HK1202651B - Timepiece mechanism cassette - Google Patents

Description

Clockwork die box

Technical Field

The invention relates to a clockwork case (case) comprising at least one bearing surface for positioning the case in a movement and at least one bottom plate and one top bar, at least the plate or the bar being rigid, functional parts being arranged between or on the plate and the bar, at least two functional parts being movable relative to each other, at least one pivotably or indexably movable functional part being pivoted or moved between the plate and the bar, wherein the bottom plate and/or the top bar and at least one functional part constitute an inseparable integral part, and wherein at least one pivotably movable functional part is pivoted between the plate and the bar on either side of the functional part.

The invention also concerns a mechanical timepiece movement including at least one case of the type described.

The present invention relates to the field of horological mechanisms, and more particularly to a movement incorporating a functional module of the ready-to-use type.

Background

The use of modular assemblies makes it possible to manufacture product families using a common substrate, with personalization being achieved by different options or functions, respectively, in particular complex functions in the case of mechanical timepiece movements.

The concept of extremely high precision modules or cartridges allows mass production to be combined with high quality products.

Thus, modular subassemblies for timepiece movements are known from european patent applications No.11193173.9 and No.11193174.7 in the name of ETA SA. The mechanical modules disclosed in these patent applications are irreversibly pre-conditioned and assembled to ensure their set durability.

Dutch patent No.11224C in the name of WATSON and WEBB describes an escapement enclosed in a U-shaped oscillating pendulum module, the supporting arbour for the straight balance being movable in a constrained manner in two circular arc-shaped transverse holes, between the leaves of the escapement, said arbour also pivoting and carrying the pallet, the escape wheel pivoting in a cantilever manner in a hole common to the oscillating module and to the fixed structure.

U.S. patent application No.580046A in the name of HARRINGTON also describes a U-shaped structure whose sides carry movable element supports, in particular pallets or elements for escapement mechanisms.

U.S. patent No. 3582162A in the name of BAERMANN describes a magnetic support of the electronic counter type, which carries a balance wheel housed between the two arms of a U-shaped armature.

However, in conventional embodiments, the modules do not always allow for a reduction in the number of parts, which reduces production costs and simplifies assembly plans, enabling a middle-level technician to assemble and adjust the most complex functions.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention therefore aims to provide a module, preferably in the form of a mould box, with a reduced number of parts and with a generally horizontal assembly and adjustment complexity.

To this end, the present invention utilizes new micro-component manufacturing techniques such as MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems), "LIGA (lithographic electro-casting)," lithography ", etc. to optimize the manufacture of the module (shown herein as a mold box). These mould boxes may be irreversibly assembled to each other as in the two patent applications mentioned above, or positioned and assembled in a conventional manner.

The present invention relates, on the one hand, to the construction of a mould box which reduces the number of parts by combining some parts into the form of a one-piece sub-assembly, and, on the other hand, it relates more particularly to achieving the greatest possible number of functions in one piece on a block or rod.

The invention therefore concerns a clockwork case comprising at least one bearing surface for positioning said case in a movement and at least one bottom plate and one top bar, at least said plate or said bar being rigid, between or on the plate and the bar functional parts are arranged, at least two of which are movable relative to each other, at least one pivotably or displaceably movable functional part being pivoted or moved between the plate and the bar, wherein the base plate and/or the carrier rod form an inseparable, one-piece component with at least one functional component, and wherein at least one pivotally movable functional component pivots between the plate and the lever on either side of the functional component, characterized in that said at least one functional part pivoting between said plate and said bar constitutes an inseparable integral part with said base plate and/or said top bar.

According to a feature of the invention, said inseparable integral component comprises elastic return means for achieving a return function.

According to a feature of the invention, the capsule is an escapement capsule, the functional component being constituted by at least one regulating member pivoted on a pivot between the plate and the lever, at least one escape wheel, first elastic return means and at least one intermittent locking means cooperating with the at least one regulating member and intermittently locking the at least one escape wheel, the regulating member being moved in a reciprocating motion by the first elastic return means.

The invention also concerns a mechanical timepiece movement including at least one case of the type described.

The advantage of manufacturing the components in one piece, in particular with the plate or the rod, is that the number of components is reduced and assembly problems are avoided. The present invention benefits from the accuracy of fabricating these integrated components (typically these components are made of silicon for example and therefore enjoy micron-scale tuning accuracy).

The main advantages of the integrated mould box are the assurance of the distance between the centres and the construction of a ready-to-use mechanism, in particular an oscillating mechanism in the preferred application.

The invention integrates in particular a flexible guide, which has the following advantages:

-guaranteed accuracy;

-a friction level of minimum or zero;

-there is no hysteresis in the movement due to the absence of friction or at least a very low level of friction;

-no lubrication;

-no gaps;

no wear.

The manufacture of these flexible guides results in limitations, in particular limited travel, low restoring forces and limited loads. However, these limitations are not prohibitive for a large number of timepiece functions, particularly those related to adjustment.

These limiting effects are sufficiently compensated by a high degree of precision of the distance between the centres, a lower number of parts to be manufactured and therefore a reduced complexity and assembly time. The mould box according to the invention has great industrial advantages: the mechanism cassette (in particular the oscillating mechanism) forms a part ready for assembly in the movement. Furthermore, the entire movement can be designed without any hindrance in the form of a mould box according to the invention.

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:

fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a cartridge according to the invention, in particular for an escapement mechanism, and comprising a balance spring made in one piece with a lever.

Fig. 2 shows a similar variant in a similar manner to fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows, in a similar way to fig. 1, a variant in which the balance spring is made in one piece with an outer peg, which in turn is made in one piece with a stem, to which the outer peg is connected by means of an integrated elastic return device.

Fig. 4 shows, in a similar way to fig. 1, a variant in which the balance spring is made in one piece with an external peg, which in turn is made in one piece with the stem, wherein the external end of the balance spring is clamped by a pin made in one piece with the stem, at least one of said pins being connected to the stem by means of an integrated elastic return device. Fig. 5 shows a plan view and a side view of a conventional pin with a gap. Fig. 6 shows a plan view and a side view of a pair of pins of this type which grip the balance spring under the action of the integrated elastic return means.

Fig. 7 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 1, a variant in which the escapement lever is made in one piece with the plate, said escapement lever being connected to said plate by integrated elastic return means.

Fig. 8 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 7, a variant in which, in addition to the integrated elastic return means, this type of escapement lever comprises a foot in the plane of the plate.

Fig. 9 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 8, a variant in which the actual escapement lever is fixed to a foot of this type.

Fig. 10 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 7, a variant in which the escapement lever of this type is in the plane of the plate and comprises, in at least one upper plane, projections such as a fork pin, a horn and a pallet stone.

Fig. 11 shows, in a similar way to fig. 1, a variant in which at least one movable component of the assembly (in particular the escape wheel) is pivoted at least one of its ends in a supporting holder which is connected to the plate by integrated elastic return means and can be locked in position.

Fig. 12 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 1, a variant in which at least one movable part of the assembly is pivoted on a plate at least one end thereof and at the other end thereof to a supporting holder lying substantially in the plane of the bar, which is connected to the plate by a cross-beam.

Fig. 13 shows, in a similar manner to fig. 1, a mould box made in one piece with a plate and a rod, respectively.

Figures 14 and 15 show, in a similar way to figure 1, a mould box with a plate and a lever made as a one-piece assembly with each other, in both the remote position in figure 13 and the access position in figure 14, said plate and said lever comprising mutually parallel guides for the movement and means for snapping them in the access position.

Fig. 16, 16A and 17 show plan views of a one-piece assembly comprising an adjustment device for adjusting the position of a component also integrated with the assembly, which adjustment device can be locked in place by a clamping device. Fig. 16 shows the adjustment of the pivot for hooking the balance spring by means of the elastic adjustment means comprising the comb, clamping the comb in position in the adjusted position, and the locking mechanism controlling the clamping means. Fig. 16A shows a similar example, where the comb is held between two flexible strips and forms a bistable component. Fig. 17 shows a mechanism similar to a comb which locks the indexing means (index) at the end of the flexible strip, which is pressed against said indexing means by a clamping strip spring which is in turn locked by the locking fingers.

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of a deformation resistant one-piece frame comprising receptacles aligned in pairs forming pivots for receiving ends of the movable member spindles. Figures 19 and 20 show top views of the fit of the cover to the frame in the open and closed positions, respectively, for immobilizing the spindle ends. Figure 20A shows an advantageous variant of a cover with a flexible gap-eliminating strip.

Fig. 21, 22, 23 show a die box in a similar manner to fig. 1, in which the plate and rod are made together as a one-piece part.

Figure 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the spindle through the pivot with the anti-vibration bearing integrated with the plate or rod.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to the field of horological mechanisms, and more particularly to a movement integrated with a functional module of the ready-to-use type.

The invention relates to a case 1 for a timepiece mechanism, comprising at least one bearing surface 101 for positioning the case in a movement 100 and at least one base plate 2 and one top bar 3, at least said plate 2 or bar 3 being rigid, i.e. comprising at least one area bearing a bearing surface 101 of this type, which is sufficiently rigid to allow the case 1 to be operated and maintain the accuracy of operation during the assembly of the case 1, during its operation and after its integration in the movement 100, this being in addition to the dimensional accuracy of the distance between the centres of the functional components 10 contained in said case 1.

The functional component 10 is arranged between or on the plate 2 and the bar 3. At least two of these functional components 10 can be moved relative to each other.

At least one pivotable or displaceably movable functional part 10 is pivoted or moved between the plate 2 and the lever 3.

According to the invention, the base plate 2 and/or the carrier rod 3 form an inseparable, integral component 20 with the at least one functional component 10.

In a particular embodiment, at least one functional component 10 is mounted pivotally movable between said plate 2 and said bar 3, pivoting therein, either directly or through a support/bearing.

In a particular embodiment, at least one functional part 10 pivoting between the plate 2 and the bar 3 constitutes an inseparable integral part 20 with the base plate 2 and/or the top bar 3.

The following description will focus on the one-piece embodiments, which are most advantageous. This in no way prevents the mould box of the invention from being implemented with some extra components, which may be more advantageous in terms of costs in some particular cases.

Advantageously, the non-separable one-piece part 20 comprises integrated elastic return means for achieving the function of energy distribution and/or regulation and/or return and/or damping and/or locking in the adjusted position.

In a particular embodiment, the integrated elastic return means comprise at least one flexible bistable or multistable element, for example as shown in fig. 16A, in which a bistable element working by deformation is shown, comprising a comb 91 interposed between two substantially aligned resilient bars 92 and 92A, the assembly being able to occupy two stable positions: a first working position a, in which the comb 91 cooperates with the fingers 84 of the movable outer peg 82, and a second release position B, spaced therefrom.

To allow easy pre-adjustment of such a mould box 1, the position of at least one functional component 10 is adjustable and can be locked in a pre-adjusted position by locking means.

In a particular non-limiting application, shown more particularly in the figures, the capsule 1 is an escape mechanism capsule, the functional component 10 being constituted by at least one regulating member 4, such as a balance, the regulating member 4 pivoting on pivots 45 and 44 between the plate 2 and the lever 3, at least one escape wheel 5, first elastic return means 7, such as a balance spring, and at least one intermittent gripping means 6, such as an escape lever, the intermittent gripping means 6 being intended to grip intermittently said at least one escape wheel 5 and cooperating with said at least one regulating member 4, the regulating member 4 being reciprocated by the action of the first elastic return means 7.

The pivots 44, 45 may be constituted by conventional pivots or flexible guides.

In a particular embodiment, as shown in particular in fig. 1 to 4, the first elastic return means 7 constitute an inseparable integral component 20 with the carrier rod 3.

In a particular embodiment, the first elastic return means 7 comprise a balance spring 71, the outer end of which balance spring 71 is fixed to an external peg 73, made in a single piece with the stem 3.

In the variant of fig. 3, the first elastic return means 7 are therefore constituted by a balance spring 71, which balance spring 71 is made in a single piece with a stud 73, the balance spring being attached to the stud 73 by its outer ring 77. The external peg 73 is in turn made in a single piece with the stem 3 and is connected to the stem 3 by means of a second elastic return means 75 made in a single piece with the external peg 73 and the stem 3. Preferably, the outer pile position adjustment, which is achieved by means of the elasticity of the second elastic restoring means, is held by a clamping means, which is not shown in fig. 3, but an example of which is shown in fig. 16 and 17.

The adjustment of the active length of the outer ring of balance spring 71 can be achieved in a number of ways.

In a variant, the outer ring 77 of the balance spring 71 is clamped by two pins 74A,74B made in a single piece with the jack 3.

In another variant, at least one of the pins 74 is fixed to the carrier rod 3 by a fifth elastic return means 76, which fifth elastic return means 76 is made in a single piece with said at least one pin 74A or 74B and the rod 3 and tends to move said pin closer to the other pin 74B or 74A.

Fig. 4 thus shows a variant of the embodiment of fig. 3, in which balance spring 71 is also made in one piece with stud 73, stud 73 in turn being made in one piece with rod 3, in which the outer end of the balance spring is clamped at a distance from stud 73 by pins 74A and 74B made in one piece with rod 3, together constituting the equivalent of indexing means 74 for varying the active length of balance spring 71.

In the embodiment without any clearance as shown in fig. 6, at least one of these pins 74A and 74B is connected to the rod 3 by a fifth elastic return means 76, this fifth elastic return means 76 also being integrated on the rod 3. However, fig. 5 shows an embodiment with a small amount of play, where independent adjustment of the radial direction of pins 74A and 74B adjusts the isochronism of the cartridge in various positions.

Fifth elastic return means 76 are in particular constituted by one or more flexible elements lying on the plane of balance spring 71 or on the plane of stem 3, or any other plane. In an advantageous variant, balance spring 71 and/or pins 74A or 74B may be partially notched to allow discontinuous, notch-by-notch adjustment.

In another variant, balance spring 71 is retained in a flexible indexing means 74 of this type, together with pins 74A and 74B. Indexing means 74 is made in one piece with rod 3, although balance spring 71 is not necessarily made in one piece with stud 73 or rod 3.

In a particular embodiment, the intermittent clamp 6 forms an inseparable integral part 20 with the base plate 2.

In a traditional application, the intermittent gripping means 6 are escapement levers 61 made in one piece with the plate 2, which are connected to the plate 2 by third elastic return means 65.

Pallet-stem 61 has a top portion 62 carrying pallet-stones, horns and a dart. In a particular embodiment, the escapement lever is attached and fixed to a bottom portion 63 lying in the plane of the plate 2 and is connected to the plate 2 by means of a third elastic return means 65 also lying in the plane of the plate 2.

In another variant, detent lever 61 comprises a top portion 62 carrying the pallet-stone, the horns and the fork-pin on one or more portions 62A, 62B. The top portion 62 is made in a single piece with the bottom portion 63 and extends above the bottom portion 63 towards the stem 3. The bottom portion 63 is in the plane of the plate 2 and is connected to the plate 2 by means of a third elastic return means 65, also in the plane of the plate 2.

Fig. 7 to 10 show more particularly an embodiment of the intermittent gripping device 6 constituted by an escapement lever 61 with a top portion 62, said top portion 62 carrying at one end 62A the pallet stone cooperating with the escape wheel 5 and at the other end 62B the fork pin and horn cooperating with the roller 42 and impulse pin/roller 43 of the balance 41.

In the variant of fig. 7, the escapement lever 61 is made in a single piece with the plate 2 and is connected to the plate 2 by means of an integrated elastic return device 65.

In the variant of fig. 8, detent lever 61 comprises a foot 64 on the plane of plate 2, in addition to an integrated elastic return device 65 also on the plane of plate 2.

In the variant of fig. 9, the top portion 62 of the escapement lever 61 is attached to such a foot 63, and this top portion 62 is not made in a single piece with said foot 63.

In the variant of fig. 10, detent lever 61 is on the plane of the plate and comprises, on at least one upper plane, projections 62A and 62B, for example pallet stones and brads and horns, respectively.

Advantageously, in these different variants, the plate 2 incorporates a pin with a clearance for the detent lever or a solid blocking pin (solid locking pin), which is made in a single piece with said plate 2.

In general, it is an advantage of the present invention to integrate the limiting members, whether they be in the plate 2, the bar 3 or another inseparable integral component 20.

The design of the mould box 1 according to the invention, comprising inseparable one-piece parts 20, also optimizes the pivoting of the various movable parts and ensures their parallelism as required, or conversely allows at least one end of the movable part mandrel to be moved to achieve micron-scale setting adjustments.

The action on the pivot point allows in particular to adjust the centre distance between the movable parts, the adjustment of the centre distance by adjusting the penetration of the toothed ring and/or the lifting member may be performed by means of integration with a plate or a rod. The principle of adjusting the distance between the centers is valid for all the distances between the centers in the movement.

In this fig. 11 variant, at least one pivotally movable functional component 10 is pivoted at least one end thereof in a top pivot 44 or a bottom pivot 55 accommodated in the supporting holder 13. The supporting holder 13 is connected to the plate 2 and/or to the rod 3 by means of a fourth integrated elastic return means 14, the fourth integrated elastic return means 14 preferably being made in a single piece with the plate 2 and/or with the rod 3 and with the respective supporting holder 13.

Naturally, variants are also conceivable in which the component is pivoted at both ends in the suspended support carrier.

The fourth elastic return means 14 allow a range of adjustment, preferably associated with a post-adjustment position locking means, an example of which is given herein in the particular case of fig. 16 or 17. Advantageously, the position locking means are also made in a single piece with the plate 2 and/or the rod 3, respectively, and with the respective supporting and retaining member 13.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 12, at least one pivotally movable functional part 10 is pivoted at the top end in a top pivot 44 housed in the top element 3A of the lever 3 and at the bottom end in a bottom pivot 45 housed in the bottom element 2A of the plate 2. The top element 3A of the rod 3 and the bottom element 2A of the plate 2 constitute an integral assembly with the cross-member 15 that joins them to each other.

In a variant, the top element 3A of the bar 3 constitutes the whole bar 3 and/or the bottom element 2A of the plate 2 constitutes the whole plate 2.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 14 and 15, the plate 2 and the rod 3 constitute a single-piece assembly with at least one elastically deformable connecting element 16, the plate 2 and the rod 3 being movable between an approached position (fig. 15) in which they are separated from each other by a minimum distance EMIN and a distanced position (fig. 14) in which they are separated from each other by a maximum distance EMAX.

To maintain the operating position corresponding to the minimum distance EMIN, the plate 2 comprises snap-fitting means 22 arranged to cooperate with complementary snap-fitting means 32 comprised in the bar 3 only in the approached position, to maintain the plate 2 and the bar 3 in the approached position.

Preferably, plate 2 therefore comprises guide means 21 which cooperate in any position with complementary guide means 31 comprised in bar 3 to move plate 2 relatively parallel with respect to bar 3.

In a particular embodiment, between a bottom pivot 45 integral with the plate 2 and a top pivot 44 integral with the bar 3, the mould box 1 comprises at least one pivotally movable functional part 10, which in the remote position is freely interposed between the pivotally movable functional part 10, and in the close position is mounted, axially restrained and freely pivoted between the pivotally movable functional part 10.

For particularly advantageous applications of adjustable and lockable mechanisms, which are locked in particular in a reversible manner, but can also be locked in particular irreversibly after initial adjustment, at least one non-separable one-piece component 2 comprises a position-adjustable mechanism 80. Figures 16 and 16A show a non-limiting application to the angular position of the stud 82, in which the stud 82 is used to hold a balance spring.

The position-adjustable mechanism 80 comprises a rigid structure 81 carrying a position-adjustable component 82 by means of at least one elastic strip 83. The rigid structure 81 may be the plate 2, the rod 3 or any inseparable integral part 20 contained in the mould box 1.

In the case of fig. 16, the position-adjustable part 82 comprises an indexing means 84, which indexing means 84 is arranged to cooperate with a complementary indexing means 91 comprised in the adjusting mechanism 90, said complementary indexing means 91 here being formed by a comb-shaped or toothed segment. The complementary indexing means 91 is detachably mounted to the indexing means 84. It may also be locked in the engaged position by the clamping mechanism 94.

The clamping mechanism 94 is resiliently fixed to the structure 81 by at least one flexible element 96 and is preferably in turn subjected to the action of a locking mechanism which allows the mechanism 94 to occupy either a disengaged position in which the adjustment mechanism 90 is free, or an engaged position in which the clamping mechanism 94 obstructs the adjustment mechanism 90. The locking mechanism comprises at least one flexible element 98 forming a jumper and resiliently fixed to the structure 81, where said at least one flexible element 98 comprises a beak 99 cooperating with a beak 97 of the grip 94 to keep the grip clear during position adjustment or, for reasons of protection of the grip, with a complementary stop surface 95 of the grip 94 when performing position adjustment. The clamp is in the form of a fork to limit the travel of the arms 93 comprised in the comb 91.

Fig. 16A shows a similar example, in which the comb 91 is held between two substantially aligned flexible strips 92 and 92A and forms a bistable component; by means of a deformation operation, the assembly can occupy two stable positions: a first working position a in which the comb 91 cooperates with the fingers 84 of the movable stud 82, and a second release position B in which the comb is separated from the fingers.

Fig. 17 shows a similar mechanism with a comb 91 which locks the indexing means 84 positioned at the end of the flexible strip 83, the comb 91 being pressed against the indexing means 84 by a clamping strip spring 96 belonging to a clamp 94 which is in turn locked by a locking finger 99 mounted on at least one flexible strip 98, said finger 99 cooperating with a stop surface 97 of the strip 96.

As seen above, the combined adjustment, clamping and locking mechanism described herein for the specific application of adjusting the collet on a stroke coaxial with the spindle of the balance spring can also be applied in a wide range of fields of application: positioning of supports/bearings, stops or other elements.

In a particular embodiment shown in fig. 18, the capsule 1 comprises a non-separable one-piece structure 11, which structure 11 comprises pivot points 12 arranged in pairs for receiving the pivots of the components of the mechanism integrated in the capsule 1, in particular the escapement mechanism. The structure 11 comprises at least one frame 17.

In the non-limiting variant of fig. 18, 19 and 20, the plate 2 and the bar 3 constitute, with at least one cross-member 15, a non-separable integral frame 17 comprising respective receptacles 460 arranged in pairs for receiving the spindles 47 of the functional components 10 contained in the mould box 1, which are movable in a pivoting manner. The mould box 1 further comprises at least one cover 18 arranged to cooperate with the frame 17 so as to enclose each said spindle 47 of each pivotally movable functional part 10 contained in the mould box 1 with a minimum of clearance when the cover 18 is in its closed position on the frame 17. Advantageously, the cover 18 is irreversibly fixed to the frame 17 to form the inseparable one-piece structure 11.

The structure shown in fig. 18, which integrates plates and bars, is a particular example, and the frame 17 may also be separate from the plates and bars, and fixed to either or both.

Advantageously, the mould box 1 comprises flexible gap-eliminating means to constrain without play each of said spindles 47 of each pivotally movable functional part 10 contained in the mould box 1. FIG. 20A shows an exemplary embodiment of the cover 18 with a resilient lip 18A that performs the function of clearance elimination.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mould box 1 is made of silicon. The pivot point of the receptacle 460 is defined, for example, by anisotropic (KOH) etching in the silicon substrate. Variations with the stone assembly are also possible. A significant advantage is the very precise positioning (distance from center, perpendicularity) of the pivot point. It should be noted that placing the cover 18 in place does not interfere with the positioning of the various mandrels.

Fig. 21 to 23 show a mould box which can be made of silicon or multi-layer grade Liga, wherein the plate 2 and the rod 3 together with at least one cross beam 15 constitute a one-piece component. Depending on its configuration, the assembly integrates all or part of the guide support/bearing for the movable part spindle:

-both pivot points of the escapement lever and all the bottom supports/bearings of the other movable parts;

the two pivot points of the balance and escapement lever and all the bottom supports/bearings of the other movable parts;

two pivot points of the balance and all the bottom supports/bearings of the other movable parts.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the bottom plate 2 and/or the ejector 3 and/or the frame 17 constitute an inseparable integral component 20 with at least one shockproof support/bearing to receive the pivots of the components of the mechanism (in particular the escapement) contained in the mould box 1.

In the particular embodiment of fig. 24, at least one functional component 10 contained in the mould box 1 can be pivotally moved between a bottom pivot 45 integral with the plate 2 and a top pivot 44 integral with the rod 3, at least one bottom pivot 45 or top pivot 44 being made in one piece with the plate 2 or rod 3 and comprising a revolving shoulder 46 for radially retaining a spindle 47 of the pivotally movable functional component 10 and a front shoulder 49 for axially limiting the end of said spindle 47. Both the swivel shoulder 46 and the front shoulder 49 are preferably carried by a resilient shock absorber 48 made in one piece with the shoulders. In a variant, it is at least an elastic shock absorber 48 made in a single piece with plate 2, while each of the pivoting shoulder 46 and the front shoulder 49 is made in a single piece with plate 2 or is attached thereto (a jewel or the like).

The shock absorber can thus be made partially or totally inside the panel: the shock absorbing spring may be manufactured to be connected to the board. One (or both) of the two gems may be made to connect to the plate. Thus, pivoting occurs directly in the silicon. The pivot point may be fabricated in-line with DLC (diamond like carbon) or other surface coatings in silicon. There is no longer any gemstone and the pivot point is very accurately located.

In a particular embodiment, the inseparable one-piece component 20 comprises separable elements intended to facilitate assembly of the components in a larger assembly, these separable elements therefore only need to be separated to give one or more degrees of freedom to certain of their constituent parts.

In a particular embodiment, at least one movable functional component 10 contained in the mould box 1 is integrated with at least one linear flexible guide made in a single piece with the plate 2 and/or the rod 3.

In another particular embodiment, all the movable functional components 10 contained in the mould box 1 are respectively integrated with at least one flexible linear guide made in a single piece with the plate 2 and/or the rod 3.

In an advantageous embodiment of the mould box 1 according to the invention, the inseparable one-piece component 20 is made of a micromachinable material or silicon oxide, and the integrated elastic restoring means of the inseparable one-piece component is prestressed in the silicon oxide state. Other materials in MEMS or "LIGA" technology may also be applied. Quartz, DLC, at least partially amorphous materials, or metallic glasses may be used for these applications, but the listed materials are not limiting. Diamond, ruby or emery may also be used.

The particular structure of the plate 2 and/or of the rod 3 and/or of the inseparable integral part 20 can compensate for the expansion effects of these structural elements or parts of the mechanism of the mould box 1. For example, for consistency reasons, the plate may be fabricated from silicon and then oxidized.

Claims (18)

1. Timepiece movement case (1) comprising at least one bearing surface (101) for positioning the case in a movement (100) and at least one base plate (2) and one top bar (3), at least the base plate (2) or the top bar (3) being rigid, functional parts (10) being arranged between or on the base plate (2) and top bar (3), at least two functional parts (10) being movable relative to each other, and at least one of the functional parts (10) being pivotally or displaceably movable, pivoting or moving between the base plate (2) and/or top bar (3), wherein the base plate (2) and/or top bar (3) and at least one functional part (10) form an inseparable, integral part (20), and wherein at least one pivotally movable functional part (10) is on the base plate(s) (10) located on either side of the functional part (10) 2) And the push-rod (3), characterized in that at least one functional part (10) pivoting between the base plate (2) and the push-rod (3) forms a non-separable integral part (20) with the base plate (2) and/or the push-rod (3), the non-separable integral part (20) comprising elastic return means for achieving a return function, the non-separable integral part (20) being made of silicon; the integrated elastic restoring means contained in the inseparable one-piece component (20) are prestressed in the silicon oxide state.

2. A mould box (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is an escapement mould box, the functional component (10) being constituted by at least one regulating member (4) pivoted on a pivot and between the base plate (2) and the ejector pin (3), at least one escapement wheel (5), first elastic return means (7) and at least one intermittent locking means (6), the intermittent locking means (6) cooperating with the at least one regulating member (4) and intermittently locking the at least one escapement wheel (5), the regulating member (4) being moved in a reciprocating manner under the action of the first elastic return means (7).

3. A mould box (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said first elastic return means (7) form said inseparable integral part (20) with said ejector pin (3).

4. A mould box (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the intermittent locking device (6) forms the inseparable one-piece part (20) with the base plate (2).

5. A cartridge (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cartridge (1) comprises a non-separable one-piece frame (11) comprising pivot points (12) arranged in pairs to receive the pivots of the components of the escapement mechanism.

6. A cartridge (1) according to claim 2, wherein the base plate (2) and/or the ejector pin (3) form, with at least one shock-absorbing support, the inseparable one-piece component (20) for receiving a pivot of a component of the escapement.

7. A die box (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that said first elastic return means (7) comprise a balance spring (71) whose outer end is fixed to a balance spring stud (73) made in a single piece with said ejector pin (3).

8. Mould box (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that said external peg (73) is fixed to said top bar (3) by means of a second elastic return means (75) made in a single piece with said external peg (73) and said top bar (3).

9. Cartridge (1) according to claim 7, wherein the outer ring (77) of the balance spring (71) is clamped by two pins (74A,74B) made in a single piece with the ejector pin (3).

10. A die box (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of said two pins (74A,74B) is fixed to said ejector pin (3) by fifth elastic return means (76) made in a single piece with the at least one pin and said ejector pin (3), said fifth elastic return means (76) tending to move one of said two pins closer to the other of said two pins.

11. Mould box (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that said intermittent locking means (6) are a detent lever (61) made in a single piece with said base plate (2), said detent lever being connected to said base plate (2) by third elastic return means (65).

12. A capsule (1) according to claim 11, wherein said pallet-stone (61) comprises a top portion (62) carrying pallet-stones, horns and a dart, and is affixed and fixed to a bottom portion (63) on the plane of said base plate (2), said pallet-stone being connected to said base plate (2) by means of third elastic return means (65) also on the plane of said base plate (2).

13. A capsule (1) according to claim 11, wherein said pallet-stone (61) comprises a top portion (62) carrying pallet-stones, horns and brads on one or more portions (62A; 62B), said top portion being made in a single piece with a bottom portion (63) and extending above said bottom portion (63) towards said mandrel (3), said bottom portion (63) being in the plane of said base plate (2) and being connected to said base plate (2) by means of a third elastic return means (65) also in the plane of said base plate (2).

14. A mould box (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of said pivotally movable functional parts (10) is pivoted at least at one of its ends at a top pivot (44) or a bottom pivot (55) accommodated in a supporting holder (13), which supporting holder (13) is connected to said base plate (2) and/or said ejector pin (3) by means of a fourth elastic return means (14).

15. A mould box (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one pivotally movable functional part (10) is pivoted at the top end in a top pivot (44) accommodated in a top element (3A) of the ejector pin (3) and at the bottom end in a bottom pivot (45) accommodated in a bottom element (2A) of the bottom plate (2), the top element (3A) of the ejector pin (3) and the bottom element (2A) of the bottom plate (2) being made as an integral assembly with the cross beams that engage them with each other.

16. A mould box (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the top element (3A) of the ejector pin (3) constitutes the whole ejector pin (3) and/or the bottom element (2A) of the bottom plate (2) constitutes the whole bottom plate (2).

17. A mould box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one functional component (10) comprised in the mould box (1) is pivotably movable between a bottom pivot (45) integral with the bottom plate (2) and a top pivot (44) integral with the top bar (3); at least one of the bottom pivot (45) or top pivot (44) is made in one piece with the bottom plate (2) or top ram (3) and comprises a swivel shoulder (46) for radially retaining a spindle (47) of the pivotally movable functional part (10) and a front shoulder (49) for axially limiting the end of the spindle (47), the swivel shoulder (46) and the front shoulder (49) together being carried by a resilient shock absorbing member (48) made in one piece with the swivel shoulder and the front shoulder.

18. A mechanical timepiece movement (100) including at least one clockwork case (1) according to claim 1.