Timepiece mechanism for the successive display of a sequence of time information

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece mechanism (10) with instantaneous jump for the successive display of a sequence of time information. The mechanism comprises a wheel (12) connected directly or indirectly to a display comprising said sequence of information, a jumper (14) engaged with the wheel (12), a cam (40) arranged to rotate 360° during a determined period, a lever (20) comprising a cam follower (28) as well as a constraint member (30) arranged to force the cam follower (28) against the cam (40). The profile of the cam (40) is determined so as to pivot the lever (20) in a first direction of pivoting and then cause the lever (20) to jump instantaneously in an opposite direction of pivoting. The lever (20) further comprises a pinion (24) mounted so as to be free to rotate and configured to be, at least temporarily, engaged with the wheel (12) and engaged with a pawl (26) allowing the pinion (24) to rotate in only one direction. The rotation of the pinion (24) at the periphery of the wheel (12) is caused by the pivoting of the lever (20) in the first direction of pivoting while the wheel (12) is driven through a predefined angular pitch increment via the pinion (24) locked by the pawl (26) during the instantaneous jump of the lever (20) in the opposite direction of pivoting.

Description

Clock mechanism for the successive display of a sequence of time information Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking and more particularly to an instantaneous jump mechanism for the successive display of a sequence of time information as well as to a corrector intended to correct the time information displayed at all times. The instantaneous jump mechanism and the corrector are particularly well suited for the display and correction of a date comprising a first and a second indicator on which are affixed figures indicating respectively the units and the tens of the date. State of the art

[0002] The so-called large date mechanisms are well known. The first and second indicators, indicating the units and tens of the date respectively, are driven by a programming wheel. This wheel is arranged to drive the first indicator by one step at the end of every day except the end of the thirty-first day, when it is not driven, and the second indicator by one step at the end of the ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth, and thirty-first days of the month.

[0003] This programming wheel carries a wheel of thirty-one teeth, called the date wheel, which is known to be driven by the beak of a lever controlled in turn either by the watch movement or by a pusher manually operated by a user to correct the date. In both cases, the date is changed when the beak of the lever enters between two teeth of the date wheel and advances the latter by one step.

[0004] A disadvantage of this type of mechanism lies in the risk of one of the indicators running away, particularly during date correction using a pusher whose manually applied force is not always constant. The date wheel and the programming wheel can thus drive either the tens indicator or the units indicator beyond the desired rotation angle by a single step in the case of excessive force applied to the pusher, resulting in a progression of two units instead of just one.

[0005] EP1960844 discloses a mechanism for driving a date display intended to overcome this drawback. This mechanism comprises for this purpose two indicators on which are affixed numbers indicating respectively the units and tens of the date, a programming wheel arranged to drive the two indicators as well as a lever comprising a beak. The programming wheel is integral with a date wheel provided with thirty-one teeth which is arranged to be driven by the beak of the beak to advance the date wheel by one step during a date change. The beak of the beak is engaged between first and second teeth of the date wheel. At the moment of the date change, the beak is first disengaged from the first and second teeth to then fall between second and third teeth of the date wheel and thus advance the latter by a single step.

[0006] An aim of the present invention is to propose a clockwork mechanism, according to an alternative solution, for the successive display of a sequence of time information, and configured to drive a wheel connected directly or indirectly to a display comprising said sequence of information.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to propose an instantaneous jump clock mechanism for the successive display of a sequence of time information configured to allow, at any time, the correction of the time information displayed. Brief summary of the invention

[0008] At least some of these aims are achieved by an instantaneous jump clockwork mechanism for the successive display of a sequence of time information. The mechanism comprises a wheel directly or indirectly connected to a display comprising said sequence of information, a jumper engaged with the wheel, a cam arranged to rotate 360° during a determined period, a lever comprising a cam follower and a constraining member arranged to constrain the cam follower against the cam. The profile of the cam is determined to pivot the lever in a first pivoting direction and then cause an instantaneous jump of the lever in an opposite pivoting direction. The lever further comprises a pinion mounted to rotate freely and configured to be, at least temporarily, engaged with the wheel and engaged with a pawl allowing the pinion to rotate in only one direction.The rotation of the pinion at the periphery of the wheel is caused by the pivoting of the rocker in the first pivoting direction while the driving of the wheel by a predefined angular step is achieved by means of the pinion locked by the ratchet during the instantaneous jump of the rocker in the opposite pivoting direction.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the pinion is configured to permanently mesh with the wheel.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the pinion is configured to be permanently engaged with the ratchet.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the wheel is a toothed wheel. The predefined angular pitch corresponds to the angular pitch of the toothed wheel or to a multiple of the angular pitch of the toothed wheel, namely to the angular pitch of the teeth of the wheel or to a multiple of this pitch.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the rocker comprises a beak arranged to lock the wheel after the instantaneous jump of the rocker.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the clockwork mechanism further comprises a corrector that can be actuated in movement and comprising a correction member arranged to actuate the wheel in rotation. The corrector further comprises an actuating part intended to act on an actuable part of the lever to disengage the beak of the lever from the wheel before the correction member actuates the wheel in rotation.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the correction member comprises a beak arranged to actuate the wheel, a flexible blade and a rigid portion connecting the flexible blade to the beak. The flexible blade and the beak bear against respectively a first and a second bearing portion of the corrector.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the correction member is pivotally mounted on the corrector so that the beak can follow the angular displacement of a tooth of the wheel, under the action of the force exerted by the wheel and by the bending of the flexible blade.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the correction member is a single-piece unit.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the corrector can be actuated in translation.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to a date system comprising the watch mechanism according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, for displaying the date. For this purpose, the wheel has 31 teeth while the cam is arranged to rotate 360° every 24 hours.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the display comprises a first and a second indicator respectively comprising the units and the tens of the date.

[0020] Another aspect of the invention relates to a watch movement comprising the watch mechanism according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, or the aforementioned date system, as well as to a timepiece comprising such a movement. Brief description of the figures

[0021] Examples of implementations of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: - figure 1 illustrates a top view of an instantaneous jump clock mechanism comprising a corrector for displaying and correcting the date of the month, according to a preferred form of the invention; - Figures 2a to 2e illustrate an operational sequence of the instantaneous jump mechanism of Figure 1 without the corrector for incrementing the date display by one unit, and - figures 3a to 3c represent three sequential views of the mechanism of figure 1 during a correction of the date display. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0022] With reference to Figure 1, the watch mechanism 10 is preferably intended for a date mechanism of a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch. For this purpose, the watch mechanism 10 comprises a wheel 12 with 31 teeth, called the date wheel, intended to be connected to at least one disc for displaying the date. Preferably, the date wheel 12 is integral with a programming wheel set (not shown) arranged to actuate in rotation a first and a second indicator comprising respectively the units and the tens of the date.

[0023] The date wheel 12 is engaged with a jumper 14 as well as with a pinion 24 mounted on a lever 20 with instantaneous jump. The pinion 24 is mounted around an axis or a pin 25. This pinion cooperates with a pawl 26 which is integral with the lever 20. The pawl 26 cooperates with return means which are for example in the form of a leaf spring 27 which is typically integral with the lever 20. According to the example illustrated by the appended figures, this pawl is adapted to allow, on the one hand, the rotation of the pinion 24 around the pin 25 in the clockwise direction and, on the other hand, to prevent the rotation of the pinion 24 in the counterclockwise direction. The lever 20 further comprises a beak 22 intended to be inserted between two teeth of the date wheel 12 in order to lock the latter in rotation after each instantaneous jump of the lever 20.

[0024] The pinion 24 is preferably configured to be permanently engaged, on the one hand, with the date wheel 12 and, on the other hand, with the pawl 26.

[0025] The clockwork mechanism 10 further comprises a cam 40 for actuating the lever 20 and for it to make an instantaneous jump every day at midnight. For this purpose, the cam 40 is arranged to be driven in rotation by the clockwork movement at a rate of one complete revolution per 24 hours. The cam 40 comprises, for example, a circular sector 40a, a vertex 40c, a transition sector 40b extending from the end of the circular sector 40a to the vertex 40c of the cam, and an inclined sector 40d extending from the vertex 40c of the cam to the beginning of the circular sector 40a.

[0026] The rocker 20 comprises a cam follower which may for example be in the form of a roller 28 pivotally mounted on the rocker. This roller 28 is held against the profile of the cam 40 under the action of a constraint member, for example a rocker spring 30 acting on the latter.

[0027] The watch mechanism 10 further comprises a corrector 50 arranged to be actuated in displacement, for example in translation in the direction represented by the arrow F, under the action of a force exerted by the user of the wristwatch on an actuable part 51 of the corrector, for example a pusher. The corrector 50 is arranged to return to a rest position under the action of return means (not illustrated) as soon as the user no longer acts on the actuable part 51.

[0028] The corrector 50 comprises a correction member 53 for actuating the wheel 12 in order to correct the date. This correction member 53 typically comprises a rigid arm 56 comprising at one end a beak 54 intended to bear against a tooth of the date wheel 12, a flexible blade 58 and a rigid portion 56 connecting the flexible blade 58 to the beak 54. A free end of the flexible blade 58 and the beak 54 bear against respectively a first and a second bearing portion 59a, 59b of the corrector 50. These bearing portions can for example be produced by two diametrically opposite sides of an element 59 secured to the corrector 50, this element typically being able to be a pin.

[0029] The rigid arm 56 and the flexible blade 58 of the correction member 53 are connected around a pivot 60 of the corrector 50 so that the beak 54 can follow the angular displacement of a tooth of the date wheel 12, under the action of the force exerted by the wheel 12 and by the bending of the flexible blade 58. Preferably, the correction member 53 is a single-piece part.

[0030] The corrector 50 further comprises an actuating part 52 intended to act on an actuable part 29 of the lever 20 to disengage the beak 22 of the lever from the date wheel 12 before the latter is actuated in rotation by the correction member 53. The actuating part may for example be in the form of a pin 52 while the actuable part of the lever may be in the form of an arm comprising the beak 22 and provided with a distal part comprising an inclined surface 29 bearing on the pin 52 under the action of the lever spring 30.

[0031] Normally, that is to say, without voluntary correction by the user, the date change is made instantly at midnight via the movement.

[0032] More particularly, with reference to the operational sequence of the mechanism illustrated by Figures 2a to 2e, the cam 40 is driven by the clockwork movement in a clockwise direction. When the roller 28 of the lever 20 moves along the circular sector 40a of the cam 40 (Figure 2a), the beak 22 is inserted between two teeth of the date wheel 12, thus locking the latter in rotation.

[0033] With regard to Figure 2b, when the roller 28 of the lever 20 moves along the transition sector 40b of the cam 40, the lever 20 pivots around its pivot axis 21 in the counterclockwise direction, which allows the beak 22 of the lever to be released from the date wheel 12. In this movement, the pinion 24, integral with the lever, moves relative to the date wheel 12 meshing with the latter in the clockwise direction. During this movement, the date wheel 12 remains immobilized by the jumper 14 while in this same movement the pawl 26 is pushed against the spring blade 27 by a tooth of the pinion 24.

[0034] The pawl 26 is thus pushed back until it jumps over the tooth of the pinion 24 which gives it this movement. Once the pawl 26 has passed over this tooth, it falls back behind it, into the teeth of the pinion, under the action of the leaf spring 27 as illustrated in figure 2c.

[0035] According to this figure, when the roller 28 of the lever 20 reaches the top 40c of the cam 40, the lever 20 is moved as far away as possible from the date wheel 12. Depending on the amplitude of movement of the lever 20 by the cam 40 and / or depending on the position of the pinion 24 on the lever, in particular relative to the axis of rotation of the latter, the pinion 24 could temporarily no longer be engaged with the wheel 12 when the lever is moved as far away as possible. This situation could more particularly occur after the pinion 24 has been immobilized by the fall of the pawl 26 and once the latter has just turned the pinion 24 by one tooth. The next instant, the roller 28 moves almost instantaneously along the inclined sector 40d of the cam 40, which causes the rocker 20 to jump into its initial position under the action of the rocker spring 30 as illustrated by figures 2d and 2e.During the jump of the lever 20, it pivots around its pivot axis 21 in a clockwise direction. The pinion 24, engaged with the date wheel 12, is at this moment blocked in rotation by the pawl 26 which is engaged with the teeth of the pinion 24. This allows. to rotate the date wheel 12 under the action of the pinion 24, thus lifting the jumper 14 until this jumper falls between the two following teeth of the date wheel in order to increase the date by one unit.

[0036] At the end of the jump of the lever 20, the beak 22 is inserted between two teeth of the date wheel 12 preventing the latter from performing any additional rotation which would create a double jump.

[0037] A manual correction of the date is carried out by pressure exerted by the user on the corrector 50 according to figures 3a to 3c. The corrector 50 makes it possible, at the start of its travel, to disengage the beak 22 from the date wheel 12 by acting on the lever 20, then to actuate the date wheel by one step when it reaches the end of its travel. More particularly, when a manual correction is initiated by pressure on the actuable part 51 of the corrector 50, the pin 52 slides on the inclined surface 29 of the distal part of the lever 20. This makes it possible to pivot the lever according to figure 3b around its pivot axis 21 in the counterclockwise direction in order to disengage the beak 22 from the date wheel 12 to allow the date correction. At this moment, the beak 54 of the correction member 53 is in contact with a tooth of the date wheel 12.

[0038] When the lever 20 is released from the date wheel 12, the corrector 50 continues its travel, which causes, under the action of the force exerted by the date wheel 12 on the beak 54, the rotation of the correction member 53. This rotation causes the flexion of the blade 58 which allows the beak 54 to follow the angular displacement of the tooth of the date wheel 12 as illustrated in figure 3c. When the corrector 50 returns to the rear position thanks to its return means (not shown), the constraint member 30 allows the lever to reposition itself and therefore the beak 22 to come between two teeth of the date wheel in order to lock it rotating here. This correction system can be activated at any time.

[0039] According to a non-illustrated variant, the watch mechanism may comprise a bidirectional correction mechanism comprising a correction gear train meshing with the date wheel and arranged to be driven clockwise and counterclockwise, for example, by the winding stem when the latter is brought into an axial position allowing the date to be corrected by means of the correction gear train. The correction mechanism further comprises a system for disengaging, on the one hand, the beak of the date wheel lever and, on the other hand, the pinion pawl, typically by the movement of the winding stem from the winding position to the axial date correction position. This allows the date wheel to be actuated in both directions for easy date correction.

[0040] The clockwork mechanism according to the above description is not limited to the display and correction of the date. Various modifications can in fact be made to the above embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. The clockwork mechanism can for example be modified in order to be able to display and correct in particular the days of the week and / or the months and / or the year. Reference list Instant jump mechanism 10 Wheel 12 Necklace 14 Toggle 20 Pivot axis 21 Beak 22 Pinion 24 Pin 25 Ratchet 26 Spring 27 Cam follower 28 Pebble Actuable part 29 (eg inclined distal part) Rocker spring 30 Came 40 Circular sector 40a Transition sector 40b Summit 40c 40d inclined sector Corrector 50 Actionable Part 51 Actuating part of the rocker 52 Pin Correction body 53 Beak 54 Rigid arm 56 Flexible blade 58 Element 59 (eg pin) Supporting portions 59a, 59b Pivot 60 (eg screw)

Claims

Claims 1. Instantaneous jump clockwork mechanism (10) for the successive display of a sequence of time information, comprising a wheel (12) connected directly or indirectly to a display comprising said sequence of information, a jumper (14) engaged with the wheel (12), a cam (40) arranged to rotate 360° during a determined period, a lever (20) comprising a cam follower (28) and a constraining member (30) arranged to constrain the cam follower (28) against the cam (40), the profile of the cam (40) being determined to pivot the lever (20) in a first pivoting direction and then cause an instantaneous jump of the lever (20) in an opposite pivoting direction, characterized in that the lever (20) further comprises a pinion (24) mounted free to rotate and configured to be, at least temporarily, engaged with the wheel (12) and engaged with a pawl (26) allowing rotation of the pinion (24) in only one direction,the rotation of the pinion (24) at the periphery of the wheel (12) being caused by the pivoting of the rocker (20) in the first pivoting direction while the driving of the wheel (12) by a predefined angular pitch being carried out by means of the pinion (24) blocked by the pawl (26) during the instantaneous jump of the rocker (20) in the opposite pivoting direction., 2. Clockwork mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pinion (24) is configured to permanently mesh with the wheel (12).

3. Clockwork mechanism (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pinion (24) is configured to be permanently engaged with the pawl (26).

4. Clockwork mechanism (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel (12) is a toothed wheel, said predefined angular pitch corresponding to the angular pitch of the toothed wheel or to a multiple of the angular pitch of the toothed wheel.

5. Clockwork mechanism (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (20) comprises a beak (22) arranged to lock the wheel (12) after the instantaneous jump of the lever.

6. Clockwork mechanism (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a corrector (50) operable in movement and comprising a correction member (53) arranged to actuate the wheel (12) in rotation, the corrector (50) further comprising an actuating part (52) intended to act on an actuable part (29) of the lever (20) to disengage the beak (22) of the lever from the wheel (12) before the wheel (12) is actuated in rotation by the correction member (53).

7. Clock mechanism (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the correction member (53) comprises a beak (54) arranged to actuate the wheel (12), a flexible blade (58) and a rigid portion (56) connecting the flexible blade (58) to the beak (54), the flexible blade (58) and the beak (54) bearing against respectively a first and a second bearing portion (59a, 59b) of the corrector (50).

8. Clock mechanism (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the correction member (53) is pivotally mounted on the corrector (50) so that the beak (54) can follow the angular displacement of a tooth of the wheel (12), under the action of the force exerted by the wheel (12) and by the bending of the flexible blade (58).

9. Clock mechanism (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the correction member (53) is in one piece.

10. Clock mechanism (10) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the corrector (50) can be actuated in translation.

11. Calendar system comprising the clockwork mechanism (10) according to one of the preceding claims for displaying the date, the wheel (12) comprising 31 teeth, the cam (40) being arranged to rotate 360° every 24 hours.

12. Date system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the display comprises a first and a second indicator respectively comprising the units and tens of the date.

13. Watch movement (10) comprising the watch mechanism (10), according to one of claims 1 to 10, or the date system according to claim 11 or 12.

14. Timepiece comprising the watch movement according to the preceding claim.

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