HK1072295B - Timepiece including base plate formed of resin and wheel train - Google Patents

Description

Timepiece having resin-made substrate and gear train device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a timepiece, such as an analog electronic timepiece or a mechanical timepiece, having a resin-made substrate, rotor, gear, or the like. Further, the present invention relates to a gear train device having a resin-made base plate, a bearing member, a gear, and the like.

Background

Conventionally, in a timepiece having a train wheel rotated by a motor, for example, in an analog electronic timepiece, the train wheel is rotated by driving a rotor formed of a stepping motor. For example, a train wheel is composed of gears such as a fifth wheel, a fourth wheel, a third wheel, and a minute wheel. The rotor pinion (in the rotor, a portion other than the rotor magnet, the same applies hereinafter), the fifth wheel, the third wheel, and the like may be made of metal, or may be made of so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

Further, there has been conventionally provided a train wheel device that rotates by the force of a spring, and for example, in a mechanical timepiece, a train wheel is rotated by the rotation of a wire case with a spring. For example, a gear train is constituted by gears such as a hairspring box wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, a fourth wheel, and a herringbone gear. The gear has a gear portion and a stub shaft. The bearing part is arranged on the chassis, the gear train bearing and the second bearing. The shaft head of the gear is supported by the bearing portion so as to be rotatable. The third and fourth wheels, etc. may be made of metal or so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

The chassis constitutes a substrate of an analog electronic timepiece or a mechanical timepiece. The train wheel bearing and the second bearing constitute bearing parts of an analog electronic timepiece or a mechanical timepiece. The chassis, the wheel train bearing, and the second bearing may be made of metal such as brass or engineering plastic such as polycarbonate.

However, in a timepiece including a rotor made of engineering plastic, a plastic part such as a fifth wheel, a fourth wheel, and a third wheel, when the plastic part is conveyed by a part conveyor, the plastic part may be electrically charged by friction. Referring to fig. 9, when the charged plastic parts, for example, when the rotor 876 made of plastic is gripped by the cartridge 880 made of metal, the charged negative pole (-) of the cartridge 880 and the charged negative pole (-) of the rotor 876 repel each other (or the charged positive pole (+) of the cartridge 880 and the charged positive pole (+) of the rotor 876 repel each other), and there is a possibility that the rotor 876 may be detached or fly out in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Referring to fig. 10, a movement mechanism (mechanical part) 800 in an analog electronic timepiece includes a chassis 802 and a stator 874. In the simulated electronic winning movement mechanism (mechanical part) 800, when the charged rotor 876 is assembled to the base plate 802, the charged positive pole (+) of the base plate 802 and the charged positive pole (+) of the rotor 876 repel each other (or the charged negative pole (-) of the base plate 802 and the charged negative pole (-) of the rotor 876 repel each other), and there is a risk that the rotor 876 may float or fly upward as indicated by an arrow. As a result, the head of the rotor 876 cannot be positioned at a prescribed position, and when the train wheel bearing 812 is assembled to the chassis 802 in such a state, there is a risk of bending the head of the rotor 876 or damaging the head of the rotor 876.

Further, referring to fig. 11, when the charged rotor 876 is charged with lubricating oil (watch oil, shown by hatching in fig. 11) by using the oil lubricator 888, when the oil lubricator 888 is close to the charged rotor 876, since the non-conductive lubricating oil is also charged by being divided into polarities, oil droplets of the lubricating oil may be attached not only to a portion of the rotor 876 requiring lubricating oil, for example, a portion other than the stub shaft in fig. 11, but also to a portion not requiring lubricating oil, for example, a pinion portion other than the stub shaft of the rotor 876.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been a problem that it is necessary to spray an antistatic agent on plastic parts such as a rotor pinion, a fifth wheel, a fourth wheel, and a third wheel. In addition, it has been necessary to ground various parts manufacturing machines, assembling machines, and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

The timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, and the motor includes a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head; a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, wherein the gear is provided with a gear part and a shaft head; a chassis having a shaft head for supporting the rotor and/or a shaft head of the gear so as to be rotatable; the chassis is formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin.

In the timepiece of the present invention, the base is made of a thermoplastic resin as a base resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the base resin. Since such a filler-added resin has conductivity, the chassis made of such a filler-added resin is free from the risk of electrification. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the electrification preventing agent is not sprayed on the plastic parts such as the rotor, the fifth wheel, the fourth wheel, and the third wheel, the plastic parts can be held by the chucks. In the timepiece of the invention, the plastic component can be reliably attached to the chassis. In the timepiece of the present invention, when the lubricant (timepiece lubricant) is injected from the lubricator to the plastic parts such as the rotor, the chassis, and the bearing, the oil droplets of the lubricant can be made to adhere to the parts requiring the lubricant, for example, the bearing parts such as the spindle head and the hole, without adhering to the parts requiring the lubricant, and without scattering and adhering to the parts requiring no lubricant, for example, the pinion.

Further, the timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, and the motor includes a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head; a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, wherein the gear is provided with a gear part and a shaft head; a chassis having a shaft head for supporting the rotor and/or a shaft head of the gear so as to be rotatable; the chassis is made of metal or plastic, and the rotor and/or the gear are formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin.

Furthermore, the timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, and the motor includes a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head; a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, wherein the gear is provided with a gear part and a shaft head; a chassis having a shaft head for supporting the rotor and/or a shaft head of the gear so as to be rotatable; the chassis is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin; the rotor and/or the gear are/is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin.

Further, the timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a power spring constituting a drive source, and a gear for driving the rotation of the power spring with the power spring as the drive source; the gear has a gear portion and a stub shaft; a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear; the chassis is formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin.

Further, the timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a power spring constituting a drive source, and a gear for driving the rotation of the power spring with the power spring as the drive source; the gear has a gear portion and a stub shaft; a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear; the chassis is made of metal or plastic, and the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin.

Further, the timepiece of the invention is characterized in that it has a power spring constituting a drive source, and a gear for driving the rotation of the power spring with the power spring as the drive source; the gear has a gear portion and a stub shaft; a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear; the chassis is formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin, and the gear is formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin.

In the timepiece of the present invention, the base resin is preferably selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (polyethylene oxide), polyamide, modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, and the like. In the timepiece of the present invention, the carbon filler is preferably selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, vapor grown carbon fibers, nano-graphite fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", layered "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the above carbon fillers with boron (boron element) incorporated therein.

Further, a gear train device according to the present invention, which includes a gear, a base plate, and a bearing member, includes: a gear with a gear portion and a head; a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear; and a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the spindle head at the other side of the gear; the chassis and the bearing member are formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a gear train device capable of reliably attaching a plastic part to a chassis by gripping the plastic part with a gripper without spraying an antistatic agent on gears such as fifth, fourth, and third wheels and a transmission wheel.

Further, a gear train device according to the present invention, which includes a gear, a base plate, and a bearing member, includes: a gear with a gear portion and a head; a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear; and a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the spindle head at the other side of the gear; the chassis is made of metal or plastic, the bearing member is made of metal or plastic, and the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin.

Further, in the wheel train device comprising the gear, the base plate, and the bearing member according to the present invention,

it has: a gear with a gear portion and a head; a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear; and a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the spindle head at the other side of the gear; the chassis and the bearing member are formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin, and the gear is also formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin.

In the gear train device of the present invention, the matrix resin is preferably selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (polyethylene oxide), polyamide, denatured polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, and the like. In the above-described train wheel device of the present invention, the carbon filler is preferably selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, vapor grown carbon fibers, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the above carbon fillers with boron (boron element) incorporated therein.

In the present invention, the term "substrate" is not limited to a chassis, and the concept includes the following components: base parts such as a third lower base, plate parts such as a calendar lining plate, pressure plate parts such as a liner pressure plate and a calendar wheel pressure plate, and frame parts such as a scroll frame and a battery frame. In the present invention, the term "bearing member" includes bearings such as a second bearing, a third bearing, and a train wheel bearing. That is, in the present invention, the "base plate" and the "bearing member" refer to various members having a bearing member for rotatably supporting a rotating member such as a gear or a rotor in a timepiece or a train wheel device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the shape of a movement mechanism seen from a timepiece side in a first embodiment of the invention (a part of parts are omitted in fig. 1);

fig. 2 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a portion from the second hand motor to the second hand in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a part from a minute hand motor to a minute hand in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a portion from the hour hand motor to the hour hand in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the shape of a movement mechanism seen from the timepiece side in a second embodiment of the invention (parts are omitted in FIG. 5, and bearing members are shown by phantom lines);

figure 6 is a schematic partial section view from the spring box to the spring plate in a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a portion from the herringbone gear to the balance in the second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic partial sectional view showing an assembling process of the second hand rotor in the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a process of grasping a rotor with a collet in a conventional timepiece;

fig. 10 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a rotor assembling process in the conventional timepiece;

fig. 11 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a step of adding oil to a spindle head of a rotor in a conventional timepiece.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

First, a first embodiment of the present invention is explained. A first embodiment of the invention is a timepiece having a rotor and a train wheel, i.e., an analog electronic timepiece. Referring to fig. 1 to 4, in a first embodiment of the analog electronic timepiece of the invention, a movement mechanism (mechanical portion) 100 of the analog electronic timepiece has a chassis 102 constituting the movement mechanism. The reel 110 is rotatably mounted in a reel guide hole of the chassis 102. A dial 104 (shown in phantom lines in fig. 2) is mounted in the motion mechanism 100. The movement mechanism 100 has a switching spring 166 for determining the position of the spool 110 in the axial direction.

On the "front side" of the movement mechanism 100, the following various components are arranged: battery 120, circuit module 116, hour motor 210, hour display train 220, minute motor 240, minute display train 250, second motor 270, second display train 280, and the like. The chassis 102, the train wheel bearing 112, and the second bearing 114 constitute a support member. By the rotation of the hour motor 210, the hour display train wheel 220 is driven to rotate, and the hour hand 230 displays the "hour" at the present time. The minute display train wheel 250 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the minute motor 240, and the minute at the present time is displayed by the minute hand 260. The second display train 280 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the second motor 270, and the second hand 290 displays the "second" at the current time.

The circuit module 116 includes an IC118 and a crystal oscillator 122. The circuit module 116 is fixed to the chassis 102 and the train wheel bearing 112 with a switch spring 162, and an insulating plate 160 is interposed therebetween. The switching spring 166 is integrally formed with the switching spring 162. The battery 120 constitutes a power source of the analog electronic timepiece. As a power source of the analog electronic timepiece, a chargeable secondary battery or a chargeable capacitor may be used. The crystal vibrator 122 constitutes a vibration source of an analog electronic timepiece, and can emit vibrations of 32 hz and 768 hz, for example.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the second motor 270 includes a second coil module 272, a second stator 274, and a second rotor 276. When the second motor driving signal is inputted to the second coil block 272, the second stator 274 is magnetized to rotate the second rotor 276. The second rotor 276 may be configured to rotate 180 degrees every second, for example. The second rotor 276 includes the following components: an upper stub shaft 276a, a lower stub shaft 276b, a pinion gear portion 276c, a rotor magnet 276 d. The upper and lower stub shafts 276a and 276b and the pinion 276c are made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

As the second rotator 276 rotates, the second wheel 284 rotates by the rotation of the second transmission wheel 282. The second transmission wheel 282 includes the following portions: an upper stub shaft 282a, a lower stub shaft 282b, a pinion gear portion 282c, a gear portion 282 d. The pinion gear portion 276c meshes with the gear portion 282 d. The second transmission wheel 282 is made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene. Second wheel 284 makes one revolution per minute. The seconds wheel 284 includes an upper axle head 284a, a roller-type roller portion 284b and a gear portion 284 d. The pinion gear portion 282c is engaged with the gear portion 284 d. The upper stub shafts 284a and roller sections 284b are made of metal such as carbon steel. Gear portion 284d is made of metal such as brass.

A second hand 290 is mounted on the second wheel 284. The second wheel 284 may be disposed at the center of the analog electronic timepiece or may be disposed at a non-center position of the analog electronic timepiece. The second hand 290 constitutes a second display member. As the second display member, a second hand, a disk, or a display member having a flower shape or a geometric shape may be used. The second display train 220 includes a second transmission wheel 282 and a second wheel 284. The second rotator 276 and the second transmission wheel 282 are rotatably supported by the chassis 102 and the train wheel bearing 112. The seconds wheel 284 is rotatably supported by the center pipe 126 and the train wheel bearing 112 provided on the second bearing 114. That is, the upper spindle head 276a of the second rotator 276, the upper spindle head 282a of the second transmission wheel 282, and the upper spindle head 284a of the second wheel 284 can support rotation relative to the train wheel bearing 112. Further, a lower shaft head 276b of the second rotator 276 and a lower shaft head 282b of the second transmission wheel 282 are supported on the chassis 102 to be rotatable.

The lubricating oil is injected in the following portions: a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 112 for supporting an upper spindle 276a of the second rotor 276 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 112 for supporting an upper spindle head 282a of the seconds transmission wheel 282 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 112 for supporting an upper spindle head 284a of a seconds wheel 284 to be rotatable. Lubricating oil is also injected into the bearing portion of the chassis 102 that supports the lower shaft head 276b of the seconds rotator 276 so as to be rotatable, and the bearing portion of the chassis 102 that supports the lower shaft head 282b of the seconds transmission wheel 282 so as to be rotatable. The lubricating oil is preferably a lubricating oil for precision machines, and more preferably a so-called watch oil. An example of such a clock oil is a lubricating oil (registered trademark "meibis (メ - ビス)") available from meibis (メ - ビス).

In order to improve the performance of the lubricant oil retained in the respective bearing portions of the train wheel bearing 112, on the respective bearing portions of the base plate 102, it is desirable to provide the oil reservoir portion in a conical shape, a cylindrical shape, or a truncated cone shape. When the oil reserving portion is provided, the lubricating oil can be effectively prevented from being diffused due to the surface tension of the lubricating oil. The date wheel 170 is rotatably supported on the chassis 102. A date wheel pressure plate 172 supports the date wheel 170 on the chassis 102. It is preferable that the lubricating oil is also injected into the portion where the tip portion of the date wheel 170 contacts the chassis 102. The lubricating oil is preferably a lubricating oil for precision machines, and more preferably a so-called watch oil.

The chassis 102 and the wheel train bearing 112 are formed of a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin, and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the matrix resin. When the chassis 102 and the wheel train bearings 112 are made of resin containing a filler, the filler can effectively retain lubricating oil, and therefore, even if the bearing portion is not treated to retain lubricating oil, the possibility of spreading of lubricating oil can be reduced. Therefore, the timepiece and train wheel device having the train wheel of the invention have a long life of the spindle head and the bearing portion and are convenient to maintain.

The matrix resin used in the present invention is usually polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (polyethylene oxide), polyamide, modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyether imide, or the like. That is, the matrix resin in the present invention may be any so-called general-purpose engineering plastic or super engineering plastic. In the present invention, general-purpose engineering plastics other than those described above or super engineering plastics may be used as the matrix resin. The matrix resin used in the present invention is preferably a thermoplastic engineering resin.

The carbon filler used in the present invention is generally the following: single-layer carbon nanotube, multi-layer carbon nanotube

Tubes, vapor grown carbon fibers, nano-graphite fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-layer "fullerenes", multi-layer "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein. The carbon filler is preferably contained in an amount of 0.2 to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the resin to which the filler is added. Alternatively, the carbon filler is preferably contained in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by volume based on the total volume of the resin to which the filler is added.

The diameter of the single-walled carbon nanotube is preferably in the range of 0.4 to 2nm, and the aspect ratio (length/diameter) is preferably in the range of 10 to 1000, more preferably 50 to 100. The single-layer carbon nano tube is of a single-layer structure and is made into a hexagonal net shape with a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape. Single-walled Carbon nanotubes are available from Carbon Nanotechnologies lnc (CNI) in the united states under the trade name "SWNT".

The diameter of the multilayered carbon nanotube is in the range of 2nm to 100nm, and the preferable aspect ratio is in the range of 10 to 1000, and preferably in the range of 50 to 100. The multilayer carbon nanotube is a multilayer structure and is made into a hexagonal net shape with a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are available from "day-machine-assembled" under the trade name "MWNT".

Such a carbon nanotube is described in "カ - ボンナノチコ - ブ, and developed open and open valves する electrode material application (carbon nanotube, rapidly developed electronics)" ("japanese patent No. サイエンス (japanese science)" journal No. 2001, No. 52-62), "ナノ material selection (challenge of nano material)" ("japanese patent No. メカニカル (japanese mechanical engineering)" 2001, No. 36-57), which is a work by p.g. korshin et al. Further, for example, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2001-200096 discloses a structure and a production method of a resin composition containing carbon fibers.

The vapor grown carbon fiber has a diameter of 50 to 200nm, and preferably has an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000, more preferably 50 to 100. The vapor grown carbon fiber has a multilayer structure and is made into a hexagonal net shape with a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape. Vapor grown carbon fiber is available from sho and electrician companies under the trade name "VGCF" (registered trademark). Vapor grown carbon fibers are disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open Nos. 5-321039, 7-150419, and 3-61768.

The outer diameter of the nano graphite fiber is in the range of 2nm to 500nm, and the preferable aspect ratio is in the range of 10 to 1000, and preferably in the range of 50 to 100. The nano-graphite fibers have an almost solid cylindrical shape. The nano-graphite fibers are available from the zeta potential electronics company.

The diameter of the carbon nano rod is within the range of 2nm-500nm, the ideal aspect ratio is within the range of 10-1000, and the best range is 50-100. The carbon nanorods have a cup shape made into a hexagonal net shape.

The cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotube has a cup-shaped configuration in which the carbon nanorods are stacked, and an ideal aspect ratio thereof is in the range of 10 to 1000, preferably in the range of 50 to 100. The "fullerene" is a molecule having a carbon cluster as a base, and in the definition of CAS, 20 or more carbon atoms are bonded to 3 adjacent atoms, respectively, to form a closed sphere. The single layer "fullerene" has a football-like shape. The ideal diameter of the monolayer fullerene is 0.1nm to 500 nm. The composition of an ideal monolayer "fullerene" is C60-C540. The monolayer "fullerene" may be, for example, C60, C70, C120. The diameter of C60 was approximately 0.7 nm. The multilayer "fullerene" has a derivative shape in which the single-layer "fullerene" is laminated in a concentric shape. The diameter of the multilayer "fullerene" is preferably 0.1 to 1000nm, more preferably 1 to 500 nm. The composition of the multilayer "fullerene" is preferably C60 to C540. The ideal structure for a multilayer "fullerene" is to place C70 outside C60 and C120 outside C70. Such multilayer "fullerene" is described in the catchment society (journal of the precision engineering society) "vol.67, No.7, 2001," for generation and characterization of the structure of the polyhedral material ヘ (generation of a large amount of fullerene "in the onion structure and its application to a lubricating material), [ the structure of fullerene" in the chlamydial mocha, etc. [ オニオン structure フラ - レン ] and the like.

The carbon filler may be prepared by doping any of these carbon fillers (single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, vapor-grown carbon fibers, nano graphite fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes") with boron (boron element). The method of incorporating boron (boron element) into the carbon filler is described in, for example, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2001-200096. In the method described in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2001-200096, carbon fibers produced by a gas phase method and boron (boron element) are mixed by a mixer of a suspension mixer type, and the mixture is heated to 2300 ℃ in a high frequency furnace or the like to be heat-treated. Then, the heat-treated mixture was pulverized by a pulverizer. Next, a base resin and the pulverized mixture are blended at a predetermined ratio, and melt-mixed in an extruder to prepare pellets.

Referring to fig. 1-4, the negative terminal 170 of the battery is mounted on the chassis 102. The negative terminal 170 of the battery is in communication with the cathode of the battery 120 and the negative input Vss of the IC118 through the negative circuit of the circuit module 116. The cell press plate 172 is mounted on the switch spring 162. The battery pressure plate 172 and the switch spring 162 are in communication with the anode of the battery 120 and the positive input Vdd of the IC118 through the positive circuit of the circuit module 116.

Referring to fig. 1 and 3, the minute motor 240 includes a minute coil assembly 242, a minute stator 244, and a minute rotor 246. When the minute motor driving signal is inputted to the minute coil block 242, the minute stator 244 is magnetized to rotate the minute rotor 246. The minute rotor 246 is structured to rotate 180 ° every 20 seconds, for example. The minute rotor 246 includes the following portions: an upper stub shaft 246a, a lower stub shaft 246b, a pinion gear portion 246c, and a rotor magnet 246 d. The upper stub shaft 246a, the lower stub shaft 246b and the pinion gear portion 246c are made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

The first minute transmission wheel 252 rotates with the rotation of the minute rotor 246, and then the minute wheel 256 is rotated through the second minute transmission gear 254 which rotates with the rotation of the first minute transmission wheel 252. The first minute transmission wheel 252 includes an upper spindle head 252a, a lower spindle head 252b, a pinion gear portion 252c, and a gear portion 252 d. Pinion gear portion 246c meshes with gear portion 252 d. The first minute transmission wheel 252 is made of so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene. The second minute transmission wheel 254 includes an upper spindle head 254a, a lower spindle head 254b, a pinion portion 254c, and a gear portion 254 d. The pinion gear portion 252c meshes with the gear portion 254 d. The second minute transmission wheel 254 is made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

The minute wheel 256 includes a cylindrical portion 256a and a gear portion 256 d. The pinion gear portion 254c meshes with the gear portion 256 d. The cylindrical portion 256a is made of metal such as carbon steel. The gear portion 256d is made of metal such as brass. Minute wheel 256 makes one revolution every 1 hour. Minute hand 260 is mounted on minute wheel 256. The center of rotation of minute wheel 256 is the same as the center of rotation of second wheel 284. The minute hand 260 constitutes a minute display section. The minute display member may be a minute hand, a disk, or a display member having a flower or other geometric shape.

The minute display train 250 includes a first minute drive wheel 252, a second minute drive wheel 254, and a minute wheel 256. The minute rotator 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252, and the second minute transmission wheel 254 are rotatably supported on the chassis 102 and the train wheel bearing 112. The minute wheel 256 is in contact with, supported by, and rotatable with the outer circumferential portion of the center pipe 126 provided on the second bearing 114. That is, the upper spindle head 246a of the minute rotator 246, the upper spindle head 252a of the first minute transmission wheel 252, and the upper spindle head 254a of the second minute transmission wheel 254 are rotatably supported by the train wheel bearing 112. In addition, the lower spindle head 246b of the minute rotator 246, the lower spindle head 252b of the first minute transmission wheel 252 and the lower spindle head 254b of the second minute transmission wheel 254 are rotatably supported on the chassis 102.

The lubricating oil is injected in the following portions: a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 112 for rotatably supporting an upper spindle 246a of a minute rotor 246; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 112 for supporting the upper spindle 252a of the first minute transmission wheel 252 to be rotatable; an upper spindle head 254a of the second minute transmission wheel 254 is supported so as to be rotatable by a bearing portion of the train wheel bearing 112. Lubricating oil is also injected in the following sections: a lower shaft head 246b of the minute rotor 246; a bearing portion of the chassis 102 for supporting the lower shaft head 252b of the first minute transmission wheel 252 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 102 for supporting the lower shaft head 254b of the second minute transmission wheel 254 to be rotatable. The lubricating oil is preferably a lubricating oil for precision machines, and more preferably a so-called watch oil. In order to improve the performance of retaining the lubricating oil, it is preferable to provide conical, cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped oil retaining portions on each bearing portion of the train wheel bearing 112 and each bearing portion of the base plate 102.

Referring to fig. 1 and 4, the hour motor 210 includes an hour coil module 212, an hour stator 214, and an hour rotor 216. When the hour coil module 212 inputs an hour motor driving signal, the hour stator 214 is magnetized, so that the hour rotor 216 is rotated. The hour rotor 216 is structured to rotate 180 degrees every 20 minutes, for example. The hour rotor 216 includes an upper shaft head 216a, a lower shaft head 216b, a pinion gear portion 216c, and a rotor magnet 216 d. The upper and lower stub shafts 216a and 216b and the pinion gear portion 216c are made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

First hour drive wheel 222 rotates as hour rotor 216 rotates. The hour wheel 226 rotates with the rotation of the first hour transmission wheel 222 by the rotation of the second hour transmission wheel 224. The first hour transmission wheel 222 includes an upper spindle head 222a, a lower spindle head 222b, a pinion gear portion 222c, and a gear portion 222 d. The pinion gear portion 216c meshes with the gear portion 222 d. The first hour drive wheel 222 is made of so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene. The second hour transmission wheel 224 includes an upper spindle head 224a, a lower spindle head 224b, a pinion portion 224c, and a gear portion 224 d. The pinion gear portion 222c meshes with the gear portion 224 d. The second hour transmission wheel 224 is made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

The hour wheel 226 includes a cylindrical portion 226a and a gear portion 226 d. The pinion gear portion 224c meshes with the gear portion 226 d. The hour wheel 226 is made of metal such as brass. The hour wheel 226 makes one revolution every 12 hours. The hour hand 230 is mounted on the hour wheel 226. The center of rotation of hour wheel 226 is the same as the center of rotation of minute wheel 256. Therefore, the rotation center of the hour wheel 226, the rotation center of the minute wheel 256, and the rotation center of the second wheel 284 are the same. The hour hand 230 constitutes an hour display part. The hour display may be an hour hand, a disk, or a display including a flower or other geometric shape.

Hour display wheel train 220 includes a first hour drive wheel 222, a second hour drive wheel 224, and an hour wheel 226. The hour rotator 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222 and the second hour transmission wheel 224 are rotatably supported by the chassis 102 and the train wheel bearing 112. The hour wheel 226 is in contact with, supported by, and rotatable with an outer circumferential portion of the minute wheel 256. That is, the upper spindle head 216a of the hour rotator 216, the upper spindle head 222a of the first hour transmission wheel 222, and the upper spindle head 224a of the second hour transmission wheel 224 are rotatably supported by the train wheel bearings 112. In addition, the lower spindle head 216b of the hour rotator 216, the lower spindle head 222b of the first hour transmission wheel 222 and the lower spindle head 224b of the second hour transmission wheel 224 are rotatably supported on the chassis 102.

The lubricating oil is injected in the following portions: a bearing portion of a wheel train bearing 112 for rotatably supporting an upper shaft head 216a of the hour rotor 216; a bearing portion of a wheel train bearing 112 for supporting the upper spindle 222a of the first hour transmission wheel 222 to be rotatable; an upper spindle head 224a of the second hour transmission wheel 224 is supported so as to be rotatable by a bearing portion of the train wheel bearing 112. Lubricating oil is also injected in the following sections: a lower shaft head 216b of the hour rotor 216; a bearing portion of the chassis 102 for supporting the lower shaft head 222b of the first hour transmission wheel 222 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 102 supporting the lower shaft head 224b of the second hour transmission wheel 224 to be rotatable. The lubricating oil is preferably a lubricating oil for precision machines, and more preferably a so-called watch oil. In order to improve the holding performance of the lubricating oil, it is preferable to provide conical, cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped oil retaining portions on each bearing portion of the train wheel bearing 112 and each bearing portion of the base plate 102.

As the hour wheel 226 rotates, a date rotating wheel (not shown) also rotates. The date wheel is designed to be rotated by the hour wheel 226. A date turning claw (not shown) provided on the date wheel advances the date wheel 170 by one tooth every day.

Next, a method of manufacturing the movement mechanism 100 of the analog electronic timepiece according to the first embodiment of the analog electronic timepiece of the invention will be described. The chassis 102 and the wheel train bearing 112 are made of a thermoplastic resin as a base resin, and are formed by injection molding of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the base resin. The minute rotator 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252, the second minute transmission wheel 254, the hour rotator 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222, the second hour transmission wheel 224, the second rotator 276 and the second transmission wheel 282 are formed by injection molding using polyoxymethylene. Other parts were manufactured by conventional manufacturing methods.

Referring to fig. 8, a tray 410 for holding and transporting the chassis 102 is made of a material having conductive properties. The tray 410 may be made of metal such as brass, or may be made of the above-mentioned resin with a filler by injection molding. The tray 410 is disposed on a conveying member 420 made of metal such as brass. The transport member is grounded. The metal collet 480 is also grounded. The second rotator 276 is held by a chuck 880 made of metal, and the second rotator 276 is fitted into the chassis 102. Even if second rotor 276 is electrically charged as shown in the figure, second rotor 276 does not come off cartridge 480 because cartridge 480 is grounded. Further, even if the second rotor 276 is charged as shown in the figure, since the conveyance member 420 is grounded, the tray 410 and the chassis 102 are also grounded, so the second rotor 276 does not come off the chassis 102.

That is, in the present invention, since the resin to which the filler is added has conductive properties, the chassis 102 is not electrically charged. Therefore, the plastic parts such as the minute wheel 246, the first minute wheel 252, the second minute wheel 254, the hour wheel 216, the first hour wheel 222, the second hour wheel 224, the second wheel 276, and the second wheel 282 can be reliably assembled to the base plate 102 by gripping the plastic parts with the chucks without spraying the antistatic agent. Similarly, the minute rotator 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252, the second minute transmission wheel 254, the hour rotator 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222, the second hour transmission wheel 224, and the second transmission wheel 282 can be held by the chuck to reliably assemble these plastic parts to the base 102.

Further, the wheel train bearing 112 may be held by a metal chuck and assembled to the chassis 102. Even if the second rotor 276 is charged as shown in the figure, since the collet 480 is grounded, the train wheel bearing 112 is grounded, and the second rotor 276 does not come off the train wheel bearing 112. The method of manufacturing the movement mechanism of the timepiece is applicable not only to the chassis 102 and the train wheel bearing 112 but also to bearing members such as a second bearing and a third bearing, a base member such as a third lower base, a pressing member such as a calendar plate, a spacer press plate and an hour wheel press plate, and a case such as a winding reel and a battery case.

As a modification, the entire rotor of the second-minute rotor 276, the second transmission wheel 282 may be formed of a thermoplastic resin as a base resin, and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to such a base resin. When the entire rotor of the second rotor 276 and the second driving wheel 282 are made of the resin to which the filler is added, the second rotor 276 and the second driving wheel 282 are not electrified because the above resin to which the filler is added has an electric conductivity. Thus, the plastic parts can be securely mounted to the chassis 102 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips.

Further, as a modification, the entire rotor of the minute rotor 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252, and the second minute transmission wheel 254 may be formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin. When the entire rotors of the minute rotor 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252 and the second minute transmission wheel 254 are made of the resin to which the filler is added, the minute rotor 246, the first minute transmission wheel 252 and the second minute transmission wheel 254 are not charged because the above-mentioned resin to which the filler is added has the conductive property. Thus, the plastic parts can be securely mounted to the chassis 102 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips.

Further, as a modification, the entire rotor of the hour rotor 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222, and the second hour transmission wheel 224 may be formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin. When the entire rotor of the hour rotor 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222, and the second hour transmission wheel 224 are made of the resin to which the filler is added, the hour rotor 216, the first hour transmission wheel 222, and the second hour transmission wheel 224 are not charged due to the conductive property of the above resin to which the filler is added. Thus, the plastic parts can be securely mounted to the chassis 102 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips.

In each of the above modifications, although it is also desirable that the chassis 102 and the wheel train bearing 112 are made of the above resin to which the filler is added, the chassis 102 and/or the wheel train bearing 112 may be made of a resin, or a resin to which the filler is not added may be made. In this configuration, since the plastic parts to be assembled to the chassis 102 are not electrically charged, the plastic parts can be securely mounted to the chassis 102 by grasping the plastic parts with the clips.

[ second embodiment ]

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is explained. A second embodiment of the invention is a mechanical timepiece having a power spring and a train wheel. Referring to fig. 5 to 7, in the mechanical timepiece, a movement mechanism (mechanical piece) 300 of the mechanical timepiece has a chassis 302 that constitutes a base plate of the movement mechanism. The reel 310 is assembled in the reel guide hole 302a of the chassis 302 to be rotatable. A number plate 304 (shown in phantom in fig. 26) is mounted on the motion mechanism 300. In general, of the two sides of the chassis, the side having the dial is referred to as "inner side" of the moving mechanism, and the side opposite to the side having the dial is referred to as "surface side". The wheel train mounted on the "front side" of the movement mechanism is called a "front side wheel train", and the wheel train mounted on the "inner side" of the movement mechanism is called an "inner side wheel train".

The position of the spool 310 in the axial direction is determined by a switching device including a pressure base 390, a lock lever 392, a lock lever spring 394, and an inner pressure plate 396. The main wheel 312 is provided on the guide shaft portion of the spool 310 to be rotatable. When the spool 310 is rotated in a state where the spool 310 is in the first spool position (0 th) closest to the inside of the moving mechanism in the direction of the rotation axis, the main wheel 312 is rotated by the rotation of the drum wheel. The hole wheel 314 is rotated by the main wheel 312. The square hole wheel 316 is rotated by the circular hole wheel 314. As square hole wheel 316 rotates, spring 322 housed in spring wheel 320 is wound up. The second wheel 324 is rotated by the spring wheel 320. The herringbone gear 330 is rotated by the rotation of the fourth wheel 328, the third wheel 326, and the second wheel 324. The spring wheel 320, the second wheel 324, the third wheel 326 and the fourth wheel 328 form the train of the timepiece.

An escapement governor for controlling the rotation of a clock train includes a balance spring mechanism 340, a herringbone gear 330, and a reed 342. The balance-spring mechanism 340 includes a balance staff 340a, a balance 340b, and a balance spring 340 c. The cylindrical pinion gear 350 rotates with the rotation of the second wheel 324. The cylindrical wheel 354 rotates with the rotation of the cylindrical pinion gear 350 by the rotation of the date inside wheel. Hour hand 356 mounted on cylindrical wheel 354 shows "hours".

The hairspring 340c is a spiral-shaped sheet spring wound in many turns. The inner end of the balance spring 340c is fixed to a needle bearing 340d of the balance staff 340a, the outer end of the balance spring 340c is fixed by caulking by a needle collet 370a attached to a needle bearing holder 370, and the needle bearing holder 370 is fixed to the balance spring mechanism bearing 366. The safety pin 368 is rotatably mounted on the balance spring mechanism bearing 366. A hairspring bearing 1340 and hairspring lever 1342 are mounted on the safety pin 368. The portion of the balance spring 340c near the outer end is located between the balance spring bearing 1340 and the balance spring lever 1342. Balance spring 340 is rotatably supported by chassis 302 and balance spring bearing 366.

The spring wheel 320 has a spring gear 320d, a spring shaft 320f, and a spring 322. The barrel shaft 320f includes an upper head 320a and a lower head 320 b. The spring shaft 320f is made of metal such as carbon steel. The power spring gear 320d is made of metal such as brass. The second wheel 324 includes an upper spindle head 324a, a lower spindle head 324b, a pinion gear portion 324c, a gear portion 324d, and an abacus ball roller portion 324 h. The pinion gear portion 324c meshes with the clockwork gear 320 d. The upper head 324a, lower head 324b, and abacus bead roll portion 324h are all made of metal such as carbon steel. Gear portion 324d is made of metal such as brass.

The third wheel 326 includes an upper axle stub 326a, a lower axle stub 326b, a pinion 326c, and a gear portion 326 d. The pinion gear portion 326c meshes with the gear portion 326 d. The third wheel 326 is made of a so-called engineering plastic, such as polyoxymethylene. The fourth wheel 328 includes an upper shaft head 328a, a lower shaft head 328b, a pinion 328c, and a gear portion 328 d. The pinion gear portion 328c meshes with the gear portion 328 d. The fourth wheel 328 is made of a so-called engineering plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

The double helical gear 330 includes an upper spindle head 330a, a lower spindle head 330b, a pinion gear 330c, and a gear portion 330 d. Pinion gear portion 330c meshes with gear portion 328 d. The upper and lower stubs 330a and 330b are made of metal such as carbon steel. The gear portion 330d is made of metal such as iron. The reed 342 has a reed body 342d and a reed shaft 342 f. The reed shaft 342f includes an upper head 342a and a lower head 342 b. The reed body 342d is made of a metal such as nickel. The reed shaft 342f is made of metal such as carbon steel.

The spring wheel 320 is rotatably supported by the base plate 302 and the spring bearing 360. That is, the upper spindle 320a of the spring wheel 320f is rotatably supported by the spring bearing 360. And the lower shaft head 320b of the spring wheel 320f is rotatably supported on the chassis 302. The second wheel 324, the third wheel 326, the fourth wheel 328, and the herringbone gear 330 are rotatably supported by the chassis 302 and the train wheel bearing 362. That is, the upper head 324a of the second wheel 324, the upper head 326a of the third wheel 326, the upper head 328a of the fourth wheel 328, and the upper head 330a of the herringbone gear 330 are rotatably supported by the train wheel bearing 362. Further, the lower axle head 3246 of the second wheel 324, the lower axle head 3266 of the third wheel 326, the lower axle head 3286 of the fourth wheel 328, and the lower axle head 3306 of the herringbone gear 330 are rotatably supported on the chassis 302. The reed 342 is rotatably supported by the chassis 302 and the reed bearing 364. That is, the upper stub shaft 342a of the reed 342 is rotatably supported by the reed bearing 364. And the lower stub shaft 342b of the reed 342 is supported on the chassis 302 to be rotatable.

Lubricating oil is injected into each of the following bearing portions: a bearing portion of a spring bearing 360 for rotatably supporting the upper head 320a of the spring shaft 320 f; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 362 for supporting the upper spindle 324a of the second wheel 324 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 362 for supporting the upper axial head 326a of the third wheel 326 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 362 for supporting the upper spindle 328a of the fourth wheel 328 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of a train wheel bearing 362 for supporting the upper spindle head 330a of the herringbone gear 330 to be rotatable; and a bearing portion for supporting the reed bearing 364 for rotation with the upper head 342a of the reed shaft 342. Lubricating oil is also injected in each of the following bearing portions: a bearing portion of the chassis 102 supporting the lower shaft head 276b of the second rotor 276 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 302 for supporting the lower shaft head 320b of the spring shaft 320f to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 302 supporting the lower spindle head 324b of the second wheel 324 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 302 supporting the lower spindle head 326b of the third wheel 326 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 302 for supporting the lower spindle head 328b of the fourth wheel 328 to be rotatable; a bearing portion of the chassis 302 supporting the lower shaft head 320b of the herringbone gear 330 to be rotatable; and a bearing portion of the chassis 302 for rotatably supporting the lower shaft head 342b of the reed shaft 342. The lubricating oil is preferably a lubricating oil for precision machines, and more preferably a so-called timepiece lubricating oil.

In order to improve the lubricant oil retention performance in the respective bearing portions of the base plate 302, the spring bearing 360, and the train wheel bearing 362, it is preferable to provide a conical, cylindrical, or truncated conical oil reservoir portion in these bearing portions. The provision of the oil retaining portion can effectively prevent the lubricating oil from spreading due to its surface tension. The base plate 302, the spring bearing 360, the train wheel bearing 362, and the reed bearing 364 are all formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin. When the base plate 302, the spring bearing 360, the train wheel bearing 362, and the reed bearing 364 are made of resin to which a filler is added, since these fillers can effectively retain the lubricating oil, there is little risk of the lubricating oil spreading even if the bearing portion is not subjected to a lubricating oil retaining treatment.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the resin to which the filler is added for the base plate 302, the spring bearing 360, the train wheel bearing 362, and the reed bearing 364 is the same as the resin to which the filler is added for the base plate 102 and the train wheel bearing 162 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the description of the filler-added resin, the matrix resin, and the carbon filler in the above-described first embodiment of the present invention is also applicable to the second embodiment.

Next, a method of manufacturing the movement 300 of the mechanical timepiece according to the second embodiment of the invention will be described. The base plate 302, the spring bearing 360, the train wheel bearing 362, and the reed bearing 364 are all formed by injection molding using a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a base resin. The third wheel 326 and the fourth wheel 328 are made of polyformaldehyde by injection molding. Other parts were manufactured by conventional manufacturing methods.

As with the structure shown in fig. 8, the tray for holding and transporting the chassis 302 is made of a material having conductive properties. The tray may be made of metal such as brass, or may be made of the above-mentioned resin with a filler by injection molding. The tray is disposed on a conveying member made of metal such as brass. The transport member is grounded. The metal chuck is also grounded. The third wheel 326 is grasped by a metal clip and the second third wheel 326 is loaded into the chassis 302. Even if the third wheel 326 is powered, the third wheel 326 does not disengage from the cartridge because the cartridge is grounded. Further, even if the third wheel 326 is charged, since the transport member is grounded, the tray and the chassis 302 are also grounded, so the third wheel 326 does not come off the chassis 302.

That is, in the present invention, since the above-described resin added with the filler has conductive properties, the chassis 302 is not electrically charged. Therefore, the plastic parts such as the third wheel 326, the fourth wheel 328 and the like can be reliably assembled to the chassis 302 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips without spraying the electrification preventing agent. Alternatively, the wheel train bearing 362 can be assembled to the chassis 302 by gripping the wheel train bearing 362 with a metal clip. Even if the third wheel 326 and the fourth wheel 328 are charged, since the chuck is grounded and the wheel train bearing of the container is grounded, the third wheel 326 and the fourth wheel 328 are not disengaged from the wheel train bearing 362. With the structure of the present invention, it is possible to reliably assemble the plastic parts such as the third wheel 326 and the fourth wheel 328 to the chassis 302 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips without spraying the antistatic agent on the plastic parts.

As a modification, the third and fourth wheels 326, 328 may be manufactured using a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a base resin. When the third and fourth wheels 326 and 328 are made of the resin added with the filler, the third and fourth wheels 326 and 328 are not charged with electricity because the resin added with the filler has conductive properties. Thus, the plastic parts can be securely assembled to the chassis 302 by gripping the plastic parts with the clips. In the above modification, although the chassis 302 and the train wheel bearing 362 are desirably made of the above filler-added resin, the chassis 302 and/or the train wheel bearing 362 may be made of metal or plastic of a resin to which a filler is not added. In this configuration, since the plastic parts to be assembled to the chassis 302 are not charged, the plastic parts can be grasped with the chuck to reliably assemble the plastic parts to the chassis 302.

[ other examples ]

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the embodiments of an analog electronic timepiece including a plurality of motors and a plurality of train wheels and the embodiments of a mechanical timepiece including a single power spring and a train wheel are described, but the present invention can also be applied to the following various timepieces: an analog electronic timepiece including only one motor and one gear train; an analog electronic timepiece including a motor and a plurality of train wheels; a mechanical timepiece including a plurality of mainsprings and a plurality of gear trains; a timepiece includes both a motor and a train wheel and also a clockwork spring and a train wheel.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, although an analog electronic timepiece and a mechanical timepiece are described, the present invention can be applied to the following various timepieces: an analog electronic timepiece including a motor and a gear train; an analog electronic timepiece including a motor and a plurality of gear trains; a mechanical timepiece including a plurality of mainsprings and a plurality of gear trains; a timepiece includes both a motor and a train wheel and also a clockwork spring and a train wheel. In the embodiments of the present invention described above, although an analog electronic timepiece and a mechanical timepiece have been described, the present invention can also be applied to a train wheel device including one or more gears.

In addition, in the timepiece of the invention, when the chassis is made of the above filler-added resin, and other parts such as the bearing member, the base member, the plate-like member, the pressing member, the frame member, and the like are also made of the above filler-added resin, the chassis can be electrically conducted with the above other parts made of the filler-added resin. The conducting method can be directly contacting the chassis with other parts, or conducting the chassis with other parts through pins, screws, levers, springs, bearing parts, base part plate parts and the like made of metal. In this structure, the plastic parts can be assembled to other parts by gripping the plastic parts with a chuck made of metal. Even if the plastic part is charged, the plastic part does not come off the chuck since the chuck is grounded. Further, even if the plastic parts are charged, since the conveying member is grounded, the tray, the chassis, and other members are grounded, so that the plastic parts do not come off the chassis. That is, in the present invention, since the above-mentioned resin to which the filler is added has conductive properties, the chassis and other components are not electrically charged.

Therefore, the plastic parts can be reliably assembled to other parts which are communicated with the chassis by gripping the plastic parts with the gripping head without spraying the antistatic agent on the plastic parts.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, in general, the matrix resin is: polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (polyethylene oxide), polyamide, denatured polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, but the following other plastics may also be used as the matrix resin, for example: polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 12, polypropylene, ABS resin, AS resin, and other thermoplastic resins. Further, two or more of the above thermoplastic resins may be mixed and used as the matrix resin. Further, additives (an antioxidant, a lubricant, a plasticizer, a stabilizer, a filler, a solvent, and the like) may be added to the matrix resin to which the present invention is applied.

Next, an example of test data showing that the resin to which the carbon filler is added has the conductive property in the above-described example will be described with reference to tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 shows the basic characteristics (intrinsic resistance) of the polyamide resin 12(PA12) to which 10% by weight or 20% by weight of the Carbon filler is added, and the polyoxymethylene resin (POW) and the polycarbonate resin (PC) are the resins to which 10% by weight or 20% by weight of the Carbon filler is added, namely, VGCF (registered trademark) "paper growth Carbon Fiber" in Table 1.

The various resins were injection molded under the molding conditions listed in Table 2. That is, in the composite material in which 20% by weight of the carbon filler was added to PA12, the temperatures of the mold for molding were: 220 ℃, 230 ℃, 220 ℃, 210 ℃ and 70 ℃; for the non-composite material of PA12, 190 deg.C, 200 deg.C, 180 deg.C, 170 deg.C, 70 deg.C, respectively. In the composite material in which 20% by weight of a carbon filler was added to POM, the respective temperatures were as follows: 200 ℃, 210 ℃, 190 ℃, 170 ℃ and 60 ℃; for non-composite materials of POM, respectively: 180 deg.C, 185 deg.C, 175 deg.C, 165 deg.C, 60 deg.C. In the composite material in which 20% by weight of a carbon filler was added to PC, the respective temperatures were as follows: 290 ℃, 310 ℃, 290 ℃, 270 ℃ and 80 ℃ for the non-composite material in PC, the temperatures are respectively as follows: 280 deg.C, 290 deg.C, 270 deg.C, 260 deg.C, 80 deg.C. The temperature conditions of the composite material in which 10% by weight of the carbon filler was added to PA12 were the same as those of the composite material in which 20% by weight of the carbon filler was added.

In Table 1, the volume resistance (Ω. cm) and the surface resistance (Ω/□) were measured by using a resistivity meter MCP-T600 (low resistance meter (ロレスタ GP), manufactured by Daienskyngeki Kaisha (ダイアインスツルメンツ Co., Ltd.) or MCP-HT 450 (high resistance meter (ハィレスタ UP), manufactured by Daienskyngeki Kaisha (ダイアインスツルメンツ Co., Ltd.)). The volume resistance was measured on a 100mm by 80mm by 2mm resin sheet.

As shown in Table 1, the improvement in surface resistance and volume resistance was much larger in the case of the resin containing 20% by weight of the carbon filler than in the case of the resin containing only 10% by weight of the carbon filler. The surface resistance and the volume resistance are criteria indicating the ease of charging with static electricity, and the smaller the surface resistance and the volume resistance, the more easily the static electricity is charged. Therefore, if the surface resistance (Ω/□) and the volume resistance (Ω · cm) are 10¹³～10³Within the range of (3), the material has a function of preventing electrification.

Therefore, if a resin containing 20% by weight of a carbon filler is used for manufacturing the chassis of a timepiece (or a wheel train) as described above, there is no possibility of electrification in the manufacturing process of such a chassis, and the like, and the parts can be reliably assembled to the chassis by gripping the parts with the chucks without spraying an antistatic agent on the plastic parts such as the rotor, the fifth wheel, the fourth wheel, and the third wheel.

TABLE 1

Item	Unit of	PA12			POM		PC
									VGCF		BLANK	VGCF	BLANK	VGCF	BLANK
		20wt％	10wt％	20wt％	20wt％
						Surface resistance	Q/□	6.3×10	4.7×10	7.7×10
Volume resistance	Q/cm	3.3×10	1.4×10	1.2×10	2.4×10						1×10		1.48×10		3×10

TABLE 2

	PA12		POM		PC
							VGCF	BLANK	VGCF	BLANK	VGCF	BLANK
	Nozzle with a nozzle body	220℃	190℃	200℃	180℃	290℃							280℃
Front part							230℃	200℃	210℃	185℃	310℃	290℃
	Middle part	220℃	180℃	190℃	175℃	290℃							270℃
Rear part							210℃	170℃	170℃	165℃	270℃	260℃
	Temperature of the mold	70℃	70℃	60℃	60℃	80℃							80℃

In the timepiece of the present invention, a thermoplastic resin is used as a base resin, and a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to the base resin is used to form a base. Since such a filler-added resin has conductivity, the chassis made of the filler-added resin cannot be charged electrically. Therefore, according to the present invention, the plastic parts can be held by the chuck without spraying the antistatic agent on the plastic parts such as the rotor, the fifth wheel, the fourth wheel, and the third wheel. Further, in the timepiece of the invention, the plastic parts can be reliably assembled to the chassis. Further, in the timepiece of the invention, when the lubricant (timepiece oil) is injected to the plastic parts such as the rotor and the chassis, the bearing, etc. using the oil injection tool, droplets of the lubricant can be allowed to adhere to the parts requiring the lubricant, for example, the bearing parts such as the shaft head part and the hole part, without scattering and adhering to the parts not requiring the lubricant, for example, the pinion, etc.

In the gear train device of the present invention, the electrification preventing agent is not sprayed on the gears such as the fifth wheel, the fourth wheel, the third wheel and the transmission wheel, and the parts can be grasped by the chuck, so that the plastic parts can be reliably assembled to the chassis.

Claims (14)

1. A timepiece, characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, said motor including a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head;

a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, the gear having a gear portion and a shaft head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the rotor and/or the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

2. A timepiece, characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, said motor including a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head;

a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, the gear having a gear portion and a shaft head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the rotor and/or the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

3. A timepiece, characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, said motor including a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head;

a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, the gear having a gear portion and a shaft head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the rotor and/or the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the rotor and/or the gear are/is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

4. A timepiece, characterized in that it has a motor constituting a driving source, said motor including a rotor having a pinion portion and a spindle head;

a gear driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotor, the gear having a gear portion and a shaft head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the rotor and/or the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the rotor and/or the gear are/is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

5. A timepiece, characterized by having a power spring constituting a drive source; and

a gear driven to rotate by the spring as a driving source, the gear having a gear portion and a spindle head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

6. A timepiece, characterized by having a power spring constituting a drive source; and

a gear driven to rotate by the spring as a driving source, the gear having a gear portion and a spindle head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

7. A timepiece, characterized by having a power spring constituting a drive source; and

a gear driven to rotate by the spring as a driving source, the gear having a gear portion and a spindle head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

8. A timepiece, characterized by having a power spring constituting a drive source; and

a gear driven to rotate by the spring as a driving source, the gear having a gear portion and a spindle head;

a chassis including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

9. The timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the matrix resin is selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, polyamide, denatured polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide.

10. A gear train device comprising a gear, a base plate, and bearing members, characterized in that it comprises the following members:

a gear having a gear portion and a stub shaft;

a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear;

a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head at the other side of the gear;

the chassis and the bearing member are formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

11. A gear train device comprising a gear, a base plate, and bearing members, characterized in that it comprises the following members:

a gear having a gear portion and a stub shaft;

a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear;

a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head at the other side of the gear;

the chassis and the bearing member are formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

12. A gear train device comprising a gear, a base plate, and bearing members, characterized in that it comprises the following members:

a gear having a gear portion and a stub shaft;

a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear;

a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head at the other side of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the bearing component is made of metal or plastic;

the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of: single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanographitic fibers, carbon nanorods, cup-shaped stacked carbon nanotubes, single-walled "fullerenes", multi-walled "fullerenes", and mixtures of any of the foregoing carbon fillers with boron incorporated therein.

13. A gear train device comprising a gear, a base plate, and bearing members, characterized in that it comprises the following members:

a gear having a gear portion and a stub shaft;

a chassis including a bearing part for rotatably supporting the shaft head on one side of the gear;

a bearing member including a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the shaft head at the other side of the gear;

the chassis is made of metal or plastic;

the bearing component is made of metal or plastic;

the gear is formed of a filler resin obtained by adding a carbon filler to a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin;

the carbon filler is vapor grown carbon fiber having a diameter of 50nm to 200nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 1000.

14. A train wheel device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13,

the matrix resin is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, polyamide, modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and polyether imide.