EP4276545A1 - Anterograde display device for a timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to an anterograde display mechanism (100) comprising: a first wheel (110) capable of being driven by a clockwork movement; a second wheel (120) coaxial with the first wheel (110) and linked to the first wheel (110) by an elastic member (160); a first intermediate wheel (150) driven directly by the first wheel (110) and which directly drives a third wheel (130) carrying a display member (2); said third wheel (130) comprising a smooth angular sector (131) where at least two teeth are truncated; a fourth wheel (140) coaxial and integral in rotation with the third wheel (130), said fourth wheel (140) meshing with said second wheel via a second intermediate wheel (170); the anterograde display mechanism being configured so that the rotation speed of the second wheel (120) is lower than the rotation speed of the first wheel (110) when the display member (2) is driven in its movements angular by short successive jumps of an angle (a) between two marks separated by the first angle (a), so as to progressively arm the elastic member (160) during these short successive jumps, and so that when the teeth of the intermediate wheel (150) meet the smooth angular sector (131) of the third wheel (130), the elastic member (160) disarms causing the instantaneous passage of the smooth angular sector (131) and causing the movement by a long jump d angle (β) of said display member (2).

Description

Technical field of the invention

The field of the invention relates to anterograde, or “anti-retrograde” display mechanisms, that is to say display mechanisms configured to rotate a display member, in the direction of travel, d 'a first angular distance greater than a second angular distance.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an anterograde display mechanism, as well as a timepiece comprising such a watch movement.

Technology background

Anterograde display mechanisms are conventionally used to display information relating to the current time or even information relating to the date.

In a classic timepiece, the markings for the current time or date graduation are generally distributed uniformly around a circumference of the dial. However, in certain situations, it is desirable that the display member does not remain in a stable position on a particular sector of the dial to prevent the display member from masking, at a certain moment, for example a complication ( for example a tourbillon) or another display (for example a moon phase) which would be placed in the particular sector of the dial in question.

To prevent a display member from remaining indexed in a predefined sector of the dial, it is known to use anterograde display mechanisms allowing the display member to jump forward a greater angular distance. important than for the other graduations, on a predefined angular sector, so that the display member does not stop in this angular sector.

The patent CH 699 736 describes an exemplary embodiment of such an anterograde display mechanism applied to a date, the date graduation marks of which are not distributed uniformly over a circumference but are arranged so that the angular distance separating the marks 15 and 16 is greater than the angular distance separating the other marks 1 to 31. Thus, between marks 15 and 16, an angular sector of the dial of the timepiece without a mark is created in which the date hand does not stop, but makes a jump of a second angle greater than a first angle separating the other marks of the graduation. The anterograde display mechanism described in this patent is based on the use of several toothed sectors and their complex cooperation.

The patent document CH 713 209 describes another example of an anterograde display mechanism also applied to a date. In this document, the angular distance separating marks 31 and 1 is greater than the angular distance separating the other marks between 1 and 31. To switch the date hand from mark 31 to mark 1 without stopping, the document proposes the use of a snail cam secured to the date wheel carrying the date hand, said date wheel being advanced one step per day by a date actuator. The snail cam cooperates with a lever and a spring to ensure the stable angular position of the cam between marks 1 to 31. The snail cam comprises a toothed portion comprising 30 teeth for the 30 stable positions between marks 1 and 31, and a smooth portion extending in an angular sector corresponding to the angular sector of the dial devoid of graduation (between mark 31 and 1) allowing, under the action of the lever, to rotate the cam and the date wheel by one angle corresponding to the angle between marks 31 to 1.

However, either these anterograde mechanisms are complex to implement and integrate into a watch case, or these mechanisms are very sensitive to variations in manufacturing, and in particular machining, causing shifts in the jumps with respect to the graduations, which makes these mechanisms difficult to industrialize.

Consequently, there is a need to improve anterograde display mechanisms, in particular to make them easier to industrialize, and therefore less sensitive to dimensional variations of the parts, space-saving, easy to implement and more reliable.

Summary of the invention

• une première roue, dite roue motrice, apte à être entrainée par un mouvement d'horlogerie ;
• une deuxième roue coaxiale à la première roue et liée à la première roue par un organe élastique ;
• une première roue intermédiaire entrainée en direct par la première roue et qui entraine en direct une troisième roue, dite roue d'affichage, coopérant avec ledit organe d'affichage ; ladite troisième roue comportant un secteur angulaire lisse où au moins deux dents sont tronquées ;
• une quatrième roue coaxiale et solidaire en rotation de la troisième roue, ladite quatrième roue engrenant ladite deuxième roue par l'intermédiaire d'une deuxième roue intermédiaire ;

le mécanisme d'affichage antérograde étant configuré pour que la vitesse de rotation de la deuxième roue soit inférieure à la vitesse de rotation de la première roue lorsque l'organe d'affichage est entrainé dans ses déplacements angulaires par sauts successifs courts d'un angle α entre deux repères séparés par le premier angle a, de manière à armer progressivement l'organe élastique durant ces sauts successifs courts, et pour que lorsque les dents de la roue intermédiaire rencontrent le secteur angulaire lisse de la troisième roue, l'organe élastique se désarme entrainant le passage instantané du secteur angulaire lisse et entrainant le déplacement angulaire par un saut long d'angle β dudit l'organe d'affichage.In this context, the invention proposes an anterograde display mechanism for a timepiece comprising a display having a graduation presenting a plurality of marks distributed over a circumference of the display, the graduation being configured so that the angular distance separating two marks following one another corresponds to a second angle β greater than a first angle α separating two of the other marks following one another, the anterograde display mechanism being configured to drive a display member in its angular movements by short successive jumps d angle α between two marks separated by the first angle α and by a long jump of angle β between two marks of the graduation separated by the second angle β, the anterograde display mechanism being characterized in that it comprises:

• a first wheel, called the driving wheel, capable of being driven by a clockwork movement;
• a second wheel coaxial with the first wheel and linked to the first wheel by an elastic member;
• a first intermediate wheel driven directly by the first wheel and which directly drives a third wheel, said display wheel, cooperating with said display member; said third wheel comprising a smooth angular sector where at least two teeth are truncated;
• a fourth wheel coaxial and integral in rotation with the third wheel, said fourth wheel meshing with said second wheel via a second intermediate wheel;

the anterograde display mechanism being configured so that the rotation speed of the second wheel is lower than the rotation speed of the first wheel when the display member is driven in its angular movements by short successive jumps of an angle α between two marks separated by the first angle a, so as to progressively arm the elastic member during these short successive jumps, and so that when the teeth of the intermediate wheel meet the smooth angular sector of the third wheel, the elastic member disarms causing the instantaneous passage of the smooth angular sector and causing the angular displacement by a long jump of angle β of said display member.

• la première roue est apte à être entrainée par sauts par ledit mouvement d'horlogerie ;
• la première roue comporte un nombre de dents n ₁, le nombre de dents n ₁ étant égal au nombre de repères de la graduation de l'affichage ;
• la deuxième roue comporte un nombre de dents n ₂ supérieur au nombre de dents n ₁ de la première roue ;
• la troisième roue comporte un nombre effectif n _{3 eff} de dents réparties sur une portion dentée et un nombre de dents tronquées n _{3 tronq} sur le secteur angulaire lisse, l'ensemble formant un nombre n _{3 equi} d'équivalence de dents sur la circonférence complète de la troisième roue, le nombre n _{3 equi} d'équivalence de dents sur la circonférence complète de la troisième roue étant égal au nombre de dents n ₂ de la deuxième roue ;
• le nombre de dents tronquées n _{3 tronq} sur le secteur angulaire lisse de la troisième roue est un nombre entier correspondant au rapport du deuxième angle β sur le premier angle α ;
• la quatrième roue comporte un nombre de dents n ₄ égal au nombre de dents n ₂ de la deuxième roue ;
• le nombre de dents n ₂ de la deuxième roue est déterminé par la relation suivante : $${\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="n"\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">n</figure-callout>}}_2=n_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right)},$$
  
  où :
  • α est le premier angle correspondant à une première distance angulaire séparant au moins deux repères de la graduation se suivant ;
  • β_i est le second angle, plus grand que le premier angle a, correspondant à une deuxième distance angulaire, différente de la première distance angulaire, séparant au moins deux autres repères de la graduation se suivant au niveau d'un secteur S_i de la graduation ;
  • i est un nombre entier compris entre 1 et j ;
  • j est un nombre entier correspondant au nombre total de secteurs S_i de la graduation où deux repères de la graduation se suivant sont espacés par un second angle β_i plus grand que le premier angle α ;
• l'organe élastique est un ressort lame, une lamelle, un ressort plat, ou un ressort en spiral ;
• l'organe élastique est venu de matière avec la première roue de sorte qu'il comporte une première extrémité monobloc avec ladite première roue et une deuxième extrémité liée à la deuxième roue, ou l'organe élastique est venu de matière avec la deuxième roue de sorte qu'il comporte une première extrémité monobloc avec ladite deuxième roue et une deuxième extrémité liée à la première roue ;
• l'affichage comporte une graduation de quantième avec 31 repères et en ce que l'organe d'affichage est une aiguille de quantième ;
• la graduation de quantième comprend les chiffres 1 à 31 et/ou des indexes correspondant aux chiffres, les chiffres successifs de 1 à 31 étant séparés par le premier angle α et les chiffres 31 et 1 étant séparé par le deuxième angle β plus grand que ledit premier angle α ;
• la première roue comporte 31 dents et est configurée pour faire un tour en 31 jours, et le mécanisme d'affichage antérograde est configuré pour armer progressivement l'organe élastique pendant 31 jours ;
• l'affichage comporte une graduation des minutes ou des secondes avec 60 repères, et l'organe d'affichage est respectivement une aiguille de minutes ou de secondes.

In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the previous paragraph, the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations:

• the first wheel is able to be driven by jumps by said clockwork movement;
• the first wheel has a number of teeth n ₁ , the number of teeth n ₁ being equal to the number of marks on the display scale;
• the second wheel has a number of teeth n ₂ greater than the number of teeth n ₁ of the first wheel;
• the third wheel has an effective number n _{3 eff} of teeth distributed over a toothed portion and a number of truncated teeth n _{3 trunq} on the smooth angular sector, the whole forming a number n ₃ equivalence of teeth on the complete circumference of the third wheel, the number n ₃ equivalence of teeth on the complete circumference of the third wheel being equal to the number of teeth n ₂ of the second wheel;
• the number of truncated teeth n _{3 trunq} on the smooth angular sector of the third wheel is an integer corresponding to the ratio of the second angle β to the first angle α;
• the fourth wheel has a number of teeth n ₄ equal to the number of teeth n ₂ of the second wheel;
• the number of teeth n ₂ of the second wheel is determined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right)},$$
  
  Or :
  • α is the first angle corresponding to a first angular distance separating at least two marks of the following graduation;
  • β _i is the second angle, larger than the first angle a, corresponding to a second angular distance, different from the first angular distance, separating at least two other marks of the graduation following each other at the level of a sector S _i of the graduation;
  • i is an integer between 1 and j;
  • j is an integer corresponding to the total number of sectors S _i of the graduation where two marks of the graduation following one another are spaced by a second angle β _i greater than the first angle α;
• the elastic member is a leaf spring, a lamella, a flat spring, or a spiral spring;
• the elastic member is integral with the first wheel so that it has a first end in one piece with said first wheel and a second end linked to the second wheel, or the elastic member is integral with the second wheel so that it comprises a first end in one piece with said second wheel and a second end linked to the first wheel;
• the display includes a date graduation with 31 marks and in that the display member is a date hand;
• the date graduation comprises the digits 1 to 31 and/or indexes corresponding to the digits, the successive digits from 1 to 31 being separated by the first angle α and the digits 31 and 1 being separated by the second angle β greater than said first angle α;
• the first wheel has 31 teeth and is configured to make one revolution in 31 days, and the anterograde display mechanism is configured to gradually arm the elastic member for 31 days;
• the display includes a minute or second graduation with 60 marks, and the display member is respectively a minute or second hand.

The invention also relates to a clock movement characterized in that it comprises an anterograde display mechanism according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement setting in motion an anterograde display mechanism according to the invention.

Preferably, the timepiece is a wristwatch.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématique en perspective d'un premier exemple de réalisation d'un mécanisme d'affichage antérograde selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une représentation schématique en vue de dessous du mécanisme d'affichage antérograde illustré à la figure 1 ;
• les figures 3 à 6 illustrent schématiquement différentes positions du mécanisme d'affichage antérograde illustré à la figure 1 ;
• les figures 7a et 7b illustrent schématiquement un deuxième exemple de réalisation du mécanisme d'affichage antérograde selon l'invention, et plus particulièrement un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'un cadran d'affichage à la figure 7a et un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'une roue d'affichage correspondante, à la figure 7b ;
• les figures 8a et 8b illustrent schématiquement un troisième exemple de réalisation du mécanisme d'affichage antérograde selon l'invention, et plus particulièrement un troisième exemple de réalisation d'un cadran d'affichage à la figure 8a et un troisième exemple de réalisation d'une roue d'affichage correspondante, à la figure 8b ;
• les figures 9a et 9b illustrent schématiquement un quatrième exemple de réalisation du mécanisme d'affichage antérograde selon l'invention, et plus particulièrement un quatrième exemple de réalisation d'un cadran d'affichage à la figure 9a et un quatrième exemple de réalisation d'une roue d'affichage correspondante, à la figure 9b.

The aims, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description below referring to the following figures:

• there figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a first embodiment of an anterograde display mechanism according to the invention;
• there figure 2 is a schematic bottom view of the anterograde display mechanism shown in figure 1 ;
• THE figures 3 to 6 schematically illustrate different positions of the anterograde display mechanism illustrated in figure 1 ;
• THE figures 7a and 7b schematically illustrate a second embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention, and more particularly a second example of embodiment of a display dial at the figure 7a and a second embodiment of a corresponding display wheel, at the figure 7b ;
• THE figures 8a and 8b schematically illustrate a third embodiment of the display mechanism anterograde according to the invention, and more particularly a third example of production of a display dial at the figure 8a and a third embodiment of a corresponding display wheel, at the figure 8b ;
• THE figures 9a and 9b schematically illustrate a fourth embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention, and more particularly a fourth embodiment of a display dial at the figure 9a and a fourth embodiment of a corresponding display wheel, at the figure 9b .

In all figures, common elements bear the same reference numbers unless otherwise specified.

Detailed description of the invention

The anterograde display mechanism 100 according to the invention is intended to be housed in a timepiece, for example in a wristwatch.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 according to the invention is configured to be driven by a clockwork movement (not shown), that is to say by a mechanism whose operation depends on the division of time.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 is configured to produce a display by jumping a display member (or indicator), for example a needle, facing a display, for example a dial, having a peripheral graduation formed by a plurality of marks distributed over a circumference of the display, the angular distance separating two of these consecutive marks corresponding to a second angle β greater than a first angle α separating two of the other consecutive marks of the graduation. The graduation includes at least two consecutive marks separated by a second angle β greater than a first angle a.

In a variant embodiment (not shown), the anterograde display mechanism 100 is configured to produce a display by jumping a display member, for example a disk presenting a plurality of marks, forming a peripheral graduation, distributed over a circumference of the disc, cooperating with an opening in a dial forming a window revealing a portion of the display member.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 is configured to drive the display member by short successive jumps between the marks of the graduation separated by the first angle α and by a long jump between the two consecutive marks of the graduation separated by the second angle β.

In a first embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism 100 illustrated particularly in figures 1 to 6 , the anterograde display mechanism 100 is applied to a particular example of date display. However, the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention is also applicable for the display of any information derived from time. Thus, the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention can also be an anterograde display mechanism for date, hour, minute, second, or even a chronograph, moon phase, counter, reserve walking, etc.

In the first example shown in figures 1 to 6 , the anterograde display mechanism 100 includes a dial 3 (represented on the figures 3 to 6 ) carrying a plurality of markers forming a date graduation. Dial 3 therefore has 31 marks distributed around the circumference of dial 3.

In the example shown, the date graduation includes the odd numbers 1 to 31 distributed over a circumference of the dial 3 as well as indexes located between two odd numbers. The indexes located between odd numbers represent even numbers here. They replace the digits of the graduation in particular for better readability of the display. Thus, in this application, for greater clarity, we will only speak of numbers, even numbers here being indexes.

The angular distance separating the consecutive digits 31 and 1 corresponds to a second angle β greater than a first angle α separating the other digits between 1 and 31 of the date graduation.

There figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the anterograde display mechanism 100 according to the invention making it possible to drive the display member in its angular movements by short successive jumps between the marks separated by an angle α and by a long jump between the graduation marks separated by an angle β.

There figure 2 schematically illustrates a bottom view of the anterograde display mechanism 100 illustrated in figure 1 .

With reference to figures 1 And 2 , the anterograde display mechanism 100 according to the invention comprises a first wheel 110, called the driving wheel, driven in rotation directly by the clockwork movement (not shown).

In the embodiment shown, the rotation speed of the drive wheel 110 is 1 revolution in 31 days, and the drive wheel is set in motion once a day by the clockwork movement. The driving wheel 110 therefore advances one step per day.

For this purpose, the driving wheel 110 has a number of teeth n ₁ , here equal to 31 teeth for 31 indexing positions of the driving wheel 110 corresponding to 31 indexed positions of the date display member, opposite -screw the 31 marks of the date graduation on dial 3.

Each indexing position of the drive wheel 110 is indexed by a jumper 180 cooperating with the drive wheel 110. The jumper 180 is movable in rotation around a pivot 181 and constrained by an elastic element (not shown) tending to bring back a jumper nozzle 182 towards the axis of rotation of the driving wheel 110, so that the jumper nozzle 182 cooperates with the teeth and the inter-tooth spaces of the drive wheel 110 to guarantee maintenance in the indexing position of the drive wheel 110 between each step.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 further comprises a second wheel 120 mounted coaxially with the driving wheel 110. The second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ different from the number of teeth n ₁ of the driving wheel 110. Advantageously, the second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ greater than the number of teeth n ₁ of the drive wheel 110.

The matrix wheel 110 and the second wheel 120 are not united in rotation. The two wheels 110, 120 are linked to each other by an elastic member 160. The elastic member 160 has a first end 161 secured to the driving wheel 110 and a second end 162 secured to the second wheel 120.

By solidary we mean a mechanical connection of which at least one degree of freedom is blocked.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 further comprises a third wheel 130, called the display wheel, which drives the display member making it possible to display the date on a dial 3.

For example, as shown in figures 3 to 6 , the display member can be formed by a date hand 2 mounted on a barrel 132 of the display wheel 130.

According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the display member is a disk integral in rotation with the display wheel 130, the disk having a plurality of marks forming the date graduation, and being configured to cooperate with a opening the dial to reveal a portion of the disc.

The drive wheel 110 directly drives an intermediate wheel 150, which directly drives the display wheel 130. The intermediate wheel 150 advantageously makes it possible to produce a return between the drive wheel 110 and the display wheel 130.

The display wheel 130 comprises at least one toothed portion and at least one angular sector 131 in which a plurality of teeth are truncated so as to form a “smooth” angular sector without teeth. Thus, momentarily, with each complete rotation of the display wheel 130, the display wheel 130 is no longer directly engaged with the driving wheel 110 when the smooth angular sector 131 of the display wheel 130 finds itself in view of the teeth of the intermediate wheel 150.

In the particular case illustrated in figures 1 to 6 , the smooth angular sector 131 is bordered by a first tooth d1 of the teeth and by a last tooth d30 of the teeth, the display wheel 130 having 30 teeth.

In the example shown in figures 1 to 6 , the display wheel 130 comprises a single smooth angular sector 131 defining a zone in which at least two teeth are truncated.

Thus, the display wheel 130 comprises an effective number n _{3 eff} of teeth distributed over the toothed portion and a truncated number n ₃ of teeth truncated on the smooth angular sector 131. We thus obtain a number n _{3 equi} corresponding to an equivalence of teeth on the circumference of the wheel.

For the display wheel 130, we have the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{horse}}={\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{eff}}+{\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{trunq}}$$

It will be noted that the display wheel 130 can also include several toothed portions and several smooth angular sectors 131, having a more or less significant angular distance, an equal or unequal angular distance, which can be distributed uniformly, or not, over the circumference. of the display wheel 130, depending on needs. Other examples of embodiment will be described subsequently with reference to the figures 7 at 10.

The anterograde display mechanism 100 further comprises a fourth wheel 140 coaxial with the display wheel 130 and integral in rotation with the wheel with the display wheel 130. The fourth wheel has a number of teeth n ₄ .

The fourth wheel 140 meshes directly with a second intermediate wheel 170 which meshes directly with the second wheel 120, so that the second wheel 120 is rotated by the second intermediate wheel 170.

Advantageously, the second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ greater than the number of teeth n ₁ of the drive wheel 110, so as to have a rotation speed lower than the rotation speed of the drive wheel 110, and thus arm, or progressively load the elastic member 160 during the rotation of the drive wheel 110.

Advantageously, the second wheel 120 and the display wheel 130 respectively have a number of teeth n ₂ , n _{3 equi} greater than the number of teeth n ₁ of the driving wheel 110. Advantageously, the second wheel 120 and the display wheel 130 have the same number of teeth ( n ₂ = n _{3 equi} ) .

Advantageously, the second wheel 120, the display wheel 130, and the fourth wheel 140 respectively have a number of teeth n ₂ , n _{3 equi} , n ₄ greater than the number of teeth n ₁ of the driving wheel 110. Advantageously the second wheel 120, the display wheel 130, and the fourth wheel 140 have the same number of teeth ( n ₂ = n _{3 equi} = n ₄ ).

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figures 3 to 6 , dial 3 carries the date graduation. The date graduation has 31 marks which are not uniformly distributed around the circumference of dial 3, since the second angle β between the number 31 and 1 is greater than the first angle α separating the other numbers between 1 and 31.

In this example, angle β is twice as large as angle α.

Thus, dial 3 is divided into 32 equidistant divisions, two consecutive divisions of which are separated by the first angle α.

These divisions form indexable positions P _x , with x ranging from 1 to 32.

The 31 digits forming the markers of the date graduation are distributed at the level of 31 indexable positions of the dial 3, the positions P ₁ to P ₃₁ .

The indexable position P ₃₂ (fictitious, represented accordingly in dotted lines) does not have a mark and is intended to be directly jumped by the date hand 2 making a long jump of angle β between the number 31 (indexable position P ₃₁ ) and the number 1 (indexable position P ₁ ).

The driving wheel 110 has 31 teeth corresponding to the 31 indexed positions of the date hand 2, and therefore 31 marks of the dial 3 of the date graduation.

où :

• α est un premier angle correspondant à une première distance angulaire séparant au moins deux repères de la graduation se suivant,
• β_i est un second angle, plus grand que le premier angle a, correspondant à une deuxième distance angulaire, différente de la première distance angulaire, séparant au moins deux autres repères de la graduation se suivant au niveau d'un secteur S_i de la graduation,
• i est un nombre entier compris entre 1 et j ;
• j est un nombre entier correspondant au nombre total de secteurs S_i de la graduation où deux repères de la graduation se suivant sont espacés par un second angle β_i plus grand que le premier angle α.

Advantageously, the second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ defined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right)}$$

Or :

• α is a first angle corresponding to a first angular distance separating at least two marks of the following graduation,
• β _i is a second angle, larger than the first angle a, corresponding to a second angular distance, different from the first angular distance, separating at least two other marks of the graduation following each other at the level of a sector S _i of the graduation,
• i is an integer between 1 and j;
• j is an integer corresponding to the total number of sectors S _i of the graduation where two marks of the graduation following each other are spaced by a second angle β _i greater than the first angle α.

$$\beta /\alpha =2$$

$$n_2=32=n_{3\mathit{equi}}=n_4$$

As seen previously, the second angle β is twice as large as the first angle α . $${\mathrm{not}}_1=31$$

$$\beta /\alpha =2$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2=32={\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{horse}}={\mathrm{not}}_4$$

The number n ₃ truncated teeth at the level of the smooth angular sector 131 of the display wheel 130 is equivalent to the ratio between the second angle β and the first angle α . $${\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{trunq}}=\frac{\beta }{\alpha }$$

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown in figures 1 to 6 , the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel of 32 teeth on which two consecutive teeth are truncated at the level of the smooth angular sector 131. The display wheel 130 therefore has 30 effective teeth n _{3 eff} .

For a complete rotation of the driving wheel 110, the second wheel 120 will have an angular delay of 1/32° relative to the driving wheel 110 which makes one revolution in 31 days. The difference in relative rotational speed between the driving wheel 110 and the second wheel 120 will gradually load, or arm, the elastic member 160, by elastic deformation, throughout a given period, here 31 days.

The elastic member 160 can be a leaf spring, a strip, a flat spring, a spiral spring or any other elastic element conventionally used in the field of watchmaking.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 6 , the elastic member 160 is integral with the drive wheel 110. Consequently, the first end 161 is integral with the drive wheel 110 and the second end 162 is linked to the second wheel 120.

For example, the second end 162 forms a hooking head comprising a pin 163 cooperating with an oblong loop 121 provided on the second wheel 120 to secure in rotation the second end 162 of the elastic member 160 to the second wheel 120.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the elastic member is integral with the second wheel 120, so that the second end 162 is integral with the second wheel 120 and the first end 161 is linked to the driving wheel 110.

How the Anterograde Display Mechanism Works

The operation of the anterograde display mechanism 100 according to the invention will be described below with reference to the figures 3 to 6 , representing the operation of the first exemplary embodiment described with reference to the figures 1 to 2 .

There Figure 3 illustrates the anterograde display mechanism 100 when the date hand 2 is indexed to the number 1 of the date graduation of the dial 3, corresponding to the indexable position P ₁ .

From this initial position of the anterograde display mechanism 100, the display wheel 130 is driven by the driving wheel 110 for 31 days, at each step of the driving wheel 110. During this period of 31 days, the needle of date 2 is moved angularly once per day by short successive jumps of angle α. The date hand 2 is therefore indexed day after day at the different marks of the date graduation corresponding to the different divisions, or indexable positions P _x , of the dial 3 separated by an angle α; that is to say between the numbers 1 and the number 31, until reaching the number 31 of the date graduation of dial 3 (position P ₃₁ ), as illustrated in figure 4 .

During this period of 31 days, the gear ratio between the drive wheel 110 and the other wheels 120, 130, 140 of the mechanism generates an angular offset between the drive wheel 110 and the second wheel 120. This offset, increasing with each increment by the driving wheel 110, will gradually load the elastic member 160.

When the date hand 2 is indexed to the position P ₃₁ of the dial 3 (number 31 of the date graduation), the relative angular difference between the driving wheel 110 and the second wheel 120 is maximum, and the elastic member 160 is in its fully armed position.

In contrast, as illustrated in Figure 3 , when the date hand 2 is indexed to the indexable position P ₁ of the dial 3 (digit 1 of the date graduation), the relative angular difference between the driving wheel 110 and the second wheel 120 is minimal, and the member elastic 160 is in its unloaded position.

After indexing the display member to the indexable position P ₃₁ , illustrated in Figure 4 , the next step of the driving wheel 110 causes the additional rotation of the display wheel 130 until arriving in a position where the smooth angular sector 131 is opposite the intermediate wheel 150, so that the display 130 is no longer engaged with the driving wheel 110, as illustrated in Figure 5 . Since the display wheel 130 is momentarily no longer meshed with the driving wheel 110, the elastic member 160 is free to discharge the energy accumulated over the previous 31 days.

Under the discharge of the elastic member 160, the second wheel 120 tends to catch up with its angular delay accumulated during the previous 31 days, relative to the driving wheel 110, and causes the display wheel 130 to rotate (in the same direction rotation than the driving wheel 110) so as to advance the date hand 2 forward (in the direction of movement clockwise) until the passage of the smooth angular sector 131 and until the intermediate wheel 150 comes into contact with the tooth d1 bordering the smooth angular sector 131, as illustrated in Figure 6 .

The unloading of the elastic member occurs instantly while the driving wheel 110 has not yet completed its rotation corresponding to the daily angular step. This phase is particularly illustrated by the Figure 6 . In this figure, we notice that the date hand 2 is not yet facing mark 1 of dial 3.

Indeed, at this stage, the pitch of the driving wheel 110 is not yet complete because the jumper 180 is not yet positioned between two teeth of the driving wheel 110. With the restoring force of the elastic element acting on the jumper 180, the jumper 180 tends to finalize the rotation of the driving wheel 110 to the next indexing position. The additional rotation of the driving wheel 110 under the effect of the jumper 180 will make it possible to shift the first intermediate wheel 150 and therefore the display wheel 130 to finalize the jump of the date hand 2 and bring the date hand 2 next to the number 1 of the date graduation of dial 3, as illustrated in Figure 3 previously described.

Thus, the long jump of angle β of the date hand 2 between the number 31 and the number 1 of the date graduation corresponds to the rotation of angle α conventionally generated by the daily step of the driving wheel 110 and by the unloading of the elastic member 160 causing an additional rotation by an angle ε = β - α to directly reach the number 1 of the date graduation.

Of course the rotation of the display wheel 130 and therefore of the date hand 2 due to the discharge of the elastic member 160 depends on the energy accumulated during the previous indexing period and the angular distance of the sector smooth angular 131 of the display wheel 130. Thus, different configurations are possible, and the long jump of angle β can be greater than twice the angle α.

Variants of realization

THE figures 7a and 7b illustrate a second embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention for displaying a date. There figure 7a illustrates a second example of making a dial 3 carrying a date graduation, and the figure 7b illustrates a second embodiment of a corresponding display wheel.

In this second embodiment, dial 3 is divided into 35 equidistant divisions, two consecutive divisions of which are separated by the first angle α.

These divisions form indexable positions P _x , with x ranging from 1 to 35.

The 31 digits forming the markers of the date graduation are distributed at 31 indexable positions P _x of dial 3, positions P ₁ to P ₁₅ and positions P ₁₆ to P ₃₅ .

In this exemplary embodiment, four successive divisions or indexable positions of dial 3, here the positions P ₁₆ to P ₁₉ are fictitious and do not present a date marker. Consequently, these divisions are not intended to be indexed by date hand 2.

Indeed, between the number 15 and the number 16, the date hand 2 here makes a long jump of angle β, passing from the number 15 (indexable position P ₁₅ ) to the number 16 (indexable position P ₂₀ ), five times greater than the angle α between the other digits of the date scale.

The driving wheel 110 has 31 teeth corresponding to the 31 indexed positions of the date hand 2, and therefore 31 marks of the dial 3 of the date graduation.

$$n_2=31+\left(5-1\right)=35$$

The second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ defined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right),\mathrm{with}j=i=1}$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2=31+\left(5-1\right)=35$$

Thus, in this second embodiment, the second wheel 120 and the fourth wheel have 35 teeth, and the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel with 35 teeth.

The number of truncated teeth n _{3 trunq} at the level of the smooth angular sector 131 of the display wheel 130 is equal to 5: $${\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{trunq}}=\frac{\beta }{\alpha }=5$$

Consequently, in this second embodiment, the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel of 35 teeth on which five consecutive teeth are truncated at the level of the smooth angular sector 131. The display wheel 130 therefore has 30 effective teeth .

THE figures 8a and 8b illustrate a third embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention for displaying minutes. There figure 8a illustrates a third embodiment of a dial 3 carrying a minute graduation, and the figure 8b illustrates a third embodiment of a corresponding display wheel.

In this third embodiment, dial 3 is divided into 66 equidistant divisions, two consecutive divisions of which are separated by the first angle α.

These divisions form indexable positions P _x , with x ranging from 1 to 66.

In this third embodiment, the 60 marks of the minute graduation are distributed over 60 indexable positions P _x of dial 3, positions P ₁ to P ₃₀ , and positions P ₃₄ to P ₆₃ .

Dial 3 has two sectors S ₁ and S ₂ comprising three successive divisions, here the positions P ₃₁ to P ₃₃ and P ₆₄ to P ₆₆ , which are fictitious and do not have a minute marker. Therefore, these divisions are not intended to be indexed by the minute hand.

Thus, at the level of the first sector S ₁ , between the number 30 and the number 31, the minute hand here makes a first long jump of an angle β ₁ , four times greater than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

At the level of the second sector S ₂ , between the number 60 and the number 1, the minute hand here makes a second long jump of an angle β ₂ , four times greater than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

In this embodiment, the drive wheel has 60 teeth for the 60 minutes indexed by the minute display member.

$$n_2=n_1+\left(\left({\beta }_1/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\beta }_2/\alpha \right)-1\right)$$

$$n_2=60+\left(4-1\right)+\left(4-1\right)=66$$

The second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ defined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right),\mathrm{with}}j=2$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+\left(\left({\beta }_1/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_2/\alpha \right)-1\right)$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2=60+\left(4-1\right)+\left(4-1\right)=66$$

Thus, in this third embodiment the second wheel 120 and the fourth wheel have 66 teeth, and the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel with 66 teeth.

The display wheel 130, illustrated in figure 8b , here comprises two smooth angular sectors 131a, 131b opposed to each other to enable indexing of the display member at the level of the minute graduation of dial 3 illustrated in figure 8a , as well as the short jumps of angle α and the two long jumps of angles β ₁ and β ₂ .

The number n ₃ truncated teeth at the level of the first smooth angular sector 131a of the display wheel 130 is equal to 4: $${\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{trunq}}=\frac{{\beta }_1}{\alpha }=4$$

The number n' ₃ truncated teeth at the level of the second smooth angular sector 131b of the display wheel 130 is equal to 4: $$\mathrm{not}{\prime }_{3\mathrm{trunq}}=\frac{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_2}{\alpha }=4$$

Consequently, in this third embodiment, the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel of 66 teeth on which four consecutive teeth are truncated at the level of a first smooth angular sector 131a and four consecutive teeth are truncated at the level d a second smooth angular sector 131b.

The display wheel 130 therefore has 58 effective teeth, i.e. 29 consecutive teeth between each smooth angular sector 131a, 131b, i.e. 29 consecutive teeth on a first toothed portion and 29 consecutive teeth on a second toothed portion.

THE figures 9a and 9b illustrate a fourth embodiment of the anterograde display mechanism according to the invention, in particular the minute display. There figure 9a illustrates a fourth example of production of a dial 3 carrying a minute graduation, and the figure 9b illustrates a fourth embodiment of a corresponding display wheel.

In this fourth embodiment, dial 3 is divided into 68 equidistant divisions, two consecutive divisions of which are separated by the first angle α.

These divisions form indexable positions P _x , with x ranging from 1 to 68.

In this fourth embodiment, the 60 marks of the minute graduation are distributed over 60 indexable positions P _x .

The dial 3 has four sectors S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ and S ₄ of two successive divisions, here the positions P ₁₆ , P ₁₇ , P ₃₃ , P ₃₄ , P ₅₀ , P ₅₁ , P ₆₇ , P ₆₈ , which are fictitious and do not have a minute marker. Therefore, these divisions are not intended to be indexed by the minute hand.

Thus, at the level of the first sector S ₁ , between the number 15 and the number 16, the minute hand here makes a first jump along an angle β ₁ , three times larger than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

At the level of the second sector S ₂ , between the number 30 and the number 31, the minute hand here makes a second long jump of an angle β ₂ , three times greater than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

At the level of the third sector S ₃ , between the number 45 and the number 46, the minute hand here makes a third long jump of an angle β ₃ , three times greater than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

At the level of the fourth sector S ₄ , between the number 60 and the number 1, the minute hand here makes a fourth long jump of an angle β ₄ , three times greater than the angle α corresponding to the short jump between the digits of the minute scale.

In this embodiment, the drive wheel has 60 teeth for the 60 minutes indexed by the minute display member.

$$n_2=n_1+\left(\left({\beta }_1/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\beta }_2/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\beta }_3/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\beta }_4/\alpha \right)-1\right)$$

$$n_2=60+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)=68$$

The second wheel 120 has a number of teeth n ₂ defined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right),\mathrm{with}j=4}$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+\left(\left({\beta }_1/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_2/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_3/\alpha \right)-1\right)+\left(\left({\beta }_4/\alpha \right)-1\right)$$

$${\mathrm{not}}_2=60+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)+\left(3-1\right)=68$$

Thus, the second wheel 120 and the fourth wheel have 68 teeth, and the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel with 68 teeth.

The display wheel 130, illustrated in figure 9b , here comprises four smooth angular sectors 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d distributed equidistantly on the display wheel 130 to allow indexing of the display member at the level of the minute graduation of dial 3 illustrated in figure 9a , as well as the short jumps of angle α and the four long jumps of angles β ₁ , β ₂ , β ₃ , β ₄ .

The number of truncated teeth n _{3 trunq} at the level of the first smooth angular sector 131a of the display wheel 130 is equal to 3: $${\mathrm{not}}_{3\mathit{trunq}}=\frac{{\beta }_1}{\alpha }=3$$

The number of truncated teeth n' _{3 trunq} at the level of the second smooth angular sector 131b of the display wheel 130 is equal to 3: $$\mathrm{not}{\prime }_{3\mathrm{truncated}}=\frac{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_2}{\alpha }=3$$

The number of truncated teeth n" _{3 trunq} at the level of the third smooth angular sector 131c of the display wheel 130 is equal to 3: $$\mathrm{not}{"}_{3\mathrm{trunq}}=\frac{{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="\beta "\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\beta </figure-callout>}}_3}{\alpha }=3$$

The number of truncated teeth n‴ _{3 trunq} at the level of the fourth smooth angular sector 131d of the display wheel 130 is equal to 3: $$\mathrm{not}{‴}_{3\mathrm{trunq}}=\frac{{\beta }_4}{\alpha }=3$$

Consequently, in this fourth embodiment, the display wheel 130 is equivalent to a wheel with 68 teeth on which two consecutive teeth are truncated at four smooth angular sectors 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d.

The display wheel 130 therefore has 56 effective teeth, or 14 consecutive teeth between each smooth angular sector 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d. Thus, the display wheel 130 comprises a first toothed portion of 14 teeth, a second toothed portion of 14 teeth, a third toothed portion of 14 teeth and a fourth toothed portion of 14 teeth, each of the toothed portions being separated by a sector smooth angular 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d corresponding to an angular sector equivalent to three teeth.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an anterograde display mechanism.

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

Claims (16)

Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece comprising a display (3) having a graduation presenting a plurality of marks distributed over a circumference of the display (3), the graduation being configured so that the angular distance separating at least two markers following each other corresponding to a second angle (β) greater than a first angle (a) separating two of the other markers following each other, the anterograde display mechanism (100) being configured to drive a display member (2) in its angular displacements by short successive jumps of angle (a) between two marks separated by the first angle (a) and by a long jump of angle (β) between two marks of the graduation separated by the second angle (β), the anterograde display mechanism (100) being characterized in that it comprises: - a first wheel (110), called the driving wheel, capable of being driven by a clockwork movement; - a second wheel (120) coaxial with the first wheel (110) and linked to the first wheel (110) by an elastic member (160); - a first intermediate wheel (150) driven directly by the first wheel (110) and which directly drives a third wheel (130), called the display wheel, cooperating with said display member (2); said third wheel (130) comprising a smooth angular sector (131, 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d) where at least two teeth are truncated; - a fourth wheel (140) coaxial and integral in rotation with the third wheel (130), said fourth wheel (140) meshing with said second wheel via a second intermediate wheel (170); the anterograde display mechanism being configured so that the rotation speed of the second wheel (120) is lower than the rotation speed of the first wheel (110) when the display member (2) is driven in its movements angular by short successive jumps of an angle (a) between two marks separated by the first angle (a), so as to progressively arm the elastic member (160) during these short successive jumps, and so that when the teeth of the intermediate wheel (150) meet the smooth angular sector (131, 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d) of the third wheel (130), the elastic member (160) disarms causing the instantaneous passage of the smooth angular sector (131) and causing the angular displacement by a long jump of angle (β) of said display member (2). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim , characterized in that the first wheel (110) is able to be driven by jumps by said clockwork movement. Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first wheel (110) comprises a number of teeth ( n ₁ ), the number of teeth ( n ₁ ) being equal to the number of marks on the display scale (3). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second wheel (120) has a number of teeth ( n ₂ ) greater than the number of teeth ( n ₁ ) of the first wheel (110). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the third wheel (130) comprises an effective number ( n _{3 eff} ) of teeth distributed over a toothed portion and a number of truncated teeth ( n _{3 trunq} , n' _{3 trunq} , n" _{3 trunq} , n‴ _{3 trunq} ) on the smooth angular sector (131, 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d), the assembly forming a number ( n _{3 equi} ) of equivalence of teeth on the complete circumference of the third wheel (130), the number (n _{3 equi} ) of equivalence of teeth on the complete circumference of the third wheel (130) being equal to the number of teeth ( n ₂ ) of the second wheel (120). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the number of truncated teeth ( n _{3 tronq} , n ' _{3 tronq} , n " _{3 tronq} , n ‴ _{3 tronq} ) on the sector smooth angular (131, 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d) of the third wheel (130) is an integer corresponding to the ratio of the second angle (β) to the first angle (a). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the fourth wheel (140) has a number of teeth ( n ₄ ) equal to the number of teeth ( n ₂₎ . ) of the second wheel (120). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the number of teeth ( n ₂ ) of the second wheel (120) is determined by the following relationship: $${\mathrm{not}}_2={\mathrm{not}}_1+{\displaystyle {\sum }_{i=1}^j\left(\left({\beta }_i/\alpha \right)-1\right)},$$

α is the first angle corresponding to a first angular distance separating at least two marks of the following graduation; β _i is the second angle, larger than the first angle a, corresponding to a second angular distance, different from the first angular distance, separating at least two other marks of the graduation following each other at the level of a sector S _i of the graduation; i is an integer between 1 and j; j is an integer corresponding to the total number of sectors S _i of the graduation where two marks of the graduation following each other are spaced by a second angle β _i greater than the first angle α. Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elastic member (160) is a leaf spring, a lamella, a flat spring, or a steel spring. hairspring. Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the elastic member (160) is integral with the first wheel (110) so that it comprises a first end (161) in one piece with said first wheel (110) and a second end (162) linked to the second wheel (120), or the elastic member (160) is integral with the second wheel (120) so that it has a first end in one piece with said second wheel (120) and a second end linked to the first wheel (120). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the display (3) comprises a date graduation with 31 marks and in that the display member display (2) is a date hand. Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the date graduation comprises the numbers 1 to 31 and/or indexes corresponding to the numbers, the successive numbers from 1 to 31 being separated by the first angle (a) and the numbers 31 and 1 being separated by the second angle (β) greater than said first angle (a). Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first wheel (110) has 31 teeth and is configured to make one revolution in 31 days, and in that the anterograde display mechanism is configured to progressively arm the elastic member (160) for 31 days. Anterograde display mechanism (100) for a timepiece according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the display (3) includes a minutes or seconds graduation with 60 marks, and in that the The display member is respectively a minute or second hand. Clock movement characterized in that it comprises an anterograde display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15. Timepiece comprising a clockwork movement setting in motion an anterograde display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15.

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