EP3143463A2

EP3143463A2 - Clock display mechanism comprising a rapid correction

Info

Publication number: EP3143463A2
Application number: EP15714517.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Merino; Jean-Luc Helfer; Christian Rüfenacht; Giuseppe CAPPADONA
Original assignee: ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Current assignee: ETA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse SA
Priority date: 2014-05-14
Filing date: 2015-04-09
Publication date: 2017-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-09
Also published as: CN106104394B; WO2015172943A4; JP2017516977A; CH709632A2; CH709632B1; JP6182679B2; US9841734B2; WO2015172943A2; US20170075307A1; CN106104394A; EP3143463B1; WO2015172943A3

Abstract

Display mechanism (500) comprising a rapid correction mechanism (200) for the position of a display movement (3), a setting wheel movement (6) ensuring synchronization having automatic drive means, and, inserted between said setting wheel movement (6) and said display movement (3), a security lever (400) driven by said display movement (3) during the periodic driving thereof, along a path interfering with the volumetric space of said setting wheel movement (6), in such a way that: - when said setting wheel movement (6) is correctly synchronized, the path of said lever (400) does not interfere with said setting wheel movement (6); - when said setting wheel movement (6) is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory thereof interferes with said setting wheel movement (6), which said security lever (400) then drives in the direction opposite to the single direction of its normal operation, to re-synchronize said setting wheel movement (6).

Description

Clock display mechanism with quick correction

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a display mechanism for a timepiece, comprising a mechanism for rapidly correcting the position of a display mobile.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch comprising at least one such movement and / or at least one such display mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of clock display mechanisms, and more particularly including fast correction mechanisms. Background of the invention

This invention relates to watches which require a fast correction mechanism (day, month, or other) of certain functions, in particular display functions such as a calendar (annual, perpetual, day / date, or other), or moon phase, tide, AM / PM, or other indicators. A particular example of an annual calendar mechanism is described by EP1666991 B1 in the name of ETA SA.

To make a correction of the month, the user must generally make a correction by the date. In the most unfavorable cases, such manipulation can be long and tedious. It may be necessary to make a one-year correction. Similarly if the user is mistaken during the correction, the manipulation must be repeated. The execution of the correction mechanism by the date could lead to excessive use and possibly create malfunctions.

The correction mechanisms often include flip-flops, which are essential components in clockwork mechanisms, making it possible to switch a mechanism between several different modes, generally between two distinct positions. A clock rocker is often accompanied by a return spring to ensure a proper movement transmission, or a support maintained, as appropriate. During a quick correction of the display of the month, it may happen that the system becomes out of sync. The user then has no way to verify that the system is synchronized, which can cause malfunctions. Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to prevent such a desynchronization of a date mechanism, and allows the date mechanism to synchronize itself.

The present invention proposes to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, and aims to prevent any desynchronization of the mechanism.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a clock display mechanism according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such mechanism. display.

Brief description of the drawings

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

- Figure 1 shows schematically, partially and in perspective, a watch comprising a display mechanism according to the invention, in the particular application to an annual calendar mechanism;

FIG. 2 represents a detail of FIG. 1, with rapid date correction means illustrated in two different positions;

- Figure 3 shows schematically and in plan view, a watch movement comprising a date mechanism with an automatic fast correction mechanism, according to Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows, schematically, a set of cuts through the pivot axes of the main mobile; FIG. 4A shows the cooperation between a return mobile with a particular date ring, which this date mechanism comprises; FIG. 4B shows the cooperation of a safety latch peculiar to the invention with this ring and with this reference, in a position where the return is correctly synchronized; FIG. 4C shows the cooperation of a fast correction mechanism with the date ring and with the reference;

- Figure 5 shows schematically and in perspective, a detail similar to Figure 1, in a cooperative position of a security latch specific to the invention with a date ring;

- Figure 6 shows, schematically and in perspective, similar to Figure 1, the same mechanism in a current drive position of a date ring;

- Figure 7 shows schematically and in perspective, a particular date ring, specific to the invention;

FIGS. 8 to 11 show schematically, partially and in plan, the annual calendar mechanism of the preceding figures, equipped with a month disk carried by a month star, and a date indicator ring carried by the date ring, in four successive positions of passage on July 29, July 30, July 31, and August 1;

- Figure 12 is a block diagram showing a watch having a movement cooperating with a display mechanism according to the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to the field of watch mechanisms, and more particularly mechanisms for controlling and transmitting motion. It finds a preferential application for the correction and updating of display mechanisms, and more particularly for display mechanisms 500 comprising a user-controlled rapid correction mechanism 200, via control means. 17 such as a rod or the like.

Such a display mechanism 500 is conventionally driven by an automatic drive mechanism controlled by a movement 1000 that includes the timepiece 2000, in particular a watch, in which this display mechanism is integrated 500. The kinematic chain of the In normal operation, the display mechanism ensures, by a drive means 1, the periodic drive of at least one display mobile 3. Preferably, this periodic drive is carried out directly by a mobile 1C downstream of 'a gear driven by the movement 1000, preferably arranged to make a turn in twenty-four hours.

The clock display mechanisms generally comprise at least one mounted mobile idler, which is held in position by friction, or by elastic return means, such as a jumper or the like.

A rapid correction mechanism 200 generally comprises means arranged to disengage the automatic drive mechanism, and to replace, at least one mobile of the drive train of this automatic drive mechanism, at least one other mobile arranged to drive directly or indirectly at least one display mobile 3, and thus perform a modification of its position.

The invention proposes to improve such a mechanism to make it impossible to desynchronize the assembly.

According to the invention, the fast correction mechanism 200 comprises, in the immediate vicinity of the display unit 3, at least one deflection wheel 6, which pivots in normal operation in a single direction S. According to the variants, the diverting wheel 6 can fill, on different parallel floors, different functions.

At least, the return mobile ensures, on a first stage 61, the synchronization with the display mechanism 500: the angular orientation of the deflection wheel 6 relative to the automatic drive mechanism of the display mechanism is then correct .

According to the invention, the display mechanism 500 comprises, interposed between the mobile 6 and the display mobile 3, a security latch 400 also called synchronization flip-flop.

This security latch 400 is arranged to be driven by the display mobile 3 during the periodic drive of this display mobile 3, along a determined path and with an interfering travel with the volume of the mobile foot 6 The relative arrangement of the security rocker 400 and the deflection wheel 6, which are pivotally mounted about parallel axes and distinct, being such that:

when the deflection wheel 6 is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the security latch 400 does not interfere with a first deflection wheel situated at a first stage 61 of the deflection wheel 6, and the security latch 400 is arranged to pass at a distance from any other surface of the deflection wheel 6, without interfering with this diverting wheel 6;

when the deflection wheel 6 is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the security latch 400 interferes with the first mobile to return to the first stage 61 of the deflection wheel 6, and the security latch 400 is arranged to drive the mobile device 6 in the opposite direction R of the normal direction S of its normal operation, to resynchronize the return mobile 6.

In the particular and non-limiting variant illustrated by the figures, the diverting wheel 6 is arranged to ensure:

on a first stage 61, the synchronization with the automatic drive means of the display mechanism 500;

on a second stage 62, the direct or indirect drive of another display unit than the first display unit 3.

The relative arrangement of the return mobile 6 and the security latch 400 is then such that:

when the deflection wheel 6 is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the security latch 400 does not interfere with the first mobile to return to the first stage 61 of the deflection wheel 6, and the security latch 400 is arranged to pass through. above and away from a second deflecting wheel located at the second stage 62 of the deflection wheel 6, without interfering with it;

The first mobile unit for the first stage 61 and the second mobile unit for the second stage 62 are integral in rotation. In a particular embodiment, the diverting wheel 6 is in one piece.

In either case, the race of the security latch 400 is completed when the display unit 3 stops driving it. The security latch 400 is advantageously equipped with elastic return means 403, which tend to recall it permanently in a rest position, which is the position of the beginning of cooperation, to the following period, with the display mobile 3.

Preferably, the deflection wheel 6 comprises a first return wheel to the first stage 61, and a second return wheel to the second stage 62.

The first deflection wheel has teeth that are alternated with other teeth that includes the second deflection wheel. Advantageously, in planar projection, the teeth of the first deflection wheel and those of the second deflection wheel have the same profile, and some of them are aligned. More particularly, the first deflection wheel comprises half less teeth than the second return wheel, identical and aligned at one of two. As a result, the common teeth extend on a double thickness at the first stage 61 and at the second stage 62, while the teeth of the second deflection wheel which have no corresponding at the level of the first idler wheel do not extend only on the second stage 62. In the particular variant illustrated, the second deflection wheel comprises ten teeth, and the first deflection wheel comprises five.

Preferably, the security latch 400 has a blade portion 404, which extends only to the first stage. This blade 404 comprises an abutment surface 402 arranged to push the teeth of the first deflection mobile to the first stage 61 in case of desynchronization. On the opposite side with respect to a pivot axis B, flip-flop 400 preferably has a spout 401 arranged to cooperate with display unit 3, for driving safety latch 400 by the latter.

In a more particular embodiment, the deflection wheel 6 further comprises, on a third stage which does not interfere with the safety latch 400, a third gear 63. This third gear 63 is then arranged to mesh, directly or indirectly. , with another mobile display.

The invention is more particularly illustrated, in a nonlimiting manner, for the advantageous application where the display mechanism 500 is a date mechanism 300, comprising a date driving mobile 1 arranged to be controlled by a wheel of a movement. timepiece 1000 and arranged to control an annual wheel 4. At least one said mobile display 3 is a date ring, and this date mechanism 300 comprises control means arranged to drive directly or indirectly this at least A calendar ring 3. The date mechanism 300 further comprises such a date rapid correction mechanism 200, which is arranged to directly or indirectly control the pivoting of this date ring 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates a particular variant of a date ring 3 which comprises three functional teeth 33, 34, 35, arranged at different superimposed levels, here in parallel planes. In this particular variant, the fast correction mechanism 200 thus comprises such a return wheel 6 comprising, integral and arranged on parallel levels:

- On a first upper level 30, a first return wheel 61 arranged to cooperate, or with the security latch 400 which is still arranged to cooperate, at the same level, with fingers 33 that includes the date ring 3, or with a star of the months 5 pivotally mounted in free rotation on the annual wheel 4;

on a second intermediate level 31, a second return wheel

62 arranged to cooperate, at each end of the month, with a lug 35 that includes the date ring 3;

- On a lower third level 32, the date ring 3 is arranged to be driven by the date driving mobile 1; a third return wheel 63, integral and coaxial with the first deflection wheel at the first stage 61 and with the second deflection wheel at the second stage 62, is arranged to cooperate with the annual wheel 4, and a corrector 12 which comprises the rapid date correction mechanism 200 is arranged to cooperate with the second return wheel to the second stage 62 for correction of the month.

More particularly, this date mechanism 300 further comprises, at a fourth level below the third lower level 32, a correction finger 14, which comprises the rapid date correction mechanism 200, and which is arranged to cooperate with the teeth 34 located at lower level 32 of the date ring 3, for the correction of the date.

The date ring 3 can be indifferently made in a single piece or with elements juxtaposed and indexed between them.

A particular application of the invention relates to an annual calendar mechanism 300 as described by EP1666991 B1 of the same applicant. The mobile display 3 is described here, without limitation, under the form of a date ring, arranged to carry at least one date indicator ring, not shown in the figures. This date ring can be, in known manner, maintained by a jumper so as to achieve a semi-instantaneous passage.

This annual calendar mechanism 300, which can be realized in the form of a module attached to an existing movement mechanism, is arranged to be driven by a wheel 1C, for example a wheel of hours, of a movement 1000, not shown in detail in the figures, and which may be a mechanical movement as well as an electronic movement.

This annual calendar mechanism 300 thus comprises a date indicator driving wheel, which is equipped with two fingers:

- A first daily finger 1 A arranged to drive once a day, especially at midnight, a toothing with thirty-one teeth 34 inside, at a lower level 32 of a date ring 3;

a second monthly finger 1 B arranged to drive, at the end of the months of less than thirty-one days, a cam 2 disposed coaxially at an annual wheel 4

This cam 2 has, radially projecting, five secondary pins 2E which correspond to months of less than thirty-one days: February, April, June, September, November, and which are angularly distributed according to the time interval between these respective months: 60 °, 60 °, 90 °, 60 °, 90 °. The cam 2 is disengaged between these secondary pins 2E, so that the second monthly finger 12 drives the cam 2 only during the last days of these particular months, the month of February requiring manual additional correction, depending on the year In progress.

The cam 2 is integral with an annual wheel 4.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated by the figures, this annual wheel 4 comprises twenty-four teeth. It may be is intended to carry, in certain embodiments, a disc or a month indicator ring, not shown in the figures.

In a particular variant, as visible in the figures, the annual wheel 4 can support a star of the month 5, which pivots in free rotation. This star of the months 5 may be is intended to carry, in certain variants execution, a disk or a month indicator ring, not shown in the figures.

The return wheel 6 is arranged to connect, at the end of each month, the annual wheel 4 with a main pin 35 located at a second intermediate level 31 of the date ring 3.

The return wheel 6 comprises a second return wheel 62. At the end of each month, whatever its duration, this second return wheel 62 drives the main pin 35.

The return wheel 6 cooperates, by a third gear wheel 63 to a third lower level 32, with the annual wheel 4.

The deflection wheel 6 comprises, in the alignment of the first upper level 30, a first return wheel to the first stage 61, integral with the second return wheel of the second stage 62. In the variant illustrated, the first deflection wheel of the first stage 61 cooperates with the star of the months 5 mounted crazy and maintained friction.

In the illustrated variant, the first idler gear 61 and the third gear 63 each have ten equidistant teeth.

At the end of the months of less than thirty-one days, the second monthly finger 1 B of the indicator wheel drive indicator 1 drives the cam 2, and the annual wheel 4 therefore causes, on the one hand the mobile 6 and the date ring 1 by its main pin 35, and on the other hand the star of the months 5.

At the end of the thirty-one days, the succession from thirty-one to the first occurs naturally, as does the change of months.

The date ring 3 has a particular arrangement, since it comprises twenty-nine fingers 33, situated at an upper level 30 parallel to the lower level 32, where the thirty-one teeth 34 are arranged. These fingers 33 are arranged to cooperate with each other. with an external spout 401 of the security latch 400, opposite the bearing face 402 that includes this latch 400 to push the toothing of the first return wheel 61 in case of desynchronization.

The single main pin of the date ring 3 extends at least over the height of the second return wheel of the second stage 62. Thus, the days of thirty and thirty-one of the month, the system can not desynchronize because the main pin 35 is still in engagement with the diverting wheel 6. At the end of the other days of the month, when the date ring 3 moves, one of the twenty-nine fingers 33 drives the security latch 400, to ensure, if necessary, the synchronization of the system as explained above. .

Figure 7 shows the relative arrangement of the levels of the date ring. The toothing of twenty-nine fingers 33, at the upper level 30, corresponds to a set of thirty-one equidistant teeth from which two consecutive teeth would have been removed. At the second intermediate level 31, the main pin 35 is, here, positioned between the second and third fingers 33 which follow the toothless space located at the upper level 30.

The toothing located at the first upper level 30 is therefore only used to activate the synchronization, its teeth are active and drive the latch 400. While the usual drive of the date ring 3 is made by the toothing 4 with the teeth. 3, at the bottom third level 32.

Preferably, the date mechanism 300 comprises at least one fast correction mechanism 200, which comprises one or more correcting fingers 12 or 14, arranged to modify the angular position of a return wheel 6, and / or to act directly on the position of a display such as a disk or a ring carrying a date ring, month, day, year, leap year, or other. In the particular example illustrated by the figures, the fast correction mechanism 200 comprises a flip-flop 100, pivoting about a first fixed axis D1, and which bears on a second axis D2 which is parallel to the first axis D1 an output mobile which comprises at least two stages and carries at least, on two different planes, a corrector finger 14 and a corrector 12, which are arranged to modify the position of a date mobile or a date correction mobile, and a month viewer or a mobile display month display. More particularly, the correction finger 14 cooperates with the date ring 3 for the correction of the date, and the corrector 12 cooperates with the second return wheel of the second stage 62 for correction of the month.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 1000 comprising an hour wheel driving at least one such calendar mechanism 300.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 2000, in particular a watch, comprising at least one such movement 1000 and / or at least one such display mechanism and / or such a date mechanism 300. The invention provides a new security in the use of a display mechanism having a fast correction function. Indeed, the user does not have the means to check if the system is synchronized or not. The invention enables the display mechanism, particularly a date mechanism, to synchronize itself.

Naturally the example of an annual calendar explained above is not limiting, and the skilled person will be able to transpose it to other similar applications.

Claims

1. Display mechanism (500) for a timepiece (2000), comprising a mechanism for rapidly correcting (200) the position of a display unit (3), characterized in that said display mechanism ( 500) comprises at least one deflection wheel (6) synchronizing with automatic drive means, and, interposed between said deflection wheel (6) and said display unit (3), a safety latch (400 ) driven by said display unit (3) during its periodic drive, in a path interfering with the volume foot of said deflection wheel (6), so that:

when said deflection wheel (6) is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of said flip-flop (400) does not interfere with said deflection wheel (6);

when said deflection wheel (6) is not correctly synchronized, its trajectory interferes with said deflection wheel (6), that said safety latch

(400) then drives in the opposite direction of the normal direction of its normal operation, to resynchronize said returning mobile (6).

2. Display mechanism (500) according to claim 1, arranged to be driven by an automatic drive mechanism controlled by a watch movement (1000), the kinematic chain of said display mechanism (500) being arranged to performing periodic training of at least a first display unit (3), said display mechanism (500) comprising a fast correction mechanism (200) which comprises means arranged to disengage said automatic drive mechanism, and to substitute, at least one mobile of the kinematic chain of said automatic drive mechanism, at least one other mobile arranged to drive directly or indirectly at least said first display mobile (3) and perform a modification of the position of said first display unit (3), characterized in that said fast correction mechanism (200) comprises at least one deflection unit (6) arranged to ensure, on a first stage (61), the synchronization with the automatic drive means of said display mechanism (500), and in that said display mechanism (500) comprises, interposed between said deflection mobile (6) and said mobile d display (3), a security flip-flop (400) which is arranged to be driven by said display unit (3) when periodically driving said display unit (3) along a determined trajectory and with an interfering travel with the volume area of said deflection carrier (6), the relative arrangement of said safety lever (400) and said moving part. of return (6), which are pivotally mounted about parallel and distinct axes, being such that:

when said deflection wheel (6) is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of said safety latch (400) does not interfere with said first stage (61) of said deflection wheel (6) and said safety latch (400) is arranged to move away from any other surface of said deflection wheel (6) without interfering with said deflection wheel (6)

when said deflection wheel (6) is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of said safety latch (400) interferes with said first stage (61) of said deflection wheel (6), and said latch (400) is arranged to drive said moving wheel (6) in the opposite direction of its normal operation, to resynchronize said deflection wheel (6).

Display mechanism (500) according to claim 2, characterized in that said deflection wheel (6) is arranged to ensure said synchronization on said first stage (61), and, on a second stage (62), direct or indirect drive of another said mobile display that said first display mobile (3), and further characterized in that the relative arrangement of said safety flip-flop (400) and said diverting mobile (6) ) is such that:

when said deflection wheel (6) is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of said safety latch (400) does not interfere with said first stage (61) of said deflection wheel (6) and said safety latch (400) is arranged to pass over and away from the second stage (62) of said deflecting wheel (6) without interfering with it;

4. Display mechanism (500) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said safety latch (400) comprises elastic return means (403), which tend to recall it permanently in a position rest, which is the position of the beginning of cooperation, the following period, with said display mobile (3).

5. Display mechanism (500) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is a date mechanism (300) comprising a date driving mobile (1) arranged to be controlled by a wheel a watch movement (1000) and arranged to control an annual wheel (4), in that at least one said mobile display (3) is a date ring, and in that said date mechanism ( 300) comprises control means arranged to directly or indirectly drive said at least one date ring (3), and said date mechanism (300) further comprising a date fast correction mechanism (200) arranged to directly or indirectly control the pivoting of said date ring (3), characterized in that said fast correction mechanism (200) comprises a said deflecting wheel (6) comprising, integral and arranged on parallel levels:

- On a first upper level (30), a first return wheel to said first stage (61) arranged to cooperate, or with said safety latch (400) which is still arranged to cooperate at the same level with fingers ( 33) that includes said date ring (3), or with a month star (5) pivotally mounted in free rotation on said annual wheel (4);

- On a second intermediate level (31), a second return wheel to said second stage (62) arranged to cooperate, at each end of the month, with a lug (35) that includes said date ring (3) which is arranged to to be driven, at a lower level (32), by said date driving mobile (1);

- on said third lower level (32), a third return wheel (63), integral and coaxial with said first return wheel of said first stage (61) and with said second return wheel of said second stage (62), arranged to cooperating with said annual wheel (4), and at which third lower level (32) a corrective return (12) included in said rapid date correction mechanism (200) is arranged to cooperate with the second return wheel of said second stage (62). ) for the correction of the month.

6. Display mechanism (500) according to claim 5, characterized in that said date mechanism (300) further comprises, at a fourth level below said third lower level (32), a correction finger (14), that comprises said rapid date correction mechanism (200), is arranged to cooperate with the teeth (34) that includes said date ring (3) at said lower level (32), for the correction of the date.

7. Display mechanism (500) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said date ring (3) comprises, at said upper level (30), a toothing of twenty-nine fingers (33) for training of said flip-flop (400), parallel to a toothing of thirty-one teeth (34) at said lower level (32) for driving and updating said date ring (3) by a movement (1000) or by a user, and between said upper level (30) and said lower level (32), at said second intermediate level (31), a main pin (35) unique for controlling the month display change.

8. Watchmaking movement (1000) comprising an hour wheel driving at least one date mechanism (300) according to one of claims 5 to 7.

9. Timepiece (2000) or watch comprising at least one movement (1000) according to claim 8 and / or at least one date mechanism (300) according to one of claims 5 to 7.