CH714939A2 - Animation mechanism of a decorative element of a timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for animating a decorative element (2) of a timepiece, said decorative element (2) comprising at least two decoration faces (18a) arranged around an axis ( 16) defining the axis of said decorative element (2). Said animation mechanism comprises a circular driver element arranged to be rotatable about a central axis and having an opening (26) arranged to reveal one of the decorative faces (18a) of the decorative element (2). ) and wherein said decorative element (2) is rotatably mounted about its axis (16). Said animation mechanism also comprises first rotational drive means of said decorative element (2) about its axis (16) embedded on the circular drive element and arranged to cooperate with fixed actuating means provided in the periphery of the circular driver element so that said decorative element (2) rotates about its axis (16) to present successively in the opening (26) of the circular driving element its decoration faces (18a) while turning around of the central axis.

Description

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a mechanism for animating a decorative element of a timepiece, said decorative element comprising at least two decorative faces arranged around an axis defining the 'axis of said decorative element.

Background of the invention Such an animation mechanism is described for example in patent CH 684 814. The decorative element consists of a rotary stud around its axis and having the shape of a cube or a right triangular prism, whose faces arranged around the axis of rotation are set with various precious stones, of different colors. The timepiece comprises, for example, twelve studs, each of the studs corresponding to a time point of the hour shift. The studs are driven in rotation about their respective axes by means of a rotary crown so as to successively reveal the faces of the studs making it possible to give the hour turn a different appearance. However, with such a mechanism, the animation is limited, the studs being movable only in a single movement around their respective axis.

Claims (16)

Summary of the invention The aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above by proposing a mechanism for animating a timepiece making it possible to move a decorative element according to different combined movements in order to create a complex animation and captivating. To this end, the invention relates to a mechanism for animating a decorative element of a timepiece, said decorative element comprising at least two decorative faces and arranged around an axis defining l 'axis of said decorative element. According to the invention, said animation mechanism comprises a circular driving element arranged to be movable in rotation about a central axis and comprising an opening arranged to reveal one of the decorative faces of the decorative element and in which said decorative element is mounted movable in rotation about its axis, and first means for driving in rotation of said decorative element around its axis embedded on the circular driving element and arranged to cooperate with fixed actuation means provided in the periphery of the circular driving element so that said decorative element rotates around its axis to present successively in the opening of the circular driving element its decorative faces while rotating around the central axis. The animation mechanism of the invention allows a decorative element to move in two combined movements, thereby creating complex animation. Summary description of the drawings [0007] Other particularities and advantages will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: fig. 1 is a perspective view of an animation mechanism according to the invention; fig. 2 is a top view of the animation mechanism according to the invention, the movable dial having been removed; fig. 3 is a perspective view of the circular driving element and the decorative element; fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotor bridge; fig. 5 is a perspective view of the drive crown; fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor; fig. 7 is a top view of the fixed cam and the Maltese cross; fig. 8 is a sectional view of the circular driving element and of the decorative element; fig. 9 is a sectional view of the circular driving element with the Maltese cross and the fixed cam; fig. 10 is a sectional view of the movable roller FIG. 11 is a view of the second control means of the control mechanism of the animation mechanism in the operating position; and CH 714 939 A2 fig. 12 is a view of the second control means of the control mechanism of the animation mechanism in the regulator locking position. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments With reference to FIG. 1, the animation mechanism 1 of a decorative element 2 of a timepiece comprises a circular driving element 33 arranged to carry said decorative element 2. In the example shown here, the circular driving element 3 is dimensioned to match the dial of the timepiece. It is obvious that, in another variant not shown, the circular driving element could be dimensioned to occupy only part of the dial of the timepiece. In the variant shown, the circular driving element 3 is hollowed out in its center to be of annular shape. As a result, the expression "circular driving element" or "annular driving element" will be used in the rest of this description, to denote the reference part 3. Advantageously, the circular driving element 3 comprises a movable dial 4, a drive ring 6, as well as a rotor 8 and a rotor bridge 10, of annular shape, as shown more particularly fig. 4 to 6. The rotor 8, the rotor bridge 10, the drive crown 6 and the movable dial 4 are superimposed and are mounted integral with each other. The drive crown 6 is arranged between the movable dial 4 and the rotor bridge 10. In the variant shown here, the drive ring 6 has an internal toothing 12 arranged on its inner peripheral edge, the role of which will be described below. The movable dial 4, the drive ring 6, the rotor 8 and the rotor bridge 10 are arranged to carry the decorative element 2 and its drive means in rotation, called first drive means, as this will be described below. The hollow center of the annular driving element 3 is filled by a fixed dial 14 (see fig. 9), integral with the frame, and crossed by the axis of the switch (not shown), allowing display hours and minutes. The fixed dial 14 can carry fixed decorative elements 15, positioned entirely on the fixed dial 14 or so as to be partially above the annular driving element 3. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 8, the decorative element 2 comprises at least two decorative faces arranged around an axis 16 defining the axis of rotation of said decorative element 2. Preferably, the decorative faces of the decorative element 2 are decorated differently from each other in order to present a different visual appearance. Advantageously, the decorative element 2 comprises a stone holder 18 carrying stones 20 constituting the decorative faces of the decorative element 2 and a finishing element 21 disposed on the movable dial 4 and surrounding the stone holder 18. In the example shown, the stone holder 18 has three decorative faces 18a arranged substantially at 120 ° from each other around the axis 16, each face 18a being occupied by a stone 20, as well as two faces 18b parallels crossed perpendicularly by said axis 16. Advantageously, the stones 20 are of different colors to form three decorative faces 18a different from each other. For example, you can use precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and diamonds. According to the invention, the circular driving element 3 is arranged to be movable in rotation about its axis which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the circular driving element, said axis being called central axis. The central axis is preferably parallel to the axis of the switch, and it can be different from the axis of the timepiece case. To this end, the circular driving element 3 is pivotally mounted on a frame 22 of the timepiece. Preferably, the circular driving element 3 is held radially on the frame 22 by at least two rollers mounted on the frame, one of the rollers being fixed, the other roller being movable. In the present example, and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 10, three rollers 50, 52 are provided, positioned inside the annular driving element 3 at approximately 120 °, two rollers 50 being fixed and the third roller 52 being movable as defined below. The two fixed rollers 50 are pivotally mounted on a pin 54 fixed on the board 46, in contact with the rotor 8. The third movable roller 52 is pivotally mounted, around an axis 55, on a support 56 of movable roller. Said movable roller support 56 is itself pivotally mounted on the board 46, about an axis 57, allowing the movable roller 52 to be able to come into contact with the rotor 8. A spring 58 of movable roller is mounted on the frame, its free end resting on a support 60 provided on the support 56 of the movable roller. The movable roller 52 makes it possible to make up for the mounting clearances of the annular driving element 3, canceling any radial sloshing and guaranteeing optimum efficiency. The circular drive element 3 is arranged to cooperate with rotary drive means (called second drive means) around the central axis. Advantageously, said second drive means for rotating the circular driving element 3 around the central axis are arranged to cooperate with the drive crown 6. More precisely, the second CH 714 939 A2 means for driving in rotation the circular driving element 3 around the central axis include a mobile 24 of a gear train cooperating with a barrel (not shown), a source of energy to power the animation mechanism. Said mobile 24 is preferably arranged on the frame near the inner peripheral edge of the drive ring 6 so as to be able to mesh with the internal toothing 12 and cause the drive ring 6 to rotate, and thus all of the first drive means of the annular driving element 3. There is also provided a finishing gear 25 cooperating with a speed regulator (not shown). Said finishing reference 25 is arranged on the frame preferably near the inner peripheral edge of the drive ring 6 so as to be able to mesh with the internal toothing 12 and regulate the speed of rotation of the drive ring 6, and thus the set of elements of the annular driving element 3. It is quite obvious that it is also possible to provide a main gear train going from the barrel to the speed regulator and a secondary gear train going from the main train to the mechanism of 'animation. The circular drive element 3, and more particularly the drive ring 6, has an opening 26 arranged to reveal one of the decorative faces 18a of the decorative element 2 and in which the said decorative element 2 is mounted movable in rotation about its axis 16. For this purpose, the stone holder 18 is mounted free in rotation about the axis 16 and said axis 16 is maintained on the drive ring 65 between the rotor bridge 10 and the movable dial 4, as shown in fig. 8, by its ends 16a which each have a flat disposed in a corresponding housing 26a formed in the opening 26 as shown in fig. 5. The rotor bridge 10 also has an opening 28, disposed opposite the opening 26, and in which the non-visible part of the stone holder 18 is housed and is free to circulate. The axis 16 is therefore arranged here in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. According to another variant, the construction can be modified to i provide an inclined axis 16. In addition, the axis 16 can be arranged radially or not to the central axis. The decorative element 2 is rotated about its axis 16 by first rotational drive means on board the annular drive element 3 and arranged to cooperate with fixed actuation means provided in the periphery of the annular driving element 3 so that said decorative element 2 rotates around its axis 16 to present successively in the opening 26 of the circular driving element 3 its decorative faces 18a while rotating around the central axis. Advantageously, the first drive means comprise a Maltese cross 30 arranged to cooperate with the fixed actuating means and a gear train, comprising at least a first reference 32 and a second reference 34 , kinematically connecting said Maltese cross 30 to the decorative element 2. Referring to FIG. 8, the first reference 32 rests on one of the faces 18b of the stone holder 18a and comprises a hollow axis 32a mounted through through the stone holder 18 coaxially with the axis 16. Said axis 32a is integral with the stone holder 18a , and is pivotally mounted around the axis 16, so that the stone holder 18, integral with the first gear 32, rotates with said first gear 32 and its axis 32a around the axis 16, ie here in a perpendicular plane to the central axis. The second reference 34 is mounted integral on the Maltese cross 30. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the Maltese cross 30 and the second reference 34 are pivotally mounted on the circular driving element 3, along an axis parallel to the central axis. More specifically, the Maltese cross 30 and the second return 34 are mounted together between the rotor 8 and the rotor bridge 10, so as to be embedded on the circular driving element 3. The ends of the axis 36 of the cross of Malta 30 are disposed respectively in an orifice 38 provided on the rotor 8 and in an orifice 40 provided facing the rotor bridge 10, near the decorative element 2 so that the second gear 34 meshes with the first gear 32 according to a spur gear, bevel or helical preferably at 90 °. Advantageously, the actuating means cooperating with the Maltese cross 30 comprise a cam 42 concentric with the circular driving element 3 and fixedly mounted on the frame, for example the plate 46 of the movement (cf. fig. 9). With reference to fig. 7, said cam 42 comprises on its outer periphery at least one tooth 44 arranged to actuate the first drive means, and more particularly to control the Maltese cross 30. The profile of each branch of the Maltese cross 30 is provided to correspond to the circular profile of the cam 42, so that the angular position of the Maltese cross 30 does not change as long as the profile of one of its branches is as close as possible to the circular part of the cam 42. When the Maltese cross 30 embedded on the circular driving element 3 in rotation meets a tooth 44 of the fixed cam 42, it preferably rotates 90 ° up to 'until it is again locked by the circular profile of the cam 42. A friction spring 48 is mounted under the rotor bridge 10, its free end being in contact with the face 18b of the stone holder 18 opposite the face 18b against which the first reference 32 rests. The friction spring 48 acts on the stone holder 18 like a dragging shoe, in order to eliminate any frolic or sloshing which could hinder the meshing of the Maltese cross 30 on each of the teeth 44 of the cam 42. The cam 42 comprises a number n of teeth 44 distributed over its outer periphery allowing n rotations of the decorative element 2 per revolution of the circular driving element 3. The teeth 44 can be distributed on the cam 42 in a regular manner , allowing a regular and continuous rotation of the Maltese cross 30 and therefore of the decorative element 2 during the rotation of the circular driving element 3. The teeth 44 can also be distributed on the cam 42 of CH 714 939 A2 irregularly, for example as shown in fig. 7, allowing a discontinuous rotation of the Maltese cross 30 and therefore of the decorative element 2 during the rotation of the circular driving element 3. Advantageously, the decorative element 2 comprises m decoration faces, m possibly being equal to or different from n. Preferably, m is different from n. Thus, for example according to the example shown, the decorative element 2 comprises three decorative faces 18a while the cam 42 comprises four teeth 44, which allows the decorative element 2 to have, during a turn of the circular driving element 3, a sequence of rotation of its decoration faces different from the previous round. The driving element 3 of the animation mechanism can be supplied with energy by at least one autonomous energy accumulator, such as a barrel, independent of the movement's energy accumulator, its speed being regulated by a regulator. The barrel is arranged to be kinematically connected to the mobile 24 of the finishing train and the regulator is kinematically connected to the finishing gear 25. Advantageously, the animation mechanism of the invention can be set in motion and stopped by a control mechanism independent of the movement of the timepiece. Advantageously, such a control mechanism comprises control means arranged to exercise two functions, namely first control means arranged to exercise a first function consisting in starting (GO) and stopping (STOP ) the animation mechanism at the request of a user, and second control means arranged to exercise a second function consisting in stopping the animation mechanism when the energy of the autonomous energy accumulator is too low to guarantee a good speed and a good functioning of the animation mechanism, and that the remaining energy reaches a determined energy threshold. This second function allows the animation mechanism to stop on its own even if the user has not given a STOP command. To exercise the first STOP & GO function, the first control means of the control mechanism may comprise a push crown provided with a STOP & GO push button, a column wheel capable of moving between a STOP stop position. of the animation mechanism and a GO position of starting the animation mechanism, said column wheel cooperating on the one hand with an actuating lever actuated by the push button and on the other hand with a first locking lever designed to palpate the STOP and GO positions of the column wheel and move between a blocking position of the regulator, for example by blocking the finishing gear 25 kinematically connected to the regulator, when the STOP position of the column wheel is palpated, and an operating position in which said finishing gear 25 is not blocked, and therefore the regulator is free, when the GO position of the column wheel is palpated . To exercise the second stop function when the energy of the barrel becomes insufficient, the second control means of the control mechanism may include, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a second blocking lever 80 arranged to move between an operating position (cf. FIG. 11) in which the finishing gear 25 kinematically connected to the speed regulator is not blocked, so that the regulator is free , when the energy of the accumulator is greater than a determined threshold, and a blocking position of the regulator (cf. FIG. 12), by blocking for example said finishing gear 25, when the energy of the accumulator reaches said threshold determined. To this end, there is provided a power reserve finger 82 mounted integrally on a power reserve display mobile 84 kinematically connected to the energy accumulator, said power reserve finger 82 being arranged to press on a pin 86 provided on the second blocking lever 80, when the determined energy threshold is reached. When the power reserve finger 82 presses on the pin 86, the second blocking rocker 80 rocks around its axis 88 in the blocking position to block the finishing gear 25 as shown in FIG. 12. When the energy accumulator is raised, and the energy of the accumulator again becomes greater than the determined threshold, the power reserve finger 82 driven by the power reserve mobile 84 moves away from the pin 86 so that the second blocking lever 80 moves away from the finishing gear 25 to return to its operating position as shown in FIG. 11. A spring 90 is provided, the free end of which cooperates with a pin 92 provided on the second locking lever 80 to tilt said second locking lever 80 and return it to the operating position when the power reserve finger 82 no longer presses on pin 86. Such a control mechanism allows the animation mechanism to restart without delay as soon as the user begins to raise the energy accumulator in the case where the push button is in the GO position. To operate the animation mechanism according to the invention, the control mechanism is actuated by pressing the push button in the GO position. The annular driving element 3 is then put into rotation by means of the mobile 24 meshing with the driving crown 6 and carries with it the decorative element 2 and the first means of driving in rotation 30, 32, 34. When the Maltese cross 30 on board the annular driving element 3 passes in front of a tooth 44 of the fixed cam 32, the Maltese cross 30 pivots by 90 °. The angular position changes of the Maltese cross 30 are then transmitted to the decorative element 2, via the second reference 34 and the first reference 32, so as to cause the decorative element 2 to rotate around its axis 16, preferably at an angle of 120 °, four times per revolution of the circular driving element 3. Thus, the decorative element 2 performs a combined movement, on the one hand by turning around its axis 16 to present successively in the opening 26 of the annular driving element 3 its decorative faces 18a and on the other hand by turning, with the annular driving element 3, around the central axis. CH 714 939 A2 The invention is not limited to the example described. In particular, the drive crown could have teeth on its outer periphery, the second drive means being arranged accordingly. Furthermore, the circular driving element 3 may be full, the rollers then being replaced by another radial holding system of the bearing type for example, or provided outside of the circular driving element 3. claims 1. Mechanism for animating a decorative element (2) of a timepiece, said decorative element (2) comprising at least two decorative faces (18a) arranged around an axis (16) defining the axis of said decorative element (2), characterized in that said animation mechanism comprises a circular driving element (3) arranged to be movable in rotation about a central axis and comprising an opening (26) arranged to reveal the one of the decorative faces (18a) of the decorative element (2) and in which said decorative element (2) is mounted so as to be able to rotate about its axis (16), and first means for driving in rotation said decorative element (2) around its axis (16) embedded on the circular driving element (3) and arranged to cooperate with fixed actuation means provided in the periphery of the circular driving element (3) so that said element decorative (2) rotates around its axis (16) to present successively in the opening (26) of the circular driving element (3) its decorative faces (18a) while rotating around the central axis. 2. Animation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive means comprise a Maltese cross (30) arranged to cooperate with the fixed actuating means and a gear train, comprising at least one first reference (32) and a second reference (34), kinematically connecting said Maltese cross (30) to the decorative element (2). 3. Animation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation means comprise a cam (42) concentric with the circular driving element (3) and fixedly mounted on a frame, said cam (42 ) comprising on its outer periphery at least one tooth (44) arranged to actuate the first drive means. 4. Animation mechanism according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the tooth (44) is arranged to control the Maltese cross (30). 5. Animation mechanism according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the cam (42) comprises a number n of teeth (44) distributed over its outer periphery allowing n rotations of the decorative element (2) per revolution of the circular driving element (3). 6. Animation mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the decorative element (2) comprises m decorative faces (18a), m may be equal to or different from n. 7. Animation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative faces (18a) of the decorative element (2) are decorated differently from each other. 8. Animation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circular driving element (3) is hollowed out in its center to be of annular shape and comprises a driving crown (6). 9. Animation mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises second means for driving in rotation the circular driving element (3) around the central axis arranged to cooperate with the drive crown. (6). 10. Animation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circular driving element (3) is held radially by at least two rollers (50, 52) mounted on a frame, one of the rollers being fixed, the other roller being mobile. 11. Animation mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the decorative element (2) comprises a stone holder (18) carrying stones (20) constituting the decorative faces (18a) of the decorative element (2), said stone holder (18) being integral with the first gear (32) of the gear train, said stone holder (18) and said first gear (32) being pivotally mounted around the axis (16) of the decorative element (2). 12. Timepiece comprising an animation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims. 13. Timepiece according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises at least one energy accumulator for supplying energy to the animation mechanism, a regulator of the speed of the animation mechanism, and a mechanism for control of the animation mechanism, said control mechanism comprising first control means arranged to start and stop the animation mechanism at the request of a user, and second control means arranged to stop the control mechanism animation when the remaining energy of the energy accumulator reaches a determined energy threshold. 14. Timepiece according to claim 13, characterized in that the first means for controlling the control mechanism comprise a push button, a column wheel cooperating with said push button to move between a STOP position for stopping the mechanism d animation and a GO position to start the animation mechanism, and a first locking rocker arranged to palpate the STOP position and the position CH 714 939 A2 GO of the column wheel and move between a locking position of the regulator when the STOP position of the column wheel is palpated, and an operating position in which said regulator is free when the GO position of the column wheel is palpated. 15. Timepiece according to one of claims 13 to 14, characterized in that the second control means of the control mechanism comprise a second locking rocker (80) arranged to move between an operating position in which the regulator is free, when the energy of the accumulator is greater than a determined threshold, and a regulator blocking position when the energy of the accumulator reaches said determined threshold. 16. Timepiece according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a power reserve finger (82) mounted integral on a power reserve display mobile (84) kinematically connected to the accumulator. energy, said power reserve finger (82) being arranged to press on the second locking lever (80) when the determined energy threshold is reached and to bring said locking lever (80) into its regulator locking position. CH 714 939 A2

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