EP3608729B1 - Clock calendar device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a watch calendar device. It also concerns a watch movement comprising such a watch calendar device. Finally, it concerns a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprising such a watch calendar device or such a movement.

We know, for example, the movement referenced Rolex 3255, which includes a calendar device designed to display an indication of the dates, as well as an indication of the days of the week. A day indicator is placed on the outer periphery of a date indicator, so as to provide a written indication of the days. Such an arrangement requires a superposition of the day and date indicators on two separate planes. To do this, the disc bearing the day indications is provided with windows within which the date indication may appear. Such a solution provides excellent reading comfort, but a slight axial shift of the day and date indications can be observed.

We also know the movement referenced ETA 2836 which also includes a calendar device designed to display an indication of the dates, as well as an indication of the days of the week. The date and day indicators are arranged on a single plane. Such an arrangement is nevertheless made possible by the fact that the day indicator is placed on the inner periphery of the date indicator. Such a solution is not optimal insofar as it does not make it possible to provide an indication of the days in full due to the too small surface area of the days indicator, which explains the fact that the indication days is abbreviated here. By Elsewhere, the day indication is split, which can make adjusting the day indication not very ergonomic. Another device for displaying days and weeks is also disclosed in the documents WO2014033510A1 And EP2447789A1 .

The aim of the invention is to provide a calendar device making it possible to improve the calendar devices known from the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a calendar device whose reading of the day indications in full letters and the dates is easy and whose display quality perceived by the user is improved.

A calendar device according to the invention is defined by claim 1.

Different embodiments of the calendar device are defined by dependent claims 2 to 12.

A watch movement according to the invention is defined by claim 13.

A timepiece according to the invention is defined by claim 14.

The appended figures represent, by way of example, an embodiment of a timepiece.

There figure 1 is a view of one embodiment of a timepiece.

There figure 2 is a view of one embodiment of the calendar, the date disc being removed.

There Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of the calendar embodiment.

There Figure 4 is a detailed view of a calendar correction device.

There figure 5 is a detailed view of a calendar drive device.

There Figure 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a days disc.

There figure 7 is a view of the embodiment of the calendar with a dial.

One embodiment of a timepiece 300 is described below with reference to the figures 1 to 7 . The timepiece is for example a watch or a wristwatch. The timepiece comprises a watch movement, for example an electronic or mechanical movement 200, in particular an automatic watch movement. The timepiece may also include a watch assembly, in particular a watch case intended to contain the movement.

• un premier disque d'affichage des quantièmes 1 muni d'une première face 11 portant des indications de quantièmes 10 et mobile autour d'un axe A, et
• un deuxième disque d'affichage des jours 2 muni d'une deuxième face 21 portant des indications des jours 20 et mobile autour de l'axe A.

The watch movement includes a calendar device 100. The watch calendar device includes:

• a first date display disc 1 provided with a first face 11 carrying date indications 10 and movable around an axis A, and
• a second day display disc 2 provided with a second face 21 carrying indications of days 20 and movable around axis A.

The first and second disks are arranged so that the first and second faces are coplanar. In other words, the indicators or date indications and the indicators or day indications are in the same plane or substantially in the same plane. The first and second disks are also configured such that the second side is arranged around the first side and outside the first side. In other words, the first face comprises at least one first disc ring and the second face comprises at least one second disc ring surrounding the first disc ring, outside of this first ring.

By “coplanar faces”, we mean that the distance between the two faces or the distance of two planes passing through the two faces, measured along the axis A, is less than or equal to 80 µm, or even less than or equal to 60 µm, or even less than or equal to 40 µm.

The calendar device comprises at least one first indicator 10 of the dates which is arranged on the first disk 1. The at least one first indicator preferably comprises 31 first indications. These indications are for example numbers, in particular 1 to 31, and are preferably arranged at regular angular intervals on the first disk around the axis A. The at least one first indicator is advantageously arranged on the first face of the first disk . The at least one first indicator can be engraved and/or pad printed on the first disk.

The calendar device comprises at least one second day indicator 20 which is arranged on the second disk 2. The at least one second indicator preferably comprises 7 indications. These second indications are for example strings of characters, in particular alphanumeric strings of characters, in particular alphabetic strings of characters, in particular the names of the days of the week in one language or another, for example in French, in English, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese. These second indications are preferably arranged at regular angular intervals on the second disk around the axis A. The at least one second indicator is advantageously arranged on the second face of the second disk. The at least one second indicator can be engraved and/or pad printed on the second disk.

The first disk 1 comprises a first internal toothing 1a comprising 31 teeth. The first disk is angularly indexed by a nose 7a of a first jumper 7. This first jumper preferably cooperates with the first toothing 1a to ensure the indexing of said disk. Every 24 hours, one of the teeth of the teeth 1a is intended to be actuated by a first finger 3a of a mobile 3 calendar driver, so as to allow driving of the first disk 1 of the dates, and thus allow a updating of the date indication.

The mobile 3 calendar trainer is also provided to operate a mobile 4 of the days, which is kinematically linked to the second disk 2 of the days. More particularly, the mobile 4 of the days comprises a first wheel 40 provided with external teeth 40a comprising 7 teeth. The day mobile is angularly indexed by a beak 8a of a second jumper 8. Every 24 hours, one of the teeth of the teeth 40a is provided to be actuated by a second finger 3b of the mobile 3 calendar driver, of so as to allow disk 2 of the days to be driven, and thus allow the indication of the days to be updated. To do this, the mobile 4 of the days comprises a second wheel 41 integral in rotation with the first wheel 40, which drives the disk of the days 2 by means of an intermediate mobile 5 as shown in the figure 2 . This intermediate mobile 5 comprises a pinion 50 provided with teeth 50a intended to be meshed with the teeth 41a of the second wheel 41, as well as a wheel 51 provided with teeth 51a intended to drive teeth 2a of the day disc 2.

Thus, the disc of days 2 is separated from the mobile of days 4 in order to establish a kinematic connection between these two elements. Such a design has the advantage of moving the second day indicator to the outer periphery of the first date indicator, while placing the second day indicator at the same level as that of the first date indicator. Thus, the second day indicator 20 is arranged on the second day disc 2 which has the specificity of being actuated by a kinematic chain 4, 5 interposed between the calendar drive mobile 3 and the day disc 2.

Advantageously, the modules of the teeth 41a, 50a, 51a, 2a are defined so as to minimize as much as possible the angular play between the mobile 4 of the days and the disc 2 of the days. To do this, the modules m1 of the teeth 41a, 50a and m2 of the teeth 2a, 51a are less than 0.5, or even less than 0.3, or even less than 0.2. More particularly, the modules m1 and m2 can be between 0.07 and 0.2. As a corollary, the number z2 of teeth of the teeth 2a is preferably between 30 teeth and 240 teeth, in particular between 80 teeth and 150 teeth.

In the embodiment shown, the toothing 2a has a modulus m2 of 0.15 and includes 112 teeth.

Additionally, the angular play between the mobile 4 and the disk 2 can also be minimized by means of a mobile 4 and/or a mobile 5 and/or a disk 2 in the form of a game catch-up mobile such as that which is for example the subject of the patent application EP1555584A1 . More particularly, the teeth 40a, 41a, 51a, 2a may be entirely or partially equipped with elastic teeth to take up play.

Preferably, the second toothing 2a of the day disc 2 is an internal toothing. Such a solution makes it possible to simplify as best as possible the kinematic chain interposed between the driving mobile 3 and the disk 2, while minimizing the total diameter of the calendar mechanism.

Disc 2 of the days advantageously presents a stepped conformation on two distinct levels. The day indicator 20 is arranged on the second face 21 passing through a first plane P1, while the teeth 2a come from the material of a board 2b whose upper surface extends along a second plane P2, parallel to the first plan P1. The distance between the first and second planes is equal or substantially equal to the thickness of the first disk (measured parallel to axis A). Preferably, the distance between the first and second planes is between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm, or even between 0.15 mm and 0.25 mm. Thus, the second disk has a section (along a plane passing through axis A) in L or substantially in L.

The first disk of dates 1 is preferably planar. Thus, the first disk has a rectangular or substantially rectangular section (along a plane passing through axis A).

The first date disc 1 is configured to be arranged between the board 2b of the second day disc 2 and a calendar bridge 91, so that the first face 11 carrying the at least one date indicator 10 is arranged on the same plan P1 than that of the second face 21 carrying the at least one indicator 20 of the days.

There Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the calendar device 100 along a plane passing through axis A. The axial movement (along axis A) of the first date disc 1 is advantageously defined by the calendar bridge 91 and a circle 90 calendar, in particular a first span 90a of the calendar bridge. The axial movement (along axis A) of the second disk of days 2 is, for its part, defined by calendar keys 92 arranged on calendar circle 90, as well as by a second range 90b of calendar circle 90 . The axial movement of the date disk can thus be defined independently of the axial movement of the day disk, and vice versa. Of course, any other element can be considered to participate in the definition of the respective axial movement of the date and day discs. For example, the calendar bridge 91 can be replaced by calendar keys, or by the dial of the timepiece incorporating the calendar mechanism. In the same way, the calendar keys 92 can be replaced by a calendar bridge, or by the dial of the timepiece integrating the calendar mechanism.

Preferably, as shown in the Figure 4 , the second toothing 2a of the days disc 2 has a head diameter d2 strictly greater than the head diameter d1 of the teeth 1a of the date disk 1. Such a dimensioning makes it possible, in fact, to implement a mechanism 39 for rapid correction of the calendar such as that represented on the Figure 4 . This mechanism 39 for rapid calendar correction comprises a correction mobile 30 arranged at least essentially within the perimeter defined by the diameter d1. The correction mobile may include in particular a star 31 intersecting the plane P2, but which is intended to directly actuate the teeth 1a of the disk 1 without risk of interfering with the teeth 2a of the disk 2. To do this, the base diameter of the first toothing 1a is preferably less than the head diameter d2 of the second toothing.

Preferably, d2 > d1, or d2 > 1.1×d1. In the embodiment shown, d2 is equal to or substantially equal to 1.2×d1.

Preferably again, the correction mobile 30 also includes a wheel 32 designed to actuate the teeth 2a of the disc 2 via the mobile 4 of the days. More particularly, the wheel 32 can be provided to engage with a mobile 33 meshing with the wheel 41 which is kinematically linked to the second disk 2.

• une étoile 31 agencée de sorte à actionner directement la première denture 1a du premier disque 1, et
• une roue 32 agencée de sorte à actionner le deuxième disque 2 par le biais de la chaîne cinématique 4, 5.

Thus, the correction mobile 30 can include:

• a star 31 arranged so as to directly actuate the first toothing 1a of the first disk 1, and
• a wheel 32 arranged so as to actuate the second disk 2 via the kinematic chain 4, 5.

• actionner le premier disque 1 des quantièmes lorsqu'une tige de correction est actionnée selon un premier sens de rotation, et
• actionner le deuxième disque 2 des jours lorsque la tige de correction est actionnée selon un deuxième sens de rotation, opposé au premier sens.

According to a particular mode of operation of the correction mechanism 39, the mobile 30 can be arranged to:

• actuate the first disc 1 of the dates when a correction rod is actuated in a first direction of rotation, and
• actuate the second disc 2 of the days when the correction rod is actuated in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction.

To do this, the mobile 30 can be moved in the plane of the calendar mechanism, that is to say along the plane P1 or along a plane parallel to the plane P1, by means known from the prior art, in particular using means described in the application EP2701014A1 .

Preferably, the mobile 3 calendar trainer is an instant trainer mobile as shown in the figure 5 . Finger 3a, no visible on the figure 5 , can be integral with a calendar cam 3c cooperating with a 3d elastic rocker, such as that disclosed in the application WO2013102600 , so that this finger can instantly drive, with an angular step, the first disk 1 of the dates. In the same way, the finger 3b can also be integral with the calendar cam 3c so that this finger can instantly drive, with an angular step, the disc 2 of the days.

Furthermore, the energy consumption of the mobile 3 can be minimized by minimizing the respective inertia of the first and second disks 1, 2. To do this, the disk 2 may in particular include blind openings 2c and/or through openings 2d in the board 2b and/or under face 21.

Preferably, the at least one day indicator 20 comprises indications of the days shaped or presented in an arc.

Preferably, the day indications are configured to appear within a window 62 or an aperture of a dial 6 of the timepiece, which also has an arcuate geometry. Preferably again, this window 62 is placed at “noon” or “12 o’clock” on the dial.

Preferably, the date indications are configured to appear within a window 61 or an aperture of the dial 6. Still preferably, this window 61 is arranged at “3 o'clock” on the dial.

As a note, the directions of rotation of the first and second date and day discs are identical around axis A in normal operation of the timepiece, that is to say during date changes at midnight, unlike those known from the prior art. This direction is also identical during the correction phases with the correction mechanism described previously. Preferably, the fingers 3a and 3b of the mobile 3 are elastic so as to allow correction of the calendar at all times.

In this document, a watch calendar is thus proposed equipped with at least a first date indicator arranged on the same plane P1 or substantially on the same plane P1 as that of at least a second day indicator. This makes it possible to optimize the display quality perceived by the user. The second day indicator is arranged on the outer periphery of the first date indicator, so as to provide a written indication of the day indication. This optimizes the readability of the information displayed.

Claims (14)

1. A timepiece calendar device (100) including:

   - a first disk (1) for displaying dates, the first disk having a first face (11) bearing date indications (10) and being mobile about an axis (A), and

   - a second disk (2) for displaying days, the second disk having a second face (21) bearing day indications (20) and being mobile about the axis (A),

   the first and second disks being such that the first and second faces are coplanar, the second face being disposed around the first face, the device including a calendar driver mobile (3) including a first finger (3a) for driving a first set of teeth (1a) of the first disk and a second finger (3b) for driving a second set of teeth (2a) of the second disk.
2. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the first driving finger (3a) is a first driving finger (3a) for driving directly through contact the first set of teeth (1a) of the first disk and the second driving finger (3b) is a second driving finger (3b) for driving via a kinematic chain (4, 5) the second set of teeth (2a) of the second disk.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second set of teeth (2a) is an interior set of teeth and the first set of teeth (1a) is an interior set of teeth, the second set of teeth having a tip diameter d2 greater than the tip diameter d1 of the first set of teeth (1a), in particular $$\mathrm{d}2>1.1\times \mathrm{d1}\mathrm{or}\mathrm{d2}=1.2\times \mathrm{d1}\mathrm{.}$$

   
4. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the second disk has a shape staggered across two distinct levels, day indications being disposed in a first plane (P1), and the second set of teeth (2a) is integrally formed with a plate (2b) an upper surface of which lies in a second plane (P2) parallel to the first plane.
5. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the distance between the first and second planes is equal or substantial equal to the thickness of the first disk, in particular the distance between the first and second planes being in the range [0.1 mm; 0.3 mm] or in the range [0.15 mm; 0.25 mm].
6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the kinematic chain includes a day mobile (4) and an intermediate mobile (5) meshing with one another, the intermediate mobile meshing with the second set of teeth (2a) of the second disk.
7. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the modulus of the teeth procuring meshing of the day mobile and the intermediate mobile is configured so as to minimize the angular play between the day mobile and the intermediate mobile, in particular is less than or equal to 0.5 or is less than or equal to 0.3 or is less than or equal to 0.2 or is in the range [0.07; 0,2], and/or the modulus of the set of teeth through which the intermediate mobile and the second disk mesh is configured so as to minimize the angular play between the intermediate mobile and the second disk, in particular is less than or equal to 0.5 or is less than or equal to 0.3 or is less than or equal to 0.2 or is in the range [0.07; 0.2].
8. The device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the day mobile and/or the intermediate mobile is/are of the play compensation type and/or at least one of the sets of teeth through which the intermediate mobile and the second disk mesh is of the play compensation type, in particular with elastic teeth, and/or at least one of the sets of teeth through which the day mobile and the intermediate mobile mesh is of the play compensation type, in particular with elastic teeth.
9. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first disk is indexed in position by a first jumper (7), in particular a first jumper cooperating with the first set of teeth of the first disk, and/or wherein the second disk is indexed in position by a second jumper (8), in particular a second jumper cooperating with a day mobile kinematically connected to the second disk.
10. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a calendar bridge (91) and a calendar circle (90) and wherein an axial shake of the first disk is defined by the calendar bridge (91) and the calendar circle (90), in particular by a first bearing surface (90a) of the calendar bridge, and/or an axial shake of the second disk (2) is defined by calendar keys (92) disposed on the calendar circle (90) and by a second bearing surface (90b) of the calendar circle (90).
11. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a correction mechanism (39) including a mobile (30) adapted:

    - to actuate the first date disk (1) when a correction stem of a timepiece movement or timepiece is actuated in a first rotation direction, and

    - to actuate the second day disk (2) when the correction stem of timepiece movement or timepiece is actuated in a second rotation direction.
12. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the mobile (30) includes:

    - a star (31) adapted to actuate directly the first set of teeth (1a) of the first disk (1), and

    - a wheel (32) adapted to actuate the second disk (2) via a kinematic chain (4, 5).
13. A timepiece movement (200) including a calendar device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
14. A timepiece (300), in particular a wristwatch, including a timepiece movement (200) as claimed in the preceding claim and/or a calendar device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

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