EP2503411B1 - Ewiger Kalender mit Einzelsperre - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a date mechanism for a timepiece, which comprises a movement arranged to control once a day a pivoting movement of a perpetual rocker, which comprises said date mechanism, said mechanism comprising a cam of twelve perpetual comprising twelve sectors corresponding to the successive months and of different radial dimension depending on the duration of each month, which performs one revolution per year, wherein said mechanism comprises means for driving said cam of twelve perpetual, and wherein said mechanism is mono-ratchet and comprises a single ratchet finger, articulated to said perpetual rocker and arranged to cooperate with a toothing that includes a ratchet wheel thirty-one that includes said date mechanism and which is pivotally integral about a pivot axis a first cam of thirty-one spiral that also includes said date mechanism, and a second me that includes said date mechanism and which comprises a radial finger, said first cam being arranged to directly or indirectly control a date display means, said mechanism further comprising, to determine each day the number of teeth of said wheel to be actuated , a position downmeter determined by that of said second cam and arranged to adjust the duration of the cooperation between said pawl finger and said wheel according to the current month and the day of the current month.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a movement, and comprising such a date mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly the field of timepieces comprising a date mechanism.

Background of the invention

The most classic calendar timepieces are described in particular by the treaty "Complicated watches" written by François Lecoultre and published by Editions horlogères in Bienne .

In an instantaneous calendar, stars of the day of the week, the month of the year, and the calendar in the month are all actuated by the same perpetual flip-flop, which is pivotally mounted relative to the deck or to a bridge of the movement of the timepiece, and which performs its function of changing display during a change of day, in a sudden movement, at a precise moment, by the action of a spout and two pawls, that includes this perpetual rocking. This jump is made near midnight.

This perpetual rocker is recalled by a spring to a rest position where one of its beaks bears on a first sector of a cam months, carried by a star of the month to 12 teeth performing a turn per year. The radius of this cam of the months is representative of the duration in days of the month considered, either in the form of a notch of greater or lesser depth, or in the form of a projection of greater or lesser extension.

A sudden pivoting of this perpetual rocker is controlled by a wheel linked to the movement, making a turn in 24 hours, carrying a driving pin of a heart against a roller mounted on a lever recalled by a spring. The crossing of a point of the heart triggers the abrupt movement of an index that leads to a beak of the perpetual rocker.

During its pivoting movement, the perpetual rocker deviates from this cam months, to come back on it at the end of its movement, or in the same position if one is in the course of a month, or in support of the sector next to the first sector of this cam months, in the case where it has rotated during the maneuver on the occasion of a change of months.

Another beak of the perpetual rocker controls the pivoting of a star of the day of the week, the sequence of days being perpetual does not require any particular mechanism, since it suffices to increment by one step the position of this star.

The control of pivoting of a so-called thirty-one star, with thirty-one teeth, is performed by a first pawl said thirty-one, pivoted on the perpetual rocker and limited in its pivoting by a pin attached to it. This star of thirty-one is pivotally secured to a first cam and a second cam both spiral.

The first spiral cam is arranged to cooperate with a first feeler that includes a flip-flop of months, pivoting and biased towards this first cam by a spring. The function of this first cam is to cause, at the right moment, the fall of this rocker of the months. This month toggle comprises for this purpose, opposite this first probe, a second probe arranged to cooperate with the star of the month with 12 teeth, and push it with a tooth when the first probe falls from the big radius to the small radius of the spiral.

The second spiral cam has a single notch, against which acts a second ratchet, called end-of-month catch-up, carried by the perpetual rocker, and which presses on it by a spring, and this second ratchet has no effect only for months that do not have 31 days.

At the end of a 28-day month of February, the beak of the perpetual rocker is in the deepest notch of the cam of the months, and, during the passage of the 27th to the 28th of the month, the second ratchet engage in that notch of the second spiral cam. This particular setting of the perpetual rocker allows the second ratchet, when the perpetual rocker jumps around midnight of the 28th of the month, to pull together four teeth of the thirty-one star. Simultaneously, the first spiral cam controls the pivoting of the month rocker, which causes the star of the months, and thus the cam of the months, to pass to the sector of the following month, March in this case. As a result, the perpetual rocker takes a new rest position during the month of March, which is such that the fall of the second ratchet is delayed by four days. Thus, from March 28 to April 1, this second ratchet only causes one tooth at a time of the star of thirty-one.

Similarly, the notch of the month cam for the 30-day months is arranged in such a way that the second pawl drives two teeth of the thirty-one star in the evening of the 30th of the month.

Similarly, the cam slot of months for the 29-day February months of leap years is arranged in such a way that the second pawl causes three teeth of the thirty-one star on the evening of the 29 of the month.

This proven system requires two pawls to ensure the proper functioning of this instant perpetual calendar. The setting of the hands is delicate. This arrangement is vulnerable to any disturbance, related to shock or mishandling, and a return to the workshop is necessary in case of loss of location.

The document CH 660 440 A3 DUBOIS & DEPRAZ SA describes a perpetual calendar that includes a large rocker that is pushed by the movement, and has five fingers and a ratchet. This pawl presses the periphery of a snail-cam fixed on a wheel of thirty-one days. This carries an actuating finger that can cooperate with a wheel of forty-eight months. A first finger formed by one end of the rocker is located in the path of an actuating finger that can be driven by a pin that carries the wheel twenty-four hours. This actuating finger carries a curved dorsal portion forming a cam, and which actuates this perpetual calendar mechanism. A second finger comes into contact, the leap years, with a lever that includes a leap cam. A third finger cooperates with a twelve-month cam. A fourth finger forming a driving nose cooperates with the teeth of the thirty-one-day wheel carrying the cam-snail, this fourth finger works every day, while the ratchet carried by the rocker works only for the purpose of month. A fifth finger making second drive spout cooperates with a seven-day star. Because of this construction, the disturbances are different depending on whether one is in the context of days with a jump (from 1 to 27) or days with several jumps (from 28 to 31).

As a result, the torque is irregular, and the behavior of the mechanism differs according to the length of the current month.

Summary of the invention

Also the invention proposes to avoid the boarding of these two pawls. Indeed such a perpetual rocker, with two pawls and their springs, has a significant inertia, which is not conducive to a specific stop. The adjustment of these two pawns with respect to each other is, moreover, rather delicate, and sensitive to shocks as well as to the mishandling that the timepiece may undergo, in particular when the user manipulates it with around midnight.

This problem of inertia is particularly sensitive in the case of a retrograde date, where rebound phenomena, already difficult to limit, are amplified in case of significant inertia.

The invention also proposes to develop a date mechanism whose implantation in a timepiece is easier than for the known mechanisms, and in particular so that this implantation is possible in a peripheral zone of a shows, less cluttered with complications.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a date mechanism for a timepiece as defined in claim 1.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said second arm of said second insulator comprises a notch arranged to allow the escape of said pin of said pawl finger to disengage said nose of said wheel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said second arm of said second insulator comprises an outer bearing face on the opposite side to said pivot axis arranged to form a bearing face of said pin.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said first arm of said second insulator is arranged to constitute an abutment to said pin.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said date mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted control lever at a pivot which comprises a plate or a bridge of said movement or of said part or said mechanism, said control lever comprising a probe arranged to follow said first cam, which pivots said control lever to drive said date display means by a drive member, and said control lever further comprises, pivotally mounted on a pawl pivot, a hook arranged to drive said cam of twelve perpetual at the end of each month.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, said date mechanism comprises is an instantaneous date mechanism by a sudden daily action, at midnight, of an instantaneous mechanism arranged to pivot said perpetual flip-flop instantaneously.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said instantaneous mechanism comprises a barrel, which carries a plurality of pins each arranged to interact with a feeler finger that includes said perpetual flip-flop, to rotate it instantaneously.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a movement, and comprising such a date mechanism, characterized in that said movement is arranged to control once a day a pivoting movement of a perpetual rocker, that includes said mechanism of date.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle et en vue en plan, d'un premier côté dit de dessus, une pièce d'horlogerie constituée par une montre, comportant un mécanisme de quantième selon l'invention, et montrant la cinématique entre un mécanisme instantané de commande de pivotement journalier d'une bascule perpétuelle, un mécanisme décompteur, et des moyens d'affichage du quantième ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, une vue d'un second côté, dit de dessous, de la même pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée, et en plan, l'agencement géométrique des axes de pivotement et des débattements angulaires des principaux constituants du mécanisme décompteur ;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon partielle, schématisée, et en coupe passant par son axe de pivotement, un mobile que comporte ce mécanisme décompteur, et sa coopération avec un premier et un deuxième isolateurs et un doigt que comporte aussi ce mécanisme décompteur et qui est articulé avec la bascule perpétuelle de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon partielle, schématisée, et en perspective, un détail de coopération entre ce doigt, ce deuxième isolateur, et une roue de trente et un que comporte ce mobile ;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon partielle, schématisée, et en perspective en vue de dessous, le mécanisme de quantième selon l'invention ;
• la figure 7 représente, de façon partielle, schématisée, et en perspective en vue de dessus, le mécanisme de quantième selon l'invention ;
• la figure 8 représente, de façon partielle, schématisée, et en perspective, un détail de coopération entre le doigt et le deuxième isolateur, au voisinage d'une échancrure que comporte celui-ci ;
• la figure 9 représente, sous forme d'un schéma-bloc simplifié, une pièce d'horlogerie et son mécanisme de quantième ;
• les figures 10 à 27 décrivent des étapes de la cinématique du mécanisme de quantième selon l'invention, choisies à des dates particulières illustrant le fonctionnement du mécanisme décompteur:
• les figures 10, 11, 12, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en position de repos en date du 30 novembre ;
• les figures 13, 14, 15, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en activation, avant le passage du doigt dans l'échancrure du deuxième isolateur, en date du 30 novembre ;
• les figures 16, 17, 18, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en activation, lors du passage du doigt dans l'échancrure du deuxième isolateur, en date du 30 novembre ;
• les figures 19, 20, 21, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en activation, lors du passage du doigt dans l'échancrure du deuxième isolateur, en date du 31 décembre ;
• les figures 22, 23, 24, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en activation, au maximum de l'armage, en date du 1 décembre ;
• les figures 25, 26, 27, respectivement en vue de dessous, de dessus, et en perspective vue de dessus, le mécanisme en activation, lors du passage de date du 1 au 2 décembre, au cours duquel le doigt ne peut traverser l'échancrure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings of which:

• the figure 1 represents, schematically, partially and in plan view, a first side said from above, a timepiece constituted by a watch, comprising a date mechanism according to the invention, and showing the kinematics between an instantaneous mechanism daily pivot control system of a perpetual flip-flop, a downward mechanism, and date display means;
• the figure 2 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , a view of a second side, called from below, of the same timepiece;
• the figure 3 represents, schematically, and in plan, the geometric arrangement of the pivot axes and the angular deflections of the main components of the up-down mechanism;
• the figure 4 represents, partially, schematically, and in section passing through its axis of pivoting, a mobile that includes this downward mechanism, and its cooperation with a first and a second insulator and a finger that also includes this downward mechanism and which is articulated with the perpetual rocking of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 represents, partially, schematically, and in perspective, a detail of cooperation between this finger, this second insulator, and a wheel of thirty-one that includes this mobile;
• the figure 6 represents, partially, schematically, and in perspective in view from below, the date mechanism according to the invention;
• the figure 7 represents, partially, schematically, and in perspective in top view, the date mechanism according to the invention;
• the figure 8 represents, partially, schematically, and in perspective, a detail of cooperation between the finger and the second insulator, in the vicinity of an indentation that it comprises;
• the figure 9 represents, in the form of a simplified block diagram, a timepiece and its date mechanism;
• the Figures 10 to 27 describe steps of the kinematics of the date mechanism according to the invention, selected on particular dates illustrating the operation of the downmeter mechanism:
• the Figures 10, 11, 12 , respectively in view from below, from above, and in perspective seen from above, the mechanism in the rest position on November 30;
• the Figures 13, 14, 15 , respectively in bottom view, from above, and in perspective view from above, the mechanism in activation, before the passage of the finger in the notch of the second insulator, dated November 30;
• the Figures 16, 17, 18 , respectively in bottom view, from above, and in perspective view from above, the mechanism in activation, during the passage of the finger into the notch of the second insulator, dated November 30;
• the Figures 19, 20, 21 , respectively in bottom view, from above, and in perspective view from above, the mechanism in activation, during the passage of the finger into the notch of the second insulator, dated December 31;
• the Figures 22, 23, 24 , respectively in view from below, from above, and in perspective seen from above, the mechanism in activation, at the maximum of the arming, dated December 1;
• the Figures 25, 26, 27 , respectively in view from below, from above, and in perspective view from above, the mechanism in activation, during the passage of date from December 1 to 2, during which the finger can not pass through the notch.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention presents a date mechanism whose implantation in a timepiece is easier than for the known mechanisms, and in particular so that this implantation is possible in a peripheral zone of a watch, less congested. by complications.

The invention is described here in the particular case of a retrograde instantaneous calendar, it is transposable to any instantaneous date.

The invention relates to a date mechanism 100 for timepiece 1000, which comprises a movement 200.

This date mechanism 100 comprises different insulators and latches, the form of which is exposed here is only indicative, and which is essentially imposed by the other complications of the timepiece, and by the need to avoid interference, this can lead to more complex shapes than their own functions require.

In the same way, it should be understood that the invention is adaptable to any desired periodicity. The person skilled in the art knows how to transpose the daily periodicity detailed here at other time periods. In the same way, the invention can be used for particular calendars, by replacing the control elements described here with 12 months a year from 28 to 31 days, by other control members with a number of different periods, and amplitudes of different duration.

The movement 200 is arranged to control once a day a pivoting movement of a perpetual rocker 2, that includes the date mechanism 100.

This mechanism 100 comprises a perpetual twelve cam 9 having twelve sectors corresponding to the successive months and of different radial dimension depending on the duration of each month, which performs one turn per year.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, it comprises a mechanism for adjusting the duration of the month of February according to the normal or leap years, or, in another variant, in addition, common end years. of century.

According to the invention, the mechanism 100 comprises means for driving the cam of twelve perpetual 9.

According to the invention, and as visible on the figure 1 the mechanism 100 is mono-ratchet and comprises a single pawl 1 articulated at a pivot 62 at one end of the perpetual rocker 2, and arranged to cooperate with a toothing that includes a ratchet wheel 31, called thirty-one, integral pivotally about a pivot axis D of a first cam 4 said thirty-one spiral, and a second cam 29 having a radial finger 29A.

This first cam 4 is arranged to directly or indirectly control a display means 412 of the date.

This mechanism 100 further comprises, to determine each day the number of teeth of the wheel 31 to be actuated, a downmeter 300 of position determined by that of the second cam 29 and arranged to adjust the duration of the cooperation between the ratchet finger 1 and the wheel 31 according to the current month and the day of the current month.

According to the invention, the mechanism 100 is an instantaneous date mechanism by an abrupt daily action, at midnight, of an instantaneous mechanism 92 arranged to rotate the perpetual rocker 2 instantaneously.

Thus, this date mechanism 100 comprises a perpetual rocker 2, which is pivoted along an axis 72 relative to the plate or a bridge of the timepiece 1000, and a sudden pivoting movement is controlled once a day by the movement 200.

Conventionally, not shown in the figures, this perpetual rocker 2 can cooperate with a finger of a 24-hour wheel, which rotates it once a day, one of its arms then actuating a star of 7 positioned by a jumper , for displaying the day of the week.

But, preferably, according to the invention, the instantaneous mechanism 92 comprises a barrel 32, which carries a plurality of pins 321 each arranged to interact with a finger probe 22 that includes the perpetual rocker 2, to rotate the instantly.

Thus, the perpetual rocker 2 pivots, every day at midnight, under the action of an instantaneous mechanism 92 with a barrel 32, which carries pin 321 which interact with a finger probe 22 of the perpetual rocker 2, to rotate this one instantly. Thus, the invention eliminates the period of 22 hours to 24 hours, which, usually on timepieces date, devolves to the change of date, and during which other manipulations are discouraged or prohibited.

The ratchet finger 1 fills only the perpetual calendar activation function, in cooperation with the wheel 31.

This ratchet finger 1 is arranged to cooperate, during the daily pivoting of the perpetual rocker 2, with a so-called thirty-one ratchet wheel 31 in continuous rotation, non-retrograde, which is conjugate, pivotally integral around a pivoting axis D, to a first cam 4 spiral said cam thirty-one, and a second cam 29 having protruding beyond a first radius R3, a radial finger 29A said thirty finger and one of a second radius R4 greater than R3. The ratchet finger 1 is biased in the direction of the pivot axis D by a spring 41.

According to the invention, this thirty-one wheel is continuously rotating, non-retrograde, which explains why the invention can be used for a retrograde calendar or not. In case of retrograde display, as illustrated in the figures, this function is performed downstream of the thirty-one wheel.

Each day, the ratchet finger 1 rotates, by a spout 51 that it comprises, the wheel 31 by one step, until the 28th of the month. At the end of the month, the correction is variable according to the month displayed in progress, and the ratchet finger 1 causes more or less teeth of the wheel 31. This ratchet finger 1 is bent between the pivot 62 and its beak 51, and includes, located substantially at its elbow, a pin 61 projecting.

When the perpetual rocker 2 is not driven by the finger of the wheel 24 hours, it is brought back by a spring in a rest position.

A cam 9, said cam of twelve perpetual, is driven by the date mechanism 100 itself, as will be explained later, and performs one revolution per year.

This cam 9 is coaxial with a wheel 59 with 4 teeth, and a ratchet wheel 69 with twelve teeth. The cam 9 carries a leap cam 79, such as Maltese cross or the like, whose pivoting is controlled by the wheel 59 with 4 teeth. The assembly constituted by the cam 9 and the wheel 59 carries, or causes, a display indicator of the month.

According to the invention, the up-down mechanism 300 comprises a first isolator 3 which is pivotally mounted about a pivot 63 and includes a feeler finger 53 for measuring the duration of the current month on the perpetual twelve cam 9.

This first isolator 3 still carries, articulated to one of its arms 43 at a pivot 73, a lever 5. This lever 5 is mounted crazy and pivotable, substantially tangentially to the second cam 29, and comprises at a distance from the pivot 73 a pin 6 arranged to cooperate, on the side of the pivot axis D of the wheel 31 with the second cam 29, and on the opposite side to the axis D with a first arm 77 of a second insulator 7.

This second insulator 7 is pivotally mounted at a pivot 57 which comprises a plate or a bridge of the movement 200 or the workpiece 1000 or the mechanism 100.

This second insulator 7 comprises a second arm 67 arranged to, according to its position, allow, limit, or prohibit the cooperation of the spout 51 of the ratchet finger 1 with the wheel 31.

According to the invention, the mechanism 100 further comprises a first isolator 3, pivotally mounted at a pivot 63 relative to the plate or to a bridge of the movement 200 or the timepiece 1000.

This first insulator 3, here substantially Y-shaped, comprises a plurality of arms, one of which carries a finger picking pin 53 month information on the periphery of the cam 9 of twelve perpetual, which allows it to take a determined angular position. The first isolator is subjected to the action of a spring 13, which gives it a torque tending to permanently press the feeler 53 onto the cam 9.

A main arm 83 is disposed in the vicinity of the pawl 1 and the wheel 31, between the pivot axis D thereof and the perpetual rocker 2, and, because of the reading performed by the probe 53, this arm main is positioned at a certain angle with respect to the ratchet finger 1 and the wheel 31.

An outer arm 43 is connected to this main arm 83, also located between the pivot axis D of the wheel 31 and the perpetual rocker 2, and carries, at an end opposite the main arm 83, a pivot 73 for the articulation a lever 5. This lever 5 carries, at an end opposite this pivot 73, a pin 6.

This pin 6 is arranged to limit the angular pivoting stroke of the lever 5 relative to the main arm 83, with which it can cooperate abutting at a lateral surface 93, which allows only a limited mobility of this lever 5 towards the pivot axis D of the wheel 31.

The pin 6 of the lever 5 is further arranged to limit the angular pivoting stroke of the lever 5 relative to a second insulator 7, with which this pin 6 can cooperate abutting at a first arm 77 of the second insulator 7 .

This pin 6 is, again, located on the path of the second cam 29.

According to the invention, this second insulator 7 is pivotally mounted and driven at a pivot 57 relative to the plate or to a bridge of the movement 200 or the timepiece 1000. This pivot 57 is interposed between the pivot axis of the cam 9, the pivot axis D of the wheel 31, and the perpetual rocker 2.

This second insulator 7 comprises a first arm 77 facing the pivot 73 between the first insulator 3 and the lever 5. This first arm 77 can abut, at a bearing face 47, on the pin 6 that carries the lever 5, to limit the stroke of the second insulator 7.

A spring 37 recalls this first arm 77, and therefore, via its pin 6, the lever 5 towards the pivot axis D.

The main arm 83 of the first isolator 3, adjacent to the outer arm 43, is arranged to constitute a limitation of stroke to the pin 6 on the same side as the first arm 77 of the second insulator 7, this pin 6 being arranged to cooperate in abutment with this first arm 77.

This second insulator 7, here V-shaped, comprises a second arm 67, directed towards the perpetual rocker 2. This second arm 67 has an outer bearing face 97 on the opposite side to the pivot axis D, which is arranged to form a bearing face of the pin 61.

This second arm 67 has a notch 87 arranged to allow the pin 61 to escape from the ratchet pin 1 to disengage its spout 51 from the wheel 31.

This second arm 67 has a lateral bearing surface 97 called outer, turned on the opposite side to the first arm 77, and on which can support the pin 61 of the ratchet finger 1 in certain relative positions between the ratchet finger 1 and the second insulator 7, while in other relative positions between the ratchet finger 1 and the second insulator 7, this pin 61 can pass under the second arm 67 at the level of this notch 87.

According to the information taken by the feeler finger 53 on the cam 9 of twelve perpetual, the main arm 83 can occupy four different positions, depending on whether the current month is 28, 29, 30, or 31 days. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the positions occupied by the main arm 83, between the pivot axis D of the wheel 31 and the pivot 57 of the second insulator 7, are substantially parallel to each other, and identified only values 28, 29, 30, 31, corresponding to the number of days in the current month.

For a month of a particular duration, the main arm 83 occupies the position corresponding to this duration.

The lever 5 is pivotally mounted to the end of the outer arm 43, and its position is limited, on the side of the pivot axis D of the wheel 31, by the periphery of the second cam 29, which constitutes a stop for the pin 6 that includes the lever 5, at its end opposite its pivot 73 with the first insulator 3.

This pin 6 itself constitutes a travel limiter for the first arm 77 of the second insulator 7, which is biased by a spring towards the pivot axis D of the wheel 31.

The second insulator 7 is then immobilized in a position where it constitutes a barrier for the passage of the ratchet finger 1.

Indeed, its second arm 67 tends to oppose the passage of the pin 61 that carries the pawl finger 1, its outer bearing surface 97, or a so-called inner opposed bearing face 37, according to the relative positions. The position of this second arm 67 determines the possible range of interference between the nose 51 of the pawl 1 and the wheel 31. This interference domain defines exactly the number of teeth of the pawl 1 and the second insulator 7. the wheel of 31 that can hang this beak 51, when the ratchet finger 1 slides along the second insulator 7, during the pivoting movement of the perpetual rocker 2.

The free passage of the pin 61 of the ratchet finger 1 along the outer bearing surface 97 is possible on the first twenty-seven days of the month, since the lever 5 and the arm 77 are as close as possible to the pivot axis D of the wheel 31, and the second arm 67 does not prevent the ratchet finger 1 from getting close enough to the wheel of thirty-one to stagger a tooth under the effect of the movement of the perpetual rocker 2. In the first twenty-seven days of the month, the spout 51 can only catch one tooth of the wheel 31 at a time.

During the last days of the month, the movement of the pin 61 through the second arm 67 is possible that in certain configurations, when the pin 61 is opposite the notch 87 that comprises, turned towards this pin 6, the second arm 67. This additional stroke offered to the spout 51 allows it to hook several teeth of the wheel 31, depending on the day of the month, and the position of the first isolator 3 determined by the cam of the months 9.

Indeed, the position of the main arm 83 of the first isolator 3 determines the position of the pin 6 of the lever 5, and thereby determines an angular abutment position of the second insulator 7, and the clearance of the window authorized for the passage of the pin 61 of the lever finger 1 in the notch 87 of the second arm 67 of the second insulator 7. This movement allows the spout 51 of the ratchet finger 1 to hook a tooth for a month of 31 days, two teeth for a month of 30 days , three teeth for a month of 29 days, and four teeth for a month of 28 days.

According to the invention, the mechanism 100 further comprises a control lever 12 pivotally mounted at a pivot 612 relative to the plate or to a bridge of the movement 200 or the timepiece 1000 or the mechanism 100. This control lever 12 comprises a feeler 512 arranged to follow the first cam 4, which pivots the control lever 12 to drive the date display means 412 by a drive member 612.

This control lever 12 further comprises pivotally mounted on a pawl pivot 712, a hook 8 arranged to drive the cam of twelve perpetual 9 at the end of each month.

This control lever 12, of shape here substantially S, carries, in its middle part, on the one hand this feeler 512 arranged to follow the profile of the first cam 4 of thirty-one under the effect of a spring 312, and secondly this hook 8, pivoting at a pivot 712.

According to the angular position reached by the wheel of thirty-one, and therefore according to the angular position of the first cam 4 which is integral therewith, the position of radial extension of the feeler 512 is significant of the date, and in particular of the new date, as soon as the ratchet finger 1 controlled by the perpetual rocker 2 has completed its pivoting control of the thirty-one wheel by driving one or more teeth thereof, before returning to the rest position, recalled by the return of the perpetual rocker 2 in its own rest position under the action of its return spring.

The control lever 12 further comprises, for the display of the instantaneous calendar, a toothed sector 912, here opposite to the pivot 612, and cooperating with a pinion 412 for the direct or indirect display of the date, for example through a needle or the like.

The pivoting movement of the wheel 31, and thus of the first cam 4, indirectly drives the hook 8, which is arranged to cooperate with the ratchet 69 of twelve teeth, and to pull it to correct the display of the month, when the first cam 4 jumps from its largest to its smallest diameter, which rotates the ratchet 69 one step.

The perpetual rocker 2 still controls, by a spout 42 or the like, the pivoting of a star 420 of the day of the week, held by a pawl 421 or by a jumper. This star 420 carries or drives a display of the name of the day of the week.

In the rest position of the perpetual rocker 2, and the ratchet finger 1, the spout 51 thereof is located, relative to the straight line from the pivot axis D of the thirty-one wheel and passing through the instantaneous position of the pivot 62 of the ratchet finger 1 at the end of the perpetual rocker 2, on the same side as the pivot 57 of the second insulator 7, as visible on the figure 3 . This straight line then forms an angle α with respect to a reference direction AA.

At this stage, the pin 61 of the ratchet finger 1 is situated in the vicinity of the second arm 67 of the second insulator 7, and is close to the bearing face of this second arm 67 of the second insulator 7, without touching it when the perpetual rocker 2, and therefore the probe finger 1, is in the rest position. This second arm makes an angle β with the reference direction AA.

The first arm 77 of the second isolator is, meanwhile, biased towards the pivot axis D of the thirty-one wheel by a spring 37. The action of the second cam 29 on the lever 5 tends to make pivot it, the last day of the current month, relative to its pivot 73 of the first isolator 3.

The angular position of this first isolator 3 is fixed, within a given month, since this first isolator 3 takes its position by its probe 53 on the cam 9 months. Throughout the year, the position of this pivot 73 evolves so, as visible on the figure 3 on a circle centered on the pivot 63 and of constant radius R0, and taking angular positions θ28, θ29, θ30, θ31, according to the current month and the reading made by the probe 53, corresponding to the pivot positions 73A, 73B, 73C, 73D, visible on the figure 3 .

The position of the pin 6 of the lever 5 is situated on a circle centered on the pivot 73, and of radius R1 corresponding to its constant spacing with this pivot 73.

The pin 6 bears on the periphery of the second cam 29, whose radial position changes between a small radius R3 and a large radius R4.

Therefore, depending on the position of the second cam 29, the position of the pin 6 is variable between the positions 6A3 and 6A4 in a month of 28 days, between the positions 6B3 and 6B4 for a month of 29 days, between the positions 6C3 and 6C4 for a month of 30 days, and between positions 6D3 and 6D4 for a month of 31 days.

The support of the first arm 77 of the second insulator 7 on the pin 6 is therefore conditioned by this position of the pin 6, and the angle β that the second arm 67 with the direction AA also, as visible on the figure 3 , where two X and Y positions of the second insulator 7, the 67X and 77X dotted position, and the 67Y and 77Y dashed position are shown.

This figure 3 still shows the variation of position of the pivot pin 62 of the ratchet finger 1 on the perpetual rocker 2, along a radius R2 relative to the pivot axis 72 of the latter, between a rest position 62R and a current position 62 .

The figure 3 shows that, the longer the current month, the smaller the corresponding angle θ, and the smaller the corresponding angle β.

During the month, until the eve of the last day of the month, the second insulator 7 remains plated near the first radius R3 of the cam 29.

When arming the pawl finger 1, by pivoting the perpetual rocker 2, in the direction away from the pivot 62 relative to the pivot axis D, the pin 61 is on the side of the face of external support 97, the opposite side to the pivot center D, the second arm 67 of the second insulator 7, and the pin 61 away from the pivot 57 during the winding. As long as the second insulator 7 remains plated on the first radius R3 of the cam 29, the notch 87 of the second arm 67 does not move. Therefore, when returning the perpetual rocker 2, the pin 61 is always guided by the outer bearing surface 97 and slides on this face, and the spout 51 can only hang the number of teeth that can reach . By construction, this number of teeth here is one tooth only.

On the other hand, on the last day of the month, the second isolator 7 pivots, since the finger 29A of the cam 29 pushes out the lever 5 and the pin 6, and therefore also pushes the first arm 77 of the second insulator 7, which takes its most eccentric position relative to the pivot axis D, that is to say that the pin 6 comes, depending on the month, occupy one of the positions 6A4, 6B4, 6C4, 6D4, the figure 3 , which is represented with the positions of the second insulator 7 during the passage of 6D3 at 6D4, and the angle of the second arm 67 with the direction AA then passing from the value βX to the value βY which is lower. This second arm is then raised. We therefore remain, each month, a single day above the finger 29A, the time to pass through the notch 87 with the pin 61, and thus trigger the change of months.

Due to the different angle of the second arm 67, the pin 61 does not run along this arm, but passes through the notch 87 before the spout 51 leaves one of the teeth of the wheel 31. Thus the spout 51 comes resting on the main arm 83 of the first isolator at the end of arming the perpetual rocker 2. The pin 61 then passes to the other side of the second arm 67, and seeks its position. According to the distance of the pivot 73, caused by the displacement of the first insulator 3 according to the current month, the number of teeth to be hooked by the spout 51 is then variable, two, or three, or four.

After the driving of these teeth, and the conjugate pivoting of the wheel 31, and the cam 4, the feeler 512 falls on the snub of the cam 4, from the largest to the smallest diameter, triggering a retrograde movement, a return rake 912, and the date then displays, at the pinion 412, the first of a new month, while the hook 8 drives the cam of twelve perpetual 9 for the display of the new month, and thus change the angular position the first isolator 3 as a function of the new reading made by its probe 53.

The Figures 10 to 27 illustrate the operation of the up-and-down mechanism 300 at particular dates, making it possible to display the respective positions of the ratchet finger 1, the second insulator, and the cams 4 and 29.

The Figures 10, 11, 12 , show the mechanism 300 in the rest position on November 30th. The feeler 53 is on the 30-day month level of the cam 9. The pivot 73 is then in position 73C of the figure 3 . The probe 512 is close to the maximum radius of the cam 4. November 30 is the last day of November, so the finger 29A of the cam 29 pushes the lever 5, its pin 6 which passes from the position 6C3 to the position 6C4 of the figure 3 , and therefore the first arm 77 of the second insulator 7, which is therefore pivoted according to the angle βY of the figure 3 . The figure 12 shows the finger 61 still in the vicinity of the bearing face 97, and near the notch 87.

The Figures 13, 14, 15 , represent the mechanism 300 in activation, before the passage of the finger 61 in the notch 87 of the second insulator 7, the same date of November 30. We see the finger 61 engage in the notch 87.

The Figures 16, 17, 18 , illustrate the passage of the finger 61 in the notch 87, the same date of November 30.

When changing the date from November 30 to December 1, the probe 512 falls from the largest to the smallest radius of the rod 4, the control lever 12 performs its retrograde movement, and the hook 8 that it carries pulls the ratchet 69 to display the new month in progress, both at the cam 9 for the control of the mechanism 300, as for the display of the month if the piece 1000 is equipped with such display means, that it is sufficient to couple to the pivoting axis of the wheel 69. And the toothed sector 912 brings the pinion 412 date display of the date to the first of the month.

The Figures 19, 20, 21 , show the mechanism 300 in activation, during the passage of the finger 61 in the notch 87, dated December 31. We see on the figure 19 that the probe 53 is supported on a sector of smaller radius of the cam 9, corresponding to a month of 31 days. When the date changes, the cam 9 will rotate to the neighboring sector, which also corresponds to a month of 31 days, which is the month of January.

The Figures 22, 23, 24 , show the mechanism in activation, at the maximum of the arming, on December 1, which is an ordinary day, where the finger 61 can not pass through the notch 87, and can only slide on the bearing face 97 during the movement of the perpetual rocker 2, and hook the single tooth of an ordinary day change, as visible on the Figures 25, 26, 27 , which show this passage of date from December 1 to 2, during which the finger 61 can not cross the notch 87 and slides on the face 97.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 1000 comprising a movement 200, and comprising such a date mechanism 100. According to the invention, this movement 200 is arranged to control once a day a pivoting movement of a perpetual rocker 2, that includes the date mechanism 100.

Claims (9)

1. Date mechanism (100) for a timepiece (1000), which includes a movement (200) arranged to actuate, once per day, the pivoting movement of a perpetual lever (2) comprised in said date mechanism (100), said mechanism (100) comprising a perpetual twelve cam (9), which includes twelve sectors for the successive months, of different radial dimensions according to the duration of each month, and which completes one revolution per year, wherein said mechanism (100) includes means of driving said perpetual twelve cam (9) and wherein said mechanism (100) has a single click and includes a single click finger (1), hinged to said perpetual lever (2) and arranged to cooperate with a toothing comprised in a thirty-one ratchet wheel (31) comprised in said date mechanism (100) and which pivots integrally about a pivot axis (D) with a first thirty-one snail cam (4) also comprised in said date mechanism (100), and with a second cam (29) also comprised in said date mechanism (100), said second cam (29) including a radial finger (29A), said first cam (4) being arranged to directly or indirectly control a date display means (412), said mechanism (100) further including, for determining the number of teeth of said wheel (31) to be actuated each day, a countdown mechanism (300), whose position is determined by that of said second cam (29) and which is arranged to adjust the duration of the cooperation between said click finger (1) and said wheel (31) according to the current month and the current day, characterized in that said countdown mechanism (300) includes a first isolator (3) which is pivotally mounted about a first pivot (63) and includes a feeler spindle finger (53) for measuring the duration of the current month on said perpetual twelve cam (9), and which also carries, hinged to one of the arms (43) thereof on a second pivot (73), a lever (5) which is mounted for free rotation and pivots substantially tangentially to said second cam (29) and which includes, remote from said second pivot (73), a pin (6), arranged to cooperate, on the side of said pivot axis (D) of said thirty-one wheel (31), with said second cam (29), and, on the opposite side to said pivot axis (D) of the thirty-one wheel (31), with a first arm (77) of a second isolator (7) pivotally mounted on a third pivot (57) comprised in a plate or a bridge of said movement (200) or of said timepiece (1000) or of said mechanism (100), said second isolator (7) including a second arm (67) arranged, according to the position thereof, to allow, limit or prevent the cooperation of said beak (51) of said click finger (1) with said thirty-one wheel (31).
2. Date mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second arm (67) of said second isolator (7) includes a cut-out (87) arranged to allow said pin (61) to escape from said click finger (1) to uncouple said beak (51) thereof from said wheel (31).
3. Date mechanism (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second arm (67) of said second isolator (7) includes an external bearing surface (97) on the opposite side to said pivot axis (D) arranged to form a bearing surface for said pin (6).
4. Date mechanism (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first arm (77) of said second isolator (7) is arranged to form a stop member for said pin (6).
5. Date mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said date mechanism includes a control lever (12) pivotally mounted on a pivot (612) comprised in a plate or a bridge of said movement (200) or of said timepiece (1000) or said mechanism (100), said control lever (12) including a feeler spindle (512) arranged to follow said first cam (4), which pivots said control lever (12) to drive said date display means (412) via a drive element (612), and in that said control lever (12) further includes a hook (8) which is pivotally mounted on a click pivot (712) and arranged to ensure the driving of said perpetual twelve cam (9) at the end of each month.
6. Date mechanism (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanism is an instantaneous date mechanism through the abrupt daily action, at midnight, of an instantaneous mechanism (92) arranged to pivot said perpetual lever (2) instantaneously.
7. Date mechanism (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that said instantaneous mechanism (92) includes a barrel (32) which carries a plurality of pins (321), each arranged to interact with a feeler spindle finger (22) comprised in said perpetual lever (2), to pivot said lever instantaneously.
8. Date mechanism (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mechanism (100) includes a mechanism for adjusting the duration of the month of February for normal or leap years and/or common end of century years.
9. Timepiece (1000) comprising a movement (200), and including a date mechanism (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement (200) is arranged to actuate, once per day, a pivoting movement of a perpetual lever (2) comprised in said date mechanism (100).

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