JP2003344564A - Hand-position detection mechanism, hand-position controller and clock - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hand-position detection mechanism for preventing an increase in thickness, to provide a hand-position controller, and to provide a clock. <P>SOLUTION: The hand-position detecting mechanism 1 is provided with a first shaft body 11 rotating around a central axis in a housing with a first hour hand mounted at its tip end, cylindrical second shaft bodies 21, 31 concentrically rotating around the central axis in the housing with a second hour hand mounted at its tip end, and an optical sensor 70 mounted standstill to the housing. The first shaft body 11 has a first reflecting surface 17 set at a predetermined position in the direction of the peripheral wall. The second shaft bodies 21, 31 have first through-holes 28, 38 capable of being drawn in line with the first reflecting surface 17 at a predetermined position in the direction of the peripheral wall. The optical sensor 70 is provided with a light emitter 72 for projecting light to the first and the second shaft bodies 21, 31 on the surface normal to the central axis, and a light acceptor 73 for accepting the reflecting light when the light from the light emitter 72 is reflected at the reflecting surface through the first through-holes of the cylindrical second shaft bodies 21, 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand position detecting mechanism, and more particularly to a hand position detecting mechanism of a timepiece.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art By receiving a standard radio wave that conveys time information,
It is known to set the display time of a clock. When adjusting or correcting the time display in this way, the time display hands (hour hand, minute hand, second hand) of the timepiece are once returned to the initial positions, and then the time display hands are moved to the position according to the time information of the standard radio wave. In such time adjustment or time adjustment, what is indispensable is to accurately return the time display hand to the predetermined initial position, that is, the time display hand such as the hour hand, the minute hand and the second hand is set to the predetermined initial position. Accurate detection of reaching (positioning).

As described above, a hand position detecting mechanism for detecting that the time indicating hand has reached a predetermined initial position has been conventionally used in a gear train of a train wheel (gear mechanism) for rotationally driving an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand. In the thickness direction, in other words, in the direction parallel to the extending direction of the rotation center axis of the hour hand, the minute hand, and the second hand, light was emitted from the light emitting unit, and the light was opposed to the light emitting unit in the thickness direction of the timepiece. A light-receiving unit that receives light from the light-receiving unit or reflects light from the light-emitting unit in the thickness direction of the timepiece by a reflecting surface opposite to the light-emitting unit and reflects the reflected light in the thickness direction of the timepiece against the reflecting surface To receive light (for example, Japanese Patent No. 29415).
76, JP-A-2000-35489, JP-A-8-1.
79058, JP-A-6-109867, JP-A-61-11683, JP-B-7-45033).

[0004]

However, when the light travels in the thickness direction like these conventional needle position detecting mechanisms, the light emitting portion or the reflecting portion and the light receiving portion are sandwiched by the associated train wheel. Since it is necessary to provide it on both sides, that is, on the top and bottom or on the front and back, it is difficult to avoid an increase in the thickness of the movement main body including the train wheel.

[0005]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand position detection mechanism, a hand position control device and a timepiece using the same which can avoid an increase in thickness.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the hand position detecting mechanism of the present invention is a first shaft body having a first time display hand attached to the tip thereof and rotating around the central axis in the case, One having a first reflecting surface at a predetermined portion of the circumferential surface in the circumferential direction, and a second time display hand attached to the tip end so that it rotates concentrically with the first shaft in the case. A cylindrical second shaft body fitted to the first shaft body,
What is provided with a first through hole that can be aligned with the first reflecting surface at a predetermined portion of the circumferential wall in the circumferential direction, and an optical sensor that is stationary with respect to the case, A light-emitting portion that emits light toward the first and second shaft bodies in a plane intersecting with each other, and light emitted from the light-emitting portion passes through the first through hole of the cylindrical second shaft body And a light receiving portion that receives the reflected light when reflected by the first reflecting surface of the shaft body.

According to the hand position detecting mechanism of the present invention, "the first time display hand is attached to the distal end portion and is the first shaft body that rotates around the central axis in the case, and is in the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface. In addition to the one having a first reflecting surface at a predetermined part of ", a second time display hand is attached to the tip end of the first shaft so as to rotate concentrically with the first shaft in the case. A cylindrical second shaft body fitted to the shaft body of, and provided with a first through hole in a predetermined portion of the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction so as to be aligned with the first reflecting surface in a line. Since the `` thing '' is provided, it is possible to rotate the first and second shaft bodies relative to each other, and to rotate the first and second shaft bodies relative to each other. The one through hole can be aligned. That is, in the needle position detecting mechanism of the present invention, since the light can go straight through the first through hole in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical shaft body to the first reflecting surface aligned with the first through hole, the concentric shape can be obtained. The rotational position of the first and second shafts can be detected by light traveling in a direction intersecting with the direction parallel to the direction of extension of the central axis thereof, typically in a direction perpendicular thereto. is there. Further, in the needle position detecting mechanism of the present invention, “a light sensor that is stationary with respect to the case, and emits light toward the first and second shafts in a plane intersecting the central axis. And a light receiving section that receives the reflected light when the light emitted from the light emitting section passes through the first through hole of the cylindrical second shaft and is reflected by the reflecting surface of the first shaft. Is provided, the concentric first and second shafts are in a predetermined relative rotation position and in a predetermined rotation position with respect to the case, that is, the first and second shafts. The fact that the body has reached a given rotational position can be detected by light traveling along a direction that intersects with the central axis, but not in a direction parallel to the direction of extension thereof, typically perpendicular to this direction. is there. Therefore, in the needle position detecting mechanism of the present invention, the optical sensor is arranged at the position facing the circumferential surface of the cylindrical second shaft body, and the first sensor fixed to the first and second shaft bodies is maintained. It can be detected that the first and second time-of-day hands reach a predetermined position. As a result, in the needle position detecting mechanism of the present invention, it is possible to avoid an increase in the length (thickness) in the extending direction of the rotation center axis line, although the position of the display needle is detected by the optical sensor.

In the above description, "alignment" of the first through-hole with the first reflecting surface means that the light entering the first through-hole passes through the first through-hole and undergoes the first reflection. It means that the light reaches the surface, is reflected by the first reflecting surface, and is further arranged so that the reflected light passes through the first through hole in the opposite direction. The first through hole typically has a proportion of specular reflection to an extent that substantially prevents light from passing through the through hole while receiving multiple reflections on the peripheral surface of the through hole. It is configured to have low or low reflectance. The same applies to the other through holes.

The surface including the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor is
It is typically perpendicular to the central axis. However, if desired, it may be inclined with respect to the central axis.

Light emitted from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor is typically reflected by the first reflecting surface at a position deviated from the central axis. Further, the first reflecting surface typically extends along a plane substantially perpendicular to the incident light so that the incident light can be reflected in a substantially similar direction (direction of incidence) in the opposite direction. Exists Therefore, the first through hole also extends in a direction displaced from the radial direction.

In the needle position detecting mechanism of the present invention, typically, "when the light from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor is incident on the second shaft, the light is reflected toward the light receiving portion of the optical sensor. The second reflective surface is provided at a position displaced from the first through hole by a predetermined angle. "

In this case, the rotation position of the second shaft body with respect to the optical sensor can be accurately detected by receiving the reflected light from the second reflecting surface at the light receiving portion of the optical sensor, and the second reflecting surface The first through hole, which is displaced by a predetermined angle with respect to, can be easily and accurately aligned with the optical path from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor. Further, since the first shaft can be rotated while the light from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor passes through the first through hole and reliably hits the peripheral surface of the first shaft, the first shaft can be rotated. As soon as the first reflecting surface of the body is aligned with the first through hole, the light reflected by the first reflecting surface of the first shaft can be received by the light receiving section of the optical sensor. That is, it can be easily and reliably detected that the first and second shafts have reached the predetermined rotational position with respect to the optical path of the optical sensor.

In this case, another cylindrical shaft may be arranged on the outer periphery of the cylindrical second shaft. That is, in the hand position detecting mechanism of the present invention, typically, "the third time display hand is attached to the tip end and the second time is set so as to rotate concentrically with the first and second shafts in the case. A cylindrical third shaft body fitted to the shaft body of, and having a second through hole that can be aligned with the first through hole at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall. , A third reflecting surface, which reflects the light from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor toward the light receiving portion of the optical sensor, is provided at a position displaced by a predetermined angle with respect to the second through hole. I have more things. "

In this case, the first reflecting surface of the first shaft body, and the first reflecting surface of the first shaft body are arranged along the optical path of the light so that the light sensor can receive the reflected light of the light sent from the light emitting portion. It is easy and reliable to align the first and second through-holes of the second and third cylindrical shaft bodies and thereby align the predetermined relative rotational positions of the first, second and third shaft bodies. Can be done to.

Here, preferably, the normals or perpendiculars of the first and second through holes and the first, second and third reflecting surfaces are:
The lines are aligned not in the radial direction with respect to the central axis of rotation but in a direction slightly deviated from the radial direction. Thus, the reflected light from the reflecting portion can be easily and accurately received by the light receiving portion.

In the hand position detecting mechanism of the present invention, typically, the first time indicating hand is a second hand or a minute hand, and the second time indicating hand is different from the first time indicating hand. Consists of a time display hand. Here, the different types of time display hands include a minute hand or an hour hand (when the first time display hand is the second hand) or an hour hand (when the first time display hand is the second hand). In addition, typically, the first time display hand is the second hand,
The second time display hand is a minute hand, and the third time display hand is an hour hand.

Further, in the above, the second shaft body may be provided with a plurality of second reflecting surfaces which can be discriminated from each other by the light receiving portion at intervals in the circumferential direction. In that case, the time required to match the rotational positions can be shortened. Similarly, the third shaft body may be provided with a plurality of third reflecting surfaces which can be discriminated from each other by the light receiving section at intervals in the circumferential direction.

Further, the light reflected from the first reflecting surface of the first shaft is received by the light receiving portion of the sensor by the machine position detecting mechanism as described above, and each time indicating hand is positioned at the initial position. The time information acquisition mechanism acquires accurate time information at a predetermined time from the standard radio wave, and each predetermined time acquired by the time information acquisition mechanism from the initial position where each needle is accurately positioned by position detection. The needle position control device may be configured so as to be moved to the position by the needle movement control mechanism.

The needle position detecting mechanism and the needle position control device as described above are incorporated in the movement. A timepiece using this movement is in the form of a radio-controlled timepiece, for example.
Since the sensor is arranged in the empty space on the outer peripheral portion of the main plate to avoid an increase in thickness due to the needle position detection mechanism, this movement can be made thinner and smaller. Therefore, a watch incorporating the same can also be made thinner and smaller.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a related portion of a movement 3 having a needle position control device 2 having a needle position detecting mechanism 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movement 3 is a case. A base plate 5 and a train wheel bridge 6 which are stationary with respect to a main body (not shown) and are integral with the case main body are provided, and a dial 7 is provided on the back side. Here, the back lid side is called the front side and the dial side is called the back side (the same applies hereinafter).

The movement 3 is a fourth pinion 11 serving as a first shaft which is rotatable about a central axis C, and is coaxial with the fourth pinion 11 and rotatable relative to the fourth pinion 11. A cylindrical pinion 21 as a cylindrical second shaft body, and a cylindrical wheel as a cylindrical third shaft body coaxial with the fourth pinion 11 and the cylindrical pinion 21 and rotatable relative to the cylindrical pinion 21. Torso 31
(That is, the body of the hour wheel 30).

The fourth pinion 11, which forms the axis of the fourth wheel & pinion 10,
A second hand 13 as a first time display hand is attached to one end 14 which is rotatably supported at one end 12 by a train wheel bridge 6 and projects from the dial 7. The fourth gear 15 of the fourth wheel 10 meshes with the fifth pinion 52 of the fifth wheel 50, and the fifth wheel 5
0 is a fifth gear 51, which is the gear 4 of the rotor 41 of the motor 40.
It meshes with 2. Therefore, in the normal hand movement state, the rotation of the motor 40 causes the second hand 13 of the fourth wheel & pinion 10 to travel via the fifth wheel & pinion 50.
Be transmitted to.

The center pipe 60 consisting of the flange-shaped portion 61 and the tubular portion 62 is supported by the second bridge 22 at the outer peripheral edge of the flange-shaped portion 61, and the tubular portion 62 has an abacus ball-shaped large piece of the fourth pinion 11. The large diameter portion 16 is fitted into the diameter portion 16 and slidably and rotatably supported.

On the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 62 of the central pipe 60,
A cylindrical pinion 21 forming a cylindrical shaft body of the center wheel & pinion 20 has a base end 23.
It is fitted so that it can slide and rotate. A minute hand 25 as a second time display hand is attached to a tip 24 of the cylindrical pinion 21 rotatable around the central axis C and protruding from the dial 7. The second wheel & pinion 20 is a third wheel & pinion (not shown) rotated by the fourth wheel & pinion 10 in a normal hand movement state.
And is rotated once per hour according to the rotation of the third wheel and pinion.

The hour wheel body 31 forming the cylindrical shaft of the hour wheel 30.
An hour hand 33 as a third time indicating hand is attached to one end 32 protruding from the dial 7, and a cylindrical gear 35 is integrally formed at the other end 34 of the cylindrical body 31. In addition,
In the normal hand movement state, the hour wheel 30 is engaged with a day driving wheel (not shown) rotated by the center wheel & pinion 20, and is rotated once in 12 hours according to the rotation of the day driving wheel.

The outer peripheral surface 3 of the body 31 of the hour wheel 30 of the main plate 5
A sensor mounting substrate 71 is mounted on the portion 5a facing the sensor 6, and an optical sensor 70 is mounted on the sensor mounting substrate 71. As the space for disposing the optical sensor 70, the space between the train wheel and the like, not the space above and below, can be used, and therefore the overall thickness of the movement 3 may increase with the disposition of the optical sensor 70. Not really.

More specifically, in the vicinity of the position in the thickness direction along an imaginary plane S (imaginary line in FIG. 1) perpendicular to the central axis C, as shown in FIG. It has various microstructures that make up it.

That is, FIGS. 1 and 2 (the virtual surface S in FIG.
Second wheel & pinion 1 as shown in FIG.
A stepped reflecting surface 18 as a first reflecting surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface 17 of the fourth pinion 11 of 0, and an outer peripheral surface 26 of the cylindrical pinion 21 of the center wheel & pinion 20 serves as the second reflecting surface. An oblique reflecting surface 27 and an oblique through hole 28 as a first through hole are formed, and further, the outer peripheral surface 3 of the hour wheel body 31 of the hour wheel 30 is formed.
6 has an oblique reflecting surface 37 as a third reflecting surface and an oblique through hole 38 as a second through hole. Here, the oblique direction with respect to the second and third reflecting surfaces 27, 37 means that the second axis is inclined with respect to the radial direction of the central axis C and the central axis is inclined with respect to the tangent plane of the cylinder of C. Also, the first and second through holes 28, 38
With respect to the oblique direction, the oblique direction is a direction deviated from the radial direction of the central axis C, and the lines can be aligned with each other.
The direction in which the first reflective surface 18 can be aligned. The reflecting surface 18 may be aligned in the radial direction or may be offset from the radial direction. The alignment of the through holes 28 and 38 with respect to the reflecting surface means that the light LE emitted or emitted from the light emitting portion 72 of the optical sensor 70 passes through the through holes 28 and 38 and hits the reflecting surface and is reflected by the reflecting surface. The through holes 28 and 38 are arranged so that the LR can be received by the light receiving surface 73a of the light receiving portion 73 of the optical sensor 70 through the through holes 28 and 38.
It means that the direction of the reflecting surface is matched with. In addition, for more strict orientation of each, if necessary,
The operation will be sequentially described in the subsequent operation description.

The optical sensor 70 includes a light emitting portion 72 such as an LED.
Further, a light receiving portion 73 such as a photodiode or CCD is provided on the virtual plane S substantially. The light emitting section 72 is
The light LE emitted from the optical system is configured to go straight toward the barrel body 31 along an optical path 74 deviated from the radial direction of the central axis C, and if desired, as a delivery optical system, a collimator or a beam is used. It may include an optical component for condensing or focusing the light. In addition, the light receiving portion 73 exits from the light emitting portion 72 and the peripheral surface 36 of the body 31 of the hour wheel 30 and the center wheel 20.
Of the reflected light LR reflected by the peripheral surface 26 of the cylindrical pinion 21 and the peripheral surface 17 of the fourth pinion 11 of the fourth wheel 10, the light reflected by the first to third reflective surfaces 18, 27, 37 is selected. The light receiving surface 73a is provided in such a position and orientation that it does not actually receive the light received and reflected by the other peripheral surface portion.

The needle position detecting mechanism 1 independently transmits the rotation of the motor 80 and the rotor 81 of the motor 80 to each of the needles 13, 25, 33 to rotate each of the needle trains 13, 25, 33 82s. , 82m, 82h (reference numeral 82 when collectively referred to
, And rotation control units 83s, 83m, 83h (collectively referred to as reference numeral 83 for turning on / off the transmission of rotation of the hands 13, 25, 33 in the clockwise direction R1 by the trains 82s, 82m, 82h). ), A light emission control unit 75 for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit 72 of the optical sensor 70, and a light receiving unit 73.
Reflected light reception determination unit 7 for determining whether or not the reflected light is detected in
6, and a needle position detecting rotation procedure etc. control section 84 for controlling the light emission procedure in the light emission control section 75 and receiving the determination result signal from the reflected light reception determination section 76 to control the rotation drive of the rotation control section 83. Have. The motor 80 may be the same as or different from the motor 40 for normal hand movement shown in FIG. The configuration of the train wheel that transmits the rotational drive of the motor differs depending on whether or not the motor is also used. The light emission control unit 75 and the reflected light reception determination unit 76 are, for example, the optical sensor 7
It may be incorporated together with the substrate 71 on which 0 is mounted, or may be formed on another substrate together with other circuit portions.

Next, the needle position detection operation in the movement 3 having the needle position control device 2 having the needle position detection mechanism 1 configured as described above will be described based on FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 in addition to FIG. To do.

First, in a state where the second hand 13, the minute hand 25 and the hour hand 33 are in arbitrary positions, that is, as shown in FIG. 2, the fourth pinion 11 of the fourth wheel & pinion 10, the cylindrical pinion 21 of the second wheel & pinion 20, and It is assumed that the body portion 31 of the hour wheel 30 is located at an arbitrary rotation position in the clockwise rotation direction R1. In this state, the needle position detection light emission / rotation procedure control unit or the needle position detection rotation procedure etc. control unit 84, for example, corrects the radio waves (changes the display time to the time according to the standard radio wave), When receiving the needle-returning instruction A1 to the initial positions of 25 and 33, that is, the needle-position detecting instruction A1 at the position defined by the optical sensor 70, the procedure etc. control unit 84 sends a light-emission start instruction A2 to the light-emission control unit 75. Then, the emission of light by the light emitting unit 72 of the sensor 70 is started. At this time, the light LE from the light emitting unit 72
Hits the peripheral surface 36 of the barrel body 31 along the optical path 74. When the barrel body 31 is in the rotating state as shown in FIG. 2 and the reflecting surface 37 is displaced from the optical path 74, the reflected light LR on the peripheral surface 36 is along the optical path 77 as shown in FIG. Is reflected. The optical path 77 is deviated from the optical path 78 (see FIG. 3) to the light receiving section 73, and the reflected light LR does not actually reach the light receiving section 73. As a result, the reflected light reception determination unit 76 continues to send the signal D1 indicating that there is no reflected light to the procedure control unit 84. This signal D1 may be a substantially zero signal. That is, when the reflected light LR is not received by the light receiving unit 73, the reflected light reception determination unit 84 may be configured not to output a signal.

On the other hand, the procedure control unit 84 simultaneously issues a rotation drive instruction signal A3h to the hour hand rotation control unit 83h of the rotation control unit 83 to move the hour wheel drive wheel train 82h in the R1 direction of the barrel body 31. Start rotation drive. At this time, since an instruction to return to the initial position has been issued, typically,
The rotation of the cannon pinion 21 and the fourth pinion 11 is kept stopped. However, if desired, the cannon pinion 21 and the fourth pinion 11 may continue to rotate at the normal hand movement speed via the normal train wheel for controlling the hand movement (FIG. 1).

When the reflecting surface 37 reaches the optical path 74 as shown in FIG. 3 due to the rotation of the barrel body 31 in the R1 direction, the reflected light LR reflected by the reflecting surface 37 is exactly the optical sensor along the optical path 78. The light-receiving surface 73 a of the light-receiving portion 73 of 70 enters. As a result, the reflected light reception determination unit 76 outputs the reflection surface detection signal D2. The procedure control unit 84 determines that the first reflection surface detection signal D2 is the signal from the reflection surface 37 of the barrel car body 31, and the angle data portion holding unit 85 causes the reflection surface 37 and the through hole 3 to pass through.
8 is read, and the angle α is read through the hour hand rotation controller 83h and the hour hand drive wheel train 82h.
The barrel body 31 is rotated in the R1 direction by h, and the barrel body 31 is stopped at that position. In this example, the rotation direction R
Although 1 is made to coincide with the rotation direction during normal hand movement, the rotation direction for this position detection or alignment is
It may be different from the direction of rotation during normal hand movement, or may be different depending on the type of needle.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
8 reaches a position along the optical path 74, and the light LE from the light emitting portion 72 of the optical sensor 70 can pass through the through hole 38. At this time, the light passing through the through hole 38 is reflected by the peripheral surface 26 of the cannon pinion 21 of the center wheel & pinion 20. The reflected light L on this peripheral surface 26
As shown in FIG. 4, R is normally reflected along the optical path 77m different from the optical path 78 and does not reach the light receiving portion 73 of the optical sensor 70.

Next, the procedure etc. control unit 84 includes the rotation control unit 8
The rotation driving instruction signal A3 to the minute hand rotation control unit 83m
m is emitted to start rotational drive of the second wheel body 21 in the R1 direction via the minute hand drive train wheel 82m. The instruction to rotate the minute hand rotation control unit 83m by the procedure control unit 84 may be started simultaneously with the reception of the detection signal D2 of the reflecting surface 37 described above.

When the reflecting surface 27 reaches the optical path 74 as shown in FIG. 5 due to the rotation of the cannon pinion 21 in the R1 direction, the reflected light LR reflected by the reflecting surface 27 is exactly along the optical path 78. Into the light receiving surface 73a of the light receiving section 73. As a result, the reflected light reception determination unit 76 outputs the reflection surface detection signal D2. The procedure control unit 84 determines that the second reflection surface detection signal D2 is a signal from the reflection surface 27 of the tubular pinion 21, and determines whether the angle data portion holding unit 85 gives a given value between the reflection surface 27 and the through hole 28. The angle data αm is read, the cannon pinion 21 is rotated by the angle αm via the minute hand rotation control unit 83m and the minute hand drive wheel train 82m, and at that position, the cannon pinion 21 is rotated.
To stop.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
8 aligns with the through hole 38 in a line to reach a position along the optical path 74, and the light LE from the light emitting portion 72 of the optical sensor 70 is emitted.
Can pass through the through holes 38, 28. At this time, the light LE that has passed through the through holes 38 and 28 is reflected by the peripheral surface 17 of the fourth pinion 11 of the fourth wheel & pinion 10. The reflected light L on this peripheral surface 17
As shown in FIG. 6, R is normally reflected along an optical path 77s different from the optical path 78 and does not reach the light receiving portion 73 of the optical sensor 70.

Next, the procedure etc. control unit 84 includes the rotation control unit 8
The rotation driving instruction signal A3 to the second hand rotation controller 83s out of 3
s is issued to start the rotational drive of the fourth pinion 11 in the R1 direction via the second hand drive train wheel 82s. The procedure control unit 8
The rotation driving instruction of the second hand rotation control unit 83s by 4 may also be started at the same time as the reception of the detection signal D2 of the reflecting surface 27 described above.

When the reflecting surface 18 reaches the optical path 74 as shown in FIG. 7 by the rotation of the fourth pinion 11 in the R1 direction, it reaches the reflecting surface 18 through the through holes 38 and 28 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 18. The reflected light LR passes through the through holes 28,
The light-receiving surface 7 of the light-receiving portion 73 of the optical sensor 70 just passes through 38.
Enter 3a. As a result, the reflected light reception determination unit 76 outputs the reflection surface detection signal D2. The procedure control unit 84 determines that the third reflection surface detection signal D2 is the signal from the reflection surface 18 of the fourth pinion 11, and stops the rotation of the fourth pinion 11.

As a result, the 4th wheel of the 4th wheel 10 1
The cannon pinion 21 of the first and second wheel & pinion 20 and the body portion 31 of the hour wheel 30 are set at predetermined rotation positions. This rotational position is typically the initial position, where the hour hand 33, minute hand 25 and second hand 13
It is a position that indicates 12:00 (0:00) 00:00. That is, as described above, it is detected that the hands 33, 25, 13 have returned to their initial positions, and the initial setting of the positions of the hands 33, 25, 13 is completed.

Next, for example, the radio wave information reception / acquisition unit (not shown) acquires the current time information from the standard radio wave and, according to the current time, the initial position and the current time of each of the hands 33, 25 and 13. , The needles 33, 25, 13 are forcibly moved by respective predetermined angles under the control of the moving mechanism in accordance with the difference between the positions to be taken by the respective needles 33, 25, 13.
The display time of the display hand is made to match the current time at that time.

In the needle position detecting device 1, an optical sensor 70 having a light emitting portion 72 and a light receiving portion 73, a reflecting surface 18 of the fourth pinion 11 of the second wheel & pinion 10, and a reflecting surface of the body portion 21 of the second wheel & pinion 20. 27 and the through hole 28, and the reflecting surface 37 and the through hole 38 of the barrel portion 31 of the hour wheel 30 are all practically located in the plane S perpendicular to the axis C, so that the needle position detecting device 1 is provided. In fact, the thickness of the movement 3, that is, the size in the extending direction of the axis C need not be increased. Therefore, the movement 3 including the hand position detecting device 1 is easily thinned, and the timepiece using this movement can also be thinned.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view of a part of a movement including a needle position detection mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of a related portion at the time of starting the needle position detection (positioning to the initial position) operation in the movement needle position detection mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to FIG. 2 showing a state in which a reflecting surface of the barrel portion of the hour wheel is detected.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to FIG. 2, showing a state in which the barrel of the hour wheel is positioned such that the through hole of the hour wheel of the hour wheel is along the optical path.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to FIG. 2 in a state in which the reflecting surface of the cannon pinion of the center wheel & pinion is detected.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to FIG. 2, showing a state in which the body portion of the center wheel & pinion is positioned such that the through hole of the cannon pinion of the center wheel & pinion is along the optical path.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a state in which a fourth kana reflection surface is detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Needle position detection mechanism 2 needle position control device 3 movements 10 fourth wheel 11 Kana number 4 18 reflective surface 20 second wheel 21 Kana 27 Reflective surface 28 through holes 30 hour wheel 31 Body of the hour wheel 37 Reflective surface 38 through hole 40,80 motor 70 Optical sensor 72 Light emitting part 73 Light receiving part 82 needle drive train wheel 83 Rotation control unit 84 Needle position detection rotation procedure control unit αh, αm angle C central axis LE transmitted light LR reflected light

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first shaft body having a first time display hand attached to a tip portion thereof and rotating around a central axis in a case, wherein the first shaft body is provided at a predetermined portion of a circumferential surface in a circumferential direction. A tube provided with a reflecting surface, and a tube fitted with the first shaft so as to rotate concentrically with the first shaft in the case, with a second time display hand attached at the tip. A second shaft-shaped body having a first through hole that can be aligned with the first reflecting surface in a line at a predetermined portion in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall, and with respect to the case. The stationary optical sensor, wherein the light emitting section for transmitting light toward the first and second shafts in a plane intersecting the central axis and the light emitted from the light emitting section are cylindrical. Receives the reflected light when reflected by the first reflecting surface of the first shaft through the first through hole of the second shaft. Hand position detecting mechanism means including a light receiving unit that. 2. The second shaft has a second reflecting surface that reflects the light toward the light receiving portion of the light sensor when the light from the light emitting portion of the light sensor strikes the light. The needle position detecting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the needle position detecting mechanism is provided at a position displaced from the first through hole by a predetermined angle. 3. A third time display hand is attached to a tip end portion and is fitted to the second shaft body so as to rotate concentrically with the first and second shaft bodies in the case. A cylindrical third shaft body, which is provided with a second through hole that can be aligned with the first through hole at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall, and the light emission of the optical sensor. Provided with a third reflecting surface, which reflects the light toward the light receiving portion of the optical sensor when the light from the part hits, is displaced by a predetermined angle with respect to the second through hole. The needle position detecting mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising: 4. The first time display hand comprises a second hand,
The hand position detecting mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second time display hand is a different type of time display hand from the first time display hand. 5. The first time display hand comprises a second hand,
The hand position detecting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the second time display hand is a minute hand, and the third time display hand is an hour hand. 6. The needle position detecting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the light reflected from the first reflecting surface of the first shaft body is a light receiving portion of the optical sensor. A needle position control device having a needle movement control mechanism that moves each needle to a predetermined position when the light is received by. 7. A timepiece having the hand position detection mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the hand position control device according to claim 6.