HK1230735B - Timepiece display mechanism with a fast corrector - Google Patents

Description

Timepiece display mechanism with quick corrector

Technical Field

The invention relates to a display mechanism for a timepiece, comprising a quick position correction mechanism for a display wheel set.

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

The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch comprising at least one such movement and/or at least one such display mechanism.

The present invention relates to the field of timepiece display mechanisms, and more particularly to the field of timepiece display mechanisms including a quick correction mechanism.

Background

The present invention relates to watches requiring a quick (date, month or other) correction mechanism for specific functions, in particular display functions such as calendar (almanac, perpetual calendar, week/date, etc.) or phases of the moon, tide, AM/PM display or other indicators. One specific example of an annual calendar mechanism is described in european patent No. 1666991B1 in the name of ETA SA.

To set the month, the user typically must make a correction using a calendar mechanism. In the worst case, this operation can be time consuming and cumbersome. Year-round corrections may have to be made. Furthermore, if the user makes an error during the correction, the operation must be repeated. Utilizing a calendar mechanism to operate the correction mechanism may result in overuse and cause malfunction.

The correction mechanism usually comprises levers, which are essential components in the timepiece movement, so as to enable the mechanism to be switched between a plurality of different modes, in general between two different positions. The return spring is often provided with a timepiece stem to ensure proper motion transmission or retention of support, as the case may be.

Rapid modification of the month display may cause desynchronization of the system. Without the user having the means to check if the system is synchronized, which may cause a malfunction.

Document WO2012/175595a1 in the name of ROLEX discloses a timepiece movement comprising a display mechanism and a mechanism for rapidly correcting the position of an indicator element, in particular a display wheel set. The control stem can occupy at least two axial positions, each corresponding to the actuation of a particular mechanism, and comprises a sliding pinion which is axially movable with respect to both the control stem and the bottom plate and is arranged to mesh, in one of its positions, with the correction mechanism.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention proposes to prevent such asynchronism of the calendar or date mechanism and to enable the calendar mechanism to be self-synchronizing.

The present invention proposes to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to prevent any desynchronisation of the mechanisms.

To this end, the invention relates to a display mechanism for a timepiece, comprising a mechanism for the rapid correction of the position of a display wheel set, characterized in that it comprises at least one intermediate wheel set arranged cinematically constrained to an automatic drive, and a safety lever interposed between said intermediate wheel set and said display wheel set, said safety lever being arranged to be driven by said display wheel set along a trajectory interfering with the spatial volume of said intermediate wheel set during the periodic driving of said display wheel set, so that: -when the intermediate wheel set is correctly synchronized with the automatic drive, the trajectory of the safety lever does not interfere with the intermediate wheel set; -performing a quick correction when the intermediate wheel set is not correctly synchronised with the automatic drive, the trajectory of the safety lever interfering with the intermediate wheel set, so that the safety lever drives the intermediate wheel set in a direction opposite to the single direction of normal operation to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set.

The invention also concerns a timepiece movement including at least one such display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch including at least one such movement and/or at least one such display mechanism.

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:

figure 1 shows a schematic partial perspective view of a watch comprising a display mechanism according to the invention, particularly applied to an annual calendar mechanism.

Fig. 2 shows a detail of fig. 1, wherein the quick calendar correction mechanism is shown in two different positions.

Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of a watch movement comprising a calendar mechanism with a quick automatic correction mechanism according to figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a set of schematic cross-sectional views through the pivot axis of the main wheel set; FIG. 4A illustrates the cooperation between an intermediate wheel set and a particular date ring included in the calendar mechanism; FIG. 4B shows the cooperation of the safety lever according to the invention with the date ring and the intermediate wheel in a position in which the intermediate wheel is properly synchronized; fig. 4C shows the cooperation of the quick correction mechanism with the date ring and the intermediate wheel.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a detail similar to fig. 1 in the position of cooperation between the safety lever peculiar to the invention and the date ring.

Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view similar to figure 1 of the same mechanism in a conventional date ring driving position.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a particular date ring characteristic of the invention.

Figures 8 to 11 show partial plan views of the annual calendar mechanism of the previous figures in four successive positions varying to 7 months 29, 7 months 30, 7 months 31 and 8 months 1, equipped with a month calendar disc carried by a month calendar star and a date indicator carried by a date ring.

Figure 12 is a block diagram representing a watch comprising a movement cooperating with a display mechanism according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to the field of horological mechanisms, and more particularly to the field of control and motion-transmitting mechanisms. The invention is preferably applied to the correction and updating of display mechanisms, in particular to a display mechanism 500 comprising a quick correction mechanism 200, which quick correction mechanism 200 is controlled by a user via a control device 17, such as a stem or the like.

The display mechanism 500 is generally driven by an automatic drive mechanism controlled by a movement 1000, the movement 1000 being included in a timepiece 2000, in particular a wristwatch, in which the display mechanism 500 is integrated. In normal operation, the periodic drive of at least one display wheel set 3 is ensured via the kinematic chain of the display mechanism of drive device 1. Preferably, this periodic drive is performed directly by wheel set 1C, which wheel set 1C is located downstream of the gear train driven by movement 1000, preferably arranged to complete one revolution in 24 hours.

Timepiece display mechanisms generally comprise at least one freely mounted wheel set, held in position by a friction spring or elastic return means such as a jumper spring or the like.

The quick-correction mechanism 200 generally includes such means: arranged to disengage the automatic drive mechanism and replace at least one wheel set of the kinematic chain of said automatic drive mechanism by at least one further wheel set arranged to directly or indirectly drive at least one display wheel set 3 and thereby effect a change in the position of said display wheel set.

The present invention proposes to modify this mechanism so that the components are unlikely to be out of sync.

According to the invention, quick correction mechanism 200 comprises, in the immediate vicinity of display wheel set 3, at least one intermediate wheel set 6, said intermediate wheel set 6 pivoting in a single direction S in the normal mode. According to a variant, intermediate wheel set 6 can perform different functions on different parallel stages.

At least, the intermediate wheel set ensures synchronization with the display mechanism 500 in the first stage 61: the angular orientation of intermediate wheel set 6 with respect to the automatic drive mechanism of the display mechanism is correct.

According to the invention, display mechanism 500 comprises a safety lever 400, also called a synchronization lever, interposed between intermediate wheel set 6 and display wheel set 3.

The safety lever 400 is configured to: when display wheel set 3 is periodically driven, safety lever 400 is driven by display wheel set 3 in a defined trajectory and its travel interferes with the spatial volume of intermediate wheel set 6. The relative arrangement of safety lever 400 and intermediate wheel set 6, mounted to pivot about different parallel axes, is such that:

when intermediate wheel set 6 is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of safety lever 400 does not interfere with the first intermediate wheel set located on first stage 61 of intermediate wheel set 6, and safety lever 400 is arranged to pass at a distance from any other surface of intermediate wheel set 6 without interfering with intermediate wheel set 6;

when intermediate wheel set 6 is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of safety lever 400 interferes with the first intermediate wheel set on first stage 61 of intermediate wheel set 6, and safety lever 400 is arranged to drive intermediate wheel set 6 in direction R opposite to single normal operating direction S, so as to resynchronize intermediate wheel set 6.

In the particular non-limiting variant shown in the accompanying drawings, intermediate wheel set 6 is provided to ensure that:

on the first level 61, in synchronism with the automatic drive of the display means 500;

on the second stage 62, the display wheel set other than the first display wheel set 3 is driven directly or indirectly.

The relative arrangement of intermediate wheel set 6 and safety lever 400 is therefore such that:

when intermediate wheel set 6 is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of safety lever 400 does not interfere with a first intermediate wheel set located on first stage 61 of intermediate wheel set 6, and safety lever 400 is arranged to pass over and at a distance from a second intermediate wheel set located on second stage 62 of intermediate wheel set 6, without interfering with it;

when intermediate wheel set 6 is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of safety lever 400 interferes with the first intermediate wheel set on first stage 61 of intermediate wheel set 6, and safety lever 400 is arranged to drive intermediate wheel set 6 in direction R opposite to single normal operating direction S, so as to resynchronize intermediate wheel set 6.

The first intermediate wheel set on the first stage 61 and the second intermediate wheel set on the second stage 62 rotate integrally. In a particular embodiment, intermediate wheel set 6 is integral.

In both cases, the travel of safety lever 400 is completed when display wheel set 3 stops driving the lever. Safety lever 400 is advantageously equipped with elastic return means 403 which tend to constantly return safety lever 400 to the rest position, which is the start of the cooperating position with display wheel set 3 at the next cycle.

Preferably, intermediate wheel set 6 comprises a first intermediate wheel located on first stage 61 and a second intermediate wheel located on second stage 62.

The teeth comprised by the first intermediate wheel alternate with the other teeth comprised by the second intermediate wheel. Advantageously, the teeth of the first intermediate wheel have the same profile, in projection on a plane, as the teeth of the second intermediate wheel, and some of them are aligned. More specifically, the first intermediate wheel comprises a number of teeth equal to half that of the second intermediate wheel; the teeth are identical and aligned every other. Therefore, the aligned teeth extend in double thickness over the first and second steps 61, 62, while the teeth of the second intermediate wheel, which do not have corresponding teeth on the first intermediate wheel, extend only over the second step 62. In the particular variant shown, the second intermediate wheel comprises 10 teeth and the first intermediate wheel has 5 teeth.

Preferably, the safety lever 400 includes a blade portion 404 that extends only on the first stage. This blade 404 comprises a stop face 402 arranged to push against the toothing of the first intermediate wheel set at the first stage 61 in the event of non-synchronization. On the opposite side with respect to pivot axis B, lever 400 preferably has a beak 401, which beak 401 is arranged to cooperate with display wheel set 3 to drive safety lever 400 via said display wheel set.

In a more particular embodiment, intermediate wheel set 6 also comprises a third gear 63 on a third stage that does not interfere with safety lever 400. The third gear 63 is arranged to mesh directly or indirectly with another display wheel set.

The invention is illustrated in more detail, in a non-limiting manner, for the following advantageous applications: among these, display mechanism 500 is a calendar mechanism 300, which comprises a date-driving wheel set 1, arranged to be controlled by the wheels of timepiece movement 1000 and arranged to control annual rings 4. At least one of said display wheel sets 3 is a date ring and calendar mechanism 300 comprises control means arranged to directly or indirectly drive said at least one date ring 3. Calendar mechanism 300 also comprises a quick date correction mechanism 200 arranged to directly or indirectly control the pivoting of said date ring 3.

Fig. 7 shows a particular variant of date ring 3, which comprises three functional teeth 33, 34, 35 arranged on different superimposed levels (here in three parallel planes). In this particular variant, quick correction mechanism 200 therefore comprises one such intermediate wheel set 6 comprising the following components integrated and arranged on parallel levels:

on the first upper level 30, a first intermediate wheel 61 is arranged cooperating with a safety lever 400 or with the lunar starwheel 5 mounted to rotate freely on the annual ring 4, this safety lever 400 also being arranged to cooperate on the same level with the fingers 33 included in the date ring 3;

on the second intermediate level 31, a second intermediate wheel 62 is arranged to cooperate, at the end of each month, with a lug 35 comprised in date ring 3;

on a third lower level 32, date ring 3 is arranged to be driven by date driving wheel set 1; a third intermediate wheel 63 integral with and coaxial with the first intermediate wheel on the first stage 61 and the second intermediate wheel on the second stage 62 is provided to cooperate with the annual ring 4, and the intermediate correction wheel 12 included in the quick date correction mechanism 200 is provided to cooperate with the second intermediate wheel on the second stage 62 to correct the month.

More specifically, the calendar mechanism 300 also comprises, on a fourth level situated below the third lower level 32, a correction finger 14, the correction finger 14 being included in the quick date correction mechanism 200 and being arranged to cooperate with a tooth 34 situated on the lower level 32 of the date ring 3 to correct the date.

Date ring 3 can be made in one piece or with juxtaposed elements positioned with respect to each other.

One particular application of the invention relates to an annual calendar mechanism 300 as described in european patent No. 1666991B by the same applicant. There is described, in a non-limiting manner, a display wheel set 3 in the form of a date ring, arranged to carry at least one date indicating ring, not shown in the figures. The date ring may be held by a jumper spring in a known manner to effect a semi-instantaneous change.

This annual calendar mechanism 300 may take the form of a module of a mechanism added to an existing movement and arranged to be driven by a wheel 1C of the movement 1000, for example an hour wheel, the movement 1000 not being shown in detail in the figures and may be a mechanical or electronic movement.

The annual calendar mechanism 300 thus comprises a date-indicating driving wheel 1 equipped with two fingers:

a first date finger 1A, arranged to drive a tooth comprising 31 internal teeth 34, located on a lower level 32 of date ring 3, once a day (in particular at midnight);

a second month finger 1B, arranged to drive the cam 2, arranged coaxially with the annual ring 4, at the end of the month of months less than 31 days.

This cam 2 comprises 5 radially projecting secondary lugs 2E, corresponding to months of less than 31 days: february, april, june, september, november, and angularly distributed according to the time interval between these respective months: 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees. The cam 2 is empty between these secondary lobes 2E, which means that the second month finger 12 drives the cam 2 only on the last day of these particular months, february requiring further manual corrections, depending on the year.

The cam 2 is integral with the annual rings 4.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the annual rings 4 comprise 24 teeth. In some variant embodiments, it may be arranged to carry a month indicator disc or ring (not shown in the figures).

In one particular variant shown in the figures, the annual rings 4 can carry a free-rotating lunar star 5. In some variant embodiments, the month star-wheel 5 can be arranged to carry a month indication ring or disc (not shown in the figures).

At the end of each month, intermediate wheel set 6 is arranged to connect annual wheel 4 with a main lug 35 located on the second intermediate level 31 of date ring 3.

Intermediate wheel set 6 includes a second intermediate wheel 62. At the end of each month, the second intermediate wheel 62 drives the main lug 35, irrespective of the duration of the month.

Intermediate wheel set 6 cooperates with annual rings 4 via a third intermediate gear 63 located on a third lower level 32.

Intermediate wheel set 6 comprises a first intermediate wheel on first stage 61 aligned with first upper level 30, integral with a second intermediate wheel of second stage 62. In the variant illustrated, the first intermediate wheel of the first stage 61 cooperates with a month star wheel 5, which month star wheel 5 is mounted to rotate freely and is held by friction.

In the illustrated variant, the first intermediate wheel and the third gear wheel 63 of the first stage 61 each comprise 10 equidistant teeth.

At the end of the month of months less than 31 days, the second month finger 1B of the date indication driving wheel 1 drives the cam 2 and the annual wheel 4 therefore drives, on the one hand, the date ring 1 and the wheel set 6 by means of its lugs 35 and, on the other hand, the month star wheel 5.

At the end of the month, including the 31-day month, the change from day 31 to day 1 occurs naturally, as does the change in month.

Date ring 3 comprises a particular arrangement in that it comprises 29 fingers 33 on an upper level 30, which upper level 30 is parallel to a lower level 32 provided with 31 teeth 34. These fingers 33 are arranged to cooperate with a male beak 401 of safety lever 400, this male beak 401 being opposite a bearing surface 402 comprised in safety lever 400, to push the teeth of first intermediate wheel 61 in the event of non-synchronization.

The single main lug 35 of date ring 3 extends at least on top of the second intermediate wheel of second stage 62. Thus, on days 30 and 31 of the month, the system does not lose synchronization, since the main lug 35 is still engaged with the intermediate wheel set 6.

At the end of the remaining days of the month, when date ring 3 has achieved its movement, one of the 29 fingers 33 actuates safety lever 400 to ensure synchronization of the system when necessary, as described above.

Fig. 7 shows the relative arrangement of the hierarchy of date rings. The teeth of the 29 fingers 33 located on the upper level 30 are the ones of 31 equidistant teeth from which two consecutive teeth are removed. On the second intermediate level 31, the main lug 35 is here located between the second and third fingers 33 behind the toothless space on the upper level 30.

The toothing located on the first upper level 30 is thus only used to achieve synchronization; the teeth of which are active and drive the rod 400. But the conventional driving of date ring 30 is done by tooth 4 comprising tooth 3 on the third lower level 32.

Preferably, the calendar mechanism 300 comprises at least one quick correction mechanism 200, the quick correction mechanism 200 comprising one or more correction fingers 12 or 14 arranged to change the angular position of the intermediate wheel set 6 and/or to act directly on the position of a display member, such as a disc or ring with date, month, week, year, leap year, or other ring. In the particular example shown in the figures, the quick correction mechanism 200 comprises a lever 100, the lever 100 pivoting about a first fixed axis D1 and carrying, on a second axis D2 parallel to the first axis D1, an output wheel set comprising at least two stages and carrying, on two different planes, at least one correction finger 14 and a correction intermediate wheel 12, said correction finger 14 and correction intermediate wheel 12 being arranged to change the position of the date wheel set or of the date correction wheel set and of the month display means or of the month display correction wheel set. More specifically, correction finger 14 cooperates with date ring 3 to correct the date, and intermediate correction wheel 12 cooperates with the second intermediate wheel of second stage 62 to correct the month.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 1000 comprising an hour wheel driving at least one such calendar mechanism 300.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 2000, in particular a wristwatch, including at least one such movement 1000 and/or at least one such display mechanism and/or one such calendar mechanism 300.

The present invention provides unique security in the use of display mechanisms with quick correction. In fact, the user does not have a means to check whether the system is synchronized. The invention enables self-synchronization of a display mechanism, in particular a calendar mechanism.

Of course, the above examples of almanac are non-limiting and those skilled in the art will know how to convert to other similar applications.

Claims (9)

1. Display mechanism (500) for a timepiece (2000), comprising a mechanism (200) for the rapid correction of the position of a display wheel set (3), characterised in that said display mechanism (500) comprises at least one intermediate wheel set (6) arranged cinematically constrained to automatic drive means, and a safety lever (400) interposed between said intermediate wheel set (6) and said display wheel set (3), said safety lever being arranged to be driven by said display wheel set (3) along a trajectory interfering with the spatial volume of said intermediate wheel set (6) during the periodic driving of said display wheel set, so that:

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is correctly synchronized with the automatic drive, the trajectory of the safety lever (400) does not interfere with the intermediate wheel set (6);

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is not correctly synchronised with the automatic drive, a quick correction is made, the trajectory of the safety lever (400) interfering with the intermediate wheel set (6), so that the safety lever (400) drives the intermediate wheel set in a direction opposite to the single direction of normal operation to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set (6).

2. A display mechanism (500) according to claim 1, arranged to be driven by an automatic drive mechanism controlled by a timepiece movement (1000), the kinematic chain of the display mechanism (500) being arranged to ensure the periodic driving of at least one display wheel set (3), the display mechanism (500) comprising a quick correction mechanism (200) comprising means for: -means arranged to decouple said automatic drive mechanism and to replace at least one wheel set of the kinematic chain of said automatic drive mechanism by at least one other wheel set arranged to directly or indirectly drive at least one display wheel set (3) and to effect a change of position of said display wheel set (3), said display mechanism being characterized in that said quick correction mechanism (200) comprises at least one intermediate wheel set (6) arranged to ensure synchronization on a first level (61) with the automatic drive of said display mechanism (500); and in that said display mechanism (500) comprises a safety lever (400) interposed between said intermediate wheel set (6) and said display wheel set (3), which is arranged to be driven by said display wheel set (3) along a determined trajectory during the periodic driving of said display wheel set (3) and whose stroke interferes with the spatial volume of said intermediate wheel set (6), the relative arrangement of said safety lever (400) and said intermediate wheel set (6) mounted so as to pivot about different parallel axes being such that:

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is correctly synchronized, the safety lever (400) trajectory does not interfere with the first step (61) of the intermediate wheel set (6), and the safety lever (400) is arranged to pass at a distance from any other surface of the intermediate wheel set (6) without interfering with the intermediate wheel set (6);

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the safety lever (400) interferes with the first step (61) of the intermediate wheel set (6), and the safety lever (400) is arranged to drive the intermediate wheel set (6) in a direction opposite to the single direction of normal operation, so as to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set (6).

3. The display mechanism (500) according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate wheel set (6) is arranged to ensure synchronization on the first level (61) and direct or indirect drive on the display wheel set other than the display wheel set (3) on a second level (62); and the relative arrangement of the safety lever (400) and the intermediate wheel set (6) is such that:

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is correctly synchronized, the safety lever (400) has a trajectory that does not interfere with the first step (61) of the intermediate wheel set (6), and the safety lever (400) is arranged to pass at a distance above the second step (62) of the intermediate wheel set (6) without interfering with the intermediate wheel set (6);

-when the intermediate wheel set (6) is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the safety lever (400) interferes with the first step (61) of the intermediate wheel set (6), and the safety lever (400) is arranged to drive the intermediate wheel set (6) in a direction opposite to the single direction of normal operation, so as to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set (6).

4. The display mechanism (500) according to claim 2, characterized in that the safety lever (400) comprises elastic return means (403) tending to constantly return it to a rest position, the rest position being the start of the cooperating position with the display wheel set (3) in the next cycle.

5. A display mechanism (500) according to claim 3, characterised in that the mechanism is a calendar mechanism (300) comprising a date driving wheel set (1) arranged to be controlled by a wheel of a timepiece movement (1000) and arranged to control an annual ring (4); at least one of said display wheel sets (3) is a date ring; and, the calendar mechanism (300) comprises control means arranged to directly or indirectly drive said at least one date ring, the calendar mechanism (300) further comprising a quick date correction mechanism (200) arranged to directly or indirectly control the pivoting of said date ring; the quick correction mechanism (200) comprises the intermediate wheel set (6) comprising the following integrated and arranged on parallel levels:

-a first intermediate wheel on the first level (61) arranged to cooperate on a first upper level (30) with the safety lever (400) or with a lunar star (5) mounted free to rotate on the annual ring (4), the safety lever (400) also being arranged to cooperate on the same level with a finger (33) comprised in the date ring;

-a second intermediate wheel located on said second level (62), arranged to cooperate, at the end of each month, on a second intermediate level (31), with a lug (35) comprised in said date ring arranged to be driven by said date driving wheel set (1) on a third lower level (32);

-a third intermediate wheel (63) integral and coaxial with the first intermediate wheel of the first stage (61) and with the second intermediate wheel of the second stage (62), arranged to cooperate, on the third lower level (32), with the annual wheel (4), and on the third lower level (32), an intermediate correction wheel (12) comprised by the quick date correction mechanism (200) arranged to cooperate with a second intermediate wheel of the second stage (62) to correct the month.

6. The display mechanism (500) according to claim 5, wherein the calendar mechanism (300) further comprises, on a fourth level located below the third lower level (32), a correction finger (14) comprised in the quick date correction mechanism (200) and arranged to cooperate with a tooth (34) comprised in the third lower level (32) of the date ring to correct the date.

7. The display mechanism (500) according to claim 5, characterized in that said date ring comprises, on said first upper level (30), a toothing constituted by twenty-nine fingers (33) for driving said safety lever (400), parallel to a toothing constituted by thirty-one teeth (34) on said third lower level (32) for driving and updating said date ring by a movement (1000) or a user, and, on said second intermediate level (31) located between said first upper level (30) and said third lower level (32), a single main lug (35) for controlling the alteration of the month display.

8. A timepiece movement (1000) comprising an hour wheel driving at least one calendar mechanism (300) according to claim 5.

9. A timepiece (2000) or a wristwatch comprising at least one movement (1000) according to claim 8 and/or at least one calendar mechanism (300) according to claim 5.