Striking mechanism with a flexible translation guide

Abstract

The invention relates to a striking mechanism (1) for a watch movement comprising a vibrating element (11) and a striking device (12) for said vibrating element (11), the striking device (12) comprising a movable hammer (13) to strike the vibrating element (11), and a flexible guide (5) from which the movable hammer (13) is suspended, said striking mechanism (10) being characterized in that the flexible guide (5) comprises at least two flexible blades, preferably two pairs (15, 25) of flexible blades (22, 23), the blades or pairs (15, 25) of blades (22, 23) being arranged laterally on either side of the hammer 13, the blades (22, 23) extending in the plane of movement of the hammer (13), so that the movement of the hammer (13) is in translation, preferably substantially rectilinear.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention falls within the field of watch movement complications, and in particular the striking mechanisms of a watch.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a ringing mechanism with a flexible guide.

[0003] Such a ringing mechanism can be adapted to any type of ringing, such as a quarter repeater, minute repeater, loud ring, small ring or alarm. Technological background

[0004] Watch striking mechanisms are known to include a hammer designed to strike a vibrating element, such as a gong.

[0005] In particular, the hammer is constrained in movement towards the vibrating element by a spring and is cocked, that is to say held away from the gong, by an activation mechanism, such as a lift or other dedicated mechanism.

[0006] Generally, the vibrating element extends along a curvilinear direction within the watch case, for example, around a central axis of the case. When the hammer strikes the vibrating element, the hammer generates forces on the element, causing it to vibrate and, consequently, producing the chime. These forces have a normal component and a tangential component, the latter characterizing the friction of the hammer on the vibrating element.

[0007] In particular, the vibration of the vibrating element is essentially generated by the normal component of the forces applied by the hammer, hence the need to control and maximize this normal component to control the effectiveness of the impact of the hammer on the vibrating element and the sound produced by this impact.

[0008] New striking mechanisms have been devised, featuring a flexible guide comprising at least one flexible blade from which the hammer is suspended. The hammer is mobile, striking the vibrating element by deforming the flexible guide, which also acts as a return spring.

[0009] Patent applications EP4310604 and EP4310605 describe examples of striking mechanisms with flexible guidance. In these documents, the hammer rotates to strike the vibrating element.

[0010] However, with rotation, the hammer does not move in a direction exactly perpendicular to the surface of the bell when it strikes it. Consequently, a loss of sound intensity is observed in the striking mechanism, as the energy transmitted to the bell is not optimal. Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention resolves the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing, for this purpose, a striking mechanism for a clock movement, the striking mechanism comprising a vibrating element and a striking device for said vibrating element, the striking device comprising a movable hammer to strike the vibrating element, and a flexible guide to which the hammer is suspended.

[0012] The invention is remarkable in that the flexible guide comprises at least two flexible blades, preferably two pairs of flexible blades, the blades or pairs of blades being arranged laterally on either side of the hammer, the blades extending in the plane of movement of the hammer, so that the movement of the hammer is carried out in translation, preferably substantially rectilinear.

[0013] Thus, thanks to this configuration, the hammer moves in a direction normal to the point of contact with the vibrating element when it strikes it, thereby improving the impact of the hammer on the vibrating element.

[0014] Indeed, the hammer makes a linear translational movement, preferably substantially rectilinear, to strike the vibrating element.

[0015] Furthermore, the hammer is held securely by such a flexible guide.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the flexible blades are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hammer in the rest position of the striking device.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the flexible blades of the same pair are substantially parallel.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the pairs of blades are arranged symmetrically with respect to the direction of movement of the hammer.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the two pairs of blades are substantially collinear in the rest position of the striking device.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the flexible guide comprises two supports, each pair being connected to a different support.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, one of the supports includes at least one oblong hole, for positioning the hammer relative to the snare horizontally and laterally.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the striking mechanism includes means for cocking the striking device configured to move the hammer away from the vibrating element in order to give it momentum to strike the gong

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the cocking means comprise a block arranged on the hammer, and a movable, rotating lever for moving the hammer. According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the hammer and the flexible guide are one-piece. Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 schematically represents a top view of a bell mechanism comprising a striking device in a resting state, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; figure 2 schematically represents a view from below of the bell mechanism of the figure 1 . Detailed description of the invention

[0025] There figure 1shows a striking mechanism 1 of a watch movement in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0026] The ringing mechanism 1 includes a vibrating element 11 and a striking device 12 intended to strike said vibrating element 11 in order to cause the production of a sound.

[0027] The vibrating element 11 is attached to a structure of the watch movement, for example to a bridge, a mainplate, etc., by a body 3 which here includes two holes 19 for screws or pins. The vibrating element 11 also includes a gong 2 which emits a sound when struck, and to which the body 3 is attached. The vibrating element 11 has a curved shape here to fit easily into a rounded watch case.

[0028] In addition, the striking device 12 includes a hammer 13 arranged in the curvature of the gong 2. The hammer 13 is mobile along a translational displacement, preferably substantially rectilinear, in order to strike the gong 2. The hammer 13 moves along an axis substantially perpendicular to the point of contact between the hammer 13 and the gong 2 in order to vibrate the vibrating element 11 as best as possible.

[0029] In this embodiment, the hammer 13 is substantially square and includes an outgrowth 21 arranged to come into contact with the stamp 2, when the hammer 13 is projected against the vibrating element 11. The hammer 13 is also provided with a pin 14 arranged on the body so as to be able to be moved.

[0030] The striking device 12 also includes a flexible guide 5 from which the hammer 13 is suspended.

[0031] Preferably, the hammer 13 moves in a plane corresponding to the plane defined by the stamp 2.

[0032] Alternatively, the hammer moves in a plane different from the plane defined by stamp 2.

[0033] The flexible guide 5 comprises several flexible blades 22, 23. The flexible blades 22, 23 have an elastic deformation capacity and are used in the present invention for guiding and driving the hammer 13.

[0034] According to the invention, the flexible guide 5 comprises two pairs 15, 25 of flexible blades arranged on either side of the hammer 13. Each pair 15, 25 comprises two blades 22, 23, preferably substantially parallel to each other.

[0035] Alternatively, in a variant not shown in the figures, the flexible guide comprises two flexible blades arranged on either side of the hammer. Thus, a single flexible blade is positioned on each side of the hammer instead of the pair of flexible blades shown in the figures.

[0036] Preferably, each blade 22, 23 has a substantially straight shape when the striking device 12 is in a rest state, i.e. in an equilibrium position.

[0037] Preferably, the flexible blades 22, 23 extend in the plane of movement of the hammer 13. The blades 22, 23 are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hammer 13.

[0038] The two pairs 15, 25 of flexible blades 22, 23 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the movable hammer 13.

[0039] Preferably, two flexible blades 22, 23 of each part 15, 25 are substantially collinear in the rest position of the flexible guide 5.

[0040] The flexible guide 5 includes two supports 4, 6, each pair of blades 15, 25 connecting one of the supports 4, 6 to the hammer 13. The supports 4, 6 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the direction of movement of the hammer 13.

[0041] One of the supports 4, 6 includes at least one oblong hole 18 for fitting a screw or pin, and thus for positioning the hammer 13 relative to the stamp 2, in particular to adjust the direction of movement of the hammer 13.

[0042] Preferably, both supports include at least one oblong hole 18, preferably two oblong holes for positioning the hammer 13 vertically and laterally.

[0043] The longitudinal axis of the oblong hole is substantially parallel to the blades 22, 23 of the flexible guide 5 in the rest position of the flexible guide 5.

[0044] The striking device 12 also includes cocking means 20 configured to move the hammer 13 away from the vibrating element 11 in order to give it momentum to strike the snare 2 by spring effect of the flexible blades 22, 23 of the flexible guide 5.

[0045] The arming means 20 include a rotating movable lift 8, the lift 8 cooperating with the stud 14 of the hammer 13 to push it away from the vibrating element, so as to force the pairs of blades 15, 25 to deform progressively, until they reach an arming state.

[0046] The lever 8 comprises a body whose periphery is fitted with a tooth 9 and a notch 7, as well as a hole to allow its rotation around an axis of rotation. The notch 7 is in contact with the stud 14 of the hammer 13.

[0047] The arming means 20 further include a rake 27 equipped with teeth 28 that cooperate with the tooth 9 of the lift 8 to allow the lift 8 to rotate. Thus, the rake meshes with the tooth 9 to rotate the lift 8 around its axis of rotation.

[0048] When the lift 8 rotates around its axis, the notch 7 pushes the stud 14 to move the hammer 13 away from the vibrating element 11.

[0049] In doing so, the stud 14 slides along the notch 7 until it is released from the notch 7. Thus, the hammer 13 is released, so that the flexible guide 5 brings the hammer 13 back against the vibrating element 11, in order to produce a sound.

[0050] The cocking means 20 are activated in response to the passage of a predefined time value of the current time or upon instruction from a user. Thus, the cocking means release the hammer 13 which is then, under the effect of the elastic restoring force of the blades 22, 23, driven into percussion against the vibrating element 11, the striking device 12 being then in a percussion state.

[0051] The cocking means 20 include a return spring 24 for the lift 8, to return it to its initial position after the strike of the gong 2 by the hammer 13. In particular so that the notch 7 remains in contact with the stud 14 of the hammer 13 during the process.

[0052] Thus, the lever 8 is again able to repel the hammer 13 for another strike. The return spring 24 is here a blade that bears against a pin 26 arranged on one face of the lever 8.

[0053] Preferably, when the hammer 13 is in the rest position, a safety distance is arranged between the hammer 13 and the vibrating element 11, to avoid an unwanted shock.

[0054] Preferably, the flexible guide 5 and the hammer 13 are one-piece units. This makes the striking device 12 particularly simple to manufacture, and its production cost is kept down. Furthermore, the mechanism is not susceptible to power loss during percussion due to any mechanical play that might exist if the striking device 12 were made by assembling various parts.

[0055] In particular, the striking device 12 can be made of amorphous metal, for example by molding or hot forming, or of nickel or nickel phosphorus, for example by LIGA process.

[0056] Alternatively, the striking device 12, and in particular the blades 22 and 23, can be made of silicon, for example by dry etching, and more specifically by deep reactive ion etching, a manufacturing method known as such to those skilled in the art by the acronym DRIE, meaning Deep Rective Ion Etching. The blades 22 and 23 can, again alternatively, be made of steel and formed by laser machining, in particular by femtosecond lasers, or by electrical discharge machining (EDM).

[0057] In particular, the hammer 13 may include one or more masses made of a metallic material, for example tungsten, gold or steel, to which the blades 22, 23 are attached by pressing, gluing, screw or pin.

[0058] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures, and variations could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, additional blades could be added in addition to the pairs of flexible blades arranged on the sides of the hammer.

Claims

1. Striking mechanism (1) for a clock movement, the striking mechanism (1) comprising a vibrating element (11) and a striking device (12) for said vibrating element (11), the striking device (12) comprising a movable hammer (13) for striking the vibrating element (11), and a flexible guide (5) from which the movable hammer (13) is suspended, said striking mechanism (1) being characterized in that The flexible guide (5) comprises at least two flexible blades, preferably two pairs (15, 25) of flexible blades (22, 23), the blades or pairs (15, 25) of blades (22, 23) being arranged laterally on either side of the hammer 13, the blades (22, 23) extending in the plane of movement of the hammer (13), so that the movement of the hammer (13) is in translation, preferably substantially rectilinear.

2. Ringing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the flexible blades (22, 23) are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hammer (13) in the rest position of the striking device (12).

3. Ringing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible blades (22, 23) of the same pair (15, 25) are substantially parallel.

4. A ringing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pairs (15, 25) of blades (22, 23) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the direction of movement of the hammer (13).

5. A ringing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two pairs (15, 25) of blades (22, 23) are substantially collinear in the rest position of the striking device (12).

6. Ringing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible guide (5) comprises two supports (4, 6), each pair (15, 25) being connected to a different support (4, 6).

7. A ringing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the supports (6) includes at least one oblong hole 18, arranged substantially parallel to the blades (22, 23) of the flexible guide (5) in the rest position, for positioning the hammer 13 relative to the bell 2.

8. A ringing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for cocking (20) the striking device (12) configured to move the hammer (12) away from the vibrating element (11) in order to give it momentum to strike the gong (2).

9. Ringing mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the winding means (20) comprise a stud (14) arranged on the hammer (13), and a rotating movable lift (8) to move the hammer (13).

10. A striking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hammer (13) and the flexible guide (5) are one piece, for example made of silicon.

11. Clockwork movement, characterized in that it includes a ringing mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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