HK1203647B - Timepiece - Google Patents

Description

Clock and watch

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of horology, and in particular to a time display device for a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece, and to a mechanism for making the device.

Background

In mechanical horology, the hour and minute hands, which move relative to a scale, are commonly used to indicate time.

Mechanical watches of the prior art comprise a display device, in particular for time, which has the original characteristics of distinguishing it from a traditional analog display, usually comprising coaxial hour and minute hands at the centre of the movement.

For example, known mechanical timepieces have rotatably mounted studs (stud) that provide different display surfaces. For example, WO patent No.20080144948 includes an embodiment for analog display of pointer movement. For this purpose, the stake(s) are arranged in the conventional manner of a timepiece display indicator. The stud corresponding to one piece of information to be displayed has a specific surface, while the other studs have a uniform surface. For example, the face of the stake representing the information has a particular color, while the other stakes have different colors. At the next hour change, the particular stakes that were active during the previous hour are actuated to display the same color as the other stakes. At the same time, the columns that are active in the new hour are also activated to display a particular color. Thus, in this embodiment, the stakes are actuated at least twice per cycle and the result obtained is the same as the result of the pointer movement.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to propose another original display device for indicating in particular hours and/or minutes.

The invention therefore concerns a timepiece including a timepiece movement having an information display mechanism driven by power take-off means, said information display mechanism including N display elements for said information, evenly distributed around the periphery of the movement, characterized in that said N display elements are each pivoted vertically on a driving spindle and are able to assume different first and second radial positions with respect to the centre of the movement, said display element(s) being driven in sequence over time by a common first annular jump drive means so that each display element changes in sequence from a first position to a second position and is held in said second position until the end of a cycle at which all display elements are in their respective second positions; and the second ring drive means is arranged to reposition all display elements in their respective first positions at the start of the next cycle.

According to one embodiment, the indicator element takes the form of a cursor, the two radial positions of the display element being mutually angularly spaced by 40 ° with respect to the drive axis, and the sequential driving of the display elements is accomplished by means of a pin fixed to the first annular drive means, said pin being arranged to push a cam integral with the display element, said cam being associated with a jumper spring to define the first and second positions in a stable manner. Preferably, the display element displays time information and the timepiece comprises 59 display elements, each defining a different minute.

Drawings

The characteristics of the invention will become clearer from reading the description of a preferred embodiment, given purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a top view of a timepiece according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front view of a timepiece according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a detail of the barrel winding mechanism of a timepiece movement according to the invention.

Fig. 4A is a partial view from the back cover side of a device for driving the minute display element of a timepiece according to the invention.

Figures 4B and 4C show a detail view of the driving device for the minute display element of a timepiece according to the invention, viewed from the dial side.

Fig. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a timepiece movement according to the invention, on the side of the back cover.

Figures 6 and 6A show a perspective view of the driving mechanism of the minute display element, and a detail thereof, respectively, viewed from the rear cover side of the timepiece of the invention.

Figures 7A and 7B show perspective views of the mechanism for repositioning the minute display element, seen from the rear cover side of the timepiece according to the invention.

Figures 8 and 8A show a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the hour display element, and a detail thereof, seen from the rear cover side of the timepiece of the invention, respectively.

Fig. 8B shows a perspective view of the drive mechanism for the hour display element, seen from the dial side of the timepiece of the invention.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective cross-section of the display mechanism for the 12 th hour, seen from the dial side of the timepiece of the invention.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the mechanism for correcting the hour display element, seen from the dial side of the timepiece of the invention.

Fig. 10A shows a perspective detail of the mechanism for correcting the hour display element, seen from the back cover side of the timepiece of the invention.

Fig. 10B shows a perspective view of the mechanism for correcting the minute display element, seen from the rear cover side of the timepiece of the invention.

Fig. 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the bottom plate and the various plates, seen from the rear cover side of the timepiece movement of the timepiece of the invention.

Figures 12 and 13 show a front view of the timepiece movement of the timepiece of the invention, seen from the dial side (dial omitted) and from the back cover side, respectively.

Detailed Description

With reference to figures 1 and 2, there is shown a wristwatch 1, this wristwatch 1 having an hour circle (hour circle) formed by a case 2, this case 2 being formed in a conventional manner by a middle part and a back cover and housing a dial 3, a time display device 4 according to the invention, a movement MVT, a mirror 5 and a crown 7.

The time display device 4 comprises 11 hour hands 8, which are turned 180 degrees against the hour circle itself, with the exception of the 12 point hands. The 11 hour hands are triangular and extend in the plane of the dial. They pivot on a driving spindle which extends perpendicularly to the dial 3. Time is indicated by the orientation of the apex of the triangle in the direction of the outer diameter. Only one of the 11 hands 8 can occupy this position at a given moment.

The spindle of the 12-point pointer carries a disc on which a connecting rod is articulated, the other end of the connecting rod being connected to a hatch (hatch) which slides in translation in a fixed guide. The hatch has a circular aperture. As with the pointer, the disc can occupy two fixed positions determined by the pointer drive system. The door arrangement is actuated for a period of one hour at midday and midnight and reveals an indication, such as a logo, in the aperture of the door.

The display of the minutes is achieved by 59 hands 10 mounted on spindles perpendicular to the dial 3. These hands 10 rotate over an angle of 40 °. The two end positions of these hands 10 correspond to a retracted position, in which hands 10 are hidden by dial 3, and to a display position visible to the user of the watch. The last minute is indicated by simultaneously resetting 59 hands 10. The minute reading corresponds to the number of minute hands 10 oriented along a determined radial position.

The hour and minute displays are driven by two hopping means and the minute displays are provided with a back-off drive system.

Dial 3 is partially transparent and comprises an opaque peripheral annular area 3A and a central area 3B, between which a transparent annular area 3C is defined. The opaque central region 3B is concave-convex in the illustrated embodiment and takes the form of a faceted crown. The dial 3 has a central hole 3D where the transparent part cooperates with the hatch and exposes the top of the movement. At noon and midnight, the hole of the hatch door is superimposed on the hole of the dial to reveal the logo. Preferably, the dial is treated with an anti-reflection coating. In the visible display position, minute hand 10 appears in transparent annular area 3C of dial 3.

The movement and drive mechanism of these various display devices carried by the plate P of the movement will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In particular, fig. 3 shows that the movement comprises two barrel 100, 101, mounted between the plate P and the bar 207 (fig. 11). The first barrel 100 is used in a conventional manner to drive a gear train and an adjustment mechanism (balance wheel) mounted in a conventional manner between plate P and balance bridge 208 (fig. 11). The second barrel 101 is used to drive the display device. The two barrels 100, 101 are independently wound by a winding stem 102 in their intermediate winding position. The second barrel 101 is wound in a clockwise winding direction, while the first barrel 100 is wound in a counterclockwise direction. To this end, winding stem 102 is associated with a sliding intermediate wheel 103, sliding intermediate wheel 103 comprising a pinion 104, pinion 104 meshing with one or other of ratchet wheels 100A, 101A of barrel 100, 101 in the direction of rotation of stem 102. The winding of the first barrel 100 is effected by means of the counter pinion 105.

Fig. 4A shows a second barrel 101 which drives a minute control ring 109 in the direction of arrow F1 through an internal gear ring 109A at a rate of one revolution per hour via a gear train comprising two wheel sets 106, 107 and a pinion 108. The control ring 109 includes radially extending drive fingers 110 at its outer periphery. Preferably, the control ring 109 is guided for rotation between the minute clamp plate 111 and the bottom plate by means of ruby guide rollers 112 via intermediate clamp plates (one of which, 202, is shown in fig. 5). The control ring 109 is held by the clamping plate of the minute ring 204 (fig. 11). The drive finger 110 comprises a contact pin 110A intended to come into contact with a cam 113 connected to a spindle 114 carrying the minute indicator, in order to in turn drive the minute indicator in rotation through an angle of 40 °.

These spindles 114 passing through the machine plate P pivot in pairs of ruby bearings which are driven into holes 200, 201 of a minute clamp 111 and a display clamp 203, respectively, arranged on each side of the machine plate P.

As can be seen from above, the cam 113 has substantially a double-cornered (bicorn) shape, comprising two beaks 113A and 113B connected by two shaped surfaces 113C and 113D. The contact pin 110A comes into contact with the beak 113A during its rotation, thereby rotating the spindle 114 through an angle of 40 °. The amplitude of the rotation is set by a beak 113B, which beak 113B abuts against a flank 115A of an abutment ring 115, which abutment ring 115 comprises a plurality of stop elements defined by radial flanks of an externally grooved toothing with 59 teeth (fig. 4B, 4C), one tooth 115B extending over a sector corresponding to two consecutive teeth. The abutment ring 115 is arranged concentrically with the control ring 109 and in a plane below the control ring 109. The abutment ring 115 has an additional function in addition to the locking function, which will be explained below. Cam 113 is held in place at various positions corresponding to various positions (visible or hidden) of the minute hand by a plurality of springs 116A carried by jumper spring 116, springs 116A extending at an angle from the inner periphery of jumper spring 116. There are 59 such springs, each associated with an assembly comprising a cam 113 and a minute hand spindle 114.

The minute control ring 109 is rotated forward by the adjustment means so that the control ring 109 makes indexed forward movements in 6 jumps, as will be explained with reference to fig. 6. The adjustment device is driven by a first barrel 100, the first barrel 100 being connected to a gear train and adjustment mechanism, its barrel wheel 100A meshing with a pinion 117 via a toothing 100B, the pinion 117 being integral with a minute wheel (not shown) carrying a sixty wheel 118, said sixty wheel 118 completing one full revolution in 60 minutes. The sixty-wheel 118 is engaged via an intermediate wheel 119 with a control assembly 120 for a lever assembly 121, which lever assembly 121 is used to stop/release the rotation of the control ring 109. The lever assembly 121 is formed of a lever body having a substantially longitudinal shape. The lever assembly 121 pivots between the bottom plate P and a clamping plate (not shown). The body of the lever assembly 121 comprises, at each of its ends, a lifting member 121B, said lifting members 121B cooperating respectively with two superposed internal toothed rings 109B and 109C arranged above the toothed ring 109A. The lever assembly 121 further includes a spindle 122 at an end portion near one of the lifters 121B, the spindle 122 carrying a ring-shaped jewel 123 (fig. 6A). The annular jewel 123 cooperates with a cam path 124A of a wheel 124, which wheel 124 is driven by the intermediate wheel 119 via a pinion 125 coaxial with the wheel 124. In the example shown, the wheel 124 has a shaped annular hollow bore 126 that defines a cam path 124A. The shape of the cam path 124A is configured to: an oscillating motion is imparted to the lever assembly 121 to alternately stop and release the rotational motion of the control ring 109 via contact between the lift 121B and the ring gears 109B and 109C of the control ring 109.

Once 59 minutes have elapsed and 59 minute hands 10 have all been brought into the respective display positions by means of the control ring 109, these minute hands 10 must all be repositioned in the respective rest positions, in which these minute hands 10 are hidden from view to the user, until a new time cycle is initiated. For this purpose, the movement of the invention has a mechanism 127 for repositioning minute hand 10, as shown in fig. 7A, 7B. The repositioning mechanism 127 acts simultaneously on all cams 113 via the abutment ring 115. The repositioning mechanism 127 includes a control-reset lever 128 that pivots at a between two clamp plates (not shown). The lever 128 has two arms 128A, 128B in the form of a fork at a first end and a return spring 128C bent into a U shape at a second opposite end, the return spring 128C being made as a single piece with the body of the lever 128.The ends of the arms 128A engage in respective notches 115C provided at the inner periphery of the abutment ring 115, while the ends of the arms 128B extend between the abutment ring 115 and the drive ring 109. The drive ring 109 carries a pin 129, which pin 129 is positioned to make contact with the end of the arm 128B once per hour, driving the lever 128 in rotation in the direction of arrow F (fig. 7A), which lever 128 in turn drives the abutment ring 115 via the end of the arm 128A. The rotation of the abutment ring 115 drives all the beaks 113B in rotation via the flanks 115A and simultaneously tilts these beaks 113B into the respective rest position in which the pointers associated with these beaks 113B are hidden from the view of the user. More specifically, the repositioning mechanism 127 is shown in FIG. 7A after all of the pointers have returned to their hidden positions. The pin 129 has just released the arm 128B and the lever 128 has returned to its rest position by means of the spring 128C. In fig. 7B, the mechanism 127 is shown in a state 3 minutes after the hour. The pin 110A has caused the first three cams 113₁、113₂、113₃Tilt to bring the corresponding pointer into the respective display position.

Referring to fig. 8, 8A and 8B, the driving of the time indicating element will now be explained. Barrel 101 drives a pinion 130, on the spindle of which pinion 130 is mounted a snail-shaped cam 131, on which cam 131 slides a beak of a first arm 132A of a drive lever 132 pivoted at B. The drive lever 132 pivots in a pair of ruby bearings which are driven into a lever clamp plate 205 and a display clamp plate 206 (fig. 11), respectively. The actuation lever 132 includes a second arm 132B, the second arm 132B being angled (approximately 90 ° in the illustrated example) with respect to the first arm 132A. The second arm 132B extends with a toothed sector 132C centered on the pivot pin B. The radial end of the second arm 132B carries a stop element 133 provided with a jewel 133A, which jewel 133A cooperates with a spring 134 to return the actuation lever 132 in the direction of the arrow C (fig. 8) to maintain the permanent contact between the beak of the arm 132A and the cam 131. Spring 134 is fixed via one end to the bridge of the movement. The actuation lever 132 further comprises a stop element 132D, which stop element 132D extends substantially in radial extension of the second arm 132B. Toothed sector 132C meshes with a pinion 135 fixed on a spindle 136, which spindle 136 is mounted free to rotate in an assembly comprising a roller 137, a cam 138 and a second drive pinion 139 for an hour control ring 140, fixed to each other. The roller 137 also carries a pivotally mounted beak 141, which beak 141 is held in contact with the cam 138 by a spring 142. This control device allows the hour control ring 140 to move forward in a jumping manner from the continuous rotation of the cam 131. In the example shown, hour control ring 140 includes two toothed segments 140A, 140B on its outer periphery, which are angularly spaced by 30 °, and each segment includes two teeth. Said toothed sectors in turn mesh with two star wheels 143 with 6 teeth, said star wheels 143 being evenly distributed at the periphery of the hour control ring 140. Each star wheel 143 is fixed to a spindle 143A carrying the hour hand 8, except for a spindle 143B shorter than the spindle 143A, which spindle 143B is arranged at 12 o' clock, the display function of which will be explained below. Spindles 143A and 143B pivot between pairs of ruby bearings that are driven into plate P and hour ring clamp plate 210, respectively.

Fig. 8B also shows that one face of drive ring 140 is fixed to a check ring 144, which check ring 144 is concentric with drive ring 140 and functions to lock the rotation of drive ring 140 in the direction of arrow S4 after each forward jump of drive ring 140 via a lock jumper spring 145 fixed to plate P. Jumper spring 145 includes a first locking arm 145A that engages check ring 144, and a second arm 145B whose function will be explained below with reference to fig. 10. The check ring 144 comprises 12 toothed segments 144A at its inner periphery, each tooth being in the shape of a ratchet/wolf tooth, and flanks 144B, which flanks 144B are in abutting engagement with the beak of jumper spring 145.

Of course, in different embodiments, the number of teeth of each toothed segment 140A, 140B may be other than two, and the number of teeth comprised by the star wheel 143 may be other than six, depending on the desired angle of rotation of the indicator fixed to the star wheel 143. Similarly, in other variations, only one toothed segment 140A may be provided on the control ring 140. In this case, however, it would be necessary to provide a device for repositioning the display elements which are fixed on a star wheel of the type described above.

As snail 131 continues to rotate in the direction of arrow S1 under the drive of barrel 101, arm 132A passes over snail profile 131, causing drive 132 to pivot about its pin B in the direction of arrow S2, against the return force of spring 134, until the beak of arm 132A reaches the maximum diameter of snail 131, at which point arm 132A falls down the radial flank of snail 131, making contact with the minimum diameter of snail 131. At the same time, the drive lever 132 returns in the direction of arrow C, thereby driving the spindle 126 via the pinion 135. When one of the two flanks 138A, 138B (fig. 8A) comes into contact with the assembly comprising the roller 137, the cam 138 and the pinion 139 via the beak 141, this assembly is then driven in rotation and the pinion 139 drives the hour control ring 140 in the direction of the arrow S3, so that the two toothed sectors 140A, 140B drive the two successive star wheels 143.

The 12 o' clock display will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 9. The spindle 143B of the 12 th hour carries a disc 146 on which disc 146 there is hinged a connecting rod 147, the other end of which connecting rod 147 is connected to a hatch 148, which hatch 148 slides in translation in a fixed guide structure 149, which fixed guide structure 149 is preferably provided with linear ball bearings. The guide structure 149 is mounted on a top hour plate 209. the top hour plate 209 is secured to an hour ring plate 210 (FIG. 11). The hatch door 148 has a circular aperture 148A. Disk 146 and pointer 8 can occupy two fixed positions defined by drive ring 140. In the first position, the aperture of the hatch 148 is juxtaposed with the corresponding aperture 3D on the dial 3 and reveals the indication M carried by the movement. In the second position, hatch 147 closes aperture 3D. This door arrangement 148 is activated at midday and midnight, during one hour, and an indication is revealed through an aperture of the door 148, for example a logo, the aperture of the door 148 showing an indication of 12 o' clock.

The hour and minute correction apparatus 150 will be explained with reference to fig. 10, 10A and 10B. In addition to its intermediate winding position, winding stem 102 can occupy a extracted position in which it allows correction in hours and minutes.

The hour is corrected by rotating winding stem 102 in the clockwise direction (arrow SH) at the extraction position of the stem. Once extracted, winding stem 102 actuates lever 151 to position sliding pinion 152 in mesh with wheel set 153, wheel set 153 comprising wheel 153A and pinion 153B. The pinion 153B thereafter rotates in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from the dial. Pinion 153B meshes with a train of wheels comprising wheels 154, 155, 156. The train pivots on pins provided on the board P and is held by an hour drive clamp 211 (fig. 11). The wheel 156 carries a wheel 157 on one of its faces, the wheel 157 comprising three toothed segments 157A, in this example each segment 157A comprising three teeth. The wheel 157 is temporarily engaged with a first toothed segment 158, which first toothed segment 158 comprises in this example three teeth of an annular wheel 159, said annular wheel 159 pivoting on a circular wall 160 of the bedplate P. The wheel 159 includes a second toothed segment 161 angularly spaced from the first toothed segment 158, the second toothed segment 161 being permanently meshed with a toothed segment 162, the toothed segment 162 being integral with a return rack 163, the return rack 163 pivoting between the plate P and the corrector plate 212 (fig. 11). The return rack 163 comprises a lug (lug) carrying a pin 164, said pin 164 extending perpendicular to the plane of the return rack 163 and cooperating with an arm 145B of the return spring 145. The annular wheel 159 also includes lugs 159A that extend radially from the periphery of the wheel 159. Toothed segments 158, 162 and lug 159A are angularly spaced from one another by approximately 120 deg.. The lug 159A terminates in a beak 165, which beak 165 extends in the tangential direction of the wheel 159. Actuating finger 166 is pivotally mounted at C in the end portion of boss 159A. The finger 166 includes an end portion 166A, the end portion 166A being held in contact with the inner periphery of the ring 144 via a spring 167, the spring 167 abutting a clamping plate (not shown) of the machine plate. Finger 166 further includes an abutment pin 168, which abutment pin 168 cooperates with beak 165 of lug 159A to limit the angular travel of the finger relative to lug 159A, as shown with reference to fig. 10A.

When the stem is rotated in a clockwise direction, the wheel 159 is thus temporarily driven in a first stage by the wheel trains 153, 154, 155, 156, 157 to rotate through an angular distance in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed from the dial). During this first stage, end portion 166A of finger 166 is placed in contact with the next flat 144B in the counterclockwise direction. At this stage, the toothed segments 158 are not engaged with the respective toothed segments 157A. In the second stage, the return rack 163, which is moved by the restoring force of the spring 145B, drives the wheel 159 to rotate in the clockwise direction (as viewed from the dial), and allows the ring 144 to be driven to rotate in the clockwise direction via the finger 166, which finger 166 is in contact with the flank 144B in the first stage. Rotation of the shoulder 144 causes the hour display to be driven via the toothed segments 140A, 140B and the star wheel 143 to correct.

The minute is corrected by rotating the stem 102 in the counterclockwise direction (arrow SAH) at the pulled-out position of the stem. The pinion 153B thereafter rotates in the clockwise direction as viewed from the dial, and drives the wheel 170 integrated with the pinion 171 in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed from the dial). The assembly comprising the wheel 170 and the pinion 171 is carried by a sliding gear structure 172, the centre of rotation of which sliding gear structure 172 coincides with the axis of the pinion 153B. During the anticlockwise rotation of the stem 102, the sliding gear structure 172 is angularly displaced so that the pinion 171 meshes with a wheel 173, this wheel 173 being integral with the sixty wheel 118, said sixty wheel 118 driving the minute display mechanism, as shown with reference to fig. 10B.

Referring now to fig. 11, the plate P and the various clamping plates of the movement MVT, which are the supports of the above-mentioned mechanism, are shown in an exploded perspective view.

Fig. 12 and 13 show front views of a timepiece movement of a timepiece of the invention, seen from the dial side (dial omitted) and from the back cover side, respectively.

In a variant embodiment of the invention, the number of hands 10 may be different from 59 and any type of time or other information/animation displayed step by step, for example each hand may carry a letter or a portion of information that appears over time, or may display the time, month, day of the week and/or date.

Claims (5)

1. A timepiece comprising a timepiece movement provided with an information display mechanism driven by power take-off means, the information display mechanism including N display elements for information, the N display elements being regularly distributed over the periphery of the movement, characterized in that the N display elements are each pivoted vertically on a drive spindle and are able to assume different first and second radial positions with respect to the centre of the movement, the display elements being driven in sequence over time by a common first annular jump drive means, so that each display element varies in sequence from the first radial position to the second radial position and is held in the second radial position until the end of the period when all the display elements are in the respective second radial position; and a second annular jump drive arranged to reposition all the display elements in respective first radial positions at the start of the next cycle, wherein the first annular jump drive comprises a control ring provided with pins cooperating with cams, each cam being integral with a display element; the second endless drive means comprises an abutment ring cooperable with the cam.

2. Timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the indicator element is in the form of a hand, and the two radial positions of the display element are mutually spaced by an angle of 40 ° with respect to the driving arbour.

3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sequential driving of the display elements is effected by means of a pin fixed to the first annular driving means, said pin being arranged to push a cam integral with the display element, said cam being associated with a jumper spring to define the first and second radial positions in a stable manner.

4. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the display element displays time information.

5. Timepiece according to claim 1, comprising 59 display elements, each defining a different number of minutes.