Superposed Date Disc Mechanism for Accurate Month Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing date mechanisms in timepieces face inaccuracies when displaying dates that change, particularly at the end of months with 28, 29, or 30 days, and suffer from an unattractive visual appearance due to differing levels of tens and units digits.
Innovation Solution
A date mechanism featuring superposed and rotatable unit and tens discs, driven by a program block and motor, ensuring precise date display with both digits at the same level, and incorporating a perpetual calendar mechanism for accurate month and year management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tens disc and two units discs are used with intermediate jumps to handle month changes, then the date mechanism can accommodate varying month lengths, but the display accuracy deteriorates with intermediate jumps causing inaccuracy when the month changes
Solution Approach 1:
The date display is segmented into two independent disc systems: a first disc system (tens disc and first units disc) for dates 01-31, and a second disc system (second tens disc and second units disc) for dates 01-07. The program block is similarly segmented into two independent program wheels. This segmentation allows each system to operate independently without intermediate jumps, eliminating display inaccuracy while maintaining adaptability to varying month lengths through the switching mechanism between systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The program block acts as an intermediary switching mechanism that selectively engages either the first disc system or the second disc system based on the current date. The program wheels with specifically positioned teeth detect the date and automatically switch between the two disc systems, enabling smooth transitions without intermediate jumps and maintaining display accuracy throughout month changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If tens and units digits are displayed on different levels, then the date mechanism can accommodate the mechanical structure, but the visual appearance deteriorates with an unattractive display
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (different levels) to a horizontal superposed arrangement (same level) by positioning the first and second disc systems side-by-side on the same plane. The first disc system displays dates 01-31 and the second disc system displays dates 01-07, with both systems operating on the same level to create a visually appealing unified date display while maintaining the mechanical functionality through the program block switching mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a date mechanism comprising date discs (1, 2), a date program block (3) driving the date discs (1, 2), a drive block (4) driving the date program block (3), and a motor (5) for actuating the drive block (4). The date discs (1, 2) comprise a first lower units disc and a second upper units disc superimposed and free to rotate relative to each other, and a third lower tens disc and a fourth upper tens disc superimposed and free to rotate relative to each other.The date program block (3) includes date program mobiles for actuation of the date discs (1, 2), said date program mobiles being arranged to mesh selectively with the date discs (1, 2) so that the last date of a month is displayed by means of the lower third tens disc and the lower first units disc and the first date of the following month is displayed by means of the upper fourth tens disc and the upper second units disc, the change of date between two consecutive months being effected by a single jump of the upper fourth tens disc and the upper second units disc regardless of the month.The mechanism may include a month mobile (24) and a leap year management mechanism (26) arranged to cooperate with the drive block (4), the drive block (4) being a month program wheel so that the date mechanism is a simple or secular perpetual calendar mechanism.