CH714747A2 - Jumping and regulated clock display mechanism. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clock display mechanism (1) comprising at least one display (100) movable by jumps, the mechanism (1) comprising at least one spring (2) between a first mobile (4) and a second mobile, the first mobile (4) or respectively the second mobile (30) being arranged to be driven by a drive wheel (201). The second mobile or respectively the first mobile (4) is arranged to drive or carry a peripheral cam (5) spiral (51) traversed by a probe (6) arranged to control the jump of a display (100). The mechanism (1) comprises locking / tripping means comprising, on the one hand at least one finger (7) driven by the second mobile or respectively the first mobile (4), and on the other hand a third mobile arranged for, according to its angular position, stop or release the at least one finger (7), to prohibit or respectively allow the rotation of the cam (5).

Description

CH 714 747 A2

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a clockwork display mechanism comprising at least one mobile display by jumps, said mechanism comprising at least one spring between a first mobile and a second mobile, said first mobile or respectively said second mobile being arranged to be driven by a driving mobile.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a clockwork movement and / or such a display mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of clockwork display mechanisms, in particular for watches. Background of the invention [0005] The movements provided with a date mechanism are provided with various drive mechanisms:

- dragging drive mechanisms;

- semi-instantaneous mechanisms;

- instant mechanisms.

An example of a dragging mechanism is described in the book "Complicated watches" by François Lecoultre (Ed. Simonin) under the chapters simple calendar and trailing perpetual calendar.

Semi-instantaneous mechanisms are very widespread, because of simple construction, a flexible finger arms on the date drive, until the jump of the date jumper, only the second part of the jump is therefore instantaneous . This construction is present on the main trade movements, in particular 2824,2892 ETA, 7700, 1050, 7875 Breguet, 1150, 1180, 1280 Blancpain.

An example of an instantaneous mechanism is described in the book “Complicated watches” by François Lecoultre (Ed. Simonin) under the instantaneous perpetual calendar chapter. Other constructions exist with spring winding systems for part of the day and a trigger at midnight, which releases the spring and performs the date training function. Movements of this type exist on the market, for example the 8810 Breguet movement or the 6950 Blancpain.

During the construction of instantaneous complex date mechanisms, for example perpetual calendars or displays with large windows or rollers, instantaneous triggering generates high speeds of the components. The dynamic stresses applied to the components become sensitive due to their inertia: a high speed, combined with high inertia, generates significant stresses, which are nonexistent in the case of a trailing function (one to several hours of passage), and operational disturbances may occur, for example double jumps may be performed.

The same problem relates to other displays with change of display by hopping than the particular case described above of a date display, for example AM / PM, or day / night displays, or even any display. retrograde.

Summary of the invention [0011] For a display mechanism with change of display by jumping, such as in particular and without limitation a complex date mechanism, such as perpetual calendar, or calendar with display with large windows or with rollers, it is interesting to have a date change at midnight, instantaneous, but visible to the user, for a few seconds. For example, a passage from February 28 to March 1 in 3 to 4 seconds. This reduction in the notion of snapshot becomes qualitative.

The present invention proposes to develop a regulated display drive, the jump of which can be visible by the user, and is more particularly described for a regulated date display mechanism.

To this end, the invention relates to a clockwork display mechanism with mobile display by jumps, according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a clockwork movement and / or such a display mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings [0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

CH 714 747 A2 fig. 1 shows, schematically, and in plan, the clock display mechanism with mobile jump display according to the invention, as it is visible in the middle of the afternoon. This mechanism comprises a barrel with a spring between the shaft of a first mobile driven by the movement, and a drum carrying a peripheral spiral cam traversed by a roller controlling the jump, which is here a periodic jump, of a display. . The drum carries a peripheral finger, which is arranged to cooperate with, as appropriate, a stop or a spout of a pivoting anchor whose pivoting is controlled by an eccentric of the first mobile; the free rotation of the drum is braked by a regulating mechanism in the left part of the figure;

fig. 2 is a section through the mechanism of FIG. 1, according to the plots A-B and A-D of FIG. 1, part 2A represents more particularly the area of the drum, the anchor, and the roller, and FIG. 2B more particularly represents the area of the regulating mechanism;

fig. 3 is a section through the mechanism of FIG. 1, along the line B-C in fig. 1;

fig. 4 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the same mechanism shortly before noon, around 11 am;

fig. 5 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the same mechanism shortly after noon, around 12:30 p.m .;

fig. 6 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the same mechanism shortly before midnight, around 11 pm;

fig. 7 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the same mechanism shortly before midnight, around half past zero;

fig. 8 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the only area of the regulating mechanism;

fig. 9 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the only zone of the drum and the anchor, which is represented in its extreme angular positions: in solid lines in the afternoon, and in broken lines in the morning;

fig. 10 shows, similarly to FIG. 1, the only area of the cam and the feeler roller controlling the display;

fig. 11 shows, in the form of a block diagram, a watch comprising a movement, which on the one hand comprises a display mechanism according to the invention, and on the other hand drives another display mechanism according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention relates to a clockwork display mechanism 1 with display 100 movable by jumps. More particularly, this display is movable by periodic jumps. This is the case of the embodiment illustrated by the figures.

This mechanism 1 comprising at least one spring 2 between a first mobile 4 and a second mobile 30. This first mobile 4, or respectively this second mobile 30, is arranged to be driven by a driving mobile 201, which comprises , or the display mechanism itself, or an external mechanism, such as a movement 500 or the like.

According to the invention, the mobile which is not directly driven by the driving mobile 201, that is to say the second mobile 30, or respectively the first mobile 4, is arranged to drive or carry a cam 5.

More particularly, this cam 5 is a spiral peripheral cam 51, which is traversed by a probe 6, which is arranged to control the jump, and in particular the periodic jump, of such a display 100.

And the mechanism 1 comprises locking / triggering means 70, which comprise, on the one hand at least one finger 7 driven by the second mobile 30, or respectively the first mobile 4, and on the other hand a third mobile 80 which is designed to, depending on its angular position, stop or release this at least one finger 7, to prohibit or respectively authorize the rotation of the cam 5.

The function of this cam 5 is to impose a certain duration of travel of the probe 6, to make a change of display, clearly visible to the user: the jump is thus spread over a period of a few seconds, corresponding to the longest possible trip around the periphery of the cam.

So that this change of display is carried out as uniformly as possible, advantageously, the mechanism 1 includes a regulating mechanism 9 for regulating the speed of rotation of the mobile which carries the cam 5 : This regulating mechanism 9 includes in particular, in the illustrated version, a regulating train, which meshes with that of the second mobile 30, or respectively of the first mobile 4 which drives or carries the cam 5) to limit its speed of rotation when the finger 7 is released.

More particularly, in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the figures, the mechanism 1 comprises at least one spring 2 wound between, on the one hand a shaft 41 of the first mobile 4, and on the other hand the second mobile 30. More particularly still, this second mobile 30 is a drum 3, which carries at least one peripheral finger 7, without

CH 714 747 A2 interference with the path of the probe 6, and in particular outside the path of the probe 6. This drum 3 carries a peripheral cam 5, which comprises, more particularly, at least a reset threshold 52 after a jump from the display 100, and is, more particularly but not necessarily, a spiral 51. The cam 5 is traversed by a probe 6 arranged to control the jump, in particular the periodic jump, of a display 100, in particular but not limited to the date .

In the illustrated embodiment, the spiral 51 has a long ramp, which extends from a lower level 511 to an upper level 512, and a single threshold 52. The probe 6 is a roller in the non-limiting variant illustrated by the figures. In other variants not illustrated, this probe can be a simple finger rubbing on the cam profile, or the like.

In other variants not illustrated, the spiral may include, on its circumference, an alternation of such ramps and such thresholds. More particularly and without limitation, the angular sector corresponding to each ramp is identical.

In the embodiments illustrated, the third mobile 80 is a stopper, and in particular an anchor 8, which is angularly mobile about an anchor axis D8 under the action of the first mobile 4, or respectively of the second mobile 30. This anchor 8 is arranged to, depending on its angular position, stop or release this at least one finger 7, to prohibit or respectively authorize the rotation of the cam 5.

More particularly, the first mobile 4 comprises an eccentric pin 42, which permanently guides a groove 81, which has a trigger anchor 8, for controlling periodic back-and-forth movements of this pivoting anchor 8. This anchor 8 comprises, on either side of its anchor axis D8, a spout 83 and a stop 84 for stopping or releasing the finger 7 according to the angular position of the anchor 8.

The angular travel of each finger 7 between its release by the spout 83 and its return to rest on the stop 84 defines the duration of the jump, that is to say the change of display.

In the particular case illustrated by the figures, the finger 7 is unique.

In the particular case illustrated by the figures, the reset threshold 52 on the cam 5 is unique.

In a particular application of the invention, illustrated by the figures, the mechanism 1 comprises a barrel 10 comprising at least one such spring 2 between on the one hand the shaft of the barrel 10, which is integral with the shaft 41 of the first mobile 4, or which constitutes it, and on the other hand the drum 3.

However, this spring 2 can also be any suitable spring, the barrel spring is only a special case, which lends itself well to the industrial implementation of the invention.

In the nonlimiting example illustrated, the winding of the spring 2 is carried out by a driving mobile 201, which is a 24-hour wheel or which is connected in a train to a 24-hour wheel. The winding of the spring can be achieved by another means than the 24-hour wheel, for example an automatic gear train driven by an oscillating weight, a manual winding mechanism, or other.

More particularly, the first mobile 4 is pivoting, and driven in an entire speed ratio by a driving mobile 201.

The back-and-forth movement of the anchor 8 defines an angular travel, relative to the axis D4 of the first mobile 4, of each finger 7 between its release by the spout 83 and its return to rest on the stop 84. This angular travel defines the duration of the jump, which corresponds to the duration of the travel of the probe 6 on the cam 5, first along a gentle ramp gradually increasing from a lower level 511 to an upper level 512 of the spiral staircase 51 then in instantaneous descent to the lower level 511 when crossing the reset threshold 52. This return to the position of the lower level 511 by the steep flank of the threshold 52 takes place instantaneously, and without influencing the display, for example by to a finger ratchet system on a star, or the like.

Thus, each jump corresponds to a change of state of the display 100 between a previous state and a posterior state, and the jump duration corresponds to the period of time elapsed between the stable display of the previous state and stable display of the posterior state.

More particularly, the first input mobile 4 is arranged to be driven by a continuous drive mobile 201 and to accomplish, during a revolution of the continuous drive mobile 201, one revolution or an integer of turns or an entire fraction of a turn.

A particular application of the invention is illustrated by the figures.

The driving mobile 201 is a 24-hour wheel providing the energy, and the time reference (one revolution in 24 hours) of a conventional watch movement.

This training mobile 201 drives a first input mobile 4, which is here an auxiliary 24-hour wheel. This first input mobile 4 carries an eccentric crank pin 42, and its shaft 41 is connected to an auxiliary barrel spring 2 3. This auxiliary barrel 3 is therefore, here, armed with one turn per 24 hours.

The eccentric crank pin 42 cooperates continuously with the groove 81 of the anchor 8, which is a straight oblong groove in the particular case of the figures, of the 24 hour wheel. Trigger anchor 8 therefore swings back and forth

CH 714 747 A2 in 24 hours. It is understood that the example illustrated relates to a single daily jump at midnight for the particular case of a calendar, but it is possible to extrapolate the invention to any display with another period by playing on the gear ratios, the number of fingers 7 and their positions, the number of third mobiles 80, in particular of anchors 8, the number of reset thresholds 52, for carrying out other jump commands.

For example, an application with two daily jumps at noon and midnight allows the change of state of an AM / PM indicator, or an application with two daily jumps at 6 am and at 6 pm allows the change of state a day / night indicator.

Yet another application relates to a weekly planner, with a rotation of seven days, and display of the day of the week. Many other applications are accessible and advantageous to those skilled in the art, because the invention provides new visibility of display changes, which constitutes a pleasant improvement for the user.

The back and forth of the anchor 8 therefore releases the rotation of the drum 3, in particular of the drum 3 of the barrel 10 in the case of the figures, by its finger 7, at midnight to allow its rotation by an angle of around 330 °, and at noon of 30 ° complementary. In a particular embodiment, the eccentric pin 42 is assembled on the shaft 41 by friction, to allow indexing of the jump, for example at midnight for the date.

The rotation of the drum 3 by 330 ° drives the display mechanism, in particular of date, by the cam 5, in particular a spiral 51, which is attached to it, and which applies a movement to the probe 6, which is on the Figures a roller of the date drive, arranged to move the display 100. The following display functions, in particular date, is done in known manner, for example in the form of simple or perpetual calendar.

The complementary 30 ° rotation is lost, this rotation is just necessary for the function of the trigger anchor 8.

More particularly, advantageously, the mechanism 1 is also linked to a regulation mechanism 9, or comprises a regulation mechanism 9. The drum 3 meshes with a train of this regulation mechanism 9, in particular in the variant illustrated by the Figures, with a pinion 91 of a regulating wheel 92, which meshes with an exhaust pinion 95, integral with a regulating escapement wheel 94. During the rotation of the drum 3, the regulating wheel 92 is driven. The regulating escape wheel 94 has teeth 95, which are arranged to cooperate with a regulating anchor 97, which comprises paddles 98 and 99. Under the torque imparted by the drum 3, the regulating anchor 97 passes alternately from one of its pallets to the other, driving a mass of inertia 970 which is integral with it. This oscillating movement of the regulating anchor 97 has a natural frequency which, without being as isochronous as a spiral balance, allows good regulation of a function. The frequency of the oscillator can be significantly changed with an additional spring 971, here movably mounted on a screw head 972, which allows the function time to be changed to a small extent.

Other variants of regulation mechanism 9 can also be used: inertia regulator, centrifugal brake, magnetic brake, or eddy current brake, or others.

It is this regulation system which limits the speed of the drum to 1 revolution in approximately 2 to 8 seconds.

Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate the sequence in the application described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates the state of the system shortly before noon, around 11 am. The finger 7 is in support cooperation with the stop 84 of the anchor 8. The eccentric crank pin 52 is very close to a first end 811 of the oblong groove 81 of the anchor 8. The roller of the probe 6 is in support on the lower level 511 of the spiral 51, in the immediate vicinity of the reset threshold 52, the position of which is shown by a radial in phantom. The date training is therefore inactive.

FIG. 5 illustrates the state of the system shortly after noon, around 12:30 p.m. The finger 7 is in support cooperation with the spout 83 of the anchor 8. The eccentric crank pin 52 is still close to the first end 811 of the oblong groove 81. The roller of the probe 6 is supported on the lower level 511 of the spiral 51, at an angular distance a, here of about 30 °, of the reset threshold 52. The date drive is still inactive.

[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates the state of the system shortly before midnight, around 11 pm. The finger 7 is point against point with the beak 83 of the anchor 8: the drum 3 can thus be released, for its rotation by almost one turn, as soon as this punctual contact is broken. The eccentric crankpin 52 has crossed in the afternoon the oblong groove 81 of the anchor 8, and is now very close to a second end 812 of this oblong groove 81. The roller of the probe 6 is still resting on the lower level 511 of the spiral 51, in the immediate vicinity of the reset threshold 52. The date training is always inactive.

Shortly after, near midnight, the finger 7 leaves the beak 83 of the anchor 8, the drum 3 rotates through an angle ß, here of about 330 °. During this rotation which is regulated by the regulation mechanism 9, detailed in FIG. 1, in order to last a few seconds and be clearly visible to the user, the roller of the probe 6 first traverses the lower level 511 of the spiral 51, then rises to the upper level 512, activating the date drive for the display of the new date. The roller 6 drops during the passage of the reset threshold 52.

CH 714 747 A2 [0057] FIG. 7 illustrates the state of the system shortly after midnight, around 12:30. The finger 7 is again in support cooperation with the stop 84 of the anchor 8. The eccentric crank pin 52 is still close to the second end 812 of the oblong groove 81. The roller of the probe 6 has fallen from its position high illustrated in phantom, in its low position resting on the lower level 511 of the spiral 51. The angle ß traversed is that formed between the positions of the reset threshold 52 in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 500 comprising such a display mechanism 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a clock, or a watch 1000, comprising such a movement 500 or / and such a display mechanism 1.

Variants of the invention are possible.

Triggering at midnight can be done by other principles, for example with a sprocket (constant force type). For example, the third mobile 80 is a star or a pinion secured to a shaft 41 of the first mobile 4.

Another variant constitutes the opposite configuration to that illustrated by the figures: the second mobile 30 is a barrel 3 arranged to be driven by a driving mobile 201, and which is carrying the third mobile 80. And the first mobile 4 is then arranged to drive or carry said peripheral spiral cam 5 51.

The regulation can be ensured by another type of regulator, of type of ring regulator, for example eddy current regulator, or magnetic regulator, or electrostatic regulator, or other.

The time of the function, which is defined by the type of regulatory mechanism 9 chosen, can be freely chosen, here it is, without limitation, defined between 1 and 30 seconds. Indeed, at these speeds, the dynamic constraints generated by the speed are negligible, only the static constraints are sensitive.

The date jump is done so as to generate only constraints that can be calculated statically, the dynamic effect linked to the inertias of the components during the jump is negligible.

Claims (14)

The jump is done in an instantaneous way on the scale of a day, but remaining clearly visible to the user, which gives a qualitative rendering. The jump is limited to a few seconds, the time limits for date corrections are limited, so the risk of loss of information and malfunctions are limited. claims 1. Clock display mechanism (1) comprising at least one display (100) movable by jumps, said mechanism (1) comprising at least one spring (2) between a first mobile (4) and a second mobile (30 ), said first mobile (4) or respectively said second mobile (30) being arranged to be driven by a driving mobile (201), characterized in that said second mobile (30) or respectively said first mobile (4) is arranged to drive or carry a peripheral spiral cam (5) (51) traversed by a feeler (6) arranged to control the jump of a said display (100), and in that said mechanism (1) comprises means for locking / release (70) comprising, on the one hand at least one finger (7) driven by said second mobile (30) or respectively said first mobile (4), and on the other hand a third mobile (80) arranged for, according to its angular position, stop or release said at least one finger (7), to in prevent or respectively allow the rotation of said cam (5). 2. Mechanism (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanism (1) comprises a regulation mechanism (9) comprising a regulation train meshing with that of said second mobile (30) or respectively of said first mobile (4) which drives or carries said cam (5), to limit its speed of rotation when said finger (7) is released. 3. Mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one spring (2) is wound between a shaft (41) of said first mobile (4) and said second mobile (30). 4. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second mobile (30) is a drum (3) carrying at least one peripheral finger (7) external to the trajectory of said probe (6) . 5. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said third mobile (80) is an anchor (8) movable angularly around an anchor axis (D8) under the action of said first mobile (4) or respectively of said second mobile (30), said anchor (8) being arranged to, depending on its angular position, stop or release said at least one finger (7), to prohibit or respectively allow rotation of said cam (5). 6. Mechanism (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said first mobile (4) comprises an eccentric crank pin (42) permanently guiding a groove (81) for controlling periodic back and forth movements of said anchor (8 ) pivoting, which comprises on either side of said anchor axis (D8) a spout (83) and a stop (84) for stopping or releasing said finger (7) according to the angular position of said anchor (8), the angular travel of each finger (7) between its release by said spout (83) and its return to rest on said stop (84) defining the jump duration. CH 714 747 A2 7. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said mechanism (1) comprises a barrel (10) comprising at least one said spring (2) between on the one hand the shaft of said barrel (10) which is integral with said shaft (41) of said first mobile (4), or which constitutes it, and on the other hand a said drum (3). 8. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first mobile (4) is pivotable and driven in an entire speed ratio by a said driving mobile (201), in that said spiral (51) comprises a reset threshold (52) after a said jump, and in that said angular travel, relative to the axis (D4) of said first mobile (4), of each finger (7) between its release by said spout (83) and its return to rest on said stop (84) defines the jump duration which corresponds to the duration of the travel of said feeler (6) on said cam (5), first along a ramp gradually rising from a lower level (511) to an upper level (512) of said spiral (51) then instantaneously falling back to said lower level (511) when crossing said reset threshold (52). 9. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each jump corresponds to a change of state of said display (100) between a previous state and a posterior state, and to a corresponding jump duration at the time elapsed between the stable display of said previous state and the stable display of said posterior state. 10. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said first mobile (4) input is arranged to be driven by a said mobile continuous drive (201) and to accomplish, during one revolution of said continuous drive mobile (201), one revolution or a whole number of turns or a whole fraction of a turn. 11. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said third mobile (80) is a star or a pinion integral with a shaft (41) of said first mobile (4). 12. Display mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second mobile (30) is a barrel (3) arranged to be driven by a driving mobile (201), and which is carrying of said third mobile (80), and in that said first mobile (4) is arranged to drive or carry said peripheral spiral cam (5) (51). 13. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said display (100) is movable by periodic jumps. 14. Mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said display (100) is a date display.