Clock display mechanism

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a timepiece display mechanism (100) having a first drive means (1) for rotating a first display gear set (10) according to a first pitch number to display a first magnitude, and a second drive means (2) for rotating a second display gear set (20) according to a second pitch number to display a second magnitude, the display mechanism (100) having coupling means (3) separate from the first drive means (1) and the second drive means (2) and configured to index the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) relative to each other and to ensure alignment of both display gear sets in an alignment direction (A) on a display area (30). The invention further relates to such a display mechanism (100), in particular a timepiece (1000) with a calendar mechanism, in particular a wristwatch.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece display mechanism having at least first drive means configured to rotate a first display gear set through a first number of pitches to display a first magnitude, and second drive means configured to rotate a second display gear set through a second number of pitches to display a second magnitude.

[0002] The invention further relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, having such a display mechanism, in particular a calendar mechanism.

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of timepiece display mechanisms. [Background technology]

[0004] In watch display mechanisms, the relative positioning of complementary displays has always been a difficult problem to solve, as any misalignment, no matter how slight, is very noticeable to the user.

[0005] For example, rotating date displays and the well-known big date display mechanisms usually consist of two separate displays, one for the units digit and one for the tens digit.

[0006] In these types of displays, lining up two hands to appear as a single display poses significant problems that must be overcome: each hand has its own mechanism for rotation and positioning, and relative positioning errors are not negligible. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to develop a novel display mechanism that combines multiple display gear sets and to solve the problem of aligning the pointer with the display area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To that end, the invention relates to a timepiece display mechanism as defined in claim 1.

[0009] The invention further relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, having at least one such display mechanism, in particular a calendar mechanism.

[0010] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front schematic diagram of a prior art big date-type display mechanism including two display gear sets (in this case, disks or rings). The display mechanism has a first display gear set displaying tens of units, which is partially covered by a second display gear set displaying tens. This second tens display gear set is a display not concentric with the first units display gear set and has four tens hands (0-1-2-3), each with an adjacent window through which the hand of the first units display gear set is visible. The tens hand "2" can be read in the display area, and the ones hand "9" can be read through the adjacent window. Naturally, to make the date easier for the user to read, only these two hands are visible through the windows, or through a transparent area of ​​the dial, or by any other means that highlights both hands. [Figure 2]This figure shows a similar display mechanism from Figure 1, but with an improved mechanism incorporating coupling means (in this case, but not limited to, a series of ferromagnetic members and a series of magnets). The first units display gear set has ten equally spaced ferromagnetic first coupling members identified with the letter "F," while the second tens display gear set has four equally spaced magnet second coupling members identified with the letter "U." This mechanism solves the problem of aligning the displays by combining only one of the ten ferromagnetic first coupling members with only one of the four magnet second coupling members, thereby stabilizing the display position. Generally speaking, the magnetic couplers described within the scope of this invention may be either a combination of ferromagnetic members facing a magnet (with random magnetization orientation) or a combination of magnets facing other magnets whose polarities must be synchronized to attract each other. [Figure 3] This figure, similar to Figure 2, shows a similarly improved mechanism based on a prior art big date display. It has a ten-units display, above which is a four-tens display with an equal number of apertures through which the pointer of the first units display gear set is visible (in this case, concentric with the ones display). Ten first connecting members formed of ferromagnetic members for the ones digits are positioned relative to four second connecting members formed of tens magnets. As before, if two second connecting members formed of tens magnets face two first connecting members formed of ferromagnetic members for the ones digits, the remaining two are offset by half a pitch and diametrically opposed to the first two, as can be seen through the aperture at 9 o'clock in the figure. Therefore, such relative guidance of the two display gear sets would be impossible if there were more than two tens magnets. This is because the number of ferromagnetic members in the first ones digit is not an integer multiple of the number of magnets in the second tens digit. [Figure 4]2 and 3 with similar magnetic coupling means, showing a further improved mechanism, a big date display according to the invention, comprising a ten-units display above a concentric five-tens display with an equal number of windows or apertures through which the units are displayed. It is proposed that ten first coupling members formed of ferromagnetic material be magnetically positioned relative to five second coupling members formed of tens magnets to ensure optimal alignment. The use of overlapping hands (in this case a duplicated "0" on the second tens display gear set) allows the first hand of each of the first units display gear set to be visible through the window in the second tens display gear set, with the two gear sets stable in any position to produce any display. [Figure 5] 4 shows the drive means for the two display gear sets, which comprise two eccentric gears, each truncated to display the date, cooperating with a pinion coaxial with the gear set and held in a stable position by a jumper. Note that the present invention creates a new application for this type of truncated gear drive, and in this new use to drive a display, particularly in the non-limiting example of a five-tens date display shown herein, one of the tens digits is duplicated, and the gear functioning to drive the tens digit has one more tooth than the known prior art for other mechanisms. In this non-limiting example of such a display presenting a duplicate "0" indicator, the drive tooth is located in the sector between the 31-01 tooth and the 09-10 tooth. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic front view of a timepiece (in this case a wristwatch) having a display mechanism with two display gear sets according to the invention, in this case two coaxial rollers arranged side by side; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, including a display mechanism with two display gear sets according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the visible portion of the second display gear set of FIG. 4, with the window not shown. [Figure 9] 9 shows the visible part of another second display gearset according to the invention in a similar way to FIG. 8, without the windows shown, and in this case for a display with 10 tens and 10 ones on the disc. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the visible portions of two concentric, overlapping indicator gear sets with pointers on different diameters. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the visible portions of two display gear sets that are external to each other, with the display area displaying the ones hand only above the first ones gear set and the display area displaying the tens hand only above the second tens gear set. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the visible portions of two overlapping display gear sets that are outside of each other, with a ones hand displayed above the overlapping area and a display area that displays a tens hand only above the second tens gear set. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows the reverse configuration to that shown in FIG. 12, with the ones hand displayed only above the first ones gear set, and the tens hand in the overlapping area. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the visible portions of two overlapping display gear sets outside of each other, with a display area above the overlapping area displaying a ones hand and a tens hand, the ones hand being visible through a window in the second tens gear set. [Figure 15] FIG. 7 is a schematic partial perspective view of the drive means of the two indicator gear sets of FIG. 4 already shown in plan view in FIG. 5, which in this particular application has truncated teeth driving a 10-tooth pinion with 10 ones digits 30 times out of 31, and truncated teeth driving a 5-tooth pinion with 5 tens digits 5 times out of 31. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of an indicator mechanism having two indicator gear sets (in this case discs or rings) including a fully mechanical linkage means. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a display mechanism that combines multiple display gear sets and is configured to solve the problem of aligning a pointer with a display area.

[0013] The present invention therefore relates to a watch display mechanism 100 comprising at least first drive means 1 configured to rotate a first display gear set 10 according to a first number of pitches to display a first magnitude, and second drive means 2 configured to rotate a second display gear set 20 according to a second number of pitches to display a second magnitude.

[0014] According to the invention, this display mechanism 100 comprises coupling means 3, 3' that are separate from the first drive means 1 and the second drive means 2. The coupling means 3, 3' are configured solely to index the position of the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20 relative to each other and to ensure their alignment in the alignment direction A with the display area 30 included in the display mechanism 100.

[0015] The coupling means 3, 3' therefore prevent the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 from advancing to the next pitch independently of the first drive means 1 of the first indicator gearset 10 and the second drive means 2 of the second indicator gearset 20.

[0016] More particularly, the coupling means 3, 3' are configured to effect such an aligning coupling magnetically and / or mechanically.

[0017] In certain alternative embodiments, the coupling means 3 is configured to provide such an aligning coupling solely magnetically, while in other particular alternative embodiments, the coupling means 3 is configured to provide such an aligning coupling magnetically and mechanically.

[0018] More specifically, the pitch of the first indicator gear set 10 is constant and the pitch of the second indicator gear set 20 is constant.

[0019] In a first alternative embodiment of the invention, the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 are coaxially rotatable. Figures 3 to 5 and 10 show indicator gearsets that are discs or rings. Figure 6 shows an indicator gearset that is a roller.

[0020] More specifically, the ratio of the first pitch number to the second pitch number is an integer.

[0021] More specifically, to obtain an integer pitch, multiple identical indices are repeated on the first indicator gear set 10 and / or multiple identical indices are repeated on the second indicator gear set 20.

[0022] More specifically, the coupling means 3 comprises at least two couplers for coaxially indexing the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 with one another, the couplers being configured for magnetic and / or mechanical alignment and coupling, distributed according to the pitch of the indication. Figures 2 to 4 therefore show first coupling elements formed of ferromagnetic elements 15 rigidly connected to the first indicator gearset 10 and rotating therewith, and second coupling elements formed of magnets 25 rigidly connected to the second indicator gearset 20 and rotating therewith. The ratio between the number of first coupling elements formed of ferromagnetic elements 15 and the number of second coupling elements formed of magnets 25 is an integer, more specifically equal to the ratio between the first pitch number and the second pitch number.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the first display gear set 10 has a first number of positions occupied by a first pointer 11 or a first window 19 or empty space, and similarly, the second display gear set 20 has a second number of positions occupied by a second pointer 21 or a second window 28 or empty space. The display area 30 is configured to present to the user at a particular moment either a first pointer 11 or a first window 19 on the first display gear set 10 for displaying a current value of a first magnitude of the first display gear set 10, and either a second pointer 21 or a second window 28 on the second display gear set 20 for displaying a current value of a second magnitude, aligned along the alignment direction A. Of course, the first pointer 11 or the second pointer 21 may include empty space.

[0024] More specifically, the first display gear set 10 and / or the second display gear set 20 have a plurality of first pointers 11 and second pointers 21, respectively, which are identical to each other.

[0025] More specifically, the first plurality of indicators 11 and the second plurality of indicators 21 that are identical to one another are consecutive or grouped into a series of consecutive identical indicators on the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20, respectively.

[0026] More specifically, the first pointer 11 and the second pointer 21, which are identical to each other, are either empty spaces or pointers with a value of zero.

[0027] More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. 10, the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20 are coaxial disks or rings, the first display gear set 10 having a first pointer 11 on a first diameter, the second display gear set 20 having a second pointer 21 on a second diameter different from the first diameter, and the first pointer 11 and the second pointer 21 being always spaced apart.

[0028] 3 to 5, the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20 are coaxial disks or rings, the first display gear set 10 has a first pointer 11 on a first diameter, the second display gear set 20 has a second pointer 21 on a second diameter equal to the first diameter, and the display gear set with the fewest number of positions of the display gear sets 10, 20 has display windows 18, 28 adjacent to each pointer 11, 21 through which the other display gear set 20, 10 is visible, and the first pointer 11 and the second pointer 21 are seen side by side in a combined display area 30. Although these figures only show the second window 28, it is clear how it replaces the first window 18 in the first display gear set 10.

[0029] In the particular embodiment of this first alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6, the first and second indicator gear sets 10 and 20 are coaxial rollers. More particularly, the first and second pointers 11 and 21 are always spaced apart.

[0030] More specifically, the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20 are coaxial rollers that at least partially overlap in the display area 30 .

[0031] More specifically, of the roll type display gear sets 10, 20, the roll type display gear set with the fewest number of positions has a display window 18, 28 adjacent to each hand 11, 21, through which the other display gear set 20, 10 is visible, and the first hand 11 and the second hand 21 are displayed in a combined and aligned manner in the display area 30.

[0032] In a second alternative embodiment of the invention, the first and second display gear sets 10 and 20 are gear sets with separate shafts, and the first and second hands 11 and 21 are always spaced apart. Figures 1, 2 and 11-14 show the display gear sets as discs or rings.

[0033] More specifically, the coupling means 3 comprise at least two couplers indexing the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20, which couplers are arranged to be magnetically and / or mechanically aligned and coupled, and which are distributed according to the pitch of the indications. These coupling means can be arranged on the circumference of the gearsets, in particular on the edges, etc.

[0034] More specifically, the first display gear set 10 and the second display gear set 20 are discs or rings with separate axes and at least partially overlap in the display area 30 .

[0035] More specifically, of the display gear sets 10, 20, the display gear set with the fewest number of positions has a display window 18, 28 adjacent to each hand 11, 21, through which the other display gear set 20, 10 is visible, and the first hand 11 and the second hand 21 are displayed in a combined and aligned arrangement in the display area 30.

[0036] Various display layouts are possible for both the first alternative embodiment in which the gear sets are coaxial and the second alternative embodiment in which the gear sets are not coaxial.

[0037] Thus, in more detail, the display mechanism 100 is a date display mechanism with a disc or ring, the first display gear set 10 is a ones display gear set with ten positions corresponding to the digits 0-9, and the second display gear set 20 is either a tens display gear set with five positions and one of the tens digits 0-3 duplicated, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8, or a tens display gear set with ten positions and two five-position number sequences, each with one of the tens digits 0-3 duplicated, as shown in Figure 9.

[0038] More specifically, the display mechanism 100 is a date display mechanism with a roller, the first display gear set 10 is a units display gear set with five positions having rotation segments corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, and the second display gear set 20 is a tens display gear set with five positions and one of the tens numbers 0 to 3 duplicated.

[0039] More specifically, the display mechanism 100 is a 24-hour display mechanism with discs or rollers, the first display gear set 10 is a ones display gear set with ten positions corresponding to the digits 0-9, and the second display gear set 20 is either a tens display gear set with five positions and one of the tens digits 0-3 duplicated as shown in Figure 5, or a tens display gear set with ten positions and two five-position number sequences, each with one of the tens digits 0-3 duplicated in each sequence as shown in Figure 9.

[0040] More specifically, the display mechanism 100 is a week number display mechanism with discs or rollers, the first display gear set 10 is a ones display gear set with 10 positions corresponding to the numbers 0-9, and the second display gear set 20 is a tens display gear set with 10 positions and four consecutive number sequences, each sequence having one of the tens numbers 0-5 duplicated.

[0041] In more detail, as can be seen in Figure 15, the first drive means 1 comprises a first gear 17 with truncated teeth, which are configured to rotate the first indicator gear set 10, the missing teeth of the first gear 17 corresponding to the non-rotating part of the first indicator gear set 10 when the second indicator gear set 20 needs to advance a few more pitches; the second drive means 2 comprises a second gear 27 with truncated teeth, which are configured to rotate the second indicator gear set 20, the missing teeth of the second gear 27 corresponding to the non-rotating part of the second indicator gear set 20 when the first indicator gear set 10 needs to advance a few more pitches.

[0042] The invention further relates to a timepiece 1000 including at least one such display mechanism 100.

[0043] More particularly, at least one such display mechanism 100 is a calendar mechanism.

[0044] More specifically, the timepiece 1000 is a wristwatch.

[0045] A non-limiting example of an advantageous application of the present invention relates to a date display mechanism comprising a first ones display gear set with ten ones positions and a second tens display gear set with five tens pointers, which includes indexing the ten ones positions to the second display, in this example in particular magnetically, although this could also be done mechanically, with the five tens positions being arranged in phase with the ten ones positions.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a prior art big date type display which includes a ten units display and, above that, a non-concentric four tens display with an equal number of windows or apertures through which the pointer of the first units display gear set is visible.

[0047] Figure 2 shows an improved mechanism based on the display mechanism of Figure 1. The first ones display gear set 10 has ten first connecting members formed of equally spaced ferromagnetic members 15, and the second tens display gear set 20 has four second connecting members formed of equally spaced magnets 25. This mechanism solves the problem of aligning the display units and achieves a stable display position, but the relative indexing of the two display units is achieved by simply connecting the magnets to the ferromagnetic members at one point, which is not necessarily advantageous and there is still room for improvement.

[0048] Figure 3 shows, similarly to Figure 2, a similarly modified mechanism based on a prior art big date type display, including a ten units display and, above it, this time concentric with the units display, a four tens display with an equal number of windows or apertures through which the pointers of the first units display gear set are visible. Ten first connecting members formed by units ferromagnetic members 15 are magnetically positioned relative to four second connecting members formed by tens magnets 25. As in the previous example, if two second connecting members formed by tens magnets 25 face two first connecting members formed by ones ferromagnetic members 15, the remaining two will be offset by half a pitch and will be opposite to the first two. Therefore, it can be seen that this relative guidance of the two indicator gear sets is not possible if there is more than one tens magnet, and the number of first connecting members formed by ones ferromagnetic members is not an integer multiple of the number of second connecting members formed by tens magnets.

[0049] For the simplest movement, it is necessary to use couplings that are aligned at the indicated positions, and also to ensure interchangeability of the coupling means to ensure direct and rapid positioning.For this reason, it is preferred that the number of first coupling elements, formed in particular by ferromagnetic elements in the ones digit, is an integer multiple of the number of second coupling elements, formed in particular by magnets in the tens digit.

[0050] Figure 4 shows a large date display according to the present invention, which includes a ten-units display and a concentric five-tens display with an equal number of apertures or openings through which the units digits can be displayed. It is proposed that ten first connecting members formed by ferromagnetic elements 15 are magnetically positioned relative to five second connecting members formed by tens magnets 25. It can be seen that, for each of the tens and ones positions, the five second connecting members formed by tens magnets 25 are in phase with five of the ten first connecting members formed by units ferromagnetic elements 15. Since the number of first connecting members formed by units ferromagnetic elements 15 is an integer multiple of the number of second connecting members formed by tens magnets 25, it can be seen that this relative guidance of the two hands is indeed optimal, maximizing the number of magnets available.

[0051] The present invention can therefore be adapted to a configuration in which the tens and units digits are concentric, as shown in Figure 4, or to a so-called "five tens" configuration, which may be typical of a roll date display as described in Swiss Patent No. 713873. In this document, the display mechanism has two displays, for example a units digit and a tens digit, which must be aligned, and each display has at least one magnet on its periphery, which cooperates with at least one opposing ferromagnetic member or with at least one other opposing magnet among the magnets distributed around the periphery of the second display to generate a direct attractive force that urges the two displays into alignment.

[0052] The present invention is easily implemented in configurations that include a ring of magnets that are attracted to another magnet or to a ring of ferromagnetic material (eg, steel) where the ratio of the number of magnets is an integer.

[0053] Some non-limiting examples are given below.

[0054] One solution to display 5 tens and 10 ones on a disk is to print one of the tens, for example "0", twice (0-0-1-2-3) and control the tens to change before the ones changes from 9 to 0, for example when the ones changes from 4 to 5 (the ratio 10 / 5=2 is an integer).

[0055] One solution to creating a display with 10 tens and 10 ones on a disk is to print the ones sequence twice, repeating one of the tens, e.g. "0", twice (0-0-1-2-3-0-0-1-2-3), and controlling the two repeated tens to change before the ones changes from 9 to 0, e.g. when the ones changes from 4 to 5 (the ratio 10 / 10=1 is an integer).

[0056] The same rules can be applied to role expressions: 2 x tens roller containing 5 tens and ones roller containing 10 ones; the ratio 10 / 10=1 is an integer; 1 x tens roller containing 5 tens and 10 ones; the ratio 10 / 5=2 is an integer; A tens roller with 5 tens digits, a ones roller with 5 positions containing rotational segments for 10 ones digits, the ratio 5 / 5=1 is an integer.

[0057] The sequence of operations for a magnetic linkage, particularly a roll date including a pair of magnets, can be as follows: From the 1st to the 2nd of the month: The second tens roller 20 remains stationary and indicates "0", the first ones roller 10 moves from "1" to "2", and the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two indicators. From the 4th to the 5th of the month: the second tens roller 20 moves from the first "0" pointer to the second following "0" pointer, the first ones roller 10 moves from "4" to "5", and the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two indicators. 9th to 10th of the month: The second tens roller 20 moves the second "0" pointer to "1", the first ones roller 10 moves from "9" to "0", the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two pointers. 10th to 11th of the month: The second tens roller 20 remains stationary and indicates "1", the first ones roller 10 moves from "0" to "1", and the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two indicators. 19th to 20th of the month: The second tens roller 20 moves from "1" to "2", the first ones roller 10 moves from "9" to "0", and the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two indices. From the 31st to the 1st of the following month: The second tens roller 20 moves from "3" to the first "0" pointer, the first ones roller 10 remains stationary and indicates "1", and the first five magnets 15 and the second five magnets 25 ensure the relative positions of the two indicators.

[0058] The rollers are rotated by gears that rotate once a month, with the teeth of the gears missing on days when they do not rotate, as shown in FIG. 15. The first ones gear 17, which includes truncated teeth, is configured to rotate the first indicator gear set 10, and the missing teeth on the first gear 17 correspond to the absence of rotation of the first indicator gear set 10 when the second indicator gear set 20 needs to advance a few more pitches. Two teeth are missing for the absence of rotation from 31st to 1st. The second tens gear 27, which includes truncated teeth, is configured to rotate the second indicator gear set 20, and the missing teeth on the second gear 27 correspond to the absence of rotation of the second indicator gear set 20 when the first indicator gear set 10 needs to advance a few more pitches. 27 teeth are missing only for the rotations from 4th to 5th, 9th to 10th, 19th to 20th, 29th to 30th, and 31st to 1st.

[0059] In a particular alternative embodiment, the coupling means 3' are configured to align and couple solely mechanically. In this alternative embodiment, an example of which is shown in Figure 16, one of the indicator gearsets 10, 20, for example the first indicator gearset 10, has a notch 3a' which cooperates with a resilient means 3b' on the other of the indicator gearsets 20, 10, for example the second indicator gearset 20, which resilient means 3b' is intended to enter the notch 3a' to define a stable indexed aligned position between the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20.

[0060] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 16, the first and second display gearsets 10 and 20 are coaxial discs or rings, as already described in Figures 3 to 5 and 10, with the first display gearset 10 located below the second display gearset 20.

[0061] By way of example, the first indicator gearset 10 may have a notch 3a' on its upper face including the first pointer 11, and the second indicator gearset 20 may have the resilient means 3b' on its lower face, i.e. the face opposite to the face including the second pointer 21. Of course, the reverse configuration is also applicable.

[0062] This alternative embodiment including a fully mechanical coupling means 3' is applicable whether the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 are coaxial, as shown in Figures 3 to 5 and 10, or whether they are not coaxial, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0063] Such an alternative embodiment including a fully mechanical coupling means 3' is applicable whether the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 are overlapping disks or rings as shown in Figure 16 or whether the first indicator gearset 10 and the second indicator gearset 20 are rollers as shown in Figure 6. In this case, the notches 3a' and the elastic means 3b' are formed in their respective mutually facing surfaces.

[0064] The notch 3a' may be round or V-shaped. The resilient means 3b' may be a strip spring as shown in Figure 16, or a stud or ball attached to the spring, configured to cooperate with the shaped notch 3a'.

[0065] It is clear that this alternative embodiment including a completely mechanical connecting means 3' can be combined, insofar as technically possible, with any of the alternative embodiments and examples described above.

[0066] This alternative embodiment including mechanical coupling means 3' can also be combined with magnetic coupling means 3 as described in the previous example, if desired.

[0067] The invention is applicable to other displays, and in particular, but not limited to, the following displays: 24-hour display: one disc with five tens digits 0-0-1-1-2 and one disc with ten ones digits: 10 / 5=1 is an integer; 52-week display: One disc with 10 tens digits: 0-0-1-1-2-2-3-3-4-5, and one disc with 10 ones digits: 10 / 10=1 is an integer.

[0068] The present invention therefore provides an elegant solution to the known problem of aligning the positions of individual display gear sets that are combined to group multiple aligned pointers to create a complex display.

[0069] The present invention ensures good indexing of the display. Although the invention is described for the most common combination of two display gear sets, it can also be used for more complex displays with a larger number of display gear sets.

[0070] The present invention minimizes display play and eliminates the overlapping phenomenon which can be uncomfortable for the user.

[0071] Roll date mechanisms, or so-called "big date" displays, typically have two separate displays, one for the units digit and one for the tens digit, and are a highly advantageous application of the present invention. Other lesser known types of displays, such as weekly calendars or jumping hours, can use the same type of display with a tens digit and a units digit. Naturally, the present invention is also applicable to display gear sets with other numbers of positions, such as 7, 12, or any other number.

[0072] In summary, multiplying the pointer of the display gear set, such as the zero in the non-limiting example shown, is highly advantageous for achieving a good relative position of the two complementary display parts.

Claims

1. 1. A timepiece display mechanism (100) comprising at least a first drive means (1) configured to rotate a first display gear set (10) through a first number of pitches to display a first magnitude, and a second drive means (2) configured to rotate a second display gear set (20) through a second number of pitches to display a second magnitude, wherein the display mechanism (100) has coupling means (3) separate from the first drive means (1) and the second drive means (2) configured to index the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) relative to each other and to ensure alignment of both display gear sets in an alignment direction (A) with a display area (30) included in the display mechanism (100), the coupling means (3) preventing the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) from advancing to the next pitch, independently of the first drive means (1) and the second drive means (2).

2. 2. The display mechanism (100) of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first pitch number to the second pitch number is an integer.

3. 3. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of identical indicia are repeated on the first display gear set (10) and / or a plurality of identical indicia are repeated on the second display gear set (20) to obtain an integer number of pitches.

4. 2. An indicator mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means (3) are adapted to create a magnetic and / or mechanically aligning coupling.

5. 2. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) rotate coaxially.

6. 3. An indicator mechanism (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first indicator gear set (10) and the second indicator gear set (20) rotate coaxially and the coupling means (3) comprises at least two couplers distributed according to the pitch of the indicator, configured to create a magnetically and / or mechanically aligned coupling in order to ensure indexing of the first indicator gear set (10) and the second indicator gear set (20) which are coaxial with each other.

7. 2. The display mechanism (100) of claim 1, wherein the first display gear set (10) has a first number of positions occupied by a first indicator (11) or a first window (19) or an empty space; the second display gear set (20) has a second number of positions occupied by a second indicator (21) or a second window (28) or an empty space; and the display area (30) is configured to present to a user at a particular moment an aligned juxtaposition on the first display gear set (10) of either the first indicator (11) or the first window (19) for displaying the current value of the first magnitude on the first display gear set (10) and either the second indicator (21) or the second window (28) for displaying the current value of the second magnitude on the second display gear set (20).

8. 8. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first display gear set (10) and / or the second display gear set (20) respectively have a plurality of the first indicators (11) and second indicators (21) that are identical to one another.

9. 8. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) rotate coaxially, the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) are coaxial disks or rings, the first display gear set (10) has the first index (11) on a first diameter and the second display gear set (20) has the second index (21) on a second diameter different from the first diameter, and the first index (11) and the second index (21) are always spaced apart from each other.

10. 8. The display mechanism (100) of claim 7, characterized in that the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) rotate coaxially, the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) are coaxial disks or rings, the first display gear set (10) having the first index (11) on a first diameter and the second display gear set (20) having the second index (21) on a second diameter equal to the first diameter, and the display gear set (10; 20) having the smallest number of positions has display windows (18; 28) adjacent to each index (11; 21) through which the other display gear set (20; 10) is visible and the first index (11) and the second index (21) appear aligned in combination in the display area (30).

11. 8. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) are coaxial rollers, and the first indicator (11) and the second indicator (21) are always spaced apart.

12. 8. The display mechanism (100) of claim 7, wherein the first display gear set (10) and the second display gear set (20) are coaxial rollers and at least partially overlap in the display area (30).

13. 13. The display mechanism (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that the display gear set (10; 20) with the smallest number of positions has a viewing window (18; 28) adjacent to each of its indices (11; 21), through which the other display gear set (20; 10) is visible and the first and second indices (11) and (21) are seen aligned in combination in the display area (30).

14. 2. The display mechanism (100) of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism (100) is a date display mechanism with a disc or ring, the first display gear set (10) being a units display gear set with ten positions corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, and the second display gear set (20) being a tens display gear set with five positions with one tens number from 0 to 3 duplicated, or with ten positions and two five-position number sequences with one tens number from 0 to 3 duplicated in each sequence.

15. 2. The display mechanism (100) of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism (100) is a roll-type date display mechanism, the first display gear set (10) is a units display gear set including five positions and a rotating section corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, and the second display gear set (20) is a tens display gear set with five positions and one of the tens numbers 0 to 3 duplicated.

16. A timepiece (1000) comprising at least one display mechanism (100) according to claim 1.

17. 17. Timer (1000) according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one of said display mechanisms (100) is a calendar mechanism.

18. 17. The timepiece (1000) according to claim 16, characterized in that said timepiece (1000) is a wristwatch.

Images