EP3644131B1 - Control device for clock movement - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a control device, for a watch movement, comprising an input member intended to receive pulses and an output member arranged to move from a rest position to an actuation position in response to the reception of pulses. a pulse from said input member, to act on at least one clockwork mechanism, before resuming its rest position under the effect of the action of an elastic return member.

The present invention also relates to a watch movement provided with such a control device as well as a timepiece comprising such a watch movement.

State of the art

A large number of different control devices have been known for a long time in the watchmaking field.

More particularly, control devices of the type described above, that is to say comprising an output member moving from a rest position to an actuation position, in response to a predefined action, before returning in the rest position under the effect of the action of an elastic return member, are also already known.

By way of illustration, the patent US 4,674,889 issued in 1987 in the name of IWC International Watch Co. describes and illustrates a horological movement comprising a perpetual calendar display mechanism. This mechanism includes a date rocker (visible on the figure 1 of this document) rotated once a day, from a rest position to an actuation position in which it rotates a date wheel set by at least one step (more than one step at the end of the month of less than 31 days). At the same time, the date flip-flop acts on a seven-pointed star for displaying the days of the week to make it turn one step in the clockwise direction.

Since the publication of this patent, the corresponding watch movement has been modified to give rise to a marketed watch movement today under the name "Caliber 52", which can be found in particular in the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar model of the IWC International Watch Co. brand. figures 1a to 1d represent simplified front views of certain parts of this watch movement, the views of figures 1a , 1c and 1d being on the dial side while the view of the figure 1b is on the bridges side.

We recognize the 100 date rocker on the figure 1a , the latter carrying a finger 102 for actuating the date mobile 104 as well as a correction finger 106 for the end of months of less than 31 days, intended to actuate a cam 108. The date mobile actuates a wheel of the month 110 once a month, the latter being integral with a forty-eight cam 112, in accordance with the teaching of the aforementioned patent. The month wheel 110 then drives a cog train for a year display mechanism which will not be described in detail here. The figure 1b partially illustrates how the date lever 100 is driven by the watch movement and how it returns to the rest position after having actuated the date mobile 104. A calendar disc 114 carries a screw 116 engaged in an opening of the date lever 100 which is moreover pivoted on the plate along the axis of rotation 118. Thus, when the disc 114 pivots, it causes the pivoting of the date lever 100. A return spring 120 is connected, on the one hand, to the date latch 100 and, on the other hand, to the frame of the watch movement in order to ensure the return of the date latch 100 to its rest position after actuation of the date mobile 104.

It appears from the figure 1c that the calendar disc 114 has a first stop surface 122 arranged to cooperate with a conventional date finger 124 making one revolution per day and intended to actuate the calendar disc 114 once a day to act on the display mechanism of the date. Furthermore, the calendar disc 114 has a second stop surface 126 arranged to cooperate alternately with two fingers 128 of a correction mobile 130 intended to be driven in rotation by a user directly from the ring gear. winder (not visible), in order to achieve a rapid correction of the data displayed by the calendar mechanism.

Finally, the figure 1d illustrates how the training of the display of the days of the week is carried out in the Caliber 52, the latter differing from the teaching of the aforementioned US patent.

The watch movement here carries a day rocker 132 rotatably mounted on the frame and carrying a finger 134 for actuating a star 136 with seven branches for displaying the days of the week. At the same time, the day rocker 132 is also pivoted on the calendar disc 114, in such a way that it exhibits a simultaneous movement, between a rest position and an actuation position.

It emerges from the foregoing that each time the calendar disc 114 receives an impulse, either from the date finger 124 or from the correction mobile 130, it actuates both the date latch 100 and the day latch 132 .

This construction, which allows the user to correct the calendar data only by means of the winding crown, requires this data to be synchronized by the watchmaker during the assembly of the watch movement.

However, certain situations may arise in which the calendar data may become out of sync, which then requires the assistance of a qualified watchmaker.

The figure 2 illustrates such a scenario.

The date finger 124 comes into contact with the calendar disc 114 a few hours before the date jump, typically the contact can be engaged around 8 pm while the jump can be done instantaneously after midnight. It can be seen that during this time range, the calendar disc 114 begins to rotate in the clockwise direction and drives with it the date lever 100 which thereby moves away from the forty-eight cam 112. In such a configuration, if the user performs a rapid correction, via the rapid correction mobile 130, the calendar disc 114 cannot return to its rest position and the date latch 100 is therefore also retained in an intermediate position, in which it can no longer read the length of the current month on the forty-eight cam 112. At the same time, each pulse transmitted to the calendar disc 114 by the rapid correction mobile 130 causes a day of the week increment. If such a situation occurs at the end of the month, it is possible that the date and the day of the week are no longer synchronized.

Other situations can lead to loss of synchronization.

It will be noted in particular that the respective actions of the date and day rockers on the corresponding display mobiles are not entirely simultaneous. Thus, it is possible that, during a rapid correction operation, the user stops training the rapid correction mobile 130 immediately after having actuated one of the displays but before having actuated the other, which can lead to loss of synchronization.

For these reasons, it would be useful to succeed in defining a new construction of a control device making it possible to alleviate the problems which have just been mentioned.

EP 3 009 893 A1 , EP 1 426 836 A2 , US 2007/177464 A1 and DE 1 896 483 U relate to date display mechanisms comprising a mobile having first and second teeth.

Disclosure of the invention

A main aim of the present invention is to provide an alternative construction of a control device for a watch movement of the type described above, that is to say comprising an output member moving from a rest position to a position. actuation, in response to a predefined action, before returning to the rest position under the effect of the action of an elastic return member.

• que la deuxième denture agisse sur la surface de butée pour déplacer l'organe de sortie vers sa position d'actionnement, et
• que l'organe de sortie soit libre de reprendre sa position de repos après avoir atteint sa position d'actionnement.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a control device as mentioned above, characterized in that the input member comprises a crown having a first toothing, intended to receive the pulses from an actuating mobile. of the watch movement, as well as a second toothing arranged to cooperate with at least one stop surface carried by the output member, following a retractable connection, in such a way

• that the second toothing acts on the abutment surface to move the output member towards its actuating position, and
• that the output member is free to return to its rest position after having reached its actuation position.

Thanks to these characteristics, the output member can return to its rest position at any time, regardless of the state of the input member during a rapid correction for example, in particular also when the actuator mobile began to rotate the input organ.

Preferably, the output member comprises a base, in the general shape of a ring, from which extends an elastically deformable arm carrying the abutment surface, the arm having a rest position such as the surface. stopper is located within reach of the second toothing.

Advantageously, provision can be made for the device to include a member for guiding the abutment surface in order to position it out of reach of the second toothing when the output member is in its actuation position.

In general, provision can be made for one of the first and second teeth of the input member to be internal while the other is external.

Furthermore, depending on the application in relation to which the device is used, provision can be made for the first and second teeth of the input member to have the same number of teeth.

According to a preferred embodiment, provision can be made for the output member to include first and second actuating elements intended to act respectively on the first and second mechanisms of the watch movement.

In general, provision can be made for the device to include a jumper arranged to cooperate with one or the other of the first and second teeth, to ensure the angular positioning of the input member between two pulses.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising a control device according to the characteristics which have just been stated as well as an actuating body arranged to transmit pulses to the input member of the control device and that a horological mechanism comprising a mobile arranged to cooperate with the output member of the control device and present a displacement in response to the pulses received by the input member.

Furthermore, when the output member comprises a base, in the general shape of a ring, from which extends an elastically deformable arm carrying the abutment surface, the arm has a rest position such that the surface stopper is located within reach of the second toothing, and when the control device comprises a member for guiding the stop surface to position it out of reach of the second toothing when the output member is in its actuating position , provision can also be made for the guide member to include a block integral with the frame and having a guide surface arranged to cooperate with the arm, when the output member moves towards its actuation position, to move the surface away from stop of the second toothing.

According to an advantageous variant embodiment, provision can be made for the guide member to include an additional block integral with the frame and arranged to keep the abutment surface within reach of the second toothing as long as the output member is in its rest position. or moves to its actuation position.

In general, provision can be made for the input and output members to be coaxial and possibly for their diameters to be such, with reference to the diameter of the watch movement, that they are arranged substantially at the periphery of the watch movement.

According to a preferred embodiment, provision can be made for the watch movement to include a corrective mobile arranged to act on the input member, in response to an appropriate action from a user, and to actuate the watch mechanism, on demand. , through the output device.

In this case, the corrective mobile can advantageously comprise at least one tooth, preferably several teeth, arranged within reach of the first teeth of the input member to rotate the latter in response to the appropriate action of the user.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating mobile comprises a date actuating finger driven to transmit a pulse per day to the input member, the horological mechanism actuated by the output member being a date display mechanism, preferably annual, even more preferably perpetual or secular, comprising a date lever driven in rotation by the 'output member to act on a date display mobile and move it forward by at least one step per pulse received by the input member.

In this case, the output member can also be arranged to cooperate with a day latch and rotate it once per pulse received by the input member, said day latch being arranged to advance by one step. a mobile for displaying the days each time it rotates.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a watch movement.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1a à 1d représentent des vues de face simplifiées de parties d'un mouvement horloger selon l'état de la technique, les figures 1a, 1c et 1d illustrant le côté cadran du mouvement horloger et la figure 1b illustrant son côté ponts;
• la figure 2 représente une vue de face simplifiée, côté cadran, du mouvement horloger des figures 1a à 1d, selon l'état de la technique, et
• la figure 3 représente une vue de face simplifiée, côté cadran, d'un mouvement horloger selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention.

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

• the figures 1a to 1d represent simplified front views of parts of a watch movement according to the state of the art, the figures 1a , 1c and 1d illustrating the dial side of the watch movement and the figure 1b illustrating its bridges side;
• the figure 2 represents a simplified front view, on the dial side, of the watch movement of the figures 1a to 1d , according to the state of the art, and
• the figure 3 shows a simplified front view, on the dial side, of a watch movement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Mode (s) for carrying out the invention

The figure 3 shows a simplified front view, on the dial side, of a watch movement 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The watch movement 1 will not be described in detail, in particular for its part which concerns the counting of the information displayed by the calendar mechanism, given that its construction and its operation are very close to those already described previously in relationship with Caliber 52, apart from the control device which is precisely the subject of the present invention.

Thus, the calendar disk described above is replaced here by several components.

The watch movement 1 comprises a control device arranged, just like in Caliber 52, to transmit pulses both from a date finger 124 and from a rapid correction mobile 130 to a date display mechanism and to a date display mechanism. display of the days of the week.

To this end, the control device comprises an input member 2 arranged to cooperate directly both with the date finger 124 and with the rapid correction wheel 130. The input member 2 here has the shape of a a crown comprising a first internal toothing 4, arranged within reach of the date finger 124 and of the fingers 128 of the rapid correction mobile 130. The pitch of the first toothing 4 is advantageously chosen to correspond substantially to that of the rapid correction mobile 130 .

The input member 2, still driven in the clockwise direction of rotation in the view of the figure 3 , is also provided with a second toothing 6, external, intended to cooperate with an output member 8 to control the movements of the display mechanisms of the date and the days of the week. The output member 8 therefore here carries two actuating elements, each of which is associated with one of the clock mechanisms to be controlled (the screw 116 and a finger cooperating with the day rocker 132).

The output member 8 comprises a base 10 having the general shape of a ring from which extends an arm 12, elastically deformable, carrying a stop surface 14. The arm 12 has a shape at rest such that the stop surface 14 is located within reach of the second toothing 6 of the input member 2. Thus, when the input member 2 receives an impulse, either from the date finger 124 or from the rapid correction wheel 130, it is driven to turn one step clockwise. One of the teeth of its second set of teeth 6 then comes into contact with the abutment surface 14 of the output member 8 and drives the latter in rotation from a first position, of rest, to a second position, of actuation.

It is recalled at this stage that the output member 8 cooperates with a date latch (not shown on the figure). figure 3 ) which is itself subjected to the action of a return spring. Therefore, when the input member 2 moves the output member 8 to its actuating position, in which the date latch acts on the date wheel set and the day latch acts on the star days, provision should be made for the connection between the input 2 and output 8 members to be retractable to allow the output member 8 to return to its rest position under the effect of the action of the spring. reminder of the date rocker.

This connection between the input 2 and output 8 members can be made retractable in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention. According to the present preferred embodiment, by way of illustration and without limitation, the connection is retractable mainly thanks to the elastic properties of the arm 12.

The control device further comprises a member for guiding the stop surface 14 to position it out of reach of the second toothing 6 when the output member 8 arrives in its actuating position. This guide member comprises a block 16 integral with the frame of the watch movement and having a guide surface 18 arranged to cooperate with the arm 12, more precisely with an inclined plane 20 adjacent to the stop surface 14, when the output member 8 moves towards its actuation position, to move the abutment surface 14 away from the second toothing 6.

In addition, the guide member comprises an additional block 22 integral with the frame and arranged to keep the abutment surface 14 within reach of the second toothing 6 as long as the output member 8 is in its rest position or is moving towards its actuation position. It will be noted that the screw 116, which can be an alternative pin, can optionally play the role of an end stop by cooperating with a suitable surface of the frame.

The blocks 16 and 22 can advantageously be machined in a single part then assembled to the frame of the watch movement.

With reference to the foregoing description of the state of the art, it emerges from figure 3 that the risks of loss of synchronization mentioned above are greatly reduced by virtue of the construction of the control device according to the present invention. Indeed, it appears from the figure 3 that, even though the date finger 124 or a finger 128 of the rapid correction wheel 130 is in contact with the input member 2, the output member 8 can return to its rest position. In addition, better simultaneity can be obtained in the actuation of the date and day of the week display mechanisms than with the construction of the state of the art.

Thus, it is no longer even necessary for the user to pay attention to the time at which he wishes to correct the data displayed by the calendar mechanism according to the present invention.

It will be noted that a jumper 26 also cooperates with the first toothing 4 of the input member 2 to ensure its angular positioning with reference to the frame of the watch movement, in a conventional manner. However, the free end of the jumper 26 here has a particular shape defining a stop 28 preventing a return to the rear of the input member 2 once a jump has been initiated. Thus, the risk of correcting one of the data among the date and the days of the week without correcting the other data is essentially eliminated with reference to the risk associated with the construction of the state of the art.

Thanks to the characteristics which have just been described, it is possible to achieve a control device construction that is simple to produce and to assemble and which exhibits increased operating reliability with reference to existing constructions.

The foregoing description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of nonlimiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, such as for example the nature of the mechanism described and illustrated to demonstrate the particular characteristics of the invention, to know a timing mechanism. Indeed, the control device according to the invention can be implemented in connection with other suitable watch mechanisms without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such watch mechanisms can be integrated into the watch movement or they can be part of a module adapted to a base movement. Likewise, the fact that the calendar mechanism presented here is perpetual is only illustrative and not limiting.

Thus, although the construction of the watch mechanisms with which the control device according to the present invention cooperates is particularly advantageous from the point of view of the implementation of the invention, such as for example the construction of the date lever, the present invention can be implemented in relation to different constructions.

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 a control device that meets the characteristics of the present invention, in particular comprising input and output members including the input member is driven in a predefined direction of rotation by a moving part for actuating the watch movement while the output member is driven by the input member by means of a retractable link to perform backward movements -returns.

As already mentioned above, other solutions could be implemented to give its retractable character to the connection made between the input and output members, such as for example providing flexible teeth, without departing from the scope of the invention. .

Similarly, the shapes illustrated for the various components of the control device are illustrative and not limiting. Thus, for example a person skilled in the art will be able to modify the shape of the elastic arm of the output member according to his own needs and without departing from the scope of the invention.

Likewise, those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the shapes, numbers and locations of the teeth according to their own needs, without departing from the scope of the invention. The two teeth of the input device must not not necessarily have the same number of teeth for the control device to operate correctly. It is thus possible to integrate a reduction or a multiplication in the control device, by varying the number of teeth of the two toothings. It will also be noted that the second toothing of the input member could only have a single tooth without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, provision could be made for the output member to have two or more elastic arms without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. Control device, for a clockwork movement (1), comprising an input member (2) that is intended to receive impulses and an output member (8) that is arranged so as to move from a rest position to an actuation position in response to said input member (2) receiving an impulse, so as to act on at least one clockwork mechanism (100, 132) before returning to its rest position under the action of an elastic return member (120),

   characterized in that said input member (2) comprises a ring gear having a first toothing (4) that is intended to receive said impulses from an actuation wheel (124) of the clockwork movement (1), and a second toothing (6) that is arranged to cooperate with at least one abutment surface (14) borne by said output member (8), by means of a retractable connection, in such a way

   that said second toothing (6) acts on said abutment surface (14) so as to move said output member (8) towards its actuation position, and

   that said output member (8) is free to return to its rest position after reaching its actuation position.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said output member (8) comprises a base (10), in the general shape of a ring, from which there extends an elastically deformable arm (12) bearing said abutment surface (14), said arm (12) having a rest position such that said abutment surface (14) is located within range of said second toothing (6).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a member for guiding said abutment surface (14) in order to position it out of range of said second toothing (6) when said output member (8) is in its actuation position.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of said first and second toothings (4, 6) of said input member (2) is internal whereas the other is external.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second toothings (4, 6) of said input member (2) have an equal number of teeth.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said output member (8) comprises first and second actuation elements that are intended to act respectively on first and second mechanisms (100, 132) of the clockwork movement (1).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a jumper (26) that is arranged to cooperate with one or other of said first and second toothings (4, 6) in order to set the angular position of said input member (2) between two impulses.
8. Clockwork movement (1) comprising a frame bearing a control device according to one of Claims 1 to 7 and an actuation wheel (124) that is arranged to transmit impulses to the input member (2) of said control device, said at least one clockwork mechanism comprising a wheel (100) arranged to cooperate with the output member (8) of said control device and move in response to the impulses received by said input member (2).
9. Clockwork movement (1) according to Claim 8, said output member (8) comprising a base (10), in the general shape of a ring, from which there extends an elastically deformable arm (12) bearing said abutment surface (14), said arm (12) having a rest position such that said abutment surface (14) is located within range of said second toothing (6), said control device comprising a member for guiding said abutment surface (14) in order to position it out of range of said second toothing (6) when said output member (8) is in its actuation position,
   characterized in that said guiding member comprises a block (16) that is as one with the frame and that has a guiding surface (18) arranged to cooperate with said arm (12), when said output member (8) moves towards its actuation position, so as to move said abutment surface (14) away from said second toothing (6) .
10. Clockwork movement (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that said guiding member comprises an additional block (22) that is as one with said frame and is arranged to keep said abutment surface (14) within range of said second toothing (6) while said output member (8) is in its rest position or is moving towards its actuation position.
11. Clockwork movement (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said input and output members (2, 8) are coaxial.
12. Clockwork movement (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the diameters of said input and output members (2, 8) are such, with respect to the diameter of the clockwork movement (1), that said input and output members (2, 8) are arranged substantially at the periphery of the clockwork movement (1).
13. Clockwork movement (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a correction wheel (130) that is arranged so as to act on said input member (2), in response to a suitable action by a user, and actuate said at least one clockwork mechanism, on demand, via said output member (8).
14. Clockwork movement (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that said correction wheel (130) comprises at least one tooth (128), preferably multiple teeth, arranged within range of said first toothing (4) of said input member (2) so as to turn the latter in response to said suitable action by the user.
15. Clockwork movement (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 14, characterized in that said actuation wheel comprises a date actuation finger (124) that is driven so as to transmit one impulse per day to the said input member (2), said at least one clockwork mechanism actuated by said output member (8) being a date display mechanism, which is preferably annual, more preferably still perpetual or secular, comprising a date rocker (100) that is driven in rotation by said output member (8) so as to act on a date display wheel (104) and cause the latter to advance by at least one step per impulse received by said input member (2).
16. Clockwork movement (1) according to Claim 15, characterized in that said output member (8) is also arranged so as to cooperate with a day rocker (132) and cause the latter to pivot once per impulse received by said input member (2), said day rocker (132) being arranged to cause a day display wheel (136) to advance by one step each time it pivots.
17. Timepiece comprising a clockwork movement (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 16.

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