EP3811159B1 - Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism - Google Patents

Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3811159B1
EP3811159B1 EP19744847.5A EP19744847A EP3811159B1 EP 3811159 B1 EP3811159 B1 EP 3811159B1 EP 19744847 A EP19744847 A EP 19744847A EP 3811159 B1 EP3811159 B1 EP 3811159B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
alarm mechanism
lever arm
barrel
mainspring
striking
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP19744847.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3811159A2 (en
Inventor
Pascal HUMAIR
Julien Giacobino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Patek Philippe SA Geneve
Original Assignee
Patek Philippe SA Geneve
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Patek Philippe SA Geneve filed Critical Patek Philippe SA Geneve
Publication of EP3811159A2 publication Critical patent/EP3811159A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3811159B1 publication Critical patent/EP3811159B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
    • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
    • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
    • G04B23/021—Controls (winding up the alarm; adjusting and indicating the waking time)
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
    • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
    • G04B23/12—Alarm watches to be worn in pockets or on the wrist

Definitions

  • the invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an alarm mechanism.
  • the patent document EP 1 933 212 proposes to remedy the above problem by providing a timepiece comprising a striking mechanism and an isolation lever arranged to prevent any winding operation of the barrel during the striking.
  • a disadvantage of this previous solution is that the isolation lever does not prevent the strike from being triggered when the control rod of the strike winder is already kinematically connected to the rotary input/output member of the barrel. However, in such a case, the ringing cannot proceed normally. It may even block completely.
  • An aim of the present invention is to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art which have just been explained.
  • the present invention achieves this and other goals by providing a wake-up mechanism according to appended claim 1.
  • the alarm mechanism comprises means for keeping the kinematic connection between the control rod and the rotary input/output member of the barrel disengaged when the alarm mechanism is in the activated state.
  • the ringing mechanism is arranged not to trigger at the pre-programmed time when the alarm mechanism is in the deactivated state.
  • the alarm mechanism comprises an automatic device arranged to stop the ringing and to deactivate the alarm mechanism, when the driving of the ringing mechanism causes the disarming of the mainspring until the below a first predefined threshold value.
  • the wake-up mechanism comprises an insulator arranged to neutralize the activation function of the wake-up mechanism by the manually controlled mechanism, when the degree of winding of the mainspring is less than one second predefined threshold value, the second threshold value being higher than the first threshold value.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view on the dial side of an alarm watch conforming to a particular embodiment of the invention.
  • the alarm watch shown will now be described by limiting itself to the essential aspects of the invention and leaving aside a large number of details which do not directly concern the invention.
  • the watch of the figure 1 has a winding crown (referenced 11) which protrudes from the middle of the watch approximately at 4 o'clock.
  • the crown 11 is arranged so as to allow the striking barrel to be reassembled by rotating it, in the pushed back position, in a clockwise direction. In the pulled out position, the winding crown 11 also allows the alarm time to be corrected.
  • the alarm time is displayed, in digital form, in two windows (referenced 3 and 5) which are arranged side by side in the dial at 12 o'clock.
  • the alarm clock shown in the figure 1 still includes a pusher (referenced 13) which protrudes from the caseband approximately at 2 o'clock.
  • This pusher is intended to allow manual operation of a mechanism arranged to alternately activate and deactivate the alarm mechanism of the watch.
  • This manually operated mechanism further preferably comprises an activation indicator member which is provided to indicate whether the wake-up mechanism is in the “activated” state or in the “deactivated” state.
  • an indicator member of this type is arranged to appear in a third small window of the dial (referenced 7). Window 7 is located at 12 o'clock between the first two windows 3 and 5 and the hour circle.
  • the alarm mechanism comprises a ringing mechanism (not shown) and a mainspring 15 ( Figure 2A ) arranged to disarm by driving the bell mechanism following triggering of the latter.
  • the mainspring 15 which is exclusively dedicated to actuating the bell is arranged in a barrel 14 which also includes a rotary input/output member.
  • the mainspring 15 drives the striking mechanism via the rotary input/output member and a gear train.
  • the rotary input/output member is constituted by a barrel shaft 79 which is secured to one of the ends of the mainspring and by a toothed wheel 17, the toothed wheel being rigidly fixed on the barrel shaft.
  • the barrel 14 also drives an inertia brake (not shown) which is designed to regulate its unwinding and therefore the frequency of the “ringing” shots.
  • the cog that connects the barrel to the inertia brake is called the “small cog”. This type of arrangement is known as such. It will therefore not be described further in the present description which deliberately leaves aside a large number of details which can be taken from the state of the art and which do not directly concern the invention.
  • ringing mechanisms in particular, a relevant description can be found for example in the book “Clockmaking theory” (pages 222-224 ).
  • the striking barrel 14 of the alarm mechanism which is the subject of this description is equipped with a stop.
  • the stops are devices which are known to those skilled in the art as such.
  • the stop serves on the one hand to limit the number of winding revolutions of the barrel during winding, and on the other hand it serves to prevent the mainspring from completely disarming.
  • FIG 2B is a schematic diagram of the operation of stopping the wake-up mechanism of this example.
  • the operating principle of the stop shown is similar to that of a traditional Maltese cross stop.
  • the illustrated stop has the particularity of being spread over two levels.
  • the two-level layout has the advantage of saving space in width.
  • FIG. 2B shows a portion of disc 81 and a finger 83 which are both fixed on the barrel shaft (not shown in the Figure 2B , but visible and referenced 79 in the Figure 2A ).
  • FIG. 2B also shows a partially toothed mobile 85 on two levels which is pivoted on a fixed shaft mounted on a bridge (not shown) near the barrel.
  • the first level of the mobile 85 is constituted by a partial star 87 which is arranged to cooperate with the finger 83
  • the second level is constituted by a cam 89 arranged to cooperate with the disc portion 81.
  • the cam 89 comprises a circular portion 91 and two concave portions 93a and 93b.
  • the direction in which it is necessary to rotate the shaft 79 to wind the barrel is the clockwise direction, and therefore conversely, the barrel is decocked by rotating the barrel shaft in the counterclockwise direction.
  • the angular position of the stopping mobile 85 in the Figures 2A and 2B corresponds to the situation where the mainspring 15 is fully armed.
  • the stop blocks the rotation of the barrel shaft in the clockwise direction by bracing the rectilinear side of the disc portion 81 against the cam 89 at the level of the end of the circular portion 91 which adjoins the concave portion 93a.
  • the barrel is however free to disarm by driving the shaft 79 in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the mainspring 15 disarms by driving the barrel shaft, it rotates the finger 83, so that the latter advances the star 87 by one step at each revolution.
  • the stopping mobile 85 has pivoted by 60°, the mainspring 15 having made the barrel shaft 79 complete two complete revolutions in disarming, the latter is blocked again due, this time, to the buttress of the rectilinear side of the disc portion 81 against the end of the circular portion 91 which adjoins the concave portion 93b. The stop thus prevents the barrel from disarming further.
  • the angular position of the stopping mobile 85 is a function of the degree of winding of the mainspring 15 and that, in the example illustrated, an angle of 60° separates the maximum winding position from the position minimum arming.
  • the alarm mechanism comprises a trigger system provided to control the triggering of the ringing mechanism at a programmed time, provided that the alarm mechanism is activated.
  • THE Figures 3A, 3B And 3C are schematic plan views of the trigger system of the alarm mechanism of the watch of the figure 1 .
  • the wake-up mechanism is in the “on” state, while it is in the “off” state in the Figure 3C , the trigger system then being locked.
  • the first of these three figures shows the system before the pre-programmed trigger time, and the second shows it just after the trigger.
  • the third figure shows the triggering system just after the programmed time, with the wake-up mechanism in the “off” state.
  • an alarm blocking lever 33 rotatably mounted on a pivot 34 and provided with a first arm arranged to cooperate with a toothed mobile 18 which is part of the small cog, a trigger cam 21 provided with a notch 23, and a trigger rocker 25 pivoted around an axis 27 and provided with a beak 29 which is returned against the cam 21 by a return spring 31.
  • the distal end of the rocker 25 carries a pin 32 arranged to cooperate with a second arm of the alarm locking lever 33.
  • the first arm of the lever 33 is inserted in the teeth of a four-pointed star 19 of the mobile 18.
  • Cam 21 is connected to the finishing train (not shown) of the watch so as to be driven to rotate counterclockwise (the cam being viewed from the angle shown in the figures). In accordance with the embodiment which is the subject of this example, the cam 21 completes one revolution in twenty-four hours.
  • the alarm mechanism also comprises an adjustment system, which may be of a known type, and which makes it possible to adjust the angular position of the cam 21 so that the notch 23 is located in face of the spout 29 at a programmed wake-up time.
  • the operating principle of the ringing mechanism trigger system is as follows. At the programmed wake-up time, the nozzle 29 suddenly falls into the notch 23, which causes the trigger rocker 25 to pivot around its axis 27 in a counterclockwise direction. Driven by the rocker, the pin 32 pivots the alarm locking lever 33 clockwise, which has the effect of releasing the mobile 18. The barrel is then free to rotate by driving the striking mechanism.
  • the Figures 3A, 3B And 3C also show a column wheel 41 and a control rocker 35.
  • the column wheel of the present example is double. It is more or less the back-to-back assembly of two column wheels of classic design.
  • the column wheel 41 essentially consists of a ratchet wheel 57, a first set of six teeth or columns 59 carried on the edge by the ratchet on the upper face of its board, and a second set of six teeth or columns 59A carried on edge by the ratchet on the underside of its board (only the first set of columns is visible in the Figures 3A, 3B And 3C ).
  • the columns have a cross section substantially in the shape of a truncated triangle.
  • the ratchet has 12 teeth (two teeth for each column of a set). It is in fact a two-stroke column wheel.
  • the wheel columns 41 When not activated, the wheel columns 41 is held in a stable angular position by a jump spring 58 whose end presses against the ratchet wheel.
  • the control rocker 35 for its part, is pivoted around an axis 37. It can also be seen that it is provided with a nose 39 and a pin 45.
  • the nose 39 is recalled against the columns 59 of the column wheel 41 by a return spring 43, and the pin 45 is arranged to cooperate with a foot 47 with which the trigger lever 25 is provided, so as to allow the trigger system to be locked or unlocked.
  • the control rocker 35 comprises a pin 45 which is arranged to cooperate with a foot 47 of the trigger rocker 25.
  • the pin 45 is kept away from the trajectory of the foot 47, and it cannot therefore hinder the pivoting of the trigger rocker 25 in one direction or the other. It will be understood that the trigger system is then unlocked.
  • the column wheel 41 is incremented by one step, the pivoting of the control rocker 35 in the counterclockwise direction is accompanied by a movement of the pin 45 towards the foot 47.
  • the wake-up mechanism of the present example also comprises an activation indicator member arranged to indicate whether the wake-up mechanism is in the “activated” state or in the “deactivated” state. ".
  • the activation indicator member is controlled by the control rocker 35 and, as already mentioned, it is arranged to appear in a window referenced 7 ( figure 1 ).
  • the alarm mechanism also comprises a striking winder comprising a rotary control rod and a disengageable kinematic connection which connects the control rod to the rotary input/output member of the barrel so as to allow the control rod to arm the mainspring of the barrel.
  • a striking winder comprising a rotary control rod and a disengageable kinematic connection which connects the control rod to the rotary input/output member of the barrel so as to allow the control rod to arm the mainspring of the barrel.
  • THE Figures 4A and 4B are partial schematic plan views of the alarm mechanism which is the subject of this example. These figures show more particularly the striking winder. It can be seen that the latter conventionally comprises a control rod (referenced 117) movable axially between a winding position and an alarm time correction position. It should be noted, however, that, according to a variant, the control rod could only be movable in rotation, without the possibility of sliding axially. Both of these arrangements are known to those skilled in the art, and they will not be
  • the winder of the present example also comprises a winding pinion 119, a crown mobile 121 arranged in the axis of the stem 117 so as to be driven by the latter, an intermediate ratchet return 127 arranged to be driven by the winding mobile crown, and a winding lever 125 arranged to pivot around an axis (not referenced).
  • the intermediate gear 127 is mounted loosely on the rocker 125 in an eccentric position, and the crown movable 121 is arranged concentrically with the pivot axis of the rocker 125.
  • This arrangement allows the intermediate ratchet gear 127 to mesh permanently with the crown wheel 121, so that the latter can kinematically connect the control rod 117 to the intermediate gear 127 independently of the pivoting of the rocker. This is the reason why the crown mobile 121 and the intermediate return 127 will also be called below the driving mobile and the driven mobile.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B still show the rotary input/output mobile of the striking barrel 14, which is constituted by the toothed wheel 17 and the barrel shaft 79. It can also be seen that the toothed wheel 17 is engaged with a gear train formed by two references 129 and 131 which are intended to allow the barrel 14 to be wound.
  • the winding lever 125 is pivotally mounted around a axis (not referenced) which coincides with the axis of the crown mobile 121. The winder rocker is thus capable of evolving between a first extreme angular position illustrated in the Figure 4A and a second extreme angular position illustrated in the Figure 4B .
  • the operation of the disengageable kinematic connection which connects the control rod 117 to the rotary input/output member 79, 17 of the barrel is as follows.
  • the crown wheel 121 (or driving wheel) is driven in one direction or the other.
  • the driving mobile itself drives the intermediate return 127 (or driven mobile) in rotation.
  • the friction occurring between the rocker 125 and the driven mobile 127 has the effect of causing the rocker 125 to pivot in the direction of one or the other of its two extreme positions depending on the direction of rotation of the mobile. leading 121.
  • a user who rotates the control rod in a first direction brings the rocker 125 into the first position extreme angular.
  • the alarm mechanism comprises means for keeping the kinematic connection between the control rod 117 and the rotary input/output member 79, 17 of the barrel disengaged when the alarm mechanism is in the state activated.
  • These disengagement means which are controlled by the column wheel 41 are shown in the Figures 4A and 4B .
  • These figures in fact show a blocking rocker 133 mounted to pivot around an axis 135, and a stop lever 139 itself pivoted around an axis 141.
  • the blocking rocker 133 comprises a first arm which ends by a nose which is recalled against the column wheel 41, and a second arm which carries a pin 137 designed to cooperate with a first end of the stop lever 139.
  • the lever 139 also includes a second end which is arranged to cooperate with a finger 143 presented by the winding lever 125.
  • the wake-up mechanism comprises an automatic system arranged to deactivate it when the mainspring has disarmed up to a first predefined threshold value.
  • the stopping mobile 85 shown has four different levels. The two lower levels are, as we have seen, a star 87 and a cam 89 which together constitute the actual stopping mobile ( Fig. 2B ).
  • the third level of the mobile 85 is constituted by a first logical cam 61 which is rigidly fixed on the first two levels in a coaxial position.
  • the stopping mobile 85 also comprises a fourth level formed mainly by a second logic cam 95 which is pivotally mounted in a coaxial position above the first logic cam 61.
  • the board of the second logical cam is pierced with an oblong 97 which defines an arc of a circle concentric with the pivot axis of the cam.
  • the first logic cam 61 carries a pin 99 which is arranged to slide in the oblong 97.
  • the presence of this oblong allows the second logic cam 95 to pivot relative to the rest of the stopping mobile 85 at the interior of an angular sector whose extent is limited by the two ends of the oblong 97.
  • the Figure 2A also shows a latching lug 101 which is arranged in an opening of the first logical cam 61 so as to press against the lower face of the second logical cam 95 to maintain the latter frictionally in one of its two extreme angular positions.
  • THE figures 5A , 5B and 5C are schematic plan views illustrating three phases of the operation of the aforementioned automatic system.
  • the second logical cam 95 which is mounted on the stopping mobile 85, comprises a first profile portion 111 with constant radius and a second profile portion 115 which is hollow .
  • the three figures also show the column wheel 41 with its ratchet 57 immobilized by the jumper 58, and an instantaneously triggered rocker 103 which is pivoted by one end around an axis 105.
  • the trigger rocker instantaneous carries a pawl 109 which is intended to actuate the ratchet 57 of the column wheel 41, and which is fixed at the end of the rocker 103 furthest from the pivot axis 105.
  • the instantaneous trigger rocker is also provided with a caster 107 which is returned against the second logical cam 95 by a return spring 113.
  • the configuration shown in figure 5A corresponds to the situation where the barrel spring is fully loaded. It can be seen that in this configuration, the caster 107 rests against the constant radius profile portion 111 of the cam 95. Then, when the ringing mechanism is triggered and the barrel spring disarms, the stopping mobile 85 successively takes two steps of 30° in the clockwise direction. The second logical cam 95 remains integral in rotation with the rest of the stopping mobile 85 during the first 30° step. In fact, the pin 99 is then located at one end of the oblong 97, and it prevents the second logical cam 95 from pivoting relative to the rest of the stopping mobile 85 in the counterclockwise direction. Under these conditions, the caster 107 rolls against the profile portion 111.
  • the caster 107 arrives at the end of the profile portion 111 with constant radius (this situation is shown in the Figure 5B ).
  • this situation is shown in the Figure 5B .
  • the force with which the caster 107 presses against the edge of the second logical cam 95 ceases to be oriented radially, but on the contrary is oriented so as to exert on the cam 95 a force which tends to make it rotate clockwise.
  • the return spring 113 has been chosen strong enough, the tangential component of the force ejects the second logical cam, causing the constant radius profile portion to disappear.
  • the caster 107 then suddenly plunges into the recessed profile portion 115 by rotating the instantly released rocker 103 counterclockwise.
  • the rocker 103 pivots, the pawl 109 is taken with it in a direction tangent to the ratchet wheel 57, so that the pawl 109 engages with a tooth of the ratchet and increments the column wheel 41 by one step The result of this increment is to deactivate the wake-up mechanism.
  • the wake-up mechanism comprises a manually operated mechanism arranged to cause it to pass alternately from the activated state to the deactivated state and vice versa.
  • THE Figures 6A, 6B And 6C are schematic bottom plan views of this mechanism.
  • the manually operated mechanism operates by advancing by one step the column wheel 41 each time the wearer of the watch activates a push button (referenced 13 in the figure 1 ).
  • the column wheel 41 is under the action of a pawl 55 arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 57.
  • the pawl 55 is pivotally mounted on one of the ends of a control lever 51.
  • buttons - pusher 13 (not shown in the Figures 6A, 6B And 6C ) When the button - pusher 13 (not shown in the Figures 6A, 6B And 6C ) is actuated, its front end moves along a rectilinear path (indicated by the arrow A) by pushing back the control lever 51, so that the latter pivots around an axis 53.
  • a return spring (not shown) is still intended to make the control lever 51 return backwards, as soon as the wearer of the watch releases his pressure on the push-button 13.
  • each pressure exerted on the push-button has the effect of moving the pawl 55 from so as to advance the column wheel 41 by the angular value of a ratchet tooth (30°), and that successive presses on the push button 13 have the effect of progressively incrementing the angular position of the column wheel 41.
  • the wake-up mechanism comprises an insulator arranged to neutralize the activation function of the wake-up mechanism by the manually controlled mechanism when the degree of winding of the mainspring is less than a second predefined threshold value.
  • a first logic cam 61 and an insulator 63 are mounted coaxially on the stopping mobile 85 (visible in the Figures 2A and 2B ) so that it pivots integrally with the latter.
  • the first logic cam comprises several circular sectors separated from each other by shoulders.
  • the insulator 63 is in the form of a rocker which is pivoted around an axis 65 and which is provided with a cam follower beak 67 which is recalled against the profile of the first logical cam 61 by a spring which is integrated into the insulator.
  • the insulator 63 is also provided with a second nozzle 69 designed to cooperate with the columns 59A of the second batch of columns of the column wheel 41.
  • the insulator 63 carries a pin 71 at its end farthest from the axis 65.
  • the insulator 63 is arranged, relative to to the column wheel 41, in such a way that the nose 69 rests against one of the columns 59A ( Figures 6A and 6B ) when the wake-up mechanism is in the activated state. And conversely, the nozzle 69 is located opposite the space between two columns 59A ( Figure 6C ) when the wake-up mechanism is in the disabled state.
  • the logic cam 61 is represented in an angular position such that the beak 67 of the insulator 63 rests against a portion of circular profile 61a of the cam.
  • the angular position of the logic cam 61 is representative of the degree of winding of the mainspring.
  • the logic cam is rotated so that the nose 67 of the insulator 63 is opposite the circular profile portion 61a, it is because the degree of winding of the mainspring is greater than the second predefined threshold value.
  • the second nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 rests against one of the six columns 59A of the column wheel 41.
  • the mainspring has at least partially disarmed by rotating the logic cam 61 counterclockwise. It can be understood that the degree of winding of the mainspring is now lower than the second predefined threshold value, since the nose 67 is no longer facing the circular profile portion 61a.
  • the nozzle 67 of the insulator 63 now faces another circular portion (referenced 61b) of profile of the cam 61, the radius of the circular profile portion 61b being significantly less than that of the circular profile portion 61a. It can be observed, however, that the nozzle 67 does not rest against the circular profile 61b, but on the contrary is suspended above the profile 61b. Indeed, the second nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 is always supported against the same column 59A of the column wheel 41, because the alarm mechanism is always activated, the ringing being in progress.
  • the nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 is lowered between two columns 59A of the column wheel 41. It will therefore be understood that the wake-up mechanism is now deactivated.
  • the insulator 63 carries a pin 71 at its end furthest from the axis 65. Still referring to the Figure 6C , we can see that the pin 71 is arranged to keep the pawl 55 of the manually operated mechanism away from the ratchet wheel 57 of the column wheel 41.
  • the wearer of the watch no longer has the possibility of incrementing the column wheel by actuating the push button 13. In the position illustrated, the insulator 63 in fact prevents the pawl 55 from engaging with the teeth of the the ratchet wheel 57.
  • FIG. 6A represents the first logical cam 61 in the same angular position as in the Figure 2A .
  • the nose 67 of the insulator 63 rests against the circular profile portion 61a.
  • the first logical cam 61 which is integral with the arming mobile 85 ( Figure 2A and 2B ), is arranged to rotate counterclockwise when the barrel decocks. Under these conditions, when, following the triggering of the ringing, the first logic cam 61 begins to rotate, the nose 67 of the insulator 63 slides on the circular profile portion 61a up to the shoulder 62 separating this portion from profile of the profile portion 61b.
  • the nose 67 is located opposite the portion of circular profile 61b whose radius is significantly less than that of the circular profile 61a.
  • the other nozzle (the nozzle 69) of the insulator 63 rests against one of the columns 59A of the column wheel 41.
  • the insulator 63 does not tip when the spout 67 passes from the profile portion 61a to the profile portion 61b since it is still supported by its other beak which rests against one of the columns of the column wheel. It will be understood from the above that the isolator 63 does not interfere with the operation of the manually operated mechanism when the wake-up mechanism is in the activated state.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un mécanisme de réveil pour pièce d'horlogerie mécanique, et plus particulièrement un tel mécanisme de réveil pouvant être mis sélectivement dans l'état « activé » (ON) ou dans l'état « désactivé » (OFF), le mécanisme de sonnerie étant agencé pour ne pas se déclencher à l'heure préprogrammée lorsque le mécanisme de réveil se trouve dans l'état désactivé, le mécanisme de réveil comprenant :

  • un mécanisme de sonnerie ;
  • un barillet comprenant un tambour, un arbre de barillet et un ressort-moteur logé dans le tambour, le ressort-moteur étant solidaire du tambour par une première extrémité et solidaire de l'arbre de barillet par sa seconde extrémité, le barillet comportant un organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif solidaire, soit du tambour, soit de l'arbre de barillet, et le ressort-moteur étant agencé pour se désarmer, suite au déclenchement du mécanisme de sonnerie, en entraînant le mécanisme de sonnerie par l'intermédiaire de l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif ;
  • un mécanisme à commande manuelle agencé pour alternativement activer et désactiver le mécanisme de réveil ;
  • un système de déclenchement agencé pour commander le déclenchement du mécanisme de sonnerie à une heure préprogrammée, si le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état activé ;
  • un remontoir de sonnerie comportant une tige de commande rotative et une liaison cinématique débrayable reliant la tige de commande à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet pour permettre à la tige de commande d'armer le ressort-moteur du barillet.
The present invention relates to an alarm mechanism for a mechanical timepiece, and more particularly such an alarm mechanism which can be selectively placed in the “activated” state (ON) or in the “deactivated” state (OFF), the ringing mechanism being arranged not to go off at the pre-programmed time when the alarm mechanism is in the deactivated state, the alarm mechanism comprising:
  • a ringing mechanism;
  • a barrel comprising a drum, a barrel shaft and a mainspring housed in the drum, the mainspring being secured to the drum by a first end and secured to the barrel shaft by its second end, the barrel comprising a member rotary input/output integral, either with the drum or with the barrel shaft, and the mainspring being arranged to disarm, following the triggering of the striking mechanism, by driving the striking mechanism via the rotary input/output member;
  • a manually operated mechanism arranged to alternately activate and deactivate the wake-up mechanism;
  • a trigger system arranged to control the triggering of the ringing mechanism at a pre-programmed time, if the alarm mechanism is in the activated state;
  • a striking winder comprising a rotary control rod and a disengageable kinematic connection connecting the control rod to the rotary input/output member of the barrel to allow the control rod to arm the mainspring of the barrel.

L'invention concerne également une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un tel mécanisme de réveil.The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an alarm mechanism.

ART ANTERIEURPRIOR ART

Les utilisateurs de pièces d'horlogerie à complications en général, et plus particulièrement les utilisateurs de pièces d'horlogerie conforme à la définition donnée en préambule, n'ont pas toujours une bonne compréhension du fonctionnement de celles-ci. Il arrive régulièrement que des manipulations déconseillées soient effectuées malgré les mises en garde. Par exemple, si le remontoir de sonnerie d'une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mécanisme de réveil est actionné alors que la sonnerie vient de se déclencher, cette manipulation est susceptible détériorer des éléments, soit du mécanisme de sonnerie, soit du remontoir.Users of complicated timepieces in general, and more particularly users of timepieces conforming to the definition given in the preamble, do not always have a good understanding of how they work. It regularly happens that undesirable operations are carried out despite the warnings. For example, if the striking winder of a timepiece comprising an alarm mechanism is activated when the striking has just started, this manipulation is likely to damage elements, either of the striking mechanism or of the winding mechanism.

Le document de brevet EP 1 933 212 propose de remédier au problème ci-dessus en fournissant une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mécanisme de sonnerie et un levier d'isolement agencé pour empêcher toute opération de remontage du barillet pendant la sonnerie. Un inconvénient de cette solution antérieure, est que le levier d'isolement n'empêche pas la sonnerie de se déclencher lorsque que la tige de commande du remontoir de sonnerie est déjà reliée cinématiquement à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet. Pourtant, dans un tel cas de figure, la sonnerie ne peut pas se dérouler normalement. Elle risque même de se bloquer complètement.The patent document EP 1 933 212 proposes to remedy the above problem by providing a timepiece comprising a striking mechanism and an isolation lever arranged to prevent any winding operation of the barrel during the striking. A disadvantage of this previous solution is that the isolation lever does not prevent the strike from being triggered when the control rod of the strike winder is already kinematically connected to the rotary input/output member of the barrel. However, in such a case, the ringing cannot proceed normally. It may even block completely.

Le document CH 702 844 A2 divulgue le préambule de la revendication 1.The document CH 702 844 A2 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

BREF EXPOSE DE L'INVENTIONBRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

Un but de la présente invention est de remédier aux inconvénients de l'art antérieur qui viennent d'être expliqués. La présente invention atteint ce but ainsi que d'autres en fournissant un mécanisme de réveil conforme à la revendication 1 annexée.An aim of the present invention is to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art which have just been explained. The present invention achieves this and other goals by providing a wake-up mechanism according to appended claim 1.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte des moyens pour maintenir débrayée la liaison cinématique entre la tige de commande et l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état activé. De plus, le mécanisme de sonnerie est agencé pour ne pas se déclencher à l'heure préprogrammée lorsque le mécanisme de réveil se trouve dans l'état désactivé. On comprendra donc que grâce aux caractéristiques de l'invention, la sonnerie ne risque pas de se déclencher pendant que la tige de commande du remontoir de sonnerie est reliée cinématiquement à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet, et donc en particulier qu'elle ne risque pas de se déclencher lorsque que le remontage du barillet de sonnerie est en cours.In accordance with the invention, the alarm mechanism comprises means for keeping the kinematic connection between the control rod and the rotary input/output member of the barrel disengaged when the alarm mechanism is in the activated state. In addition, the ringing mechanism is arranged not to trigger at the pre-programmed time when the alarm mechanism is in the deactivated state. It will therefore be understood that thanks to the characteristics of the invention, the strike is not likely to be triggered while the control rod of the strike winder is kinematically connected to the rotary input/output member of the barrel, and therefore in particular that it is not likely to go off when the striking barrel is being reassembled.

Conformément à une variante avantageuse de l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte un dispositif automatique agencé pour arrêter la sonnerie et pour désactiver le mécanisme de réveil, lorsque l'entraînement du mécanisme de sonnerie provoque le désarmage du ressort-moteur jusqu'au-dessous d'une première valeur seuil prédéfinie. On comprendra que, grâce à cette caractéristique, le mécanisme de sonnerie est toujours arrêté lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état désactivé. Il n'est donc pas possible d'utiliser le remontoir de sonnerie pendant que la sonnerie retentit.In accordance with an advantageous variant of the invention, the alarm mechanism comprises an automatic device arranged to stop the ringing and to deactivate the alarm mechanism, when the driving of the ringing mechanism causes the disarming of the mainspring until the below a first predefined threshold value. It will be understood that, thanks to this characteristic, the ringing mechanism is always stopped when the alarm mechanism is in the deactivated state. It is therefore not possible to use the strike winder while the strike is ringing.

Conformément à une variante préférée de l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte un isolateur agencé pour neutraliser la fonction d'activation du mécanisme de réveil par le mécanisme à commande manuelle, lorsque le degré d'armage du ressort-moteur est inférieur à une deuxième valeur seuil prédéfinie, la deuxième valeur seuil étant plus élevée que la première valeur seuil. On comprendra que, grâce à cette caractéristique, il est toujours possible de remonter le barillet de sonnerie quand c'est nécessaire, car le mécanisme de réveil ne se trouve jamais dans l'état activé lorsque le ressort-moteur est désarmé.In accordance with a preferred variant of the invention, the wake-up mechanism comprises an insulator arranged to neutralize the activation function of the wake-up mechanism by the manually controlled mechanism, when the degree of winding of the mainspring is less than one second predefined threshold value, the second threshold value being higher than the first threshold value. It will be understood that, thanks to this characteristic, it is always possible to wind the striking barrel when necessary, because the alarm mechanism is never in the activated state when the mainspring is disarmed.

BREVE DESCRIPTION DES FIGURESBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et faite en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en plan côté cadran d'une montre-bracelet comportant un mécanisme de réveil conforme à un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention ;
  • la figure 2A est une vue partielle en plan du mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1, montrant plus particulièrement l'arbre et le ressort-moteur qui font partie du barillet de sonnerie, ainsi que l'arrêtage et le système logique ;
  • la figure 2B est un schéma de principe du fonctionnement de l'arrêtage du mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1 ;
  • les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues schématiques en plan de dessus montrant le système de déclenchement du mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1, le mécanisme de réveil se trouvant dans l'état activé ; et les deux figures illustrant respectivement le système avant le déclenchement et juste après le déclenchement ;
  • la figure 4A est une vue schématique en plan de dessous montrant le remontoir de sonnerie du mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1, le mécanisme de réveil étant dans l'état désactivé et la tige de commande du remontoir de sonnerie étant montrée reliée cinématiquement à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet ;
  • la figure 4B est une vue schématique en plan de dessous semblable à celle de la figure 4A, le mécanisme de réveil étant dans l'état activé et la liaison cinématique entre la tige de commande du remontoir et l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet étant représentée alors qu'elle est débrayée ;
  • les figures 5A, 5B et 5C sont des vues schématiques en plan de dessus illustrant trois phases du fonctionnement du mécanisme automatique agencé pour désactiver le mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1 lorsque le ressort-moteur s'est désarmé jusqu'au-dessous d'une première valeur seuil prédéfinie ;
  • les figures 6A, 6B et 6C sont des vues schématiques en plan de dessous montrant le mécanisme à commande manuelle agencé pour faire passer alternativement le mécanisme de réveil de la montre-bracelet de la figure 1 de l'état activé à l'état désactivé et inversement, et montrant de plus l'isolateur agencé pour neutraliser la fonction d'activation du mécanisme de réveil.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • there figure 1 is a dial side plan view of a wristwatch comprising an alarm mechanism according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
  • there Figure 2A is a partial plan view of the alarm mechanism of the wristwatch of the figure 1 , showing more particularly the shaft and the mainspring which are part of the striking barrel, as well as the stopping and the logic system;
  • there Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of the operation of the stopping of the alarm mechanism of the wristwatch of the figure 1 ;
  • THE Figures 3A and 3B are schematic top plan views showing the triggering system of the alarm mechanism of the wristwatch of the figure 1 , the wake-up mechanism being in the activated state; and the two figures respectively illustrating the system before triggering and just after triggering;
  • there Figure 4A is a schematic bottom plan view showing the striking winder of the alarm mechanism of the wristwatch of the figure 1 , the alarm mechanism being in the deactivated state and the control rod of the striking winder being shown kinematically connected to the rotary input/output member of the barrel;
  • there Figure 4B is a schematic bottom plan view similar to that of the figure 4A , the alarm mechanism being in the activated state and the kinematic connection between the control rod of the winder and the rotary input/output member of the barrel being shown while it is disengaged;
  • THE figures 5A , 5B and 5C are schematic top plan views illustrating three phases of the operation of the automatic mechanism arranged to deactivate the alarm mechanism of the wristwatch of the figure 1 when the mainspring has disarmed to below a first predefined threshold value;
  • THE Figures 6A, 6B And 6C are schematic bottom plan views showing the manually operated mechanism arranged to alternately pass the alarm mechanism of the wrist watch from the figure 1 from the activated state to the deactivated state and vice versa, and further showing the isolator arranged to neutralize the activation function of the wake-up mechanism.

DESCRIPTION DETAILLEE D'UN MODE REALISATIONDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

La figure 1 annexée est une vue en plan côté cadran d'une montre-réveil conforme à un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention. La montre-réveil représentée va maintenant être décrite en se limitant aux aspects essentiels de l'invention et en laissant de côté un grand nombre de détails qui ne concernent pas directement l'invention. La montre de la figure 1 comporte une couronne de remontage (référencée 11) qui dépasse de la carrure de la montre approximativement à 4 heures. La couronne 11 est agencée de manière à permettre de remonter le barillet de sonnerie en la faisant tourner, en position repoussée, dans le sens horaire. En position tirée, la couronne de remontage 11 permet également de corriger l'heure d'alarme. L'heure d'alarme est affichée, sous forme numérique, dans deux guichets (référencés 3 et 5) qui sont aménagés côte à côte dans le cadran à 12 heures. La montre-réveil illustrée dans la figure 1 comporte encore un poussoir (référencé 13) qui dépasse de la carrure approximativement à 2 heures. Ce poussoir est prévu pour permettre d'actionner manuellement un mécanisme agencé pour alternativement activer et désactiver le mécanisme de réveil de la montre. Ce mécanisme à commande manuelle comporte en outre de préférence un organe indicateur d'activation qui est prévu pour indiquer si le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état « activé » ou dans l'état « désactivé ». Dans le présent exemple, un organe indicateur de ce type est agencé pour apparaître dans un troisième petit guichet du cadran (référencé 7). Le guichet 7 est aménagé à 12 heures entre les deux premiers guichets 3 et 5 et le tour d'heures.There figure 1 appended is a plan view on the dial side of an alarm watch conforming to a particular embodiment of the invention. The alarm watch shown will now be described by limiting itself to the essential aspects of the invention and leaving aside a large number of details which do not directly concern the invention. The watch of the figure 1 has a winding crown (referenced 11) which protrudes from the middle of the watch approximately at 4 o'clock. The crown 11 is arranged so as to allow the striking barrel to be reassembled by rotating it, in the pushed back position, in a clockwise direction. In the pulled out position, the winding crown 11 also allows the alarm time to be corrected. The alarm time is displayed, in digital form, in two windows (referenced 3 and 5) which are arranged side by side in the dial at 12 o'clock. The alarm clock shown in the figure 1 still includes a pusher (referenced 13) which protrudes from the caseband approximately at 2 o'clock. This pusher is intended to allow manual operation of a mechanism arranged to alternately activate and deactivate the alarm mechanism of the watch. This manually operated mechanism further preferably comprises an activation indicator member which is provided to indicate whether the wake-up mechanism is in the “activated” state or in the “deactivated” state. In the present example, an indicator member of this type is arranged to appear in a third small window of the dial (referenced 7). Window 7 is located at 12 o'clock between the first two windows 3 and 5 and the hour circle.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comprend un mécanisme de sonnerie (non représenté) et un ressort-moteur 15 (figure 2A) agencé pour se désarmer en entraînant le mécanisme de sonnerie suite à un déclenchement de ce dernier. De manière classique, le ressort-moteur 15 qui est exclusivement dédié à l'actionnement de la sonnerie est agencé dans un barillet 14 qui comporte également un organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif. Lorsque le ressort-moteur 15 se désarme, il entraîne le mécanisme de sonnerie par l'intermédiaire de l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif et d'un train d'engrenage. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif est constitué par un arbre de barillet 79 qui est solidaire d'une des extrémités du ressort-moteur et par une roue dentée 17, la roue dentée étant fixée rigidement sur l'arbre de barillet. Le barillet 14 entraîne également un frein d'inertie (non représenté) qui est prévu pour réguler son dévidement et donc la fréquence des coups de « sonnerie ». Le rouage qui relie le barillet au frein d'inertie est appelé le « petit rouage ». Ce type d'agencement est connu en tant que tel. Il ne sera donc pas décrit plus avant dans la présente description qui laisse volontairement de côté un grand nombre de détails qui peuvent être repris de l'état de la technique et qui ne concernent pas directement l'invention. En ce qui concerne les mécanismes de sonnerie en particulier, on peut en trouver une description pertinente par exemple dans le livre « Théorie d'horlogerie » (pages 222-224 ).According to the invention, the alarm mechanism comprises a ringing mechanism (not shown) and a mainspring 15 ( Figure 2A ) arranged to disarm by driving the bell mechanism following triggering of the latter. Conventionally, the mainspring 15 which is exclusively dedicated to actuating the bell is arranged in a barrel 14 which also includes a rotary input/output member. When the mainspring 15 disarms, it drives the striking mechanism via the rotary input/output member and a gear train. In the embodiment shown, the rotary input/output member is constituted by a barrel shaft 79 which is secured to one of the ends of the mainspring and by a toothed wheel 17, the toothed wheel being rigidly fixed on the barrel shaft. The barrel 14 also drives an inertia brake (not shown) which is designed to regulate its unwinding and therefore the frequency of the “ringing” shots. The cog that connects the barrel to the inertia brake is called the “small cog”. This type of arrangement is known as such. It will therefore not be described further in the present description which deliberately leaves aside a large number of details which can be taken from the state of the art and which do not directly concern the invention. Regarding the ringing mechanisms in particular, a relevant description can be found for example in the book “Clockmaking theory” (pages 222-224 ).

Comme on peut le voir en particulier dans la figure 2A, le barillet de sonnerie 14 du mécanisme de réveil qui fait l'objet de la présente description est équipé d'un arrêtage. Les arrêtages sont des dispositifs qui sont connus de l'homme du métier en tant que tels. Dans une pièce d'horlogerie, l'arrêtage sert d'une part à limiter le nombre de tours d'armage du barillet lors du remontage, et il sert d'autre part à empêcher que le ressort-moteur ne se désarme complètement. La figure 2B est un schéma de principe du fonctionnement de l'arrêtage du mécanisme de réveil du présent exemple. Le principe de fonctionnement de l'arrêtage représenté est similaire à celui d'un arrêtage à croix de Malte traditionnel. Toutefois, l'arrêtage illustré possède la particularité d'être étagé sur deux niveaux. La disposition sur deux niveaux présente l'avantage d'économiser de la place en largeur. La figure 2B montre une portion de disque 81 et un doigt 83 qui sont tous deux fixés sur l'arbre du barillet (non représenté dans la figure 2B, mais visible et référencé 79 dans la figure 2A). La figure 2B montre encore un mobile partiellement denté 85 à deux niveaux qui est pivoté sur un arbre fixe monté sur un pont (non représenté) à proximité du barillet. Le premier niveau du mobile 85 est constitué par une étoile partielle 87 qui est agencée pour coopérer avec le doigt 83, et le deuxième niveau est constitué par une came 89 agencée pour coopérer avec la portion de disque 81. On peut voir que la came 89 comporte une portion circulaire 91 et deux portions concaves 93a et 93b.As can be seen in particular in the Figure 2A , the striking barrel 14 of the alarm mechanism which is the subject of this description is equipped with a stop. The stops are devices which are known to those skilled in the art as such. In a timepiece, the stop serves on the one hand to limit the number of winding revolutions of the barrel during winding, and on the other hand it serves to prevent the mainspring from completely disarming. There Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of the operation of stopping the wake-up mechanism of this example. The operating principle of the stop shown is similar to that of a traditional Maltese cross stop. However, the illustrated stop has the particularity of being spread over two levels. The two-level layout has the advantage of saving space in width. There Figure 2B shows a portion of disc 81 and a finger 83 which are both fixed on the barrel shaft (not shown in the Figure 2B , but visible and referenced 79 in the Figure 2A ). There Figure 2B also shows a partially toothed mobile 85 on two levels which is pivoted on a fixed shaft mounted on a bridge (not shown) near the barrel. The first level of the mobile 85 is constituted by a partial star 87 which is arranged to cooperate with the finger 83, and the second level is constituted by a cam 89 arranged to cooperate with the disc portion 81. It can be seen that the cam 89 comprises a circular portion 91 and two concave portions 93a and 93b.

Vu de dessus, comme représenté dans les figures 2A et 2B, le sens dans lequel il faut faire tourner l'arbre 79 pour remonter le barillet est le sens horaire, et donc à l'inverse, le barillet se désarme en faisant tourner l'arbre de barillet dans le sens antihoraire. On comprendra donc que la position angulaire du mobile d'arrêtage 85 dans les figures 2A et 2B correspond à la situation où le ressort-moteur 15 est complètement armé. Comme on peut le voir, dans cette configuration, l'arrêtage bloque la rotation de l'arbre de barillet dans le sens horaire par arc-boutement du côté rectiligne de la portion de disque 81 contre la came 89 au niveau de l'extrémité de la portion circulaire 91 qui jouxte la portion concave 93a. Dans cette configuration, le barillet est par contre libre de se désarmer en entraînant l'arbre 79 dans le sens antihoraire.Seen from above, as shown in the Figures 2A and 2B , the direction in which it is necessary to rotate the shaft 79 to wind the barrel is the clockwise direction, and therefore conversely, the barrel is decocked by rotating the barrel shaft in the counterclockwise direction. It will therefore be understood that the angular position of the stopping mobile 85 in the Figures 2A and 2B corresponds to the situation where the mainspring 15 is fully armed. As can be seen, in this configuration, the stop blocks the rotation of the barrel shaft in the clockwise direction by bracing the rectilinear side of the disc portion 81 against the cam 89 at the level of the end of the circular portion 91 which adjoins the concave portion 93a. In this configuration, the barrel is however free to disarm by driving the shaft 79 in a counterclockwise direction.

Lorsque le ressort-moteur 15 se désarme en entraînant l'arbre de barillet, il entraîne le doigt 83 en rotation, de sorte que ce dernier fait avancer l'étoile 87 d'un pas à chaque tour. Lorsque le mobile d'arrêtage 85 a pivoté de 60°, le ressort-moteur 15 ayant fait accomplir deux tours complets à l'arbre de barillet 79 en se désarmant, ce dernier se bloque à nouveau en raison, cette fois-ci, de l'arc-boutement du côté rectiligne de la portion de disque 81 contre l'extrémité de la portion circulaire 91 qui jouxte la portion concave 93b. L'arrêtage empêche ainsi le barillet de se désarmer davantage. On comprendra en outre que la position angulaire du mobile d'arrêtage 85 est fonction du degré d'armage du ressort-moteur 15 et que, dans l'exemple illustré, un angle de 60° sépare la position d'armage maximum de la position d'armage minimum.When the mainspring 15 disarms by driving the barrel shaft, it rotates the finger 83, so that the latter advances the star 87 by one step at each revolution. When the stopping mobile 85 has pivoted by 60°, the mainspring 15 having made the barrel shaft 79 complete two complete revolutions in disarming, the latter is blocked again due, this time, to the buttress of the rectilinear side of the disc portion 81 against the end of the circular portion 91 which adjoins the concave portion 93b. The stop thus prevents the barrel from disarming further. It will also be understood that the angular position of the stopping mobile 85 is a function of the degree of winding of the mainspring 15 and that, in the example illustrated, an angle of 60° separates the maximum winding position from the position minimum arming.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comprend un système de déclenchement prévu pour commander le déclenchement du mécanisme de sonnerie à une heure programmée, pour autant que le mécanisme de réveil soit activé. Les figures 3A, 3B et 3C sont des vues schématiques en plan du système de déclenchement du mécanisme de réveil de la montre de la figure 1. Dans les figures 3A et 3B, le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état « activé », alors qu'il est dans l'état « désactivé » dans la figure 3C, le système de déclenchement étant alors verrouillé. La première de ces trois figures montre le système avant l'heure de déclenchement préprogrammée, et la deuxième le montre juste après le déclenchement. Finalement, la troisième figure montre le système de déclenchement juste après l'heure programmée, le mécanisme de réveil se trouvant dans l'état « désactivé ». Sur les trois figures, on peut voir un levier bloqueur de l'alarme 33 monté rotatif sur un pivot 34 et muni d'un premier bras agencé pour coopérer avec un mobile denté 18 qui fait partie du petit rouage, une came de déclenchement 21 munie d'une encoche 23, et une bascule de déclenchement 25 pivotée autour d'un axe 27 et munie d'un bec 29 qui est rappelé contre la came 21 par un ressort de rappel 31. On peut voir en outre que l'extrémité distale de la bascule 25 porte une goupille 32 agencée pour coopérer avec un second bras du levier bloqueur de l'alarme 33. Dans la configuration illustrée par la figure 3A, le premier bras du levier 33 est inséré dans la denture d'une étoile à quatre branches 19 du mobile 18. Le mobile 18 est donc bloqué de sorte que l'organe d'entrée/sortie du barillet 14 ne peut pas tourner. Dans la configuration illustrée par la figure 3B, le premier bras du levier 33 est maintenu écarté de la denture de l'étoile 19, de sorte que le mobile 18 est libre de tourner, le barillet étant alors libre de se désarmer en entraînant le mécanisme de sonnerie.According to the invention, the alarm mechanism comprises a trigger system provided to control the triggering of the ringing mechanism at a programmed time, provided that the alarm mechanism is activated. THE Figures 3A, 3B And 3C are schematic plan views of the trigger system of the alarm mechanism of the watch of the figure 1 . In the Figures 3A and 3B , the wake-up mechanism is in the “on” state, while it is in the “off” state in the Figure 3C , the trigger system then being locked. The first of these three figures shows the system before the pre-programmed trigger time, and the second shows it just after the trigger. Finally, the third figure shows the triggering system just after the programmed time, with the wake-up mechanism in the “off” state. In the three figures, we can see an alarm blocking lever 33 rotatably mounted on a pivot 34 and provided with a first arm arranged to cooperate with a toothed mobile 18 which is part of the small cog, a trigger cam 21 provided with a notch 23, and a trigger rocker 25 pivoted around an axis 27 and provided with a beak 29 which is returned against the cam 21 by a return spring 31. It can also be seen that the distal end of the rocker 25 carries a pin 32 arranged to cooperate with a second arm of the alarm locking lever 33. In the configuration illustrated by the Figure 3A , the first arm of the lever 33 is inserted in the teeth of a four-pointed star 19 of the mobile 18. The mobile 18 is therefore blocked so that the input/output member of the barrel 14 cannot rotate. In the configuration illustrated by Figure 3B , the first arm of lever 33 is held spaced from the teeth of the star 19, so that the mobile 18 is free to rotate, the barrel then being free to disarm by driving the striking mechanism.

La came 21 est reliée au rouage de finissage (non représenté) de la montre de manière à être entraînée pour tourner dans le sens antihoraire (la came étant vue sous l'angle représenté dans les figures). Conformément au mode de réalisation qui fait l'objet du présent exemple, la came 21 effectue un tour en vingt-quatre heures. Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte également un système de réglage, qui peut être d'un type connu, et qui permet de régler la position angulaire de la came 21 de manière à ce que l'encoche 23 se trouve en face du bec 29 à une heure de réveil programmée.Cam 21 is connected to the finishing train (not shown) of the watch so as to be driven to rotate counterclockwise (the cam being viewed from the angle shown in the figures). In accordance with the embodiment which is the subject of this example, the cam 21 completes one revolution in twenty-four hours. In accordance with the invention, the alarm mechanism also comprises an adjustment system, which may be of a known type, and which makes it possible to adjust the angular position of the cam 21 so that the notch 23 is located in face of the spout 29 at a programmed wake-up time.

Le principe de fonctionnement du système de déclenchement du mécanisme de sonnerie est le suivant. A l'heure de réveil programmée, le bec 29 chute subitement dans l'encoche 23, ce qui fait pivoter la bascule de déclenchement 25 autour de son axe 27 dans le sens antihoraire. Entraînée par la bascule, la goupille 32 fait pivoter le levier bloqueur de l'alarme 33 dans le sens horaire, ce qui a pour effet de libérer le mobile 18. Le barillet se trouve alors libre de tourner en entraînant le mécanisme de sonnerie.The operating principle of the ringing mechanism trigger system is as follows. At the programmed wake-up time, the nozzle 29 suddenly falls into the notch 23, which causes the trigger rocker 25 to pivot around its axis 27 in a counterclockwise direction. Driven by the rocker, the pin 32 pivots the alarm locking lever 33 clockwise, which has the effect of releasing the mobile 18. The barrel is then free to rotate by driving the striking mechanism.

Les figures 3A, 3B et 3C montrent également une roue à colonnes 41 et une bascule de commande 35. La roue à colonnes du présent exemple est double. Il s'agit à peu de chose près de l'assemblage dos à dos de deux roues à colonnes de conception classique. La roue à colonnes 41 est essentiellement constituée d'une roue à rochet 57, d'un premier lot de six dents ou colonnes 59 portées de chant par le rochet sur la face supérieure de sa planche, et d'un second lot de six dents ou colonnes 59A portées de chant par le rochet sur la face inférieure de sa planche (seul le premier lot de colonnes est visible dans les figures 3A, 3B et 3C). Les colonnes présentent une section transversale sensiblement en forme de triangle tronqué. On peut voir également que le rochet comprend 12 dents (deux dents pour chaque colonne d'un lot). Il s'agit en effet d'une roue à colonnes à deux temps. Lorsqu'elle n'est pas actionnée, la roue à colonnes 41 est maintenue dans une position angulaire stable par un ressort sautoir 58 dont l'extrémité appuie contre la roue à rochet. La bascule de commande 35, quant à elle, est pivotée autour d'un axe 37. On peut voir également qu'elle est munie d'un bec 39 et d'une goupille 45. Le bec 39 est rappelé contre les colonnes 59 de la roue à colonnes 41 par un ressort de rappel 43, et la goupille 45 est agencée pour coopérer avec un pied 47 dont est muni la bascule de déclenchement 25, de manière à permettre de verrouiller ou déverrouiller le système de déclenchement.THE Figures 3A, 3B And 3C also show a column wheel 41 and a control rocker 35. The column wheel of the present example is double. It is more or less the back-to-back assembly of two column wheels of classic design. The column wheel 41 essentially consists of a ratchet wheel 57, a first set of six teeth or columns 59 carried on the edge by the ratchet on the upper face of its board, and a second set of six teeth or columns 59A carried on edge by the ratchet on the underside of its board (only the first set of columns is visible in the Figures 3A, 3B And 3C ). The columns have a cross section substantially in the shape of a truncated triangle. We can also see that the ratchet has 12 teeth (two teeth for each column of a set). It is in fact a two-stroke column wheel. When not activated, the wheel columns 41 is held in a stable angular position by a jump spring 58 whose end presses against the ratchet wheel. The control rocker 35, for its part, is pivoted around an axis 37. It can also be seen that it is provided with a nose 39 and a pin 45. The nose 39 is recalled against the columns 59 of the column wheel 41 by a return spring 43, and the pin 45 is arranged to cooperate with a foot 47 with which the trigger lever 25 is provided, so as to allow the trigger system to be locked or unlocked.

En se référant tout d'abord aux figures 3A et 3B, on peut voir qu'elles montrent toutes les deux la roue à colonnes 41 orientée de manière à permettre au bec 39 de la bascule 35 de s'abaisser entre deux colonnes 59 sous l'action du ressort 43. Si maintenant, on fait pivoter la roue à rochet 57 de la roue à colonnes 41 d'une dent, une des colonnes pousse le bec 39 de sorte qu'il se soulève et vient s'immobiliser en appui contre la colonne conformément à ce qui est montré dans la figure 3C. On comprendra que le soulèvement du bec 39 provoque le pivotement de la bascule 35 dans le sens antihoraire. La roue à colonnes 41 est une roue à colonnes à deux temps. Ainsi, si on fait ensuite encore pivoter la roue à colonnes d'un pas supplémentaire, la colonne 59 contre laquelle repose le bec 39 se dégage, et le bec redescend à nouveau entre deux colonnes actionné par le ressort 43. Ce nouveau mouvement provoque le pivotement de la bascule 35 dans l'autre sens, le sens horaire.Referring first to the Figures 3A and 3B , we can see that they both show the column wheel 41 oriented so as to allow the nose 39 of the rocker 35 to lower between two columns 59 under the action of the spring 43. If now, we rotate the ratchet wheel 57 of the column wheel 41 of a tooth, one of the columns pushes the nozzle 39 so that it rises and comes to rest resting against the column in accordance with what is shown in the Figure 3C . It will be understood that the lifting of the nozzle 39 causes the pivoting of the rocker 35 in the counterclockwise direction. The column wheel 41 is a two-stroke column wheel. Thus, if we then rotate the column wheel by an additional step, the column 59 against which the nozzle 39 rests disengages, and the nozzle descends again between two columns actuated by the spring 43. This new movement causes the pivoting of the rocker 35 in the other direction, clockwise.

Comme déjà mentionné, la bascule de commande 35 comporte une goupille 45 qui est agencée pour coopérer avec un pied 47 de la bascule de déclenchement 25. Toutefois, lorsque la bascule 35 est abaissée entre deux colonnes comme illustré dans les figures 3A et 3B, la goupille 45 est maintenue à l'écart de la trajectoire du pied 47, et elle ne peut donc pas entraver le pivotement de la bascule de déclenchement 25 dans un sens ou dans l'autre. On comprendra que le système de déclenchement est alors déverrouillé. En revanche, lorsque par la suite, la roue à colonnes 41 est incrémentée d'un pas, le pivotement de la bascule de commande 35 dans le sens antihoraire s'accompagne d'un déplacement de la goupille 45 en direction du pied 47. Dans cette nouvelle position illustrée dans la figure 3C, la goupille 45 se trouve sur la trajectoire du pied 47, de sorte qu'elle bloque le pivotement de la bascule de déclenchement 25 dans le sens antihoraire. On comprendra que le système de déclenchement est alors verrouillé de sorte que le bec 29 de la bascule de déclenchement 25 est dans l'incapacité de s'abaisser dans l'encoche 23 de la came de déclenchement 21 lorsqu'arrive l'heure programmée. Le mécanisme de sonnerie ne peut donc tout simplement pas se déclencher lorsque la roue à colonnes 41 se trouve dans la position angulaire illustrée par la figure 3C.As already mentioned, the control rocker 35 comprises a pin 45 which is arranged to cooperate with a foot 47 of the trigger rocker 25. However, when the rocker 35 is lowered between two columns as illustrated in the Figures 3A and 3B , the pin 45 is kept away from the trajectory of the foot 47, and it cannot therefore hinder the pivoting of the trigger rocker 25 in one direction or the other. It will be understood that the trigger system is then unlocked. On the other hand, when subsequently, the column wheel 41 is incremented by one step, the pivoting of the control rocker 35 in the counterclockwise direction is accompanied by a movement of the pin 45 towards the foot 47. In this new position illustrated in the Figure 3C , the pin 45 is on the trajectory of the foot 47, so that it blocks the pivoting of the trigger rocker 25 in the counterclockwise direction. It will be understood that the trigger system is then locked so that the beak 29 of the trigger lever 25 is unable to lower into the notch 23 of the trigger cam 21 when the programmed time arrives. The striking mechanism therefore simply cannot be triggered when the column wheel 41 is in the angular position illustrated by the Figure 3C .

On comprendra de ce qui précède que la position angulaire de la bascule de commande 35 détermine si le mécanisme de réveil se trouve dans l'état « activé » ou dans l'état « désactivé ». Conformément à un mode de réalisation avantageux de l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil du présent exemple comporte encore un organe indicateur d'activation agencé pour indiquer si le mécanisme de réveil et dans l'état « activé » ou dans l'état « désactivé ». Dans le présent exemple, l'organe indicateur d'activation est commandé par la bascule de commande 35 et, comme déjà mentionné, il est agencé pour apparaître dans un guichet référencé 7 (figure 1).It will be understood from the above that the angular position of the control rocker 35 determines whether the wake-up mechanism is in the “activated” state or in the “deactivated” state. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wake-up mechanism of the present example also comprises an activation indicator member arranged to indicate whether the wake-up mechanism is in the “activated” state or in the “deactivated” state. ". In the present example, the activation indicator member is controlled by the control rocker 35 and, as already mentioned, it is arranged to appear in a window referenced 7 ( figure 1 ).

On remarquera en outre que, si on incrémente d'un pas la position de la roue à colonnes 41 pour faire commuter le mécanisme de réveil de l'état « activé » à l'état « désactivé » pendant que le bec 29 de la bascule 25 est abaissé dans l'encoche 23 de la came 21, le ressort-moteur 15 étant en train de se désarmer en entraînant le mécanisme de sonnerie, on fait avancer la goupille 45 de la bascule de commande 35 en direction du pied 47 de la bascule de déclenchement 25. Le mécanisme de sonnerie étant déclenché, la bascule 25 se trouve à ce moment là dans la position représentée dans la figure 3B. Dans cette position, le pied 47 se trouve sur le chemin de la goupille 45. La goupille 45 repousse donc la bascule de déclenchement 25 qui revient ainsi dans la position représentée dans la figure 3C en provoquant l'arrêt de la sonnerie.It will also be noted that, if the position of the column wheel 41 is incremented by one step to switch the wake-up mechanism from the “activated” state to the “deactivated” state while the beak 29 of the rocker 25 is lowered into the notch 23 of the cam 21, the mainspring 15 being in the process of disarming by driving the striking mechanism, the pin 45 of the control rocker 35 is advanced towards the foot 47 of the trigger rocker 25. The striking mechanism being triggered, the rocker 25 is at this moment in the position shown in the Figure 3B . In this position, foot 47 is in the path of pin 45. Pin 45 therefore pushes back the trigger lever 25 which thus returns to the position shown in the Figure 3C causing the ringing to stop.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte également un remontoir de sonnerie comportant une tige de commande rotative et une liaison cinématique débrayable qui relie la tige de commande à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet de façon à permettre à la tige de commande d'armer le ressort-moteur du barillet. Les figures 4A et 4B sont des vues partielles schématiques en plan du mécanisme de réveil qui fait l'objet du présent exemple. Ces figures montrent plus particulièrement le remontoir de sonnerie. On peut voir que ce dernier comporte de manière classique une tige de commande (référencée 117) mobile axialement entre une position de remontage et une position de correction de l'heure d'alarme. Il convient de noter toutefois que, selon une variante, la tige de commande pourrait n'être mobile qu'en rotation, sans possibilité de coulisser axialement. L'un est l'autre de ces deux agencements sont connus de l'homme du métier, et ils ne seront pas décrits plus en détail.In accordance with the invention, the alarm mechanism also comprises a striking winder comprising a rotary control rod and a disengageable kinematic connection which connects the control rod to the rotary input/output member of the barrel so as to allow the control rod to arm the mainspring of the barrel. THE Figures 4A and 4B are partial schematic plan views of the alarm mechanism which is the subject of this example. These figures show more particularly the striking winder. It can be seen that the latter conventionally comprises a control rod (referenced 117) movable axially between a winding position and an alarm time correction position. It should be noted, however, that, according to a variant, the control rod could only be movable in rotation, without the possibility of sliding axially. Both of these arrangements are known to those skilled in the art, and they will not be described in more detail.

Le remontoir du présent exemple comprend encore un pignon de remontoir 119, un mobile de couronne 121 agencé dans l'axe de la tige 117 de manière à être entraîné par cette dernière, un renvoi intermédiaire de rochet 127 agencé pour être entraîné par le mobile de couronne, et une bascule de remontoir 125 agencée pour pivoter autour d'un axe (non référencé). Comme le montre les figures, le renvoi intermédiaire 127 est monté fou sur la bascule 125 en position excentrée, et le mobile de couronne 121 est arrangé concentriquement à l'axe de pivotement de la bascule 125. Cet agencement permet au renvoi intermédiaire de rochet 127 d'engrener en permanence avec le mobile de couronne 121, de sorte que ce dernier peut relier cinématiquement la tige de commande 117 au renvoi intermédiaire 127 indépendamment du pivotement de la bascule. C'est la raison pour laquelle le mobile de couronne 121 et le renvoi intermédiaire 127 seront également appelés ci-après le mobile menant et le mobile mené.The winder of the present example also comprises a winding pinion 119, a crown mobile 121 arranged in the axis of the stem 117 so as to be driven by the latter, an intermediate ratchet return 127 arranged to be driven by the winding mobile crown, and a winding lever 125 arranged to pivot around an axis (not referenced). As shown in the figures, the intermediate gear 127 is mounted loosely on the rocker 125 in an eccentric position, and the crown movable 121 is arranged concentrically with the pivot axis of the rocker 125. This arrangement allows the intermediate ratchet gear 127 to mesh permanently with the crown wheel 121, so that the latter can kinematically connect the control rod 117 to the intermediate gear 127 independently of the pivoting of the rocker. This is the reason why the crown mobile 121 and the intermediate return 127 will also be called below the driving mobile and the driven mobile.

Les figures 4A et 4B montrent encore le mobile d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet de sonnerie 14, qui est constitué par la roue dentée 17 et l'arbre 79 de barillet. On peut voir en outre que la roue dentée 17 est en prise avec un rouage formé de deux renvois 129 et 131 qui sont destinés à permettre de remonter le barillet 14. Comme déjà mentionné, la bascule de remontoir 125 est montée pivotante autour d'un axe (non référencé) qui est confondu avec l'axe du mobile de couronne 121. La bascule de remontoir est ainsi susceptible d'évoluer entre une première position angulaire extrême illustrée dans la figure 4A et une seconde position angulaire extrême illustrée dans la figure 4B. On peut voir que lorsque la bascule 125 se trouve dans la première position extrême, le renvoi intermédiaire 127 engrène avec le renvoi 129, alors que lorsqu'elle se trouve dans la seconde position, les renvois 127 et 129 sont débrayés l'un de l'autre. On comprendra de ce qui précède que lorsque la bascule est dans la première position extrême, la tige de commande 117 est reliée cinématiquement à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet 14, de sorte qu'il est possible d'armer le ressort-moteur 15 du barillet (figure 2A) en faisant tourner la tige 117, et on comprendra qu'en revanche, lorsque la bascule est dans la seconde position extrême, la liaison cinématique entre la tige de commande du remontoir et l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet 14 est débrayée.THE Figures 4A and 4B still show the rotary input/output mobile of the striking barrel 14, which is constituted by the toothed wheel 17 and the barrel shaft 79. It can also be seen that the toothed wheel 17 is engaged with a gear train formed by two references 129 and 131 which are intended to allow the barrel 14 to be wound. As already mentioned, the winding lever 125 is pivotally mounted around a axis (not referenced) which coincides with the axis of the crown mobile 121. The winder rocker is thus capable of evolving between a first extreme angular position illustrated in the Figure 4A and a second extreme angular position illustrated in the Figure 4B . It can be seen that when the rocker 125 is in the first extreme position, the intermediate gear 127 meshes with the gear 129, whereas when it is in the second position, the gears 127 and 129 are disengaged from one of them. 'other. It will be understood from the above that when the rocker is in the first extreme position, the control rod 117 is kinematically connected to the rotary input/output member of the barrel 14, so that it is possible to cock the mainspring 15 of the barrel ( Figure 2A ) by rotating the rod 117, and it will be understood that, on the other hand, when the rocker is in the second extreme position, the kinematic connection between the control rod of the winder and the rotary input/output member of the barrel 14 is disengaged.

Le fonctionnement de la liaison cinématique débrayable qui relie la tige de commande 117 à l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif 79, 17 du barillet est le suivant. Selon le sens de rotation de la tige de commande 117, le mobile de couronne 121 (ou mobile menant) est entraîné dans un sens ou dans l'autre. Le mobile menant entraîne lui-même le renvoi intermédiaire 127 (ou mobile mené) en rotation. De manière connue en soi, les frottements intervenant entre la bascule 125 et le mobile mené 127 ont pour effet de faire pivoter la bascule 125 en direction de l'une ou de l'autre de ses deux positions extrêmes selon le sens de rotation du mobile menant 121. Ainsi, un utilisateur qui fait tourner la tige de commande dans un premier sens amène la bascule 125 dans la première position angulaire extrême. Si l'utilisateur continue alors de faire tourner la tige de commande dans le même sens, il provoque l'engrènement du renvoi intermédiaire 127 avec le renvoi 129. Si ensuite l'utilisateur continue encore de tourner la tige de commande dans le même sens, il remonte le barillet de sonnerie 14 en armant le ressort-moteur 15. Si au contraire, le l'utilisateur fait tourner la tige de commande en sens inverse, le renvoi intermédiaire 127 s'écarte du renvoi 129 alors que la bascule pivote en direction de sa seconde position angulaire extrême.The operation of the disengageable kinematic connection which connects the control rod 117 to the rotary input/output member 79, 17 of the barrel is as follows. Depending on the direction of rotation of the control rod 117, the crown wheel 121 (or driving wheel) is driven in one direction or the other. The driving mobile itself drives the intermediate return 127 (or driven mobile) in rotation. In a manner known per se, the friction occurring between the rocker 125 and the driven mobile 127 has the effect of causing the rocker 125 to pivot in the direction of one or the other of its two extreme positions depending on the direction of rotation of the mobile. leading 121. Thus, a user who rotates the control rod in a first direction brings the rocker 125 into the first position extreme angular. If the user then continues to rotate the control rod in the same direction, he causes the intermediate gear 127 to mesh with the gear 129. If the user then continues to turn the control rod in the same direction, it raises the striking barrel 14 by arming the mainspring 15. If, on the contrary, the user turns the control rod in the opposite direction, the intermediate return 127 moves away from the return 129 while the lever pivots in the direction of its second extreme angular position.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte des moyens pour maintenir débrayée la liaison cinématique entre la tige de commande 117 et l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif 79, 17 du barillet lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état activé. Ces moyens de débrayage qui sont commandés par la roue à colonnes 41 sont montrés dans les figures 4A et 4B. Ces figures montrent en effet une bascule de blocage 133 montée pour pivoter autour d'un axe 135, et un levier d'arrêt 139 lui-même pivoté autour d'un axe 141. La bascule de blocage 133 comporte un premier bras qui se termine par un bec qui est rappelé contre la roue à colonnes 41, et un second bras qui porte une goupille 137 prévue pour coopérer avec une première extrémité du levier d'arrêt 139. Le levier 139 comporte également une seconde extrémité qui est agencée pour coopérer avec un doigt 143 que présente la bascule de remontage 125.In accordance with the invention, the alarm mechanism comprises means for keeping the kinematic connection between the control rod 117 and the rotary input/output member 79, 17 of the barrel disengaged when the alarm mechanism is in the state activated. These disengagement means which are controlled by the column wheel 41 are shown in the Figures 4A and 4B . These figures in fact show a blocking rocker 133 mounted to pivot around an axis 135, and a stop lever 139 itself pivoted around an axis 141. The blocking rocker 133 comprises a first arm which ends by a nose which is recalled against the column wheel 41, and a second arm which carries a pin 137 designed to cooperate with a first end of the stop lever 139. The lever 139 also includes a second end which is arranged to cooperate with a finger 143 presented by the winding lever 125.

Lorsque le bec de la bascule de blocage 133 est abaissé entre deux colonnes 59A de la roue à colonnes 41 (comme illustré dans la figure 4A), et que la roue à colonnes est alors incrémentée d'un pas, la bascule de blocage pivote dans le sens horaire. Le pivotement de la bascule 133 provoque le déplacement de la goupille 137 qui repousse le levier d'arrêt 139 en le faisant pivoter dans le sens antihoraire. Le pivotement du le levier 139 a lui-même pour effet de repousser le doigt 143 de la bascule de remontoir, de sorte que la bascule 125 pivote dans le sens horaire en direction de la seconde position angulaire extrême. En pivotant, la bascule 125 écarte le renvoi intermédiaire 127 du renvoi 129 ce qui provoque le débrayage de la liaison cinématique entre la tige de commande 117 et l'organe d'entrée/sortie rotatif du barillet 14. On comprendra de plus que la liaison cinématique est ensuite maintenue débrayée aussi longtemps que la roue à colonnes 41 n'est pas incrémentée. Il n'est donc pas possible d'opérer le remontage de la sonnerie lorsque le mécanisme de réveil se trouve dans l'état activé.When the nose of the locking rocker 133 is lowered between two columns 59A of the column wheel 41 (as illustrated in the figure 4A ), and the column wheel is then incremented by one step, the locking rocker pivots clockwise. The pivoting of the rocker 133 causes the movement of the pin 137 which pushes the stop lever 139 by rotating it counterclockwise. The pivoting of the lever 139 itself has the effect of pushing the finger 143 of the winding lever, so that the lever 125 pivots clockwise towards the second extreme angular position. By pivoting, the rocker 125 moves the intermediate gear 127 away from the gear 129, which causes the disengagement of the kinematic connection between the control rod 117 and the rotary input/output member of the barrel 14. It will further be understood that the kinematic connection is then kept disengaged as long as the column wheel 41 is not incremented. It is therefore not possible to wind the alarm when the alarm mechanism is in the activated state.

Lorsque le bec de la bascule de blocage 133 est en appui contre une des colonnes 59A de la roue à colonnes 41 (comme illustré dans la figure 4B), et que la roue à colonnes est incrémentée d'un pas, la colonne contre laquelle repose le bec de la bascule de blocage se dégage, et le bec descend alors entre deux colonnes faisant pivoter la bascule dans le sens antihoraire. Le pivotement de la bascule 133 dans le sens antihoraire provoque le recul de la goupille 137 et la libération du levier d'arrêt 139. Dans cette situation, un utilisateur qui fait tourner la tige de commande 117 dans le sens correspondant peut faire pivoter la bascule 125 dans le sens antihoraire, de façon à la ramener dans la première position angulaire extrême. En pivotant dans le sens antihoraire, la bascule de remontoir 125 provoque le pivotement du levier d'arrêt 139 dans le sens horaire en direction de la goupille 137.When the nose of the locking rocker 133 rests against one of the columns 59A of the column wheel 41 (as illustrated in the Figure 4B ), and the column wheel is incremented by one step, the column against which the nose of the locking rocker rests disengages, and the nose then descends between two columns pivoting the rocker counterclockwise. Pivoting the rocker 133 counterclockwise causes the pin 137 to recoil and the stop lever 139 to be released. In this situation, a user who rotates the operating rod 117 in the corresponding direction can rotate the rocker 125 counterclockwise, so as to bring it back to the first extreme angular position. By pivoting counterclockwise, the winder lever 125 causes the stop lever 139 to pivot clockwise towards the pin 137.

Conformément au mode de réalisation avantageux de l'invention qui fait l'objet de la présente description, le mécanisme de réveil comporte un système automatique agencé pour le désactiver lorsque le ressort-moteur s'est désarmé jusqu'à une première valeur seuil prédéfinie. En se référant à nouveau à la figure 2A, on peut voir que le mobile d'arrêtage 85 représenté comporte quatre niveaux différents. Les deux niveaux inférieurs sont comme on l'a vu, une étoile 87 et une came 89 qui constituent ensemble le mobile d'arrêtage proprement dit (Fig. 2B). Le troisième niveau du mobile 85 est constitué par une première came logique 61 qui est fixée rigidement sur les deux premiers niveaux en position coaxiale. Enfin, le mobile d'arrêtage 85 comprend encore un quatrième niveau formé principalement d'une deuxième came logique 95 qui est montée pivotante en position coaxiale par-dessus la première came logique 61. En se référant toujours à la figure 2A, on peut voir que la planche de la deuxième came logique est percée d'un oblong 97 qui définit un arc de cercle concentrique à l'axe de pivotement de la came. On peut voir également que la première came logique 61 porte une goupille 99 qui est agencée pour coulisser dans l'oblong 97. La présence de cet oblong permet à la deuxième came logique 95 de pivoter relativement au reste du mobile d'arrêtage 85 à l'intérieur d'un secteur angulaire dont l'étendue est limitée par les deux extrémités de l'oblong 97. La figure 2A montre encore un ergot d'encliquetage 101 qui est aménagée dans une ouverture de la première came logique 61 de façon à presser contre la face inférieure de la deuxième came logique 95 pour maintenir cette dernière à frottement dans une de ses deux positions angulaires extrêmes.In accordance with the advantageous embodiment of the invention which is the subject of the present description, the wake-up mechanism comprises an automatic system arranged to deactivate it when the mainspring has disarmed up to a first predefined threshold value. Referring again to the Figure 2A , we can see that the stopping mobile 85 shown has four different levels. The two lower levels are, as we have seen, a star 87 and a cam 89 which together constitute the actual stopping mobile ( Fig. 2B ). The third level of the mobile 85 is constituted by a first logical cam 61 which is rigidly fixed on the first two levels in a coaxial position. Finally, the stopping mobile 85 also comprises a fourth level formed mainly by a second logic cam 95 which is pivotally mounted in a coaxial position above the first logic cam 61. Always referring to to the Figure 2A , we can see that the board of the second logical cam is pierced with an oblong 97 which defines an arc of a circle concentric with the pivot axis of the cam. It can also be seen that the first logic cam 61 carries a pin 99 which is arranged to slide in the oblong 97. The presence of this oblong allows the second logic cam 95 to pivot relative to the rest of the stopping mobile 85 at the interior of an angular sector whose extent is limited by the two ends of the oblong 97. The Figure 2A also shows a latching lug 101 which is arranged in an opening of the first logical cam 61 so as to press against the lower face of the second logical cam 95 to maintain the latter frictionally in one of its two extreme angular positions.

Les figures 5A, 5B et 5C sont des vues schématiques en plan illustrant trois phases du fonctionnement du système automatique susmentionné. En se référant aux trois figures susmentionnées, on peut voir que la deuxième came logique 95, qui est montée sur le mobile d'arrêtage 85, comporte une première portion de profil 111 à rayon constant et une deuxième portion de profil 115 qui est en creux. Les trois figures montrent également la roue à colonnes 41 avec son rochet 57 immobilisé par le sautoir 58, et une bascule 103 à déclenchement instantané qui est pivotée par une extrémité autour d'un axe 105. On peut voir de plus que la bascule à déclenchement instantané porte un cliquet 109 qui est prévu pour actionner le rochet 57 de la roue à colonnes 41, et qui est fixé à l'extrémité de la bascule 103 la plus éloignée de l'axe de pivotement 105. Enfin, la bascule à déclenchement instantané est également munie d'une roulette 107 qui est rappelée contre la deuxième came logique 95 par un ressort de rappel 113.THE figures 5A , 5B and 5C are schematic plan views illustrating three phases of the operation of the aforementioned automatic system. Referring to the three aforementioned figures, it can be seen that the second logical cam 95, which is mounted on the stopping mobile 85, comprises a first profile portion 111 with constant radius and a second profile portion 115 which is hollow . The three figures also show the column wheel 41 with its ratchet 57 immobilized by the jumper 58, and an instantaneously triggered rocker 103 which is pivoted by one end around an axis 105. It can also be seen that the trigger rocker instantaneous carries a pawl 109 which is intended to actuate the ratchet 57 of the column wheel 41, and which is fixed at the end of the rocker 103 furthest from the pivot axis 105. Finally, the instantaneous trigger rocker is also provided with a caster 107 which is returned against the second logical cam 95 by a return spring 113.

La configuration illustrée dans la figure 5A correspond à la situation où le ressort de barillet est armé au maximum. On peut voir que dans cette configuration, la roulette 107 est en appui contre la portion de profil 111 à rayon constant de la came 95. Ensuite, lorsque le mécanisme de sonnerie se déclenche et que le ressort de barillet se désarme, le mobile d'arrêtage 85 effectue successivement deux pas de 30° dans le sens horaire. La deuxième came logique 95 demeure solidaire en rotation du reste du mobile d'arrêtage 85 durant le premier pas de 30°. En effet, la goupille 99 se trouve alors à une extrémité de l'oblong 97, et elle empêche la deuxième came logique 95 de pivoter relativement au reste du mobile d'arrêtage 85 dans le sens antihoraire. Dans ces conditions, la roulette 107 roule contre la portion de profil 111.The configuration shown in figure 5A corresponds to the situation where the barrel spring is fully loaded. It can be seen that in this configuration, the caster 107 rests against the constant radius profile portion 111 of the cam 95. Then, when the ringing mechanism is triggered and the barrel spring disarms, the stopping mobile 85 successively takes two steps of 30° in the clockwise direction. The second logical cam 95 remains integral in rotation with the rest of the stopping mobile 85 during the first 30° step. In fact, the pin 99 is then located at one end of the oblong 97, and it prevents the second logical cam 95 from pivoting relative to the rest of the stopping mobile 85 in the counterclockwise direction. Under these conditions, the caster 107 rolls against the profile portion 111.

A un certain moment durant le second pas de 30°, la roulette 107 arrive à l'extrémité de la portion de profil 111 à rayon constant (cette situation est montrée dans la figure 5B). En se référant plus particulièrement à cette figure, on peut comprendre qu'à l'instant où le point de contact entre la roulette 107 et la came 95 quitte la portion de profil à rayon constant, la force avec laquelle la roulette 107 presse contre le bord de la deuxième came logique 95 cesse d'être orientée radialement, mais s'oriente au contraire de manière à exercer sur la came 95 une force qui tend à la faire pivoter dans le sens horaire. Pour autant que le ressort de rappel 113 ait été choisi assez fort, la composante tangentielle de la force éjecte la deuxième came logique, faisant s'effacer la portion de profil à rayon constant. La roulette 107 plonge alors soudainement dans la portion de profil en creux 115 en faisant pivoter dans le sens antihoraire la bascule 103 à déclenchement instantané. Lorsque la bascule 103 pivote, le cliquet 109 est emmené avec elle en suivant une direction tangente à la roue à rochet 57, de sorte que le cliquet 109 vient en prise avec une dent du rochet et incrémente d'un pas la roue à colonnes 41. Le résultat de cette incrémentation est de désactiver le mécanisme de réveil.At a certain moment during the second 30° step, the caster 107 arrives at the end of the profile portion 111 with constant radius (this situation is shown in the Figure 5B ). Referring more particularly to this figure, it can be understood that at the instant when the point of contact between the caster 107 and the cam 95 leaves the constant radius profile portion, the force with which the caster 107 presses against the edge of the second logical cam 95 ceases to be oriented radially, but on the contrary is oriented so as to exert on the cam 95 a force which tends to make it rotate clockwise. Provided that the return spring 113 has been chosen strong enough, the tangential component of the force ejects the second logical cam, causing the constant radius profile portion to disappear. The caster 107 then suddenly plunges into the recessed profile portion 115 by rotating the instantly released rocker 103 counterclockwise. When the rocker 103 pivots, the pawl 109 is taken with it in a direction tangent to the ratchet wheel 57, so that the pawl 109 engages with a tooth of the ratchet and increments the column wheel 41 by one step The result of this increment is to deactivate the wake-up mechanism.

Conformément à l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte un mécanisme à commande manuelle agencé pour le faire passer alternativement de l'état activé à l'état désactivé et inversement. Les figures 6A, 6B et 6C sont des vues schématiques en plan de dessous de ce mécanisme. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré, le mécanisme à commande manuelle opère en faisant avancer d'un pas la roue à colonne 41 chaque fois que le porteur de la montre actionne un bouton-poussoir (référencé 13 dans la figure 1). On peut voir sur la figure 6A que la roue à colonnes 41 est sous l'action d'un cliquet 55 arrangé pour coopérer avec les dents de la roue à rochet 57. Le cliquet 55 est monté pivotant sur une des extrémités d'un levier de commande 51. Lorsque le bouton-poussoir 13 (non représenté dans les figures 6A, 6B et 6C) est actionné, son extrémité avant se déplace selon un chemin rectiligne (indiqué par la flèche A) en repoussant le levier de commande 51, de sorte que ce dernier pivote autour d'un axe 53. Un ressort de rappel (non représenté) est encore prévu pour faire revenir le levier de commande 51 en arrière, dès que le porteur de la montre relâche sa pression sur le bouton-poussoir 13. On peut donc comprendre que chaque pression exercée sur le poussoir a pour effet de déplacer le cliquet 55 de façon à faire avancer la roue à colonnes 41 de la valeur angulaire d'une dent de rochet (30°), et que les pressions successives sur le bouton-poussoir 13 ont pour effet d'incrémenter progressivement la position angulaire de la roue à colonnes 41.In accordance with the invention, the wake-up mechanism comprises a manually operated mechanism arranged to cause it to pass alternately from the activated state to the deactivated state and vice versa. THE Figures 6A, 6B And 6C are schematic bottom plan views of this mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the manually operated mechanism operates by advancing by one step the column wheel 41 each time the wearer of the watch activates a push button (referenced 13 in the figure 1 ). We can see on the Figure 6A that the column wheel 41 is under the action of a pawl 55 arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 57. The pawl 55 is pivotally mounted on one of the ends of a control lever 51. When the button - pusher 13 (not shown in the Figures 6A, 6B And 6C ) is actuated, its front end moves along a rectilinear path (indicated by the arrow A) by pushing back the control lever 51, so that the latter pivots around an axis 53. A return spring (not shown) is still intended to make the control lever 51 return backwards, as soon as the wearer of the watch releases his pressure on the push-button 13. We can therefore understand that each pressure exerted on the push-button has the effect of moving the pawl 55 from so as to advance the column wheel 41 by the angular value of a ratchet tooth (30°), and that successive presses on the push button 13 have the effect of progressively incrementing the angular position of the column wheel 41.

Conformément à un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, le mécanisme de réveil comporte un isolateur agencé pour neutraliser la fonction d'activation du mécanisme de réveil par le mécanisme à commande manuelle lorsque le degré d'armage du ressort-moteur est inférieur à une deuxième valeur seuil prédéfinie. En se référant à nouveau aux figures 6A, 6B et 6C, on peut voir une première came logique 61 et un isolateur 63. La première came logique 61 est montée coaxialement sur le mobile d'arrêtage 85 (visible dans les figures 2A et 2B) de manière à ce qu'elle pivote solidairement avec ce dernier. On peut voir également que la première came logique comporte plusieurs secteurs circulaires séparés les uns des autres par des épaulements. L'isolateur 63 se présente sous la forme d'une bascule qui est pivotée autour d'un axe 65 et qui est munie d'un bec suiveur de came 67 qui est rappelé contre le profil de la première came logique 61 par un ressort qui est intégré dans l'isolateur. L'isolateur 63 est également muni d'un deuxième bec 69 prévu pour coopérer avec les colonnes 59A du second lot de colonnes de la roue à colonnes 41. Enfin, l'isolateur 63 porte une goupille 71 à son extrémité la plus éloignée de l'axe 65. On peut préciser en outre que l'isolateur 63 est agencé, par rapport à la roue à colonnes 41, de telle manière que le bec 69 se trouve en appui contre une des colonnes 59A (figures 6A et 6B) lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état activé. Et qu'inversement, le bec 69 se trouve en regard de l'espace entre deux colonnes 59A (figure 6C) lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état désactivé.In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wake-up mechanism comprises an insulator arranged to neutralize the activation function of the wake-up mechanism by the manually controlled mechanism when the degree of winding of the mainspring is less than a second predefined threshold value. Referring again to the Figures 6A, 6B And 6C , we can see a first logic cam 61 and an insulator 63. The first logic cam 61 is mounted coaxially on the stopping mobile 85 (visible in the Figures 2A and 2B ) so that it pivots integrally with the latter. We can also see that the first logic cam comprises several circular sectors separated from each other by shoulders. The insulator 63 is in the form of a rocker which is pivoted around an axis 65 and which is provided with a cam follower beak 67 which is recalled against the profile of the first logical cam 61 by a spring which is integrated into the insulator. The insulator 63 is also provided with a second nozzle 69 designed to cooperate with the columns 59A of the second batch of columns of the column wheel 41. Finally, the insulator 63 carries a pin 71 at its end farthest from the axis 65. It can further be specified that the insulator 63 is arranged, relative to to the column wheel 41, in such a way that the nose 69 rests against one of the columns 59A ( Figures 6A and 6B ) when the wake-up mechanism is in the activated state. And conversely, the nozzle 69 is located opposite the space between two columns 59A ( Figure 6C ) when the wake-up mechanism is in the disabled state.

En se référant d'abord à la figure 6A, on peut voir que la came logique 61 est représentée dans une position angulaire telle que le bec 67 de l'isolateur 63 se trouve en appui contre une portion de profil circulaire 61a de la came. Rappelons que la position angulaire de la came logique 61 est représentative du degré d'armage du ressort-moteur. De plus, si la came logique est tournée de manière à ce que le bec 67 de l'isolateur 63 se trouve en face de la portion de profil circulaire 61a, c'est que le degré d'armage du ressort moteur est supérieur à la deuxième valeur seuil prédéfinie. En se référant toujours à la figure 6A, on peut voir encore que le deuxième bec 69 de l'isolateur 63 est en appui contre une des six colonnes 59A de la roue à colonnes 41. Si on se réfère maintenant à la figure 6B, on peut voir que le ressort moteur s'est au moins partiellement désarmé en faisant pivoter la came logique 61 dans le sens antihoraire. On peut comprendre que le degré d'armage du ressort moteur est maintenant inférieur à la deuxième valeur seuil prédéfinie, puisque le bec 67 ne se trouve plus en face de la portion de profil circulaire 61a. Le bec 67 de l'isolateur 63 se trouve maintenant en regard d'une autre portion circulaire (référencée 61b) de profil de la came 61, le rayon de la portion de profil circulaire 61b étant sensiblement inférieur à celui de la portion de profil circulaire 61a. On peut observer toutefois que le bec 67 n'est pas en appui contre le profil circulaire 61b, mais qu'il est au contraire suspendu au-dessus du profil 61b. En effet, le deuxième bec 69 de l'isolateur 63 est toujours en appui contre la même colonne 59A de la roue à colonnes 41, parce que le mécanisme de réveil est toujours activé, la sonnerie étant en cours.Referring first to the Figure 6A , we can see that the logic cam 61 is represented in an angular position such that the beak 67 of the insulator 63 rests against a portion of circular profile 61a of the cam. Remember that the angular position of the logic cam 61 is representative of the degree of winding of the mainspring. Furthermore, if the logic cam is rotated so that the nose 67 of the insulator 63 is opposite the circular profile portion 61a, it is because the degree of winding of the mainspring is greater than the second predefined threshold value. Always referring to the Figure 6A , we can still see that the second nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 rests against one of the six columns 59A of the column wheel 41. If we now refer to the Figure 6B , we can see that the mainspring has at least partially disarmed by rotating the logic cam 61 counterclockwise. It can be understood that the degree of winding of the mainspring is now lower than the second predefined threshold value, since the nose 67 is no longer facing the circular profile portion 61a. The nozzle 67 of the insulator 63 now faces another circular portion (referenced 61b) of profile of the cam 61, the radius of the circular profile portion 61b being significantly less than that of the circular profile portion 61a. It can be observed, however, that the nozzle 67 does not rest against the circular profile 61b, but on the contrary is suspended above the profile 61b. Indeed, the second nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 is always supported against the same column 59A of the column wheel 41, because the alarm mechanism is always activated, the ringing being in progress.

En se référant maintenant à la figure 6C, On peut voir que le bec 69 de l'isolateur 63 est abaissé entre deux colonnes 59A de la roue à colonnes 41. On comprendra donc que le mécanisme de réveil est maintenant désactivé. Comme déjà mentionné, l'isolateur 63 porte une goupille 71 à son extrémité la plus éloignée de l'axe 65. En se référant toujours à la figure 6C, on peut voir que La goupille 71 est agencée pour maintenir le cliquet 55 du mécanisme à commande manuelle à l'écart de la roue à rochet 57 de la roue à colonnes 41. Ainsi, on peut comprendre que, lorsque l'isolateur 63 se trouve dans la position illustrée dans la figure 6C, le porteur de la montre n'a plus la possibilité d'incrémenter la roue à colonnes en actionnant le bouton-poussoir 13. Dans la position illustrée, l'isolateur 63 empêche en effet le cliquet 55 de venir en prise avec les dents de la roue à rochet 57.Referring now to the Figure 6C , We can see that the nozzle 69 of the insulator 63 is lowered between two columns 59A of the column wheel 41. It will therefore be understood that the wake-up mechanism is now deactivated. As already mentioned, the insulator 63 carries a pin 71 at its end furthest from the axis 65. Still referring to the Figure 6C , we can see that the pin 71 is arranged to keep the pawl 55 of the manually operated mechanism away from the ratchet wheel 57 of the column wheel 41. Thus, we can understand that, when the insulator 63 is located in the position shown in the Figure 6C , the wearer of the watch no longer has the possibility of incrementing the column wheel by actuating the push button 13. In the position illustrated, the insulator 63 in fact prevents the pawl 55 from engaging with the teeth of the the ratchet wheel 57.

La figure 6A représente la première came logique 61 dans la même position angulaire que dans la figure 2A. Dans cette position correspondant à la situation où le barillet est armé au maximum, le bec 67 de l'isolateur 63 est en appui contre la portion de profil circulaire 61a. Telle que représentée dans les figures 6A, 6B et 6C, la première came logique 61, qui est solidaire du mobile d'armage 85 (figure 2A et 2B), est agencée pour tourner dans le sens antihoraire lorsque le barillet se désarme. Dans ces conditions, lorsque, suite au déclenchement de la sonnerie, la première came logique 61 se met à tourner, le bec 67 de l'isolateur 63 glisse sur la portion de profil circulaire 61a jusqu'à l'épaulement 62 séparant cette portion de profil de la portion de profil 61b. Une fois l'épaulement 62 franchi, le bec 67 se trouve en regard de la portion de profil circulaire 61b dont le rayon est sensiblement inférieur à celui du profil circulaire 61a. Lorsque le mécanisme de réveil se trouve dans l'état activé, l'autre bec (le bec 69) de l'isolateur 63 est en appui contre une des colonnes 59A de la roue à colonnes 41. Dans ces conditions, l'isolateur 63 ne bascule pas lorsque le bec 67 passe de la portion de profil 61a à la portion de profil 61b puisqu'il est encore soutenu par son autre bec qui est en appui contre une des colonnes de la roue à colonnes. On comprendra de ce qui précède que l'isolateur 63 n'interfère pas avec le fonctionnement du mécanisme à commande manuelle lorsque le mécanisme de réveil est dans l'état activé. En revanche, si le porteur de la montre-bracelet désactive le réveil en cours de sonnerie, après que le bec suiveur de came 67 a franchi l'épaulement 62, la colonne 59A s'efface. Dans ces conditions, le bec 69 est libre de s'abaisser entre deux colonnes, de sorte que l'isolateur 63 bascule dans le sens antihoraire et que le bec 67 vient en appui contre la portion de profil 61b. Conforment à ce qui a été expliqué plus haut, dans cette situation, le porteur de la montre n'a plus alors la possibilité d'incrémenter la roue à colonnes 41 en actionnant le bouton-poussoir 13. La fonction d'activation du mécanisme de réveil par le mécanisme à commande manuelle est donc neutralisée.There Figure 6A represents the first logical cam 61 in the same angular position as in the Figure 2A . In this position corresponding to the situation where the barrel is fully armed, the nose 67 of the insulator 63 rests against the circular profile portion 61a. As shown in the Figures 6A, 6B And 6C , the first logical cam 61, which is integral with the arming mobile 85 ( Figure 2A and 2B ), is arranged to rotate counterclockwise when the barrel decocks. Under these conditions, when, following the triggering of the ringing, the first logic cam 61 begins to rotate, the nose 67 of the insulator 63 slides on the circular profile portion 61a up to the shoulder 62 separating this portion from profile of the profile portion 61b. Once the shoulder 62 has been crossed, the nose 67 is located opposite the portion of circular profile 61b whose radius is significantly less than that of the circular profile 61a. When the wake-up mechanism is in the activated state, the other nozzle (the nozzle 69) of the insulator 63 rests against one of the columns 59A of the column wheel 41. Under these conditions, the insulator 63 does not tip when the spout 67 passes from the profile portion 61a to the profile portion 61b since it is still supported by its other beak which rests against one of the columns of the column wheel. It will be understood from the above that the isolator 63 does not interfere with the operation of the manually operated mechanism when the wake-up mechanism is in the activated state. On the other hand, if the wearer of the wristwatch deactivates the alarm while it is ringing, after the cam follower 67 has passed the shoulder 62, column 59A is erased. Under these conditions, the nose 69 is free to lower between two columns, so that the insulator 63 tilts in the counterclockwise direction and the nose 67 comes to rest against the profile portion 61b. In accordance with what has been explained above, in this situation, the wearer of the watch no longer has the possibility of incrementing the column wheel 41 by actuating the push button 13. The function of activating the mechanism alarm clock by the manually operated mechanism is therefore neutralized.

On comprendra en outre que diverses modifications et/ou améliorations évidentes pour un homme du métier peuvent être apportées au mode de réalisation qui fait l'objet de la présente description sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention définie par les revendications annexées.It will also be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the embodiment which is the subject of the present description without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

  1. Alarm mechanism for a mechanical timepiece able to be either in an activated state or in a de-activated state, and comprising :
    - a striking mechanism;
    - a barrel (14) comprising a mainspring (15) and a rotating input/output member (79, 17), the mainspring being arranged to be let down, following triggering of the striking mechanism, thus driving the striking mechanism via the rotating input/output member;
    - a manual control mechanism (13, 51, 55, 41) arranged to alternately activate and de-activate the alarm mechanism;
    - a triggering system (21, 25, 29, 33, 35) arranged to control the triggering of the striking mechanism at a preprogrammed time if the alarm mechanism is in the activated state;
    - a striking work winding mechanism comprising a rotating control rod (117) and a disengageable kinematic link (119, 121, 125, 127, 129, 131) connecting the control rod to the rotating input/output member (79, 17) of the barrel (14) in order to enable the control rod to wind the mainspring (15) of the barrel;
    characterised in that the alarm mechanism comprises means (59A, 133, 139, 143) to keep the kinematic link (119, 121, 125, 127, 129, 131) disengaged between the control rod (117) and the rotating input/output member (79, 17) of the barrel (14) when the alarm mechanism is in the activated state.
  2. Alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the manual control mechanism (13, 51, 55, 41) comprises a two-time column wheel (41), and a pawl (55) arranged to be actuated by an external control member (13) so as to increment the column wheel (41) step-by-step, and in that the triggering system (21, 25, 29, 33, 35) comprises a control lever arm (35) arranged to cooperate with the columns (59) of the column wheel (41) so as to alternately lock or unlock the triggering system when the column wheel (41) advances by one step, the alarm mechanism being in the de-activated state when the triggering system is locked and being in the activated state when the triggering system is unlocked.
  3. Alarm mechanism for a mechanical timepiece as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the means (59A, 133, 139, 143) for keeping the kinematic link (119, 121, 125, 127, 129, 131) disengaged comprise a blocking lever arm (133) arranged to cooperate with the columns (59A) of the column wheel (41) so as to toggle alternately between one and the other of a first and a second position when the column wheel is incremented step-by-step, the kinematic link between the control rod (117) and the rotating input/output member (79, 17) of the barrel (14) being disengaged, and the alarm mechanism being in the activated state, when the blocking lever arm (133) is in the first position.
  4. Alarm mechanism for a mechanical timepiece as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterised in that the striking work winding mechanism comprises a winding mechanism lever arm (125) able to transition between a first and a second extreme position by pivoting about a shaft, a driving wheel (121) idly mounted on the shaft of the lever arm and arranged to be kinematically connected to the control rod (117) when this control rod is in at least one axial position, and a driven wheel (127) pivotably mounted on the lever arm (125) so as to permanently mesh with the driving wheel, the lever arm being arranged to be brought into the first or into the second extreme position depending on the direction of rotation of the driving wheel (121), and the driven wheel (127) being arranged to come to mesh with teeth (130) kinematically connected to the rotating input/output member (79, 17) when the lever arm is brought into its first extreme position thus causing the driving wheel to turn in the corresponding direction with the aid of the control rod (117).
  5. Alarm mechanism for a mechanical timepiece as claimed in claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the means (59A, 133, 139, 143) for keeping the kinematic link (119, 121, 125, 127, 129, 131) disengaged comprise a stopping lever (139) arranged to pivot about a shaft (141) and to be controlled from the column wheel (41) so as to cooperate with a finger (143) on the winding mechanism lever arm (125) in order to keep this lever arm away from its first extreme position when the alarm mechanism is in the activated state.
  6. Alarm mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an automatic device (103, 107, 109) arranged to de-activate the alarm mechanism and to stop the striking when the driving of the striking mechanism causes the mainspring (15) to be let down to below a first predefined threshold value.
  7. Alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a mobile (85) arranged to be driven by the rotating input/output member (79, 17) of the striking work barrel (14) so that the angular position of the mobile (85) is representative of the degree of winding of the mainspring (15), and in that the automatic device (103, 107, 109) is arranged to deactivate the alarm mechanism and to stop the striking when the mobile (85) passes a first predefined angular position during the letting-down of the mainspring (15).
  8. Alarm mechanism as claimed in claims 2 and 7, characterised in that the automatic device (95, 103, 107, 109) comprises a logic cam (95), called second logic cam, borne by the mobile (85) in a coaxial position, a lever arm (103), a cam follower (107) arranged to cooperate with the second logic cam (95), and a pawl (109), the cam follower (107) and the pawl (109) being borne by the lever arm (103) and arranged so that the pawl (109) cooperates with the ratchet (57) of the column wheel (41) in order to cause this wheel to advance by one step when the second logic cam (95) causes the cam follower (107) and the lever arm (103) to move from a first to a second angular position.
  9. . Alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 6 and any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an isolator (63) arranged to cancel out the activation function of the alarm mechanism by the manual control mechanism (13, 51, 55, 41) when the degree of winding of the mainspring (15) is lower than a second predefined threshold value, the second threshold value being higher than the first threshold value.
  10. Alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that it comprises a mobile (85) arranged to be driven by the rotating input/output member (79, 17) of the barrel (14) in order to pivot between two angular positions respectively representative of the maximum and minimum degrees of winding of the mainspring (15), and in that the isolator (63) is arranged to cancel out the activation function of the alarm mechanism by the manual control mechanism (13, 51, 55, 41) when the angle which the mobile (85) forms with the angular position representative of the maximum degree of winding exceeds a predefined angle value.
  11. Alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that it comprises a logic cam (61), called first logic cam, connected to the mobile (85) for conjoint rotation therewith, in that the isolator (63) is formed by a lever arm able to move between a retracted position and an acting position, the lever arm (63) being arranged to cooperate with the first logic cam (61), and in that the first logic cam (61) is arranged to cause the isolator (63) to toggle into the acting position when the degree of winding of the mainspring (15) falls below the second predefined threshold value, the isolator (63) being arranged to cancel out the activation function when it is in the acting position.
EP19744847.5A 2018-06-20 2019-06-07 Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism Active EP3811159B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18178910 2018-06-20
PCT/IB2019/054756 WO2019243942A2 (en) 2018-06-20 2019-06-07 Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3811159A2 EP3811159A2 (en) 2021-04-28
EP3811159B1 true EP3811159B1 (en) 2023-10-18

Family

ID=62715978

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19744847.5A Active EP3811159B1 (en) 2018-06-20 2019-06-07 Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3811159B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2019243942A2 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH702844A2 (en) * 2010-03-17 2011-09-30 Glashuetter Uhrenbetrieb Gmbh Alarm device for alarm watch, has adjusting component acting on triggering units that are associated to predetermined date triggering value, where units include triggering wheels flatten on date and time expiry wheels, respectively

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1533666A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-25 Frédéric Piguet S.A. Watch comprising an alarm mechanism
EP1933212B1 (en) 2006-12-13 2009-03-18 Montres Breguet S.A. Timepiece with striking-mechanism comprising a locking lever
EP3159753B1 (en) * 2015-10-21 2018-10-10 Blancpain SA. Adjustable wake-up reminder timer for a mechanical watch

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH702844A2 (en) * 2010-03-17 2011-09-30 Glashuetter Uhrenbetrieb Gmbh Alarm device for alarm watch, has adjusting component acting on triggering units that are associated to predetermined date triggering value, where units include triggering wheels flatten on date and time expiry wheels, respectively

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3811159A2 (en) 2021-04-28
WO2019243942A2 (en) 2019-12-26
WO2019243942A3 (en) 2020-05-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2453322B1 (en) Fast time quantity indicator corrector for a timepiece
EP2561410B1 (en) Chronograph mechanism, clockwork movement and timepiece comprising such a mechanism
EP1801671B1 (en) Calendar watch provided with blocking means
EP4143640A1 (en) Timepiece movement comprising a countdown chronograph mechanism and a striking mechanism
EP3430481A1 (en) Watch movement comprising a retrograde display and a jump hour ring
EP1873696B1 (en) Mechanical golf counter
EP3811159B1 (en) Wake-up mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism
EP3811158B1 (en) Alarm clock mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism
EP2602675B1 (en) Timepiece movement comprising a chronograph mechanism with column wheel
EP1857890B1 (en) Device for triggering a pulse
EP3108307B1 (en) Striking mechanism for a clock piece
EP4320487A1 (en) Timepiece with repeater and alarm functions
EP3403143B1 (en) Horology movement with jumping display mechanism
WO1998044394A1 (en) Time-setting mechanism for clock movement with perpetual julian date
EP3800512B1 (en) Device for on-demand display for a clock piece
EP4071562B1 (en) Striking mechanism and timepiece comprising same
EP3686694B1 (en) Alarm clock mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism
EP4060428B1 (en) Driving mechanism for timepiece movement, in particular a chronograph mechanism comprising such a driving mechanism
EP4071561A1 (en) Timepiece with repetition
CH715980A1 (en) Jumping mechanism for watch movement.
CH702992A1 (en) Chronograph mechanism for clockwork movement utilized to drive i.e. needle, to display chronometered time, has counter associated with display member and arranged in such way that mobile part exhibits relative movement with counter
EP1760553A1 (en) Timepiece with Grand Strike
EP1760552A1 (en) Timepiece with Grand Strike
CH705848A2 (en) Clockwork movement for wrist watch, has pawl arranged to urge tooth of toothing of column-wheel when pushbutton is moved to active position and disengage toothing sliding over top of tooth when button returns to rest position

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20201028

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230521

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20230628

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602019039611

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20231018

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1622983

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20231018

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240119

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240218

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240218

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240119

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240118

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231018

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240219