Timepiece movement comprising a ringing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising a time telling device, the time telling device is provided with an anti-springback device, and the anti-springback device is configured in a way that after a sound hammer hits a gong every time, only one time of partial springback is generated, and the sound hammer does not touch the vibrating gong due to the springback, so that the sound production quality generated by hitting is not influenced. The anti-rebound device is configured to be alternatable in the following two configurations:-a first configuration in which the anti-rebound device is capable of preventing rotation of the hammer body of the hammer towards the gong in a first rotational direction before the hammer body may contact the gong, the rotation starting at least a first intermediate position between a rest position and a limit position in which the hammer is energized; -a second configuration in which the anti-rebound means neither prevents nor slows down the rotation of the hammer in the first rotational direction between a limit position of the hammer body and a contact position in contact with the gong, as long as the anti-rebound means is in the second configuration when the hammer body moves past a second intermediate position between the rest position and the limit position.

Description

Abstract The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising a striking mechanism provided with a rebound-prevention device, the rebound-prevention device being configured such that, after each strike of a gong by a hammer, the hammer undergoes only a single partial rebound, and the hammer is prevented from contacting the vibrating gong as a result of said rebound, thereby avoiding any adverse effect on the sound quality produced by the strike. The rebound-prevention device is configured to alternately assume the following two configurations: – a first configuration, in which the rebound- prevention device is capable of preventing rotation of the hammer head of the hammer, in a first direction of rotation towards the gong, before the hammer head can come into contact with the gong, said rotation being initiated from at least a first intermediate position located between a rest position and a limit position in which energy is stored in the hammer; and – a second configuration, in which the rebound- prevention device neither prevents nor slows the rotation of the hammer in the first direction of rotation between the limit position of the hammer head and a contact position in which the hammer head is in contact with the gong, provided that the rebound-prevention device is in the second configuration when the hammer head moves past a second intermediate position located between the rest position and the limit position.

Claims

1. A mechanism (2, 42) including a striking device (4, 44), the striking device comprising a reed (10), a hammer (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7) rotatable about a first rotation axis (14), and a drive spring (12) for driving the hammer to rotate, the hammer having a hammer body (8) having a striking beak (9) disposed in a region away from the first rotation axis, the drive spring being arranged to apply a driving force to the hammer body of the hammer, thereby causing the hammer body to rotate in a first rotation direction, so that the striking beak approaches the reed and allows the striking beak to strike the reed, the striking device (4, 44) comprising a mechanism (2, 42) including a reed (10), a hammer (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7) rotatable about a first rotation axis (14), and a drive spring (12) for driving the hammer to rotate, the hammer having a striking beak (9) disposed in a region away from the first rotation axis, the drive spring being arranged to apply a driving force to the hammer body of the hammer, thereby causing the hammer body to rotate in a first rotation direction, so that the striking beak approaches the reed and allows the striking beak to strike the reed, the striking device (4, 44) comprising a reed (10), a hammer (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7) rotatable about a first rotation axis (14), and a drive spring (12) for driving the hammer to rotate, the hammer having a striking beak (9) rotatable about a first rotation axis (14), the hammer (10 ... 44) Includes a hammer actuation mechanism for winding the hammer from the resting position of the hammer body where the striking beak is separated from the reed, causing the hammer body to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to the limit position of the hammer body, thereby storing energy in the drive spring, and then releasing the hammer so that the hammer can strike the reed under the action of the driving force; Its features are, The timekeeping device also includes anti-rebound devices (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 45), which are arranged to alternately function as follows: - In a first configuration, the anti-rebound device prevents the hammer body of the hammer from moving along the first rotational direction before the striking beak can contact the reed, the movement initiating at least a first intermediate position between the rest position and the limit position of the hammer body, regardless of whether the reed is vibrating; and - A second configuration, different from the first configuration, in which the anti-rebound device does not prevent the hammer from rotating along the first rotation direction from the extreme position of the hammer body to the contact position, the contact position being the position where the striking beak contacts the sound spring, provided that the anti-rebound device is in the second configuration when the hammer body passes through a second intermediate position between the rest position and the extreme position; the anti-rebound device does not impede the hammer body of the hammer body at least between the second intermediate position and the contact position, preferably between the extreme position and the contact position; The timekeeping device is arranged such that the hammer body of the striking hammer undergoes a return motion after each strike, the return motion rising at least to the first intermediate position without reaching the extreme position; and the timekeeping device is arranged such that: - When the hammer is at rest and the hammer body is therefore in the rest position, the anti-rebound device remains in the first configuration; - Whenever the hammer is wound by the hammer actuation mechanism or after the hammer is released and before the hammer body (8) reaches the second intermediate position, the anti-rebound device switches to the second configuration; - Subsequently, during the return motion of the hammer body, the anti-rebound device returns to the first configuration; - Thereafter, the anti-rebound device remains in the first configuration until the hammer stops again or is wound again by the hammer actuation mechanism; Therefore, the hammer bounces only once after each strike.

2. The movement according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anti-rebound device includes an anti-rebound component (20, 20a) and a first limiting member (33, 46). The anti-rebound component is rotatably mounted on the hammer body (8) of the hammer (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7) about a second rotation axis (22). The first limiting member (33, 46) is mounted on the support member (3) of the hammer and is arranged such that: - When the anti-rebound component is in the second position or the second position range relative to the hammer body when the hammer body moves through the second intermediate position, and the anti-rebound device is therefore in the second configuration, the anti-rebound component (20, 20a) does not contact the first limiting member (33, 46) when the hammer body (8) rotates between the limit position and the contact position; - When the anti-rebound component is in a first position or a first position range relative to the hammer body of the sound hammer, and the anti-rebound device (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 45) is therefore in the first configuration, the rotational movement of the hammer body of the sound hammer along the first rotation direction from at least the first intermediate position below the limit position is stopped by the anti-rebound component abutting against the first limiting member (33, 46); and - When the hammer is at rest, the anti-rebound component presses against the first limiting member.

3. The movement according to claim 2, characterized in that, The anti-rebound device (5, 5a, 5b) includes flexible members (24, 24a, 24b) fixed to the hammer body (8), the flexible members having recesses (26, 27, ...). In part 27a), the recess has a non-tangential orientation relative to the second rotation axis (22), and preferably is closer in the angular direction to a radial line passing through a point at the bottom of the recess than to a tangential line passing through the bottom of the recess. The recess defines a stable position of the anti-rebound member (20), which includes a support member (28) against which the flexible member can press. The support member is arranged such that when the anti-rebound member is in the stable position, the support member can be at least partially received in the recess with substantially no clearance, and under the action of a torque on the anti-rebound member, the support member can elastically move the portion of the flexible member to disengage from the recess. When the anti-rebound member is in the stable position defined by the recess of the flexible member, the anti-rebound member is in the first position or the second position. The portion of the flexible member forming the recess is configured such that when the recess defines the first position, the anti-rebound member (20) can switch to the second position or a second position range under the action of the torque. When the recess defines the second position, the anti-rebound component can switch to the first position or the first position range under the action of the torque.

4. The movement according to claim 3, characterized in that, The recess (27a) is configured to have a sidewall (27b) that forms a limiting surface for the support (28) and the limiting surface acts in a rotational direction along the anti-rebound member (20) that is opposite to the rotational direction that allows the anti-rebound member to be moved to the second position or the second position interval, or to the first position or the first position interval.

5. The movement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the portion of the flexible member is a first portion, and the recess (26) is a first recess; characterized in that, The flexible member (24a, 24b) further includes a second portion forming a second recess (27, 27a), the second recess having a non-tangential orientation relative to the second axis of rotation, and preferably being closer in the angular direction to a radial line passing through a point at the bottom of the second recess than to a tangential line passing through the bottom of the second recess. The second recess defines a second stable position of the anti-rebound member. The flexible member is arranged such that when the anti-rebound member is in the second stable position, the support member can be at least partially received in the second recess with substantially no clearance, and under the action of a second torque opposite to the torque acting on the anti-rebound member, the support member allows the second portion of the flexible member to elastically move to disengage from the second recess. When the support member is alternately received in the first recess and the second recess, the first recess defines a first position of the anti-rebound member, the second recess defines a second position of the anti-rebound member, and the second portion of the flexible member is configured such that the anti-rebound member can move to the first position under the action of the second torque.

6. The movement according to claim 2, characterized in that, The anti-rebound device includes flexible members (24, 48) fixed to the hammer body and having sections (25, 25a) capable of applying a restoring force generated by the compressed flexible members to the support members (28) included in the anti-rebound component (20, 20a) in a tangential direction relative to the second rotation axis (22), thereby causing the anti-rebound component to rotate in the tangential direction; the hammer body also has second limiting members (30, 31) arranged to prevent the anti-rebound component from rotating in the tangential direction when the anti-rebound component is in the first position or the second position.

7. The movement according to claim 6, characterized in that, The flexible members (24, 48) are arranged such that the restoring force applied by the section (25, 25a) to the support (28) can return the anti-rebound member to the first or second position defined by the second limiting member, and the restoring force continues to act when the anti-rebound member is already in the first or second position.

8. The movement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the section (25) is a first section, and the restoring force is a first restoring force; characterized in that, The flexible member (24c) further includes a second section (25a) capable of applying a second restoring force to the support member (28) in a second tangential direction opposite to the tangential direction, thereby causing the anti-rebound member (20) to rotate in the second tangential direction. The hammer body has a third limiting member (31) arranged to prevent the anti-rebound member from rotating in the second tangential direction when the anti-rebound member is in the second position or the first position.

9. The movement according to claim 8, characterized in that, The flexible member (24c) is arranged such that the second restoring force applied by the second section (25a) on the support can restore the anti-rebound member to the second position or the first position defined by the third limiting member (31), and the restoring force continues to act when the anti-rebound member is already in the first position or the second position.

10. The movement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The flexible member (24) has a section (25) that can apply a restoring force generated by the compressed flexible member to the support member (28) in a tangential direction relative to the second rotation axis (22). The hammer body includes a second limiting member (30) arranged such that: when the recess (26) defines the first position, the second limiting member can prevent the anti-rebound member (20) from rotating in the tangential direction to the second position of the anti-rebound member; and when the recess defines the second position, the second limiting member can prevent the anti-rebound member from rotating in the tangential direction to the first position of the anti-rebound member.

11. The movement according to claim 10, characterized in that, The flexible member (24) is arranged such that when the anti-rebound member (20) is in the second position or the first position, the segment (25) continues to apply a restoring force to the support member (28).

12. The movement according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The recess (26) defines the second position, and the second limiting member (30) defines the first position.

13. The movement according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that, The anti-rebound device (5) is arranged such that the anti-rebound component (20) switches from the first position or the first position interval to the second position or the second position interval during the process of the hammer (6) being wound by the hammer drive mechanism, that is, between the maximum position of the return movement and the extreme position of the hammer body (8).

14. The movement according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that, The anti-rebound component (20, 20a) has a center of mass (CM) that is a distance from the second rotation axis (22), and the anti-rebound component has a contact surface (21a) that engages with the first limiting member (33, 46). This contact surface is configured to prevent the hammer body (8) of the sound hammer (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7) from rotating in the first rotation direction from at least the first intermediate position when the anti-rebound device (20) is in the first configuration, and to keep the hammer body in the rest position when the sound hammer is in the resting state.

15. The movement according to claim 14, characterized in that, The anti-rebound device (45) is arranged such that the anti-rebound component (20a) switches from the first position or a first position interval to the second position or a second position interval after the hammer (7) is released and before the hammer body (8) reaches the second intermediate position; the anti-rebound component is arranged such that, in the first position or the first position interval, the center of mass is a distance away from a geometric line passing through the second rotation axis (22) and perpendicular to the line connecting the first rotation axis (14) and the second rotation axis; the anti-rebound component is subjected to a first apparent torque relative to the hammer body, the first apparent torque being... The apparent torque originates from the driving force exerted on the hammer body by the drive spring (12), resulting in the acceleration of the hammer body, and thus the acceleration of the anti-rebound component at the second rotation axis; the anti-rebound device is arranged such that the first apparent torque drives the anti-rebound component to rotate to the second position or the second position range and remains in the second position or the second position range until one end of the contact surface (21a) of the anti-rebound component moves past the limiting surface (46a) of the first limiting member (46) during the rotation of the hammer body (8) between the extreme position and the contact position.

16. The movement according to claim 15, 6, or 7, characterized in that, The second limiting member (30) defines a first position of the anti-rebound member (20a); and the first apparent torque on the anti-rebound member is opposite to the torque generated by the reset force, and the flexible member (48) is arranged such that the reset force can only reset the anti-rebound member to the first position or the first position range after one end of the contact surface (21a) of the anti-rebound member passes the stop surface (46a) of the first limiting member (46) during the rotation of the hammer body between the limit position and the contact position, and before the hammer body (8) of the sound hammer (7) reaches the maximum position of the return movement during the return movement.

17. The movement according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that, The anti-rebound component (20) switches from the second position or the second position interval to the first position or the first position interval, and remains in the first position or the first position interval until the single partial rebound ends, triggered by the hammer body (8) of the sound hammer striking the sound spring; The anti-rebound component is arranged such that, in the second position or the second position interval, the center of mass is a distance away from a geometric line passing through the second rotation axis (22) and perpendicular to the line connecting the first rotation axis (14) and the second rotation axis; When the striking beak (9) stops against the sound spring (10), the anti-rebound component is subjected to a second apparent torque relative to the hammer body due to the reaction force of the sound spring, and the anti-rebound component therefore rotates about the second rotation axis. The anti-rebound device is arranged such that the second apparent torque drives the anti-rebound component to rotate to the first position or the first position range, and remains in the first position or the first position range during the return movement of the hammer body.

18. The movement according to claim 17, characterized in that, The first limiting member (33) is supported by a flexible strip (32) and configured such that during the return movement of the hammer (8) along the second rotation direction, the first limiting member can retract instantaneously under the action of the anti-rebound component (20) that momentarily presses against the first limiting member.

19. The movement according to any one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that, The first limiting member (46) is fixed. When the hammer (8) reaches or moves past the first intermediate position, the anti-rebound component (20a) switches from the second position or the second position interval to the first position or the first position interval during the return movement. The anti-rebound component will then remain in the first position or the first position interval until the single partial rebound ends.

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