Quick correction device with connecting rod for timepiece movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a correction device (1) for correcting an indication provided by a display mechanism of a timepiece movement equipped with the display mechanism, said display mechanism comprising an indication wheel (2), said indication being alterable by actuation of said indication wheel (2), said correction device (1) comprising a movable articulation mechanism (10), characterized in that said articulation mechanism (10) is movable relative to the display mechanism (2). The articulation mechanism (10) comprises a link (3) movable between two positions, a correction position, in which the articulation mechanism (10) engages with the indicator wheel (2) to rotate the indicator wheel, and a rest position, in which the articulation mechanism (10) moves away from the indicator wheel (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rapid calibration device with a linkage for a watch movement including a display mechanism.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a watch movement including such a correction device.

[0003] This invention relates to the field of clocks and watches, and more particularly to clocks and watches including a display mechanism. Background Technology

[0004] This invention relates to watches requiring rapid correction of certain functions (date, day of the week, month, or others), particularly for correcting display functions such as date (normal date, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, day of the week / date, etc.), moon phase, tide, AM / PM display, or other indicating functions. A specific example of an annual calendar mechanism is described in ETA SA patent EP1666991B1.

[0005] To correct a calendar, users typically must perform the correction via a date-driven mechanism. In the worst-case scenario, this can be a lengthy and tedious process, potentially taking up to 30 days. Similarly, if the user makes a mistake during the correction process, the process must be repeated. Using a date correction device can lead to overuse and may cause malfunctions.

[0006] To actuate the indicating wheel, the adjusting mechanism is typically equipped with a lever. A lever is an essential component of a watch mechanism, enabling it to switch between several different modes, usually between two specific positions. One of these positions actuates the indicating wheel. Watch levers are usually equipped with a return spring to ensure proper transmission or positioning of the movement (depending on the specific case).

[0007] The correction device typically consists of a gear train comprising one or more components and is actuated by the shank shaft.

[0008] However, such a correction device takes up space inside the movement and usually requires a lot of parts, especially when the indicator wheel is far from the winding stem.

[0009] A common alternative is to use buttons built into the watch case. However, this approach is typically more expensive and may compromise the watch case's water resistance. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, enabling users to quickly calibrate the display mechanism, and more specifically, to quickly calibrate the date mechanism.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention relates to a calibration device for calibrating the indication provided by the display mechanism of a watch movement equipped with a display mechanism including an indicator wheel with a tube, the indication being changeable by actuating the indicator wheel.

[0012] The significant feature of this calibration device is that it includes a hinge mechanism movable about a pivot, the hinge mechanism being equipped with a link that can move between two positions: a calibration position and a rest position. In the calibration position, the hinge mechanism engages with an indicator wheel to cause the indicator wheel to rotate in steps, and in the rest position, the hinge mechanism moves away from the indicator wheel.

[0013] Therefore, this correction device provides a novel architecture with innovative components, particularly the use of linkages.

[0014] This invention ensures that the calibration device occupies less space and is easier to integrate into the watch movement because it contains fewer parts while operating efficiently.

[0015] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the hinge mechanism includes a pawl rotatably mounted on a first end of the link.

[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the pawl may also move around a pivot.

[0017] According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the pawl includes a beak configured such that, when the articulation mechanism is in the corrected position, the beak is at least partially inserted into the teeth on the indicator wheel to rotate the indicator wheel.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the correction device includes a cam motion element that, when actuated, engages with a connecting rod to push the connecting rod from a rest position to a correction position.

[0019] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the cam motion element has teeth configured to contact a beak disposed at a second end of a connecting rod.

[0020] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the correction device includes a jumper spring that applies a restoring force to the connecting rod to return the connecting rod from the correction position to the rest position.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the correction device includes a jumper, which is used to position the indicator wheel and prevent the indicator wheel from rotating when it is not actuated by the movable hinge mechanism. The jumper is designed to be inserted into the teeth on the indicator wheel to position the indicator wheel.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the correction device includes a linkage spring that applies a restoring force to the linkage and pawl in a rest position to keep the linkage and pawl away from the indicator wheel.

[0023] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the correction device extends substantially in the same plane.

[0024] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the display mechanism is: a moon phase display, a date display, a weekday display, a month display, a tide display, or a time zone display.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a watch movement including such a correction device. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] - Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the correction device according to the present invention is shown.

[0028] - Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The diagram shows the bottom side of the calibration device.

[0029] - Figure 3 This shows the situation when the articulation mechanism is in the rest position away from the indicator wheel. Figure 1 A schematic top view of the correction device in the middle.

[0030] - Figure 4 This shows the corrected position when the articulated mechanism is engaged with the indicator wheel. Figure 1 A schematic top view of the correction device in the diagram, and

[0031] - Figure 5 A portion of a watch movement containing a calibration device is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0032] This invention relates to the field of watchmaking mechanisms, and more specifically to motion control and transmission mechanisms. The invention is preferably applied to the calibration and updating of display mechanisms within watch movements.

[0033] More specifically, the present invention relates to a calibration device 1 for calibrating the indication provided by the display mechanism in a watch movement. Preferably, the calibration device 1 extends substantially in the same plane.

[0034] exist Figures 1 to 4In this design, the display mechanism includes an indicator wheel 2 with a tube 19. For example, a pointer (not shown) is mounted on the tube 19 for displaying the date. The indicator wheel 2 includes circumferential teeth 17, which allow the indicator wheel 2 to be rotated.

[0035] The indicator wheel 2 is mechanically connected to the pointer, and the indication can be changed by actuating the indicator wheel 2.

[0036] Preferably, the change is made in steps. Therefore, each time the indicator wheel 2 rotates by one notch, the display changes by one unit.

[0037] The calibration device 1 includes a jumper 18 for positioning the indicator wheel 2 when it is not actuated and preventing the indicator wheel 2 from rotating when it is subjected to an impact.

[0038] The jumper 5 has an inclined portion 18 at its first end and is rotatably mounted about a pivot disposed at its second end. This pivot may be, for example, a protrusion, a pin, or a retaining screw. The jumper 5 includes a hole 13 for the pivot.

[0039] The calibration device 1 includes a spring 6 for retaining the jumper 5 against the indicator wheel 2. In this example, the spring 6 is a curved blade, the first end of which presses against the jumper 5 to push the jumper 5 against the indicator wheel 2. The second end of the blade is connected to a tailstock 9, which has fasteners 24 to allow the tailstock 9 to be fitted onto the mainplate or bar plate of the watch movement, particularly using one or more studs and / or one or more screws.

[0040] In order to actuate the indicator wheel 2, the calibration device 1 includes a movable hinge mechanism 10 for engaging with the indicator wheel 2 to rotate the indicator wheel 2.

[0041] According to the present invention, the hinge mechanism 10 includes a link 3 that can move between two positions: a calibration position and a rest position. In the calibration position, the hinge mechanism 10 engages with the indicator wheel 2 to rotate the indicator wheel 2. In the rest position, the hinge mechanism 10 moves away from the indicator wheel 2.

[0042] In the rest position, the hinge mechanism 10 cannot rotate the indicator wheel 2, and the indicator wheel 2 will not rotate.

[0043] In this example, the link 3 includes an elongated body, such as a rectangular body, equipped with two protrusions 14 and 15, which are arranged on one surface of the link 3, one at each end.

[0044] The hinge mechanism 10 includes a pawl 8, which is rotatably mounted on a protrusion 15 at the first end of the connecting rod 3, so that the pawl 8 can rotate about the protrusion 15.

[0045] The pawl 8 is also rotatably mounted about a pivot, which is preferably fixed relative to the movement plate. For this purpose, the pawl 8 includes two holes: a first hole for mounting the protrusion 15 and a second hole 12 for mounting the pivot, about which the pawl 8 can rotate. This pivot is, for example, constituted by a protrusion or a limiting screw inserted into the second hole 12.

[0046] The pawl 8 also includes a beak 16 that can be inserted into the teeth 17 on the indicator wheel 2 to rotate the indicator wheel 2. The beak rotates toward the indicator wheel 2.

[0047] When link 3 moves from the rest position to the calibration position, link 3 moves in a basically linear motion, or even in a straight line. Pad 8, propelled by link 3, rotates about both the protrusion 15 on link 3 and the pivot, which is preferably fixed relative to the watch movement. Therefore, when link 3 is in the calibration position, the beak 16 on pad 8 descends to engage with the teeth 17 on the indicator wheel 2, thereby rotating the indicator wheel 2.

[0048] To move the connecting rod 3, the correction device 1 includes a cam actuator 4 that engages with the connecting rod 3 so that when the cam actuator 4 is actuated, it pushes the connecting rod 3 from a rest position to a correction position. The cam actuator 4 is equipped with teeth 21 configured to engage with a beak 22 disposed at the second end of the connecting rod 3. The cam actuator 4 is rotatably disposed at the rear of the connecting rod 3.

[0049] The correction device 1 includes a link spring 7 that applies a restoring force to the link 3 to return it from the correction position to the rest position. The link spring 7 also includes a flexible curved blade connected at one end to the second tailstock 11, and presses against the protrusion 14 on the inside of the link 3 to push the link 3 to its second rest position. The second tailstock 11 includes a fastener 23 for assembling the second tailstock 11 onto the movement.

[0050] The protrusion 14 can also be used to guide the connecting rod 3. The protrusion 14 is movable, for example, moving within a slot in an auxiliary plate not shown in the figure.

[0051] For example, the calibration device 1 is integrated into the watch movement 10 to calibrate the date display. The calibration is performed by the user using the winding stem, which is not shown in the figure.

[0052] The longitudinal movement of the upper shank shaft directly or indirectly causes the intermediate correction wheel 25 to move to a specific position (typically the middle position in a three-position mechanism), which meshes with the sliding pinion assembly 29 to actuate the cam motion element 4.

[0053] Clockwise rotation of the upper winding shaft causes the intermediate alignment wheel 25 to rotate counterclockwise, the sliding pinion assembly 29 to rotate clockwise, and the cam motion component 4 to rotate counterclockwise. The cam motion component 4 thus drives the connecting rod 3 and the pawl 8 to move and act on the indicator wheel 2 according to the above method. Therefore, each time the teeth on the cam motion component push the connecting rod 3, the indicator wheel 2 is aligned in a stepwise manner.

[0054] Of course, the correction device according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art can conceive of various simple modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A calibration device (1) for calibrating an indication provided by a display mechanism of a watch movement equipped with a display mechanism, the display mechanism including an indicator wheel (2) capable of changing the indication by actuating the indicator wheel (2), the calibration device (1) including a movable hinge mechanism (10), characterized in that, The hinge mechanism (10) includes a link (3) that can move between two positions: a calibration position and a rest position. In the calibration position, the hinge mechanism (10) engages with the indicator wheel (2) to rotate the indicator wheel. In the rest position, the hinge mechanism (10) moves away from the indicator wheel (2).

2. The calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge mechanism (10) includes a pawl (8) which is rotatably mounted at the first end of the link (3).

3. The calibration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pawl (8) can also move around the pivot (12).

4. The calibration device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The pawl (8) includes a beak (16) configured such that when the articulation mechanism (10) is in the corrected position, the beak (16) is at least partially inserted into the teeth (17) on the indicator wheel (2) to rotate the indicator wheel (2).

5. The calibration device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The correction device includes a cam motion element (4), which engages the connecting rod (3) when actuated, so as to push the connecting rod (3) from the rest position to the correction position.

6. The calibration device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cam motion element (4) has teeth (21) configured to engage with a beak (22) located at the second end of the connecting rod (3).

7. The calibration device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The correction device includes a link spring (7) that applies a restoring force to the link (3) to return the link (3) from the correction position to the rest position.

8. The calibration device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The correction device includes a jumper (5) which is used to position the indicator wheel (2) and prevent the indicator wheel (2) from rotating when it is not actuated by the hinge mechanism (10). The jumper (5) is designed to be inserted into the teeth (17) on the indicator wheel (2) to lock the indicator wheel (2).

9. The calibration device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The correction device includes a jumper spring (6) that applies a restoring force to the jumper (5) to keep the jumper (5) against the indicator wheel (2).

10. The calibration device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The correction device extends substantially within the same plane.

11. The calibration device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The display mechanism is: a moon phase display, a date display, a weekday display, a month display, a tide display, or a time zone display.

12. A watch movement, characterized in that, The watch movement includes a correction device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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