HK1162693B - Winding and time-setting control device for a timepiece movement - Google Patents

Description

Winding and time setting control device for a timepiece movement

Technical Field

The invention relates to a winding and time-setting control device for a timepiece movement including a movement stem rotating about an axis in a movement plate and fixed to a sliding pinion in a manner that prevents relative rotation. The sliding pinion is axially movable in translation along said axis between a winding position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the winding mechanism in order to rotate it, and a time-setting position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the time-setting mechanism in order to rotate it, under the action of a sliding pinion rod. Said device comprises a control stem rotating about a longitudinal axis and axially slidable at least between a winding control position and a time-setting control position and arranged to cooperate with a manual control crown, which control stem is relatively rotatably connected to said movement stem by means of a transmission and is offset with respect to said movement stem. The sliding pinion lever forms part of a pull-out mechanism that is actuated by sliding of the control stem between the winding control position and the time-setting control position. The sliding pinion meshes with the winding mechanism in the winding position when the control stem is in the winding control position, or meshes with the time-setting mechanism when the control stem is in the time-setting control position.

The present invention relates to the field of winding and time-setting mechanisms for timepiece movements.

Background

In mechanical timepieces with complex structure, it may be advantageous to use, instead of the usual winding stem in the form of a single piece or two aligned pieces, two stems offset in height from each other and kinematically connected together, when the complex element occupies the space between the dial and the basic movement and therefore means that the movement is placed in a position lower than the median plane of the timepiece case. The external crown of a conventional winding stem is closer to the back cover of the watch case with respect to the bezel, which is neither convenient nor aesthetic. The two stem devices keep the crown in its traditional and convenient position, at the middle height of the case.

In this known device, such as the device disclosed in CH patent No.691621 in the name of Chopard International SA and EP patent No.1134628 in the name of Dubois & Depraz SA, the two stems are connected by a transmission to be relatively rotatable and also fixed to be relatively non-translatable, so that the second stem follows the first stem when the user pulls out the control crown. The second stem, i.e. the one extending into the core, therefore performs all the functions of the traditional stem and must be fitted with the same elements (pull-out, sliding pinion, winding pinion) as the traditional stem. Because of the space occupied by the gears connecting the two stems, the designer is forced to move these elements slightly inwards of the movement. Furthermore, the connection for fixing the two stems in translation relative to each other requires a movable frame that contains the gears and increases the space required by the device. Given that the axial position is usually marked on the second arbor, the axial play inevitably present in this frame leads to an inaccurate axial position of the first arbor.

The two stems of the winding and time-setting device disclosed in DE patent No.593654 in the name of Wilhelm Koehler are also connected by a transmission to be rotatable relative to each other and fixed to be non-translatable relative to each other. The device disclosed in this patent document differs from the above-mentioned devices in that it comprises neither a sliding pinion nor a pull-out mechanism. The switching of the time-setting position is effected by pressing the winding crown. According to this document, the second stem carries a crown wheel which engages with the time-setting mechanism when the stem translates in reaction to the pressure exerted by the user on the winding stem.

Also known from EP patent No1560082 in the name of Seiko Instruments Inc is a two-part winding stem comprising a first stem located in the space between the intermediate part and the rear cover part accommodating the movement and intended to cooperate with said movement. A second portion, parallel to the first portion and cooperating at one end with the first stem by means of the teeth comprised on each portion, carries at the other end the crown. The two shanks are held together by a resiliently mounted holding frame on a spacer comprising two supports with a suitable centre distance. The first stem, the spacer, the second stem and the frame are designed to be inserted successively into a relatively limited volume and to be detachable. However, the frame necessarily occupies a certain volume inside the watch case. Moreover, the pivot guidance is limited and the suspended coupling through the frame is disadvantageous for the passage of high torques during winding. The axial play also causes inaccuracies in the axial position of the stem.

A good solution to the problem of keeping the winding and time-setting crown at the middle plane of the watch case is known from EP patent No.1748330 in the name of monthes BREGUET SA. This patent discloses a device having a first rotary stem fixed to the crown of a timepiece, which slides axially between a winding position and a time-setting position, and a second stem parallel to the first stem and offset with respect to the latter, the device being provided with means for selectively driving in rotation the winding mechanism and the time-setting mechanism. The two shafts are connected in a relative rotation manner by a transmission device. The second shaft is fixed to the sliding pinion in a non-rotatable manner,

the sliding pinion is axially movable between two positions under the action of a lever. One end of the lever engages in a peripheral groove of the sliding pinion. The lever forms part of a pull-out mechanism which is actuated by sliding of the first stem between a winding position and a time-setting position in which the sliding pinion meshes with the winding mechanism and with the time-setting mechanism, respectively.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to create an improved device compared to the prior art, which is simpler and more compact and which is easy to integrate with existing movements.

The invention therefore concerns a winding and time-setting control device for a timepiece movement including a movement stem rotating about an axis in a movement plate and fixed non-rotatably to a sliding pinion. The sliding pinion slides axially in translation along said axis under the action of a sliding pinion rod between a winding position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the winding mechanism to rotate it, and a time-setting position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the time-setting mechanism to rotate it. Said device comprises a control stem rotating about a longitudinal axis and axially slidable at least between a winding control position and a time-setting control position and arranged to cooperate with a manual control crown, which control stem is relatively rotatably connected to said movement stem by means of a transmission and is offset with respect to said movement stem. The sliding pinion lever forms part of a pull-out mechanism that is actuated by sliding of the control stem between the winding control position and the time-setting control position. The sliding pinion meshes with the winding mechanism in the winding position when the control stem is in the winding control position, or meshes with the time-setting mechanism when the control stem is in the time-setting control position. The device is characterized in that the pull-out mechanism comprises a first pull rod comprising a first pull-out arm and a pivot on either side of a first pivot axis, the first pull-out arm being movable in translation under the action of the translation of the control stem, the pivot cooperating along a third pivot axis with a complementary pivot of a second pull rod comprising a second pull-out arm and the complementary pivot on either side of a second pivot axis, the second pull-out arm being movable in a seat of the movement stem. The second pull rod drives the sliding pinion rod to move the sliding pinion.

According to a feature of the invention, said second pivot axis is aligned with said first pivot axis to ensure that said first and second pull out pieces have the same angular clearance (angular clearance) during the action on said control stem.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the longitudinal axis of the control stem is parallel to the axis of the movement stem, the transmission comprises an odd number of intermediate pinions greater than or equal to 1, and the axis of at least one of the intermediate pinions is offset with respect to a plane formed by the longitudinal axis of the control stem and the axis of the movement stem.

The invention also concerns a timepiece including at least one timepiece movement including a movement stem rotating about an axis in a movement bridge and fixed to a sliding pinion in a manner that prevents relative rotation. A sliding pinion is axially mobile in translation along said axis under the action of a sliding pinion rod between a winding position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the winding mechanism to rotate it, and a time-setting position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the time-setting mechanism to rotate it. The timepiece also comprises at least one device of the type described above.

The switching between winding and time setting is thus achieved on the movement stem by controlling the axial movement of the stem by means of an improved pull-out mechanism, which is compact and very rigid, which avoids the above-mentioned drawbacks of a translating frame. The advantages of the pull-out mechanism have been demonstrated and the height is low. The offset position of the intermediate pinion allows any desired centre distance between the control stem and the movement stem.

The device is very easy to use in existing movements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement stem does not slide and comprises a section of non-circular cross section, for example a square section, on which a sliding pinion is slidably engaged, said sliding pinion having a peripheral groove in which one end of the lever of the pull-out mechanism engages. This results in a very compact structure with a simplified support.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section along the dotted line through the axes of the control stem, intermediate pinion and movement stem contained in the device when the device according to the invention is in the winding control position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view in cross section substantially perpendicular to the cross section of FIG. 1 through the first and second pivot axes of the respective first and second pull points included in the device and through the third pivot axis of the joint between the first and second pull points;

fig. 3 is a partially schematic perspective view of the device of fig. 1 or 2, showing how the first pull-out piece is controlled by the control stem, the connection between the first pull-out piece and the second pull-out piece and the connection between the second pull-out piece and the lever controlling the position of the sliding pinion;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the first and second pivot axes of the first and second pull tabs, respectively;

fig. 5 is a view similar to fig. 3 showing a third pivot axis of the joint between the first and second pull stages.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to the field of winding and time-setting mechanisms for timepiece movements.

The invention relates to a winding and time-setting device 100 for a timepiece movement.

The device shown in the figures comprises two winding and time-setting stems, namely a control stem 1 and a movement stem 2, the respective axes of rotation 3 and 4 of the control stem 1 and of the movement stem 2 being parallel but offset in height with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular or inclined with respect to the general plane of the timepiece movement. The stems 1 and 2 are connected by two kinematic chains, namely a gear transmission 5 and a pull-out mechanism 6, the gear transmission 5 being permanently engaged and transmitting the rotation from one stem to the other, the pull-out mechanism 6 transmitting the axial movement from the first stem 1 to the sliding pinion 8. The whole device is supported from the movement plate 11 of the timepiece by a fixed element or bridge. Also mounted on these fixed elements are winding mechanism 20 and time-setting mechanism 24, winding pinion 21 of winding mechanism 20 being visible in the drawing, and a motion gear intermediate wheel 25 of time-setting mechanism 24 being visible in the drawing.

The timepiece movement in this description is of a conventional type, comprising a movement stem 2 rotating about a longitudinal axis 4 and guided at least to one shoulder 2A in a movement plate 11. Movement stem 2 is fixed in rotation to a sliding pinion 8, which is axially movable along axis 4 by a sliding pinion rod 52. The sliding pinion 8 is mobile in translation between a winding position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the winding mechanism 20 to rotate it, and a time-setting position, in which it is arranged to cooperate with the time-setting mechanism 24 to rotate it. A sliding pinion 8 is slidably mounted on a square section 9 of the movement stem 2, the sliding pinion 8 being fixed non-rotatably to the square section of the movement stem 2 through its central square hole. In the embodiment shown in the figures, movement stem 2 does not slide, i.e. the axial position of movement stem 2 is fixed. The two ends of the movement stem 2 are preferably provided with cylindrical pivots. A support or jewel 42 mounted in flange 15 and a hole 43 in movement plate 11 form a rotating support that supports stem 2 and axially retains stem 2. The pinion 44 is fixed to the stem and permanently meshes with the intermediate pinion 45, thus forming the last pinion of the gear train.

Movement stem 2 comprises a rim in the form of a straight or conical shoulder against which winding pinion 21 can rest, said winding pinion being freely mounted on cylindrical shoulder 46 of movement stem 2. Pinion 21 is of conventional design and preferably comprises a Breguet (Breguet) type facing toothing 47 and a spur toothing 49, when sliding pinion 8 is in the winding position, Breguet type facing toothing 47 being able to cooperate with a corresponding facing toothing 48 of sliding pinion 8, spur toothing 49 being permanently meshed with an intermediate gear (not shown in the figures). The other end of the sliding pinion 8 is provided with a face toothing 50 designed to mesh with the motion wheel intermediate wheel 25 when the sliding pinion 8 is in the time-setting position. The sliding pinion 8 also has an outer peripheral groove 51, in which outer peripheral groove 51 a sliding pinion rod 52 engages.

Device 100 comprises a control stem 1, which control stem 1 is connected in relative rotation to a movement stem 2 by a transmission 5 and is offset with respect to movement stem 2, i.e. not aligned with movement stem 2. The control stem 1 rotates about a longitudinal axis 3 and slides axially at least between a winding control position and a time-setting control position. Preferably, the control stem 1 is arranged to cooperate with a manual control crown, not shown in the figures. Preferably, axis 3 of control stem 1 is parallel to axis 4 of movement stem 2, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. The control stem 1 preferably comprises a first cylindrical portion 30 and a second cylindrical portion 31, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the first cylindrical portion. These parts are slidably mounted in holes of the fixed elements 14, 13 of the plate 16, which act as supports, so that the control stem 1 can slide between a winding position and a time-setting position. In other embodiments, a third position may be provided for stem 1, for example for setting a date. Like a conventional winding stem, stem 1 has a threaded end 32, which threaded end 32 will pass through the middle part of the watch case and carry a manual control stem outside the case.

The square section portion 34 of the stem 1 engages in a hole of a first pinion 35 with a corresponding section, the first pinion 35 being held axially between the fixing elements 13 and 14. The central hole of the pinion 35 may also comprise a circular section portion fitted onto a cylindrical portion of the element 13, which acts as a support to radially support the pinion 35 when the stem 1 is removed, for example to pack (case up) a movement. On the cylindrical portion 30 of stem 1 there is an annular groove 41 in which a post or arm 40A of first pull-out piece 40 engages. When the watchmaker wishes to remove stem 1, the first pull-out piece can be lowered to release the post from the annular groove.

Sliding pinion lever 52 forms part of a pull-out mechanism 6, which is actuated by sliding first stem 1 between a winding control position and a time-setting control position. When control stem 1 is in the winding control position, sliding pinion 8 engages winding mechanism 20 in the winding position. Alternatively, when control stem 1 is in the time-setting control position, sliding pinion 8 meshes with time-setting mechanism 24.

According to the invention, pull-out piece mechanism 6 comprises a first pull-out piece 40 cooperating with control stem 1. This first pull-out piece 40 forms a lever and comprises a first pull-out piece arm 40A and a pivot 40B on either side of a first pivot axis a1, this first pull-out piece arm 40A being moved in translation by the control stem 1. The pivot 40B cooperates along a third pivot axis a3 with a complementary pivot 60B included in the second pull piece 60. Like first pull-out piece 40, second pull-out piece 60 forms a lever and comprises a second pull-out piece arm 60A and a complementary pivot 60B on either side of a second pivot axis a2, second pull-out piece arm 60A being movable, in particular in a translational manner, within a seat 61 contained in movement stem 2. The second pull stage 60 drives the sliding pinion rod 52 to move the sliding pinion 8.

Naturally, the pull-out mechanism with two pull-out pieces described in the present description in a simple and advantageous embodiment may comprise more pull-out pieces cooperating with each other in the same pivoting manner, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 2, first pull-out arm 40A engages in a first slot 41 contained in control stem 1. The width of the first slot 41 is just to allow the arm 40A to pivot. Thus, the longitudinal movement of control stem 1 is transmitted with minimum play to the connection formed by first pull-out piece 40 and second pull-out piece 60.

Second pull-out arm 60A preferably engages in a second slot 61 contained in movement stem 2. Movement stem 2 is preferably fixed so as not to translate, and therefore slot 61 has a width greater than the width of second pull-out arm 60A to allow the second pull-out arm to have full clearance.

The sliding pinion rod 52 comprises an arm fixed non-translatably to the sliding pinion 8, preferably by cooperating with a groove 51 of the sliding pinion 8, which engages with a minimum working clearance inside said groove 51, in a similar way to the cooperation between the first pull-out arm 40A and the first groove 41.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 2-5, the second pivot axis a2 is parallel to the first pivot axis a 1. Advantageously, second pivot axis a2 is aligned with first pivot axis a1 to ensure the same angular play of first pull piece 40 and second pull piece 60 during the action on control stem 1.

It is evident that second pull-out piece 60, located at the level of the movement or integrated in the movement, is used to actuate sliding pinion lever 52 by completely reproducing the off-centre movement imparted to first pull-out piece 40 by control stem 1. As shown in fig. 3, in a particular embodiment, the second pull cup 60 includes a hinged connection with the sliding pinion lever 52 via a pivotal connection about pivot axis a 4.

As regards the transmission 5, this transmission preferably comprises an odd number of intermediate pinions 45, so that the movement stem 2 can be driven in the same direction of rotation as the control stem 1. The number of pinions 45 is greater than or equal to 1. For an economical embodiment, the axis of each intermediate pinion 45 is advantageously parallel to axis 4 of movement stem 2.

Preferably, when these two axes are coplanar and preferably parallel, the axis of at least one of these intermediate pinions 45 is offset with respect to the plane formed by longitudinal axis 3 of control stem 1 and axis 4 of movement stem 2. The offset of the position of intermediate pinion 45 enables device 100 to be adapted to any desired centre distance between control stem 1 and movement stem 2.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, device 100 comprises an additional plate 16 arranged to be fixed to movement plate 11, which comprises a mechanism 17 for guiding the rotation of control stem 1.

The device 100 further comprises a box 70 arranged to be fixed to the additional jaw 16 and to cooperate with a locking flange 15 to house the transmission 5, the locking flange 15 being arranged to close said box 70 and to form a pivoting guide for the transmission 5. As shown in fig. 1, the pivot guide means may in particular form a support 75 provided on the flange 15 and a support 76 on the box 70. Naturally, if the transmission 5 also comprises a plurality of intermediate pinions of the pinion 45 type, the same number of similar supports are provided on the box 70 and on the locking flange 15.

Advantageously, as shown in fig. 2, the additional cleat 16 comprises at least one support 73, which at least one support 73 is arranged for receiving a pivot 71 comprised in the first pull out piece 40 and forming a first pivot axis a 1.

Opposite to the support 73, the movement bridge 11 comprises at least one support 74, which at least one support 74 is arranged for receiving the pivot 72 contained in the second pull piece 60 and forming the second pivot axis a 2.

The invention also concerns a timepiece including at least one timepiece movement of the above type including a movement stem 2 fixed to a sliding pinion 8, rotatably about an axis 4, in a movement plate 11, and non-rotatably. This sliding pinion 8 is axially mobile in translation along said axis 4 under the action of a sliding pinion rod 52 between a winding position, in which the sliding pinion 8 is arranged to cooperate with the winding mechanism 20 to rotate it, and a time-setting position, in which the sliding pinion 8 is arranged to cooperate with the time-setting mechanism 24 to rotate it. According to the invention, the timepiece comprises at least one device 100 associated with one of these movements.

Preferably, the movement stem 2 of the timepiece is fixed so as not to translate. According to a variant not shown, movement stem 2 may be slidable and fixed to sliding pinion 8. Thus, the pinion 44 must be longer to remain engaged with the intermediate pinion 45 during the sliding movement. Furthermore, winding pinion 31 must be held axially so as not to slide with movement stem 2, i.e. the length of the structure will be longer than that shown in fig. 1.

Claims (15)

1. Winding and time-setting control device (100) for a timepiece movement including a movement stem (2) rotating about an axis (4) and fixed in rotation to a sliding pinion (8) in a movement plate (11), said sliding pinion (8) being axially movable in translation along said axis (4) by the action of a sliding pinion lever (52) between a winding position, in which said sliding pinion (8) is arranged to cooperate with a winding mechanism (20) to rotate said winding mechanism (20), and a time-setting position, in which said sliding pinion (8) is arranged to cooperate with a time-setting mechanism (24) to rotate said time-setting mechanism (24), said device (100) including a winding stem rotating about a longitudinal axis (3) and axially slidable at least between a winding-control position and a time-setting control position and being arranged to cooperate with a manual control watch table (24) Crown-fitted control stem (1), this control stem (1) being connected in relative rotation to the movement stem (2) by means of a transmission mechanism (5) and being offset with respect to the movement stem (2), the sliding pinion lever (52) forming part of a pull-out mechanism (6), this pull-out mechanism (6) being actuated by sliding of the control stem (1) between the winding control position and the time-setting control position, the sliding pinion (8) meshing with the winding mechanism (20) in the winding position when the control stem (1) is in the winding control position, or with the time-setting mechanism (24) when the control stem (1) is in the time-setting control position, the pull-out mechanism (6) comprising a first pull-out piece (40), this first pull-out piece (40) forming a lever and comprising a first pull-out piece arm (40A) and a pivot (40B) on either side of a first pivot axis (a 1) The first pull-out arm (40A) is moved in translation by the translational action of the control stem (1), characterized in that the pivot (40B) cooperates along a third pivot axis (A3) with a complementary pivot (60B) contained in a second pull-out piece (60), the second pull-out piece (60) forming a lever and comprising, on either side of the second pivot axis (a 2), a second pull-out arm (60A) and the complementary pivot (60B), the second pull-out piece arm (60A) being movable within a seat (61) contained in the movement stem (2), the second pull-out piece (60) driving the sliding pinion lever (52) to move the sliding pinion (8).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first pull-out arm (40A) is engaged in a first groove (41) contained in said control stem (1).

3. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second pull-stop arm (60A) engages in a second slot constituting said seat (61) comprised in said movement stem (2) and having a width greater than the width of said second pull-stop arm (60A).

4. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding pinion rod (52) comprises an arm (53) fixed in relative translation to said sliding pinion (8) and engaged in a slot (51) of said sliding pinion (8).

5. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis (a 2) is parallel to the first pivot axis (a 1).

6. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second pivot axis (a 2) is parallel to said first pivot axis (a 1) and in that said second pivot axis (a 2) is aligned with said first pivot axis (a 1) to guarantee the same angular clearance of said first pull-out piece (40) and said second pull-out piece (60) during the action on said control stem (1).

7. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal axis (3) of said control stem (1) is parallel to said axis (4) of said movement stem (2).

8. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein said second pull out piece (60) comprises an articulated connection with said sliding pinion rod (52) through a pivot connection about a pivot axis (a 4).

9. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transmission means (5) comprise an odd number of intermediate pinions (45) greater than or equal to 1.

10. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transmission mechanism (5) comprises an odd number of intermediate pinions (45) greater than or equal to 1, and in that the axis of each of said intermediate pinions (45) is parallel to said axis (4) of said movement stem (2).

11. Device (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that said longitudinal axis (3) of said control stem (1) is parallel to said axis (4) of said movement stem (2) and in that the axis of at least one of said intermediate pinions (45) is offset with respect to a plane formed by said longitudinal axis (3) of said control stem (1) and said axis (4) of said movement stem (2).

12. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional plate (16) arranged to be fixed to said movement plate (11), which additional plate (16) comprises means (17) for guiding the rotation of said control stem (1), and a box (70) arranged to be fixed to said additional plate (16) and cooperating with a flange (15) for housing said transmission (5), said flange (15) being arranged for closing said box (70) and forming a pivoting guide for said transmission (5).

13. Device (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that said additional clamp (16) comprises at least one support (73) for receiving a pivot (71) contained in said first pull out piece (40) and forming said first pivot axis (a 1), and in that said movement clamp (11) comprises at least one support (74) for receiving a pivot (72) contained in said second pull out piece (60) and forming said second pivot axis (a 2).

14. Timepiece comprising at least one timepiece movement and at least one device (100) according to claim 1, said timepiece movement comprising a movement stem (2) fixed to a sliding pinion (8) in a movement plate (11) rotating about an axis (4) and non-rotatable with respect thereto, said sliding pinion (8) being axially mobile in translation along said axis (4) between a winding position and a time-setting position by the action of a sliding pinion rod (52), in the winding position, the sliding pinion (8) is arranged to cooperate with a winding mechanism (20) to rotate said winding mechanism (20), in a time-setting position, the sliding pinion (8) is arranged to cooperate with a time-setting mechanism (24) to rotate said time-setting mechanism (24), the device (100) being associated with one of said timepiece movements.

15. Timepiece according to claim 14, wherein the movement stem (2) is fixed so as not to translate.