CH715587A2 - Universal device for winding and resetting a watch. - Google Patents

Abstract

Universal device for winding and resetting a watch (1) with an oscillating resonator which comprises: resetting and state correction means, comprising an automatic winder (304) for a mechanical or automatic watch which includes a setting (305) for receiving a watch, means for measuring state (303) with respect to a reference clock (1001), comprising a vision system (1002), means for monitoring stopping to record the stopping of the resonator and of the control means (900) arranged to then identify the stop time displayed by said watch (1) in its stop position, to calculate the time remaining until synchronization between the actual time indicated by said clock (1001) and said stop time, and for, at the expiration of said remaining time, activate said automatic winder (304) for resetting the energy storage means of said watch (1).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a universal device for winding and resetting the time of a watch comprising an oscillating resonator arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, said universal device comprising resetting and correction means of said watch, comprising an automatic watch winder for a mechanical or automatic watch which comprises at least one watch reception setting, said universal device comprising state measurement means for measuring the state of said watch with respect to to a reference clock to which said state measurement means (303) refer, which comprise a vision system.

The invention also relates to a watch bank comprising such a universal winding and time-setting device, and at least one said watch comprising a time base comprising at least one oscillating resonator, means for correcting state by a control rod provided with a state adjusting member accessible to the user, energy storage means or at least one barrel, and energy recharging means.

The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the state of a watch.

The invention relates to the field of watch maintenance, and devices for quickly providing the user with a watch from his collection, with an updated state setting, a satisfactory running setting, and full energy recharge.

Invention background

Current winders use a traditional gear between an electric motor and a watch holder. This type of transmission is sufficient for continuous rotation, in economical manufacturing at reduced costs, and with low consumption. However, if such a winding is used for relatively rapid back-and-forth movements, in particular trembling, which consists in subjecting the watch to vibrations, by riddling with modulated movement of adjustment, in particular periodic, up to a frequency of 10 Hz or more, shock noises may appear, and cause discomfort to the user.

A trembling method is described by patent applications CH00698 / 17 or EP17173301, and CH00699 / 17 or EP 17173302, by the same applicant, relating respectively to the gait adjustment and the state correction of a movement or a watch, and is very interesting for the correction of small drifts, for example of the order of a few tens of seconds in a day. However, it does not yet make it possible to correct in less than a day a state error greater than plus or minus one minute, for example for a reset to the time after shutdown, or to a change to summer time or winter, for example.

Application CH00624 / 18, or EP18173402, from the same applicant, relates to a universal device for preparing a watch, and uses the teachings of patent applications mentioned above relating to shaking.

We also know, essentially for pendulums, systems of the Breguet Pendulum Sympathique type, which allow time setting only for specific watches, by mechanical interaction with a particular interface.

[0009] Finally, if the minute hand and the second hand are badly indexed with respect to each other, the information can currently be sent back to the Client, but the indexing cannot be corrected.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to set the time an automatic watch oscillating using a device / device / support. The device allows winding the watch, but the principle of the invention is to start winding only when the watch actually displays the time it is.

To this end, the invention relates to a universal winding and time-setting device for a watch according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a watch bank according to claim 12.

The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the state of a watch according to claim 17.

Brief description of the drawings

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 represents, schematically, and in front view, a part of a universal winding and time-setting device according to the invention, which comprises a winder which carries several different watches mounted on the same device, each on a fitting capable of at least one oscillating movement, in particular in pivoting; this winder includes state measurement means with in particular a fixed vision system for evaluating the state of each watch, and capable of comparing the time read with a reference clock, here illustrated by a GPS link; this winder also includes a microphone allowing the frequency and the running of the watch to be evaluated; this winder is a rotary winder, allowing each watch to be successively brought in front of the vision system and the microphone, which are unique in this particular embodiment here; Figure 2 shows, similarly to Figure 1, a winder whose vision system and microphone are mobile, and where the fixtures are in a fixed position; control means collect the information from the sensors on the running of the watches, on their state, to set the automatic winding machine in motion at the appropriate time; FIG. 3 shows, similarly to FIG. 2, another winder whose vision system and the microphone are mobile, and where the positions are in a fixed position; FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate the steps of a method for adjusting the state of a watch, with another part of the universal winding and time-setting device, which comprises a robotic manipulator, and according to which: in Figure 4, we identify a first removable cap adapted to a first crown of the watch; in FIG. 5, this first ring is pulled; in FIG. 6, the first ring is fitted with this first removable cover; in FIG. 7, the watch is placed on a stand; in FIG. 8, an action is carried out on a control means to activate the state measurement means and perform a measurement of the state of the watch; in FIG. 9, the state of the watch is adjusted by a robotic manipulator controlled by said state control means, and which manipulates this first removable cover; in FIG. 10, after a certain time, the user is informed, optionally, of the completion of the adjustment of the state of his watch by a signal at the level of the control means; FIG. 11 shows, schematically, partially, and in perspective, the oscillator of a watch held on a setting, subjected to the action of a state correction device which includes state control means for controlling a state correcting oscillator arranged to generate an oscillation at a correction frequency, and for subjecting the watch to an oscillation at this correcting frequency and / or to a modulated movement, the state correcting device comprising means state control arranged to control the oscillation of the state correcting oscillator and interfaces with state measuring means for measuring the state of the watch; Figure 12 shows, schematically, partially, and in perspective, the oscillator of the watch of Figure 11, where the state control means are further arranged to control an excitation oscillation generated by a master oscillator an excitation frequency, approximately equal to the nominal frequency of the watch's oscillator, or to an integer multiple thereof, which are interfaced with gait measurement means for measuring the gait deviation of the watch; FIG. 13 shows, schematically, partially, and in perspective, fixed on a setting, a watch which comprises a barrel and an automatic resetting mass, a first state correction crown comprising a manipulation groove, a second crown resetting comprising a manipulation groove and here equipped with a second removable cap arranged to cap it tightly to allow its manipulation by a robotic manipulator, and an actuator also manipulable by a motorized manipulator; FIG. 14 represents, in the form of a block diagram, a watch bank, which includes such a universal winding and resetting device, and watches each comprising a time base with oscillating resonator, with means control device arranged near each resonator, state correction means by a control rod provided with a first ring, energy storage means or a barrel, means for recharging energy, in particular arranged in whole or in part as shown in figure 13.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Patent applications CH00698 / 17 or EP17173301, and CH00699 / 17 or EP 17173302, from the same applicant, describe an intelligent winder which can slave the frequency of at least one mechanical watch. Different embodiments have been imagined, in particular variants making it possible to enslave several watches on the same device, which constitutes a recurrent demand from watch enthusiasts and collectors.

Naturally, what is described here for a watch, in the particular perspective of an implementation of the invention in a user, is applicable to a non-nested movement, in the factory or after-sales service. The term "watch" is therefore used for simplicity, both for a complete watch and for its movement alone.

The invention, preferably to be included in a winding mechanism, aims to stop the watch, or at least to let the watch stop, using the natural discharge of the barrel when it is stationary, before winding it up to restart it when the time it is corresponds to the time it displays.

Application CH00698 / 17 or EP17173301 describes a device making it possible to wind an automatic watch as well as to measure its level of winding. It therefore makes it possible in particular to measure or verify its stopping.

Once the watch has stopped, the device stops its winding activity until the indications displayed by the watch correspond to the time it is. Thus, for a watch displaying only the hour over twelve hours, with two or three hands, the maximum time necessary for resetting the time is the total of its power reserve and twelve hours. For example, for a change to summer time (one hour ahead), the time required is the total of its remaining power reserve and eleven hours.

For a watch displaying the date, it is possible to set the time in a maximum duration which is the total of its power reserve and not more than twenty-four hours, provided that the watch is provided with a rapid date setting and that the care of this setting is left to the customer. In general, the maximum time required for setting the time with this device is equal to the total of the power reserve on the one hand, and on the other hand the period during which the indications of the dial return to the same place, except those whose adjustment is left to the customer.

The majority of watches have a power reserve of between 30 and 80 hours, and have a twelve-hour display, without date, or with rapid date setting, so the time setting is done in a few days, which corresponds to the occasional use of users with winding mechanisms.

When an automatic watch is stopped, the exact moment of its restarting by means of rotary movements is not well known. In addition, with an almost empty barrel, the running of the watch is often less good than with a full barrel. Thus, this device for resetting the time risks causing operating errors of a few seconds.

It is therefore advantageously associated with the fine state adjustment described in applications CH00699 / 17 or EP 17173302, and CH00624 / 18, or EP18173402, the content of which is here incorporated by reference. In addition, this procedure requires knowing the time displayed by the watch, as described in the above requests.

More particularly, the invention relates to a universal device 1000 for winding and resetting a watch 1 including an oscillating resonator 2. This resonator 2 is arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0.

The universal device 1000 comprises means for resetting and correcting the state of the watch 1, which include an automatic winder 304 for a mechanical or automatic watch, which comprises at least one setting 305 for receiving the watch.

The universal device 1000 includes state measurement means 303 for measuring the state of the watch 1 with respect to a reference clock 1001, to which these state measurement means 303 refer, which have a vision system 1002.

According to the invention, the universal device 1000 comprises stop monitoring means 500, which are arranged to note the stopping or running of such an oscillating resonator 2 of a watch 1. And the universal device 1000 comprises control means 900, which are arranged for, during a stop observation carried out by the stop monitoring means 500, identify, according to information transmitted by the state measurement means 303, the stop time displayed by watch 1 in its stop position. These control means 900 are further arranged to calculate the time remaining until a next synchronization instant between the real time indicated by the reference clock 1001 and this stop time, and for, at the expiration of this remaining time, activate the automatic winder 304 for resetting the energy storage means of watch 1, and thus authorize its restart.

More particularly, the universal device 1000 comprises at least one state correction device 300 for correcting the state of watch 1.

This state correction device 300 includes this automatic winder 304, the setting of which 305 is subject to oscillations or movements generated by a state correcting oscillator 301. This state correcting oscillator 301 is designed to generate an oscillation at an NC correction frequency, and to subject watch 1 to an oscillation at the NC correction frequency and / or a modulated movement.

The state correction device 300 also includes state control means 302, which are arranged to control the oscillation of the state correcting oscillator 301, and which are interfaced with the measurement means d 'state 303.

Advantageously, the universal device 1000 comprises means for controlling the running 800 of such an oscillating resonator 2. And, in the event of activation of the automatic winding machine 304, the control means 900 are arranged to await the determination stabilizing the walking of the oscillating resonator 2 at its nominal frequency N0 by these running control means 800, before authorizing a fine adjustment of the state of the watch 1.

Thus, more particularly, in the event of activation of the automatic winder 304, the control means 900 are arranged to await the determination of the stabilization of the operation of the oscillating resonator 2 at its nominal frequency N0 by the control means. on 800, before activating the state correction device 300 for fine adjustment of the state of watch 1 with reference to the reference clock 1001.

When the universal device 1000 comprises a state correction device 300 with state control means 302, these state control means 302 are advantageously interfaced with gait measurement means 203 for the measurement of the walking distance of a watch 1. And these state control means 302 are then arranged to control a running adjustment of the oscillating resonator 2 of this watch 1, and to control an excitation oscillation generated by an oscillator master 201 at an excitation frequency NE, approximately equal to the nominal frequency N0 of watch 1, or to an integer multiple of this, with a master value AM of deviation from a reference 202, which is lower than the initial value DI of the walking distance of the watch 1. And, in the event of activation of the automatic winder 304, the control means 900 are arranged to control the state control means 302 the triggering of '' a resonate walk setting oscillating eur 2. More particularly, the same oscillator constitutes both the state correcting oscillator 301 and the master oscillator 201.

In particular, the resetting and state correction means comprise at least one robotic manipulator 306 for the operation of a state adjusting member of a watch 1 accessible to the user, such as crown , telescope, or the like. This robotic manipulator 306 is advantageously arranged for the operation of a cap enclosing this state-adjusting member tightly, or for grasping a peripheral groove which this state-adjusting member comprises.

In a variant, the automatic winder 304 comprises at least one robotic manipulator 306 for recharging energy from energy storage means 5, which comprises watch 1, by the direct maneuver of a reset member accessible to the user, such as crown, targette, pusher, or the like, or for maneuvering a cap tightly enclosing this resetting member.

In a variant, the automatic winder 304 for a mechanical or automatic watch is motorized, and capable of carrying out automatic resetting of an automatic watch by setting in motion the watch 1 and its oscillating mass, and / or by a magnetic drive of its oscillating mass.

When the universal device 1000 includes a state correction device 300 with state control means 302, these state control means 302 are advantageously arranged to generate, if the state difference with l reference clock 1001 is less than one minute, the oscillation of the state correcting oscillator 301 to bring the state of the watch back to the value of the reference clock 1001, or, if the deviation of state with the reference clock is greater than one minute, the operation of a robotic manipulator 306 on a state adjusting member of a watch 1 accessible to the user, for adjusting the state of the watch 1.

When the state control means 302 are interfaced with gait measurement means 203, the latter comprise, in an advantageous variant, at least one microphone 1003 for the evaluation of the frequency, of the gait, and of the amplitude of the oscillating resonator 2. And, in the event of a finding of a path deviation greater than a predetermined threshold, the state control means 302 are arranged to control at least one excitation oscillation generated by the master oscillator 201 at the excitation frequency NE, to bring the path deviation to an intermediate value between the master value AM and the initial value of the path deviation.

Patent applications CH00624 / 18 and EP18173402 describe other particular characteristics, which relate to different embodiments and variants of the devices mentioned, directly applicable and integrated into the universal device of the present invention.

Similarly, the invention advantageously applies to a bank of watches 2000, which can be the collection of a user, or the stock of a retail store, or the like.

Such a watch bank 2000 advantageously comprises such a universal winding and resetting device 1000 described above, and at least one watch 1. This at least one watch 1 has a time base comprising at least an oscillating resonator 2, state correction means by a control rod provided with a state adjusting member of a watch 1 accessible to the user, such as crown, bezel or the like, storage means energy 5 or at least one barrel, and energy recharging means 6. More particularly, these energy recharging means 6 comprise an automatic reset mechanism comprising at least one oscillating weight 7 and / or a manual reset mechanism by the control rod or by a winder 8 comprising a reset member accessible to the user.

More particularly, at least one watch 1 of this bank of watches 2000 comprises, for its automatic energy recharge, a groove around its reset member, and / or a cap arranged to cap with tightness this reset member for authorize its manipulation in translation and / or in rotation by a robotic manipulator 306.

More particularly, the energy recharging means 6 include an automatic reset mechanism comprising at least one mobile inside the case of a watch 1 and arranged to be driven without contact by contactless drive means that includes the automatic winder 304 or the setting 305, or by a magnetic or electrostatic field.

More particularly, at least one watch 1 from the watch bank 2000 has a removable cover for a watch, with an internal profile complementary to a state adjusting member or to a reset member or to an actuator 10, accessible to the user, that includes watch 1, which removable cover is articulated and / or elastically deformable between a first presentation position where the removable cover is insertable radially or frontally on a state adjusting member or on a resetting member or on an actuator 10, and a second clamping position where the removable cover is capable of enclosing the state adjusting member or the resetting member or the actuator 10 with longitudinal and / or radial clamping. And this removable cover comprises external gripping means 11, which are arranged to, in its second clamping position, authorize its manipulation in all degrees of freedom by a robotic manipulator 306.

More particularly, each watch 1 that comprises the bank 2000 includes, for its automatic state adjustment, a groove around a state adjusting member, and / or a cap arranged to cap with tightening a member of state setting accessible to the user to authorize its manipulation in translation and / or in rotation by a robotic manipulator 306.

Again, patent applications CH00624 / 18 and EP18173402 describe other particular characteristics, which relate to different embodiments and variants of the devices mentioned, directly applicable and integrated into the watch bank according to the present invention.

Likewise also, the invention a method for adjusting the state of a watch 1 of such a bank of watches 2000: a removable cover is identified suitable for a state adjustment member or an actuator 10 of watch 1, a traction (or compression as the case may be) is effected of this state adjusting member or of this actuator 10, the state adjusting member or actuator 10 of the cover is fitted removable, the watch 1 is placed on a setting 305 of the universal winding device and reset to the time 1000, an action is carried out on a control means 18 to activate the state measurement means 303 and carry out a measurement of state of watch 1, and the state of watch 1 is adjusted by the robotic manipulator 306 controlled by the state control means 302.

Again, patent applications CH00624 / 18 and EP18173402 describe other particular characteristics, which relate to different embodiments and variants of the devices mentioned, directly applicable and integrated into this adjustment process according to the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. Universal device (1000) for winding and resetting the time of a watch (1) comprising an oscillating resonator (2) arranged to generate an oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, said universal device (1000) comprising resetting and state correction means of said watch (1), comprising an automatic watch winder (304) for a mechanical or automatic watch which comprises at least one setting (305) for receiving the watch, said universal device (1000) comprising state measuring means (303) for measuring the state of said watch (1) with respect to a reference clock (1001) to which said state measuring means (303) which comprise a system vision (1002), characterized in that said universal device (1000) comprises stop monitoring means (500) arranged to note the stopping or running of a said oscillating resonator (2) of a watch ( 1), and control means (900) which are arranged for, during a finding of stop made by said stop monitoring means (500), identify according to information transmitted by said state measurement means (303) the stop time displayed by said watch (1) in its stop position , and to calculate the time remaining until synchronization between the real time indicated by said reference clock (1001) and said stop time, and for, at the expiration of said remaining time, activate said automatic winder ( 304) for resetting the energy storage means of said watch (1). 2. Universal device (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that said universal device (1000) comprises at least one state correction device (300) for correcting the state of said watch (1), comprising said automatic winder (304), of which said setting (305) is subjected to the oscillations or movements generated by a state correcting oscillator (301) arranged to generate an oscillation at a correction frequency NC, and to subject said watch (1) to an oscillation at said correction frequency NC and / or at a modulated movement, said state correction device (300) comprising state control means (302) arranged to control the oscillation of said state correcting oscillator ( 301) and interfaces with said state measurement means (303). 3. Universal device (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said universal device (1000) comprises means for controlling the running (800) of a said oscillating resonator (2), and in that in case of activating said automatic winder (304), said control means (900) are arranged to await the determination of the stabilization of the walking of said oscillating resonator (2) at its said nominal frequency N0 by said walking control means (800 ), before authorizing a fine adjustment of the state of said watch (1). 4. Universal device (1000) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that, in the event of activation of said automatic winder (304), said control means (900) are arranged to await the determination of the stabilization of the step said oscillating resonator (2) at its said nominal frequency N0 by said running control means (800), before activating said state correction device (300) for fine adjustment of the state of said watch ( 1) with reference to said reference clock (1001). 5. Universal device (1000) according to claim 2 or a claim dependent on claim 2, characterized in that said state control means (302) are interfaced with gait measurement means (203) for the measurement of the running distance of a watch (1), and are arranged to control a running adjustment of the oscillating resonator (2) of this watch (1), and to control an excitation oscillation generated by a master oscillator (201 ) at an excitation frequency NE, approximately equal to the nominal frequency N0 of watch 1, or to an integer multiple thereof, with a master value AM of deviation from a reference (202), which is lower than the initial value DI of the walking distance of the watch (1), and in that in the event of activation of said automatic winder (304), said control means (900) are arranged to control said means state control (302) a running adjustment of said oscillating resonator (2). 6. Universal device (1000) according to claim 5, characterized in that the same oscillator constitutes said state correcting oscillator (301) and said master oscillator (201). 7. Universal device (1000) according to claim 2 or a claim dependent on claim 2, characterized in that said resetting and state correction means comprise at least one robotic manipulator (306) for the operation of an organ for adjusting the state of a watch (1) accessible to the user, is arranged for maneuvering a cap tightly enclosing said state adjusting member, or for grasping a peripheral groove that comprises said adjusting member state. 8. Universal device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said automatic winder (304) comprises at least one robotic manipulator (306) for recharging energy from energy storage means (5 ), which comprises said watch (1), by the operation of a reset member accessible to the user, or of a cover enclosing said reset member tightly. 9. Universal device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said automatic winder (304) for mechanical or automatic watch is motorized and capable of carrying out automatic resetting of an automatic watch by setting in motion of said watch (1) and of its oscillating mass, and / or by a magnetic drive of its oscillating mass. 10. Universal device (1000) according to claim 2 or a claim dependent on claim 2, characterized in that said state control means (302) are arranged to generate, if the state difference with said clock reference (1001) is less than one minute, the oscillation of said state correcting oscillator (301) to bring the state of said watch to the value of said reference clock (1001), or, if the deviation of state with said reference clock is greater than one minute, the operation of a robotic manipulator (306) on a state adjusting member of a watch (1) accessible to the user, for adjusting the state of said watch (1). 11. Universal device (1000) according to claim 5 or a claim dependent on claim 5, characterized in that said gait measurement means (203) comprise at least one microphone (1003) for the evaluation of the frequency, the step, and the amplitude of said oscillating resonator (2), and that, in the event of a finding of a step deviation greater than a predetermined threshold, said state control means (302) are arranged to control at least a said excitation oscillation generated by said master oscillator (201) at said excitation frequency NE, for reducing said step difference to an intermediate value between said master value AM and said initial value of step difference. 12. Watch bank (2000) comprising a universal device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 11, and at least one said watch (1) comprising a time base comprising at least one oscillating resonator (2), state correction means by a control rod provided with a state adjusting member of a watch (1) accessible to the user, energy storage means (5) or at least one barrel, and energy recharging means (6), characterized in that said energy recharging means (6) comprise an automatic resetting mechanism comprising at least one oscillating weight (7) and / or a manual resetting mechanism by said rod control or by a winder (8) comprising a reset member accessible to the user. 13. Watch bank (2000) according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one said watch (1) comprises, for its automatic recharging of energy, a groove around said reset member and / or a cap arranged to cap with tightening said resetting member to allow its manipulation in translation and / or in rotation by a robotic manipulator (306). 14. Watch bank (2000) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said energy recharging means (6) comprise an automatic resetting mechanism comprising at least one mobile inside the case of a watch (1) and arranged to be driven without contact by contactless drive means that includes said automatic winder (304) or said setting (305), or by a magnetic or electrostatic field. 15. Watch bank (2000) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that at least one said watch (1) comprises a removable cover for a watch, of internal profile complementary to a state adjusting member. or to a reset member or to an actuator (10), accessible to the user, that comprises said watch (1), which removable cover is articulated and / or elastically deformable between a first presentation position where said removable cover is insertable radially or frontally on a state adjusting member or on a resetting member or on an actuator (10), and a second clamping position where said removable cover is capable of enclosing said state adjusting member or said member resetting or said actuator (10) with longitudinal and / or radial clamping, and in that said removable cover comprises external gripping means (11) arranged to, in its said second clamping position, allow its manipulation in all degrees ies of freedom by a said robotic manipulator (306). 16. Watch bank (2000) according to claim 15, characterized in that each said watch (1) that comprises said bank (2000) comprises, for its automatic state adjustment, a groove around said state adjustment member and / or a cap arranged to cap said state adjusting member tightly accessible to the user to allow its manipulation in translation and / or in rotation by a robotic manipulator (306). 17. A method of adjusting the state of a said watch (1) of a said watch bank (2000) according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that a removable cover adapted to a member is identified. state adjustment or to an actuator (10) of said watch (1), in that one pulls said state adjustment member or said actuator (10), that equips said adjustment member d state or said actuator (10) of said removable cover, that said watch (1) is placed on a said fitting (305) of said universal winding and resetting device (1000), in that one performs an action on a control means (18) to activate said state measuring means (303) and to carry out a state measurement of said watch (1), and in that the state of said watch is adjusted ( 1) by said robotic manipulator (306) controlled by said state control means (302).