by cutting, punching, or machining with cutting tools, which has the drawback of potentially damaging the ébauche so that it does not fit the dial being produced, or of disfiguring the ébauche, making it difficult to carry out finishing operations.

[0004] In this regard, there is a clear need to develop alternative approaches that do not present the above problems. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the above problems by providing a method and system for producing a dial ébauche attached to a mounting plate, thereby simplifying the handling of this dial ébauche when it is removed from the mould and also during any finishing operations that may have to be carried out.

[0006] To this end, one aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ébauche for a measuring device attached to a mounting plate, comprising: a forming step for forming a central cavity and peripheral cavities formed around the central cavity in an enclosure of a mold, said forming step being formed by reversibly assembling a first mold part and a second mold part of the mold, and fitting the mounting plate into the enclosure; a building step for constructing the ébauche in the central cavity and mounting elements in the peripheral cavities; and a demolding step for demolding the mounting plate with the ébauche and the constructed mounting elements from the mold, wherein the mounting elements ensure the mounting of the ébauche on the mounting plate.

[0007] In other embodiments, the following features are included. - During the fitting of the positioning plate within the enclosure, the central opening and through holes formed in the positioning plate are positioned opposite the central impression and peripheral impression, respectively, formed on the inner surface of the first mold part, the inner surface contributing to forming the enclosure of the mold. - upon said fitting of said positioning plate within said enclosure, outlet ports of material injection circuits formed in the flat receiving surface of said second mould part respectively communicate with through holes formed in said positioning plate. - during the building step, material is injected into the central cavity and the peripheral cavity of the mold through an outlet port formed in the receiving surface of the second mold part; As the material is injected, it first enters each peripheral cavity until it reaches the central cavity, where it accumulates to form the dial ebauche. - after the dial ébauche has been constructed, the injected material continues to flow through the outlet ports while accumulating in each peripheral cavity to form the attachment element with a separable connecting portion that connects the attachment element to the dial ébauche. The building step involves providing an injection point at an interface area located between an outlet port formed in the receiving surface of the second mold part and a through hole in the plate. The building step involves regulating the temperature of the enclosure by performing an operation to cool the enclosure after the injection of material into the enclosure is complete. The demoulding step involves separating the first mould part and the second mould part from each other. The demoulding step involves breaking off an injection point that constitutes the base of one end of each mounting element that is flush with the underside of the location plate. - constructing the design of the locating plate by forming a central through opening and a plurality of through holes located around the periphery of the through opening within the thickness of the body of the locating plate. The method further includes the step of preparing a central impression and a peripheral impression of the first mold part from at least one original part to form the central impression and the peripheral impression of the first mold part on an inner surface of the first mold part. the measuring device is a wristwatch;

[0008] The invention further relates to a system for manufacturing an ébauche for a measuring device attached to a mounting plate using the method described above, the system comprising a mould in which an enclosure is formed, the enclosure comprising a central cavity and peripheral cavities formed around the periphery of the central cavity, the enclosure being formed by reversibly assembling a first mould part and a second mould part of the mould, the first mould part and the second mould part being adapted to receive the mounting plate, the central cavity and the peripheral cavities being adapted to structure the ébauche and the mounting element so as to ensure the mounting of the ébauche to the mounting plate.

[0009] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a system for manufacturing a face ebauche for a metrology device attached to a location plate / strip, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 shows a mounting plate according to the embodiment of the invention, without a dial ebauche attached thereto that can be attached thereto; [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a mold of the system in which a location plate can be attached, according to the embodiment of the invention; [Figure 4] Figures 4 and 5 show a positioning plate according to the embodiment of the invention, which includes a single bed containing the dial ébauche to be constructed, which is connected to the positioning plate by means of attachment elements. In Figure 4, the underside of the positioning plate is shown on top. [Figure 5] In FIG. 5, the upper surface of the placement plate is shown on the upper side. [Figure 6]Figures 6 and 7 show a positioning plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a single bed with a dial ébauche variant formed with a through-hole and connected to the positioning plate by an attachment element. In Figure 6, the underside of the positioning plate is shown on top. [Figure 7] In FIG. 7, the upper surface of the placement plate is shown on the upper side. [Figure 8] 1 shows a location plate including several beds according to the embodiment of the invention, each bed having a face ebauche. [Figure 9] 1 is a flow chart relating to a method for manufacturing a dial ebauche attached to a location plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 1 for manufacturing at least one dial ebauche 4a, 4b for a measuring device such as a watch or a gauge, which dial ebauche 4a, 4b is attached / fixed to a positioning plate 3a, 3b, and it can be understood that this system can also be a system 1 for manufacturing a positioning plate 3a, 3b that includes a dial ebauche 4a, 4b attached thereto.

[0012] In this system 1, each of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b shown in Figures 4 to 8 has a visible surface and a hidden surface. Each dial ébauche 4a, 4b also has a peripheral side wall connecting the visible and hidden surfaces. The visible surface 17a of each dial ébauche 4a, 4b corresponds to the visible surface 17a that is visible to the user of the measuring device, e.g., the wearer of a wristwatch, once the dial obtained by each dial ébauche 4a, 4b is attached to the measuring device. This visible surface of each dial ébauche, unlike the other surface 17b of each dial ébauche 4a, 4b opposite the visible surface 17a, is considered "visible" because it is visible once the dial made from each dial ébauche 4a, 4b is attached to the measuring device.

[0013] Such a system 1 can be used in an automated assembly plant (or automated assembly line) for producing dials, or more generally for producing all or part of a measuring device. In this context, the system 1 contributes to the production and supply of dial ébauches 4a, 4b that are mounted / attached to positioning plates 3a, 3b in the automated assembly plant. The positioning plates 3a, 3b can then be manipulated to be placed in another system in the facility, such as a finishing system for the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, to produce said dials that are attached to the measuring device.

[0014] The following description will be given with reference to Figures 1 to 3. This system 1 includes, but is not limited to, the following elements. a mould 2 formed by the reversible assembly of a first mould part 7a and a second mould part 7b, capable of receiving at least one dial ébauche 4a, 4b, and a locating plate 3a, 3b, also called a strip or locating strip; - an injection device 11 for injecting an injection material into said mould 2; a vacuum device 15 for generating a vacuum in the mould 2 and / or a temperature regulation device 16 for regulating the temperature in the mould 2; - a demolding and mating device 25 for demolding and mating the positioning plates 3a, 3b;

[0015] In this system 1, the mould 2 has an enclosure formed by assembling a first mould part 7a and a second mould part 7b, in which the positioning plates 3a, 3b can be placed.

[0016] The positioning plates 3a, 3b are integral parts which may include a single bed 24 capable of holding the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, or may include several, preferably similar, beds 24, as shown in Figure 8.

[0017] To better understand the invention, a system 1 for manufacturing dial ébauches 4a, 4b contained in a mounting plate 3a with a single bed 24 will be described below, as will similar systems if there are several beds 24 in a mounting plate 3b. This bed 24, also called a compartment, is therefore part of the plate 3a, 3b that contains the dial ébauches 4a, 4b constructed by the system 1.

[0018] The positioning plates 3a, 3b have flat upper and lower surfaces 18a, 18b facing away from each other. In this configuration, each bed 24 has a central through-opening 6a surrounded by the peripheral portion of the positioning plates 3a, 3b, and several through-holes 6b in this peripheral portion. In this configuration, it can be seen that the holes 6b are located on the periphery of the central opening 6a. The openings 6a and holes 6b open on the upper and lower surfaces 18a, 18b of the positioning plates 3a, 3b. Note that each bed 24 has at least two through-holes 6b, preferably four through-holes 6b, as shown in Figures 2 and 8.

[0019] Referring to Figure 3, in this mold 2, the second mold part 7b has a receiving surface 19b for receiving the positioning plates 3a, 3b. This receiving surface 19 is preferably flat, but it can also have at least one cavity, a corresponding shape, or at least one protrusion or undulation. In particular, the positioning plates 3a, 3b are attached to the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7b so that the hidden surface 17b of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to be constructed is positioned opposite or even in contact with this receiving surface 19b, in whole or in part. In this configuration, the visible surface 17a of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to be constructed is positioned, in whole or in part, opposite and / or in contact with the inner surface 19a of the first mold part 7a. That is, the location plates 3a, 3b, and therefore the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, are arranged within the enclosure of this mould 2 so as to be sandwiched between a first mould part 7a and a second mould part 7b of this mould 2.

[0020] The inner surface 19a of the first mold section 7a of the mold 2 has a central section 20a and a peripheral section 20b. The central section 20a of the inner surface 19a is constructed to face a central region 21 of the receiving surface 19b of the second mold section 7b. The central section 20a and central region 21 are similar to the central opening 6a in the placement plate 3a, but have a smaller area. The central section 20a has a single impression 5a, also referred to as a central impression 5a. The central impression 5a is constructed as follows: - determining (or at least contributing to the determination of) various properties of the dial ébauche 4a, 4b, such as its overall shape, its axial and / or cross-sectional shape, its thickness, and / or - constructing (or at least contributing to the construction of) the visible surface 17a of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to be constructed by forming at least one pattern, at least one relief, at least one hollow, at least one notch in the thickness of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, and / or by forming at least one blind or through hole (shown in figures 6 and 7).

[0021] That is, this central impression 5a can have, for example, at least one hollow shape and / or at least one undulation or protrusion. The central portion 20a of the inner surface 19a of this first mold part 7a and the central region 21 of the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7a together form the central cavity 9a of the mold 2, in which the dial ébauches 4a, 4b are constructed / made.

[0022] The peripheral portion 20b of the inner surface 19a is preferably flat and has several impressions 5b, also referred to as peripheral impressions 5b, which are configured to contribute to the construction / creation of mounting elements 10 for attaching the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to the mounting plate 3a. Preferably, each impression 5b is configured to form a two-part mounting element 10 consisting of an anchor portion 12a for fastening to the mounting plate 3a and a connecting portion 12b for connecting this anchor portion 12a to the side wall of the dial ébauche 4a, 4b. The interaction between the peripheral portion 20b of the inner surface 19a of the first mold part 7a, the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7b, and the mounting plate 3a contributes to the formation of several peripheral cavities 9b in this mold 2, in each of which a mounting element 10 is constructed / made. Each peripheral cavity 9b has a through-hole 6b formed in the peripheral portion of the plates 3a, 3b. The mold 2 has the same number of peripheral cavities 9b as the number of through-holes 6b in the peripheral portions of the plates 3a, 3b. When the positioning plates 3a, 3b are placed in the mold 2, each of these through-holes 6b is positioned to face an outlet port 23 of an injection circuit 8 formed wholly or partially within the body of the second mold section 7b. That is, the receiving surface 19b of the second mold section 7b has the same number of outlet ports 23 as the number of through-holes 6b in the positioning plates 3a, 3b. These outlet ports 23 are formed in the peripheral portion of the receiving surface 19b. Each outlet port 23 is connected to an injection device 11 for injection material via an injection circuit 8 formed in the second mold section 7b of the mold 2.

[0023] In this configuration, the outlet port 23 is the only path in the system 1 for injecting the injection material into the mold enclosure 2, thereby constructing / creating both the face ébauches 4a, 4b and the attachment element 10. When the injection material is injected into the enclosure, it first enters each peripheral cavity 9b, particularly through each through-hole 6b, until it reaches the central cavity 9a. The injection material then accumulates in the central cavity 9a until it fills it, forming the face ébauches 4a, 4b. After the ébauches 4a, 4b are formed, the material continues to be injected and accumulates in each peripheral cavity 9b to form the attachment element 10. The circulation of a cooling or heating fluid in a secondary circuit formed in the second mold section 7b ensures that the temperature in the mold 2 is regulated for the injection of the material into the enclosure. This temperature control is achieved by a temperature regulation device 16, which regulates the temperature of the mold 2.

[0024] As shown, each peripheral cavity 9b defines a mounting element 10 consisting of two parts: an anchor part 12a and a connecting part 12b. The connecting part 12b is formed by a solidified injection material that connects the side wall of the dial ébauche 4a, 4b to the anchor part 12a. The anchor part 12a is composed of a first part overmolded onto the upper surface 18a of the peripheral part of the positioning plate 3a, 3b, and a second part formed in the through-hole 6b. These first and second parts together ensure a robust attachment of the mounting element 10 to the positioning plate 3a, 3b, and thus to the dial ébauche 4a, 4b within the same plate 3a, 3b. In this configuration, the resulting mounting element 10 has a separable connecting part 14 at its end that connects it to the side wall of the dial ébauche 4a, 4b. This connecting part 14 is particularly formed so that it can be broken during the operation of removing the dial ebauches 4a, 4b from the mounting plates 3a, 3b.

[0025] In this configuration, the portion of the solidified injection material located in the boundary region between the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7b and the outlet port 23 located between the corresponding through-hole 6b forms the injection point 13. The cross section of this injection point 13 is preferably smaller than the cross section of the through-hole 6b and / or the cross section of the outlet port 23. It can therefore be seen that the cross section of this injection point 13 is smaller than the cross section of the second portion of the anchor portion 12a of the mounting element 10. Such an injection point 13 is configured to be broken, in particular, when the positioning plates 3a, 3b are removed from this second mold part 7b. In fact, this injection point 13 contributes to holding the positioning plates 3a, 3b, and therefore the face ébauches 4a, 4b, on the second mold part 7b by connecting to a sprue 22 formed in this mold 2.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4-7, the sprue 22 includes a first portion formed by solidification of the injection material in the central cavity 9a, a second portion formed by solidification of the injection material in each peripheral cavity 9b, and a third portion formed by solidification of the injection material in the injection circuits 8 in the second mold section 7b.

[0027] As previously described, in this mold 2, the second mold section 7b is configured to be reversibly assembled with the underside 18b of the positioning plates 3a, 3b. This second mold section 7b has at least one injection circuit 8 for injecting the injection material, the injection circuit 8 having a first end connected to the injection device 11 and a second end each having an outlet port 23 for each through-hole in the positioning plate 3a. In this case, it can be seen that the injection circuit 8 has the same number of second ends as the number of outlet ports 23 formed in the receiving surface 19b of the second mold section 7b. Note that if a vacuum device 15 for the mold 2 is attached to the system 1, this vacuum device 15 is configured to generate a vacuum within the mold enclosure 2, including the central cavity 9a and the peripheral cavities 9b. In this configuration, as previously described, one of the purposes of the second mold section 7b is to deliver the injection material to each of the cavities 9a, 9b and, if necessary, generate a vacuum around them.

[0028] In this system 1, the injection material used is, for example, an organic and / or composite material, or a metallic or ceramic material, or a thermoformable, thermosetting or thermoplastic material. - SLN type charged plastics (phosphorescent) and colored and / or fluorescent pigments - Ceramic charged polymers with or without color pigments - Additives used to give a metallic or shiny appearance, such as aluminum powder or metallic powders - Additives that make polymers conductive (for technical reasons or for chemical / galvanic or other post-treatments) - Additives that give aesthetic finishes that mimic materials (mother of pearl, stone, etc.) - Additives that impart specific mechanical and / or tribological properties - BMG, commonly known as "bulk metallic glass" - Materials that do not oxidize - Sinterable metal materials - Ceramics - silicon, and / or - Any of these elements or some combination of these elements

[0029] 9, the system 1 uses a method for manufacturing ébauches 4a, 4b of a metrology device mounted on or attached to a location plate 3a, 3b, i.e., the system 1 is configured to use this method to manufacture a location plate 3a including ébauches 4a, 4b of a metrology device.

[0030] The method includes a design and build step 30 of constructing the design of the positioning plates 3 a, 3 b, which involves forming a central opening 6 a through the thickness of the body of the positioning plates 3 a, 3 b and through holes 6 b located around the periphery of the opening 6 a. In the design and build step 30, the material of the plates 3 a, 3 b is selected from metals, metal alloys and / or polymers.

[0031] The method further comprises a preparation step 31 of preparing a central impression 5 a and peripheral impressions 5 b in the first mould part 7 a from at least one original part, which is used to build or make these central impressions 5 a and peripheral impressions 5 b on the inner surface 19 a of this first mould part 7 a. In this regard, the preparation step 31 comprises making a number of peripheral impressions 5 b equal to the number of through holes 6 b included in the positioning plate 3 a.

[0032] This original part (also called a "master" part) has a central portion 20a that is to be constructed to create the central impression 5a. This central portion 20a has a shape similar to that of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to be created / constructed. This central portion 20a also has an area with a surface similar to that of the expected / desired visible surface 17a for this dial ébauche 4a, 4b. This original part also has a peripheral portion provided with areas for creating the peripheral impressions 5b. These areas each have a shape similar to that of the mounting elements 10 that will be used to connect the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to be constructed to the mounting plates 3a, 3b. It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the use of this preparation step 31 may require the presence of as many original parts as there are impressions 5a, 5b to be made.

[0033] In this context, the preparation step 31 includes a design construction substep 32 for constructing the design of said original component using lithographic techniques, which are selected from the following techniques known in the prior art: optical lithography using ultraviolet projection, optical lithography using UV, MUV or DUV projection, immersion lithography, double patterning lithography, extreme ultraviolet lithography, nanoimprint lithography, which will not be described in detail here. It should be noted that other techniques can be used to complement or replace lithographic techniques, such as laser ablation techniques.

[0034] This preparation step 31 then includes a replication substep 33 for replicating the original part by creating a negative form of the original part, in particular using Ni-shim or BMG (acronym for "Bulk Metallic Glass") type replication techniques known in the prior art, which will not be described in detail here.

[0035] Thereafter, the method includes a forming step 34 for forming a central cavity 9a and peripheral cavities 9b within the enclosure of said mould 2. These peripheral cavities 9b are formed around or at the periphery of the central cavity 9a. The forming step 34 includes a positioning sub-step 35 for positioning positioning plates 3a, 3b within the enclosure formed by the reversible assembly of the first mould part 7a and the second mould part 7b of mould 2.

[0036] In this positioning substep 35, the positioning plates 3a, 3b are placed on the receiving surface 19b of the second mould part 7b. The positioning plates 3a, 3b are configured so that each outlet port 23 of a corresponding second end of the injection circuit 8 is connected / communicates with a corresponding through-hole 6b in the positioning plates 3a, 3b. Such a positioning substep 35 contributes to optimising the connection between each outlet port 23 and each corresponding through-hole 6b in the positioning plate 3a, i.e. the through-hole 6b intended to cooperate with that outlet port 23. It can be seen that this injection circuit 8 has as many outlet ports 23, and therefore second ends, as there are through-holes 6b in the positioning plates 3a, 3b. In this positioning substep 35, the upper surfaces 18a of the plates 3a, 3b cooperate with the central and peripheral impressions 5a, 5b formed on the inner surface 19a of the first mould part 7a to prepare / form the dial ébauches 4a, 4b and the attachment elements 10 for attaching the dial ébauches 4a, 4b to the positioning plates 3a, 3b, such that in this configuration the central opening 6a in the positioning plates 3a, 3b faces the central impression 5a and the through-holes 6b face the peripheral impressions 5b.

[0037] The method then includes a construction step 36 for constructing the face ébauches 4a, 4b in the central cavity 9a and the mounting element 10 in the peripheral cavity 9b. This construction step 36 includes an injection substep 38 for injecting material into the mold enclosure 2. In this injection substep 38, material is injected into the central cavity 9a and the peripheral cavities 9b of this enclosure 2. This material is injected into the enclosure through each outlet port 23 of the injection circuit 8 formed in the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7b. In particular, when this material is injected through each outlet port 23 and into the corresponding through-holes 6b of these cavities 9b, it first enters each peripheral cavity 9b and reaches the central cavity 9a, where it accumulates and fills the central cavity 9a, thereby forming / constructing the face ébauches 4a, 4b.

[0038] After forming the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, material continues to flow from the outlet ports 23 and accumulates until it fills each peripheral cavity 9b, thereby forming the mounting element 10. In this regard, the anchor portion 12a of the mounting element 10 has a first portion that is overmolded onto the upper surface 18a of the peripheral portion of the positioning plate 3a and a second portion that is formed in the through-hole 6b. The connecting portions 12b of the mounting element 10 are formed so as to extend substantially perpendicular or strictly perpendicular to the peripheral side wall of the dial ébauche 4a, 4b to be constructed. Each connecting portion 12b thus constructed has a separable connecting portion 14 that connects / connects the dial ébauche 4a, 4b to this peripheral side wall.

[0039] During this building step 36, the temperature in the mould 2 is regulated by controlling the circulation of cooling or heating fluid in a secondary circuit in the second mould part 7b, which contributes to the injection of material into the enclosure. This regulation is carried out by a temperature regulation device 16 for this mould 2. The injected material then occupies the entire volume formed in the central cavity 9a and the peripheral cavity 9b of this enclosure.

[0040] It should be noted that during this injection substep 38, an injection point 13 is provided in the boundary area located between each outlet port 23 in the receiving surface 19b of the second mold part 7b and the through-hole 6b in the plates 3a, 3b. As already explained, this injection point 13 connects the end of each mounting element 10 to be constructed to the end of the sprue 22 at the corresponding outlet port 23.

[0041] Such a construction step 36 may therefore include the following sub-steps: a vacuuming substep 37 of generating a vacuum in the central cavity 9a and the peripheral cavities 9b before carrying out an injection substep 38 of injecting an injection material into the central cavity 9a and the peripheral cavities 9b; and / or a substep 39 of adjusting the temperature in the mould and therefore in its cavities 9a, 9b, for a period of: a period of time ranging from before the start of the injection substep 38 for injecting the injection material into the enclosure to the end of this injection substep 38 for injecting the material, and / or a period beginning at the end of this injection substep 38 by carrying out a cooling operation on this enclosure;

[0042] These evacuation substeps 37 and temperature conditioning substeps 39 are carried out in order to ensure the structural homogeneity of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b and the mounting elements 10 and to eliminate the presence of any defects that may be present in / on said dial ébauches 3a, 3b and / or their mounting elements 10. Such defects may be, for example, the presence of a weld seam on the visible surface 17a of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, which occurs after connecting the two streams of injection material in the central cavity 9a.

[0043] When the evacuation substep 37 is performed, any fluid present in the enclosure, for example a gas such as air, is evacuated from the enclosure before the filling substep 38 is performed.

[0044] Then, in adjusting substep 39, the temperature of the hot mold of the enclosure, specifically the temperature inside the enclosure, is adjusted, and before injecting substep 38, the enclosure is heated to a temperature higher than or substantially higher than the temperature at which the injection material provided by device 11 to be injected transitions from a liquid state to a solid state. For example, this transition temperature is called the glass transition temperature if the material is thermoplastic. Then, once injecting substep 38 of the injection material has been performed, i.e., completed, adjusting substep 39 causes the enclosure to cool.

[0045] The method then includes a demolding step 40 for demolding the positioning plates 3a, 3b including the face ébauches 4a, 4b and the constructed mounting elements 10 from the mold 2. This step 40 includes a demolding substep 41 for removing the first and second mold parts 7a, 7b from each other, i.e., separating the first and second mold parts 7a, 7b from each other. The demolding step 40 also includes a breaking substep 42 for breaking the injection points 13, which are configured in such a way that, when broken, the base of the edge of each mounting element 10 is obtained / made possible to be substantially flush with the underside 18b of the positioning plates 3a, 3b. In a breaking substep 42, a force is applied to the positioning plates 3a, 3b carrying the face ébauches 4a, 4b, causing a rotational and / or translational displacement of the positioning plates 3a, 3b relative to the outlet port 23 and thus relative to the second mold part 7b, thus breaking each injection point 13. Note that once the injection point 13 is broken, the free end of each mounting element 10, in particular the second part of the anchor part 12a, is substantially flush with the underside 18b of the positioning plates 3a, 3b or is exactly flush with this underside 18b.

[0046] Once the positioning plates 3a, 3b are removed from the mold 2 with the assembled dial ébauches 4a, 4b securely attached, they can be freely manipulated without removing the dial ébauches from the body of the positioning plates 3a, 3b. For example, the positioning plates 3a, 3b can be handled so that they are attached to a receiving base in a system for finishing the dial ébauches 4a, 4b. Such a base is configured to receive the positioning plates 3a, 3b so that finishing operations can be performed on the dial ébauches 4a, 4b. The attachment of the positioning plates 3a, 3b to this base is facilitated by the second part of the anchor portion 12a of each mounting element, which has a base that is flush with the underside 18b of the positioning plates 3a, 3b. This means that the positioning plates 3a, 3b containing the dial ébauches 4a, 4b retain their underside 18b, which remains flat.

[0047] By way of example, such a finishing system may enable: - constructing, attaching or applying at least one pattern to the visible outer surface 17a of the dial ebauches 4a, 4b; - plating all or part of the dial ébauches 4a, 4b, for example by depositing decorative and / or functional materials on said visible surface 17a;

[0048] Once completed, the dial ébauches 4a, 4b can be removed from the mounting plates 3a, 3b and attached to a measuring device. In fact, the end of each mounting element 10 is connected to the dial ébauche 4a, 4b via a separable connecting part 14, which is configured to break when a force is applied to the dial ébauche 4a, 4b separating it from the mounting plates 3a, 3b. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1. Manufacturing System Type 2 3a, 3b Placement plates 4a, 4b dial ebauche 5a central impression 5b Peripheral impression 6a Central through-hole 6b Through hole 7a First mold part 7b Second mold part 8 Injection circuit 9a central cavity 9b Peripheral cavity 10 Mounting Elements 11 Injection Device 12a Anchor part of mounting element 12b Connection of mounting element 13 Injection site 14 Separable connection parts 15 Vacuum Devices 16 Adjustment Device 17a Visible surface of the dial ébauche 17b Hidden face of the dial ebauche 18a Top of the location plate 18b Underside of location plate 19a Inner surface of first part 19b Receiving surface of second mold part 20a Central part of the inner surface 20b Inner peripheral portion 21 Central area of ​​receiving surface 22 sprues 23 Injection circuit outlet port 24 Placement Plate Bed 25 De-mold mating device

Claims

1. 1. A method for manufacturing a face ebauche (4a, 4b) of a measuring device attached to a mounting plate (3a, 3b), comprising: A forming step (34) of forming a central cavity (9a) within the enclosure of the mould (2) and a peripheral cavity (9b) formed around the central cavity (9a), the forming step (34) is formed by reversibly assembling a first mold part (7a) and a second mold part (7b) of the mold (2), a forming step (34) of fitting the positioning plates (3a, 3b) into the enclosure (35); a construction step (36) of constructing the dial ebauches (4a, 4b) in the central cavity (9a) and the mounting elements (10) in the peripheral cavity (9b); a demolding step (40) in which the positioning plates (3a, 3b) with the dial ébauches (4a, 4b) and the constructed mounting elements (10) are demolded from the mould (2) to ensure the mounting of the dial ébauches (4a, 4b) on the positioning plates (3a, 3b); A method comprising:

2. When the positioning plates (3a, 3b) are fitted (35) in the enclosure, the central opening (6a) and the through holes (6b) formed in the positioning plates (3a, 3b) are positioned opposite the central impression (5a) and the peripheral impression (5b) formed on the inner surface (19a) of the first mold part (7a), respectively; The inner surface (19a) contributes to forming the enclosure of the mould (2). The method of claim 1.

3. Upon the fitting (35) of the positioning plates (3a, 3b) in the enclosure, outlet ports (23) of the material injection circuits (8) formed in the flat receiving surfaces (19b) of the second mold part (7b) communicate with the through holes (6b) formed in the positioning plates (3a, 3b), respectively. The method of claim 1.

4. During the building step (36), material is injected into the central cavity (9a) and the peripheral cavity (9b) of the mould (2) through outlet ports (23) formed in the receiving surface (19b) of the second mould part (7b). The method of claim 1.

5. As the material is injected (38), it first enters each peripheral cavity (9b) until it reaches the central cavity (9a), where it accumulates to form the dial ebauches (4a, 4b). The method of claim 1.

6. the injected material continues to flow through the outlet ports (23) while accumulating in each peripheral cavity (9b) after the dial ebauches (4a, 4b) have been constructed, to form the attachment element (10) with a separable connecting portion (14); The separable connecting part (14) connects the mounting element (10) to the dial ebauches (4a, 4b). The method of claim 1.

7. The building step (36) involves providing an injection point (13) in the interface area located between an outlet port (23) formed in the receiving surface (19b) of the second mould part (7b) and the through-hole (6b) in the plate (3a, 3b). The method of claim 1.

8. The building step (36) involves adjusting the temperature of the enclosure (39) by performing an operation to cool the enclosure after the injection of material into the enclosure is complete. The method of claim 1.

9. The demoulding step (40) involves separating (41) the first mould part (7a) and the second mould part (7b) from each other. The method of claim 1.

10. The demolding step (40) involves separating (41) the first mould part (7a) and the second mould part (7b) from each other and involves breaking (42) the injection points (13) that constitute the base of one end of each mounting element (10) that is flush with the underside (18b) of the positioning plates (3a, 3b). The method of claim 1.

11. and constructing the design of the positioning plates (3a, 3b) by forming a central through-opening (6a) and a plurality of through-holes (6b) located around the periphery of the through-opening (6a) within the thickness of the body of the positioning plates (3a, 3b). The method of claim 1.

12. and preparing (31) a central impression (5a) and a peripheral impression (5b) of the first mold section (7a) from at least one original part so as to form the central impression (5a) and the peripheral impression (5b) of the first mold section (7a) on the inner surface (19a) of the first mold section (7a). The method of claim 1.

13. The measuring device is a wristwatch. The method of claim 1.

14. A system (1) for manufacturing face plates (4a, 4b) of measuring devices attached to a mounting plate (3a, 3b) using the method according to claim 1, comprising: The system (1) includes a mold (2) in which an enclosure is formed, the enclosure including a central cavity (9a) and a peripheral cavity (9b) formed around the periphery of the central cavity (9a); The enclosure is formed by reversibly assembling a first mold part (7a) and a second mold part (7b) of this mold (2), the first mold part (7a) and the second mold part (7b) are configured to receive the positioning plates (3a, 3b); The central and peripheral cavities (9a, 9b) are configured to structure the dial ebauches (4a, 4b) and the mounting elements (10) so as to ensure the mounting of the dial ebauches (4a, 4b) on the positioning plates (3a, 3b). System (1).

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