EP2802945A1

EP2802945A1 - Clockwork movement indicating mechanism that acts in response to a request for information

Info

Publication number: EP2802945A1
Application number: EP13701933.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marc Wiederrecht; Nicolas Stalder; Guy Dubois-Ferriere; Maximilien Di Blasi; Laurent Wiederrecht
Original assignee: Agenhor SA
Current assignee: Agenhor SA
Priority date: 2012-01-14
Filing date: 2013-01-14
Publication date: 2014-11-19
Also published as: EP2615505A1; WO2013104802A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a clockwork movement indicating mechanism that acts in response to a request for information, comprising a control lever (6, 26, 46) for controlling an indicating member (20, 40, 44, 60) and which can co-operate with the latter in order to indicate information in response to a pre-defined trigger event. The control lever (6, 26, 46) is mobile so that it can occupy a plurality of indicating positions, between a rest position and a maximum indicating position, and, in the rest position, the lever co-operates with a rest surface (104, 204) which can be retracted in response to the trigger event. The control lever is intended to co-operate with a first cam (8, 28, 47) having a movement representative of the information and a periphery of variable radius, representative of the information, of which a minimum radius portion is associated with the maximum indicating position. In the rest position, the control lever co-operates with a second cam (10, 30, 48), on the periphery of which the rest surface is arranged. The second cam is intended to be driven by a gear-train (64) in response to the trigger event in order to have a decreasing radius at the control lever and to allow the latter to co-operate with the first cam so as to occupy an indicating position.

Description

INDICATION MECHANISM FOR DEMANDING INFORMATION

FOR MOVING CLOCKS

Technical area

The present invention relates to an indication mechanism on request of a watch movement information, comprising a control lever of an indication member of this information, capable of cooperating at least indirectly with the latter to indicate information in response to a predefined trigger event. The control lever is adapted to be movably mounted on a frame member of the watch movement to take a plurality of indication positions, between a rest position and a maximum indication position. The mechanism also comprises a resting surface, which can be retracted in response to the tripping event and with which the control lever is intended to cooperate in its rest position, under the effect of the action of a elastic member. The mechanism further comprises a first cam, intended to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement and to be driven by a first mobile of the watch movement having a movement representative of the information to be indicated, this first cam having a periphery of variable radius, representative of the information to be indicated, including a portion of minimum radius associated with the maximum indication position. It is furthermore provided that the control lever has a first nose intended to cooperate with the periphery of the first cam to assume an indicating position, under the effect of the action of the elastic member, in response to the triggering event, and a second nozzle arranged to cooperate with the resting surface in its rest position.

More specifically, the invention relates to such an indication mechanism for indicating the information concerned visually and / or sound. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an indication mechanism and a timepiece provided with such a watch movement.

By indication on demand, it will be understood that the indication is made in response to a user action, but it may also be performed in response to the occurrence of a predefined event related to the normal operation of the watch movement for example, like a bell in passing.

State of the art

[0005] Similar mechanisms are already implemented in clock-type watch movements.

EP 1708050 A1 describes a watch movement type repeater minutes that includes a mechanism meeting the characteristics set out above. This mechanism comprises in particular a ringing part having a rest position and being able to be displaced in rotation to take a plurality of indication positions, in relation to a cam called hour limb, under the effect of a spring . For this purpose, the striking piece has a first nose intended to cooperate with the periphery of the hours snail to take an indication position, in response for example to an action of a user on an external control member of the workpiece. watchmaking. The striking piece has a second nozzle cooperating with a retractable resting surface, carried by a quarter control, against which it is supported by the spring in its rest position. In response to the action of the user, the second spout escapes the resting surface to allow the ringer to go to its indicating position, before being returned to the rest position at the end. indication cycle, by a driving wheel, while operating a lifting hours arranged to control a hammer striking a stamp to indicate the corresponding time.

Note that the driving wheel is itself driven from the unwinding of a barrel, released by the action of the user, whose duration or the unwinding angle is controlled by a counting wheel, also driven from the same barrel and arranged to make a U-turn before being locked.

[0008] These striking mechanisms generally comprise a speed regulator controlling the unwinding speed of the barrel from which is defined i the rhythm of the strikes of the hammer on the stamp which i, of course, must be as regular as possible.

[0009] H orm is the high com plexity usually present in these movements, the components used are sometimes fragile and can be damaged by shocks, either operating or accidental, when the watch falls for example. Note also the risk of rapid wear of some components because of sometimes significant friction involved in the operation of these mechanisms, which can result in an intolerable loss of accuracy for the range of watches concerned.

Furthermore, the spring of the cylinder used to drive the control lever must be strong enough to overcome the force of the spring acting on the latter and allow its return to its rest position, which can cause additional problems related to the overall size of the mechanism.

[001 1] The application EP 2159652 A1, filed in the name of the Applicant, also describes an on-demand indication mechanism meeting the characteristics mentioned above.

More specifically, this mechanism comprises two parts operating in a similar manner, one to display the minute and the other to display the time, on demand. Each part comprises a lever having a first nozzle adapted to cooperate with the periphery of a cam, in an indication position, d have the angular position is representative of the information to be displayed. Each lever also has a second nozzle intended to cooperate with a rocker that can occupy two different angular positions, depending on the state of a column wheel with which it cooperates. In a first position of the rocker, indication, the lever is free to bear on the first cam for indicate the hour, respectively the minute. In a second position of the rocker, rest, it exerts pressure on the lever to move away from the cam, so that the current time is no longer displayed. The same elastic member is intended to apply the control lever against the periphery of the cam or, alternatively, against the rocker.

A pusher can control the column wheel to switch the display from the rest position to the indication position and vice versa.

A column wheel is provided for each of the indications to be displayed on demand. This mechanism requires great precision in the synchronization of the column wheels which are actuated simultaneously by a double pusher. This mechanism is provided to perform a rapid changeover of the display from its rest position to its indication position and vice versa. The permutation speed depends in particular on the speed of actuation by a user and may possibly be adjusted within a very limited range by modifying the shape of the columns of the column wheels or the shape of their teeth cooperating with jumpers to define their stable positions. .

It should also be noted that this mechanism does not allow the implementation of an audible indication of the current time because of its high permutation speed.

Disclosure of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to provide an alternative to the on-demand indication mechanisms known from the prior art, by proposing such a mechanism in which the stresses to which the mobile components are subjected are diminished, guaranteeing them in particular better durability, in particular because of a smoother running kinematics. A further object of the present invention is to provide such a mechanism wherein the speed of movement of the control lever, when moved between its rest and indication positions, can be adjusted by construction to a certain extent. For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a mechanism of the type mentioned above, characterized by the fact that

that the resting surface is arranged on a periphery of variable radius of a second cam, the latter being intended to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement and to be driven by a drive train, and

that the drive train and the second cam are arranged such that, in response to the trip event, the second cam is rotated to present a maximum indication radius opposite the second nose such as the race. required for the latter to move from the resting surface to the maximum indication radius corresponds to a displacement of the control lever equal to or greater than the displacement it has to move from its rest position to its maximum indication position.

With these features, the recess of the mechanism, namely the unlocking of the control lever, is performed more smoothly than in the mechanisms of the prior art and ensures better durability of the components involved.

In addition, unlike the mechanism developed previously by the Applicant, as described above, the resting surface is here arranged on the periphery of a cam driven by a drive train, thus making it possible to adjust the speed with which the resting surface frees the control lever, in a larger range.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to implement an animation during changes of position of the control lever, which is not possible with the previous mechanism, since the operating principle of the wheel to columns is to quickly move from one state to another.

Preferably, the periphery of the second cam has a radius whose variation is substantially continuous between the rest surface and the maximum indication radius. Thus, the softness of the detachment is further improved. In addition, the control lever is retained in its falling to the first cam and the establishment of contact between its first nozzle and the periphery thereof is less brutal than in the mechanisms of the prior art.

According to a preferred embodiment, the drive train and the variation of the radius of the periphery of the second cam are arranged in such a way that the speed of movement of the control lever to move from its rest position to its indication position is substantially constant.

With this particular feature, the movement of the control lever can be used to operate a hammer ring to hit a timbre with a regular frequency, similar to what is implemented in the striking mechanisms known.

Furthermore, advantageously, it can be provided that the drive train is arranged to drive the second cam in rotation at a substantially constant speed and to travel a predefined angle, for example 360 degrees.

In this case, the resting surface is returned to its function position at the end of the operating cycle, that is to say when the second cam has performed a complete turn on itself. Thus, the second cam guides the movements of the control lever, smoothly, in the direction of the descent and the rise.

Preferably, the second cam is then symmetrical along an axis passing through the resting surface and the maximum indication radius.

In addition, it can be provided that the second cam has an extended portion having a value of radius equal to the maximum indication radius, the axis of symmetry of the second cam passing substantially through the middle of the extended portion.

According to preferred embodiments, it can be provided that the extended portion and the drive train are arranged in such a way that the control lever is likely to remain in its maximum indication position for at least 3 seconds, preferably at least 5 seconds, after being conducted in response to the triggering event. Note that the drive train can advantageously be supplied with mechanical energy by a mainspring which can be calibrated in a relatively precise manner and will not necessarily need to output a torque as important as in the known mechanisms of this type, depending on the shape given to the periphery of the second cam and its radius.

In addition, the control lever is preferably intended to be rotatably mounted on a frame member of the watch movement. In this case, we can foresee

it advantageously has a pivot axis reference to which it is intended to pivot and at least one abutment surface, located at a first predetermined distance from the pivot axis and arranged to undergo the effect of the action of the elastic member to apply the control lever against the resting surface,

that, on the one hand, the abutment surface and, on the other hand, the first and second spouts are arranged on either side of the pivot axis of the control lever, and

the second spout is located at a distance from the pivot axis greater than the first predefined distance.

With these additional features, a lever arm is obtained for the application of the force provided by the drive train to overcome the force exerted by the resilient member on the control lever. Thus, the size of the cylinder possibly used to drive the drive train can be limited by reference to the mechanisms known in the state of the art.

It may advantageously be provided that the rotational speed of the second cam is greater than that of the first cam, preferably at least a factor of 10, still more preferably at least a factor of 100. Thus, the indication information may be made with a duration such that any variation in the value of this information does not affect its indication.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising an indication mechanism of the type which has just been described, arranged for driving a visual indication member and / or a sound indicating member of information, and a timepiece provided with such a watch movement.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which :

[0035] FIG. 1 represents a general perspective view of a part of a watch movement comprising several indication mechanisms according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] - Figure 2 shows a simplified top view of a first indication mechanism of Figure 1, in a first configuration;

[0037] - Figure 3 shows a simplified top view of the first indication mechanism of Figure 2, in a second configuration;

[0038] - Figure 4 shows a simplified top view of the first indication mechanism of Figure 2, in a third configuration;

[0039] - Figure 5 shows a simplified top view of the first indication mechanism of Figure 2, in a fourth configuration;

[0040] - Figure 6 shows a simplified top view of a second indication mechanism of Figure 1;

[0041] FIG. 7 represents a simplified top view of a third indication mechanism of FIG. 1, and

[0042] - Figure 8 shows a simplified perspective view of a fourth construction detail of the watch movement of Figure 1, according to a preferred embodiment.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention

FIG. 1 represents a general perspective view of a part of a watch movement comprising several indication mechanisms according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The watch movement illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of the innumerable possibilities offered by the indication mechanism according to the present invention since in reality it combines three mechanisms of this type, operating in similar ways.

More specifically, the watch movement of FIG. 1 is intended to drive first and second display members of the current hours 1, 2, of a current hours audible indication member (numerical reference 3 in Fig. 8) as well as a current minute display member 4 and an audio indication member of the current minutes (not shown).

For this purpose, the movement comprises a first control lever 6 minutes associated with a first minute cam 8 to be driven from a mobile watch movement (not shown) to make a turn on itself in one hour, in a known manner.

The minute control lever 6 is also associated with a second minute cam 10 whose function will be explained later.

The minutes control lever 6 is intended to be pivotally mounted, with reference to a shaft 12, on a frame member of the watch movement not shown for clarity.

A spring of minutes 14 is arranged to exert a force on the minute control lever 6 and tend to rotate in the clockwise direction in Figure 1.

Moreover, the minute control lever 6 comprises first and second sets of teeth 16, 18 arranged in engagement, respectively, with a minute display mobile 20, intended to carry the minute display member 4. , and a minute sound indicating mobile for actuating a minute striking hammer (not shown).

Similarly, the watch movement comprises a first hour control lever 26, associated with a first hour cam 28 to be driven from a mobile watch movement (not shown) to make a turn on itself in twelve hours, in a known manner.

The first hour control lever 26 is also associated with a second hour cam 30 whose function will be explained later. The first hour control lever 26 is intended to be pivotally mounted, with reference to a shaft 32, on a frame member of the watch movement not shown for clarity.

A first spring of the hours 34 is arranged to exert a force on the first control lever hours 26 and tend to rotate in the direction of clockwise rotation in Figure 1.

Furthermore, the first hour control lever 26 comprises first and second sets of teeth 36, 38 arranged in engagement, respectively, with a first display wheel for hours 40, intended to drive the first display member of FIGS. hours 1, and a mobile hour indication 44 for operating an hour striking hammer (reference numeral 3 in Figure 8).

Note that here, by way of nonlimiting illustration, the first spring hours 34 ag it s u r the first control lever hours 26 through the first display mobile hours 40.

In addition, optionally, the watch movement illustrated by way of example comprises a second control lever hours 46, associated with a first additional hours cam 47, coaxial with the first cam hours 28 and secured in rotation of the latter, and a second extra hour cam 48, coaxial with the second hour cam 30 and integral in rotation thereof.

The second control lever hours 46 is intended to be pivotally mounted, with reference to a shaft 52, on a frame member of the watch movement not shown for clarity.

A second spring 54 hours is arranged to exert a force on the second control lever hours 46 and tend to rotate in the anti-clockwise rotation in Figure 1.

Furthermore, the second hour control lever 46 has a toothing 56 arranged in engagement with a second display wheel hours 60 for driving the second display member hours 2.

Note also that the second spring hours 54 acts on the second control lever hours 46 through the second mobile display hours 60. The watch movement illustrated in Figure 1 also comprises a drive train 64 for driving the second cams minutes 10 and 30 hours and the second cam of additional hours 48 in rotation.

The drive train comprises a first wheel 66, master, which is intended to be driven in response to a trigger event, such as for example a pressure of a user on an external control pusher provided on the workpiece. corresponding watchmaking. Alternatively, it is possible to predict that the triggering event is of another nature, such as for example a trigger that would be initiated automatically by the watch movement, without departing from the frame of the invention, as it is the especially in the ringing mechanisms in the passage.

As regards the drive of the first wheel 66, it is carried out here, preferably at constant speed and from a source of mechanical energy, such as for example a mainspring (not shown ), the latter being controlled in such a way that the first wheel 66 makes a complete turn on itself in response to each triggering event. The elements making it possible to obtain such a result not being a direct part of the present invention will not be described in detail here. The skilled person will not encounter any particular difficulty to implement them. It may in particular be inspired by the teaching of the EP 1708050 A1 application cited above, or the application filed on January 13, 2012 under No. EP12151 128.1 in the name of the Applicant.

On the one hand, the drive train 64 comprises a series of references 68, 70 and 72, the first 68 is engaged with the first wheel 66 and the last 72 with a minute wheel 74, coaxial with the second cam minutes 10 which it is integral in rotation.

On the other hand, the drive train 64 comprises an additional return 76 in direct contact with the first wheel 66 and with a hour wheel 78, coaxial with the second cam 30 hours and second cam overtime 48, and integral with them in rotation.

The three control levers 6, 26 and 46 exhibit similar respective behaviors in response to a trigger event.

The behavior of the minute control lever 6 will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 2 to 5, which illustrate the corresponding and relevant part of the indication mechanism according to the present invention in several successive configurations.

FIG. 2 illustrates the indication mechanism according to the present invention when it is in its rest configuration, schematized by a scale of graduations 100 which can be provided on a timepiece dial, the body of indication of the current minutes 4 being situated opposite an indication R, outside the minute scale, but which could as well coincide with the zero indication for example, without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is clear from Figure 2 that the control lever 6 carries first and second beaks 101 and 102 for cooperating, respectively, with the first and second cams minutes 8 and 10.

In this rest configuration, the lever is held in the rest position, under the effect of the action of the spring 14, by cooperation of its second spout 102 with the periphery of the second minute cam 10.

The latter has an axially symmetrical shape whose axis passes through points respectively corresponding to the smallest radius of the cam or to a maximum indication radius, associated with the maximum indication position of the control lever 6. , and at its largest radius. The point of the second cam against which the second spout 102 bears is part of an extended portion 104 of the periphery of the cam 10 defining a resting surface.

It is found that in this rest position of the control lever 6, the periphery of the first cam 8 is located out of reach of the first spout 101. Thus, the position of the control lever 6 is only defined by the second cam 10. It will be noted that the periphery of the first cam 8 illustrated here has twelve constant respective spoke bearings. Thus, each step corresponds to the indication of a range of five minutes.

In response to a triggering event, the first wheel 66 is driven to perform a complete turn on itself, in the clockwise direction, according to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, without limitation .

The drive train 64 is made in such a way that the minute wheel 74 also performs a complete turn on itself at the same time.

Thus, the kinematics of the minute control lever 6 has four successive phases related to the fact that the second cam 10 has three successive portions facing the second nozzle 102, namely the rest surface 104, a portion having a decreasing radius 106, then an increasing radius portion 108 joining the other end of the resting surface. These three portions of the cam 10 here cover equal angles.

Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of the part of the mechanism of Figure 2, in the second phase of operation.

As the second spout 102 remains resting against the rest surface 104, the control lever 6 remains stationary.

When the second cam 10 has its decreasing radius portion 106, the control lever 6 is rotated under the effect of the action of the spring 14 to follow the periphery of the cam.

At the same time, the first spout 101 is close to the first cam 8 q u i could turn meanwhile since it is driven by the watch movement in the present case.

However, in the configuration of Figure 3, the cam 8 is always out of reach of the first spout 101, the angular position of the control lever 6 remaining controlled by the second cam 10.

The minute wheel continues its rotation, the first spout 101 eventually come into abutment against the periphery of the first cam 8 which then limits the rotational movement of the control lever 6, still driven by the spring 14, to take an indication position corresponding to the current minutes to be displayed by the minutes display member 4, here thirty.

Indeed, at the same time, the cooperation of the toothing 16 of the control lever 6 with the minute indicator mobile 20 causes a rotation of the minute display member 4.

The second cam 10 continues its rotation even if the second spout 102 is no longer in contact with it, the control lever remaining stationary in this third phase of operation.

The end of the second portion 106 of the second cam 10 passes opposite the second nozzle 102 without contact, then the same with the beginning of the third portion 108 of the cam , with increasing radius, until the radius of this third portion 108 is again sufficient for the second spout 102 to contact the second cam 10, to enter the fourth phase of operation.

The periphery of the second cam 10 then pushes the control lever 6 in the anti-clockwise direction of rotation in the figures, by opposing the force of the spring 14, as illustrated in FIG. The position of the control lever 6 is then again defined by the radius of the second cam 10 throughout the return phase.

The minute wheel 74 stops its rotation when the second spout 102 is opposite the beginning of the resting surface 104, after a complete turn, and the mechanism resumes its configuration of FIG. 2.

Assuming, by way of example, that the minute wheel 74 performs a complete revolution in 24 seconds, the operating cycle of the mechanism is thus composed in four successive phases: a first rest phase of the control lever 6 8 seconds, followed by a second descent phase of the control lever until it comes into contact with the first cam 8 of less than 8 seconds duration, an indication phase during which the control lever remains stationary and finally, an ascent phase of the same duration as the descent phase. Thus, the indication phase has a variable duration depending on the value of the current minutes to be indicated, which is 16 seconds less the sum of the durations of the phases of descent and ascent. Advantageously, the indication mechanism can be arranged so that the minimum indication period during which the control lever remains stationary is equal to or greater than 3 seconds, or even 5 seconds.

For the mechanism to work properly, it should be provided that the first spout 101 of the control lever 6 can come into contact with any point of the first cam 8, in particular, with its bearing having the weakest radius, which corresponds to a maximum indication position. In this case, it is necessary that the hypothetical displacement that the control lever should travel so that its second spout 102 passes from the rest surface 104 to the point of the second cam having the smallest radius or maximum indication radius, either greater than the displacement it presents passing from its rest position to its maximum indication position, otherwise the first nozzle could never reach the periphery of the first cam.

Note that, in the preferred case described by way of nonlimiting illustration, the rotation speed of the second cam 10 is significantly larger than that of the first cam 8, about 150 times here, which allows to display a stable value at a given moment to ensure a reliable reading. Of course, those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the relative speeds of the two cams according to their own needs and without departing from the scope of the invention. Indeed, a factor of 10 or 100 could be sufficient depending on the needs.

Furthermore, the shape of the periphery of the first cam 8 is not limiting. It is possible to provide that it is continuous rather than in steps without departing from the scope of the invention. In the case illustrated, it may be advantageous to provide that the first spout 101 has a certain flexibility to prevent any damage it could suffer if the triggering event was to coincide with its coming into contact with the end of a plateau. the first cam.

The function of the toothing 18 of the control lever minutes 6 will be better understood in the presentation of the function of a similar toothing carried by the first control lever hours 26, in connection with the detailed description of Figures 6 and 8 to follow.

Figure 6 shows a view similar to those of Figures 2 to 5 for another part of the watch movement of Figure 1, namely a part relating to the indication of hours. We have schematized a scale of graduations hours 200 which could be provided on the dial of a timepiece corresponding.

This part of the mechanism functions in the same way as what has just been described for the indication of the minutes.

Indeed, the first control lever hours 26 tends to rotate clockwise under the effect of the action of the spring 34 by means of the first indication mobile hours 40.

It comprises first and second nozzles 201, 202 intended to cooperate, respectively, with the first and second cams of hours 28, 30.

The first hour cam 28 comprises twelve respective constant spoke portions, each of which is associated with the indication of a given time.

At rest, the second spout 202 is placed in abutment against a rest surface 204 of the second cam 30 to define the rest position of the control lever 26.

After a triggering event, the first wheel 66 rotates and drives the second cam 30 in rotation clockwise. The second cam 30 then has a decreasing radius opposite the second nozzle 202, having the effect of pivoting the control lever in the clockwise direction of rotation.

Thus, during the rotation of the second cam, the position of the control lever 26 is defined by the radius of the second cam as long as the first spout 201 has not come into contact with the first cam 28. A From this moment, the lever maintains a fixed position, of indication, during an indication period which depends on the value of the current hours at a given time, as described above in relation to the current minutes. After a half-turn, the radius of the second cam 30 begins to grow again and, after a while, the periphery of the second cam resumes contact with the second nozzle 202 to exert on the lever a force going against that it undergoes the spring 34, to go up in the counterclockwise direction, to its initial rest position.

[00104] The movements of the control lever 26 cause a rotation of the first indication mobile hours 40 and therefore a displacement of the first display member hours 1.

The scale of graduations 200 is rectilinear here. Also, the mobile indicator 40 comprises a fork 210 at its free end in which is engaged the foot 212 of the display member 1 which can be guided in rectilinear translation in a slot in the dial (not visible), for example.

As indicated above, the first hour control lever 26 comprises a toothing 38 intended to drive a mobile sound indication of the hours 44, as will become more clearly apparent from the detailed description of FIG. 8.

[00107] FIG. 7 illustrates, in a view similar to that of FIG. 6, the operation of the second hours control lever 46 to drive the second hours display member 2 opposite the scale of FIG. graduations 200.

The second hour control lever 46 has first and second nozzles 221, 222 for cooperating, respectively, with first and second additional cams 47, 48, similarly to what has just been described.

The cams 47 and 48 are respectively coaxial with the cams 28 and 30, being integral with them in rotation. However, they are out of phase with the latter to take into account the relative geometries and positions of the two control levers of the hours 6 and 26, as well as to ensure a complementary drive of the second display member hours 2 relative to the first member display 1 on the scale of graduations 200, or twelve steps. Indeed, it is apparent from a comparison of Figures 6 and 7 that the rest position of the first display member hours 1 is located before a first graduation corresponding to twelve hours, while that of the second member of display hours 2 is located after a last graduation also corresponding to twelve hours. As a result, the displacement of one of these display members is the complement of that of the other, twelve steps.

[001 1 1] Similarly to the display member 1, the display member 2 may include a foot 224 engaged in the slot of the dial which thereby ensures the rectilinear guidance.

[001 12] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an additional detail of construction of the watch movement of Figure 1.

[001 13] More precisely, FIG. 8 illustrates how the sound indication mobile 44 makes it possible to make an audible indication of the current time, simultaneously with its display as just described.

[001 14] By way of non-limiting example, it can be provided that the audible indication mobile 44 carries a set of teeth 230 asymmetrical intended to act on a hammer lift 3, via a hammer pawl (not visible), in a known manner. Thus, during the descent of the first hour control lever 26, the teeth 230 drive the lifts and the hammer 3 is rotated a number of times corresponding to the hours to indicate by ringing to hit a stamp (not visible), while at from the return of the control lever to its rest position, the teeth 230 actuate the hammer pawl, which has the effect of not causing the pivoting of the latter and therefore ringing.

[001] A striking hammer of the current minutes is similarly provided to be actuated by the mobile sound indication (not visible).

It will be noted that, while the rest surface 104 of the second minute cam 10 is extended, those of the hours 30 and 48 cams are very short. Thus, in considering the operation of the movement as a whole, it appears that in response to a triggering event, the display devices of the current hours are immediately driven to indicate the current hours, while the display organs of the minutes remain motionless. Only once the hour display members have reached their indicating positions, the minute display member is driven to its indicating position. Finally, the three display members back simultaneously to their respective rest positions.

[001 17] At the same time, the audible indication members are actuated to ring the hours and minutes, respectively, during the displacement of the hours display members and during the movement of the minute display member. towards their positions of indication, thus giving rise to a set of actions particularly harmonious and playful for the user.

[001] The foregoing description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular features which have just been described. , as for example the fact that several indication mechanisms according to the present invention are combined in the same watch movement. Indeed, it is sufficient to implement only one mechanism of this type, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[001 19] Furthermore, it will be noted that, in general, each control lever can be mounted in rectilinear translation on the watch movement rather than in rotation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be noted that the control levers 6 and 26 are preferably rotated at a constant speed, by the corresponding second cam, to ensure a stable frequency of the corresponding sound indications. However, the implementation of the mechanism according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a particular feature.

The present invention is also not limited to the nature of the resilient members adapted to act on the control levers to position them in their respective rest positions, or the means by which their force is transmitted to the control lever corresponding. Indeed, it appears from the figures that, on the one hand, the control lever 6 undergoes a direct action of its spring 14, via a suitable abutment surface provided in one of its ends, while the control levers 26 and 46 undergo the force of their spring through the corresponding indication mobile, via a meshing.

Of course, the mechanism that has been described and illustrated may also be implemented with any other information to indicate that the current time without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to their own needs and implementing an on-demand indication mechanism of the type described in the present application comprising a control lever of an indicating member held in the rest position against a resting surface and in which the latter is arranged so as to be retractable to ensure a smooth recessing operation between the lever and the resting surface, the latter on the periphery of a cam.

Claims

On-demand indication mechanism for information for a watch movement, comprising

a control lever (6, 26, 46) of an indication member (20, 40, 44, 60) of said information, capable of cooperating at least indirectly with the latter to indicate said information in response to an event of predefined trigger, said control lever (6, 26, 46) being adapted to be movably mounted on a frame member of the watch movement to take a plurality of indication positions, between a rest position and a maximum indication position ,

a resting surface (104, 204) which can be retracted in response to said tripping event, with which said control lever (6, 26, 46) is intended to cooperate in its rest position, under the effect of the action of an elastic member (14, 34, 54), and

a first cam (8, 28, 47), intended to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement and to be driven by a first mobile of the watch movement having a movement representative of said information, said first cam having a periphery of variable radius representative of said information including a portion of minimum radius associated with said maximum indication position,

said control lever (6, 26, 46) having a first nose (101, 201, 221) for cooperating with the periphery of said first cam (8, 28, 47) to assume an indication position, under the effect of the action of said elastic member (14, 34, 54) in response to said triggering event, and a second nose (102, 202, 222) arranged to cooperate with said resting surface (104, 204) in his resting position,

characterized in that said resting surface (104, 204) is arranged on a periphery of variable radius of a second cam (10, 30, 48), the latter being intended to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement and to be driven by a drive train (64), and in that said drive train (64) and said second cam (10, 30, 48) are arranged such that, in response to said trigger event said second cam is rotated to present a maximum indication radius opposite said second nose (102, 202, 222) such that the travel required for the latter to pass from said resting surface (104, 204) to said maximum indication radius corresponds to a movement of said lever control (6, 26, 46) equal to or greater than the displacement it has to move from its rest position to its maximum indication position.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the periphery of said second cam (10, 30, 48) has a radius whose variation is substantially continuous between said rest surface (104, 204) and said radius of indication Max.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that said drive train (64) and the variation of the radius of the periphery of said second cam (1 0, 30, 48) are arranged in such a way that the speed of displacement said control lever (6, 26, 46) to move from its rest position to its indication position is substantially constant.

4. Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that said drive train (64) is arranged to drive said second cam (10, 30, 48) in rotation at a substantially constant speed and to traverse a predefined angle.

5. Mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that said predefined angle is 360 degrees.

6. Mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that said second cam is symmetrical along an axis passing through said resting surface and said maximum indication radius.

7. Mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that said second cam (30, 48) has an extended portion having a radius value substantially equal to or less than that of said maximum indication radius, said axis of symmetry of said second cam passing substantially through the middle of said extended portion.

8. Mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that said extended portion and said drive train (64) are arranged such that said control lever (6, 26, 46) is likely to remain in its position. maximum indication for at least 3 seconds, preferably at least 5 seconds, after being conducted in response to said trigger event.

9. Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control lever (6, 26, 46) is intended to be rotatably mounted on a frame member of the watch movement.

Mechanism according to claim 9, characterized

in that said control lever (26,46) has a pivot axis (32,52) with reference to which it is intended to pivot and at least one abutment surface (36,56) located at a first distance predefined said pivot axis and arranged to undergo the effect of the action of said elastic member (34, 54) for applying said control lever against said rest surface (204),

in that, on the one hand, said abutment surface (36, 56) and, on the other hand, said first and second slats (201, 202, 221, 222) are arranged on either side of said pivot axis (32, 52), and

in that said second nose (202, 222) is located at a distance from said pivot axis (32, 52) greater than said first predetermined distance.

1 1. Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotational speed of said second cam (10, 30, 48) is greater than that of said first cam (8, 28, 47), preferably at least a factor 10, still more preferably at least a factor of 100 or 150.

Clock movement comprising an on-demand indication mechanism according to one of the preceding claims arranged to drive a visual indication member (1, 2, 4) and / or an audible indication member.

(44) information.

Clock movement according to claim 12, characterized in that said control lever (6, 26, 46) comprises a first toothing (16, 36, 56) having a kinematic connection with a visual indication member (1, 2). , 4) information.

14. Movement according to claim 13, characterized in that said control lever (6, 26) comprises a second toothing (18, 38) having a kinematic connection with a sound indicating member (44) of said information.

15. Timepiece comprising a watch movement according to any one of claims 12 to 14.