EP0218926A1 - Intermittent driving device for a time piece - Google Patents

Intermittent driving device for a time piece Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0218926A1
EP0218926A1 EP86112624A EP86112624A EP0218926A1 EP 0218926 A1 EP0218926 A1 EP 0218926A1 EP 86112624 A EP86112624 A EP 86112624A EP 86112624 A EP86112624 A EP 86112624A EP 0218926 A1 EP0218926 A1 EP 0218926A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pinion
transmission assembly
driving
finger
driven
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP86112624A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0218926B1 (en
Inventor
Cyril Vuilleumier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
Original Assignee
ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG
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Application filed by ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA, Ebauchesfabrik ETA AG filed Critical ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Publication of EP0218926A1 publication Critical patent/EP0218926A1/en
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Publication of EP0218926B1 publication Critical patent/EP0218926B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B13/00—Gearwork
    • G04B13/002—Gearwork where rotation in one direction is changed into a stepping movement
    • G04B13/003—Gearwork where rotation in one direction is changed into a stepping movement with a step for each complete revolution
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/243—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator
    • G04B19/247—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator disc-shaped

Definitions

  • the subject of the invention is an intermittent device for driving a time indicator in a timepiece comprising a movable drive driven in continuous rotation by the movement of said piece and a transmission assembly driven in discontinuous rotation by said movable leading, said assembly in turn driving said indicator.
  • the date display is conventionally done by a disc or a crown which carries on one of its faces the numbers from 1 to 31, these numbers parading successively in front of a window arranged in the dial of the watch.
  • This indicator is rotated by the gear train, so that it advances one step every twenty-four hours.
  • the locking in each of the display positions of the date indicator is usually carried out by an elastic locking member engaging successively between the different teeth of a toothing formed on the disc or the crown as and when advance of the indicator.
  • the motive force which must be applied to it is thus clearly greater than the motive force only necessary to drive the hands of the watch, owing to the fact that it is necessary in addition to supply the energy to erase the elastic locking member.
  • patent GB 2 026 213 describes an elastic locking mechanism which is rendered inoperative during the jump of the calendar in order to reduce the energy necessary to advance it by one step.
  • This mechanism comprises a driving mobile provided on its periphery with a toothed sector and a transmission mobile provided with a first toothing capable of meshing with the toothed sector of the driving mobile and a second toothing in engagement with the toothing of the date.
  • a circular cam having a flat is driven on the axis of the mobile leading so that the flat part is opposite the toothed sector.
  • An elastic locking member formed by two branches is arranged so that the end of one branch presses on the cam and the end of the other branch comes into contact with the second toothing of the transmission mobile.
  • the locking member can pivot around a point located at the junction of the two branches, the spacing of which is dimensioned so that they are in elastic support on the cam and the second toothing when the date is not not trained.
  • the elastic support of one of the branches further provided with a boss, ensures the desired locking.
  • the flat of the cam comes opposite a branch and cancels the bearing force of the other branch on the second toothing.
  • the locking being thus rendered inoperative, the date can move freely.
  • this locking mechanism has the defect that apart from the times when the date advances, the cam which is in permanent rotation, rubs on a branch, producing an undesirable loss of energy.
  • the applicant of the present invention has already proposed a device devoid of any elastic locking, device which is described in document CH-A-648 176 (US-A-4 478 522) and which is similar to the so-called Maltese cross mechanisms which make it possible to drive in discontinuous rotation a mobile driven from a driving mobile rotating at constant speed.
  • each drive phase of the driven member is followed by a immobilization phase of said member without the use of spring indexing means.
  • the immobilization means used call upon a plate carried by the driving member and comprising a half-moon notch, said plate cooperating with a plate carried by the driven member and comprising four radiating arms at the end of which are fixed lugs.
  • Figures 1 to 3 show plan views of the preferred device according to the invention which essentially comprises a driving mobile 1, a transmission assembly 2 and a time indicator 3.
  • the driving mobile 1 is driven in continuous rotation in the direction of the arrow 4 by a wheel 5 shown only partially in FIG. 3. In the example chosen, the driving mobile 1 makes a revolution in twenty-four hours, the wheel 5 being engaged in a known manner with a gear returning itself with the hour wheel (not shown).
  • the transmission assembly 2 comprises a first pinion 6 and a second pinion 7 which are integral and coaxial and which have the same number of teeth (six in the construction shown), the diameter of the first pinion being smaller than the diameter of the second .
  • the transmission assembly 2 is in free rotation about an axis 8.
  • the driving mobile 1 comprises first and second means for intermittently driving one after the other the first 6 then the second 7 pinion. It also includes means for immobilizing the second pinion 7 when it is not driven.
  • the time indicator 3 is driven by the transmission assembly 2.
  • the driving mobile 1 comprises a finger 9 capable of driving a tooth of the first pinion 6, and a notch 10 formed in the periphery of a plate 11 mounted integrally and coaxially with the finger 9.
  • a side 12 of the notch 10 is capable of causing a tooth of the second pinion 7.
  • the plate 11 carries a circular rim 13 on which two teeth of the pinion 7 come to rest when the transmission assembly 2 does not is not driven, this circular rim constituting the immobilization means of which we spoke above.
  • the time indicator 3 shown here is a date ring provided with an inner peripheral toothing comprising in the chosen construction sixty-two teeth 14. On one of the faces of the ring are affixed numbers 15 representing the date of month. As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the teeth 14 of the ring are engaged with the teeth of the small pinion 6 making up the transmission assembly 2. It will be understood that the ring could alternatively be driven by the teeth of the large pinion 7.
  • the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing also shows that the teeth of the first and second pinions forming the transmission assembly are aligned with one another and that the axis of the finger 9 is disposed in the middle of the notch 10.
  • This way of operating allows the device to operate in both directions of rotation and, taking into account the dimensions adopted for the construction shown, a rotation of 120 ° of the assembly 2 at each revolution of the mobile 1. It is clear that other arrangements are possible, for example that which would consist in placing the teeth of the small pinion 6 between the teeth of the large pinion 7. In this case, however, the angle of rotation of the assembly 2 would be reduced to 60 °.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 The operation of the device according to the invention can now be explained by following the various phases represented by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
  • FIG. 1 represents a phase of immobilization of the transmission assembly 2 and, consequently, of the indicator 3.
  • two teeth 16 and 17 of the large pinion 7 rest on the circular rim 13 of the driving mobile 1.
  • Indicator 3 is held in position, even if a shock is applied to the timepiece and without the help of elastic means (jumper acting on the teeth 14 for example).
  • FIG. 3 shows the start of the second drive phase of the transmission assembly 2.
  • the finger 9 leaves the tooth 18 of the small pinion 6 and the side 12 of the notch 10 comes into contact with the tooth 21 of the large pinion 7.
  • the driving mobile drives the assembly 2 further until the tops of the teeth 21 and 22 rest and come to rest on the circular rim 13 which is found on the right of finger 9. From this moment, the cycle of passage from one date to another of the calendar is completed and it is understood that the first and second pinions were driven successively, the first 6 by the finger 9 and the second 7 by the rim 12 of the notch 10.
  • This double action makes it possible to rotate the assembly 2 by a large angle.
  • the present invention is not however limited to said double action, as will appear below when FIG. 5 is discussed.
  • the transmission assembly will have rotated 120 ° while the driving mobile will have progressed by approximately 60 °, ie approximately 30 ° by the action of the finger and approximately 30 ° by the action of the side of the notch. Meanwhile, indication 3 will have progressed 360/31 degrees.
  • Figure 4 is a section along line IV - IV of Figure 3. It does not call for specific comments except to indicate how the various elements making up the device of the invention are arranged in the thickness direction. the timepiece. Note that the mechanism is supported by a plate 23 of a next to which is a dial 24 pierced with a window 25 to reveal the number 15 corresponding to the date. It can be seen that the device extends over three different levels: an upper level, on the dial side, where the large pinion 7 cooperates with the plate 11, an average level where the small pinion 6 cooperates with the finger 9, - and a lower level where the same small pinion 6 - meshes with the teeth of the ring 3.
  • the date of the date ring 3 is updated in synchronism with a mechanism (not shown) allowing the correction of the time zone and acting on the hour hand.
  • a mechanism is described for example in the document CH-A-526,804 (US-A-3,695,035).
  • a large diameter driving mobile has been drawn, shown diagrammatically by its circular rim 30 and its finger 31.
  • This mobile pivots at 50 and cooperates with a pinion 32 of small diameter of which two teeth 33 and 34 have been shown.
  • the diagram shows that to make advancing the pinion 32 by one step (angle a) it is necessary to rotate the finger by a relatively small angle.
  • This construction (pinion 32 of small diameter and mobile 30 of large diameter) therefore has the advantage of a date change which is rapid.
  • it has a significant drawback: the risk of bracing of the tooth 33 on the circular periphery 30 when the latter rotates in the direction of the arrow 35, which can result in the blocking of the mechanism.
  • the device according to the invention consists in combining the two solutions described above to obtain a relatively fast passage time while avoiding the phenomenon of bracing.
  • a very long finger is made to act on a pinion of small diameter and, on the other hand, a pinion of large diameter is used as a means of immobilizing the device on a flange. circular of small diameter.
  • the driving mobile, pivoting at 50 comprises first drive means constituted by the finger 31 and immobilization means constituted by the circular rim 40.
  • the finger 31 cooperates with the pinion of small diameter 32 and the circular rim 40 cooperates with the pinion of large diameter 42.
  • Finger 31 and rim 40 form the driving mobile, small 32 and large 42 pinions form the assembly of transmission rotating at intermittent speed.

Abstract

A time indicator for a timepiece is driven by an arrangement comprising a driving train and a transmission assembly. The driving train includes a finger adapted to drive a pinion of small diameter and a circular flange adapted to block a pinion of large diameter. The small and large diameter pinions are coaxial, fixed to one another and compose the transmission assembly. In this manner the time interval in passing from one indication to another is diminished while avoiding the butting phenomenon of teeth resting on the circular flange.

Description

L'invention a pour objet un dispositif d'entraînement intermittent d'un indicateur de temps dans une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mobile menant entraîné en rotation continue par le mouvement de ladite pièce et un ensemble de transmission entraîné en rotation discontinue par ledit mobile menant, ledit ensemble entraînant à son tour ledit indicateur.The subject of the invention is an intermittent device for driving a time indicator in a timepiece comprising a movable drive driven in continuous rotation by the movement of said piece and a transmission assembly driven in discontinuous rotation by said movable leading, said assembly in turn driving said indicator.

Il est bien connu que dans les montres analogiques, l'affichage du quantième se fait classiquement par un disque ou une couronne qui porte sur une de ses faces les nombres de 1 à 31, ces nombres défilant successivement devant un guichet ménagé dans le cadran de la montre. Cet indicateur est entraîné en rotation par le train d'engrenages, de telle manière qu'il progresse d'un pas toutes les vingt-quatre heures. Le verrouillage dans chacune des positions d'affichage de l'indicateur de quantième est réalisé habituellement par un organe élastique de verrouillage s'engageant successivement entre les différentes dents d'une denture ménagée sur le disque ou la couronne au fur et à mesure de l'avance de l'indicateur. Lors de l'actionnement quotidien de cet indicateur, la force motrice qui doit lui être appliquée est ainsi nettement supérieure à la force motrice seulement nécessaire pour entraîner les aiguilles de la montre, du fait qu'il faut fournir en plus l'énergie pour effacer l'organe élastique de verrouillage.It is well known that in analog watches, the date display is conventionally done by a disc or a crown which carries on one of its faces the numbers from 1 to 31, these numbers parading successively in front of a window arranged in the dial of the watch. This indicator is rotated by the gear train, so that it advances one step every twenty-four hours. The locking in each of the display positions of the date indicator is usually carried out by an elastic locking member engaging successively between the different teeth of a toothing formed on the disc or the crown as and when advance of the indicator. During the daily actuation of this indicator, the motive force which must be applied to it is thus clearly greater than the motive force only necessary to drive the hands of the watch, owing to the fact that it is necessary in addition to supply the energy to erase the elastic locking member.

Il s'agirait donc de diminuer le couple qu'il est nécessaire d'appliquer à l'indicateur de quantième pour le faire progresser d'un pas.It would therefore be a question of reducing the torque which it is necessary to apply to the date indicator to make it progress by one step.

Par exemple, le brevet GB 2 026 213 décrit un mécanisme de verrouillage élastique qui est rendu inopérant durant le saut du quantième afin de réduire l'énergie nécessaire pour le faire avancer d'un pas. Ce mécanisme comprend un mobile menant muni sur sa périphérie d'un secteur denté et un mobile de transmission pourvu d'une première denture apte à engrener avec le secteur denté du mobile menant et d'une seconde denture en prise avec la denture du quantième. Une came circulaire présentant un plat est chassée sur l'axe du mobile menant de façon que la partie plate se trouve en face du secteur denté. Un organe élastique de verrouillage formé de deux branches est disposé de façon que l'extrémité d'une branche appuie sur la came et l'extrémité de l'autre branche entre en contact avec la seconde denture du mobile de transmission. L'organe de verrouillage peut pivoter autour d'un point situé à l'endroit de jonction des deux branches dont l'écartement est dimensionné de façon qu'elles soient en appui élastique sur la came et la seconde denture lorsque le quantième n'est pas entraîné. L'appui élastique de l'une des branches, pourvue en outre d'un bosselage, assure le verrouillage désiré. Au moment du saut du quantième, le plat de la came vient en face d'une branche et annule la force d'appui de l'autre branche sur la seconde denture. Le verrouillage étant rendu ainsi inopérant, le quantième peut se déplacer librement. Ce mécanisme de verrouillage présente cependant le défaut qu'en dehors des moments où le quantième avance, la came qui est en rotation permanente, frotte sur une branche, produisant une perte d'énergie indésirable.For example, patent GB 2 026 213 describes an elastic locking mechanism which is rendered inoperative during the jump of the calendar in order to reduce the energy necessary to advance it by one step. This mechanism comprises a driving mobile provided on its periphery with a toothed sector and a transmission mobile provided with a first toothing capable of meshing with the toothed sector of the driving mobile and a second toothing in engagement with the toothing of the date. A circular cam having a flat is driven on the axis of the mobile leading so that the flat part is opposite the toothed sector. An elastic locking member formed by two branches is arranged so that the end of one branch presses on the cam and the end of the other branch comes into contact with the second toothing of the transmission mobile. The locking member can pivot around a point located at the junction of the two branches, the spacing of which is dimensioned so that they are in elastic support on the cam and the second toothing when the date is not not trained. The elastic support of one of the branches, further provided with a boss, ensures the desired locking. At the time of the date jump, the flat of the cam comes opposite a branch and cancels the bearing force of the other branch on the second toothing. The locking being thus rendered inoperative, the date can move freely. However, this locking mechanism has the defect that apart from the times when the date advances, the cam which is in permanent rotation, rubs on a branch, producing an undesirable loss of energy.

Pour remédier aux inconvénients cités, la requérante de la présente invention a déjà proposé un dispositif dépourvu de tout verrouillage élastique, dispositif qui est décrit dans le document CH-A-648 176 (US-A-4 478 522) et qui s'apparente aux mécanismes dits à croix de Malte qui permettent d'entraîner en rotation discontinue un mobile mené à partir d'un mobile menant tournant à vitesse constante. Dans ces mécanismes, chaque phase d'entraînement de l'organe mené est suivie par une phase d'immobilisation dudit organe sans qu'il soit fait usage de moyens d'indexage à ressort. Dans le document cité, les moyens d'immobilisation mis en oeuvre font appel à un plateau porté par l'organe menant et comportant une encoche en demi- lune, ledit plateau coopérant avec une plaque portée par l'organe mené et comprenant quatre bras rayonnants à l'extrémité desquels sont fixés des ergots. Cette construction, en plus qu'elle nécessite beaucoup de place, fait appel à des pièces particulières non habituelles en horlogerie et relativement compliquées à exécuter.To remedy the drawbacks cited, the applicant of the present invention has already proposed a device devoid of any elastic locking, device which is described in document CH-A-648 176 (US-A-4 478 522) and which is similar to the so-called Maltese cross mechanisms which make it possible to drive in discontinuous rotation a mobile driven from a driving mobile rotating at constant speed. In these mechanisms, each drive phase of the driven member is followed by a immobilization phase of said member without the use of spring indexing means. In the cited document, the immobilization means used call upon a plate carried by the driving member and comprising a half-moon notch, said plate cooperating with a plate carried by the driven member and comprising four radiating arms at the end of which are fixed lugs. This construction, in addition to requiring a lot of space, calls on special parts which are not usual in watchmaking and which are relatively complicated to execute.

C'est le but de la présente invention de proposer un mécanisme d'entraînement intermittent d'un indicateur de temps qui évite les inconvénients cités ci-dessus, qui est simple à construire tout en restant très sûr dans son fonctionnement. Ce but est atteint grâce aux moyens revendiqués.It is the object of the present invention to provide an intermittent driving mechanism of a time indicator which avoids the disadvantages mentioned above, which is simple to build while remaining very safe in its operation. This goal is achieved by the means claimed.

L'invention sera expliquée maintenant dans la description qui suit et à l'aide du dessin qui donne à titre d'exemple un mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel :

  • - les figures 1, 2 et 3 présentent des vues en plan du dispositif préféré selon l'invention dans trois phases de situation de l'indicateur de temps, respectivement une phase d'immobilisation, une première phase d'entraînement et une seconde phase d'entraînement;
  • - la figure 4 est une coupe selon la ligne IV - IV de la figure 3; et
  • - la figure 5 est un diagramme représentant schématiquement l'invention selon son acception la plus large, diagramme grâce auquel on pourra montrer certains avantages apportés par ladite invention.
The invention will now be explained in the following description and with the aid of the drawing which gives by way of example an embodiment of the invention in which:
  • - Figures 1, 2 and 3 show plan views of the preferred device according to the invention in three phases of the time indicator situation, respectively an immobilization phase, a first training phase and a second phase d 'training;
  • - Figure 4 is a section along the line IV - IV of Figure 3; and
  • - Figure 5 is a diagram schematically representing the invention in its broadest sense, diagram by which we can show some advantages provided by said invention.

Les figures 1 à 3 montrent des vues en plan du dispositif préféré selon l'invention qui comporte essentiellement un mobile menant 1, un ensemble de transmission 2 et un indicateur de temps 3. Le mobile menant 1 est entraîné en rotation continue dans le sens de la flèche 4 par une roue 5 représentée partiellement seulement sur la figure 3. Dans l'exemple choisi, le mobile menant 1 fait un tour en vingt-quatre heures, la roue 5 étant en prise de façon connue avec un renvoi engrenant lui-même avec la roue des heures (non représentés). L'ensemble de transmission 2 comporte un premier pignon 6 et un second pignon 7 qui sont solidaires et coaxiaux et qui ont un même nombre de dents (six dans la construction représentée), le diamètre du premier pignon étant plus petit que le diamètre du second. L'ensemble de transmission 2 est en rotation libre autour d'un axe 8. Le mobile menant 1 comporte des premiers et seconds moyens pour entraîner par intermittence et l'un après l'autre le premier 6 puis le second 7 pignon. Il comporte également des moyens pour immobiliser le second pignon 7 quand il n'est pas entraîné. L'indicateur de temps 3 est entraîné par l'ensemble de transmission 2.Figures 1 to 3 show plan views of the preferred device according to the invention which essentially comprises a driving mobile 1, a transmission assembly 2 and a time indicator 3. The driving mobile 1 is driven in continuous rotation in the direction of the arrow 4 by a wheel 5 shown only partially in FIG. 3. In the example chosen, the driving mobile 1 makes a revolution in twenty-four hours, the wheel 5 being engaged in a known manner with a gear returning itself with the hour wheel (not shown). The transmission assembly 2 comprises a first pinion 6 and a second pinion 7 which are integral and coaxial and which have the same number of teeth (six in the construction shown), the diameter of the first pinion being smaller than the diameter of the second . The transmission assembly 2 is in free rotation about an axis 8. The driving mobile 1 comprises first and second means for intermittently driving one after the other the first 6 then the second 7 pinion. It also includes means for immobilizing the second pinion 7 when it is not driven. The time indicator 3 is driven by the transmission assembly 2.

Plus particulièrement, dans le mode d'exécution préféré représenté au dessin, le mobile menant 1 comporte un doigt 9 apte à entraîner une dent du premier pignon 6, et une échancrure 10 pratiquée dans la périphérie d'un plateau 11 monté solidairement et coaxialement avec le doigt 9. Un flanc 12 de l'échancrure 10 est susceptible d'entraîner une dent du second pignon 7. Le plateau 11 porte un rebord circulaire 13 sur lequel viennent reposer deux dents du pignon 7 quand l'ensemble de transmission 2 n'est pas entraîné, ce rebord circulaire constituant les moyens d'immobilisation dont on a parlé plus haut.More particularly, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing, the driving mobile 1 comprises a finger 9 capable of driving a tooth of the first pinion 6, and a notch 10 formed in the periphery of a plate 11 mounted integrally and coaxially with the finger 9. A side 12 of the notch 10 is capable of causing a tooth of the second pinion 7. The plate 11 carries a circular rim 13 on which two teeth of the pinion 7 come to rest when the transmission assembly 2 does not is not driven, this circular rim constituting the immobilization means of which we spoke above.

L'indicateur de temps 3 représenté ici est un anneau de quantième pourvu d'une denture périphérique intérieure comportant dans la construction choisie soixante-deux dents 14. Sur l'une des faces de l'anneau sont apposés des chiffres 15 représentant la date du mois. Comme on peut le voir sur les figures 1 à 3, les dents 14 de l'anneau sont en prise avec les dents du petit pignon 6 composant l'ensemble de transmission 2. On comprendra que l'anneau pourrait en variante être entraîné par les dents du grand pignon 7.The time indicator 3 shown here is a date ring provided with an inner peripheral toothing comprising in the chosen construction sixty-two teeth 14. On one of the faces of the ring are affixed numbers 15 representing the date of month. As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the teeth 14 of the ring are engaged with the teeth of the small pinion 6 making up the transmission assembly 2. It will be understood that the ring could alternatively be driven by the teeth of the large pinion 7.

Le mode d'exécution préféré représenté au dessin montre encore que les dents des premier et second pignons formant l'ensemble de transmission sont alignées les unes sur les autres et que l'axe du doigt 9 est disposé au milieu de l'échancrure 10. Cette façon de faire permet un fonctionnement du dispositif dans les deux sens de rotation et, compte tenu des dimensions adoptées pour la construction représentée, une rotation de 120° de l'ensemble 2 à chaque tour du mobile 1. Il est clair que d'autres dispositions sont possibles, celle par exemple qui consisterait à disposer les dents du petit pignon 6 entre les dents du grand pignon 7. Dans ce cas, cependant, l'angle de rotation de l'ensemble 2 serait réduit à 60°.The preferred embodiment shown in the drawing also shows that the teeth of the first and second pinions forming the transmission assembly are aligned with one another and that the axis of the finger 9 is disposed in the middle of the notch 10. This way of operating allows the device to operate in both directions of rotation and, taking into account the dimensions adopted for the construction shown, a rotation of 120 ° of the assembly 2 at each revolution of the mobile 1. It is clear that other arrangements are possible, for example that which would consist in placing the teeth of the small pinion 6 between the teeth of the large pinion 7. In this case, however, the angle of rotation of the assembly 2 would be reduced to 60 °.

On peut expliquer maintenant le fonctionnement du dispositif selon l'invention en suivant les diverses phases représentées par les figures 1, 2 et 3.The operation of the device according to the invention can now be explained by following the various phases represented by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

La figure 1 représente une phase d'immobilisation de l'ensemble de transmission 2 et, partant, de l'indicateur 3. Dans cette position, deux dents 16 et 17 du grand pignon 7 reposent sur le rebord circulaire 13 du mobile menant 1. L'indicateur 3 est maintenu en position, cela même si un choc est appliqué à la pièce d'horlogerie et sans l'aide de moyens élastiques (sautoir agissant sur les dents 14 par exemple).FIG. 1 represents a phase of immobilization of the transmission assembly 2 and, consequently, of the indicator 3. In this position, two teeth 16 and 17 of the large pinion 7 rest on the circular rim 13 of the driving mobile 1. Indicator 3 is held in position, even if a shock is applied to the timepiece and without the help of elastic means (jumper acting on the teeth 14 for example).

Le mobile menant continuant sa course selon le sens de la flèche 4, il arrive un moment où le doigt 9 entre en prise avec la dent 18 du petit pignon 6. C'est la situation représentée en figure 2. L'ensemble de transmission se met alors à tourner dans le sens de la flèche 19 entraînant l'indicateur selon la flèche 20. Il s'agit là de la première phase d'entraînement de l'ensemble 2 et qui dure tant que le doigt reste en contact avec la dent. On remarquera que, pendant cette phase, les dents 16 et 21 portées par le grand pignon 7 ont pu s'engager l'une après l'autre dans l'échancrure 10 du mobile menant.With the moving part continuing to run in the direction of the arrow 4, there comes a time when the finger 9 engages the tooth 18 of the small pinion 6. This is the situation represented in FIG. 2. The transmission assembly is then begins to rotate in the direction of arrow 19 driving the indicator according to arrow 20. This is the first drive phase of assembly 2 and which lasts as long as the finger remains in contact with the tooth . It will be noted that, during this phase, the teeth 16 and 21 carried by the large pinion 7 were able to engage one after the other in the notch 10 of the driving mobile.

La figure 3 montre le début de la deuxième phase d'entraînement de l'ensemble de transmission 2. A ce moment, le doigt 9 quitte la dent 18 du petit pignon 6 et le flanc 12 de l'échancrure 10 entre en contact avec la dent 21 du grand pignon 7. En continuant sa course selon la flèche 4, le mobile menant entraîne plus avant l'ensemble 2 jusqu'à ce que les sommets des dents 21 et 22 reposent et s'immobilisent sur le rebord circulaire 13 qui se trouve à droite du doigt 9. Dès cet instant, le cycle de passage d'une date à l'autre du calendrier est terminé et l'on a bien compris que les premier et second pignons ont été entraînés successivement, le premier 6 par le doigt 9 et le second 7 par le rebord 12 de l'échancrure 10. Cette double action permet de faire tourner l'ensemble 2 d'un angle important. La présente invention n'est cependant pas limitée à ladite double action, comme cela apparaîtra plus loin lorsque sera discutée la figure 5.FIG. 3 shows the start of the second drive phase of the transmission assembly 2. At this time, the finger 9 leaves the tooth 18 of the small pinion 6 and the side 12 of the notch 10 comes into contact with the tooth 21 of the large pinion 7. Continuing its travel along arrow 4, the driving mobile drives the assembly 2 further until the tops of the teeth 21 and 22 rest and come to rest on the circular rim 13 which is found on the right of finger 9. From this moment, the cycle of passage from one date to another of the calendar is completed and it is understood that the first and second pinions were driven successively, the first 6 by the finger 9 and the second 7 by the rim 12 of the notch 10. This double action makes it possible to rotate the assembly 2 by a large angle. The present invention is not however limited to said double action, as will appear below when FIG. 5 is discussed.

Dans l'arrangement particulier qui vient d'être décrit, l'ensemble de transmission aura tourné de 120° pendant que le mobile menant aura progressé d'environ 60°, soit environ 30° par l'action du doigt et environ 30° par l'action du flanc de l'échancrure. Pendant ce temps, l'indication 3 aura progressé de 360/31 degrés.In the particular arrangement which has just been described, the transmission assembly will have rotated 120 ° while the driving mobile will have progressed by approximately 60 °, ie approximately 30 ° by the action of the finger and approximately 30 ° by the action of the side of the notch. Meanwhile, indication 3 will have progressed 360/31 degrees.

La figure 4 est une coupe selon la ligne IV - IV de la figure 3. Elle n'appelle pas de commentaires particuliers sauf d'indiquer comment sont disposés les divers éléments composant le dispositif de l'invention dans le sens de l'épaisseur de la pièce d'horlogerie. On remarquera que le mécanisme est supporté par une platine 23 d'un côté de laquelle se trouve un cadran 24 percé d'un guichet 25 pour faire apparaître le chiffre 15 correspondant à la date. On s'aperçoit que le dispositif s'étend sur trois niveaux différents : un niveau supérieur, côté cadran, où le grand pignon 7 coopère avec le plateau 11, un niveau moyen où le petit pignon 6 coopère avec le doigt 9,- et un niveau inférieur où le même petit pignon 6 -engrène avec la denture de l'anneau 3.Figure 4 is a section along line IV - IV of Figure 3. It does not call for specific comments except to indicate how the various elements making up the device of the invention are arranged in the thickness direction. the timepiece. Note that the mechanism is supported by a plate 23 of a next to which is a dial 24 pierced with a window 25 to reveal the number 15 corresponding to the date. It can be seen that the device extends over three different levels: an upper level, on the dial side, where the large pinion 7 cooperates with the plate 11, an average level where the small pinion 6 cooperates with the finger 9, - and a lower level where the same small pinion 6 - meshes with the teeth of the ring 3.

La mise à la date de l'anneau de quantième 3 est effectuée en synchronisme avec un mécanisme (non représenté) permettant la correction du fuseau horaire et agissant sur l'aiguille des heures. Un tel mécanisme est décrit par exemple dans le document CH-A-526 804 (US-A-3 695 035).The date of the date ring 3 is updated in synchronism with a mechanism (not shown) allowing the correction of the time zone and acting on the hour hand. Such a mechanism is described for example in the document CH-A-526,804 (US-A-3,695,035).

Le diagramme de la figure 5 fera mieux comprendre les avantages apportés par l'invention et permettra de mettre en lumière son acception la plus large.The diagram in FIG. 5 will make it easier to understand the advantages brought by the invention and will make it possible to highlight its widest meaning.

On a dessiné un mobile menant de grand diamètre schématisé par son rebord circulaire 30 et son doigt 31. Ce mobile pivote en 50 et coopère avec un pignon 32 de petit diamètre dont on a représenté deux dents 33 et 34. Le diagramme montre que pour faire progresser le pignon 32 d'un pas (angle a) il faut faire tourner le doigt d'un angle relativement petit. Cette construction (pignon 32 de petit diamètre et mobile 30 de grand diamètre) a donc pour avantage un changement de date qui est rapide. Elle présente toutefois un inconvénient important : le risque d'arc-boutement de la dent 33 sur le pourtour circulaire 30 quand ce dernier tourne dans le sens de la flèche 35, ce qui peut avoir pour conséquence le blocage du mécanisme.A large diameter driving mobile has been drawn, shown diagrammatically by its circular rim 30 and its finger 31. This mobile pivots at 50 and cooperates with a pinion 32 of small diameter of which two teeth 33 and 34 have been shown. The diagram shows that to make advancing the pinion 32 by one step (angle a) it is necessary to rotate the finger by a relatively small angle. This construction (pinion 32 of small diameter and mobile 30 of large diameter) therefore has the advantage of a date change which is rapid. However, it has a significant drawback: the risk of bracing of the tooth 33 on the circular periphery 30 when the latter rotates in the direction of the arrow 35, which can result in the blocking of the mechanism.

Pour éviter cet inconvénient, on sera amené à choisir la solution également représentée au diagramme de la figure 5 et qui consiste à utiliser un mobile menant de petit diamètre schématisé par son rebord circulaire 40 et son doigt 41. Ce mobile pivote sur le même axe 50 et coopère avec un pignon 42 de grand diamètre dont on a représenté deux dents 43 et 44. Dans cet arrangement, le risque d'arc-boutement est fortement réduit quand le rebord tourne dans le sens de la flèche 45. On s'aperçoit par contre que le temps de passage d'une date à l'autre est considérablement augmenté puisque pour faire progresser le pignon 42 d'un pas et du même angle a que dans le cas considéré à l'alinéa ci-dessus, il faudra faire tourner le doigt d'un angle 6 beaucoup plus grand.To avoid this drawback, we will have to choose the solution also shown in the diagram in FIG. 5 and which consists in using a mobile having a small diameter shown diagrammatically by its circular edge 40 and its finger 41. This mobile pivots on the same axis 50 and cooperates with a pinion 42 of large diameter of which two teeth 43 and 44 have been shown. In this arrangement, the risk of bracing is greatly reduced when the rim turns in the direction of the arrow 45. It can be seen by against that the passage time from one date to another is considerably increased since to advance the pinion 42 by one step and by the same angle a as in the case considered in the paragraph above, it will be necessary to rotate the finger by a much greater angle 6.

Le dispositif selon l'invention consiste à combiner les deux solutions exposées plus haut pour obtenir un temps de passage relativement rapide tout en évitant le phénomène d'arc-boutement. A cet effet, d'une part, on fait agir un doigt de grande longueur sur un pignon de petit diamètre et, d'autre part, on se sert d'un pignon de grand diamètre comme moyen d'immobilisation du dispositif sur un rebord circulaire de petit diamètre.The device according to the invention consists in combining the two solutions described above to obtain a relatively fast passage time while avoiding the phenomenon of bracing. To this end, on the one hand, a very long finger is made to act on a pinion of small diameter and, on the other hand, a pinion of large diameter is used as a means of immobilizing the device on a flange. circular of small diameter.

Ainsi, selon l'acception la plus large de l'invention et en vertu de la figure 5, le mobile menant, pivotant en 50, comporte des premiers moyens d'entraînement constitués par le doigt 31 et des moyens d'immobilisation constitués par le rebord circulaire 40. Le doigt 31 coopère avec le pignon de petit diamètre 32 et le rebord circulaire 40 coopère avec le pignon de grand diamètre 42. Doigt 31 et rebord 40 forment le mobile menant, petit 32 et grand 42 pignons forment l'ensemble de transmission tournant à vitesse intermittente.Thus, according to the broadest meaning of the invention and by virtue of FIG. 5, the driving mobile, pivoting at 50, comprises first drive means constituted by the finger 31 and immobilization means constituted by the circular rim 40. The finger 31 cooperates with the pinion of small diameter 32 and the circular rim 40 cooperates with the pinion of large diameter 42. Finger 31 and rim 40 form the driving mobile, small 32 and large 42 pinions form the assembly of transmission rotating at intermittent speed.

Le mode d'exécution préféré de l'invention, qui a été expliqué à propos des figures 1 à 4, met en pratique l'énoncé plus général illustré par la figure 5. En plus qu'il utilise ce principe général, le mode d'exécution préféré fait agir successivement deux modes d'entraînement pour impartir à l'ensemble de transmission une excursion angulaire plus importante.The preferred embodiment of the invention, which has been explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4, puts into practice the more general statement illustrated by FIG. 5. In addition to using this general principle, the mode d 'preferred execution acts successively two drive modes to impart to the transmission assembly a greater angular excursion.

Claims (5)

1. Dispositif d'entraînement intermittent d'un indicateur de temps dans une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mobile menant (1) entraîné en rotation continue par le mouvement de ladite pièce et un ensemble de transmission (2) entraîné en rotation discontinue par ledit mobile menant, ledit ensemble entraînant à son tour ledit indicateur (3), caractérisé par le fait que l'ensemble de transmission comporte des premier (6) et second (7) pignons solidaires et coaxiaux ayant un même nombre de dents, le diamètre du premier pignon étant plus petit que le diamètre du second et que le mobile menant comporte des premiers moyens d'entraînement pour actionner par intermittence ledit premier pignon et des moyens d'immobilisation pour immobiliser ledit second pignon quand ledit ensemble de transmission n'est pas entraîné.1. Intermittent driving device of a time indicator in a timepiece comprising a driving mobile (1) driven in continuous rotation by the movement of said piece and a transmission assembly (2) driven in discontinuous rotation by said movable leading, said assembly in turn driving said indicator (3), characterized in that the transmission assembly comprises first (6) and second (7) integral and coaxial pinions having the same number of teeth, the diameter of the first pinion being smaller than the diameter of the second and that the driving mobile comprises first drive means for intermittently actuating said first pinion and immobilization means for immobilizing said second pinion when said transmission assembly is not driven . 2. Dispositif d'entraînement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ledit mobile menant (1) comporte en outre des seconds moyens d'entraînement pour actionner par intermittence ledit second pignon (7), lesdits premiers et seconds moyens étant arrangés pour agir l'un après l'autre sur ledit ensemble de transmission (2).2. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that said driving mobile (1) further comprises second drive means for intermittently actuating said second pinion (7), said first and second means being arranged for act one after the other on said transmission assembly (2). 3. Dispositif d'entraînement selon la revendication 2, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits premiers et seconds moyens d'entraînement comportent respectivement un doigt (9) apte à entraîner une dent (18) du premier pignon (6), et une échancrure (10) pratiquée dans la périphérie d'un plateau (11) monté solidairement et coaxialement avec le doigt, un flanc (12) de ladite échancrure étant apte à entraîner une dent (21) du second pignon (7) et que les moyens d'immobilisation sont constitués par le rebord circulaire (13) dudit plateau sur lequel viennent reposer deux dents (16, 17) dudit second pignon quand ledit ensemble de transmission (2) n'est pas entraîné.3. Drive device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second drive means respectively comprise a finger (9) capable of driving a tooth (18) of the first pinion (6), and a notch ( 10) formed in the periphery of a plate (11) mounted integrally and coaxially with the finger, a side (12) of said notch being capable of driving a tooth (21) of the second pinion (7) and that the means of immobilization are constituted by the circular rim (13) of said plate on which come to rest two teeth (16, 17) of said second pinion when said transmission assembly (2) is not driven. 4. Dispositif d'entraînement selon la revendication 3, caractérisé par le fait que les dents des premier (6) et second (7) pignons sont alignées les unes sur les autres et que l'axe du doigt (9) est disposé au milieu de l'échancrure (10).4. Drive device according to claim 3, characterized in that the teeth of the first (6) and second (7) pinions are aligned with each other and that the axis of the finger (9) is arranged in the middle notch (10). 5. Dispositif d'entrainement selon la revendication 3, caractérisé par le fait que l'indicateur de temps est un anneau affichant la date (15), ledit anneau portant une denture périphérique intérieure (14) en prise avec le premier pignon (6) de l'ensemble de transmission (2).5. Training device according to claim 3, characterized in that the time indicator is a ring displaying the date (15), said ring having an inner peripheral toothing (14) engaged with the first pinion (6) of the transmission assembly (2).
EP86112624A 1985-09-27 1986-09-12 Intermittent driving device for a time piece Expired EP0218926B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH419885A CH661171GA3 (en) 1985-09-27 1985-09-27
CH4198/85 1985-09-27

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EP0218926A1 true EP0218926A1 (en) 1987-04-22
EP0218926B1 EP0218926B1 (en) 1988-11-17

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ID=4271621

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EP86112624A Expired EP0218926B1 (en) 1985-09-27 1986-09-12 Intermittent driving device for a time piece

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US (1) US4676659A (en)
EP (1) EP0218926B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0627880B2 (en)
CH (1) CH661171GA3 (en)
DE (1) DE3661229D1 (en)
HK (1) HK121593A (en)

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WO2006134156A2 (en) * 2005-06-17 2006-12-21 Timex Group B.V. Date display assembly for a timepiece
EP1953611A1 (en) * 2007-01-30 2008-08-06 Compagnie des Montres Longines, Francillon SA Timepiece comprising a mechanism for driving a device displaying a time-related value

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WO2006134156A2 (en) * 2005-06-17 2006-12-21 Timex Group B.V. Date display assembly for a timepiece
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3661229D1 (en) 1988-12-22
JPH0627880B2 (en) 1994-04-13
US4676659A (en) 1987-06-30
CH661171GA3 (en) 1987-07-15
JPS6275373A (en) 1987-04-07
EP0218926B1 (en) 1988-11-17
HK121593A (en) 1993-11-12

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