WO2006050743A1

WO2006050743A1 - Watch displacer

Info

Publication number: WO2006050743A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012722
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
Original assignee: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
Priority date: 2004-11-10
Filing date: 2004-11-10
Publication date: 2006-05-18
Also published as: DE112004003002A5

Abstract

A watch displacer is disclosed, comprising a drive motor (36), a gear and a housing for a watch (18), characterised in that the housing (18) has a recess (20) in which a watch storage box (22) can be inserted.

Description

winder

The invention relates to a watch winder with a drive motor, a transmission and a receptacle for a clock.

Today, high-quality wristwatches are again predominantly equipped with a mechanical movement. Most of these mechanical movements have an automatic elevator for the power spring. The automatic elevator usually consists of a rotatably mounted rotor whose center of gravity is arranged eccentrically to its axis of rotation, and a transmission gear, which converts the rotational movement of the rotor into a rotation of the spring counter-bearing and thus biases the drive spring of the movement. The transmission gear includes a SperrMinkenmechanismus so that not only rotational movements, but also pendulum movements of the eccentric rotor can be used to bias the drive spring. The over-rotation of the spring is prevented by a slip clutch. The axis of rotation of the rotor is arranged parallel or even concentric with the clock axis of the wristwatch. When wearing the wristwatch on the wrist resulting from the arm movements of the wearer random Taumel¬ movements of the clock to the pointer axis cause that the eccentric rotor is almost constantly excited to rotary and pendulum movements about its axis of rotation. The over time declining bias of the drive spring of the movement is compensated. PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 2/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

Theoretically, depending on the design of the automatic elevator, the rotor can make about 800 full turns per day to keep the spring preload constant.

Depending on the design of the mechanical movement, a wristwatch with automatic winding has a power reserve of approximately 40 hours with a fully preloaded drive spring. Thus, if the watch is not worn for more than two days, the movement stops and must first be set to the current time after re-mounting the drive spring. This is very time consuming, especially when wristwatches whose mechanical movement has so-called complications such as date, weekday, monthly, moon phase, annual calendar, etc., especially if the mechanical movement can only be adjusted in the forward direction due to its design. For this reason, so-called watch winder have been developed quite some time ago, with the aid of which the bias of the drive spring of watches with mechanical movement and automatic winding during storage can be maintained automatically.

In today's usual clock winder recording is designed either as a spring clip on which the wristwatch is clamped with the bracelet, or as a watch cushion around which the wristwatch is placed with the bracelet. The spring clip or the clock pad attached to the watch winder are rotated by the drive motor and the transmission about a horizontal axis or slightly inclined to the horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially parallel or concentric with the pointer axis of the clock. The eccentric rotor of the watch's automatic winding is thus held in position by the gravitational force like a pendulum while the watch rotates about the pointer axis. The drive motor is an electric motor, wherein the drive can be intermittent or reversing or intermittent and reversing. The speed of the drive motor is usually constant. The total number of revolutions per day is set either by means of a timer or by varying the pause times during intermittent operation. The number of revolutions is adjusted so that only a few more revolutions per day PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 3/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

be completed when the automatic winding of the wristwatch needed to keep the spring preload constant. This prevents the slip clutch of the automatic elevator from wearing out excessively.

A disadvantage of the known clock winder is that the clock must be stretched respectively on the spring clip or placed around the watch cushions when on

Watch winder to be attached to be raised. Apart from the risk of the watch falling onto the spring clip when tightened, the process will wear the bracelet.

The object of the invention is to develop a watch winder of the type mentioned in that the attachment of the clock on the watch winder is simplified, so that the risk of damage to the clock and wear are largely eliminated.

To solve this problem, it is provided that the receptacle has a receiving space into which a watch storage box can be inserted. The invention is based on the recognition that high-quality wristwatches today often not only delivered with a sales package, but with a likewise high-quality storage box, which is designed for permanent, protective Aufbe¬ protection and frequent transport of the clock, for example, in luggage. The storage box is usually already provided with a padded receptacle for the clock, which keeps the clock within the closed Aufbewah¬ insurance box in a fixed position. The clock must therefore not be removed from the storage box and clamped onto a spring clip when using the watch winder according to the invention, but can be used directly with the Aufbewah¬ ing box in the receiving space of the recording. The watch winder therefore requires no special knowledge and no special care from the user.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the receptacle is a molded part of an elastic material, in particular of a foam rubber-like material. In this way, the recording offers through the PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 4/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

elastic clamping effect a very secure hold for the storage box, the recording is equally well suited for a variety of differently shaped storage boxes. In addition, a very simple insertion and removal of the storage boxes is possible. Finally, it is ensured that the surfaces of the storage box during insertion and removal are not excessively strained.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the receptacle is replaceably mounted on a holding element which is coupled to the transmission. This makes it possible to provide different shots with little effort on the watch winder, which can then accommodate differently shaped storage boxes. The holding element can be designed, for example, in the manner of an open-topped box into which the corresponding storage box can be inserted.

According to a preferred and independent of the use of a Aumahmeraumes embodiment of the invention it is provided that the receptacle is mounted so that it can be set by the gear in a tumbling motion, in particular about a vertical or nearly vertical axis. By simply inserting the storage box into the receptacle, the timepiece is positioned to wobble about a vertical axis, causing the eccentric rotor of the automatic elevator to rotate about it

Pointer axis stimulates. This will make the automatic elevator in a very similar way

Gear, as he also works while wearing the wristwatch on the wrist. This is an advantage over conventional watch winders, where the watch is usually rotated about an axis stationary in space, resulting in one-sided wear.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one

Provided crank disk, which is coupled to the receptacle and over the

Gear can be rotated. On the one hand, in this way the automatic winding of the mechanical clock can be set in motion with the utmost protection of the mechanical movement. In particular, everyone can PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 5/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

jerky movements are avoided, which would burden the jewels inside the mechanical movement over charge. On the other hand, this drive mode of Uhreribewegers allows a technology-oriented design, which offers the special circle of customers for high-quality watches with mechanical movement and complex complications a corresponding purchase incentive.

Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention will be described below with reference to various embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these show:

- Figure 1 shows a watch winder according to a first embodiment in a first perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the watch winder of FIG. 1 in a second perspective view;

- Figure 3 shows the watch winder of Figure 1 in a third perspective view;

- Figure 4 shows the watch winder of Figure 1 in a first side view;

- Figure 5 shows the watch winder of Figure 1 in a second side view;

- Figure 6 shows the watch winder of Figure 1 in a plan view;

- Figure 7 shows two variants of a receptacle for the watch winder invention with the associated clock storage boxes;

- Figure 8 shows the recordings of Figure 7 each with inserted watch storage box;

- Figure 9 is a block diagram of an evaluation and control electronics for the watch winder according to the invention;

- Figure 10 shows a watch winder according to a second embodiment in a first perspective view; PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 6/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

FIG. 11 shows the clockwork winder of FIG. 10 in a second perspective view;

FIG. 12 shows the clockwork winder of FIG. 10 in a third perspective view;

FIG. 13 shows the clockwork winder of FIG. 10 in a fourth perspective view

View, the recording is not shown for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 14 shows the clockwork winder of FIG. 10 in a first side view;

FIG. 15 shows the watch winder of FIG. 10 in a second side view;

FIG. 16 shows the clockwork winder of FIG. 10 in a plan view;

FIGS. 17a to 20c show the watch winder of FIG. 10 in a perspective view, a side view and a plan view, respectively, in different positions during one revolution, wherein the crank disks are each further rotated through 90 °.

- Figure 21 is a perspective exploded view of a variant of the recording of the watch winder for various watch storage boxes;

FIGS. 22a and 22b show a clockwork winder in two perspective views with the receptacle of FIG. 21, wherein a first type of watch box is accommodated;

FIGS. 23 a and 23 b show a clockwork winder in two perspective views, with the view of FIG. 21, a second type of watch box being accommodated;

FIG. 24 shows a watch winder according to a third embodiment in a perspective view, wherein the receptacle is not shown.

FIGS. 1 to 8 show a timepiece according to a first embodiment. It contains a base plate 10, on which two side parts 12 are mounted. PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 7/17 - 10 NOVEMBER2004

Between the side parts 12, a frame 14 is movably mounted about a first pivot axis. Within the frame 14, a holding member 16 is movably mounted about a second pivot axis. The first and the second pivot axis are perpendicular to each other, so that the holding element 16 is mounted gimbal.

The holding element is designed in the manner of an open-topped box, in which a receptacle 18 is inserted. The receptacle 18 consists of a foam rubber-like material and has such dimensions that on the one hand it can be easily inserted into the holding element 16, on the other hand is held with slight friction in the holding element. The receptacle 18 has a receiving space 20 (see FIG. T), which is designed here as a recess and into which a watch storage box 22 can be inserted (see also FIG. 8). The recess 20 is adapted to the respective associated clock storage box 22, that the clock storage box can be easily inserted into the recess 20, but at the same time it is held with friction in the recess.

At the side facing away from the receptacle 18 side of the holding element 16 is a

Boom 26 attached, which is made in two parts. The holding member 16 associated part is fixedly attached thereto. On this part of the boom, a second part is telescoped. This second part ends as a ball head 28 which is received in a pan 30. The ball head 28 and the pan 30 form a joint, by means of which the arm 26 and thus the holding element 16 is connected to a crank disk 32. The telescopic displaceability of the two parts of the arm 26 serves, above all, to facilitate the assembly of the watch winder and to compensate for tolerances in the components and during assembly.

The crank pulley 32 is rotatably mounted to the base plate 10 and has a plurality of openings 34 defining different positions for the pan 30. The different positions differ with regard to their

Distance from the axis of rotation of the crank disk 32. The pan 30 can by means of a

Pin connection are inserted in a manner in the corresponding opening. PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 8/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

It is a drive motor 36 is provided, which is designed as an electric motor and connected via a flexible drive belt 38 with a friction wheel 40. The friction wheel 40 engages on the outer circumference of the crank disk 32 and is mounted on a rocker 42. For the necessary contact pressure against the crank disc, the bias of the drive belt 38. At the same time a slip clutch between the drive motor and the crank pulley is created in this way.

The diameter of the drive motor 36 associated pulley is smaller than the diameter of the friction wheel 40 associated pulley, and the

Diameter of the friction wheel 40 is smaller than the diameter of the crank disk 32. In this way, a two-stage transmission is formed, by means of which the crank disk can be driven at low speed and rack-free.

On the crank disk 32, a magnet 43 is mounted, which is associated with a Hall sensor 44. The signal pulse thus triggered in the Hall sensor is used in conjunction with a time base of an evaluation and control electronics 46 shown schematically in Figure 9 to detect the number of revolutions of the crank disk per unit time. The total number of revolutions is stored using an internal counter and displayed on a display. This internal counter is automatically reset to zero every 24 hours.

The evaluation and control electronics 46 additionally receives information from the position of four selector switches: Selector switch 1 allows the user of the

Uhreribewegers to select the number of cycles per day, during which the

Watch winder should run at a constant speed. With selector switch 2, the

Number of revolutions per cycle specified, and the position of selector switch

3 determines whether the watch winder should complete all cycles clockwise or anti-clockwise or change the direction of rotation from cycle to cycle.

Selector switch 4 is used to turn the watch winder on and off, triggering a manual reset of the internal counter for the total number of revolutions per day. The evaluation and control electronics determined based on this

Information for each cycle, the on and off times and the direction of rotation of the drive motor. This information is sent to an electronic control unit for two PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 9/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

Relay relayed with changeover contacts. With the help of the two relays, the drive motor is then respectively polarized according to the direction of rotation specification and connected to the voltage source.

Optionally, a timer is added to the evaluation and control electronics, which allows the user to specify discrete on and off times manually.

The signal pulse of the Hall sensor 44 is further used to always stop the watch winder in intermittent operation at a predetermined zero position.

The drive motor 36 and the evaluation and control electronics 46 are operated with a harmless low voltage, which can be provided either by a power supply or by a battery pack.

When the drive motor 36 drives the crank pulley 32, the support member 16 performs a slow tumbling motion about a vertical axis (assuming that the axis of rotation of the crank pulley, as seen in the vertical direction, passes through the intersection of the two pivot axes of the gimbal of the support member). , The wobbling movement of the holding element 16 and thus also the clock, which is located in the recorded in the receptacle 18 watch storage box 22 is generated by the holding member 16 is held by means of the gimbal in space and secured against rotation about the wobble axis and at the same time the end of the support member 16 associated boom 26, which is located below the intersection of the gimbal axes, is moved by means of the crank disk 32 on a circular path about the wobble axis. The tumbling motion given to the watch resembles, as it is a rotation in different directions, the movements to which the watch would be subjected if worn by the owner.

By varying the position of the cup 30 on the crank disc 32, the wobble angle of the holding member can be varied in the range of about 15 degrees to about 40 degrees in several stages. For the watch winder this results in the PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 10/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

Advantage that the amount of bias of the drive spring of the movement can be quasi adjusted, because the force acting on the automatic elevator component of the gravitational force of the eccentric rotor can be varied accordingly. The slip clutch contained in the automatic elevator is thus exposed to the correct setting of the tumble angle even with permanent operation of the watch winder no stress.

FIGS. 10 to 16 show a watch winder according to a second embodiment. For the components known from the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used, and reference is made to the above explanations.

Notwithstanding the first Ausfαhrungsform the holding element is held in the second Ausfαhrungsform not by means of a gimbal in space, but by a special variant of a so-called rod kinematics with six bars. This special variant of a rod kinematics is characterized in that in each case two of the six rods are combined in pairs to form a triangular body 50. Conceptually, the outer edges of the triangular body 50, which extend from the holding element 16 downwardly in the direction of the base plate 10, can be considered as a respective bar.

The triangular bodies 50 are connected at one of their longitudinal sides each angularly movable with a support plate 52 for the support member 16, wherein the axes of rotation are arranged at an angle of 120 ° to each other. On the side turned away from the carrier plate 52, the triangular bodies 50 each terminate as a ball head 28, which is received in a pan 30. The three ball joints are mounted on three crankshafts 32 arranged in a triangle. The rotational movement of the three crank disks 32 is synchronized by means of a synchronization belt 54, which as

Timing belt is executed. The geometry of the rod kinematics and the synchronization of the crank disks 32 are designed so that the support plate 52 and thus ultimately the clock, which is arranged in its storage box 22 in the receptacle 18, which in turn is attached to the holding plate 16 connected to the support plate, a nearly perfect wobble about a substantially vertical axis. PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 11/17 - 10, NOVEMBER 2004

ren when the three ball joints are moved on circular paths around the axes of rotation of the Kurbel¬ discs. This tumbling motion is shown in FIGS. 17 to 20.

Also in the second embodiment, the three crank disks 32 are driven by means of a drive motor 36, which is designed as an electric motor. Deviating from the first embodiment, the friction wheel 40 does not engage directly on a crank disk 32, but on a drive wheel 31 which is rotatably connected to one of the crank disks 32. Otherwise correspond to the drive mechanism and the drive of the drive motor and the sensor for the position of the crank disks of the first Ausfuhrungsfoπn the clock winder.

Also in the second embodiment, the pans in different

Positions and thus be inserted at different radii of movement in the Öffiiungen 34 on the crank disks 32, for example by means of a pin connection. Thus, even in the second embodiment of the watch winder, the tumbling angle of the holding element 16 can be varied in the range from approximately 15 degrees to approximately 40 degrees in several stages.

The second embodiment of the watch winder has the advantage over the first that the holding element 16 does not have to have any turning or articulation points on its outer circumference.

By a suitable design of the geometry of the rod kinematics and the synchronization of the crank disks it is possible to have a nearly perfect gimbal

Suspension with virtual axes of rotation to realize the large wobble angle to about

40 degrees. All components of the watch winder, which serve to hold the holding element in space and in a tumbling motion about the substantially vertical

To put wobble axis can thus be arranged below the bottom of the support member 16 and optionally completely covered with a housing. In addition, the retaining element can be easily replaced, so that the

Watch winder can be easily equipped with holding elements of different shape and size. PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 12/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

FIG. 21 shows a variant of the receptacle 18. Instead of an open-top box, a universal receptacle is used, which can be easily adapted to different storage boxes of different sizes and shapes. The universal receptacle has a plate 180 which has a plurality of star-shaped T-slots 182. In individual or all of the grooves 182, a post 184 is used. Each post has a set screw 186 with threaded portion 188 and a coating 190 made of a foam rubber-like material, which is fixed to the Gewindestifi: connected. Each set screw passes through the corresponding T-slot 182 in the plate 180 with the stepped threaded part, so that a washer 191 can be pushed onto it and a counter nut 192 can be screwed on, which is designed as a sliding block. The threaded connection of the posts 184 can thus be easily loosened and tightened without tools by turning the posts by hand, so that the posts 184 can be clamped anywhere in the T-slots 182 of the plate 180. In this way, the storage box 20 is defined for the watch box.

Ih Figures 22a and 22b, a watch winder is shown, which is equipped with a Aufhahme of the type shown in Figure 21. The posts 184 are here adjusted to receive an elongated, narrow watch box 22. Apart from the Aufhahme 18 corresponds to this watch winder of the embodiment shown in Figure 10.

In the figures 23 a and 23 b, a watch winder is shown, which also with a

Aufhahme the type shown in Figure 21 is equipped. The posts 184 are adjusted here so that a round, higher watch storage box 22 is added.

Apart from the receptacle 18, this watch winder corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 shows a third embodiment of the watch winder.

With regard to the basic structure, the third embodiment corresponds to the second embodiment. The synchronization of the rotational movement of the three

But crank disks 32 does not take place via a synchronization belt, but by means of a centrally arranged sun gear 60, which is arranged on a bridge 62 PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 13/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

is. Each of the Rurbelscheiben 32 is provided on its outer side with a toothing 64 which meshes with the toothing of the Soπnenrades 60 The crank disks 32 therefore operate similar to planetary gears.

Claims

PRINZ & PARTNERH 1909 WO - 14/17 - 10. NOVEMBER2004Patentansprüche

1. Watch winder with a drive motor (36), a transmission and a receptacle (18) for a clock, characterized in that the receptacle (18) has a receiving space (20) into which a watch storage box (22) can be used ,

2. watch winder according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (18) is a molded part made of an elastic material, in particular of a foam rubber-like material.

3. watch winder according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the receptacle (18) replaceable on a holding element

(16) is attached, which is coupled to the transmission.

4. Watch winder according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding element (16) is designed in the manner of an open-topped box.

5. Watch winder according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacle (18) has a plurality of posts (184) which together define the receiving space (20).

6. watch winder according to claim 5, characterized in that the posts (184) are adjustable.

7. watch winder according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (18) is mounted so that it can be offset from the transmission in a tumbling movement.

8. watch winder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one crank disc (32) is provided, which is coupled to the receptacle (18) and can be rotated via the transmission in rotation. PRMZ & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 15/17 - IQ. NOVEMBER 2004

9. Watch winder according to claim 8, characterized in that on the crank disc (32) a joint (28, 30) is mounted, which serves for coupling with the receptacle (18), wherein the joint (28, 30) in different positions the crank disc (32) can be mounted, which differ by their distance from the axis of rotation of the crank disc (32).

10. Watch winder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (18) is cardanically mounted by means of a frame (14).

11. Watch winder according to claim 10 and one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that on the receptacle, a boom (26) is mounted, whose end facing away from the receptacle with the crank disc (32) is coupled.

12. watch winder according to claim 11, characterized in that the arm (26) consists of two parts which can be telescoped into each other.

13. Watch winder according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the receptacle (18) by means of a rod kinematics (50) is mounted so that it can perform a movement about virtual axes of rotation.

14. watch winder according to claim 13, characterized in that three crank disks (32) are provided and the receptacle (18) with each of

Crank disks (32) is coupled by means of two rods.

15. Watch winder according to claim 14, characterized in that the crank disc (32) associated rods to a triangular body (50) are combined, which is pivotally mounted on the receptacle (18).

16. Watch winder according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that a synchronization belt (54) is provided, which acts on all three crank disks (32). PRINCE & PARTNERS

H 1909 WO - 16/17 - 10 NOVEMBER 2004

17. Watch winder according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that a sun gear (60) is provided which cooperates with the crank disks (32) and synchronizes their rotation.

18. Watch winder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission has a friction wheel (40) which is connected to a

Crankshaft (32) and a drive pulley (31) engages.

19. Watch winder according to claim 18, characterized in that the friction wheel (40) is mounted on a rocker (42) and by a drive belt (38) against the friction wheel (40) is acted upon.

20. Watch winder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an evaluation and control electronics (46) is provided, by means of which the drive motor (36) can be put into operation in a predetermined manner.