US3751901A - Timepiece calendar information changing apparatus - Google Patents

Timepiece calendar information changing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3751901A
US3751901A US00308508A US3751901DA US3751901A US 3751901 A US3751901 A US 3751901A US 00308508 A US00308508 A US 00308508A US 3751901D A US3751901D A US 3751901DA US 3751901 A US3751901 A US 3751901A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
gear
information
set forth
cam
movement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00308508A
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English (en)
Inventor
H Meitinger
J Lietze
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bifora Uhren J Bidlingmaier GmbH
Original Assignee
Bifora Uhren J Bidlingmaier GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19712158728 external-priority patent/DE2158728C/de
Application filed by Bifora Uhren J Bidlingmaier GmbH filed Critical Bifora Uhren J Bidlingmaier GmbH
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Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/243—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator
    • G04B19/247—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator disc-shaped
    • G04B19/253—Driving or releasing mechanisms
    • G04B19/25333—Driving or releasing mechanisms wherein the date indicators are driven or released mechanically by a clockwork movement
    • G04B19/25373—Driving or releasing mechanisms wherein the date indicators are driven or released mechanically by a clockwork movement driven or released stepwise by an energy source which is released at determined moments by the clockwork movement
    • G04B19/25386—Driving or releasing mechanisms wherein the date indicators are driven or released mechanically by a clockwork movement driven or released stepwise by an energy source which is released at determined moments by the clockwork movement manually corrected at the end of months having less than 31 days

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus for periodically changing calendar information displayed in a timepiece while holding the information-carrying elements motionless between successive changes to insure that the current day and date are properly displayed.
  • a cam mechanism connects the element or elements to the time measuring components of the timepiece so as to allow relative movement therebetween during the interval between successive day and date changes but to impart a quick advancing motion to the elements at the end of the interval to display the next succeeding day and date.
  • a positive drive connection is thus always maintained with the information-carrying elements, notwithstanding that they are moved only intermittently.
  • the cam mechanism also permits turning back of the day element for resetting purposes and provision is made for adjustment of the date element independently of the day element.
  • the present invention pertains generally to the periodic changing of the calendar information displayed in a timepiece and, more particularly, to apparatus that intermittently and rapidly'changes the calendar information while maintaining the information-carrying elements substantially motionless during the intervening time interval to assure proper display of the current calendar information.
  • the novel calendar information changing apparatus of the present invention overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages of the prior art by providing for periodic movement of the information carrying elements of a timepiece, through a continuous, positive connection with the time measuring mechanism of the timepiece which maintains the elements in substantially fixed position during the interval between successive information changes but which advances the elements, by application ofa relatively slight force, to change the information displayed at the end of the intervening interval.
  • apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention includes a timepiece element bearing calendar information at spaced intervals along its length, a rotatable member in continuous engagement with the element, supporting structure for the rotatable member that permits rotation of the member and movement of its rotational axis lengthwise of the information carrying element, the supporting structure resiliently resisting such movement in the direction opposite to that in which the element is nonnally ad vanced, and a cam mechanism which drivably couples the rotatable member to the time measuring mechanism of the timepiece in a manner to control the rotational and lengthwise movements of the rotatable member such that substantially no movement is transmitted to the information bearing element during the interval between successive calendar information changes, but at the end of the interval the element is advanced under the impetus of the resisting force of the supporting structure by a distance sufficient to bring the next successive calendar information into proper position for display.
  • the information bearing element may be formed with gear teeth along a periphery thereof, and the rotatable member may constitute a pinion gear for meshing engagement with the element gear teeth. Meshing of the pinion and element teeth is maintained at all times, thus affording a positive connection between the pinion and the element which prevents unintentional displacment of the element.
  • the cam mechanism is constructed to allow turning back of the information bearing element without jamming between the cam surface and the pinion. Resetting of the calendar infonnation is thereby facilitated.
  • both a day element and a date element are provided, with the day element being engaged by the pinion.
  • the date element is driven by the day element through a gear train which, though normally establishing meshing engagement with gear teeth on the date element, admits of disengagement with the date element to permit independent adjustment of the date information displayed.
  • Engagement of the gear train with the date element is spring loaded to prevent inadvertent displacement of the element both when its movement is controlled by the day element and when it is adjusted independently of that element.
  • the spring force resisting movement of the date element by the day element is relatively small, placing no undue load on the timepiece gear mechanism.
  • independent movement of the date element which typically would be done manually, is resisted by a relatively large spring force, thereby tending to prevent overadjustment.
  • the invention not only provides apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices but requires comparatively few component parts.
  • FIG. 1 is a dial side view of an illustrative embodiment of the calendar information changing mechanism of the invention immediately after an advancement of the calendar information;
  • FIG. 2 is a dial side view of the calendar mechanism of FIG. 1 illustrating manual advancement of the date information relative to the day information;
  • FIG. 3 is a dial side view of the calendar mechanism of FIG. 1 on manual turning back of the calendar information
  • FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the calendar mechanism of FIG. 1, taken along the line 44 of FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows.
  • a preferred embodiment of a timepiece having calendar information changing apparatus comprises an hour wheel engaged and advanced by a main drive pinion l2 and on which is ordinarily mounted an hour hand which, for purposes of clarity is not shown.
  • a pinion 13 Joined to and turning with the hour wheel 10 is a pinion 13 having teeth 14 which engage a day wheel 16.
  • the day wheel 16 is rotatably supported on a rocker 19. Bearing surface 20 of rocker 19 is larger than pinion l3 and the rocker.
  • the rocker 19 includes a spring 21 attached to the time piece at position 22 and prestressed in a manner whereby the rocker 19 is continuously subjected to a counterclockwise torque.
  • the day wheel 16 is provided with a projection 26 bent downwardly, as may best be seen in FIG. 4.
  • the projection 26 is received in a cut-out 27 of a disc cam 29.
  • the rocker 19 supports the disc cam 29 and a rotatable member or pinion 20.
  • the pinion 30 and the disc cam 29 are rigidly connected so that rotation of the disc cam results in rotation of the pinion. As may best be seen in FIG.
  • the day wheel 16 is supported by the rocker 19 between the rocker and the disc cam 29.
  • the pinion 30 engages the teeth 31 of a day element 32 which has imprinted thereon the days of the week in sequence to appear in an aperature in the dial face in the proper order as the element is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the teeth 31 of the day element 32 engage a pinion 35 which meshes with a wheel 37.
  • the wheel 37 is fastened to a second wheel 38 which in turn meshes with the date element 39.
  • the date element 39 carries the numbers one (1) to thirty one (31) to appear in ascending sequential order in an aperature in the dial face as the element is rotated in a clockwise direction.
  • the wheels 37 and 38 are connected to a pin 40 which is positioned in a cut-out 41.
  • wheel 38 is positioned by the curvature 42 of the end 43 of the spring 44.
  • the spring 44 is provided with a lug 45 that extends downwardly and is received within a cut-out 46 of the timepiece frame.
  • a second end 47 of the spring 44 maintains pressure against the teeth of the date element 39 to keep the teeth of the wheel 38 engaged in the date element 39 without clearance and to provide resistance to the free revolution of the date element 39.
  • the spring 44 is installed by being bent around the projection 48 integral with the timepiece frame and inserting the lug 45 in the cut-out 46 to properly position the spring 44.
  • the hour wheel 10 is driven by the main drive pinion 12 thereby turning the day wheel 16 in the direction shown.
  • the pinion 30, the day wheel 16, and the disc cam 29 all rotate about a common axis 50. Since the day wheel 16 is not rigidly connected to the rocker 19, the pinion 30 or the disc cam 29, it is free to rotate in the position shown in FIG. 1, until the projection 26 extending into the cut-out 27 of the disc cam 29 reaches the end 33 of the cut-out 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the continued rotation of the day wheel 16 after the projection 26 has reached the end 33'of the cut-out 27, results in a rotation of the disc cam 29 and the pinion 30 attached thereto.
  • the cam surface 52 of the disc cam 29, shown in FIG. 4, is urged into continual contact with a stop 54 by the counterclockwise torque applied to the rocker 19 by the spring 21.
  • the disc cam 29 has a rise displacement sector 59 and return displacement sector 61 bounded by a bottom dead center 56 and a top dead center 58, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the rocker 19 is displaced by the action of the rise sector 59 of the disc cam 29 against the stop 54.
  • the rise sector 59 of the disc cam 29 is designed to shift the rocker 19 in a clockwise direction at a rate equal to the rate at which the teeth of the pinion 30 engage the teeth of the day element 32.
  • the rotating pinion 30 continues to move counterclockwise relative to the stationary day element 32 until the day wheel 16 has tumedthe disc cam 29 until top dead center 58 passes stop 54.
  • the rocker 19 is moved counterclockwise by the torque of the spring 21, as the stop 54 slides along the cam surface from top dead center 58 to bottom dead center 56.
  • the pinion 30 is prevented from rotating clockwise by the action of the day wheel projection 26 against cut-out end 33 although, for reasons described below, the pinion does experience a small counterclockwise rotation.
  • the teeth of the day element 32 positively engage and thereby drive pinion 35 and in so doing positions the date element 39 by way of the wheels 37 and 38.
  • pinion 35 is turned in a counterclockwise manner thereby resulting in a clockwise rotation of the wheels 37 and 38.
  • the date element 39 is therefore shifted, against the tension of the spring 44 by the clockwise rotation of the wheel 38 and the day and date information displayed through the dial face are changed in unison.
  • the ability of the day wheel 16 to move independently of the disc cam 29 mades manual turning back of the indicator apparatus possible.
  • the rocker 19, the pinion 30 and the day element 32 all move clockwise on being manually turned back by a mechanism the details of which are not shown.
  • the rate of change of the cam surface over the return sector 61 it is necessary for the rate of change of the cam surface over the return sector 61 to be gradual enough to prevent jamming of the stop 54 against that portion of the cam surface 52.
  • the gradual rate of change of the return sector 61 required for manual turning back of the calendar information components means that the disc cam 29 must be'free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction during normal advancement of the calendar components, through an arc sufficient to permit the stop 54 to slide over the return sector 61 to bottom dead center 56 if the calendar information change is to be rapidly made.
  • the day wheel 16 is not capable of free turning due to its engagement with the hour wheel by means of pinion 13, it is necessary to provide for free rotation of the disc cam 29 with respect to the day wheel 16.
  • the provision of the cut-out 27 in the disc cam 29 and the projection 26 of the day wheel 16 solves the problem of providing an inter-connection between the day wheel and the disc cam while permitting limited free rotation therebetween.
  • the timepiece is provided with a cut-out 41, which, by sliding contact with the pin 40 therein, swings the wheels 37 and 38 through a curve concentric with the axis of rotation of the pinion 35 and disengages the teeth of the wheel 38 from the teeth of the date element 39.
  • This means for disengaging the wheel 38 and the date element 39 is provided in order to facilitate the changing of the date element on manual compensation for the differences in the number of days in the various months of the year.
  • the spring 44 fulfills two functions: it eliminates the gear play between the wheel 38 and the date element 39, which could result in unsymmetrical positioning of the date information with respect to the day information on the day element 32; and the spring provides increased pressure during manual advancing of the date element to prevent unintentional advancement of the element beyond the point desired.
  • the calendar changing apparatus is required to overcome only those forces necessary to shift the date element 39 and the day element 32.
  • the calendar information elements they are able to move in a limited area until positively restrained by the gear elements and at the end of each change both calendar elements are again returned to their proper position by springs 21 and 44.
  • the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 shows the simple construction of the calendar information changing apparatus.
  • the difference between the outer diameter of the hour wheel 10 and the inner diameter of the day element 32 makes possible the positioning in this area of a support for the dial face so that the dial becomes more economical to produce, and operational reliability of the timepiece improves.
  • it is advantageous to continuously drive the day element and to change the date element therefrom in that the day element ordinarily need never be reset if the timepiece is used continuously. Due to the varying length of the months of the year however, the date element will have to be reset periodically and is therefore suitably placed at the end of the gear chain.
  • the day element 32 In order to minimize the displacement of the rocker 19 required to change the day calendar information, the day element 32 carries calendar information for two weeks. Thereby, an angular rotation of onefourteenth of the circumference of the day element 32 is required to change the day calendar information. In order to accomplish this change the following gear tooth ratios are provided; the pinion 30, revolving once per day, has six teeth; the day wheel 32 therefore requires 84 teeth. It is further required that the number of teeth in the wheel 37 be six times larger than the number of teeth in the wheel 38.
  • Apparatus for periodically changing calendar information displayed in a timepiece comprising:
  • timepiece element carrying the calendar information at spaced intervals along the length thereof, the element being movably mounted on the timepiece to permit changing of the calendar information displayed;
  • a rotatable member in continuous engagement with cam means the information-carrying element for effecting movement of the element
  • the time perioddetermining means responsive to the time perioddetermining means having (1) a rise sector for im parting to the rotatable member during the time period between successive information changes a predetermined rotational movement and a predetermined movement of the rotational axis thereof lengthwise of the information-carrying element in said opposite direction, said predetermined movements being related such that substantially no movement is imparted to the information-carrying element, and (2) a return sector for allowing return of the rotatable member in said normal direction under the impetus of the resilient resisting means at the end of the time period between successive information changes thereby to move the information-carrying element lengthwise by a distance to change the calendar information displayed.
  • the time period determining means includes timepiece drive means and a driven member in continuous engagement with the drive means;
  • the cam means and the driven member are supported coaxially with the rotatable member by the supporting means.
  • the supporting means is mounted for movement coaxially therewith, thereby to permit said movement of the rotatable member lengthwise of the element.
  • the element is moved one-fourteenth of a revolution.
  • the circular tooth-bearing periphery is the internal
  • the resilient resisting means urges the gear teeth of the information-carrying element and the pinion into meshing engagement to minimize gear play therebetween.
  • the resilient resisting means comprises an elongate spiral spring attached at one end to the member supporting means and at the other end to the timepiece.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising means coupling the driven member and the cam means for (l) rotating the cam means therewith over the rise sector and 2) permitting rotation of the driven member relative to the cam means over the return sector.
  • the cam means includes l a rotatable disc cam with a cam surface having a top dead center and a bottom dead center and (2) a stop coacting with the cam surface;
  • the resilient resisting means urges the cam surface into contact with the stop
  • the coupling means for permitting said relative rotation includes (1) a cut-out in the disc cam extending over an are through which the driven member is permitted to rotate relative to the disc cam and (2) a projection extending from the driven member into the cut-out, the projection engaging an edge of the cut-out to rotate the disc cam therewith over the rise sector.
  • the cam disc top dead center and bottom dead center are so spaced on the cam surface that, as the cam disc rotates and the top dead center passes the stop, the resilient resisting means forces the cam disc and rotatable member in said normal direction until the stop reaches bottom dead center of the cam surface, the arc of the cut-out in the cam disc being such that the driven member and the cam disc rotate relative to each other during said normal direction movement of the cam disc and rotatable member.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprisa second element carrying calendar information at spaced intervals along the length thereof, the second element being movably mounted on the timepiece to permit changing of the information displayed;
  • Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the first element carries day calendar information and the second element carries date calendar information.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 further comprising means for permitting movement of the second element independently of movement of the first element, whereby the date information displayed may be changed independently ofa change in the day information displayed.
  • the first element has a generally circular periphery coaxial with its axis of rotation and a multiplicity of gear teeth around the periphery;
  • the second element has a generally circular periphery concentric with the first element periphery, the second element having a multiplicity of gear teeth around the periphery;
  • the second element moving means includes rotatable gear means for meshing engagement with the first element gear teeth and the second element gear teeth to rotate the Second element in response to rotation of the first element.
  • the first and second elements are generally annular
  • the tooth-bearing periphery of each element is the internal periphery.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 further comprising means for disengaging the gear means from meshing engagement with the second element gear teeth, thereby permitting the second element to be rotated independently of rotation of the first element.
  • gear means for urging the gear means toward the first position, whereby when the gear means is in the first position it is resiliently urged into meshing engagement with the second element gear teeth to minimize gear play therebetween and when the gear means is in the second position independent rotation of the second element may take place in opposition to the nonmeshing contact between the gear means and the second element gear teeth.
  • the gear means comprises a first gear element in continuous meshing engagement with the gear teeth of the first information-carrying element and a second gear element in continuous meshing engagement with the first gear element for rotation therewith;
  • the second gear element being in meshing engagement with the gear teeth of the second informationcarrying element when the gear teeth means is in the first position
  • the means for shifting the gear means comprises means for moving the axis of rotation of the second gear element away from the second informationcarrying element along a curved path coaxial with the rotational axis of the first gear element.
  • the spring means comprises an elongate spring member having one end bearing against the gear means;

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00308508A 1971-11-26 1972-11-21 Timepiece calendar information changing apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3751901A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19712158728 DE2158728C (de) 1971-11-26 Einrichtung zum sprungweisen Weiter schalten von Kalenderinformationen in Uhren

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US3751901A true US3751901A (en) 1973-08-14

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US00308508A Expired - Lifetime US3751901A (en) 1971-11-26 1972-11-21 Timepiece calendar information changing apparatus

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US (1) US3751901A (ja)
JP (1) JPS532588B2 (ja)
CH (1) CH552845A (ja)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4059953A (en) * 1976-06-18 1977-11-29 General Time Corporation Timepiece calendar indexing apparatus
US4142363A (en) * 1976-05-03 1979-03-06 Ebauches Tavannes S.A. Calendar watch movement with date-indicating member
US4194353A (en) * 1977-05-27 1980-03-25 Compagnie Des Montres Longines Francillon Sa Analog display calendar watch
WO1996031728A1 (fr) * 1995-04-05 1996-10-10 'genvol Corp. Establishment' Dispositif de creation de mode tribochimique dans un systeme de lubrification d'un mecanisme

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH346170A (fr) * 1958-04-25 1960-04-30 Roamer Watch Co Sa Pièce d'horlogerie à quantième
DE1229918B (de) * 1964-06-12 1966-12-01 Pforzheimer Uhren Rohwerke Datumschaltvorrichtung fuer Uhren, insbesondere Armbanduhren
US3601976A (en) * 1968-09-16 1971-08-31 Gruen Ind Inc Calendar watch
US3695029A (en) * 1970-06-01 1972-10-03 Gruen Ind Inc Calendar day and date watch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH346170A (fr) * 1958-04-25 1960-04-30 Roamer Watch Co Sa Pièce d'horlogerie à quantième
DE1229918B (de) * 1964-06-12 1966-12-01 Pforzheimer Uhren Rohwerke Datumschaltvorrichtung fuer Uhren, insbesondere Armbanduhren
US3601976A (en) * 1968-09-16 1971-08-31 Gruen Ind Inc Calendar watch
US3695029A (en) * 1970-06-01 1972-10-03 Gruen Ind Inc Calendar day and date watch

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4142363A (en) * 1976-05-03 1979-03-06 Ebauches Tavannes S.A. Calendar watch movement with date-indicating member
US4059953A (en) * 1976-06-18 1977-11-29 General Time Corporation Timepiece calendar indexing apparatus
US4194353A (en) * 1977-05-27 1980-03-25 Compagnie Des Montres Longines Francillon Sa Analog display calendar watch
WO1996031728A1 (fr) * 1995-04-05 1996-10-10 'genvol Corp. Establishment' Dispositif de creation de mode tribochimique dans un systeme de lubrification d'un mecanisme

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2158728B1 (de) 1973-02-01
JPS532588B2 (ja) 1978-01-30
CH1470172A4 (ja) 1973-12-28
CH552845A (ja) 1974-08-15
JPS4863763A (ja) 1973-09-04
DE2158728A1 (ja) 1973-02-01

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