CH713225B1 - Timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism, said mechanism comprising: an energy source (10) arranged to store energy and to restore it at the trigger time, a kinematic chain of arming (22, 24, 28, 30, 31) arranged to arm the energy source under the action of a user, a programming system (20) arranged to be actuated by a user to program said trigger time , characterized in that the programming system is furthermore arranged to drive the kinematic winding chain simultaneously with an operation of programming the triggering time. The programmable trigger mechanism can for example be a bell.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism. This mechanism comprises an energy source arranged to store energy and release it upon triggering. The invention also relates to a method of operating such a mechanism.

Most commonly, the mechanisms which we want to program, that is to say adjust, the trigger time, are alarm clock type mechanisms, which, at a defined time, cause a ringing which alerts the user, for example to wake him up or give him an appointment. But we can also perform other functions which can be programmed to trigger, such as the start of a PLC type animation, or the movement of a display mobile.

State of the art

In the example of alarm clocks or striking watches, the sound of the alarm is obtained by striking a gong with a hammer. This hammer must strike the gong with sufficient speed in order to set the gong in vibration. The contact of the gong with the hammer must also be almost instantaneous, so as not to disturb the vibrations of the gong. To do this, the hammer usually acts under the action of an anchor, cooperating with a star. The rotation of the star by a specific barrel or by the barrel of the movement, causes the reciprocating tilting of the anchor and the striking of the hammer.

[0004] The operation of the bell is energy intensive. It is therefore quite rare for the striking mechanism to be powered by the movement barrel. Otherwise, complex safety devices must still be provided to prevent the chime from stopping the movement, if the power reserve is insufficient when the chime is triggered.

[0005] This is why, in general, the alarm mechanism benefits from its own barrel. But from then on, it is not obvious for the user, when setting the time for his ringing, to know whether the striking barrel is armed or sufficiently armed. Provision should be made to have a power reserve indicator specific to the striking barrel, which would greatly complicate the mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback by ensuring that the programmable trigger mechanism is always able to operate, once a trigger has been provided, without however detriment to the power reserve of the source of main energy of movement.

Disclosure of the invention

[0007] More specifically, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism, said mechanism comprising: an energy source arranged to store energy and to release it when triggered, a kinematic winding chain arranged to arm the energy source under the action of a user, a programming system arranged to be actuated by a user to program the trigger.

[0008] According to the invention, the programming system is further designed to drive the winding kinematic chain simultaneously with a trigger programming operation.

[0009] Advantageously, the timepiece comprises a locking system designed to keep the energy source in the armed position between the programming operation and the triggering.

The invention also relates to an operating method of a programmable trigger mechanism as defined above, the operating method comprising a trigger programming step, a waiting step between programming and triggering, and a trigger step. According to the invention, the step of arming the energy source is carried out simultaneously with the programming step, and the energy source remains armed during the waiting step.

[0011] Other characteristics are also claimed in a dependent manner.

Brief description of the drawings

[0012] Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIGS. 1 to 4 are top views of a timepiece according to one embodiment of the invention, in which the elements essential to understanding the description are shown, the different views correspond to successive steps the operation of said timepiece, and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate more particularly parts of the timepiece.

Embodiment of the invention

There is shown in Figure 1 a general view of an embodiment of a timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism. By programmable tripping is meant that it is the time of tripping, that is to say its time (in the general sense and not in the sense of the unit of time) of the tripping, which is adjustable. In the example described, the programmable trigger mechanism is a reminder system emitting a sound, but the person skilled in the art can apply it to other examples, such as the triggering of a full ring (alarm clock), of an automaton-type animation, when a display or a turntable is pivoted, for example carrying a musical disc of the type used in certain striking watches or music boxes. Preferably, the invention finds application in an advantageous manner when the triggered mechanism does not have a specifically dedicated barrel.

[0014] The mechanism comprises an energy source arranged to store energy and to restore it upon triggering. In the example, the energy source is a hammer spring 10, arranged to propel a hammer 12 against a gong 14 at the time of the strike, when it has been cocked and that it is released when triggered. More generally, the energy source is of the elastic type and, as will be understood below, could also be a barrel.

Arming

[0015] The timepiece comprises a kinematic winding chain arranged to arm the energy source, under the action of a user.

[0016] Thus, for example, a crown arranged at the end of a control rod of the winding rod type, is mounted so as to be accessible to a user from outside the timepiece. This part is of a type known to those skilled in the art and has not been shown. This control rod is kinematically connected to a mobile 20, better visible in FIG. 5, which has several functions which will become apparent as the present description proceeds. This mobile 20 is located on the axis of a functional assembly, which in the present example, is located at the center of the movement.

[0017] The mobile 20 is kinematically connected to the kinematic winding chain. This is formed by a winding mobile 22, which comprises a pinion engaged with the mobile, and a wheel meshing with a trigger mobile 24. This trigger mobile 24 can take the shape of a star, positioned by a jumper 26, and arranged to cooperate with a cam 28 integral with a first rake 30. The latter meshes with a second rake 31 that comprises the hammer 12. The interaction between the wheel of the winding mobile 22 and the mobile of trigger 24 is not desmodromic, so depending on their respective position they may not be in engagement with each other.

Thus, the setting in rotation of the mobile 20 by the control rod causes the rotation of the hammer 12. As will be better understood below, the timepiece is provided so that the control rod does not cause the hammer 12 only in a clockwise direction, with reference to the figure, which tends to move it away from its stamp 14.

The hammer 12 comprises a lug 32, with which the hammer spring 10 cooperates. The hammer spring 10 is arranged to exert on the hammer 12 a force which tends to bring it closer to the gong 14. Thus, when the kinematic chain winding drives the hammer 12, the latter pivots against the spring and therefore arms the latter.

It will be noted here that the lug 32 is interposed between the hammer spring 10 and a strip 34, advantageously formed integrally with the spring, and which serves as a counter-spring, forming a support which aims to prevent the hammer 12 to strike the gong 14 in an untimely manner, in the event of a shock to the timepiece.

[0021] The timepiece according to the invention also comprises a locking system arranged to keep the energy source in the armed position, pending triggering. In the example proposed, this locking system is obtained by the interaction between the trigger mobile 24 and the cam 28. At its periphery, the cam 28 has a notch 36. This is located in the zone with which cooperates the trigger mobile 24, when the spring 10 has reached a predefined winding state considered sufficient. The notch 36 is shaped so as to obtain a wedge effect and a blocking, by the interaction of a branch of the trigger mobile 24 with the notch 36. In this position, the branches of the trigger mobile 24 are not more in the stroke of the winding mobile 22, which can thus rotate in a vacuum if it is driven more.

Thus, when the mobile 20 is set in rotation by the control rod, the trigger mobile 24 is driven in the clockwise direction (Fig. 2) and pushes the cam 28 in the counterclockwise direction, which has the effect of moving the hammer 12 away from its gong 14 by charging the hammer spring 10.

These movements occur until a branch of the trigger mobile 24 takes position in the notch 36, defining a waiting position of the hammer 12, and maintaining a state of winding of the spring.

Trigger

For the triggering of the chime, the timepiece comprises a trigger control 38, able to cooperate with the trigger mobile 24, and thus make it come out of the notch 36 when the rake is kept armed.

As can best be seen in Figure 5, to govern the trigger, the timepiece includes a trigger lever 40. This is pivotally mounted on the mobile 20. The trigger lever 40 can therefore also be driven in rotation around the axis of rotation of the mobile 20, like a satellite of a differential. The reason for such mounting of the rocker 40 on the mobile 20 will be understood later. This rocker 40 comprises a spout 42, arranged so that a lateral support on the spout 42 causes the pivoting of the rocker 40. It also comprises a rack 44 which, in the proposed construction is located in a different plane from that of the spout 42. On the mobile 20, a spring 46 is arranged in order to push the lever 40 towards the center of the mobile 20. The lever integrally carries a pin 47, movable in a window 49 formed in the mobile 20, limiting the amplitude of the displacement of the trigger latch 40.

The rack 44 is engaged with a connecting pinion 48. The latter is assembled coaxially with the release control 38, with a unidirectional connection, with torque limitation, in the direction of release.

This unidirectional connection is best seen in Figure 6. The connecting pinion 48 is mounted integral on a tube 50, which also carries a ratchet pinion 52, integral with the tube 50. This ratchet pinion 52 is positioned in the plane of the trigger control 38, and takes place in the center thereof, in an opening that it includes. The ratchet pinion 52 includes wolf tooth type toothing, allowing unidirectional drive. The trigger control 38 comprises a board in which are formed elastic strips 54, defining pawls, and able to cooperate with the toothing of the ratchet pinion 52. Other types of latchings can also be used.

Thus, a rotational drive of the link pinion 48 in the counterclockwise direction (with reference to Figure 6), has the effect of driving the trigger control 38, while a drive of the link pinion 48 in the clockwise direction, will be capable of deforming the elastic lamellae 54, without causing the release control 38. This dissociation is obtained if the release control 38 is maintained with a force greater than the elastic force applied by the lamellae 54.

The trigger control 38 comprises a rigid arm 56 which protrudes from the board, in the plane thereof. The rigid arm 56 comprises a rim oriented essentially radially and intended to bear against a stop 58. The rigid arm 56 is extended by a blade 60, preferably elastically deformable, and arranged so as to be able to cooperate with a branch of the trigger mobile. 24, to drive it in rotation.

The timepiece also comprises a bridge 62 fixed on the plate and positioning in height the functional assembly formed by the mobile 20, the trigger control 38, the tube 50 and the connecting pinions 48 and latching 52. The height positioning can be obtained by tabs 64 projecting above the board of the release control 38. This bridge 62 also forms the stop 58 against which the rigid arm 56 of the release control 38 can rest. The stop 58 also comprises a flank, oriented essentially in the direction of the center of the control, with which the rigid arm 56 can cooperate.

Thus, when the mobile 20 is driven in the direction of clockwise with reference to Figure 1, the trigger lever 40 also pivots around the central axis of the mobile 20, and drives, via the rack 44, the link pinion 48 in a clockwise direction. The trigger control 38 can, if necessary, pivot in the direction of clockwise, integral with the connecting pinion 48, if the rigid arm 56 is not in contact with the side of the stop 58. If the arm rigid 56 is supported against the stop 58, the elastic strips 54 deform and click, allowing the connecting pinion 48 to rotate independently of the release control 38, which remains stationary.

On the other hand, an action on the beak 42 of the trigger lever 40, to cause it to pivot on its axis with reference to the mobile 20 against its spring 46, has the effect of driving the connecting pinion 48 counterclockwise, via the rack 44. The release control 38 then also pivots counterclockwise, under the action of the elastic lamellae 54 against the teeth of the pinion d 'latching 52. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the arm of the trigger control 38 leaves contact with the side of the stop 58.

The blade 60 then pushes the trigger mobile 24 which comes out of the notch 36 of the cam, which triggers the programmable mechanism. Hammer 12 is then only subjected to the action of its spring 10, cam 28 no longer being retained. The hammer spring 10 thus drives the hammer 12 against the gong 14, thus returning the cam 28 to its waiting position, by the connection between the rakes 30 and 31.

Programming

The timepiece according to the invention further comprises a programming system arranged to be actuated by a user to program said trigger time. In the example given, the programming system makes it possible to set the time at which the reminder is triggered.

As explained above, the triggering occurs by an action on the beak 42 of the trigger lever 40. This action is obtained by a finger 70 driven by the movement, as a function of the current time. This finger 70 can be carried by an hour wheel, making one revolution in 12 hours or in 24 hours, depending on the adjustment possibilities that we want to give the user.

The hours wheel is rotatably mounted coaxially with the mobile 20, so that its finger 70 is located in the plane of the trigger lever 40 and able to cooperate with the beak 42. The spring 46 of the lever maintains the beak 42 in the course of the finger 70, but the support of the pin 47 against the edge of the window 49 prevents the lever from being in permanent contact with the periphery of the hour wheel. The induced friction is thus limited.

Thus, the angular positioning of the trigger lever 40 relative to the finger 70, allows to define the moment of triggering. This angular positioning is defined by driving the mobile 20 in rotation. This rotation driving is obtained by means of the control rod, which also makes it possible, as mentioned above, to carry out the winding of the energy source ( the hammer spring 10 according to the example). The programming system is therefore designed to drive the kinematic winding chain simultaneously with an operation of programming the triggering time.

The timepiece may advantageously include a display device synchronized with the programming system, to display the programmed trigger time.

To do this, a train of references 72 is engaged with the mobile 20, to drive a ring 74 surrounding the movement of the timepiece. This ring 74 may be integral with a flange, mounted movably with reference to the dial and comprising an index, making it possible to indicate the setting time by cooperating with the hours indicated on the dial or a specific hour circle, as desired. from the manufacturer. Those skilled in the art can easily configure other types of display, for example in a sub-dial, optionally by using a timer-type gear train to indicate the hour and minutes of the triggering time.

Operation

[0040] Thus, in operation, a user will adjust the ringing trigger time by acting on the control rod. In doing so, the mobile 20 is rotated in the direction of clockwise (with reference to FIG. 1). The rotation of the mobile 20 angularly positions the beak 42 of the trigger lever 40 with reference to the hour wheel, in order to program the trigger time. Simultaneously, the rotation of the mobile 20 drives the kinematic winding chain (FIG. 2), until a branch of the trigger mobile 24 engages in the notch 36 (FIG. 3). The reduction of the kinematic chain makes it possible to have sufficient winding and the locking of the cam 28 with a reduced travel of the mobile 20, of the order of 15 °, allowing an adjustment for the next half hour with a wheel of hours swivel into 12 hours.

If the blocking position is not reached, the hammer spring 10 returns the cam 28 to its initial position in Figure 1 and no ringing will occur, the hammer spring 10 is not suddenly released to propel the hammer. A display device can be provided in desmodromic connection with the winding kinematic chain, to display the state of the energy source, whether it is armed or not. It is for example possible to have a pallet integral with the cam 28, making it possible to achieve this display. Thus, the user is warned if the spring is not loaded.

When the blocking position is reached, if the programming is not complete, the trigger mobile 24 is positioned by its jumper 26 out of the range of the winding mobile 22.

The winding is therefore performed simultaneously with the programming of the trigger, using the torque supplied by the user to arm the energy source.

When the finger 70 of the hour wheel, driven by the movement, arrives at the trigger lever 40, it lifts the latter, causing the trigger control 38 in the counterclockwise direction and thus pivoting the trigger wheel 24 (fig. 4) by the action of the blade 60.

The cam 28 being released, the hammer spring 10 can freely propel the hammer 12 against the gong 14, to achieve the ringing. Under the action of the hammer spring 10, the cam 28 returns to its initial position (fig. 1). The same is true for the trigger mobile 24, under the action of its jumper 26.

It can also be noted that if the trigger lever 40 is raised while the energy source has not been previously armed, because there is no programmed triggering, the blade 60 of the control trigger 38 performs its empty stroke, because the trigger mobile 24 is not positioned in its stroke.

Thus is proposed an embodiment of a timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism, the energy source is manually armed when programming the trigger. The mechanism takes energy from the movement only when the finger 70 lifts the trigger lever 40, whether the spring 10 is loaded or not. This levy is small and limited in time; it has little or no preterit on the power reserve.

Although the example proposed illustrates an alarm clock provided with a hammer 12 striking a blow when triggered, those skilled in the art could use the teaching of the present application to propose various variants.

For example, the first rake 30 of the cam 28 could drive a wheel comprising paddles, arranged to cooperate respectively with paddles of several hammers, to strike two notes or to strike the same stamp 14 several times.

The kinematic winding chain could also be connected to the ratchet of a barrel, making it possible to drive a striking gear, capable of repeating several actuations of the hammer 12. A regulator of the flywheel type can be provided, located at the end of the striking gear. The locking system can be advantageously designed to block the striking gear and the striking barrel, by cooperating with the regulator, because the torque exerted at this location of the striking gear is low.

Furthermore, it could also be proposed to have an additional drive of the winding gear, for example by coupling an additional drive on the winding mobile 22. This training is done without driving the mobile 20, thanks to a friction link between the arming mobile 22 and the mobile 20. We could thus arm the energy source without carrying out a new adjustment, for example if we want to program the same time of release, 24 hours later, in the case of where the hour wheel rotates in 24 hours.

It can also be noted that the programming and the winding can be obtained by other types of actuation members, such as by means of a rotating bezel for example, connected to the rotating flange.

Based on the above teaching, the invention can be applied to a programmable trigger striking mechanism, comprising at least one hammer 12 mounted movably with reference to a gong 14 to strike the latter, said mechanism being arranged to occupy: a state of rest, in which the hammer 12 is in the vicinity of the gong 14, a winding state, in which the hammer 12 is moved away from the gong 14, against the action of the hammer spring 10, and a ringing state, in which the hammer 12 is free to strike the gong 14 under the action of the hammer spring 10, which is cocked.

The rest state is similar to what we know of the ringing mechanisms of the state of the art, that is to say that the hammer spring 10 is not armed, and the position of the hammer 12 is secured by a counter-spring to prevent untimely strikes of the gong 14. The state of winding is here an additional state compared to the mechanisms of the state of the art, this state not normally being stabilized in the usual mechanisms, which define a state of rest in the vicinity of the gong 14. The ringing state is a dynamic state, corresponding to the ringing itself.

The invention also relates to a method of operating a programmable trigger mechanism as described in claim 1, the mechanism comprising an energy source arranged to store energy and to restore it during triggering. The operating method comprises a step of programming the trigger, a step of waiting between programming and triggering, and a step of triggering. The arming of the energy source is performed simultaneously with the programming step, and the energy source remains armed during the waiting step.

Claims (10)

1. Timepiece comprising a programmable trigger mechanism, said mechanism comprising: - an energy source (10) arranged to store energy and to release it when triggered, - a kinematic winding chain (22, 24, 28, 30, 31) arranged to arm the energy source under the action of a user, - a programming system (20, 40) arranged to be actuated by a user to program the trigger, characterized in that the programming system is furthermore arranged to drive the kinematic winding chain simultaneously with a trigger programming operation. 2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a locking system (24, 36) arranged to maintain the energy source in the armed position between the programming operation and the triggering. 3. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking system comprises a trigger mobile (24) capable of being driven in rotation during triggering and release the energy source (10). 4. Timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a mobile (20) kinematically connecting the programming system (20, 24) and the kinematic winding chain (22, 24 , 28, 30, 31). 5. Timepiece according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said mobile (20) carries a triggering latch (40) connected with a trigger control (38), able to cooperate with the trigger mobile (24). ). 6. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that said trigger lever (40) comprises a rack (44) engaged with a connecting pinion (48) in connection with the trigger control (38), said link being unidirectional in the direction of the triggering, said link being provided so that the trigger latch (40) does not cause the trigger command (38) during a said programming operation. 7. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the programmable trigger mechanism is a return or wake-up mechanism, in which the energy source is adapted to drive at least one hammer (12) , intended to strike a stamp (14). 8. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a display device synchronized with the programming system, to display the programmed trigger time. 9. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a display device in desmodromic connection with the winding kinematic chain, to display the state of the energy source, if it is armed or not. 10. Operating method of a programmable trigger mechanism of the timepiece according to claim 1, the operating method comprising a trigger programming step, a waiting step between programming and triggering, and a triggering step, characterized in that a step of arming the energy source is carried out simultaneously with the programming step, and in that the energy source remains armed during the step waiting.