EP0918264B9 - Device for adjusting the position of a pallet-stone mounted in clockwork escapement pallets - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of a lift mounted on an anchor an escapement from a watch movement for the purpose of adjustment of the penetration of the lift in the teeth the escape wheel, and more particularly a device allowing adjustment with precision of the micron order of this penetration.

In watchmaking, we refer to the escapement as mechanism placed between the cogs of a movement and its regulator, for example the pendulum of the watch movement, this escapement having for function of maintaining the pendulum oscillations.

Referring to Figure 1, we will briefly describe an escapement 1 of a conventional anchor watch. The exhaust 1 comprises an escape wheel 2, a anchor 4, a large plate 6 carrying an ankle 8 and a small plate 10 provided with a notch 11, carried by the axis balance 12. The anchor includes two lifts such that 14 cooperating with the wheel 2 and a rod 16 is ending with a fork 17 with three cooperating teeth with large and small plates 6 and 10 respectively. These lifts 14 are each secured in a suitable housing 18 provided in the branches such as 19 of anchor 4 for example using a shellac (not shown). Fork 17 includes two teeth external such as 20 which cooperate with the pin 8 while the inner tooth or stinger 22 cooperates with the small tray 10 and prevents accidental spillage of anchor 4 during the additional swing of the pendulum (not shown). The movements of the anchor 4 are limited by pins or stops such as 24 on which the rod 16 abuts. In the rest position, the rod 16 presses on one of the two pins 24 of limitation. At this time, a 2d tooth of the wheel exhaust 2 is pressed against one of the lifts 14 as shown in Figure 1. The tooth inner 22 of the fork 17 is released from the notch 11 so that the pendulum is released and runs through its counterclockwise amplitude S until its energy is exhausted. The pendulum then resumes the direction schedule to clear the lift 14 of tooth 2d. After the impulse given on lift 14 by tooth 2d, the anchor travels empty a short distance, called the lost path, until the rod 16 comes up against the pin 24. The pendulum then traverses its amplitude and returns until the pin 8 of the large plate 6 drives the fork 17 which triggers the pulse next. This lost path is a way of ensuring that all the teeth of the escape wheel 2 can pass. However, the length of this lost path is a function of the penetration P of the tooth of the escape wheel 2 on the rest plane 27 of the lift 14, this penetration must be both sufficient to avoid release accidental escape wheel 2, for example during shock, and low enough to guarantee freeing the teeth of the escape wheel 2 completely operating circumstance in order to get a exhaust 1 having optimal efficiency.

The Animex company established in Bienne, Switzerland, offers an apparatus for adjusting this penetration P. This device includes a setting on which the anchor finished is positioned and tightened. The laying is then placed on an electric stove to bring the shellac for securing the lift on the anchor at its softening temperature, generally 90 ° C. The operator then acts on the lift by pushing it into a either way using a tip to bring the desired correction, the value of the correction having been previously determined by a measurement method appropriate. The movement of the lift generates the displacement of the key of a comparator which is in contact with the lift, and the setting value is controlled by the movement of a hand on the dial a comparator.

However, this device has many disadvantages. Indeed, at each adjustment, the operator risk of irreparably damaging the levees with the point used, the lifts being made of a material very fragile. These levees being functional elements of the exhaust, it is easy to understand that damage of these is not acceptable.

In addition, during adjustment, for example when the operator acts on the lift, he risks misaligning the lifted from its housing, which leads to a modification of the geometry of the exhaust system and, therefore, to a correction of penetration unsatisfactory. It is therefore necessary in this case to make a new adjustment, which generates costs additional and increases the cost price of the movement.

The main aim of the invention is therefore to remedy the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art in providing a device for adjusting the position of a lift mounted on an anchor which is simple, precise, and which does not risk damaging the lifts, thus allowing facilitate optimization of exhaust efficiency, that is to say the increase in the amplitude of the organ regulator with which it is associated.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of a lift mounted on an anchor for adjusting its penetration into the teeth of a escapement wheel of a watch movement, the device being characterized in that it comprises a frame fixed associated with a mobile carriage in translation according to a axis, means for controlling the movement of the carriage, means for measuring the movement of the carriage relative to the frame, means for fixing the anchor to the frame or the carriage and means for fixing the lift respectively on the carriage or the frame.

Thanks to these features, it is possible to control, by controlling the movement of the carriage by relation to the frame in connection with the measuring means, the displacement of the lift relative to the anchor and therefore the correction desired with very high precision, without risk damaging the lift with tools like this is the case in the prior art. This device allows also to guarantee a displacement of the lift according to its longitudinal axis and, therefore, to guarantee a conservation of the exhaust geometry during setting.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device also comprises heating means, these heating means being preferably fixed on the built element or carriage carrying the anchor.

These heating means make it easy to bring shellac used to secure the lift to its softening temperature, and thus facilitate displacement of the lift in its housing and therefore the desired setting.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the means of anchor fixing are clamping means carried by the carriage and include a lever articulated on the carriage, the lever being locked in the clamping position at by means of a screw.

The use of an articulated lever for tightening clears the space in the vicinity of the location of the cart for receiving the anchor, and when it is placed in the adjustment position. On the other hand, the use of leverage has the advantage to have no influence on the position of the levee at tightening as when loosening it is maintained by the clamping means carried by the frame.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un système d'échappement classique;
• la figure la montre un détail de la figure 1 illustrant la distance de pénétration d'une levée sur une dent de la denture de la roue d'échappement;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de réglage selon l'invention;
• la figure 3 montre un détail de la figure 2 illustrant la solidarisation de l'ancre sur la levée lors du réglage;
• la figure 4a est une vue de coté du dispositif de réglage selon l'invention monté sur un socle portant des moyens optiques de grossissement, et
• la figure 4b est une vue en coupe du dispositif de réglage selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given purely by way of non-limiting illustration, this description being made in conjunction with the drawings appended in which :

• Figure 1 is a top view of a conventional exhaust system;
• Figure la shows a detail of Figure 1 illustrating the penetration distance of a lift on a tooth of the toothing of the escape wheel;
• Figure 2 is a top view of the adjustment device according to the invention;
• Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2 illustrating the attachment of the anchor on the lift during adjustment;
• FIG. 4a is a side view of the adjustment device according to the invention mounted on a base carrying optical magnification means, and
• FIG. 4b is a sectional view of the adjustment device along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

For reasons of convenience, the elements identical to those of FIG. 1 will be designated by the same reference numerals in the description which follows.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4a, 4b, we see a device according to the invention, designated as a whole by the general reference 30, for the adjustment of the position of the lift 14 mounted on the anchor 4 for the adjustment of the penetration P (figure 1a) in the teeth of the escapement wheel 2 of a clockwork movement classic.

The adjustment device 30 comprises a fixed frame 32 associated with a carriage 34 movable in translation relative to to the frame 32 along an axis A. The carriage 34 is associated with control means 36 which make it possible to control its translational movement in both directions possible along axis A. In the example shown, the carriage 34 consists of a measuring table at a axis, actuated by a micrometric screw with control manual which forms the control means 36. The table carries on its movable upper part a plate 37 and is fixed to the frame 32 by its lower part, for example using screws. Such a measurement table is particularly sold by OWIS under the reference MT 30. On will of course understand that other control means 36 manual or automatic can be considered. We will be able to in particular provide digital control means allowing the control of the movement of the table in function of a determined correction value entered via a keyboard.

The device 30 further comprises means for measure 38 to measure the displacement of the frame 32 relative to the carriage 34, fixing means 40 of the anchor 4 on a setting surface 42 of the carriage 34, and means 44 for fixing the lift 14 to the frame 32. In the example shown, the laying surface 42 is formed by the upper surface of the plate 37

The measuring means 38 include a comparator analog 45 with a measurement accuracy equal to micrometer. More specifically, the comparator 45 comprises a movable part 46 formed by a feeler touch which operates the hand moving above the dial graduated from comparator 45, and a fixed cylindrical part 48 secured to the comparator housing 45. The fixed part 48 extends in a bore 50 parallel to the axis A, formed in the frame 32. The bore 50 opens opposite a wall 52 of the carriage 34 with which the movable part 46 of comparator 45 is in direct contact at all times. A such analog comparator 45 is sold by the company CARY in Le Locle, Switzerland, under the reference MC 8-2.

It goes without saying that other means of measurement 38 of displacement of the carriage 34 can be envisaged. We could for example provide optical means using video image analysis, or even means electronic such as a digital axis.

The fixing means 40 of the anchor 4 comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a lever 54 articulated on the carriage 34 and associated with means of tightening 56. The lever 54 is articulated at a distance from the laying surface 42 and includes a free end 58 intended to support the anchor 4 against the setting surface 42 in a clamping position of the fixing means 40.

In the example shown, the clamping means 56 comprise a cam 60 formed on the lever 54 and arranged between its articulation point and its end free 58. This cam 60 which has the shape of a half-moon is actuated by an L-shaped arm 62 articulated by one of its branches 62a on the carriage 34. A screw 64 crossing the free end of the other branch 62b is in contact at its end with the surface of the cam 60. Cam 60 and actuator arm 62 are configured so that when arm 62 reaches the highest point of the cam 60, the free end 58 of the lever 54 approaches of the laying surface 42. Thus, a rotation of the arm actuator 62 in a plane perpendicular to the surface of laying 42, but parallel to the axis A results in a lowering of the lever 54 in the direction of said surface of fitting 42, the final tightening being carried out using screw 64. To avoid excessive tightening which could damage the anchor 4, we can provide means for limiting the tightening force of the screw 64, for example in the form of a screw with adjustable torque.

The lever 54 comprises at its free end 58 a clamping fork 66 with two arms 66a, 66b which tighten respectively portions of the anchor 4 located on the side and on the other side of levee 14.

It will be noted in this connection that according to a variant of not shown, branch spacing 66a, 66b of the clamping fork 66 can be adjustable, for example using a screw engaged transversely in one of the branches, pushing the other end plugged. Such adjustment of this spacing would allow the device 30 to adapt to anchors 4 having lifts 14 of any width.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the point of articulation of the lever 54 on the carriage 34 is also adjustable transversely by relative to the direction of movement of said carriage 34, for example using a screw-nut system (not represented). Indeed, the adjustment of the position of the point of articulation of the lever 54 makes it possible to obtain a optimal location of the clamping point whatever the geometry of the anchor 4 to be adjusted.

We also see in Figure 2 that the device 30 includes heating means 68. Like this will appear more clearly in the rest of the description, these heating means 68 are intended for soften the means of securing - for example a shellac - levees 14 in their homes to facilitate their movement in the latter and therefore the penetration adjustment P.

In the example illustrated, the heating means 68 are fixed on the carriage 34 and include a body of heater 70 formed of an electrical resistance connected to a variable voltage source. Specifically, the body of heater 70 is located in a housing of the plate 37 provided for this purpose, this housing preferably being provided as close as possible to the laying surface 42 on which the anchor 4 is tightened.

It goes without saying that other means of heating can be considered. Means may in particular be provided for heating by laser beam or infrared light.

Likewise, although it is advantageous to fix the heating means 68 on the element carrying the anchor 4, in this case the carriage 34, it is also possible to fix them on the frame 32.

The means 44 for fixing the lift 14 comprise a clamp 72 fixed on an upper surface 74 of the frame 32. This surface 74 is substantially coplanar with the laying surface 42 and preferably comprises a clearance 75 in the area below the clamp 72. The clamp 72 includes a fixed jaw 76 and a movable jaw 78. According to an important characteristic of the invention, the fixed jaw 76 comprises a surface clamping 80 which extends parallel to the axis of displacement A and is intended to act on one side lateral 14a of the lift 14, the movable jaw 78 acting on the opposite side face 14b of the lift 14.

The jaw 78 is movable in rotation in the plane of anchor 4 around an axis 82 and is controlled by a eccentric system 84. The clamping force of the jaws 76 and 78 is given by spring means 86 which act on the movable jaw 78 and recall it towards its closed position represented for example on Figure 3. By acting on the stiffness of the spring, we will understand that the clamping force of the clamp 72 can be easily adjusted and limited to avoid any risk damage to the lift 14 during tightening. Eccentric 84 which is controlled by a clamping lever 88, therefore only serves to act on the movable jaw 78 to open the clamp 72.

It goes without saying that other means of fixing anchor 4, respectively from levee 14, as those described above can be considered. We could for example provide pneumatic fastening means or electromagnetic.

In FIGS. 4a and 4b, it can be seen that the device for setting 30 is associated with optical means 90 of magnification for observation of emergence 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical means 90 include a sliding mounted binocular microscope along a support column 92 embedded in a base 94 also carrying the device 30.

It goes without saying that other optical means of magnification as those described above can be considered. We could for example provide instead of binocular microscope a video camera connected to a screen control.

The operation of the device 30 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 3, 4a and 4b.

We start first by opening the jaws 76, 78 of the clamp 72 by acting on the clamping lever 88 in the direction of arrow O (figure 2). We then note the lever 54 to release the laying surface 42 and the make it accessible (lever 54 dotted in Figure 4). We will of course have loosened the screw 64 and released the arm 62 of the cam 60 before raising the lever 54 (Figure 4a). We then proceed with the implementation of the anchor 4 on the setting surface 42, taking care that that the sting 22 is directed on the side opposite to the plate 37 (upwards), while placing the lift 14 to adjust between the jaws 76 and 78 of the clamp 72. We then closes the clamp 72 by acting on the lever clamping 88 in direction F so that the jaws 76, 78 clamp the lift on its lateral faces 14a, 14b. During the closing of the jaws 76,78, the lift 14 therefore aligns with the clamping surface 80 of the fixed jaw 76 and consequently on the axis of displacement A of the carriage 34. The lever 54 is then folded down so that the branches 66a, 66b of the fork clamp 66 come close to the parts of anchor 4 located on either side of levee 14 in being careful not to touch them. To do this, we move the arm 62 in the direction of the arrow F1 (FIG. 4). At during this displacement, the screw 64 travels along the cam 60 until reaching the top thereof. The carriage 34 is then moved by acting on the screw micrometric 36 to bring the comparator needle 38 next to a fixed mark such as the zero graduation. The lever 54 is then locked in the folded position at using screw 64. If necessary, the spacing of arms 66a, 66b of the clamping fork 66 aura previously adjusted to prevent these branches come into contact with levee 14. We can then move the lift 14 relative to the anchor 4 by one value determined to obtain the penetration value P desired, the displacement value being read directly on the dial of comparator 38. Once the setting carried out, the operations for securing the anchor 4 described above are performed in reverse. Before moving the carriage 34 for the adjustment of the penetration P, we will preferably have switch on the heating means 68 to soften enough shellac to allow a easy movement of the lift 14 in its housing 18 without however, the shellac breaks away from the bottom of said shell housing 18. It will of course be understood that the operations which have just been described are preferably carried out observing anchor 4 under the microscope.

With the adjustment device which has just been described, it is now possible to adjust the penetration exhaust liftings with an accuracy of the order of micron, reproducibly and easily, increasing thus the speed of the completion operations. These measures also has the advantage of being usable for most common anchors.

Claims (15)

1. Device for adjusting the position of a pallet-stone (14) mounted in a pallet (4) for the purpose of adjusting its penetration (P) in the toothing of an escapement wheel of a clockwork movement, characterized in that it includes a fixed frame (32) associated with a carriage (34) which is mobile in translation along an axis (A), means (36) for controlling the movement of the carriage (34), means (38) for measuring the movement with respect to the frame (32), means (40) for securing the pallet (4) onto the frame (32) or the carriage (34) and means for securing the pallet-stone (14) respectively to the carriage (34) or the frame (32).
2. Adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes heating means (68).
3. Adjustment device according to claim 2, characterized in that said heating means (68) are secured to the frame element (32) or carriage (34) carrying the pallet.
4. Adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (40) for securing the pallet (4) are clamping means (56) carried by the carriage (34) and including a lever (54) articulated onto the carriage (34), the lever (54) being locked in the clamping position by means of a screw (64).
5. Adjustment device according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping means (56) include means for limiting the clamping force.
6. Adjustment device according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the pallet (4) is clamped onto the carriage (34) by the free end (58) of the lever (54) and in that the free end (58) has a clamping fork (66) with two branches (66a, 66b).
7. Adjustment device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gap between the branches (66a, 66b) of the clamping fork (66) can be adjusted.
8. Adjustment device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the point of articulation of the lever (54) onto the carriage (34) can be adjusted transversely to the direction of movement of the carriage (34).
9. Adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (44) for securing the pallet-stone (14) include a clamp (72) which is carried by the frame (32).
10. Adjustment device according to claim 9, characterized in that the clamp (72) includes a fixed jaw (76) having a clamping surface (80) which extends parallel to the axis of movement of the carriage (34) and a mobile jaw (78).
11. Adjustment device according to claim 10, characterized in that the mobile jaw (78) is controlled by a cam system (84).
12. Adjustment device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the closing force of the clamp (72) is given by spring means (86) returning the mobile jaw (78) to its closing position, the cam system (84) being arranged to open the clamp (72).
13. Adjustment device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (38) include an analogue comparator (45).
14. Adjustment device according to claim 13, characterized in that the comparator (45) includes a sensor contact element (47) in direct contact with the carriage (34).
15. Adjustment device according to claim 11, characterized in that it is associated with optical magnifying means (90) for observing the pallet-stone (14).

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