CH718021A2 - Information display mechanism, movement and timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The information display mechanism according to the invention comprises a first display part (70) rotatable around a first axis (O1), a first motor device (90) which supplies power to the first part of display (70), a second display part (80) rotatable around a second axis (O2) positioned so as to be non-coaxial with the first axis (O1): a second motor device (91) which provides power to the second display portion (80), and a rotation controller (95) which controls rotation of the first and second display portions (70, 80) such that the first and second display portions display (70, 80) each rotate according to a predetermined cycle. The first and second display portions (70, 80) cooperate with each other to display at least information based on a change in the positional relationship between the angular position of the first display portion (70) around the first axis (O1) and the angular position of the second display part (80) around the second axis (O2). In one embodiment, the display mechanism according to the invention displays the age of the moon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an information display mechanism, a movement and a timepiece.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] In recent years, as timepieces displaying information in addition to the current time, there have been known timepieces comprising a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon, which displays the age of the moon. Such a moon age display mechanism displays the condition of the moon, which waxes and wanes repeatedly in a fixed cycle, with the passing of days, and methods for displaying the age of the moon have been expertly imagined for years.

[0003] The age of the moon is a numerical value used as a guide which allows a wearer of a timepiece to know the phase of the Moon, and it is known that the age of the moon represents the number of days that have elapsed since the new moon, with the assumption that the new moon has a "moon age of 0". In general, the Moon waxes and wanes repeatedly, according to a cycle of 29.5 days, and one speaks of a full moon for a moon age of the order of „14.8“.

[0004] Japanese patent no. 2,635,554 (patent document 1), described below, proposes a timepiece having a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon, the timepiece comprising a dial with a window displaying the age of the moon and a moon plate on which appear two representations of the Moon (full moons). The Moon Age Display Mechanism can display representations of the Moon through the Moon Age Display Window in a repeating pattern of waxing and waning as the plate is rotated. moon according to the passage of days.

[0005] The European patent application published under number 1,321,832 (patent document 2), described below, proposes a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon comprising a display part which has the shape of a fan. in a plan view and which shows a gradual change in the phase of the Moon, together with a moon hand which oscillates according to the passage of days to designate a relevant point on the age display part from the moon.

[0006] European patent application No. 1,692,574 (patent document 3), described below, proposes a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon which comprises a screen with a window for displaying the age of the moon. the moon having an arcuate shape in plan view, as well as first and second moon plates having different colors. In this moon age display mechanism, the first and second moon plates swing in opposite directions inside the moon age display window according to the passing of days .

[0007] The first and second plates can overlap one another in the direction of the thickness of the timepiece, and a modification of the overlap between the first and second plates can be used to display the phase of the moon.

[0008] In addition, European patent no. 2,687,918 (patent document 4), described below, proposes a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon which comprises a sphere which imitates the Moon and which rotates according to the passage of days.

[0009] In the timepiece with a mechanism for displaying the age of the moon described in patent document 1 mentioned above, the two representations of the Moon are however arranged with a gap of 180° between them. on the moon plate, which increases the area occupied by representations of the Moon on the moon plate. Therefore, to show a representation of the Moon having a diameter of for example 4 mm, the moon plate has a diameter of at least 10 mm, which makes it difficult to display the age of the moon (display l information) in a small area.

[0010] In addition, to display a Moon age close to the new Moon, the situation is expected to occur in which the two Moon representations appear at the same time in the display window of the Moon. age of the Moon, which makes it difficult to distinguish different Moon ages from each other. There is therefore potential for improvement regarding a stable display of the Moon's age (information display).

[0011] The Moon age display mechanism described in the aforementioned patent document 2 is difficult to handle because of its constitution which prevents inversion of the Moon display and withstands high stress. because the lunar needle suddenly moves from the arrival point to the starting point, at the end of the waxing-waning cycle of the Moon.

[0012] In the Moon age display mechanism described in the aforementioned patent document 3, the first and second moon plates do not overlap each other halfway through the full travel. of the first and second moon plates, which leads to several unnecessary movements that do not contribute to the display of the Moon's age. There is therefore potential for improvement regarding an efficient, continuous display of the moon's age (information display).

Furthermore, the mechanism for displaying the age of the Moon described in patent document 4 mentioned above uses a sphere imitating the Moon, which results in an increase in the thickness of the mechanism and, by therefore, difficulties, for example, for a reduction in thickness and size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] One aspect of the present application is to propose an information display mechanism, a movement and a timepiece which are capable of displaying at least one piece of information in a continuous, stable and efficient manner, with a good visibility even in a small area, and which allow to reduce the stresses received by the mechanism and also to reduce the size and thickness of the mechanism.

[0015] (1) An information display mechanism according to the present application comprises a first display part rotatable about a first axis, a first motor device which supplies power to the first display part, a second display part rotatable about a second axis positioned to be non-coaxial with the first axis, a second motor device which supplies power to the second display part, and a rotation control device which controls rotation of the first and second display portions such that the first and second display portions each rotate in a predetermined cycle, and the first and second display portions cooperate with each other to display at the less information by acting on a modification of the positional relationship between the angular position of the first display part around the first axis and the angular position of the second display part chage around the second axis.

In the information display mechanism according to the present application, the rotation control device can rotate the first display part around the first axis according to the predetermined cycle by using the power from the first motor device. and rotating the second display part around the second axis according to the predetermined cycle using the power from the second motor device, while controlling the rotations of the first and second display parts. In this process, the first axis and the second axis are not coaxial with each other, so that the first and second display parts, which are spaced apart from each other in the plane, can move independently of each other. The relationship between the angular position of the first display part around the first axis and the angular position of the second display part around the second axis can thus be changed from minute to minute, and said at least one item of information can be displayed based on changing the positional relationship between the cooperatively moving first and second display portions.

[0017] As described above, said at least one piece of information is displayed using a change in the positional relationship between the first and second display parts, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed with good visibility even in a small area. Further, since the positional relationship between the first and second display portions can be changed from minute to minute, there is no unnecessary movement to display said at least one piece of information, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed in a continuous, stable and efficient manner. Moreover, the first and second display parts can change direction, and instantaneous movement as in the prior art is not necessary, whereby the stresses borne by the Moon age display mechanism can be reduced. Further, there is no need for a thick member such as the prior art sphere, whereby the size and thickness of the Moon age display mechanism can be reduced.

(2) It can be chosen that the first and second display parts are positioned at different heights in the direction of the thickness of the plate. It is selectable that the rotation control device rotates the first and second display parts such that the first and second display parts overlap each other in the thickness direction of the platen . It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts display said at least one piece of information by playing on the positional relationship in a plan view when viewed in the direction of the thickness of the plate.

[0019] When this is the case, since the first and second display parts can be turned so as to overlap one on the other in the direction of the thickness of the plate, said at least one piece of information can be displayed by varying the positional relationship between the first and second display parts in the plan view (viewpoint), i.e. changing the overlap between the first and second parts display. A change in the positional relationship between the first and second display parts is thus clearly visible, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed with good visibility.

[0020] Moreover, since the first and second display parts have the possibility of overlapping each other, said at least one piece of information can be effectively displayed in a smaller region, and the space required ( clutter) to display said at least one piece of information can be reduced. Therefore, the information display mechanism can be easily used in a variety of devices.

[0021] (3) It can be chosen that the rotation control device rotates the first and second display parts in such a way that, during the rotation of the first and second display parts, the first and second display parts are in at least two states which, when viewed along the thickness direction of the platen, are as follows: a hidden state, in which the entire first display part is hidden behind the second part display, and an uncovered state, in which the entire first display part is pulled out from behind the second display part.

[0022] When this is the case, when said at least one piece of information is displayed by adjusting the overlap between the first and second display parts, the following two aspects can be obtained: a hidden state in which the entire first part is hidden behind the second display part, and an uncovered state in which the entire first display part is pulled out from behind the second display part, whereby at least two distinctly different aspects can be displayed clear, for ease of use.

[0023] (4) The rotation control device can be selected to comprise a rotor which rotates according to the passage of time, a first rotation control device which controls the rotation of the first display part in such such that when the rotor rotates, the first display portion performs reciprocating rotation movement within a predetermined rotation angular range around the first axis, and a second rotation control device which controls the rotation of the second display part such that, when the rotor rotates, the second display part performs a reciprocating rotational movement within a predetermined angular range of rotation around the second axis.

When this is the case, the first rotation control device and the second rotation control device respectively control the rotation of the first display device and the rotation of the second display device, as a result of a rotation of the rotor which rotates according to the passage of time, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed according to the passage of time. Information other than the time, such as the age of the Moon, the day of the week and the date, can therefore be displayed.

[0025] Furthermore, since the first and second display parts can be controlled to perform reciprocating rotational movement (tilting movement), said at least one piece of information can be effectively displayed even in an even smaller region, with the first and second display portions being continuously moved.

[0026] (5) It is possible to choose that the first rotation control device comprises a first cam which rotates when the rotor rotates, as well as a first control lever which switches depending on the rotation of the first cam to control the rotation of the first display part, and it is possible to choose that the second rotation control device comprises a second cam which rotates when the rotor rotates, as well as a second control lever which tilts according to the rotation of the second cam for controlling the rotation of the second display part.

[0027] When this is the case, the rotor turns according to the passage of time, whereby the first and second cams can be rotated simultaneously when the rotor turns. The first control lever can therefore be rocked according to the rotation of the first cam, and the rocking movement of the first control lever allows the first display part to reciprocate the rotation movement appropriately . Similarly, the second control lever can be rocked according to the rotation of the second cam, and the rocking movement of the second control lever allows the second display part to reciprocate appropriate.

[0028] In particular, a simple construction using only the first and second cams makes it possible to cause the first and second display parts to perform an alternating rotational movement depending on the passage of time, allowing the action to be reliable. and that the constitution be simplified.

[0029] (6) One can choose that the rotor, the first cam and the second cam are arranged on one and the same axis.

[0030] When this is the case, since the rotor, the first cam and the second cam are arranged on the same axis (single common axis), the entire mechanism can be arranged in a compact manner in the plane.

[0031] (7) It is possible to choose that the rotor be a Moon age wheel which completes one revolution per lunar cycle. It is possible to choose that the first rotation control device controls the rotation of the first display part in such a way that the first display part performs a round trip for a complete revolution of the rotor. It can be chosen that the second rotation control device controls the rotation of the second display part in such a way that the second display part performs a return trip for a complete revolution of the rotor, with a phase difference with respect to the first part of display. It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts display the age of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information, by playing on a modification of the positional relationship between the first and second display parts which corresponds at the phase shift.

[0032] When this is the case, the rotor, which is the age wheel of the Moon, can be turned gradually according to the passage of time and can be turned during the lunation (about 29.5 days). In addition, in relation to the lunation, the first display part can be rotated so as to go back and forth and the second display part can be rotated so as to go back and forth with a phase difference with respect to the first display part. The first and second display parts can thus be rotated with a phase difference between them, and the age of the Moon, which is said at least one piece of information depending on the lunar cycle, can be displayed by playing on a modification of the relationship of position between the first and second display parts which corresponds to the phase shift, that is to say on a modification of the overlap between the first and second display parts.

[0033] In other words, the overlap between the first and second display portions can be changed from minute to minute during the lunation (about 29.5 days), whereby the age of the Moon can be apprehended in the blink of an eye.

[0034] (8) The first display part can be chosen to be a moon plate which has a circular shape in a plan view and which imitates the Moon. It can be chosen that the second display part is a shadow plate which has a circular shape in the plan view and which has a darker color than a color of the first display part. It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts display the age of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information.

[0035] When this is the case, since the first display part is the moon plate and the second display part is the shadow plate having a darker color, a change in the overlap between the moon and shadow plate allows clear reading of Moon age at a glance, such as new moon (Moon age of 0), full moon (Moon age of 14.8 ), first quarter (Moon age 7.4) and last quarter (Moon age 22.1).

[0036] (9) The information display mechanism may be selected to further comprise a Moon age correction mechanism which corrects the relative positional relationship between the first and second display portions by forcing the rotor to turn.

[0037] When this is the case, the Moon age correction mechanism can force the rotor, which is the Moon age wheel, to rotate in order to correct the relative positional relationship between the first and second display portions for correcting the age of the Moon.

[0038] (10) It is possible to choose that the Moon age correction mechanism comprises a Moon age correction lever which is placed at a position adjacent to the rotor and which is tiltable around a tilting axis, between a standby position and a correction position, a lever spring which returns the Moon age correction lever to the standby position, and a correction claw which equips the correcting the age of the Moon so as to be tiltable and which angularly moves the rotor in one direction, by a predetermined angular amount, when the correcting lever for the age of the Moon is placed in the correcting position. It can be chosen that the Moon age correction lever is provided with a claw return spring which allows the correction claw to separate from the rotor when the Moon age correction lever returns from its correction position to its standby position, and which recalls the correction claw in the direction of returning it to a rotational actuation state when the Moon age correction lever returns to the position where the correction claw is at a distance from the rotor.

When this is the case, to correct the age of the Moon, the Moon age correction lever is tilted around the tilting axis, from the standby position to the correction, against the restoring force produced by the lever spring. The rotor is thus rotated a predetermined amount in one direction. The angular position of the rotor can thus be corrected, so that the overlap between the first and second display parts can be adjusted, whereby the age of the Moon can be reliably corrected.

[0040] When the tilting of the Moon age correction lever ends, the return force produced by the lever spring allows the Moon age correction lever to return from the correction position to the waiting position. In this process, since the correction claw can be separated from the rotor against the restoring force produced by the claw restoring spring, it can be avoided that when the Moon age correction lever returns to the standby position, the correction claw rotates the rotor in the opposite direction to the position prior to the correction. The corrected Moon age can thus be preserved.

[0041] When the Moon age correction lever returns to the position where the correction claw is away from the rotor, the correction claw returns, by the return force from the claw return spring , in preparation for the next correction of the Moon's age, in the position it has to turn the rotor.

[0042] (11) A movement according to the present application comprises an information display mechanism as defined above.

[0043] (12) A timepiece according to the present application comprises a movement as defined above.

[0044] When this is the case, the information display mechanism as defined above allows information other than the current time to be displayed in a continuous, stable and efficient manner, with good visibility, resulting in a movement and a timepiece which are of high quality and performance and which have improved functionality.

[0045] The present application allows the continuous, stable and efficient display of information with good visibility even in a small area, a reduction in the stresses borne by the mechanism and furthermore a reduction in size and thickness. of the mechanism.

[0046] (1) An information display mechanism according to the present application comprises a first display part rotatable about a first axis, a first motor device which provides drive to the first display part, a second display part rotatable about a second axis positioned to be non-coaxial with the first axis, a second motor device which provides drive to the second display part, and a rotation control device which controls the rotation of the first and second display parts in such a way that the first and second display parts each rotate according to a predetermined cycle, and the first and second display parts together compose the display of at least one piece of information which can be modified in acting on the relative position of the first and second display parts as a function of the angular position of the first display part around the first axis and of the position ang ular of the second display part around the second axis.

[0047] In the information display mechanism according to the present application, the rotation control device can rotate the first display part around the first axis according to the predetermined cycle by using the power from the first motor device and rotating the second display part around the second axis according to the predetermined cycle using the power from the second motor device, while controlling the rotations of the first and second display parts. In this process, the first axis and the second axis are not coaxial with each other, so that the first and second display parts can be moved independently of each other. The relative position of the first and second display parts can thus be changed from minute to minute, and said at least one item of information can be displayed by varying the relative position of the first and second display parts moving cooperatively.

[0048] As described above, said at least one piece of information is displayed using a modification of the relative position of the first and second display parts, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed with good visibility even in a small area. Moreover, since the relative position of the first and second display parts can be changed from minute to minute, there is no unnecessary movement to display said at least one piece of information, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed from a continuous, stable and efficient way. Moreover, the first and second display parts can change direction, and instantaneous movement as in the prior art is not necessary, whereby the stresses borne by the Moon age display mechanism can be reduced. Further, there is no need for a thick member such as the prior art sphere, whereby the size and thickness of the Moon age display mechanism can be reduced.

(2) It can be chosen that the first and second display parts are positioned at different heights in the direction of the thickness of the plate. It is selectable that the rotation control device rotates the first and second display parts such that the first and second display parts overlap each other in the thickness direction of the platen . It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts display said at least one piece of information by adjusting said relative position in a plan view when looking in the direction of the thickness of the plate.

[0050] When this is the case, since the first and second display parts can be turned so as to overlap one on the other in the direction of the thickness of the plate, said at least one piece of information can be displayed by modifying the relative position of the first and second display parts in the plan view (point of view), i.e. on the overlap between the first and second display parts. A modification of the relative position of the first and second display parts is thus clearly visible, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed with good visibility.

[0051] Moreover, since the first and second display parts have the possibility of overlapping each other, said at least one piece of information can be effectively displayed in a smaller region, and the space required ( clutter) to display said at least one piece of information can be reduced. Therefore, the information display mechanism can be easily used in a variety of devices.

[0052] (3) It can be chosen that the rotation control device rotates the first and second display parts in such a way that, during the rotation of the first and second display parts, the first and second display parts are in at least two states which, when viewed along the thickness direction of the platen, are as follows: a hidden state, in which the entire first display part is hidden behind the second part display, and an uncovered state, in which the entire first display part is pulled out from behind the second display part.

[0053] When this is the case, when said at least one piece of information is displayed by adjusting the overlap between the first and second display parts, the following two aspects can be obtained: a hidden state in which the entire first part is hidden behind the second display part, and an uncovered state in which the entire first display part is pulled out from behind the second display part, whereby at least two distinctly different aspects can be displayed clear, for ease of use.

[0054] (4) The rotation control device can be selected to comprise a rotor which rotates according to the passage of time, a first rotation control device which controls the rotation of the first display part in such such that when the rotor rotates, the first display portion performs reciprocating rotation movement within a predetermined rotation angular range around the first axis, and a second rotation control device which controls the rotation of the second display part such that, when the rotor rotates, the second display part performs a reciprocating rotational movement within a predetermined angular range of rotation around the second axis.

When this is the case, the first rotation control device and the second rotation control device respectively control the rotation of the first display device and the rotation of the second display device, as a result of a rotation of the rotor which rotates according to the passage of time, whereby said at least one piece of information can be displayed according to the passage of time. Information other than the time, such as the age of the Moon, the day of the week and the date, can therefore be displayed.

Furthermore, since the first and second display parts can be controlled to perform reciprocating rotational movement (tilting movement), said at least one piece of information can be effectively displayed even in an even smaller region, with the first and second display portions being continuously moved.

[0057] (5) It is possible to choose that the first rotation control device comprises a first cam which rotates when the rotor rotates, as well as a first control lever which switches depending on the rotation of the first cam to control the rotation of the first display part, and it is possible to choose that the second rotation control device comprises a second cam which rotates when the rotor rotates, as well as a second control lever which tilts according to the rotation of the second cam for controlling the rotation of the second display part.

[0058] When this is the case, the rotor turns according to the passage of time, whereby the first and second cams can be rotated simultaneously when the rotor turns. The first control lever can therefore be rocked according to the rotation of the first cam, and the rocking movement of the first control lever allows the first display part to reciprocate the rotation movement appropriately . Similarly, the second control lever can be rocked according to the rotation of the second cam, and the rocking movement of the second control lever allows the second display part to reciprocate appropriate.

In particular, a simple construction using only the first and second cams makes it possible to cause the first and second display parts to perform an alternating rotational movement depending on the passage of time, allowing the action to be reliable. and that the constitution be simplified.

[0060] (6) It is possible to choose that the rotor, the first cam and the second cam have the same axis of rotation.

[0061] When this is the case, since the rotor, the first cam and the second cam have the same axis of rotation, the whole mechanism can be arranged in a compact manner in the plane.

[0062] (7) It is possible to choose that the rotor be a Moon age wheel which completes one revolution per lunar cycle. It is possible to choose that the first rotation control device controls the rotation of the first display part in such a way that the first display part performs a round trip for a complete revolution of the rotor. It can be chosen that the second rotation control device controls the rotation of the second display part in such a way that the second display part performs a return trip for a complete revolution of the rotor, with a phase difference with respect to the first part of display. It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts together compose a display of the phase of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information, by playing on the relative position of the first and second display parts which is a function of the phase shift.

[0063] When this is the case, the rotor, which is the age wheel of the Moon, can be turned gradually according to the passage of time and can be turned during the lunation (about 29.5 days). In addition, in relation to the lunation, the first display part can be rotated so as to go back and forth and the second display part can be rotated so as to go back and forth with a phase difference with respect to the first display part. The first and second display parts can thus be rotated with a phase difference between them, and the age of the Moon, which is said at least one piece of information depending on the lunar cycle, can be displayed by playing on the relative position of the first and second display parts whose evolution depends on the phase shift, that is to say on the overlap between the first and second display parts.

[0064] In other words, the overlap between the first and second display portions can be changed from minute to minute during the lunation (about 29.5 days), whereby the age of the Moon can be apprehended in the blink of an eye.

[0065] (8) The first display part can be chosen to be a moon plate which has a disc shape in a plan view and which imitates the Moon. It can be chosen that the second display part is a shadow plate which has a disc shape in plan view and which is darker than the first display part. It is possible to choose that the first and second display parts together compose a display of the phase of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information.

[0066] When this is the case, since the first display part is the moon plate and the second display part is the shadow plate which is darker, a modification of the overlap between the moon plate and the shadow plate allows a clear reading of the Moon age at a glance, such as new moon (Moon age of 0), full moon (Moon age of 14.8) , the first quarter (Moon age of 7.4) and the last quarter (Moon age of 22.1).

[0067] (9) It is possible to choose that the information display mechanism further comprises a mechanism for correcting the age of the Moon which is able to modify the relative position of the first and second display parts by forcing the rotor to turn.

[0068] When this is the case, the Moon age correction mechanism can force the rotor, which is the Moon age wheel, to rotate in order to change the relative position of the first and second parts. display to obtain a correction of the age of the Moon.

[0069] (10) It is possible to choose that the Moon age correction mechanism comprises a Moon age correction lever which is tiltable around a tilting axis, between a standby position and a correcting position, a lever spring which returns the Moon age correcting lever to the standby position, and a correcting claw which equips the Moon age correcting lever so to be pivotable and which angularly moves the rotor in one direction by a predetermined angular amount when the Moon age correction lever is placed in the correction position. It can be chosen that the Moon age correction lever is provided with a claw return spring which allows the correction claw to disengage from the rotor when the Moon age correction lever returns from its correction position to its standby position, and which recalls the correction claw to a state of being able to operate the rotor, when the Moon age correction lever separates the correction claw of the rotor.

[0070] When this is the case, to correct the age of the Moon, the Moon age correction lever is tilted around the tilting axis, from the standby position to the correction, against the restoring force produced by the lever spring. The rotor is thus rotated in one direction by a predetermined amount. The angular position of the rotor can thus be corrected, so that the overlap between the first and second display parts can be adjusted, whereby the age of the Moon can be reliably corrected.

[0071] When the tilting of the Moon age correction lever ends, the return force produced by the lever spring allows the Moon age correction lever to return from the correction position to the waiting position. In this process, since the correcting claw may come off from the rotor against the restoring force produced by the claw restoring spring, it can be avoided that when the Moon age correcting lever returns to the standby position, the correction claw rotates the rotor in the opposite direction to the position prior to the correction. The corrected Moon age can thus be preserved.

[0072] When the Moon age correction lever returns to the position where the correction claw is away from the rotor, the correction claw returns, by the return force from the claw return spring , in preparation for the next correction of the Moon's age, in the position it has to turn the rotor.

[0073] (11) A movement according to the present application comprises an information display mechanism as defined above.

[0074] (12) A timepiece according to the present application comprises a movement as defined above.

[0075] When this is the case, the information display mechanism as defined above enables information other than the current time to be displayed in a continuous, stable and efficient manner, with good visibility, resulting in a movement and a timepiece which are of high quality and performance and which have improved functionality.

[0076] The present application allows the continuous, stable and effective display of information with good visibility even in a small area, a reduction in the stresses borne by the mechanism and furthermore a reduction in size and thickness. of the mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0077] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of a timepiece. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the timepiece of FIG. 1 after the main crystal, the dial and other components have been removed. Figure 3 is a plan view of a movement without the hands, which is visible in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movement shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a plan view which shows the movement of FIG. 3 after having removed a moon plate, a shadow plate, a support plate, a bridge of adjustment mobiles, as well as other constituents. Figure 6 is a plan view showing the movement of Figure 3 after removing a moon plate, a shadow plate, a base plate, a bridge of adjustment mobiles, as well as other constituents. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the movement shown in Figure 4 and it is also a longitudinal section of an hour wheel, a minute wheel, a Moon age gear train and what there are around. Figure 8 is a block diagram of a Moon age display mechanism provided in the movement shown in Figure 4. Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of the movement shown in Figure 4 and is also a longitudinal section of the moon plate, a first driving device and what is around. Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the movement shown in Figure 4 and it is also a longitudinal section of a shadow plate, a second motor device and its surroundings. Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the relationship between a moon cam, a shadow cam, a Moon age wheel, the first motor device, the second motor device and a rotation control device. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the first motor device shown in Figure 11 and its surroundings. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the same as Fig. 12 except that one moon return wheel has been removed. Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the same as Fig. 13 except that a moon return gear tooth portion has been removed. Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of the movement shown in Figure 4 and it is also a longitudinal section of the Moon age wheel, the Moon age cog and what is around. Fig. 16 is a plan view showing the relationship between the Moon age wheel and the Moon age cog in the movement shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a mechanism of correction of the age of the Moon represented on figure 4 and of what there is around. Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of the movement shown in Figure 4 and it is also a longitudinal section of the mechanism for correcting the age of the Moon and what is around. Fig. 19 is a plan view showing the relationship between a Moon age correction lever and the Moon age wheel in the Moon age correction mechanism shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is a plan view showing a state in which the Moon age correction lever shown in Fig. 19 has made part of a movement from a standby position to a correction position. Fig. 21 is a plan view showing a state in which the Moon age correction lever shown in Fig. 20 is moved to the correction position to rotate the Moon age wheel. . Fig. 22 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate shown in Fig. 4 cooperate with each other to display an "age-0 moon". Fig. 23 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 22, with a moon restoring rake and a shadow restoring rake. Fig. 24 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 22 to display a "Moon age of 3.7“. Fig. 25 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 24, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 26 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 24 to display a „age of the Moon of 7.4“. Fig. 27 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 26, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 28 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 26 to display a "Moon age of 11.1“. Fig. 29 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 28, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 30 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 28 to display a "Moon age of 14.8“. Fig. 31 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 30, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 32 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 30 to display a "Moon age of 18.5“. Fig. 33 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 32, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 34 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 32 to display a „age of the Moon of 22.1“. Fig. 35 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 34, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Fig. 36 is a plan view showing a state in which the moon plate and the shadow plate cooperate with each other in a state different from that in Fig. 34 to display a „age of the Moon of 25.8“. Fig. 37 is a plan view showing the relationship between the moon cam and the shadow cam in the state shown in Fig. 36, with the moon restoring rake and the shadow restoring lever. Figure 38 is a block diagram showing an alternative Moon age display mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0079] The present embodiment is described as an example of a timepiece, in the case of a mechanical timepiece which has a going train with a center wheel and in which the hand of the hours and the minutes hand are arranged in an eccentric position with respect to the center of the movement, while no seconds hand is provided.

In the figures of this embodiment, certain constituents of a timepiece are omitted or represented in a simplified manner, in certain cases, for the sake of clarity of the representation.

[0081] In general, the mechanical part comprising the drive of the timepiece is called a “movement”. The completed product in which a dial and hands are attached to the movement and the whole is placed in a timepiece box is called a "complete" unit. A plate which forms the assembly support for the timepiece has two sides. The side where there is the crystal of the timepiece case (ie the side facing the dial) is called the "rear side" of the movement. Among the two sides of the plate, the side where there is the bottom of the timepiece case (i.e. the side opposite the dial) is called the "front side" of the movement.

[0082] This embodiment will be described within the framework of the following definitions: the direction going from the bottom of the case (front side) towards the dial is an upward direction, while the opposite direction is a downward direction. . The direction of the thickness of the plate is therefore the direction from bottom to top. Also, in the present embodiment, the direction of clockwise rotation around any axis when viewed from above is called clockwise, and the direction of a counter-clockwise rotation around any axis when viewed from above is called counter-clockwise.

[0083] A complete unit of a timepiece 1 according to this embodiment comprises, in a timepiece case 3, the following components: a movement 10, a dial 4 having the graduations of a scale or other marks for indicating information at least concerning the time, as well as indicator hands including an hour hand 5 indicating the hours and a minute hand 6 indicating the minutes, as shown in the figures 1 and 2. The timepiece case 3 is a combination of a main crystal 2, a rear crystal plate, not shown, and a case bottom which is not shown.

[0084] Dial 4 has a display window 4a which is large, which is at a central portion of the dial and which passes through this dial 4. The dial 4 thus configured allows key components of the part to be clockwork, including a mechanism for displaying the age of the Moon 12 which will be described later, to be visible through the main glass 2 and through the display window 4a.

[0085] The timepiece 1 according to the present embodiment is therefore classified as a luxury timepiece which, in addition to being practical, provides both the real pleasure and the aesthetics of a mechanical timepiece, in which refined watchmaking technologies are implanted.

In the present embodiment, the indicator hands including the hour hand 5 and the minute hand 6 are placed in an eccentric position with respect to the center of the movement 10 (more precisely eccentric towards the "3 o'clock" position “ on the dial). The graduations of the scale on the dial 4 are therefore arranged irregularly in the circumferential direction, depending on the position of the indicator hands.

The timepiece case 3 has an annular shape with an annular caseband 3a, which surrounds the movement 10, as shown in FIG. 2. The annular caseband 3a is thus open upwards and downwards. The rear crystal plate, which is not shown, is superimposed on the side of the annular caseband 3a oriented towards the lower surface (front side). The case bottom has an annular shape corresponding to the annular middle part 3a and is attached to the lower surface of this annular middle part 3a, the rear crystal plate being between the case bottom and the annular middle part 3a.

[0088] The timepiece 1 according to the present embodiment allows the key timepiece parts to be seen through the rear glass plate.

The movement 10 includes a plate 11, which forms the assembly support for the movement 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The movement 10 is placed inside the annular caseband 3a, as described previously.

As shown in Figures 3 to 7, on the rear side (that is to say the upper side) of the plate 11 are arranged at least the following components: a rear cog comprising a roadway 20, a mobile 30 minute timer and a 40 hour wheel, a 12 Moon age display mechanism (corresponding to what is referred to as the information display mechanism in the claims) and a age of the Moon 13. The rear gear train is mounted by means of shafts between plate 11 and a bridge of adjustment mobiles 15, which is arranged behind plate 11.

[0091] Visible in Figure 1, the dial 4 is arranged above the mobile adjustment bridge 15. Part of the mobile adjustment bridge 15 is arranged in the display window 4a and is visible through the glass main 2.

[0092] A support plate 16 is arranged between the mobile adjustment bridge 15 and the plate 11, as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7. The support plate 16 and the plate 11 are superposed and assembled, and a part of the support plate 16 is visible through the main glass 2 (see Figure 1). The Moon age display mechanism 12 is supported by means of shafts, mainly using the support plate 16.

[0093] A front gear train comprising a center wheel 50 and a movement barrel 60 is arranged on the front side (that is to say the lower side) of the plate 11, as shown in Figure 7.

[0094] In the present embodiment, a portion of the plate 11 located on the side opposite the crown 7, with respect to the indicator hands, that is to say a portion located at the "9 o'clock" position on the dial, has a receiving hole 11a, which has a circular shape in a plan view and passes through the plate 11, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A tourbillon 8 is placed in the receiving hole 11a . The tourbillon 8 comprises a chariot as a single piece which is a combination of an escapement, which controls the rotation of the front wheel train, and a regulating device, which regulates the speed of the escapement.

The tourbillon 8 may have a known construction and will not be described in detail. The vortex is, however, not an essential constituent and may not be expected. In this case, for example, the escapement and the regulating device can be arranged on the front side of the plate 11. The tourbillon 8 is visible through the main crystal 2 and the rear crystal plate.

Front cog, rear cog

We will briefly describe the front wheel and the rear wheel.

The front gear is mounted between plate 11 and a gear bridge 17, which is placed below plate 11, as shown in Figure 7. The front gear is driven by a torque produced when a mainspring not shown disarms. The front wheel is used to move the hour hand 5 and the minute hand 6. The front wheel mainly comprises the movement barrel 60, which receives the mainspring mentioned above, the center wheel 50 and a middle wheel which is not shown.

[0098] The movement barrel rotates due to the elastic return force (power) produced when the mainspring is disarmed. The mainspring is wound via a winding stem connected to crown 7, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The center mobile 50 rotates as a result of the rotation of the movement barrel described above, which rotates by the power produced when the mainspring is disarmed.

[0100] The center wheel set 50 is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the hands C1, a lower pivot of this center wheel set 50 being supported by a stone with a hole or by any other bearing held by the bridge of cog 17, while a shaft 51 of this center wheel set 50 is supported by a stone with a hole or any other bearing held by the plate 11. The center wheel set 50 comprises a center pinion 52, to which the power is transmitted from the movement barrel 60, as well as a center wheel 53, which meshes with the middle mobile, which is not visible. The shaft 51 extends so as to project upwards, beyond the plate 11.

The roadway 20, which forms the rear cog, is arranged above the plate 11 and coaxially with the axis of rotation of the hands C1, and it is rotatable around this axis of rotation of the hands C1. The roadway 20 comprises a roadway body 21, which has the shape of a topped tube, and a roadway pinion 22, which is coupled to a lower end of the roadway body 21 and which meshes with a timer wheel 32 , which will be described later.

[0102] The shaft 51 of the center mobile 50 is inserted inside the roadway body 21. The roadway body 21 comprises a narrow elastic part (thin-walled part), and the elasticity of this narrow elastic part is used to produce a holding torque (tightening) acting on the shaft 51. The roadway 20 thus rotates with the center mobile 50 around the axis of rotation of the needles C1 during the normal movement of the needles.

[0103] An upper end of the pavement body 21 protrudes upwards beyond the dial 4 and the hour wheel 40. The minute hand 6 is fixed to the upper end of the pavement body 21. The constitution described above allows direct drive of the minute hand 6 as a result of the rotation of the center mobile 50 and of the roadway 20. The minute hand 6 rotates at a speed of one revolution per hour, regulated by the escapement and the tourbillon 8, which includes the escapement.

[0104] In setting the time, the time can be adjusted by using the crown 7 to rotate the roadway 20 with a torque greater than or equal to the holding torque mentioned above, via a gear train not shown from needle drive.

The hour wheel 40, which is part of the rear train, is arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the hands C1 and is rotatable around this axis of rotation of the hands C1. The hour wheel 40 comprises an hour wheel body 41, which has a cylindrical shape surrounding the roadway body 21, and an hour gear toothed part 42, which is integral with a lower end of the hour wheel body. 41 hours and meshes with a 31 timer pinion, which will be described later.

[0106] The timer wheel 30, which is part of the rear wheel, is rotatable around a timer axis C2, a lower pivot of this timer wheel 30 being supported by a stone with a hole or any other bearing. held by the plate 11, while an upper pivot of the timer wheel 30 is supported by a stone with a hole or any bearing held by the bridge of setting wheels 15. The timer wheel 30 comprises the timer pinion 31, which meshes with the toothed part of the hour gear 42, as well as a timer wheel 32, which meshes with the road pinion 22 of the roadway 20. The timer mobile 30 thus meshes both with the roadway 20 and the 40 hour wheel.

The hour wheel 40 thus rotates around the axis of rotation of the hands C1, as a result of the rotation of the roadway 20 and of the timer wheel set 30. In addition, the upper end of the hour wheel body 41 protrudes upward beyond dial 4 and is set lower than the upper end of roadway body 21. Hour hand 5 is attached to the upper end of hour wheel body 41.

[0108] The hour hand 5 is thus positioned in an offset position, towards the dial 4, of the minute hand 6, which is fixed to the floor 20. The constitution described above allows direct drive of the hour hand 5, as a result of the rotation of the hour wheel 40. The hour hand 5 rotates at a rotational speed of one revolution in 12 hours, regulated by the escapement and the tourbillon 8, which includes this exhaust.

[0109] The driving of the front and rear gear trains constituted as described above is controlled by the escapement and the regulating device, so that the minute hand 6 and the hour hand 5 are moved in an appropriate manner for a precise indication of the time.

Moon age display mechanism

[0110] The Moon age display mechanism 12 functions as an information display mechanism which displays information regarding the waxing and waning of the Moon (the phase of the Moon - the age of the moon). The Moon age display mechanism 12 is arranged, for example, at a height lying between the support plate 16 and the adjustment mobile bridge 15, at the same height as the adjustment mobile bridge 15 or at a height above the adjustment mobile bridge 15, and is formed of several layers, as shown in Figure 4.

In the present embodiment, Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the component parts which form the Moon age display mechanism 12, and the heights of these component parts are shown as "levels". . A “level 0” is a layer at the height of the 32 minute wheel. A “level 5” is a layer above and away from plate 11. A moon plate 70 and a shadow plate 80, which will be described later, are in „level 5“. In the configuration in which the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 are at the same "level 5", the shadow plate 80 is above the moon plate 70.

[0112] Between „level 0“ and „level 5“ are the following levels: a „level 1“, a „level 2“, a „level 3“ and a „level 4“ arranged consecutively from the „ level 0“.

[0113] The Moon age display mechanism 12 comprises the moon plate 70 (corresponding to what is called the first display part in the claims), which is rotatable about a first axis O1 , the shadow plate 80 (corresponding to what is called the second display part in the claims), which is rotatable about a second axis O2 arranged so as not to be coaxial with the first axis O1, a first motor device 90, which transmits power to the moon plate 70 to rotate this moon plate 70 around the first axis O1, a second motor device 91, which transmits power to the shadow plate to rotate this shadow plate around the second axis O2, as well as a rotation control device 95, which controls the rotations of the moon plate 70 and of the shadow plate 80 in such a way that the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 each rotate according to a predetermined cycle, as the e show figures 3 to 6 and 8.

[0114] The Moon age display mechanism 12 in the present embodiment causes the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 to cooperate with each other to display information regarding the age of the Moon. phase of the Moon, i.e. the age of the Moon, based on a change in the positional relationship between the angular position of the moon plate 70 around the first axis O1 and the position angle of the shadow plate 80 around the second axis O2. In particular, the age of the Moon can be displayed by changing the overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 according to the lunar cycle (about 29.5 days).

[0115] Figures 1 to 4 show a case in which the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 cooperate with each other to display a "Moon age of 7.4".

Moon Plate, Shadow Plate

The moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 are essentially arranged in a region located between the axis of rotation of the hands C1 and the crown 7 in a plan view of the timepiece 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 are thus arranged in a region located on the opposite side to the tourbillon 8, with respect to the axis of rotation of the hands C1, that is i.e. a region located at the "3 o'clock" position of dial 4.

On the other hand, the first axis O1 of the moon plate 70 and the second axis O2 of the shadow plate 80 are located in a central portion of the movement 10 and are distant from each other. towards 12 o'clock on dial 4 and towards 6 o'clock on dial 4, respectively. The first axis O1 is placed in a position shifted towards "12 o'clock" of dial 4, and the second axis O2 is placed in a position shifted towards "6 o'clock" of dial 4.

[0118] Moon plate 70 is a thin disc which has a circular shape in plan view and resembles the Moon, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 9, and 10. Moon plate 70 has a color bright as yellow.

The moon plate 70 is integral with a moon plate arm 71 comprising a fixed ring 72 arranged coaxially with the first axis O1. The moon plate arm 71 is a band-shaped arm which is repeatedly bent in a plane parallel to the platen 11 and is stepped in the thickness direction of the platen 11. The fixed ring 72 is coupled , by means of a screw, to an upper end of a moon wheel 110, which will be described later.

The moon plate 70 and the moon plate arm 71 are thus integral with the moon wheel 110 and can rotate around the first axis O1 when the moon wheel 110 rotates. In particular, the moon plate 70 is controlled to perform an alternating circular movement over a predetermined angular range of rotation, around the first axis O1.

[0121] Shadow plate 80 is a thin disc having a circular shape in plan view and is shaped to have an outer shape similar to the shape of moon plate 70. In the example shown in the figures, shadow plate 80 is shaped to have the same shape and size as moon plate 70. However, shadow plate 80 need not be the same shape and size. than Moon Plate 70. For example, Shadow Plate 80 may be slightly larger than Moon Plate 70.

The shadow plate 80 has a darker color than the color of the moon plate 70. For example, the shadow plate 80 is black in color.

The shadow plate 80 is integral with a shadow plate arm 81 comprising a fixed ring 82 disposed coaxially with the second axis O2. The shadow plate arm 81 is a band-shaped arm which is bent several times in the plane of the timepiece 1 and is stepped in the thickness direction of the platen 11. The fixed ring 82 is coupled, by means of a screw, to an upper end of a shadow wheel 150, which will be described later.

The shadow plate 80 and the shadow plate arm 81 are thus integral with the shadow wheel 150 and can rotate around the second axis O2 when the shadow wheel 150 rotates. In particular, the shadow plate 80 is controlled to perform an alternating circular movement over a predetermined angular range, around the second axis O2.

[0125] The moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 configured as described above are at different heights in the thickness direction of the platen 11. In particular, the moon plate arm 71 and shadow plate arm 81 each have a stepped shape such that shadow plate 80 sits above moon plate 70. Moon plate 70 and shadow plate 80 thus have the ability to overlap one over the other in the direction of the thickness of the plate 11, during the rotations of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80.

First driving device

The first motor device 90 generates power which rotates the moon plate 70 and it also serves to transmit the generated power to the moon plate 70, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 9 and 11.

[0127] The first motor device 90 comprises a moon return spring 100, which is a power source, a moon return wheel 120, which rotates around a third axis O3 due to an elastic return force produced by the moon return spring 100, as well as the moon wheel 110, which rotates around the first axis O1 when the moon return wheel 120 rotates.

The moon return wheel 120 essentially comprises a moon return wheel guide rod 121, which is fixed (for example by driving) to the support plate 16 coaxially with the third axis O3, a shaft moon booster 122, which is retained on the moon booster wheel guide rod 121 by means of a cap screw and carried by this moon booster wheel guide rod 121 so as to be rotatable around of the third axis O3, as well as a toothed part of the moon return gear 123, which is mounted on the moon return shaft 122 so as to be rotatable about the third axis O3, with respect to this return shaft of moon 122, as shown in Figures 9 and 11 through 14.

The moon return wheel guide rod 121 has a cylindrical shape and has a threaded hole opening upwards.

The moon return shaft 122 comprises a central tube 122a, which surrounds the moon return wheel guide rod 121 externally in the radial direction. The central tube 122a has a multi-staged cylindrical shape having a diameter which differs according to the height. The central tube 122a has a lower end having, for example, the shape of the letter D (a so-called D cutout) in a plan view. A spring attachment portion 102, which will be described later and which forms part of the moon return spring 100, can thus be fitted to the lower end of the central tube 122a. In addition, coupling teeth 124 are formed at circumferential intervals at the outer circumferential surface of the upper end of the moon return shaft 122.

[0131] The mating teeth 124 each have a first engaging surface 124a, which is oriented counterclockwise about the third axis O3, and a second engaging surface 124b. , which is oriented clockwise around the third axis O3, as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

[0132] In the example shown in the figures, the first engagement surface 124a and the second engagement surface 124b are each inclined so as to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the moon return shaft 122, gradually anticlockwise as you go outward in the radial direction. Note, however, that the angle of inclination of the second engagement surface 124b is greater than the angle of inclination of the first engagement surface 124a.

[0133] The moon return shaft 122 configured as described above is carried by the moon return wheel guide rod 121, so as to be rotatable about the third axis O3, while being prevented from escaping. upwards by the cap screw screwed into the tapped hole of the moon return wheel guide rod 121.

[0134] The moon return gear toothed portion 123 has a larger diameter than the moon return shaft 122 and is mounted on the central tube 122a so as to be rotatable with respect to the latter, as shown Figures 9, 11 and 12. A retaining ring 125, which is disposed below the moon return gear tooth portion 123, is attached to the central tube 122a so as to overlap the gear tooth portion moon reminder 123.

[0135] The moon return gear toothed part 123 can mesh with the moon wheel 110. The moon wheel 110 can therefore be rotated around the first axis O1 when the moon return gear toothed part 123 turned.

[0136] Two support rods, namely a first support rod 126 and a second support rod 127, are fixed to the toothed part of the moon return gear 123 so as to protrude upwards. The first support rod 126 and the second support rod 127 face each other in the radial direction, the third axis O3 being between them.

[0137] In addition, two coupling claws, namely a first coupling claw 130 and a second coupling claw 135, are arranged on the upper surface of the toothed part of the moon return gear 123. These two coupling claws transmit, to the toothed part of the moon return gear 123, the rotational drive torque provided by the moon return shaft 122.

The first coupling claw 130 is mounted on the upper surface of the toothed part of the moon return gear 123 by means of the first support rod 126 and is pivotable around this first support rod 126. The first coupling claw 130 includes a first claw portion 130a, which extends clockwise from a proximal portion surrounding the first support rod 126, and a first spring portion 130b, which extends extends counter-clockwise from the proximal portion.

The second coupling claw 135 has the same construction as the first coupling claw 130.

[0140] In other words, the second coupling claw 135 is mounted on the upper surface of the toothed part of the moon return gear 123 by means of the second support rod 127 and is pivotable around this second support rod 127. Second coupling claw 135 includes a second claw portion 135a, which extends clockwise from a proximal portion surrounding second support rod 127, and a second claw portion spring 135b, which extends counter-clockwise from the proximal portion.

The first part forming a spring 130b of the first coupling claw 130 is in contact, from the outside in the radial direction, with the second claw part 135a of the second coupling claw 135, and the force of elastic return produced by the first spring part 130b pushes the second claw part 135a inward in the radial direction. The second claw part 135a is thus pushed into the space between two coupling teeth 124 of the moon return shaft 122 which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0142] Similarly, the second part forming a spring 135b of the second coupling claw 135 is in contact, from the outside in the radial direction, with the first claw part 130a of the first coupling claw 130, and the elastic restoring force produced by the second spring part 135b urges the first claw part 130a inward in the radial direction. The first claw part 130a is thus pushed into the space between two coupling teeth 124 of the moon return shaft 122 which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0143] It follows from the above that the first claw part 130a and the second claw part 135a are able to engage with the first engagement surfaces 124a of the coupling teeth 124 following this first part. claw portion 130a and this second claw portion 135a in a clockwise direction, and are further able to engage the second engaging surfaces 124b of the mating teeth 124 following this first portion of claw 130a and this second part of claw 135a counterclockwise.

In the grip state described above, when the moon return shaft 122 rotates counterclockwise around the third axis O3, the rotational drive torque provided by the moon return shaft 122 can be transmitted to the moon return gear toothed part 123 through the first coupling claw 130 and the second coupling claw 135 with maintenance of the state of aforementioned socket, whereby the moon return gear toothed portion 123 can be rotated counterclockwise, together with the moon return shaft 122, as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 11 .

[0145] On the other hand, when the moon return shaft 122 rotates clockwise, the first claw part 130a and the second claw part 135a are pushed outwards in the radial direction while by sliding on the second engaging surfaces 124b of mating teeth 124 due to the inclination of the second engaging surfaces 124b.

[0146] The first coupling claw 130 and the second coupling claw 135 thus tilt against the thrust forces produced by the first part forming a spring 130b and the second part forming a spring 135b in such a way that the first part of claw 130a and the second claw part 135a move in the direction away from the moon return shaft 122. The coupling teeth 124 thus move clockwise while crossing the first claw part 130a and the second claw part 135a along the circumferential direction. The moon return shaft 122 can thus be turned alone clockwise, without there being any rotation of the moon return wheel 120.

[0147] In other words, the first coupling claw 130, the second coupling claw 135 and the coupling teeth 124 operate like a ratchet mechanism which causes the gear tooth portion moon return shaft 123 rotates with the moon return shaft 122 when the moon return shaft rotates counterclockwise, and which allows the moon return shaft 122 to rotate by with respect to the moon return gear tooth portion 123 when the moon return shaft 122 rotates clockwise.

The moon return spring 100 is a spiral spring made, for example, of steel, nickel or any other metal, or silicon or any other non-metallic material. The moon return spring 100 is arranged so as to be in front of the upper surface of the support plate 16, as shown in FIGS. 9, 13 and 14. The moon return spring 100 is cocked by rotating its outer end and its inner end relative to the other to wind and arm the moon return spring 100 so that the diameter of the latter decreases. The moon return spring 100 is elastically deformed to produce a torque between its inner and outer ends.

[0149] The moon return spring 100 includes a spring body 101 having a spiral shape, the spring fixing portion 102 located at the inner end of the spring body 101, and an engagement portion spring 103 located at the outer end of the spring body 101.

The spring body 101 has, for example, the shape of a spiral extending according to an Archimedean spiral around the third axis O3 in a plan view. In the example shown in the figures, spring body 101 extends counterclockwise from spring attachment portion 102 toward spring engagement portion 103.

[0151] The spring fixing portion 102 is integral with the inner end of the spring body 101 so as to have a closed loop shape and be arranged coaxially with the third axis O3. The spring fixing portion 102 is mounted so as to be integral with the central tube 122a once fitted to the lower end of the central tube 122a of the moon return shaft 122.

[0152] The spring engaging portion 103 is integral with the outer end of the spring body 101 and formed in the circumferential direction and radially outside the outer circumference of the spring body 101. The spring engaging part 103 is engaged with two fixing rods 104, which protrude from the support plate 16. The outer end of the spring body 101 is thus fixed.

The moon return spring 100 thus constituted is armed by turning the moon return shaft 122 described above in the direction of clockwise. The charged moon return spring 100 then produces a counterclockwise rotational drive torque acting on the moon return shaft 122 when the moon return spring 100 disarms. The moon return spring 100 is thus able to impart to the moon return shaft 122 and to the moon return gear tooth portion 123 a rotation driving torque (driving force) which causes the moon to rotate. the moon return shaft 122 and the moon return gear tooth portion 123 counterclockwise.

[0154] When the moon return gear toothed part 123 rotates clockwise around the third axis O3, the first claw part 130a and the second claw part 135a rotate while remaining in mesh with the engaging surfaces 124a of the mating teeth 124, whereby the moon return shaft 122 can rotate clockwise against the elastic return force produced by the moon reminder 100.

In other words, the moon return gear tooth portion 123 keeps tending to rotate counterclockwise due to the elastic return force produced by the return spring. moon 100 cocked and also has the ability to rotate clockwise. A moon recovery rake 195, which will be described later, thus has the ability to tilt.

[0156] The moon wheel 110 is rotatable around the first axis O1 having its lower pivot supported by a stone with a hole or any other bearing held by the support plate 16, as shown in Figures 9 to 11. The moon wheel 110 meshes with the moon return gear tooth portion 123 described above and rotates when the moon return gear tooth portion 123 rotates. In particular, the moon wheel 110 tends to rotate clockwise around the first axis O1, as indicated by an arrow in Figure 11, due to the rotational driving force produced by the spring moon return gear 100 and transmitted via the moon return gear toothed portion 123.

The wheel shaft 111 of the moon wheel 110 has a tapped hole which opens upwards. The attached ring 72 of the moon plate arm 71 previously described straddles the upper end of the wheel shaft 111 of the moon wheel 110. A cap screw screwed into the tapped hole then makes the moon plate 70 secured to the moon wheel 110 via the fixed ring 72. The moon plate 70 thus rotates around the first axis 01 as a result of a rotation of the moon wheel 110.

Second driving device

The second motor device 91 produces power which rotates the shadow plate 80 and it also serves to transmit the power produced to the shadow plate, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 10 and 11. The second motor device 91 has the same construction as the first motor device 90 described above and will therefore be described briefly.

The second motor device 91 and the first motor device 90 are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to a first imaginary line L1 (see FIGS. 5 and 11), which connects "3 o'clock" to "9 o'clock" on the dial 4 in a plan view of the timepiece 1. The first motor device 90 and the second motor device 91 can thus be arranged in a balanced manner and can provide, for example, excellent design and decorative attractiveness when viewed through the main glass 2.

[0160] The second motor device 91 comprises a shadow return spring 140, which is a driving source, a shadow return wheel 160, which rotates around a fourth axis O4 by an elastic return force produced by the shadow return spring 140, as well as the shadow wheel 110, which rotates around the second axis O2 when the shadow return wheel 140 rotates.

[0161] The shadow return wheel 140 essentially comprises a shadow return wheel guide rod 161, which is fixed (for example by driving) to the support plate 16 coaxially with the fourth axis O4, a shadow booster shaft 162, which is retained on the shadow booster wheel guide rod 161 by means of a cap screw and carried by this shadow booster wheel guide rod 161 of so as to be rotatable about the fourth axis O4, as well as a shade bias gear tooth portion 163, which is mounted on the shadow bias shaft 162 so as to be rotatable about the fourth axis O4, by compared to this shadow reminder tree 162.

[0162] The shadow reminder shaft 162 comprises a central tube 162a, which surrounds the shadow reminder wheel guide rod 161 externally in the radial direction. The central tube 162a has a multi-staged cylindrical shape and has a lower end having, for example, the shape of the letter D (a so-called D-cut) in a plan view, whereby a fixing portion spring 142, which will be described later and which is part of the shade return spring 140, can be fitted to the lower end of the central tube 162a.

[0163] Coupling teeth 164 are formed at circumferential intervals at the outer circumferential surface of the upper end of shade bias shaft 162. Coupling teeth 164 each have a first mating surface. engagement 164a, which is oriented clockwise about the fourth axis O4, and a second engagement surface 164b, which is oriented counterclockwise about the fourth axis O4.

[0164] The shadow booster shaft 162 configured as described above is carried by the shadow booster wheel guide rod 161, so as to be rotatable around the fourth axis O4, while being prevented from s escape upwards through the cap screw screwed into the tapped hole of the shadow wheel guide rod 161.

[0165] The toothed part of the shade return gear 163 has a larger diameter than the shade return shaft 162 and is mounted on the central tube 162a so as to be rotatable with respect to the latter. A retaining ring 165, which is disposed below the shade bias gear tooth portion 163, is attached to the central tube 162a so as to overlap the shade bias gear tooth portion 163.

[0166] The shadow return gear toothed part 163 can mesh with the shadow wheel 150. The shadow wheel 150 can therefore be rotated around the second axis O2 when the return gear toothed part shadow 163 turns.

[0167] The toothed shade recall gear part 163 is provided with a first supporting rod 166 and a second supporting rod 167, which protrude upwards. The toothed shade return gear part 163 is further provided with a first coupling claw 170 and a second coupling claw 175. These two coupling claws 170 and 175 transmit, to the part shade return gear tooth 163, the rotational drive torque provided by the shade return shaft 162.

The first coupling claw 170 is pivotable around the first support rod 166. The first coupling claw 170 comprises a first claw part 170a and a first spring part 170b. The second coupling claw 175 is pivotable around the second support rod 167. The second coupling claw 175 comprises a second claw part 175a and a second spring part 175b.

The first spring portion 170b of the first coupling claw 170 pushes the second claw portion 175a inward in the radial direction. The second claw part 175a is thus pushed into the space between two coupling teeth 164 of the shadow return shaft 162 which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The second spring portion 175b of the second coupling claw 175 pushes the first claw portion 170a inward in the radial direction. The first claw part 170a is thus pushed into the space between two coupling teeth 164 of the shadow return shaft 162 which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0170] The first claw part 170a and the second claw part 175a are able to be in engagement with the first engagement surfaces 164a of the mating teeth 164 following this first claw part 170a and this second part claw portion 175a counter-clockwise, and are further able to engage the second engaging surfaces 164b of the mating teeth 164 following this first claw portion 170a and this second claw portion 175a clockwise.

[0171] In the grip state described above, when the shadow return shaft 162 rotates clockwise around the fourth axis O4, the rotational drive torque provided by the shade return shaft 162 can be transmitted to the shade return gear tooth portion 163 through the first coupling claw 170 and the second coupling claw 175 with a holding of the aforementioned engaged state, whereby the shade bias gear toothed portion 163 can be rotated clockwise, together with the shade bias shaft 162, as indicated by an arrow on Figure 11.

[0172] On the other hand, when the shadow return shaft 162 rotates counterclockwise, the first claw part 170a and the second claw part 175a are pushed outward in the direction radially while sliding on the second engaging surfaces 164b of mating teeth 164 due to the inclination of the second engaging surfaces 164b. The mating teeth 164 thereby move counterclockwise while passing the first claw portion 170a and the second claw portion 175a in the circumferential direction. The shadow return shaft 162 can thus be turned counter-clockwise on its own, without there being any rotation of the shadow return wheel 160.

[0173] In other words, the first coupling claw 170, the second coupling claw 175 and the coupling teeth 164 operate in the manner of a ratchet mechanism which causes the gear toothed part shadow booster 163 rotates with the shadow booster shaft 162 when the moon booster shaft 162 rotates clockwise, and which enables the shadow booster shaft 162 to rotate relative to the shade bias gear tooth portion 163 when the shade bias shaft 162 rotates counterclockwise.

[0174] The shadow return spring 140 is a spiral spring and is arranged so as to be in front of the upper surface of the support plate 16. The shadow return spring 140 is cocked by turning its outer end and its inner end relative to the other to wind and arm the shade return spring 140 so that the diameter of the latter decreases. Shade return spring 140 is elastically deformed to produce a torque between its inner and outer ends.

[0175] The shadow return spring 140 comprises a spring body 141 having a spiral shape, the spring fixing portion 102 located at the inner end of the spring body 141, as well as a setting portion spring catch 143 located at the outer end of spring body 141.

The spring body 141 has, for example, the shape of a spiral extending according to an Archimedean spiral around the fourth axis O4 in a plan view.

The spring fixing portion 142 is integral with the inner end of the spring body 141 so as to have a closed loop shape and be arranged coaxially with the fourth axis O4. The spring attachment portion 142 is mounted on the lower end of the central tube 162a of the shade return shaft 162.

[0178] The spring engaging portion 143 is integral with the outer end of the spring body 141 and formed in the circumferential direction and radially outside the outer circumference of the spring body 141. The spring engagement part 143 is fixed to the support plate 16, for example by means of two fixing rods 144, which protrude from the support plate 16.

The shadow return spring 140 thus constituted is armed by turning the shadow return shaft 162 described above counterclockwise. The charged shade return spring 140 then produces a clockwise rotational drive torque acting on the shade return shaft 162 when the shade return spring 140 disarms. The shadow return spring 140 is thus able to impart to the shade return shaft 162 and to the shade return gear toothed portion 163 a rotational driving torque (driving force) which rotates the shade return shaft 162 and the shade return gear tooth portion 163 clockwise.

[0180] When the shadow return gear toothed part 163 rotates counterclockwise around the fourth axis O4, the first claw part 170a and the second claw part 175a rotate while remaining in rotation. engaged with the engaging surfaces 164a of the mating teeth 164, whereby the shade bias shaft 162 can rotate counterclockwise against the elastic bias force generated by the shade return spring 140.

[0181] In other words, the shade return gear tooth portion 163 keeps tending to rotate clockwise due to the elastic return force produced by the return spring. of shade 140 cocked and also has the ability to rotate counter-clockwise. A shade restoring rake 205, which will be described later, thus has the ability to tilt.

[0182] The shadow wheel 150 is rotatable around the second axis O2 having its lower pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the support plate 16, as shown in Figures 10 and 11 Shade wheel 150 meshes with shade bias gear tooth portion 163 and rotates when shade bias gear tooth portion 163 rotates. In particular, the shadow wheel 150 tends to rotate counter-clockwise around the second axis O2, as indicated by an arrow in Figure 11, due to the rotational driving force produced by shade return spring 140 and transmitted via shade return gear tooth portion 163.

[0183] The wheel shaft 151 of the shadow wheel 150 has a tapped hole which opens upwards. The attached ring 82 of the moon plate arm 81 previously described straddles the upper end of the wheel shaft 151 of the shadow wheel 150. A cap screw threaded into the tapped hole then makes the plate shadow 80 secured to shadow wheel 150 via fixed ring 82. Shadow plate 80 thus rotates around second axis O2 as a result of rotation of shadow wheel 150.

Rotation control device

[0184] The rotation control device 95 serves to control the rotations of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 such that the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 each rotate in a cycle. predetermined, as shown in Figures 8 and 11.

[0185] In particular, the rotation control device 95 rotates the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80, which are arranged to overlap each other in the thickness direction of the platen. 11, in order to display the age of the Moon based on a change in the position of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 with respect to each other, that is- that is, a change in the overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 in the thickness direction of the platen 11 as previously described.

[0186] The rotation control device 95 comprises a Moon age wheel 180 (corresponding to what is called "rotor" in the claims), which rotates according to the passage of time, a first rotation control 190, which controls the rotation of the moon plate 70 in such a way that the moon plate 70 performs a reciprocating rotation movement within a predetermined angular range around the first axis 01 when the wheel of moon age 180 rotates, together with a second rotation controller 200, which controls the rotation of the shadow plate such that the shadow plate 80 performs reciprocating rotational motion within a predetermined angular range around the second axis O2 as the Moon's age wheel 180 rotates, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 8, 11 and 15.

Moon Age Wheel

[0187] The Moon age wheel 180 essentially comprises a Moon age wheel guide rod 181, which is arranged coaxially with a fifth axis O5 and which has a fixed lower end (for example by drive) to the support plate 16, together with a moon age gear toothed part 182, which is retained on the moon age wheel guide rod 181 by means of a screw d assembly and which is carried by this moon age wheel guide rod 181 so as to be rotatable about the fifth axis O5.

[0188] The Moon age wheel guide rod 181 has a cylindrical shape and has a threaded hole which opens upwards.

[0189] The moon age gear cog portion 182 includes a center tube 182a, which surrounds the moon age wheel guide rod 181 externally in the radial direction. The moon age gear tooth portion 182 meshes with a fourth intermediate wheel set 250, which will be described later, and rotates about the fifth axis O5 as the fourth intermediate wheel set 250 rotates. The Moon age gear cog portion 182 is carried by the Moon age wheel guide rod 181 so as to be rotatable about the fifth axis O5 while being prevented from escaping upwards by the cap screw screwed into the tapped hole of the Moon age 181 wheel guide rod.

[0190] Several Moon phases 183, which indicate changes relating to the waxing and waning of the Moon, are carried by the upper surface of the Moon age gear cog portion 182 and distributed evenly around the fifth axis O5 along the circumferential direction, as shown in Figure 5. In the example shown in the figures, eight phases of the Moon 183 in total, which go from the new moon to the next new moon passing through the full Moon , are arranged at regular intervals (45° interval around the fifth axis O5).

The number of phases of the Moon 183 is not limited to eight and can be chosen differently depending on the needs. The phases of the Moon 183 are visible through the main crystal 2. The manner of affixing the phases of the Moon 183 is not limited to a single method and can, for example, be the printing, the affixing of stickers or engraving.

[0192] Via a Moon age cog 210, the Moon age wheel 180 constituted as described above completes one revolution in about 29.5 days, which is the lunation, when the timer wheel 30 rotates, as shown in Figures 5 and 16.

[0193] The Moon age wheel 180 is arranged (at the "3 o'clock" position of dial 4) on the side radially opposite to the tourbillon 8, with respect to the axis of rotation of the hands C1, in a top view. plane of the timepiece 1. The center of the tourbillon 8 and the center of the Moon age wheel 180 are therefore located on the first imaginary line L1 in a plan view of the timepiece 1 .

Moon Age Cog

[0194] The Moon age train 210 comprises a first intermediate wheel set 220, which rotates around a sixth axis O6 when the timer wheel set 30 rotates, a second intermediate wheel set 230, which rotates around a seventh axis O7 when the first intermediate mobile 220 rotates, a third intermediate mobile 240, which rotates around an eighth axis O8 when the second intermediate mobile 230 rotates, as well as the fourth intermediate mobile 250, which rotates around a ninth axis O9 and rotates the Moon age wheel 180 when the third intermediate mobile 240 rotates, as shown in Figures 7, 15 and 16.

The first intermediate mobile 220 is supported by the support plate 16, by means of a shaft and comprises a first intermediate wheel 221, which meshes with the timer pinion 31, as well as a first intermediate pinion 222. The first intermediate mobile 220 thus rotates around the sixth axis O6 when the timer mobile 30 rotates.

The second intermediate mobile 230 has an upper pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the adjustment mobile bridge 15 and a lower pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the plate 11. The second intermediate wheel 230 comprises a second intermediate wheel 231, which meshes with the first intermediate pinion 222, as well as a second intermediate wheel 232. The second intermediate wheel 230 thus rotates around the seventh axis O7 when the first intermediate mobile 220 rotates.

The third intermediate mobile 240 has an upper pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the adjustment mobile bridge 15 and a lower pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the support plate 16. The third intermediate mobile 240 comprises a third intermediate wheel 241, which meshes with the second intermediate pinion 232, as well as a third intermediate pinion 242. The third intermediate mobile 240 thus rotates around the eighth axis O8 when the second intermediate mobile 230 rotates.

The fourth intermediate mobile 250 comprises an intermediate mobile guide rod 251, which is fixed (for example by driving) to the support plate 16, coaxially with the ninth axis O9, an intermediate mobile shaft 252, which is assembled with the intermediate mobile guide rod 251 by means of an assembly screw and carried by this intermediate mobile guide rod 251 so as to be rotatable with respect to the ninth axis O9, a fourth intermediate wheel 253, which is mounted on the intermediate wheel set shaft 252 with a predetermined frictional force (contact pressure) between them and which meshes with the third intermediate gear 242, and a fourth intermediate gear 254, which is formed in the shaft of intermediate mobile 252 and which meshes with the toothed part of the age of the Moon 182. The fourth intermediate mobile 250 can thus rotate around the ninth axis O9 and furthermore cause the wheel of the â ge of the Moon 180, when the third intermediate mobile 240 rotates.

[0199] The intermediate mobile shaft 252 is carried by the intermediate mobile guide rod 252 so as to be rotatable around the ninth axis O9 while being prevented from escaping upwards by the assembly screw screwed into the tapped hole of the intermediate mobile guide rod 251.

[0200] When the Moon age wheel 180 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction in the case of normal movement of the hands, at the time of a correction of the age of the Moon, producing a relative force of rotation which exceeds the frictional force described above to act on the interface between the intermediate mobile shaft 252 and the fourth intermediate wheel 253, this fourth intermediate wheel 253 can slide on the intermediate mobile shaft 252.

[0201] The Moon age gear train 210 constituted as described above transmits the rotational drive torque provided by the timer mobile 30, to the Moon age wheel 180, with a predetermined reduction ratio. for the Moon age wheel 180 to complete one revolution in about 29.5 days (more precisely 29.5306 days), which is the lunation, as previously described. The Moon Age Wheel 180 is arranged to rotate clockwise around the fifth axis O5 as the hands move.

[0202] An example of the number of teeth of each of the mobiles which form the Moon's age gear train 210 is now presented.

We have chosen that the teeth of the toothed part of the hour gear 42 of the hour wheel 40, which completes one revolution in 12 hours, are 32 in number. We have chosen that the teeth of the timer pinion 31, which meshes with the toothed part of the hour gear 42, are 8 in number, as shown in Figure 8. It has been chosen that the teeth of the first intermediate wheel 221, which meshes with the timer pinion 31, are 32 in number and the teeth of the first intermediate pinion 222 are 18 in number. It has been chosen that the teeth of the second intermediate wheel 231, which meshes with the first intermediate pinion 222, are 36 in number and teeth of the second intermediate pinion 232 are 17 in number. It was chosen that the teeth of the third intermediate wheel 241, which meshes with the second intermediate pinion 232, are 36 in number and that the teeth of the third intermediate pinion 242 are at number of 13. It was chosen that the teeth of the qua third intermediate wheel 253, which meshes with the third intermediate pinion 242, are 47 in number and that the teeth of the fourth intermediate pinion 254 are 21 in number. of the Moon 182, which meshes with the fourth intermediate pinion 254, are 81 in number.

[0204] Therefore, in the Moon age gear 210 thus designed, the Moon age wheel 180 rotates on a cycle of 29.5307 days to make a complete rotation, i.e. at a speed of 1 revolution in 29.5307 days (i.e. an error of 0.0004% compared to the actual lunation).

First rotation control device

[0205] The first rotation control device 190 comprises a moon cam 191 (corresponding to what is called the first cam in the claims), which rotates when the Moon age wheel 180 rotates, as well as the rake moon reset 195 (corresponding to what is called the first control lever in the claims), which follows the moon cam 191 in rotation and rocks around a tenth axis 010 to control the rotation of the moon plate 70 , as shown in Figures 5, 6, 9 and 11.

[0206] In particular, the first rotation control device 190 controls the moon plate 70 to make it go back and forth around the first axis O1 on a predetermined angular plate, for a complete turn of the wheel of age the moon 180.

Second rotation control device

[0207] The second rotation control device 200 comprises a shadow cam 201 (corresponding to what is called the second cam in the claims), which rotates when the Moon age wheel 180 rotates, as well as the shadow restoring rake 205 (corresponding to what is called the second control lever in the claims), which follows the shadow cam 201 in rotation and tilts about an eleventh axis 011 to control the rotation of the plate shade 80, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 10 and 11.

[0208] In particular, the second rotation control device 200 controls the shadow plate 80 to make it go back and forth around the second axis O2 on a predetermined angular plate, for a complete revolution of the age wheel. of the moon 180. Further, the second rotation controller 200 in the present embodiment controls the shadow plate 80 to rotate with a phase different from that of the moon plate 70.

The moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can thus compose an age of the Moon on the basis of a change in the position of one relative to the other corresponding to the phase shift.

First rotation control device

The first rotation control device 190 will be described in detail.

[0211] The moon cam 191 is mounted on the central tube 182a so as to be integral with the latter, in the moon age wheel 180, and is arranged coaxially with the fifth axis O5, like the show FIGS. 9 and 10. The moon cam 191 thus completes, with the moon age wheel 180, one revolution in approximately 29.5 days, which is the lunar cycle.

[0212] The moon cam 191 has a heart shape in a plan view, in which part of the outer circumferential surface of the moon cam 191 is a re-entrant section 191 a, which is locally re-entrant inwards according to the radial direction, and another part of this circumferential surface is on the opposite side, in the radial direction, to the reentrant section 191a with respect to the fifth axis O5 and is a projecting section 191b. The moon cam 191 is therefore what is called a heart.

[0213] The moon setting rake 195 is disposed between the moon wheel 110 and the moon cam 191, and the moon setting rake shaft 195 has an upper pivot supported by a hole stone or any any other bearing held by the mobile adjustment bridge 15 and a lower pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the support plate 16.

[0214] The moon reset rake 195 includes a sector gear 196, which is fan-shaped in plan view and meshes with the moon wheel 110, and a lever portion 197, which is in contact externally in the radial direction with the outer circumferential surface of the moon cam 191. The lever part 197 has, for example, a pointed end and can thus be in point contact with the outer circumferential surface of the moon cam 191 .

[0215] Since the moon restoring rake 195 thus constituted is in engagement, via its toothed sector 196, with the moon wheel 110 which tends to rotate clockwise around the first axis 01, the moon-restoring rake 195 tends to rotate counter-clockwise around the tenth axis O10, as indicated by an arrow in Figure 11. The moon-restoring rake 195 thus receives a torque d rotational drive which causes the lever portion 197 to remain pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the moon cam 191. The moon reset rake 195 and the moon cam 191 are therefore always kept in contact with each other. the other.

[0216] Since the first rotation control device 190 is configured as previously described, the rotations of the moon wheel 110 and the moon plate 70 can be controlled according to the angular position of the moon cam 191, which rotates with the moon age wheel 180. In other words, the first rotation controller 190 can control the rotation of the moon plate 70 in such a way that the moon plate 70 goes back and forth within the predetermined angular range of rotation, around the first axis O1, when the moon age wheel 180 completes one revolution.

Second rotation control device

The second rotation control device 200 will be described in detail.

[0218] The shadow cam 201 is mounted on the central tube 182a so as to be integral with the latter, in the Moon age wheel 180, and is arranged coaxially with the fifth axis O5, as is the moon cam 191, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The Moon age wheel 180, the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 thus have a single and same axis of rotation. Like moon cam 191, shadow cam 201 also completes, with moon age wheel 180, one revolution in about 29.5 days, which is the lunar cycle. Shadow cam 201 is disposed above moon cam 191.

[0219] The shadow cam 201 has a heart shape in plan view, wherein a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the shadow cam 201 is a re-entrant section 201a, which is locally re-entrant inward. in the radial direction, and another part of this circumferential surface is on the opposite side, in the radial direction, to the reentrant section 201a with respect to the fifth axis O5 and is a projecting section 201b. Shadow cam 201 is therefore called a core.

[0220] In the present embodiment, the shadow cam 201 and the moon cam 191 are arranged so symmetrically that the positions of the reentrant section 201a and of the projecting section 201b of the shadow cam 201 and the positions of the reentrant section 191a and of the projecting section 191b of the moon cam 191 are symmetrical with respect to a third imaginary line L3 (see figure 11), which is perpendicular to the first imaginary line L1 (imaginary line which connects "3 o'clock" at "9 o'clock" on the dial 4) in a plan view of the timepiece 1.

[0221] Shade restoration rake 205 is disposed between shade wheel 150 and shade cam 201, and shade restoration rake shaft 205 has an upper pivot supported by a hole stone or any other bearing held by the mobile adjustment bridge 15 and a lower pivot supported by a perforated stone or any other bearing held by the support plate 16.

[0222] Shade restoration rake 205 includes sector gear 206, which is fan-shaped in plan view and meshes with shade wheel 150, and lever portion 207, which is in external contact in the radial direction with the outer circumferential surface of the shadow cam 201. The lever part 207 has, for example, a pointed tip and can thus be in point contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cam shadow 201.

[0223] Since the shade restoring rake 205 thus configured is in engagement, via its toothed sector 206, with the shade wheel 150 which tends to rotate counterclockwise around from the second axis O2, the shadow restoring rake 205 tends to rotate clockwise around the eleventh axis O11, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 11. The shadow restoring rake 205 receives thus a rotational driving torque which causes the lever portion 207 to remain pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the shadow cam 201. The shadow restoring rake 205 and the shadow cam 201 are therefore always kept in contact with each other.

[0224] Since the second rotation control device 200 is configured as previously described, the rotations of the shadow wheel 150 and the shadow plate 80 can be controlled according to the angular position of the shadow cam. 201, which rotates with the Moon age wheel 180. In other words, the second rotation control device 200 can control the rotation of the shadow plate 80 in such a way that the shadow plate 80 performs a round trip within the predetermined angular range of rotation, around the second axis O2, being out of phase with respect to the moon plate 70, when the moon age wheel 180 performs a revolution.

[0225] In particular, the rotation control device 95 in the present embodiment comprises the first rotation control device 190 and the second rotation control device 200 described above. When the moon age wheel 180 rotates, the rotation controller 95 in the present embodiment rotates the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 with a phase difference therebetween, whereby, after rotations, the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be in at least the following two states in a plan view of the timepiece 1: a hidden state in which the moon plate 70 is entirely hidden behind the shadow plate 80, i.e., a state for figuring the new moon (see Fig. 22), and an exposed state in which the moon plate 70 is entirely out from behind the shadow plate 80, that is to say a state to represent the full moon (see figure 30). This point will be described in detail later.

Moon age correction mechanism

[0226] The Moon age display mechanism 12 in the present embodiment further includes a Moon age correction mechanism 13, which corrects the relative positional relationship between the moon plate 70 and shadow plate 80 by forcing Moon age wheel 180 to rotate, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 17 and 18.

[0227] The Moon age correction mechanism 13 includes a Moon age correction lever 300, which is disposed on the support plate 16 so as to adjoin the moon age wheel. the Moon 180 and which is tilting around a tilting axis M, between a standby position P1 and a correction position P2 (see FIG. 21), a Moon age correction lever spring 310 ( corresponding to what is called the lever spring in the claims), which recalls the Moon age correction lever 300 to the standby position P1, as well as a Moon age correction claw 320 (corresponding to what is called the correction claw in the claims), which equips the age correction lever of the Moon 300 by being pivotally mounted thereon and which is provided for rotating the age wheel of the Moon 180 of a predetermined angular value counterclockwise, i.e. the opposite direction in the sense during the normal movement of the hands, when the Moon age correction lever 300 is in the correction position P2, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0228] The Moon age correction lever 300 is placed in a position located radially outside the Moon age wheel 180, more precisely in the vicinity of the range from the position „ 1 o'clock" at the "2 o'clock" position on dial 4, and has, in a plan view, an arcuate shape along the circumferential direction of the plate 11. Among the ends of the age correction lever of Moon 300, a first end 301 lying on the far side of the Moon age wheel 180 is tiltably guided by a tilt rod 303, which projects upward from the support plate 16. The axis center of the tilting rod 303 is the axis of tilting M described above.

[0229] The Moon age correction lever 300 is thus able to tilt around the tilting axis M and makes it possible to approach or move away from the Moon age wheel 180, its second extremity 302 which, of its extremities, is that closest to the Moon's age wheel 180.

[0230] The position in which the second end 302 is close to the Moon age wheel 180 is the correction position P2, and the position in which the second end 302 is far from the Moon age wheel 180 is the standby position P1.

[0231] In addition, the Moon age correction lever 300 has a guide hole 304, which passes through the Moon age correction lever 300 in the up-down direction and has an arcuate shape around the tilting axis M. A positioning rod 305, which projects upward from the support plate 16, is inserted into the guide hole 304. The age correction lever the Moon 300 can thus be positioned in the waiting position P1 and in the correction position P2.

[0232] The Moon age correction lever spring 310 includes a proximal end 311 fixed to the support plate 16, as well as an elastic spring portion 312 extending clockwise. from the proximal end 311. The elastic spring portion 312 uses its elastic restoring force to push the Moon age correction lever 300 outward in the radial direction so as to urge the Moon age correction lever 300 the age of the moon 300 towards the waiting position P1. The Moon age correction lever is thus positioned in the standby position P1 during the normal movement of the hands.

An actuating rod 306 is attached to the second end 302 of the Moon age correction lever 300 and projects downward from this second end 302, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. actuation 306 is housed in an actuation hole 307, which passes through the plate and the support plate 16 in the up-down direction and which opens outwards in the radial direction.

[0234] The timepiece box 3 is provided with an actuation button 308, which faces the actuation rod 306 in the radial direction and which can be pressed, as shown in Figure 2. Actuation button 308 is uncovered through the side surface of timepiece case 3 and can be pressed from the outside.

An external force can therefore be applied to the Moon age correction lever 300, via the actuation rod 306, by pushing on the actuation button 308, whereby the Moon age correction lever Moon age 300 can be swung from the standby position P1 to the correction position P2, against the restoring force produced by the Moon age correction lever spring 310.

[0236] Moon age correction claw 320 is positioned to straddle the upper surface of second end 302 of Moon age correction lever 300, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. Moon age correction claw 320 swings around a tilt rod 321, which projects upward from the upper surface of second end 302. Moon age correction claw Moon 320 includes a first correction claw 322, which extends to the moon age gear toothed portion 182 of the moon age wheel 180, as well as a second correction claw 323, which is extends more outward in the radial direction than the tilting rod 321 and which can come into contact with a positioning rod 324, which protrudes upward from the upper surface of the second end 302.

[0237] The first correction claw 322 is in the standby position and is out of the teeth of the moon age gear sprocket 182 when the moon age correction lever 300 engages. is in the standby position P1, as shown in Figs. 17 and 19, and can push on the teeth of the moon age gear tooth portion 182 to rotate the moon age wheel 180 counterclockwise by an amount corresponding, for example, to two teeth when the Moon age correction lever 300 is in the correction position P2, as shown in Figs. and 21. One can thus force the age wheel of the Moon 180 to turn.

[0238] In addition, the Moon age correction lever 300 is provided with a claw return spring 330, which allows the first correction claw 322 of the Moon age correction claw 320 to disengage from the Moon age wheel 180 when the Moon age correction lever 300 returns from the correction position P2 to the correction position P1, and which tends to bring back the correction claw the age of the Moon 320 in the state of being able to perform rotational operation, when the Moon age correction lever 300 returns to the position where the first correction claw 322 is remote from the wheel age of the Moon 180, as shown in figures 19 to 21.

[0239] The claw return spring 330 includes a proximal end 331 attached to the upper surface of the Moon age correction lever 300, as well as an elastic spring portion 332 extending clockwise. of a watch from the proximal end 331. The elastic spring portion 332 uses its elastic restoring force to push the first correcting claw 322 toward the Moon age wheel 180 to return the correcting claw Moon age correction claw 320. The Moon age correction claw 320 is thus positioned by being placed in a position that causes the second correction claw to contact the positioning rod 324.

Operation of the timepiece

The operation of the timepiece 1 formed as described above will now be described.

[0241] The timepiece 1 according to the present embodiment can use the power of the barrel spring (mainspring) to rotate the center wheel set 50 and the average wheel set in sequence while controlling the drive of the rear and front cogs. Therefore, the roadway 20 can be rotated as a result of the rotation of the center wheel set 50, and the hour wheel 40 can be rotated via the timer wheel set 30. The minute hand 6 and the hand 5 hours can thus be moved.

[0242] When the timer wheel set 30 rotates, the rotational driving torque can be transmitted to the Moon age wheel 180 via the Moon age wheel set 210 (first intermediate wheel set 220, second intermediate wheel set 230, third intermediate wheel set 240 and fourth intermediate wheel set 250), so that the Moon age wheel 180 can be rotated clockwise around the fifth axis O5, as shown in Figures 11 and 16. In addition, the Moon Age Wheel 180 can be rotated at a speed of one revolution in about 29.5 days, which is the duration of the lunar cycle (cycle of waxing and waning of the Moon).

[0243] When the Moon age wheel 180 rotates, the Moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 can be rotated together as a result of the rotation of the Moon age wheel 180. The rotation control device 95 can thus use the rotation drive torque coming from the first motor device 90 to make the Moon plate 70 rotate around the first axis O1 and can use the rotation drive torque coming from the second motor device 91 to rotate the shadow plate 80 around the second axis O2, while controlling the rotations of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80.

[0244] In this process, the first axis O1 and the second axis O2 are not coaxial with each other, so that the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80, which are distant from each other on the other in the plane, can move independently of each other, as shown in Figure 1. The relationship between the angular position of the moon plate 70 around the first axis O1 and the angular position of the moon plate of shadow 80 around the second axis O2 can thus change from minute to minute, and the age of the Moon can be displayed by playing on the relative position of the moon plate 70 and of the shadow plate 80 moving from cooperative way.

[0245] In particular, since the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be rotated so as to overlap each other in the thickness direction of the platen 11, the age of the Moon can be displayed by playing on the positional relationship between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 in a plan view of the timepiece 1, that is to say on the overlap between the plate moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80. A change in the position of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 relative to each other is thus clearly visible, whereby the age of the Moon can be displayed in a prominent way.

The Moon age display will be described in detail.

[0247] In the present embodiment, the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 can be rotated together as a result of the rotation of the Moon age wheel 180. The moon reset rake 195 can therefore be tilted according to the rotation of the moon cam 191, whereby the moon plate 70 can be rotated so as to perform a round trip around the first axis O1 within the predetermined angular range of rotation , in a way that corresponds to the lunar cycle. At the same time, the shadow restoring rake 205 can be tilted according to the rotation of the shadow cam 80, whereby the shadow plate 80 can be rotated so as to perform a round trip around the second axis O2 within the predetermined angular range of rotation, in a manner that corresponds to the lunar cycle.

[0248] In addition, the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be rotated with a phase shift between them, and the age of the Moon can be displayed on by changing the position of the moon plate 70 and of the shadow plate 80 with respect to each other which corresponds to the phase shift, that is to say on a modification of the overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80.

[0249] In other words, the overlap of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 on each other can be changed from minute to minute during the lunation (about 29.5 days), whereby the age of the moon can be displayed instantly.

[0250] In particular, the rotation of the Moon age wheel 180 causes the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 to reach the position in which a second imaginary line L2, which connects the protruding section 191b of the moon cam 191 and the protruding section 201b of the shadow cam 201, is perpendicular to the first imaginary line L1 described above, in a plan view of the timepiece 1, whereby the state in which any the moon plate 70 is hidden behind the shadow plate 80, i.e. the new moon with a "Moon age of 0", can be displayed, as shown in Figures 22 and 23.

[0251] As Moon age wheel 180 rotates clockwise from this state as the days pass, moon cam 191 and shadow cam 201 rotate together as a result of the rotation. of the Moon Age Wheel 180, and the Moon Restoration Rake 195 and Shadow Restoration Rake 205 toggle accordingly. Then, when the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 is inclined about 45 degrees with respect to the first imaginary line L1, a portion of the moon plate 70 comes out from behind the shadow plate 80, and what is called a crescent moon having a "Moon age of 3.7" can be displayed, as shown in Figures 24 and 25.

[0252] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 coincides with the first imaginary line L1, a larger portion of the moon plate 70 has come out from behind the shadow plate 80, and what is called a A crescent moon with a „Moon age of 7.4“ can be displayed, as shown in Figures 26 and 27.

[0253] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 is inclined about 45 degrees relative to the first imaginary line L1, an even larger portion of the moon plate 70 is protruding from behind the shadow plate 80, and a moon with a "Moon age of 11.1", which is close to a full moon, can be displayed, as shown in Figures 28 and 29.

[0254] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 is perpendicular to the first imaginary line L1, the entire moon plate 70 has come out from behind the shadow plate 80, and the full moon, that is say a „Moon age of 14.8“, can be displayed, as shown in Figures 30 and 31.

[0255] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 is inclined by about 45 degrees with respect to the first imaginary line L1, a portion of the moon plate 70 is again hidden behind the shadow plate 80, and a so-called waning moon with a "Moon age of 18.5" can be displayed, as shown in Figures 32 and 33.

[0256] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 coincides with the first imaginary line L1, a larger portion of the moon plate 70 is hidden behind the shadow plate 80, and what is called a moon waning moon with a „Moon age of 22.1“ can be displayed, as shown in Figures 34 and 35.

[0257] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191, and Shadow Cam 201 have again rotated from this state as the days pass, and Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 shadow 201 have a relative position in which the second imaginary line L2 is inclined 45 degrees with respect to the first imaginary line L1, an even larger portion of the moon plate 70 is hidden behind the shadow plate 80, a moon with a „Moon age of 25.8“, which is close to what is called a full moon, can be displayed, as shown in Figures 36 and 37.

[0258] When Moon Age Wheel 180, Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 have rotated again from this state as the days pass, Moon Cam 191 and Shadow Cam 201 pass into a state in which the entire moon plate 70 is hidden behind the shadow plate 80, and the full moon having a "Moon age of 0" can be displayed, as shown in Figures 22 and 23. At this point, the 180 moon age wheel has completed a full revolution.

[0259] As described above, in the process in which the moon age wheel 180 completes a full revolution during one lunation (approximately 29.5 days), the position of the moon plate 70 and the moon plate 80 relative to each other, i.e. the degree of overlap between them, can be changed from minute to minute, and the age of the Moon can be accurately displayed.

[0260] As described above, according to the Moon age display mechanism 12 of the present embodiment, the Moon age is displayed using a change in the relative position of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80, whereby the age of the Moon can be displayed clearly visible even in a small space. Moreover, since the relative position of the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be changed from minute to minute, there is no unnecessary movement to display the age of the Moon, whereby the Moon age can be displayed in a continuous, stable and efficient manner. In addition, the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can change direction, and an instantaneous movement can be dispensed with as in the prior art, whereby the stresses received by the display mechanism of the age of the Moon can be reduced. Further, there is no need for a thick member such as the prior art sphere, whereby the size and thickness of the Moon age display mechanism 12 can be reduced.

[0261] As described above, the Moon age display mechanism 12 of the present embodiment can display the Moon age continuously, stably and efficiently, with good visibility even in a space. reduced, can also make it possible to reduce the stresses supported by this mechanism for displaying the age of the Moon 12 and can moreover have a smaller size and less thickness.

[0262] Moreover, with the movement 10 and the timepiece 1 comprising the moon age display mechanism 12, the age of the moon, which is a piece of information different from the time, can be continuously, stably and efficiently displayed with good visibility, resulting in a movement and a timepiece which are of high quality, have high performance and have improved functionality.

[0263] Moreover, with the Moon age display mechanism 12 according to the present embodiment, since the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 have the possibility of overlapping each other. Otherwise, the Moon age can be displayed efficiently in a smaller area, and the required space (footprint) for displaying the Moon age can be decreased. The moon age display mechanism 12 is thus easily incorporated into the movement 10 having a large number of timepiece components.

[0264] In addition, when the age of the Moon is displayed by playing on an overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80, the following two aspects can be provided: the hidden state in which the plate moon 70 is completely hidden behind the shadow plate 80 (state corresponding to the new moon, visible in Figure 22); and the exposed state in which the entire moon plate 70 has come out from behind the shadow plate 80 (state corresponding to the full moon, visible in Fig. 30), whereby the two very different aspects can be shown from clear way for ease of use.

[0265] In addition, since the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be controlled to perform reciprocating rotation (tilting), the age of the Moon can be accurately displayed even in an area still smaller, with moon plate 70 and shadow plate 80 continuously moving.

[0266] In addition, the simple constitution using only the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 makes it possible to make the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 an alternating rotation movement according to the passage of time, which allows the action to be reliable and the constitution to be simplified. In addition, since the moon age wheel 180, the moon cam 191 and the shadow cam 201 are arranged on a same axis (single common axis), the whole age display mechanism of the moon 12 can be compactly arranged in the plane.

[0267] In addition, since the moon plate 70 has a bright color, such as yellow, while the shadow plate 80 has a dark color, such as black, a change in the overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 makes it possible to clearly understand, at a glance, the age of the Moon, such as the new moon (moon age of 0), the full moon (moon age of 14.8), first quarter (Moon age 7.4) and last quarter (Moon age 22.1).

In addition, since the Moon age display mechanism 12 of the present embodiment includes the Moon age correction mechanism 13, the Moon age wheel 180 can be rotated when the Moon age needs to be corrected, and the relative positional relationship between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be corrected for Moon age correction.

The correction of the age of the Moon will be described in detail.

To correct the age of the Moon, the actuation button 308 visible in FIG. 2 is pushed in, which is uncovered at the level of the side surface of the timepiece case 3. 306 can thus be pushed inwards, so that the Moon age correction lever 300 can be swung from its standby position P1 to its correction position P2, against the force of return produced by the Moon age correction lever spring 310, as shown in Figures 19 to 21. The first correction claw 322 of the Moon age correction claw 320 can thus be used to pushing a tooth of the Moon age wheel 182, whereby the Moon age wheel 180 can be rotated by an amount corresponding to two teeth counterclockwise, which is the opposite direction to the direction when there is movement of the hands. We can thus force the age wheel of the Moon 180 to turn counter-clockwise.

[0271] Therefore, the angular position of the moon age wheel 180 can be corrected, so that the overlap between the moon plate 70 and the shadow plate 80 can be adjusted, whereby the age of the Moon can be reliably corrected. In particular, since the Moon phases 183 are shown at regular intervals along the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the moon age gear tooth portion 182, the Moon age can be corrected using the phase of the moon 183 as a guide, whereby correction can be effected easily.

[0272] Since the Moon age wheel 180 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction during the movement of the hands, the Moon age can be corrected without being affected by a backlash in the mesh between the Moon age cog 210 and Moon age wheel 180.

[0273] When the Moon age wheel 180 is actuated in rotation in the opposite direction to the direction during the movement of the hands, the fourth intermediate pinion 254 of the fourth intermediate mobile 250 tends to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction during the movement. movement of the hands, but the fourth intermediate wheel 253 is in mesh with another pinion in the Moon age gear train 210. The fourth intermediate pinion 254 of the fourth intermediate wheel 250 thus has the possibility of sliding on the fourth intermediate wheel 253, whereby the age of the Moon can be correctly corrected.

[0274] When the operation button 308 is released, the restoring force produced by the Moon age correction lever spring 310 causes the Moon age correction lever 300 to returns from correction position P2 to standby position P1. In this process, the moon age correction lever 300 may inadvertently return while the first correction claw 322 having pushed a tooth of the moon age gear toothed part remains engaged with the teeth. . However, since the Moon age correction claw 320 can disengage from the Moon age wheel 180 against the restoring force produced by the claw restoring spring 330, the situation in which the Moon age correction claw 320 rotates the Moon age wheel 180 in the opposite direction, to the position prior to correction, can be prevented when the age correction lever of the Moon 300 returns to its waiting position P1. The corrected Moon age can therefore be maintained.

When the Moon age correction lever 300 returns to its standby position P1, the Moon age correction claw 320 returns, due to the return force from the claw recall 330, in the position taken to rotate the Moon age wheel 180, in preparation for the next Moon age correction.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. This embodiment has been provided by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The embodiment may be implemented in a variety of other forms, and a variety of types of deletions, substitutions, and modifications may be made so long as they are within the scope of the invention. The embodiment and its variants include, for example, embodiments that one skilled in the art can easily devise, embodiments that are substantially the same as the one described above, as well as embodiments within the scope equivalents.

For example, the embodiment described above was in the case of a mechanical timepiece, but this is not mandatory and the present invention can be implemented, for example, in a quartz timepiece. In this case, for example, the mobiles and wheels can be driven in rotation by a stepper motor.

[0278] In addition, the embodiment described above was in the case where the age of the Moon is displayed by using a moon plate and a shadow plate, but the information to be displayed is not is not limited to the age of the Moon. For example, the days of the week or any other information can be displayed instead of the age of the Moon, or several other pieces of information can be displayed. In these cases, for example, in addition to the shape, color, pattern and other parameters of each of the first and second display portions, the rotation speed determined by the rotation control device, the shapes of the first and second cams, and other parameters can be changed as needed depending on the information/information to be displayed.

[0279] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the Moon age gear train is made up of the first, second, third and fourth intermediate wheels, but this is not mandatory and the gear train he age of the Moon can be freely constituted as long as the wheel of the age of the Moon has the possibility of making one turn per lunation (approximately 29.5 days).

[0280] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, separate driving sources are provided, that is to say that the moon return spring serves as a driving source for the first driving device and that the shadow recall serves as a driving source for the second driving device. However, this is not mandatory.

[0281] For example, a single return spring 400 can be provided as a common driving source, and the Moon age display mechanism 12 can use the rotational driving torque produced by this return spring 400 to apply rotational driving torque to moon wheel 110 and shadow wheel 150, via moon return wheel 120 and shadow return wheel 160, as shown in Fig. 38.

Claims (12)

1. Information display mechanism comprising: a first display part (70) rotatable around a first axis (O1); a first motor device (90) which supplies power to the first display part (70); a second display part (80) rotatable about a second axis (O2) positioned so as to be non-coaxial with the first axis (O1); a second motor device (91) which supplies power to the second display part (80); and a rotation control device (95) which controls the rotation of the first and second display parts (70, 80) such that the first and second display parts (70, 80) each rotate according to a predetermined cycle, wherein the first and second display portions (70, 80) cooperate with each other to display at least information based on a change in the positional relationship between the angular position of the first portion d display (70) around the first axis (O1) and the angular position of the second display part (80) around the second axis (O2). 2. Information display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display portions (70, 80) are positioned at different heights in the thickness direction of the platen, the rotation controller (95) rotates the first and second display portions (70, 80) such that the first and second display portions (70, 80) overlap each other in the direction of the plate thickness, and the first and second display parts (70, 80) display said at least one piece of information by acting on the positional relationship in a plan view when looking along the thickness direction of the platen. 3. Information display mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotation controller (95) rotates the first and second display portions (70, 80) such that during rotation of the first and second display portions (70, 80), the first and second display parts (70, 80) are in at least two states which, when viewed in the thickness direction of the platen, are as follows: a hidden state, in which the entire first display part (70) is hidden behind the second display part (80), and an uncovered state, in which the entire first display part (70) is pulled out from behind the second display part (80) . 4. Information display mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the rotation control device (95) comprises a rotor (180) which rotates as time passes, and a first rotation control device (190) which controls the rotation of the first display part (70) such that when the rotor (180) rotates, the first display part (70) performs a alternating rotation within a predetermined angular range of rotation around the first axis (O1), a second rotation control device (200) which controls the rotation of the second display part (80) such that when the rotor (180) rotates, the second display part (80) performs a movement of alternating rotation within a predetermined angular range of rotation around the second axis (O2). 5. Information display mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the first rotation control device (190) comprises a first cam (191) which rotates when the rotor (180) rotates, and a first control lever (195) which rocks in response to rotation of the first cam (191) for controlling rotation of the first display portion (70), and the second rotation control device (200) comprises a second cam (201) which rotates when the rotor (180) rotates, and a second control lever (205) which switches depending on the rotation of the second cam ( 201) to control the rotation of the second display part (80). 6. Information display mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the rotor (180), the first cam (191) and the second cam (201) are arranged on one and the same axis. 7. Information display mechanism according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the rotor is a Moon age wheel (180) which completes one revolution in a lunar cycle, the first rotation control device (190) controls the rotation of the first display part (70) such that the first display part (70) makes a round trip for one full revolution of the rotor (180) , the second rotation control device (200) controls the rotation of the second display part (80) in such a way that the second display part (80) performs a round trip for a complete rotation of the rotor, with a phase shift with respect to the first display part (80), the first and second display parts (70, 80) display the age of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information, by varying the positional relationship between the first and second display parts ( 70, 80) which corresponds to the phase shift. 8. Information display mechanism according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the first display portion is a moon plate (70) which has a circular shape in plan view and mimics the Moon, the second display part is a shadow plate (80) which has a circular shape in the plan view and which has a darker color than a color of the first display part (70), and the first and second display parts (70, 80) display the age of the Moon, as said at least one piece of information. 9. Information display mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a Moon age correcting mechanism (13) which corrects the relative positional relationship between the first and second display portions (70, 80) by forcing the rotor (180) to rotate. 10. Information display mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the Moon age correction mechanism (13) comprises a Moon age correction lever (300) which is placed at a position adjacent to the rotor (180) and which is swingable about a swing axis (M), between a standby position (P1) and a correction position (P2), a lever spring (310) which biases the Moon age correction lever (300) to the standby position (P1), and a correction claw (320) which equips the Moon age correction lever (300) to be tiltable and which angularly moves the rotor (180) in one direction by a predetermined angular amount when the lever corrector for the age of the Moon (300) is placed in the correction position (P2), and the Moon age correction lever (300) is provided with a claw return spring (330) which allows the correction claw (320) to separate from the rotor (180) when the correction lever of the age of the Moon (300) returns from its correction position (P2) to its standby position (P1), and which recalls the correction claw (320) in the direction of bringing it back into a state of rotational actuation when the Moon age correction lever (300) returns to the position where the correction claw (320) is remote from the rotor (180). 11. Movement comprising an information display mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Timepiece comprising a movement according to claim 11.