HK1186532B - Modular timepiece movement with functional modules - Google Patents

Description

Modular timepiece movement with functional modules

Technical Field

The invention concerns a mechanical timepiece movement in the form of a modular unit.

The invention also concerns a timepiece including at least one movement of this type.

The present invention relates to the field of mechanical timepieces, and more particularly to the field of watches.

Background

Modular timepieces are known. Although modular watches are generally known in electronic watches, they are not common in mechanical watches, in which a modular construction is generally more expensive than traditional manufacturing methods, which are generally designed to divide the same basic movement into several small movements with different functions or with different appearances. Only a few additional mechanisms made on the additional board are relatively widely distributed.

Because of the accumulation of assembly gaps between modules, which require tight tolerances for each module, modular construction often imposes limitations on machining high precision interfaces to ensure satisfactory results for the entire unit.

The manufacture of the modules also often has an adverse effect on the overall thickness of the movement, making it difficult to produce an ultra-flat movement or even a generally flat movement.

However, the modular construction has been of great interest to watchmakers, since it allows to disassemble the assembly task. In return for the tighter manufacturing tolerances required for the accumulation of gaps between modules, even less skilled personnel can complete the final assembly operation because the assembly process is simple. However, the final assembly operation still requires the watch manufacturer to have the knowledge and the dexterity involved.

EP patent application No.1079284 to ETA discloses a watch with two main modules, each of which accommodates half of the components.

EP patent application No.0862098 to VOSS discloses a modular watch with a timing mechanism forming the whole module.

EP patent application No.1211578 to ETA discloses an ultra-thin electromechanical movement with stacked modules, which uses tubular elements to compensate for variations in the thickness of the fitting elements.

EP patent application No.2169479A1 to ETA SA discloses an electronic watch formed by an electronic module and a power supply which are mechanically and electrically connected to each other, and which does not use a printed circuit board to form a compact unit.

WO patent application No.2009/056498a1 to juovenot FREDERIC discloses an additional self-winding mechanism in which a pendulum is mounted between a main set of hands on the one hand and a chronograph (chronograph) and an eccentric second hand on the other hand. The mechanism of the accessory is not a module, since it is sandwiched between the components of the main movement and the various spindles and tubes of the movement that pass through the movement.

CH patent application No.647125A3 to DUBOIS & DEPRAZ SA discloses a timepiece with a motor module including a first power take-off integral with its cannon-pinion and a second power take-off integral with the second spindle. The timer module is detachably mounted and the gear train of the timer module is driven by the second power take off. The two power take-offs are concentric and accessible from the same side of the motor module. The timer module is secured between the dial and the top surface of the motor module. The hands form part of a timer module.

US patent application No.2008/112273a1 to PELLATON LOIC (ETA SA) discloses a movement with a fixed support that houses a display module comprising: a center bar clamp plate secured to the support; and an annular display member which is freely rotatable about the center bar clamp plate against the fixed support. The display member has a contact surface. The central strip clamp comprises three positioning surfaces (formed by three projections cooperating with said contact surfaces) to axially position the display member on the fixed support. The center bar clamp plate includes three mounting faces that are axially and angularly offset relative to the locating surface. The display member has three projections. The contact surface, the positioning surface, the fitting surface and the protrusion are arranged to together form a bayonet fitting system for mounting the display member on the bar clamp.

GIRARDIN FREDERIC, U.S. patent application No.2011/110199a1 discloses a module for actuating an element of a movement, intended to be mounted on a movement frame. The module comprises a mechanism comprising: a pivoting control stem that moves between axial positions; a control pinion gear that rotates integrally with the control stem; at least one actuation member arranged to cooperate with the control pinion at one axial position of the stem. The control pinion translates with the stem as the stem moves from one axial position to another. The module comprises: a separate housing containing the mechanism; a connection member coming out of said housing and arranged to kinematically connect said actuation member to the element of the movement to be actuated, so that said actuation member can actuate said element regardless of the position of the module on the frame of the movement.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention overcomes some of the prior art problems by proposing a modular unit that can be assembled without using an operator while ensuring the accuracy of the operating parameters through adjustment by trial and test and that is less costly to produce than conventional manufacturing methods.

The invention therefore relates to a mechanical timepiece movement in the form of a modular unit, characterized in that it comprises at least one mechanical function module for performing a specific timepiece function, said function module being irreversibly pre-adjusted by irreversibly fixing adjustment and/or assembly components contained in said function module after said specific timepiece function has been adjusted and functionally checked on a test bench, and in that said at least one pre-adjusted function module is irreversibly fixed to a board contained in said movement or in another pre-adjusted function module of said movement, or to another pre-adjusted function module contained in said movement.

According to a feature of the invention, each of said irreversible pre-adjusted functional modules irreversibly fixed to said plate or to said other pre-adjusted functional module is a mechanical module.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the timepiece movement comprises a plurality of said functional modules, each of which is pre-adjusted to perform a specific timepiece function, and each of which is mounted or irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate, or is sandwiched between said functional modules and/or components of the movement, which are in turn irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate.

The invention also concerns a timepiece including at least one movement of this type.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

figures 1 to 28 show schematic perspective views of various successive assembled states of a movement according to the invention, in which figures 1 to 20 relate to a complete basic movement.

Fig. 1 shows a gear train module arranged directly on the plate of the movement.

Fig. 2 shows the assembly of a functional stem mechanism module, which in a preferred embodiment performs both the time setting and manual winding functions, and in an alternative preferred embodiment performs the date setting function.

Fig. 3 shows the stem mechanism module locked in place.

Fig. 4 shows the assembly of the functional motor module, which here comprises a complete barrel.

Fig. 5 to 8 show the assembly of the following individual components: a barrel arbor (barrel arbor), a small seconds wheel, a barrel wheel drive wheel, and a frame column.

Fig. 9 shows the assembly of the self-winding equipment module mounted on the frame.

Fig. 10 to 13 show the assembly of the following individual components: a retaining clip for a self-winding equipment module mounted on the frame, a sliding gear return spring, an intermediate drum drive wheel, a sliding gear and a stop pinion.

Fig. 14 shows the assembly of the bar clamp with the self-winding device.

Fig. 15 shows the assembly of the pre-regulating functional regulating module, here comprising a balance unit, a pallet lever and an escapement.

Fig. 16-21 illustrate the assembly of the display module on the opposite side of the board from the side that assembles all of the modules and components of fig. 1-15, and after the pre-assembled sub-assembly of fig. 15 has been turned over with the appropriate components in place: the middle wheel, minute tooth axle, minute wheel and hour wheel.

Fig. 20 to 26 show the assembly of an alternative date mechanism, with the following elements in place: a date driving wheel, an intermediate date wheel, a date correcting wheel, a date indicator, and a date indicator holding plate.

Fig. 27 and 28 show the assembly of an alternative self-winding functional module, with the pre-mounted pendulum and the screw fixing the pendulum in place.

Fig. 29 shows a schematic view of a timepiece including a movement of this type equipped with several functional modules.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to the field of mechanical timepieces, and more particularly to the field of watches.

The invention concerns a mechanical timepiece movement 100 in the form of a modular unit.

According to the invention, said movement 100 comprises at least one mechanical functional module 1 for performing a specific timepiece function, said functional module 1 being irreversibly pre-adjusted by irreversibly fixing an adjusting and/or fitting part 9 contained in said functional module 1 after said specific timepiece function has been adjusted and functionally verified on a test bench.

The composition of movement 100 according to the invention is deliberately different from the traditional timepiece structure, in which the components are mounted one after the other on the plate and the operation of the movement is finally tested, which means that at the end all the adjustment work is carried out, often requiring partial disassembly for final modification and adjustment operations.

The combination of the pre-conditioned functional modules 1 is an essential aspect of the invention, since each function corresponding to a particular module is therefore tested as early as possible and at a lower cost. The adjustment is performed completely at once for each module. The irreversible fixing of the adjusting means in the respective module 1 ensures that the adjustment carried out beforehand in the respective memory module 1 does not deteriorate over time. Since the final assembly list includes fewer components, management of the final assembly operation is simplified.

The at least one pre-adjustment functional module 1 is irreversibly fastened to the plate 10 of the movement 100 or to the plate 10 of another pre-adjustment functional module 1 of the movement 100, or to another pre-adjustment functional module 1 of the movement 100.

The irreversible fixing of the functional modules 1 to each other or to the same plate 10 is also different from the traditional timepiece embodiments. Movement 100 according to the invention is not removable in the aftermarket requirements. In fact, it is irreversibly assembled, which ensures that the adjustments made can last over time, both for the individual functional modules and for the entire assembled movement 100. The purpose of the fixed module 1 is to accurately prevent any loosening and relative movement between the components, which often causes failure during use. This design thus prevents malfunction, while at the same time it is not possible to disassemble the movement 100 again once the movement 100 has been completely and irreversibly assembled.

In an advantageous embodiment, each irreversible pre-conditioning functional module fixed to said plate 10 or to another of said pre-conditioning functional modules 1 is a mechanical module.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown, timepiece movement 100 comprises a plurality of such functional modules 1, each functional module 1 being pre-adjusted to perform a specific timepiece function. These functional modules 1 are each mounted or irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate 10, or sandwiched between the functional module(s) 1 and/or the components of the movement 100, which functional module(s) 1 and/or the components of the movement 100 are in turn irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate 10. Of course, one functional module 1 can be sandwiched between the machine plate 10 and at least one other component or at least one other functional module 1.

Each functional module 1 is a mechanical module derived from the following sub-components: the sub-assemblies include all the components necessary to perform the particular horological function of converting motion between at least one input wheel set and at least one output wheel set.

The sub-components comprise adjustment and/or assembly components which are irreversibly fixed after the specific timepiece function specific to the functional module concerned has been adjusted and functionally checked. The individual subassemblies are adjusted and functionally checked on a test stand. By irreversibly fixing its adjusting and/or fitting components, the actual functional module 1 is thus a pre-adjusting module resulting from the conversion of this type of subassembly.

Preferably, each functional module 1 comprises at least a first bearing surface and a positioning member for identifying module 1 and positioning module 1 with respect to another element of movement 100 or with respect to plate 10. This positioning is done by abutment of the first bearing surface against a complementary bearing surface comprised in said other element or plate 10. The concept of "bearing surface" is to be understood in the broadest sense. The "bearing surface" may also be formed by a hole or mandrel or a flat surface or other element.

The positioning means can be designed to be positioned with or without contact, and can take a variety of forms which can be combined with each other:

in an advantageous variant for automated manufacturing, the positioning means comprise optical positioning means for optical recognition and positioning of the module 1,

in another variant, the locating means comprise acoustic or ultrasonic locating means for identification and location of the module 1,

in another variant, said positioning means comprise mechanical positioning means for mechanical identification and positioning of the module 1, such as tabs, holes, sensors, stop members, etc.

More specifically, the invention is designed for the automated manufacture of movement 100 and is intended to set various modules and components in position in a direction parallel to a single insertion direction D (chosen here to be parallel to the gear train axis) and containing as little overturning or other movements as possible in addition to translation movements.

In a preferred embodiment, the first bearing surface of each functional module 1 is flat and arranged perpendicularly to the insertion direction D.

Preferably, the functional module 1 comprises at least one second bearing surface parallel to the first bearing surface. This arrangement facilitates automatic assembly by paraxial (paraxial) positioning relative to the insertion direction D, in which some parts or modules are stacked with their bearing surfaces in contact with each other perpendicular to the insertion direction D.

In order to ensure some cooperation between the assembly parts, in particular between toothed wheels, or between wheels and racks, ratchets, etc., or to set cams, jumper springs, pawls, fingers (fingers), pushers, etc. in place, the functional module 1 may also advantageously comprise at least one pivoting guide element 8, which element 8 serves to pre-assemble the module 1 while allowing a pivoting freedom of the module 1. This fit can thus be ensured in the final pivoting movement of the module 1. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, this pivoting guidance is performed with respect to a direction parallel to the insertion direction D. This is an example of an adjustment module 16 in the movement, described in detail below.

In one variant, the module 1 comprises the following guide members: this guide member is arranged to cooperate with a complementary guide member comprised in the other module 1 or with a part of the movement 100 or plate 10, so that a similar cooperation is achieved by translation or parallel adjustment in one plane, like a slide or drawer. Preferably, the guide member is made in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D.

The figures show a movement 100, the components of which movement 100 comprise individual components of a functional module 1 of this type, which combine to form a functional subassembly. By the concept of pre-adjusting the functional units, the number of objects that need to be manipulated during assembly of the movement can be reduced, in particular any adjustment operations are reduced or eliminated. It should be noted that although some of the components are mounted separately here, this is in fact for the purpose of reducing or limiting the thickness of the movement, since it is also possible to fix these components (which participate in the same drive chain of one functional subassembly) to an additional plate, which however has a negative effect on the overall thickness of the movement.

In the basic solution (movement without mechanical date winding mechanism), the movement described below requires only 21 objects to be handled, i.e. 5 pre-adjustment modules and 16 independent or pre-assembled components (e.g. spindles and wheels). All movements performed during assembly are translations parallel to each other and only one pivoting movement is required to engage the adjustment module. The assembly date mechanism requires 5 additional parts to be set in place, whereas the assembly self-winding mechanism only requires 2 parts to be set in place, i.e. modules and screws.

The drive fit can be achieved by complementary guiding means, or by pivoting the head of the steering system.

In a preferred embodiment, the assembly is performed by a robot controlled by a control unit cooperating with shape recognition means, in particular mechanical and/or optical means, which recognize the shape and position of the positioning means specific to the module 1 and/or the retail unit.

Here 6 functional modules are used, in the specific non-limiting example shown in the figures, one of which is a dual module forming both the gear train module and the display module.

The first type of functional module 10 is a motor module 11, which is a complete barrel, comprising at least one barrel wheel (barrel) 110, the input wheel set of said barrel wheel 110 being formed by a barrel spindle 111 cooperating with a ratchet wheel 12, said ratchet wheel 12 being integrated or not in said motor module 11 and being arranged to be pivoted by a manual winding mechanism or winding and time-setting mechanism 15 or from a winding mechanism or from a winding module 18, the latter forming at least one spring (not shown in the figures) in at least one drum (drum) 113 of the output wheel set of said motor module 11. The drum 113 is arranged to drive an input pinion 131 of the gear train or gear train module 13.

Another type of functional module 1 is a gear train module 13, the input wheel set of said gear train module 13 being formed by an input pinion 131 arranged to cooperate with the drum 113, and the first output wheel set of said gear train module 13 being formed by a fourth wheel arranged to cooperate with an escape pinion connected to an escape wheel comprised in the escapement or regulating module 16.

Advantageously, this gear train module 13 comprises a second output wheel set formed by a display train arranged to cooperate with a display member contained in said gear train module 13, or with a display module 14, this display module 14 being external to said gear train module 13, or carried by the same board, and containing a display member.

Said display module 14 has an input wheel set formed by a display wheel train contained in a gear train structure or gear train module 13, and an output wheel set formed by at least one indicator arranged to cooperate with a complementary indicator or with a dial, said complementary indicator or dial being contained in said display module 14 or in movement 100 or in timepiece 1000 in which it is integrated.

Advantageously, said gear train module 13 or display module 14 comprises a motion work mechanism (kinematic work mechanism) frictionally connected to the gear train disclosed in EP patent application No.11177840 of the applicant and comprising a fourth wheel set preassembled on a central tube, which is the subject of EP patent application No.11177839 of the applicant.

Another type of functional module 1 is a time-setting module 15, the input wheel set of said time-setting module 15 being formed by a stem 150 arranged to be moved by a user, and the first output wheel set of said time-setting module 15 being formed by a motion work control train 151.

Preferably, said time-setting module 15 is also a time-setting and winding module and comprises a second output wheel set formed by a winding control train 152.

Advantageously, this module 15 is made by means of a winding stem mechanism according to EP patent application No.11170180, in the name of the present applicant. The module 15 can also integrate a device for manual winding via pressure on the stem according to EP patent application No.11177838 of the present applicant.

In a particular embodiment, the module 15 is based on a bridge (bridge) made of a plastic material, preferably a highly resistant filled plastic (high resistance filled plastic), for example 30% or 40% polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), or a polyamide, such as polyamide 12 (polylaurmide) (PA 12), and having a maximum thickness close to 2.5mm, these materials being chosen so as to ensure a good stiffness even with large section differences in the bridge 15.

Another type of functional module 1 is a regulating module 16, said regulating module 16 comprising a regulating unit, the input wheel set of said regulating module 16 being formed by an escape wheel arranged to be moved by a fourth wheel comprised in a gear train or gear train module 13, and the output wheel set of said regulating module 16 being formed by said same escape wheel.

Advantageously, this platform (platform) escapement regulating module 16 is made according to the features of EP patent applications No.11005713 and No.11179181 of the applicant, and this regulating module 16 comprises a balance assembly, an escapement and a specific pallet lever.

A particular functional module 1 is a self-winding module 18, the input wheel set of which 18 is formed by a pendulum (oscillating weight) 180 that is moved by the action of a user or an external tool, and the output wheel set of which 18 is formed by a drive train of a ratchet wheel 12 comprised in a motor mechanism or motor module 11, or by a drive train of a ratchet wheel 12 that meshes with a bar shaft comprised in a motor mechanism or motor module 11.

Advantageously, the pendulum 180 is made according to the characteristics of EP patent application No.11188261 of the applicant.

Fig. 1 to 28 show the composition and assembly of a timepiece movement 100 forming a modular unit according to the invention, which positions and fixes the various modules and components forming the movement in a preferred but non-limiting operating sequence.

According to the invention, all the modules and components forming movement 100 can be inserted in a direction parallel to insertion direction D (which is here parallel to the axis of the gear train).

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the various subassemblies according to the invention (which are assembled from the machine plate, the batten plate and the pre-adjustment functional module 1) are irreversibly fixed once each additional one-piece module is set in position.

Fig. 1 shows an assembled board 10 that forms a substrate upon which various modules and components may be assembled. Here, the gear train module 13 is directly provided on the plate 10 of the movement 100, so that the thickness can be reduced. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), gear train module 13 includes another plate that may be attached to host board 10 during assembly.

In this embodiment, the chassis 10 carries a display module 14 as described above.

The plate 10 has a bearing surface 13 for receiving the time-setting module 15, and a pivot 134 for cooperating with said module.

Two shouldered pins 201 and 138 are mounted to mate with the assembled self-winding apparatus frame 20.

The gear train is not described in detail herein. Fig. 1 shows an input pinion 131 as the central wheel pinion.

A counter bore 130 is provided around a central hole 139 for receiving the barrel shaft to prevent collision with the entire barrel forming the motor module 11 during assembly.

Plate 10 also includes an aperture 165 for receiving spindle 162 of conditioning module 16.

Fig. 2 shows the assembly of the stem mechanism module 15, more specifically the time-setting module, on the machine plate 10, via the engagement of the hole 153 of the module 15 on the pivot 134 and the abutment of the bearing surface 154 of the module 15 against the bearing surface 135 of the machine plate 10. This module 15 comprises a stem 150 connected to the crown so that the user can adjust the time of the movement. The first output wheel set is formed by a feed mechanism control train 151. In a preferred embodiment, shown in the figures herein, this module 15 also performs the function of a manual winding module, and the second output wheel set is formed by a winding control train 152. The user pulls on the stem 150 in a conventional manner to select the selected function.

The stem mechanism module 15 is designed for automatic assembly and inspection. The studs (stud) are pressed onto the bridge 156 and advantageously penetrate said bridge 156 and protrude from both sides of the bridge 156. The wheel, the lever, the sliding gear and the pull-out piece are arranged on the pin; an optical check is performed with a camera on a first part of the train, which in particular comprises a sliding gear for selecting between two wheels (one for controlling the time-setting function and the other for controlling the winding function), before this part is permanently defined by a retaining plate 157 (this is preferably achieved by laser welding the cover plate at several points just below the surface at the end of the pin as pivot spindle or through the cover plate). This irreversible assembly means that before the lever holding plate is set in place and welded in several positions, a manipulator (manipulator) can turn the assembly over in a completely safe manner in order to assemble the components on the other side, which is checked by the camera. The kinematic chain starting from the stem 150 is then completed and a mechanical functional check is carried out in the three positions T1, T2, T3 of the stem in both directions of rotation. The module 15 advantageously comprises a pivoting lever 70 for retaining the stem, as disclosed in the above-cited EP patent application No. 11170180. The operation of the lever is mechanically checked by temporarily pulling out the stem, but this does not occur until the final assembly of the movement.

The movement 100 including these functional modules 1 is assembled according to the same principle. The assembly of some of the components of the movement therefore comprises similar checking and irreversible fixing steps before use. This is particularly true when the gear train is assembled on the plate 10, once this gear train is irreversibly fixed by means of welding, a gear train module is formed.

The automatic assembly of the gear train begins with the preparation of the machine plate 10 by etching in the machine plate 10 the identification marks, the anti-counterfeiting marks and the traceable production code of the movement required for the after-market services, preferably by laser etching. Preparing a base pipe on a specific stand, placing and pressing a machine plate on a shoulder of the base pipe and riveting the base pipe; a fourth mandrel is prepared on the stand, on which the aforementioned subassembly is placed, and then the pinion (pinion) is placed on top of the fourth mandrel and pressed into the fourth mandrel to fix this pinion. The centre wheel is then positioned, the combination of the camera, the rotary manipulator and the positioning robot then enables the third wheel to be positioned and similar manipulation operations are performed to position the intermediate plate and any other wheels in the correct transmission. Then, a holding plate for the gear train is welded at some positions. According to specific manufacturing rules, the necessary lubrication is performed during assembly, the lubrication being sufficient to enable the mechanical function detection of the gear train to be performed by mechanical and/or fluid drive.

Fig. 3 shows the stem mechanism module 15 after being positioned on the gear train module formed by assembling the machine plate and the gear train, the stem mechanism module 15 being locked by two rings 136 and 137, the two rings 136 and 137 being pressed onto stepped pins 134 and 138 of the machine plate 10, respectively. Pressing in the ring enables safe handling of the subassembly.

Fig. 4 shows the assembly of a motor module 11 of the type described above. Barrel wheel 113 is first engaged with pinion 131 of the third wheel using an assembly tool. The drum is then pivoted on a radius of revolution concentric with the position of the central wheel, so that the module 11 with ratchet-cover 12 meshes with the intermediate wheel 152 of the winding train of the crank mechanism module 15.

This positioning of the drum requires a translational movement to achieve the correct gearing at both its top and bottom (ratchet and drum). In fact, in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the barrel wheel is not introduced into the recess, but simply placed on the plane formed here by the retaining plate of the train, as shown in figures 1 to 3. Due to the lack of a pivot at this stage of assembly, it is unique to the present invention that the positioning operation be performed by a translational movement.

Fig. 5 shows the bar shaft 111 assembled from below in the hole 139 of the plate 10. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft has a head with a shoulder like a nail on the side for receiving the dial (not shown in fig. 5), where the head is mounted under the plate 10. The barrel shaft 111 is fitted into a hole in the centre of the barrel wheel 113, on which the barrel spring is hooked and comprises a first shoulder cooperating with the hole of the aforementioned drum and a second shoulder cooperating with the ratchet cover 12.

The plate 10 also includes a hole 192 for the fitting of the spindle 191 of the small seconds wheel 190 (as shown in figure 6).

In the vicinity of the small seconds wheel 190, a guide member 205 is provided for receiving a barrel wheel drive wheel 204, the assembly of which is shown in fig. 12.

In the vicinity of the drum 113, a guide member 194 is provided for receiving a drum drive wheel 193, the assembly of which is shown in fig. 7. In fact, said wheel 193 is a plate with a long spindle and difficult positioning, and therefore advantageously provided on the bridge 156 of the module 15 with abutment guide members 194. The contact points are lubricated prior to performing the optical inspection.

During assembly, this guide member 194 holds the wheel 193 in a vertical position until the subsequent fitting of a bar clamp 200, called frame mounted (bar) self-winding clamp of the self-winding apparatus 20, and then the flange 215 comprising a jewel bearing (jewel) 213 for its top guide, as shown in fig. 15.

Fig. 8 shows the assembly of the columns 195 of the self-winding device 20 for mounting on a frame, which are not fixed to the bedplate 10 but are fixed into the holes of the bar clamping plates comprised in the module 15. The column 195 ensures the spacing between the individual bar clamps and the washer has only a clamping function, in fact a play exists between the mechanical frame of the module 15 and the bar clamp 156.

In one variant, the closure plate is positioned after the optical inspection and the assembly is fixed to the pin by welding.

Fig. 9 shows the assembly of the self-winding device 20 mounted on the frame, the device 20 comprising a self-winding batten 200 for optionally receiving the self-winding module 18. The bar 200 has two holes 210 and 211 for mating with the ends of the shouldered pins 201 and 138 pressed into the plate 10. The bar 200 further comprises a hole 212 for guiding the bar shaft 111 and a jewel bearing 213 for guiding the arbor of the small seconds wheel 191. The bar clamp 200 also includes a guide member 220 for the pendulum 180.

The bar clamp 200 may be welded directly to the bottom plate 10, thereby clamping the already assembled components, or welded at the ends of the pins 201 and 138, etc.

Fig. 10 shows the assembly of a holding device, here formed by a clip 202 or a key or similar element, for holding the barrel grip of the self-winding device in the event of an impact on movement 100, in particular for holding barrel drive wheel 193. In fact, the strong inertia of the optional pendulum 180 pivoting in the guide member 220 of the bar clamp 200 may have the effect of exerting a pulling stress on the middle part of the frame 20 in case of impact.

As shown in fig. 11, the slide gear return spring 203 is then mounted in an abutting manner on the protruding portion of the bar plate 200. This difficult assembly is performed before the optical inspection and then assembled from the winding jig 200, at which stage the winding shaft (which was in a free state before this assembly stage) is advantageously welded.

Optional self-winding module 18 may be installed at this stage or later in the assembly sequence. Fig. 26 and 27 show the assembly of the self-winding module 18 with the pendulum 180. The guide member 181 for the pendulum 180 cooperates with the guide member 220 comprised in the frame-mounted self-winding device 20. Finally, set screw 182 is set in place in fig. 27. The clockwise and counterclockwise free-rotation functions of the bob 180 are then detected with the robot manipulator. Since the subassembly must be turned over for final assembly of the feed mechanism, assembly of the pendulum 180 can be delayed as long as possible in the assembly sequence, thereby avoiding the need to hold the pendulum 180 during subsequent manipulation operations, as well as disassembling the pendulum 180 after functional inspection of the pendulum 180.

Fig. 12 then shows the assembly of the intermediate drum drive wheel 204 in its guide member 205. This figure shows an elongate hole 207 provided in the bar 200 for receiving the spindle of the sliding gear 206, the assembly of which sliding gear 206 is shown in figure 13. Adjacent guide pins 209 serve as pivots for the stop pinion 208, the assembly of which is shown in fig. 14.

Two center pins 216 and 217 locate the flange 215, which flange 215 includes jewel bearings 213 and 214 for guiding the barrel wheel drive intermediate wheel 204 and the barrel wheel drive wheel 193, and a top elongated hole 218 for guiding the sliding gear 206.

At this stage, the subassembly thus formed is ready for receiving a regulating module 16, this regulating module 16 preferably carrying a balance and an escapement, as described above. For the external fixation of the balance spring, the adjustment module 16 advantageously comprises a pin joined to the bar clamp, said pin having a width large enough to be identified before it is permanently joined. Advantageously, this regulating module 16 comprises a balance with a small molded cast roller according to EP patent application No.11194061.5 of the present applicant.

The conditioning module 16 comprises a pin 162 arranged to cooperate with a hole 165 of the machine plate, by inserting the conditioning module 16 in the insertion direction D, it is possible to easily pre-position the conditioning module 16, which rests on the machine plate 10 via the bottom bearing surface 101, in an angular orientation in which the conditioning module 16 protrudes beyond the machine plate 10. In the position shown in fig. 16, the pivoting movement in direction a enables the adjustment module 16 to cooperate with other components of the movement, as described in EP patent application No.11005713 of the applicant. The assembly of the conditioning module 16 includes optical camera inspection, inter-axis and distance measurements before the conditioning module 16 is permanently adjusted and fixed. The clamp-type clamping means enable the adjustment module 16 to be held in position, so that the adjustment module 16 can be turned over to complete the welding points on the side not visible to the watch user.

At this stage, the manual winding movement can be active and the formed unit can be manipulated in any position without any parts being lost or moving. Winding using the stem is detected by a high rotation speed of about 100 revolutions per minute to simulate a human manipulation of the crown.

As mentioned above, the individual modules are therefore permanently welded at about 40 locations distributed over several welding stations.

Figure 17 shows the preassembled cartridge 100 inverted. The plate 10 has a surface 102, which surface 102 can suitably be used as a carrier for a dial or a date disc or the like.

The stem mechanism module 15 controls a feed mechanism control train 151 engaged with the feed mechanism.

And finally assembling the display.

Here, the fourth wheel spindle 1300 is located at the center of the movement 100. The central wheel spindle 131 and the spindle 191 of the small seconds wheel are visible. Preferably, all of the above components are preassembled before the display module 14 is assembled, wherein the display module 14 is formed on the back side of the chassis 10 and the gear train module 13 is mounted substantially on the front side of the chassis 10. Here, the unit forms a single basic structural module, but may also be divided into two separate modules.

In fig. 18, the pin 104 pressed into the plate 10 receives the intermediate wheel 103.

In fig. 19, a cannon-pin 105 is set in place and engaged. A minute wheel 106 is then set in place in fig. 20, on pins 107 pressed into plate 10.

Fig. 21 shows the assembly of the hour wheel (hour wheel) 108.

At this stage, the movement 100 can be closed on the side of the motion work by a retaining plate or dial (not shown in the figures) and, once the hands are fitted, it is fully operational.

In one non-limiting variant shown in fig. 21 to 25, movement 100 is also equipped with a date mechanism 30. Fig. 22 shows the assembly of the date driving wheel 31. Fig. 23 shows the assembly of the date intermediate wheel 33 pivoted on the pin 34 pressed into the machine plate 10, and fig. 24 shows the assembly of the date correction wheel 35 meshed with the date control train wheel 155 included in the stem mechanism module 15. This drive train is then optically inspected. As can be seen in fig. 25, the annular or disc-shaped date indicator 37 is placed in abutment against the surface 102, and then in fig. 26 a retaining plate 39 for the date indicator is fitted, this retaining plate 39 being centred by pins 391 and 392 pressed into the plate 10. While the springs are assembled by the robotic manipulator. Welding is then performed at some locations before the date-controlled functional test is performed by the stem.

Preferably, before setting the date mechanism in position, movement 100 is completely wound, in order to detect that regulating and escapement module 16 is properly positioned, and to perform a lapping (lapping) operation, in particular for 48 hours, before the following adjustments: the final rate adjustment is performed by mechanical action on the balance to immediately adjust inertia and/or unbalance in the assembled movement 100. In any case, the date mechanism detection requires that stem 150 be wound in advance.

The self-winding movement 100 is then fully assembled and ready for operation.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, cartridge 100 does not include an index-assembly (index-assembly) in which the balance spring is secured. In fact, adjusting the rate of day by direct mechanical action on the balance means that this mechanism is no longer required. Thus, a shock absorber is no longer required to hold the non-existent fast and slow needle assembly, which allows more freedom in the design of the damping device.

Advantageously, movement 100 comprises simple, inexpensive and compact top and bottom cylindrical shock absorbers.

In an advantageous variant, in order to withstand the high traction stresses that may be exerted on certain mandrels, the functional module 1 comprises a support made of a high-resistance filled plastic material, such as PPS30 or PPS 40. In order to meet the same resistance requirements, the components of the functional module are mounted on through-hole metal pins pressed into the support, rather than on pins moulded with the support, which may not be sufficiently strong in shear. These components are then immobilized on the first side by welding to the first end of the pin. The advantage of using this type of support is that the components can be assembled from two sides. In an automated assembly process, after the components have been assembled on one side, the support can be turned over in an intermediate assembly stage, and then the components can be easily mounted on the second side and immobilized by welding the second ends of the respective pins. Of course, the support can be turned as many times as necessary, since there is no risk of losing any parts.

It is clear that the modular construction according to the invention allows in particular access from both sides with respect to the intermediate support, which is not possible in conventional assemblies in which all the components are mounted on the same side of the panel and in which the panel cannot be turned over while working. It can even be said that in order to perform such assembly and double-sided welding, the modular construction must be used.

In a preferred variant, movement 100 comprises at most one screw located on pendulum 180, if movement 100 has a screw. All other connections can be made without screws.

In one particular variant, which does not include a pendulum, movement 100 does not have screws at all.

Limiting the number of screws or omitting screws is an important factor to prevent poor adjustment or malfunction.

The invention also concerns a timepiece 1000 including at least one such movement 100.

The invention also allows to optimize the internal volume of the movement by making it possible to make flat movements not possible in the embodiments of the prior art, which comprise additional mechanisms, each comprising a plate stacked on other plates and on the main plate.

The invention has the advantage that in a movement forming a modular unit of this type, functional modules are incorporated, each of which has been preset and pre-tested, without any subsequent adjustment being required at the final assembly stage of the movement. The reliability of this type of movement is therefore very good.

Claims (12)

1. Mechanical timepiece movement (100) in the form of a modular unit, characterized in that it comprises at least one mechanical functional module (1) for performing a specific timepiece function, said functional module (1) being irreversibly pre-adjusted by irreversibly fixing the adjustment and/or assembly components contained in said functional module (1) after said specific timepiece function has been adjusted and functionally checked on a test bench; and at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) being irreversibly fixed to a plate (10) comprised in said timepiece movement (100) or to a plate (10) comprised in another pre-adjusted functional module (1) of said timepiece movement (100), or to another pre-adjusted functional module (1) comprised in said timepiece movement (100); and, the timepiece movement (100) comprising a plurality of said functional modules (1), each functional module (1) being pre-adjusted to perform a specific timepiece function, and each functional module (1) being mounted or irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate (10), or being sandwiched between functional modules (1) and/or components of the timepiece movement (100), the functional modules (1) and/or components of the timepiece movement (100) being in turn irreversibly fixed, directly or indirectly, with respect to the plate (10).

2. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 1, wherein each irreversibly pre-adjusted functional module that is irreversibly fixed to the plate (10) or to another pre-adjusted functional module (1) is a mechanical module.

3. Timepiece movement (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pre-adjusted functional module (1) is a mechanical module derived from a subassembly of: the subassembly includes all the components necessary to perform the particular horological function of converting motion between at least one input wheel set and at least one output wheel set.

4. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) includes at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a motor module (11), the motor module (11) comprises at least one barrel wheel (110), the input wheel set of the barrel wheel (110) is formed by a barrel shaft (111) matched with a ratchet wheel (12), the ratchet (12) may or may not be integrated in the motor module (11), and is arranged to be pivoted by a manual winding mechanism or a winding and time setting module (15) or a self-winding mechanism or a self-winding module (18), for winding at least one spring in at least one drum (113) forming the output wheel set of the motor module (11), the drum (113) is arranged to drive an input pinion (131) of a gear train or gear train module (13).

5. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) comprises at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a gear train module (13), the input wheel set of the gear train module (13) being formed by an input pinion (131) arranged to cooperate with the drum (113), and the first output wheel set of the gear train module (13) being formed by a fourth wheel arranged to cooperate with an escape pinion connected to an escape wheel comprised in an escapement or regulating module (16).

6. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 5, wherein the gear-train module (13) comprises a second output wheel set formed by a display train arranged to cooperate with a display member contained in the gear-train module (13) or with a display module (14) external to the gear-train module (13).

7. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) comprises at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a display module (14), the input wheel set of the display module (14) being formed by a display wheel train comprised in a gear train mechanism or a gear train module (13), and the output wheel set of the display module (14) being formed by at least one indicator arranged to cooperate with a complementary indicator or with a dial comprised in the display module (14) or in a timepiece (1000) incorporating the display module.

8. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) includes at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a time setting module, the input wheel set of which is formed by a stem (150) arranged to be moved by the user, and the first output wheel set of which is formed by a motion work control train (151).

9. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 8, wherein the time setting module is a time setting and winding module and includes a second output wheel set formed by a winding control train (152).

10. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) includes at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a regulating module (16), the regulating module (16) including a regulating unit, the input wheel set of the regulating module (16) being formed by an escape wheel (160), the escape wheel (160) being arranged to be moved by a fourth wheel comprised in a gear train or gear train module (13), and the output wheel set of the regulating module (16) being formed by the same escape wheel (160).

11. Timepiece movement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the timepiece movement (100) includes at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) as a self-winding module (18), the input wheel set of the self-winding module (18) being formed by a pendulum (180) moved by the action of a user or by an external tool, and the output wheel set of the self-winding module (18) being formed by a drive train of a ratchet wheel (12) comprised in the motor mechanism or module (11), or by a drive train of a ratchet wheel (12) meshing with a winding shaft comprised in the motor mechanism or module (11).

12. Timepiece (1000) comprising at least one timepiece movement (100) according to claim 1.