CH711099B1 - Winding device for watches. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for winding watches, comprising a support (2) for receiving a watch in the winding position, a power source (3) supplying a motor (4) arranged to generate a mechanical movement of reassembly. This device (1) comprises control means (100) comprising measurement means with sensor means (20) for vibratory and / or acoustic and / or magnetic measurement of the oscillator of a watch in the winding position. and analyzing signals transmitted by said measuring means and comparing them to parameterizable setpoints for controlling the operation of said motor (4) by switching on said motor (4) when the operating amplitude of said oscillator is lower than a minimum value , and stopping said motor (4) when the operating amplitude of said oscillator is greater than a maximum value.

Description

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device for winding watches, in particular mechanical or electronic with a source of mechanical energy, comprising at least one support for receiving a watch in a winding position, at least an energy source arranged to supply energy to at least one motor arranged to either drive the winding crown of a manual winding watch, or else drive at least one oscillating weight of an automatic winding watch, or else move at least one self-winding watch.

The invention also relates to a timepiece assembly comprising such a device, and at least one mechanical watch arranged to be fixed on at least one such support.

The invention also relates to the use of such a device for winding a watch.

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly the reassembly of mechanical watches or electronic watches with a mechanical energy source, and in particular but not exclusively automatic watches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] The user of a mechanical or electronic watch with a mechanical energy source, whether manual winding or automatic winding, which is not worn constantly, is required, when he wishes to use it, to carry out the tasks of updating the displays, which can be tedious for the dates, or difficult or even impossible for complications such as moon phases or other leap years in a perpetual calendar.

There are known winding cabinets, or individual devices, which simulate the movements of a user by rotating the watch, generally around several axes, to give the oscillating weight the impulses necessary to perform the reassembly. , or to drive the crown of a manual winding watch when this crown is suitable. These cabinets or devices are often large, expensive, and their movement can disturb the user. In particular, such devices are not well suited in a commercial environment, where a watch must be statically exposed to the Customer, with a correct display of time-related information, while being ready for a demonstration.

These winding mechanisms, which are more or less complicated, tend to overstress the mechanics of the watch. Indeed, these systems, even when they make it possible to program a number of turns to be carried out to reassemble, take into account a safety factor, and reassemble the barrel more than necessary, which leads to an overvoltage in the barrel spring, which is dissipated by the sliding strap. As a result, all of the mechanics are subjected to greater stresses than are necessary. The induced effects are abnormal wear, and pollution by wear debris, which also affects the lubrication of the watch, and can make service operations for cleaning and lubrication more frequent, which represents a significant cost for the user.

In addition, over-winding unnecessarily demands energy sources, the capacity of which is sometimes limited, in the case in particular of winders with batteries or solar cells or the like.

Summary of the invention [0009] The invention proposes to provide the user with simple, inexpensive and space-saving means for winding up a mechanical or electronic watch with a mechanical energy source, and keeping it in permanence with maximum power reserve potential even if it is not worn, while preserving the mechanical parts of the movement, and being energy efficient.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch winding device, in particular mechanical or electronic with a source of mechanical energy, comprising at least one support for receiving a watch in a winding position, at least one energy source arranged to supply energy to at least one motor arranged to either drive the winding crown of a manual winding watch, or else drive at least one oscillating weight of an automatic winding watch, or else stir at least one self-winding watch, characterized in that said device comprises control means comprising measurement means integrating sensor means for the vibratory and / or acoustic and / or magnetic measurement of the oscillator of at least one watch placed in said winding position, said control means being arranged to analyze signals transmitted by said vibration and / or acoustic measurement means e and / or magnetic and compare them to configurable set values, to regulate the running of at least one said motor by switching on said motor when the running amplitude of said oscillator is less than or equal to a first minimum value, and stopping said motor when the operating amplitude of said oscillator is greater than or equal to a second maximum value.

The invention also relates to a timepiece assembly comprising such a device, and at least one mechanical or electronic watch with a mechanical energy source arranged to be fixed on at least one said support.

CH 711 099 B1

Brief description of the drawings [0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

fig. 1 shows, schematically and in perspective, a watch winding device, in particular mechanical or electronic, with a mechanical energy source, according to the invention, with a single support pivotally mounted on a motor and ready for the reception of a mechanical watch, which includes a chip integrating recommended operating parameters;

fig. 2 shows, diagrammatically, partially in front view at the user interfaces, and partially in section at the supports, another watch winding device according to the invention, comprising two motors each driving a support arranged to receive a watch for reassembly;

fig. 3 shows schematically and in perspective, yet another watch winding device according to the invention, comprising two motors each driving a shafted support arranged to receive a plurality of watches for their winding, in a simplified version of manual user interface with, for each support, two global parameter selectors applicable to the plurality of watches it wears;

fig. 4 shows, schematically and in front view, another simplified version of manual user interface for the device of FIG. 3, with, for each watch location, two parameter selectors applicable to the watch worn by this location;

fig. 5 shows, schematically and in perspective, yet another watch winding device according to the invention, comprising two motors for driving the same support around different axes to describe a complex movement in space;

fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing the interactions between the constituent circuits of the winding device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] The invention proposes to develop a watch winder which conserves the mechanical parts of the watch movement, and which is energy efficient.

By “watch” is meant here any watch capable of being recharged with energy by a movement which is printed on it: mechanical watch with automatic winding, or electronic watch with mechanical energy, of the “Autoquartz” or “Automeca” type, or similar. The device according to the invention brings the watch back to the level just necessary.

Also called "winding" the recharging of energy of such a watch.

For a conventional mechanical watch, the optimum is to maintain the winding of the barrel spring at a level which makes it possible to obtain an amplitude of the oscillator, constituted by a balance-spring assembly in most cases, in the vicinity of 250 °. This value corresponds to a reasonable tension in the mechanics, and to a running of the watch which is the most correct according to the positions.

The invention uses simple control means, for winding a mechanical watch, applicable in the case of winding a watch with manual winding by the crown or by any other component provided for this purpose, as well as in the case of winding a watch with automatic winding, which is done, or by riddling the entire watch, or by an action without contact with the oscillating mass, as described in particular in application EP 2 650 735 A1 by the same applicant.

The figures are for educational purposes, and only propose the case of watches with automatic winding by the application of a movement according to a single degree of freedom in rotation, only fig. 5 showing a gyroscopic type assembly with two combined motors. By "motor" is meant below motor means arranged to set in motion a support according to at least one degree of freedom, whether it is a single motor means for a single degree of freedom, or a combination of drive means for several degrees of freedom. The case of reassembly by the crown is not illustrated by the figures, the person skilled in the art having no particular difficulty in transposing the teachings of the invention there.

More particularly, the invention relates to a device 1 for winding watches, in particular mechanical or electronic with a source of mechanical energy, comprising at least one support 2 for receiving a watch in a winding position, at least an energy source 3 arranged to supply energy to at least one motor 4.

CH 711 099 B1 This motor 4 is designed to either drive the winding crown of a manual winding watch, or else drive at least one oscillating weight of a watch with automatic winding, or else move at least an automatic watch.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises control means 100 which include measuring means 10 integrating sensor means 20 for the vibration and / or acoustic and / or magnetic measurement of the oscillator of at least one watch placed in the winding position. These control means 100 are arranged to analyze signals transmitted by the vibration and / or acoustic and / or magnetic measurement means 10, and compare them to configurable set values, to regulate the running of at least one such motor 4 , by switching on this motor 4 when the operating amplitude of the oscillator is less than or equal to a first minimum value, and by stopping this motor 4 when the operating amplitude of the oscillator is greater than or equal to a second value Max. The same goes for the electromagnetic field of a generator driven by the mechanical energy available.

The magnetic measuring means are well suited to winding watches whose operation is not very audible, in particular in the case of watches with contactless escape mechanisms, or attenuated contact, with movement transmission by influence, magnetic and / or electrostatic, or even comprising wheels and / or anchors or generally mobiles equipped with flexible blades at their interfaces with antagonistic components.

Other measurement means are not excluded, optical for example, but prove to be more difficult to miniaturize, and often more sensitive to the stresses to which a watch is subjected, from normal acceleration during wear, to shocks. In addition, visibility is required on the areas to be measured, which can impose constraints on the materials of certain parts.

It is noted in this connection that the invention can be used for any type of oscillator, and in particular, in the case of a mechanical escapement oscillator, both for a Swiss anchor escapement and for a coaxial escapement, or other. In the case where the concept of alternation is different, as for a detent escapement, an adequate configuration must be made, without departing from the scope of the invention.

By "configurable setpoints" here is meant that these values depend on the watch model, and can be, as the case may be, or previously introduced during the configuration of the winding device and stored, or read directly on the watch by a suitable reading device. These configurable setpoint values can, again, be modified and forced by the user, when the device 1 is equipped with a user interface 110 with inputs-outputs allowing the modification of these configurable values.

The control means 100 comprise for example calculation means 150, such as a microprocessor or the like, for processing the information originating from the sensors, measurement means 10, of a user interface 110 detailed below, of the energy source (s) 3 (FIG. 2 illustrates, at the level of the control means 100, of the inputs 102A and 102B for the communication of the energy level of the energy sources 3), and to give the appropriate orders to the motor 4 or to motors 4 when there are several.

The device 1 can be dedicated to the reassembly of a single watch, as visible in Figs. 1 and 5.

It can also be assigned to the winding of several watches simultaneously, and will be called hereinafter "multiple winding", as visible in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating two different variants.

Also, in a particular embodiment of such a multiple winder, which comprises one or more motors 4, each motor 4 is assigned to the reassembly of a particular group composed of one or more supports 2, each capable of receiving a single shows. Each support 2 includes dedicated sensor means 20. And the control means 100 are arranged to control each motor 4 as a function of the signals received from the sensor means 20 associated with the different supports 2 of the particular group.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a variant comprising two motors 4A and 4B each driving a support 2A, 2B, arranged to receive a watch 200A, 200B, for its reassembly. These motors 4A, 4B are supplied by the energy source or sources 3. Each support 2A, 2B carries a sensor 20A, 20B, in particular a microphone in an advantageous application, the signal of which is transmitted to the measurement means 10.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows schematically and in perspective, another variant comprising two motors 4A, 4B, each driving a shaft support 2A, 2B, which is arranged to receive a plurality of watches for their winding: in three positions corresponding to 20AX sensors, 20AY, 20AZ for support 2A, and also in three positions corresponding to sensors 20BX, 20BY, 20BZ for support 2B.

In a particular embodiment of multiple winder, the control means 100 are arranged to pilot in a differentiated manner each of the motors 4, as visible in FIG. 2 by outputs 101A and 101B for controlling the motors 4A and 4B respectively.

In another particular embodiment of a multiple winder, the control means 100 are arranged to control the motor 4 assigned to said particular group by switching it on as soon as the operating range of any of the said oscillators of the watches carried by the supports 2 of the particular group is less than or equal to a first minimum value.

CH 711 099 B1 In a particular variant, the control means 100 are arranged to control the motor 4 assigned to such a particular group, stopping it as soon as the operating range of all the oscillators of the watches worn by the supports 2 of the particular group is greater than or equal to a second maximum value.

In another particular variant, the control means 100 are arranged to control the motor 4 assigned to such a particular group, stopping it as soon as the operating range of any of the oscillators of the watches worn by the supports 2 of the particular group is greater than or equal to a second maximum value.

Other control algorithms are naturally possible.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a setting of the first minimum value and of the second maximum value for the single medium 2.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a setting of first minimum value and second maximum value for each of the supports 2A and 2B.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a single setting of first minimum value and second maximum value for each of the supports 2A and 2B.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a differentiated setting of first minimum value and second maximum value for each of the watch reception positions that the supports 2A and 2B comprise.

In the case where a motor 4 is formed, as in fig. 5, of several combined motor means, the control algorithm can be arranged so as to activate only one, or only a part, of these motor means, in particular if the energy level of the energy sources 3 is low .

In all variants, the control means 100 advantageously comprise a user interface 110, which is arranged to allow the user to choose and / or modify the first minimum value and / or the second maximum value for at least a particular support 2, depending on the watch that this support receives.

The figures illustrate, without limitation, different inputs of the user interface 110: a socket 111 for connection to a network or to a computer or electronic device, an antenna 112 for receiving data by wireless transmission, selectors 113 or 114. These selectors 113, 114 are shown in an analog manner for the convenience of the figures, they can naturally consist of a screen-keyboard assembly or the like. In this analog version, a first selector 113A determines the first minimum amplitude value, and a second selector 114A determines the second maximum value.

In particular, this user interface 110 is arranged to allow the user to choose and / or modify the first minimum value and / or the second maximum value for each said particular support 2.

In particular, this user interface 110 is arranged to collect data specific to the first minimum value and / or the second maximum value for a given type of watch, in particular but not limited to by computer link or by wireless communication.

In a particular variant, the user interface 110 includes reading means 120, which are arranged at at least one support 2, and which are arranged to find and read the parameters of first minimum value and / or second maximum value stored in a watch at a communication interface that the watch includes, for example an RFID chip or the like. More particularly, each support 2 is equipped with such reading means 120.

And, advantageously, the control means 100 are then arranged to adjust, for such a given support 2 comprising said reading means 120, the parameters of first minimum value and / or second maximum value recorded by the reading means 120.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one support 2 comprises means 130 for detecting the presence or absence of a watch, for example of the optical or capacitive or galvanic type, which are arranged to communicate to the control means 100 the presence or absence of watch information in order to annihilate the effect of a signal corresponding to a zero amplitude in the absence of a watch on the support 2. More particularly, all the supports 2 are thus equipped. This detection allows the corresponding equipment to go to sleep. Fig. 2 illustrates, at the level of the control means 100, of the inputs 103A and 103B for the communication of the presence or absence of watch parameter.

For usual type watches, the angular difference between the first minimum value and / or the second maximum amplitude value is advantageously chosen to be less than or equal to 20 °.

More particularly, the first minimum amplitude value is 240 ° and the second maximum amplitude value is 260 °.

For commercial use, the control means 100 advantageously comprise, at the level of the calculation means 150, timer means 140, which make it possible to determine the time periods to which a watch can be wound, and those where it must remain stationary, more particularly in an indexed position. To this end, the user interface 110 advantageously includes timing inputs 115 allowing the user to deter

CH 711 099 B1 easily mine these time slots. The calculation means 150 then immobilize the motor or motors 4 in an indexed position which corresponds to a predefined indexed position of the watch or watches.

The invention also relates to a timepiece assembly comprising such a device 1, and at least one watch 200, mechanical or electronic with mechanical energy source, which is designed to be fixed on at least one such support

2. Advantageously, watch 200 includes a communication interface which is arranged to communicate the first minimum value and / or the second maximum value specific to watch 200.

The sensor means 20 can in particular be of the microphone type.

The principle of an acoustic measurement works well, is reliable, and makes it possible to recover duration information between the tick and the tick, allowing the amplitude of the balance to be calculated.

We understand that the measurement depends on the type of movement of the watch. The winding device can be paired with a special watch, and preconfigured in the factory.

The adjustment by the user as presented above allows the user to select a configuration on the device from among the standard configurations offered by selectors at the level of the device for setting thresholds d 'amplitude. The user can also use a mobile application, allowing him to choose the product-watch, and to send by wireless communication, or computer, or other, the corresponding configuration. The watch itself may have a chip with its parameters, or its packaging may include a graphic code or also a chip, readable by an adequate reader.

The invention also relates to the use of such a device 1 for winding at least one electronic watch comprising a generator with a mechanical energy source; its control means 100 then comprise measurement means 10 which integrate sensor means 20 suitable for measuring the field produced by this generator to control the regulation of the energy recharge.

The invention also relates to the use of such a device 1 for winding at least one watch comprising a magnetic escapement mechanism; its control means 100 then comprise measuring means 10 integrate sensor means 20 for measuring the magnetic field to control the regulation of the energy recharge.

claims

Claims (20)

1. Device (1) for winding watches, in particular mechanical or electronic watches with a mechanical energy source, comprising at least one support (2) for receiving a watch in a winding position, at least one energy source (3) arranged to supply energy to at least one motor (4) arranged to either drive the winding crown of a manual winding watch, or else drive at least one oscillating weight of an automatic winding watch, or shake well at least one automatic winding watch, characterized in that said device (1) comprises control means (100) which comprise measurement means (10) integrating sensor means (20) for vibration measurement and / or acoustic and / or magnetic oscillator, or the magnetic measurement of a generator with mechanical energy source of at least one watch placed in said winding position, said control means (100) being arranged in. ur analyze signals transmitted by said vibration and / or acoustic and / or magnetic measurement means (10) and compare them with configurable set values to regulate the running of at least one said motor (4) by switching on said motor ( 4) when the operating amplitude of said oscillator is less than or equal to a first minimum value, and by stopping said motor (4) when the operating amplitude of said oscillator is greater than or equal to a second maximum value. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each said motor (4) is assigned to the reassembly of a particular group composed of one or more said supports (2) each capable of receiving a single watch, in that that each said support (2) comprises said dedicated sensor means (20), and in that said control means (100) are arranged to control each said motor (4) as a function of the signals received from said associated sensor means (20) to said supports (2) of said particular group. 3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said control means (100) are arranged to pilot each of said motors (4) in a differentiated manner. 4. Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said control means (100) are arranged to control said motor (4) assigned to said particular group by switching it on as soon as the operating amplitude of any one of said oscillators of the watches worn by said supports (2) of said particular group is less than or equal to a first minimum value. 5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said control means (100) are arranged to control said motor (4) assigned to said particular group by stopping it as soon as the operating range of all so-called watch oscillators carried by said supports (2) of said particular group is greater than or equal to a second maximum value. CH 711 099 B1 6. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said control means (100) are arranged to control said motor (4) assigned to said particular group by stopping it as soon as the operating amplitude of the any of the oscillators of the watches worn by said supports (2) of said particular group is greater than or equal to a second maximum value. 7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said control means (100) comprise a user interface (110) arranged to allow the user to choose and / or modify said first minimum value and / or said second maximum value for at least one said particular support (2). 8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said user interface (110) is arranged to allow the user to choose and / or modify said first minimum value and / or said second maximum value for each said particular support (2). 9. Device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said user interface (110) is arranged to collect data specific to said first minimum value and / or said second maximum value for a given type of watch, by computer link or wireless communication. 10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said user interface (110) comprises reading means (120) arranged at at least one said support (2) and arranged to search for and read said parameters of first minimum value and / or second maximum value stored in a watch at a communication interface that includes said watch. 11. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said control means (100) are arranged to adjust, for a given support (2) given comprising said reading means (120), said parameters of first minimum value and / or second maximum value recorded by said reading means (120). 12. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one said support (2) comprises detection means (130) of presence or absence of a watch, arranged for communicating to said control means (100) the information of the presence or absence of a watch in order to annihilate the effect of a signal corresponding to a zero amplitude in the event of the absence of a watch on said support (2). 13. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the angular difference between said first minimum value and / or said second maximum amplitude value is less than or equal to 20 °. 14. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said first minimum amplitude value is 240 ° and said second maximum amplitude value is 260 °. 15. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said piloting means (100) comprise timing means (140), which make it possible to determine the time periods to which a watch can be wound, and those where it must remain stationary in an indexed position. 16. Device (1) according to claims 7 and 15, characterized in that said user interface (110) includes timing inputs (115) arranged to allow the determination of said time slots by the user. 17. Watch assembly comprising a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, and at least one mechanical watch (200) arranged to be fixed on at least one said support (2). 18. Clock assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that said watch (200) comprises a communication interface (210) arranged to communicate said first minimum value and / or said second maximum value specific to said watch (200). 19. Use of a device (1) according to claims 1 to 16 for winding at least one electronic watch comprising a generator with a mechanical energy source, characterized in that said measuring means (10) measure the field produced by said generator to control the regulation of energy recharging. 20. Use of a device (1) according to claims 1 to 16 for winding at least one watch comprising a magnetic escapement mechanism, characterized in that said measuring means (10) measure the magnetic field of the oscillator to control the regulation of the energy recharge.