Timepiece Component Bonding via Digital Adhesion Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the horological field, existing bonding methods for timepiece components, such as shellac-based adhesives, face challenges due to surface tension issues caused by contamination and variability in natural materials like shellac, leading to inconsistent mechanical strength and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a digitally printed adhesion layer, which adjusts the surface tension of timepiece components, allowing for the use of more resistant epilames and ensuring consistent bonding with adhesives like shellac or epoxy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If shellac-based adhesive is used for bonding pallet-stones to pallet-lever, then natural material availability is improved, but bonding consistency deteriorates due to variability in shellac composition and surface tension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a primer composition to modify the surface tension parameters of the pallet-lever surface. This changes the physical-chemical parameters of the bonding interface, enabling consistent adhesive wetting and bonding despite variations in natural shellac composition. The primer adjusts surface energy to ensure reliable adhesive attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The primer composition acts as an intermediary layer between the pallet-lever surface and the shellac adhesive. This intermediate layer mediates the interaction between the substrate and adhesive, ensuring consistent bonding performance by providing a controlled surface tension interface that compensates for variations in natural materials.
2Reliability
If epilame coating is applied to pallet-stones to control surface tension, then lubricant adhesion is improved, but adhesive wetting deteriorates when high-resistance epilames are used
Solution Approach 1:
The primer composition is applied to the pallet-lever surface before adhesive application as a preliminary action. This pre-treatment prepares the surface by modifying its tension characteristics, ensuring that subsequent adhesive application achieves proper wetting and bonding even when epilame coatings are present on the pallet-stones.
Solution Approach 2:
The primer is applied locally to specific bonding areas on the pallet-lever surface. This creates localized zones with modified surface properties that are optimized for adhesive attachment, while leaving other areas of the component unchanged. The local application ensures precise control over where bonding occurs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning operations are performed after epilame coating to remove contamination, then surface cleanliness is improved, but epilame effectiveness deteriorates due to partial degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The primer composition is applied as a preliminary treatment that is more resistant to subsequent cleaning operations. This pre-applied layer provides a stable foundation that can withstand cleaning processes without degrading the epilame coating, maintaining surface tension control throughout the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The primer composition provides a cushioning protective layer that shields the epilame coating from degradation during cleaning operations. This prior protection ensures that the epilame maintains its effectiveness despite exposure to cleaning processes that would otherwise partially degrade it.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enhances the bonding of timepiece components by ensuring precise control over the bonding area's surface tension, improving mechanical strength, and maintaining aesthetic specifications while reducing the impact of dirt and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The composition is sprayed in the form of an ink... with a digitally printed adhesion layer, which adjusts the surface tension of timepiece components
Implementation Method 2
The adhesive is thus applied in such a way that a layer of adhesive is formed. This application of the adhesive, or the deposition of this layer of adhesive, is then followed by the solidification of the primer composition
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for bonding timepiece components, comprising applying an adhesive to a first and/or second timepiece component to be bonded to one another, and depositing an adhesion layer onto at least one of the first and second components to be bonded by spraying a primer composition in a localised joining area followed by the solidification of the primer composition. The adhesion layer is deposited prior to the application of the adhesive if the adhesive is applied to the one or more same components as the adhesion layer.