US3365723A

US3365723A - Setting apparatus for recording instrument

Info

Publication number: US3365723A
Application number: US517888A
Authority: US
Inventors: Spormann Horst
Original assignee: Kienzle Apparate GmbH
Current assignee: Digital Kienzle Computersysteme GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1964-12-28
Filing date: 1965-12-27
Publication date: 1968-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-01-23
Also published as: FR1461117A; SE302374B; GB1076960A

Description

Jan. 23, 1968 H. SPORMANN 3,365,723

SETTING APPARATUS FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1968 H. SPORMANN SETTING APPARATUS FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed Deb. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III II III 'itates ate The present invention relates to a setting apparatus for a recording instrument, and more particularly to an arrangement for preventing relative movement between the diagram carrier of a recording instrument and time indicating pointers provided in the instrument.

Recording instruments are known in which not only a diagram carrier, such as a record carrier tape or a circular diagram disc, but also time indicating pointers are driven by a clock motor. The time indicating pointers and the diagram carrier are driven in synchronism, and can be simultaneously set to any selected position. As a result, setting of the time indicating pointers to the correct time, effects simultaneously the setting of the diagram carrier to the same time.

Manually controlled setting means are provided for this purpose and include a gear cooperating with a gear of the gear train connecting the diagram carrier with the time indicating pointers. The respective gear of the gear train is neither the first, nor the last gear of the gear train, so that during a setting operation in one or the other direction of rotation, play between the gears is produced so that after setting of the time indicating pointers and of the diagram carrier, a relative angular displacement between the diagram carrier and the time indicating pointers for the amount of the play occurs, and exact synchronism between the diagram carrier and the time indicating pointers during a following drive by the clock motor is no longer assured. When the clock motor starts to rotate the diagram carrier and the time indicating pointers, at first some of the gears of the gear train turn to eliminate the play previously introduced by the setting operation, so that the diagram carrier and the time indicating pointers start movement in the same direction of rotation under the action of the clock motor at different moments and in angularly spaced positions.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, a small spring accumulator is provided in the recording instruments of the prior art, which is tensioned while the clock motor drives the instrument, and eliminates the play in one direction of rotation after a setting operation.

The known setting arrangements have the disadvantage that the spring accumulator is tensioned in the direction of rotation in which the clock motor drives the instrument. If the instrument, and more particularly the time indicating pointers are set in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation in which the clock motor drives the time indicating pointers and the diagram carrier, the setting operation releases the spring accumulator so that the same cannot perform its function after the setting of the instrument to a different time.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, the known setting apparatus is designed so that the setting takes place substantially only in one direction of rotation, whereas setting in the opposite direction of rotation is blocked, except for a very small angle. However, setting in only one direction is extremely inconvenient in certain positions of the time indicating pointers since it requires many turns of the minute pointer. For example, if the pointers indicate 12:10 hours, and are to be set to :00 hours, the minute pointer must be turned almost ten revolutions in the forward direction of rotation, whereas only a very 3,355,723 Patented Jan. 23, 1958 inn small angle would be required for setting in the opposite direction.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known setting apparatus for recording instruments, and to provide a setting apparatus permitting the setting of a recording instrument in opposite directions of rotation while maintaining the correct relative position between the diagram carrier and time indicating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting apparatus in which any play introduced by a setting operation is eliminated before the clock motor starts to turn the instrument after the setting operation.

Another object of the invention is to connect the diagram carrier and the time indicating means by an endless gear train including a pretensioned torque accumulator which is pretensioned in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation in which the clockwork normally drives the diagram carrier and the time indicating means.

With these objects in View, the present invention relates to a setting apparatus for a recording instrument, and more particularly to a recording instrument of the type having time indicating means, such as minute and hour hands, and diagram carrier means which may include a record carrier and a support for the same.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an endless gear train connects a setting gear with the diagram carier means and the time indicating means for rotation, and a clock motor drives the carrier means and the time indicating means in one direction of rotation during the normal operation of the recording instrument. The endless gear train includes two gear train portions connecting the carrier means and the time indicating with each other. One gear means of one of the gear,train portions includes a torque accumulator pretensioned in a direction of rotation opposite to the normal forward direction of rotation of the gear means during a recording operation of the instrument.

A setting means including a gear meshing with a gear means of the gear train, preferably of the respective other gear train portion, is provided for turning the diagram carrier means and the time indicating means in opposite directions of rotation whereby play in forward direction is introduced into the gear train when the instrument is set in a direction opposite to the normal forward direction of rotation.

After such a setting operation, the pretensioned torque accumulator moves the gear means of the endless gear train to a position eliminating the play in the same in the forward direction of rotation so that the clock motor then drives the diagram carrier means and the time indicating means without relative angular displacement.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two coaxial gears are connected by a pretensioned torsion spring constituting the torque accumulator and urging the two coaxial gears to turn in opposite directions. One of the coaxial gears meshes with a time gear of the gear train connected to the minute hand of the time indicating means.

Pairs of gears having the same diameter mesh with the time gear and with a carrier gear secured to the diagram carrier means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partly exploded plan view illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a spring torque accumulator used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A clock motor 3 including a housing and a gear ring 1 secured to the housing, and a spiral spring, not shown, secured to the housing and to a fixed core, is mounted between a pair of supporting walls 1 and 2. Gear ring 4 meshes with a gear 5 connected with a pinion 6 and mounted with the same on walls 1 and 2. Gear 6 meshes with a carrier gear including a gear ring 7 and a hub portion 8 mounted on a shaft 9 for turning movement.

Gear ring 7 meshes with a pinion 111 secured to another gear 11 which is operatively connected with an escapement mechanism, not shown, controlling the uniform running of clock motor 3.

Gears

10 and 11 are also mounted on walls 1 and 2.

A dished friction spring 12 is secured to hub portion 8, and abuts a carrier gear 13 which is rotatable on shaft 9 and has a circular portion 13 for supporting a diagram sheet provided with a central hole into which a stud 14 secured to diagram carrier means 13, 13' projects. Consequently, the diagram sheet rotates with carrier gear 13' when the same is rotated by clock motor 3 in one direction of rotation indicated by solid line arrows in FIG. 2. However, friction coupling 12, 13' permits relative angular movement between the carrier gear 13, and gear means 8, 7 driven by clock motor 3.

Two shafts 16 and 16' are mounted on walls 1 and 2, and respectively carry gear means 15, meshing with carrier gear means 13 and gears 17 and 17'. Gears 15, 15', and

gears

17, 17 have the same diameter and number of teeth.

Gear 17 meshes with a setting gear 28 secured to a knurled knob 27 which is manually operated to turn setting gear 28 in one or the other direction of rotation, as desired.

Gear 17 meshes with a gear 18 secured to a gear 19, the two gears having a common hub mounted for free rotation on the shaft of the gear means 6, 5. Gear 19 meshes with a pinion 20 secured to a shaft 21 carrying a minute hand, and gear 18 meshes with a gear 22 integral with the hollow shaft 23 carrying an hour hand. The time indicating means 21, 23 move the pointers over a dial, not shown, so that the time is indicated.

Gear 17' meshes with a gear 18' which is mounted on a shaft for turning movement, and is coaxial with another gear 19' mounted on the same shaft for free turning movement. A torsion spring 24 has two bent end portions respectively projecting into axial bores of gears 18' and 19, as best seen in FIG. 3. Spring 24 is pretensioned and urges gears 18' and 19' to turn in opposite directions relative to each other. Gear 18 meshes with gear 17', and gear 19 meshes with gear 20 in such relative angular position that the spring torque accumulator 24 is pretensioned. Such pretension is obtained by turning gears '18 and 19' in opposite directions before placing gears 18' and 19' in meshing engagement with gears 17' and 20.

It will be seen that an endless gear train including carrier gear means 13, gear means 15, 17, 18, 19 time gear means 20, gear means 19', 18' with torque accumulator 24, and gear means 17', 15' is provided for connecting the carrier gear means 13' with the time gear means 20. More particularly, the endless gear train includes a first

gear train portion

15', 17', 18, 24, 19, and a second

gear train portion

15, 17, 18, 19, both gear train portions connecting the carrier gear means 13 with the time gear means 20.

Torque accumulator 24 is provided in the first gear train portion, and setting gear is connected to the second gear train portion.

The driving torque of clock motor 3 is transmitted over gears 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and. friction coupling 12 to carrier gear 13 and the diagram sheet support 13.

The driving torque is further transmitted over the two parallel gear train portions to the time gear 219 of the time indicating means 23. Consequently, gear means 15, 17, 18, 19 rotate in synchronism with the gear means 15, 17, 18 and 19.

The normal direction of rotation in which the gear means are rotated by clock motor 3 is indicated by solid line arrows in FIG. 2.

Due to the pretension of spring 24, gear 19' is driven by gear 1-8, but only to the extent permitted by the simultaneous drive of the time gear 20 by gear means 15, 17, 18, 1?. Due to the drive of gear 18 by gear 17, and the meshing engagement between gear 19 with gear 20 the tension of spring 24 is always maintained.

If the time indicating means 23, 21 are to be set in forward direction, the flanks of the gear teeth of the several gears remain in the same position as during the drive of the mechanism by clockwork 3 since the setting gear 28 rotates all gears in the same forward direction indicated by solid line arrows, as the clockwork 3.

However, if the time indicating means 23, 21 are to be set in the opposite direction, and setting gear 23 turns all gears of the gear train, and particularly time gear 20 in a direction of rotation opposite to the normal direction of rotation of the gears when driven by the clock motor 3, as indicated by broken line arrows in FIG. 2, play is introduced into the gear train while the flanks of the gear teeth which performed a driving function are now driven, and the driven gear flanks perform a driving function.

The gears turn relative to each other as far as permitted by the unavoidable play between the gears. In order to maintain exact synchronism, and the correct angular position between time gear 20 and carrier gear 13 during the following rotation under the control of clock motor 3, the play must be eliminated before the clock motor 3 starts to drive the gear train after the setting operation. In other words, when the clock motor starts to drive the gear train, carrier gear means 13 and time gear means 20 must start at exactly the same moment.

This is accomplished in accordance with the invention by the torsion spring 24 which is pretensioned in a direction of rotation opposite to the normal direction of rotation produced by clock motor 3. Immediately after the setting operation in the opposite direction of rotation, spring 24 turns gear 19' to eliminate the play between time gear 29 and gear 19, and also the play of the following gears, while gear 18 is turned to eliminate the play between gears 15 and 13'. As a result, the tooth flanks which engage each other during forward rotation, again abut each other. When the clock motor starts the drive after the setting operation, carrier gear 13 and time gear 20 start at exactly the same time so that synchronism between the time indicating means 23, 21 and the diagram carrier means 13, 14 is maintained.

This result is accomplished by the torque accumulator 24 since carrier gear 13' and time gear 20 are elements of an endless gear train which is interrupted only at one place by the torque accumulator 24.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of setting apparatus for recording instruments differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a setting apparatus including an endless gear train connecting a diagram carrier with the pointers of a time indicator, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Setting apparatus for a recording instrument, comprising, in combination, a clock motor, diagram carrier means; time indicating means, one of said means being driven by said clock motor in one direction of rotation; a setting gear; an endless gear train including a plurality of meshing gear means and connecting said setting gear, said diagram carrier means, and said time indicating means for rotation so that said clock motor drives said gear means with said carrier means and said time indicating means in said one direction of rotation, and so that said setting gear is adapted to turn said carrier means and said time indicating means in opposite directions of rotation, said endless gear train including two gear train portions connecting said carrier means and said time indicating means with each other, one gear means of one of said gear train portions including a torque accumulator pretensioned in a direction opposite to said one direction of rotation whereby if play in said one direction of rotation is introduced into said gear train by setting of said time indicating means by said setting gear in a direction opposite to said one direction of rotation, said gear means are turned by said torque accumulator to a position eliminating the play in said gear train so that said motor then drives said carrier means and time indicating means without relative angular displacement in said one direction.

2. Setting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gear means are gears; wherein said one gear means includes two gears meshing with other gears of said gear train; and wherein said torque accumulator connects said two gears and is pretensioned to urge said two gears to turn in opposite directions.

3. Setting apparatus according to claim ll wherein said gear means are gears; wherein said one gear means includes two gears meshing with other gears of said gear train; and wherein said torque accumulator is pretensioned torsion spring secured to said two gears to urge said two gears to turn in opposite directions.

4. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means and a time gear means secured to said time indicating means; wherein said motor drives said carrier gear means; and wherein said one gear means which includes said torque accumulator meshes with said time gear means.

5. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means and a time gear means secured to said time indicating means; wherein said motor drives said carrier gear means; wherein said one gear means which includes said torque accumulator meshes with said time gear means; and wherein said setting gear meshes with a gear means of the other gear train portion.

6. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a carrier means secured to said carrier means and a time gear means secured to said time indicating means; and including a friction coupling and transmission means connecting said clock motor with said carrier gear means so that said carrier means is driven from said clock motor.

7. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear means are gears; and wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears meshing with other gears of said gear train; and wherein said torque accumulator is a spring means secured to said coaxial gears and pretensioned to urge the same to turn in opposite directions.

8. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear means are gears; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears meshing with other gears of said gear train; wherein said torque accumulator is a spring means secured to said coaxial gears and pretensioned to urge the same to turn in opposite directions; wherein said gear train includes a carrier gear secured to said carrier means and a time gear secured to said time indicating; wherein said motor drives said carrier gear; and wherein one of said coaxial gears meshes with said time gear.

9. Setting apparatus according to claim ll, wherein said gear means are gears; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears meshing with other gears of said gear train; wherein said torque accumulator is a spring means secured to said coaxial gears and pretensioned to urge the same to turn in opposite directions; wherein said gear train includes a carrier gear secured to said carrier means and a time gear secured to said time indicating means; wherein said motor drives said carrier gear; wherein one of said coaxial gears meshes with said time gear; and wherein said setting gear meshes with a gear of the other gear train portion; and including a friction coupling connecting said motor with said carrier gear.

10. Setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a carrier gear means secured to said carrier means for rotation therewith and a time gear means secured to said time indicating means for rotation therewith; wherein said one gear means includes two coaxial gears and a torque accumulator spring secured to the same and urging the same to turn in opposite directions; wherein one of said coaxial gears meshes with said time gear means; wherein said one coaxial gear has the same diameter as a gear means of the other gear train portion meshing with said time gear means; wherein two gear means of said two gear train portions, respectively, mesh with said carrier gear means and have the same diameter, and wherein each remaining gear means of said one gear train portion has the same diameter as a corresponding gear means of the other gear train portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1954 Nichinson 74-409 10/ 1963 Bertrang 34620

Claims

1. SETTING APPARATUS FOR A RECORDING INSTRUMENT, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CLOCK MOTOR, DIAGRAM CARRIER MEANS; TIME INDUCATING MEANS, ONE OF SAID MEANS BEING DRIVEN BY SAID CLOCK MOTOR IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION; A SETTING GEAR; AN ENDLESS GEAR TRAIN INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MESHING GEAR MEANS AND CONNECTING SAID SETTING GEAR, SAID DIAGRAM CARRIER MEANS, AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS FOR ROTATION SO THAT SAID CLOCK MOTOR DRIVES SAID GEAR MEANS WITH SAID CARRIER MEANS AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, AND SO THAT SAID SETTING GEAR IS ADAPTED TO TURN SAID CARRIER MEANS AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS OF ROTATION, SAID ENDLESS GEAR TRAIN INCLUDING TWO GEAR TRAIN PORTIONS CONNECTING SAID CARRIER MENS AND SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS WITH EACH OTHER, ONE GEAR MEANS OF ONE OF SAID GEAR TRAIN PORTIONS INCLUDING A TORQUE ACCUMULATOR PRETENSIONED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION WHEREBY IF PLAY IS SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION IS INTRODUCED INTO SAID GEAR TRAIN BY SETTING OF SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS BY SAID SETTING GEAR IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION, SAID GEAR MEANS ARE TURNED BY SAID TORQUE ACCUMULATOR TO A POSITION ELIMINATING THE PLAY IN SAID GEAR TRAIN SO THAT SAID MOTOR THEN DRIVES SAID CARRIER MEANS AND TIME INDICATING MEANS WITHOUT RELATIVE ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION.