JPH09332U - Dial openable clock - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a drive mechanism for a movable dial and to arrange an opening having a large opening area in the center of the dial. When the movable dials (3, 4) open an opening (2a), a rotary ornament (12) appears at the center of the opening (2) and movable dolls (13, 14) appear on both sides thereof. Movable dials 3, 4 in this open position
Is a size that does not project outside the time frame 1. It has a drive mechanism 16 for driving the rotary ornament 12 and the movable dolls 13, 14.
When the motor 17 of this drive mechanism rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the rotary ornament 12 and the handles 13a, 14a via each train wheel, and when both handles rotate, the movable dolls 13, 14 swing around the waist as a fulcrum. Then, a series of operations is repeated.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a dial opening / closing timepiece such as a timepiece clock.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, a dial opens at a predetermined time (for example, on the hour), and a movable decoration such as a doll appears along with the melody of a music box in the opened portion, and the dial closes after a series of movements of the movable decoration. There is known a dial-opening and closing type timepiece.

As such a conventional dial opening / closing timepiece, for example, a semicircular two-piece watch that is rotatably supported by a support shaft provided near the outer peripheral portion of the watch frame and forms the entire surface of the dial. It is known that there is a movable dial plate, and when the movable dial plates are rotated outward from a closed position about a support shaft to open, a movable ornament appears ( For example, JP-A-2-157683 and JP-A-3-131794).

Further, as another conventional technique, for example, two semicircular movable dials that are pivotally supported (on the pointer shaft) at the center of the dial and form the entire surface of the dial. And an opening formed at a position near the outer periphery that is off the center of the dial, both movable dials being configured to rotate in opposite directions to open and close the opening. It is known (for example, JP-A-3-99390).

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The former conventional technique has the following problems. (1) Since it is necessary to rotate the two semicircular movable dials that form the entire surface of the dial around a support shaft near the outer circumference of the watch frame, drive both movable dials. The driving mechanism to operate becomes complicated and increases in size. (2) When the watch is hung on the wall surface, when both movable dials are pivoted outward from the closed position around the support shaft and open, the two movable dials protrude significantly outside the watch frame. Requires a large space so that the movable dial does not hit obstacles around the watch.

In the latter prior art described above, a support mechanism that rotatably supports two semicircular movable dial plates and a drive mechanism that drives both movable plates are arranged at the center of the dial plate. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the opening for allowing the movable decoration to appear in the central part of the dial, and therefore the opening must be arranged near the outer circumference, increasing the opening area of the opening. There is a problem that you cannot do it.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and aims at downsizing of a drive mechanism of a movable dial and arranging an opening having a large opening area in a central portion of the dial. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dial plate opening / closing timepiece that is made possible.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 To achieve the above object, a dial opening / closing timepiece according to the present invention comprises a timepiece frame, a fixed dial, two movable dials, a guide mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a movable ornament. The fixed dial is integrated with the timepiece frame and has an opening in the center, and the two movable dials close their openings when their facing surfaces contact each other at the center of the opening. The two movable dials can be linearly moved in opposite directions between the closed position and the open position for opening the opening, and the two movable dials have a size that does not project outward from the watch frame when in the open position. The guide mechanism internally supports both movable dials so as to be linearly movable, and the drive mechanism moves the movable dials between the open position and the closed position. In the movable ornament, both movable dials open the opening and the open position. Sometimes appear in the opening portion is adapted to a series of operations.

Therefore, by the structure having the fixed dial having an opening in the center and the two movable dials for opening and closing the opening, the drive mechanism has two movable dials forming a part of the dial. Only the plate needs to be driven. Also, in this watch, the two movable dials linearly move in the opposite directions to each other to open and close the opening in the center of the fixed dial, so that both movable dials protrude outside the watch frame. Absent.

[0010]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 Hereinafter, a dial opening / closing type timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in FIG. 1, a dial opening / closing type timepiece has a watch frame 1 and a rectangular opening 2a that is long in the lateral direction in the center, and is a fixed dial integrated with the watch frame 1. 2 and two movable dial plates 3 and 4 for opening and closing the opening 2a. Further, in FIG. 1, the base end portion of the minute hand 5 is fixed to the minute hand shaft 6, and the base end portion of the hour hand 7 is fixed to the hour hand shaft 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed dial 2 is formed separately from the timepiece frame 1, and is fixed to and integrated with the timepiece frame 1. The fixed dial 2 may be formed integrally with the timepiece frame 1. A transparent cover 9 (see FIG. 3) is fixed to the timepiece frame 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable dial plates 3 and 4 together with the fixed dial plate 2 form a dial plate with the opening 2a closed. Time numbers 10 are formed by printing on the fixed dial 2 surface and the movable dials 3 and 4, respectively. The movable dial plates 3 and 4 have their facing surfaces abutting each other at a position of a horizontal line 11 (center position of the opening 2a) passing through the center axes of the minute hand shaft 6 and the hour hand shaft 8 (center of the dial plate), and the openings It is possible to move linearly between the closed position where the portion 2a is closed (the position shown in FIG. 1) and the open position where this opening 2a is opened, in opposite directions and in the vertical direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the movable dials 3 and 4 open the opening 2a, a rotating ornament (movable ornament) 12 is provided at the center of the opening, and movable dolls (movable ornament) are provided on both sides thereof. 13 and 14 are appearing. The movable dial plates 3 and 4 in the open position have a size that does not project outside the timepiece frame 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary ornament 12 has a central axis of the minute hand shaft 6 and the hour hand shaft 8 on the front surface of the central support plate 15a of the support plate 15 fixed to the timepiece frame 1 and the fixed dial 2. It is rotatably arranged with the center at. A gear 12 a is integrally formed on the back surface of the rotary ornament 12. The movable doll 13 is arranged in the right side storage recess 15b of the support plate 15, and the movable doll 14 is arranged in the left side storage recess 15c of the support plate 15 (see FIG. 2).

The dial opening / closing timepiece of the present invention has a drive mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “first drive mechanism”) 16 for driving the rotary ornament 12 and the movable dolls 13 and 14.

The first drive mechanism 16 includes a motor 17 that rotates in one direction, a first train wheel that transmits the rotation of the motor 17 to the handle 14a of the movable doll 14 on the left side, and the rotation of the first movable doll on the right side. It has a second train wheel 13 which is transmitted to the handle 13a of 13 and a third train wheel which transmits the rotation thereof to the gear 12a of the rotary decoration 12 in the central portion.

The first train wheel is a gear 18 meshed with the motor pinion 17 a, a gear 19 meshed with the pinion 18 a integrally with the gear 18, a gear 19 meshed with the gear 19 and integrated with the handle 14 a of the movable doll 14. And a gear 20. The second train wheel includes a gear 21 meshing with the gear 18, a gear 22 meshing with a pinion 21a integral with the gear 21, and a gear 23 meshing with the gear 22 and meshing with the handle 13a of the movable doll 13. . The third train wheel includes a gear 24 meshed with the pinion 21a and a gear 25 meshed with the gear 24 and the gear 12a of the rotary decoration 12.

When the motor 17 of the first drive mechanism 16 rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the rotary decoration 12 and the handles 13a and 14a via the respective train wheels so that they are simultaneously rotated in the arrow direction of FIG. Has become. When the handles 13a and 14a rotate, the upper bodies of the movable dolls 13 and 14 swing by the link mechanism with the waist as a fulcrum.

Thus, while the motor 17 of the first drive mechanism 16 is rotating in one direction, the rotary ornament 12 continues to rotate and the movable dolls 13 and 14 repeat a series of operations. .

The dial opening / closing type timepiece is further provided with a drive mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “second drive mechanism”) 30 for opening and closing both movable dials 3, 4 and both sides of the movable dials 3, 4. It has guide mechanisms 40 and 41 for linearly moving and supporting both dials (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, the second drive mechanism 30 includes a motor 31 that rotates in one direction, a pair of upper and lower pulleys 32 and 33 that are rotated by the motor, and have cam pins 32 a and 33 a, respectively. The movable dial plates 3 and 4 are integrally formed, and the corresponding cam pins 32a and 33a have guide holes (engagement parts) 3a and 4a into which the corresponding cam pins 32a and 33a are slidably engaged. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pulleys 32 and 33 are rotatably supported on the support plate 15. The pulley 32 is arranged above and below the movable dial 3, and the pulley 33 is arranged below and below the movable dial 4. A timing belt 34 is wound around the pulleys 32 and 33. A gear 32b is integrally formed on the back surface of the pulley 32.

The rotation of the motor 31 in one direction is applied to the pulley 32 via the motor pinion 31a, the gear 35 meshed with the pinion, the pinion 35a integrated with the gear 35, and the gear 32b of the pulley 32 meshed with the pinion. In addition to being transmitted, it is also transmitted to the pulley 33 via the timing belt 34, whereby the pulleys 32 and 33 are synchronously rotated in the directions of the arrows in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide holes 3a and 4a of the connecting portions 3A and 4A are arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the movable dials 3 and 4 (vertical direction in the figure), that is, in the horizontal direction. It is a long hole and has cam surfaces 3b and 4b extending in the horizontal direction. Leaf springs 36, 36 for pressing the cam pins 32a, 33a against the cam surfaces 3b, 4b are provided on the respective connecting portions 3A, 4A. Each of the cam surfaces 3b and 4b is formed into a curved surface whose central portion projects toward the plate spring 36.

As described above, the rotation of the pulleys 32, 33 is caused by the engagement of the respective guide holes 3a, 4a with the respective cam pins 32a, 33a that move circularly as the pulleys 32, 33 rotate in one direction. It is converted into a linear motion and transmitted to each movable dial plate 3, 4. Then, when the cam pins 32a and 33a reach the position closest to the center (inner position) as shown in FIG. 4, the movable dial plates 3 and 4 are located at the closed position shown in FIG. When the cam pins 32a and 33a are rotated 180 degrees to reach the outermost (upper and lower) positions, the opening 2a is located at the open position shown in FIG.

Further, the second drive mechanism 30 stands on the lower surface of the pulley 32 to stop the motor 31 by detecting when the movable dial plates 3 and 4 are located at the open position and the closed position. It has a semicircular arc-shaped rib 32 c provided and a photo sensor 37. The ribs 32c are designed to pass between the light transmissive photosensors 37 provided on the support plate 15.

The photo sensor 37 is turned from off to on when the pulley 32 is rotated 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow from the closed position shown in FIG. 4 and one end of the rib 32 c is disengaged from the photo sensor 37, and the movable dial 3 is moved. 4 is detected to have moved to the open position in FIG. 2, the pulley 32 further rotates 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow from this open position, and the other end of the rib 32c moves to the photo sensor 37 as shown in FIG. When the time comes in, it is detected that the movable dial plates 3 and 4 are switched from on to off and moved to the closed position. The detection signal of the photo sensor 37 is output to a control unit (not shown).

Next, the configurations of the guide mechanisms 40 and 41 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide ribs 40a and 41a projectingly provided on the support plate 15 and the projecting portions 3B and 4B formed on the left and right end portions of the movable dial plates 3 and 4 are fixed, respectively. Sliders 42 that slide on the guide ribs 40a and 41a, respectively.

The left and right guide ribs 40a and 41a have the same height as shown in FIG. 5, but both side surfaces of the left guide rib 41a and the left slider 42 that slides on this rib. The thicknesses of both ribs 40a and 41a are made different from each other in order to make a gap d between the inner surface and the inner surface so as to absorb a manufacturing error and allow each slider 42 to slide smoothly.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the left and right guide ribs 40a and 41a are located at the central portion (the position of the horizontal line 11 shown in FIG. 1 where the facing surfaces of both movable dial plates 3 and 4 come into contact with each other). Is the highest, and the guide surfaces 40a 'and 41a' have heights that gradually decrease toward both ends.

Each slider 42 has a rail shape having a U-shaped cross section. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, each slider 42 has elastic locking portions 42a formed on both side surfaces thereof and inclined guide surfaces 40a ', 41a of guide ribs 40a, 41a formed on the lower surface of the upper wall portion. It has two abutting portions 42b and 42c having different heights according to ′, a protrusion 42d formed on the inner surfaces of both ends, and two protrusions 42e formed on the upper surface of the upper wall portion. . Locking claws 42a 'are formed at the ends of the elastic locking portions 42a of each slider 42, and these locking claws are inserted into the corresponding locking holes 3c, 4c of the protrusions 3B, 4B. The sliders 42 are fixed to the corresponding movable dial plates 3 and 4 by elastically coupling by a snap fit. The gap d is formed between both side surfaces of the left guide rib 41a and the respective protrusions 42d of the guide rib 41a.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the guide mechanisms 40 and 41 are leaf springs that press the protrusions 42e of the sliders 42 to urge the sliders 42 toward the guide ribs 40a and 41a. Has 43. One side portion of each leaf spring 43 is fastened to the mounting boss portion 15e of the corresponding support plate 15 by the set screws 44 at four locations.

Each leaf spring 43 has an elongated shape as shown in FIG. At the central portion of each leaf spring 43, this leaf spring is deformed in accordance with the inclined guide surfaces 40a ', 41a' of the guide ribs 40a, 41a, whereby each leaf spring 43 and each guide surface 40a ', 41a' are deformed. Slots 43a are formed to keep the spacing (see FIG. 8) constant.

A timepiece mechanical body 50 that rotates the minute hand shaft 6 and the hour hand shaft 8 is arranged on the lower surface of the support plate 15 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. As shown in FIG. 10, a center fixing nut 51 having an internal thread is press-fitted into the center hole 15f of the support plate 15, and the lower end of the internal thread of the nut 51 is a timepiece machine body 50. A male thread of a cylindrical center fixing screw 52 connected to the screw is screwed together, and thereby the timepiece mechanical body 50 is fixedly held on the lower surface of the support plate 15.

As shown in FIG. 10, the hour hand shaft 8 is provided with a cylindrical bearing 53 that rotatably supports the rotary ornament 12. This bearing is connected to the fixing screw by screwing the male screw at the lower end portion thereof to the male screw of the center fixing screw 52.

The bearing 53 has a flange portion 53a and a taper portion 53b for holding the rotary ornament 12 so as not to come off while being coupled to the center fixing screw 52. The taper portion 53b is engageable with the tapered surfaces 3C 'and 4C' of the semicircular notches 3C and 4C formed in the central portions of the movable dials 3 and 4. When the movable dials 3 and 4 move to the closed position as shown in FIG. 11, the tapered surfaces 3C ′ and 4C ′ of the movable dials 3 and 4 come into contact with the tapered portion 53b of the bearing 53 to move the movable letters. The opposite ends of the plates 3 and 4 can be slightly lifted.

Further, the dial opening / closing type timepiece further responds to various input signals such as the hour signal output from the timepiece mechanical body 50 and the open position and closed position detection signals output from the photo sensor 37. , A control unit for controlling each of the motors 17 and 31 of the first and second drive mechanisms 16 and 30 and a melody generating means for generating various melody from a speaker (not shown) according to a program stored in advance. ing.

When the control unit receives the hour signal from the timepiece mechanical body 50, the photosensor 37 detects that the movable dials 3 and 4 have moved to the open position in FIG. 2 by rotating the motor 31. At this time, the motor 31 is stopped and the motor 17 is rotated, and when a certain time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the motor 17, the motor 17 is stopped and the motor 31 is rotated again, and the movable dial 3, When the photo sensor 37 detects that the motor 4 has moved to the closed position in FIG. 1, the motor 31 is stopped.

Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the hour machine signal 50 outputs the hour signal to the control unit at the hour, the motor 31 of the second drive mechanism 30 starts to rotate, and the movable dials 3 and 4 move from the closed position in FIG. 1 together with the melody. Begin to move linearly towards the open position in Figure 2. When the photo sensor 37 detects that the movable dial plates 3 and 4 have moved to the open position in FIG. 2, the motor 31 is stopped and the motor 17 of the first drive mechanism starts to rotate. As a result, the rotary ornament 12 starts to rotate and the left and right movable dolls 13 and 14 start a series of movements.

The motor 17 is stopped when a certain time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the motor 17, so that the movements of the rotary ornament 12 and the left and right movable dolls 13 and 14 are stopped, and the motor 31 starts to rotate again. . Therefore, the movable dial plates 3 and 4 in the open position in FIG. 2 move to the closed position in FIG. 1, and when the photo sensor 37 detects this movement, the motor 31 is stopped.

In the dial opening / closing type timepiece according to the above embodiment, the fixed dial 2 having the opening 2a at the center and the two movable dials 3 and 4 for opening / closing the opening 2a are provided. The second drive mechanism 30 needs to drive only the two movable dial plates 3 and 4 forming a part of the dial plate. Therefore, the drive mechanism 30 is simplified, the load on the motor 31 is reduced, the motor 31 may be small, and the second drive mechanism 30 is downsized.

The two movable dials 3 and 4 linearly move in opposite directions to open and close the opening 2a at the center of the fixed dial 2, so that the movable dials 3 and 4 can be opened even in the open position. 4 does not project outside the clock frame 1. Therefore, when the timepiece is hung on the wall surface, a wide area is not required around the timepiece, which is extremely advantageous in practical use.

Further, since guide mechanisms 40 and 41 for guiding and supporting the movable dial plates 3 and 4 in a linearly movable manner are provided at both ends of the movable dial plates 3 and 4, the guide mechanisms 40 and 41 are provided for the opening 2a. A large space is secured in the center of the dial. Therefore, it is possible to increase the opening area of the opening 2a, thereby making it possible to increase the size of the movable decorations such as the rotating decorations 12 and the movable dolls 13 and 14 that appear in the opening 2a, thus improving the appearance. At the same time, the movement of the movable decoration looks flashy.

Further, the cam pins 32a and 33a that move circularly with the rotation of the pulleys 32 and 33 are pressed by the leaf springs 36 onto the cam surfaces 3b and 4b of the corresponding guide holes 3a and 4a of the movable dial plates 3 and 4, respectively. While sliding on the cam surfaces 3b and 4b, the rotational movements of the pulleys 32 and 33 are converted into linear movements and transmitted to the movable dial plates 3 and 4, so that the cam pins 32a and 33a and the cam surfaces 3b are formed. , 4b and other variations due to manufacturing errors in the shape of parts are absorbed, and the cam pins 32a, 33a slide on the surfaces of the corresponding cams 3b, 4b without separating. Therefore, it is possible to absorb variations in the shape of parts due to manufacturing errors and detection errors of the photo sensor 37. As a result, when the movable dial plates 3 and 4 close the opening 2a, the two dial plates 3 and 4 are in contact with each other. There is no gap in the contact area. Further, the cam surfaces 3b, 4b of the respective guide holes 3a, 4a are formed in a curved surface whose central portion projects toward the leaf spring 36 side, so that the respective cam surfaces 3b corresponding to the respective cam pins 32a, 33a. , 4b while being pressed by the leaf springs 36 while sliding on the cam surfaces 3b, 4b, the pressing force of the leaf springs 36 acting on the cam pins 32a, 33a causes the cam pins 32a, 33a to move on both sides of the cam surfaces 3b, 4b. Does not become stronger as you move to. Therefore, the cam pins 32a and 33a can slide smoothly in the guide holes 3a and 4a, and the movable dial plates 3 and 4 can also move smoothly.

[0045]

[Effect of the invention]

 As described above in detail, according to the dial opening / closing timepiece of the present invention, the dial having the fixed dial having the opening in the center and the two movable dials for opening and closing the opening is driven. The mechanism need only drive two movable dials that form part of the dial. Also, in this watch, since the two movable dials linearly move in opposite directions to open and close the opening in the center of the fixed dial, both movable dials do not project outside the watch frame. . Therefore, when the timepiece is hung on the wall surface, it does not require a space around the timepiece, which is extremely advantageous in practical use, and when the timepiece is hung on the wall surface, it does not need a space around the timepiece.

Further, since the space for the opening is secured in the central portion of the dial, the drive mechanism for the movable dial can be downsized, and the opening having a large opening area can be formed in the center of the dial. It can be placed in a section, which allows the movable ornament to be made larger and looks better.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a dial opening / closing timepiece according to the present invention, showing a state in which an opening is closed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where an opening is opened.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a movable dial and a drive mechanism thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a structure of a guide rib and a slider.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a slider.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a guide mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a leaf spring is fixed to a support plate.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a leaf spring.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a central portion in a state where the movable dial is closing.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing a closed state of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Clock Frame 2 Fixed Dial 2a Opening 3,4 Movable Dial 12 Movable Decoration (Rotating Decoration) 13,14 Movable Decoration (Movable Doll) 30 Drive Mechanism (Second Drive Mechanism) 41 Guide Mechanism

Claims (1)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A watch frame, a fixed dial, two movable dials, a guide mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a movable ornament, wherein the fixed dial is integral with the watch frame and has a central portion. The two movable dial plates are opposite to each other between a closed position in which the facing surfaces of the two movable dial plates contact each other at the center position of the opening and close the opening and an open position in which the opening is opened. The two movable dials have a shape such that they do not project outward from the timepiece frame when in the open position, and the guide mechanism moves the two movable dials. The driving mechanism moves and drives the movable dials between the open position and the closed position. In the movable ornament, the movable dials have the opening. When the part is opened and in the open position, it appears in this opening and performs a series of operations. A watch with a dial that can be opened and closed.