Abstract:
A mold for imparting a marking including a requisite optical element having two and a half dimensions (2.5D) to the outer surface of an article formed from a ductile material, said mold comprising a marking surface for imparting the mark to an outer surface of the article by way of localized plastic deformation of the material from which the article is formed upon the mold and the article being urged against each other, said marking surface including a micro-structure formed by an arrangement of a plurality of micro meter sized recessed or protruded entities. The entities are arranged in a predetermined arrangement in relation to each other and said entities being arranged as a micro-structure having two and a half dimensions (2.5D), wherein said entities are arranged in an inverse arrangement in respect of the requisite optical element to be formed on the surface of an article, and said entities are arranged so as to provide one or more recesses extending in a direction of from said marking surface into the mold. The one more recesses are sized and shaped such that upon the mold being urged against the article, the optical element is imparted to the article upon deformation of the ductile material so as to conform with the surfaces of the plurality of micro meter sized recessed or protruded entities and wherein ductile material is plastically deformed and urged into said one or more recesses and conforms with the recesses, wherein deformation and flow of the ductile material into the recesses reduces lateral stresses imparted to the mold adjacent the recesses, and ductile urged into the recesses forms a portion of the material from deformation of the ductile material being imparted to the entities optical element having two and a half dimensions (2.5D).
Abstract:
A method of increasing concentricity in use of a spiral hairspring mechanical timepiece; the hairspring having an inner terminal end portion for engagement with a collet and an outer terminal end portion for engagement with a stud, a first limb portion extending from the inner terminal end portion towards the outer terminal end portion, and a stiffening portion positioned at the outer turn of the hairspring and having a cross-sectional second moment of area different to that of the first limb portion; such that the bending stiffness of the stiffened portion has a greater bending stiffness than that of the single limb portion; wherein said method including the steps of modifying the cross-sectional second moments of area of first limb portion and the stiffening portion by way of minimization of a cost function throughout the amplitude of the rotation of hairspring in use, wherein the cost function is correlated to the net concentricity of the hairspring.
Abstract:
"An apparatus for coating at least a first plurality of articles each article thereof having at least a first surface to be coated is disclosed. The apparatus includes an emission source for directing emission elements towards the first surfaces of the plurality of articles, at least one support member for supporting the first plurality of articles, wherein support member supports the first plurality of articles such that the first surface is exposed to the path of emission from said emission source, and a drive assembly for moving the support member such that the first plurality of articles is moveable with respect to the path of emission from said emission source."
Abstract:
A method of producing unitary formed silicon balance spring (2) having an overcoil portion for regulation of a mechanical timepiece includes providing a silicon balance spring (2) having a main body portion (23), and an outer portion (22) for formation as an overcoil portion, wherein the outer portion (22) extends radially outward from an outermost turn of the main body portion (23) and wherein said main body portion (23) and said outer portion (22) are integrally formed from a silicon based material and are formed in a co-planar configuration. The outer portion (22) is moved in a direction relative to and out of the plane of said main body portion (23), and in a direction towards over said main body portion (23) and towards the plane of the main body portion. A stress relaxation process is provided to the balance spring so as to relieve internal stresses induced within the balance spring from the second step. After movement of said outer portion (22) into the plane of said main body portion (23), the outer portion (22) is located in an overcoil configuration relative to said main body portion.
Abstract:
A method of increasing concentricity in use of a spiral hairspring mechanical timepiece; the hairspring having an inner terminal end portion for engagement with a collet and an outer terminal end portion for engagement with a stud, a first limb portion extending from the inner terminal end portion towards the outer terminal end portion, and a stiffening portion positioned at the outer turn of the hairspring and having a cross-sectional second moment of area different to that of the first limb portion; such that the bending stiffness of the stiffened portion has a greater bending stiffness than that of the single limb portion; wherein said method including the steps of modifying the cross-sectional second moments of area of first limb portion and the stiffening portion by way of minimization of a cost function throughout the amplitude of the rotation of hairspring in use, wherein the cost function is correlated to the net concentricity of the hairspring.