EP3460588B1 - Date mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

• une roue de quantième destinée à fournir une information relative au quantième,
• une roue de commande destinée à être entraînée par un mouvement horloger et à entraîner la roue de quantième d'au moins un pas par jour.

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a date mechanism comprising:

• a date wheel intended to provide information relating to the date,
• a control wheel intended to be driven by a watch movement and to drive the date wheel by at least one step per day.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a date mechanism.

State of the art

The date mechanisms are among the most appreciated horological complications, because they provide particularly useful information. However, in the particular field of mechanical watches, the date must generally be adjusted when a user puts on his watch after a certain period during which it has not been wound. Certain constructions allow rapid correction, by acting directly on the date without acting on the time indication system. However, it is not always possible or desirable to have such a rapid correction system, because depending on the case, there is a risk of desynchronizing several displays.

Also, when the date is set via the hour wheel, that is to say that the hour hand must make two turns to change the date by one unit, it is particularly appreciable to be able to carry out correction in both directions, in order to limit the number of turns to be performed.

However, among the date mechanisms, in particular the annual calendars which make it possible to take into account the duration of the months of 31 or 30 days, or the perpetual calendars, which also take into account the duration of the months of February 28 or 29 days, there are few systems that allow a correction in both directions.

The document CH 680 630 A3 discloses a date mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention aims to provide a new date mechanism, compact and reliable, allowing bidirectional correction and applicable to an annual calendar, a leap calendar or a perpetual calendar.

Disclosure of invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a date mechanism as proposed in the claims, as well as a timepiece comprising such a date mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspective, respectivement de dessus et de dessous, d'un mécanisme selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention,
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent ce même mécanisme, en plan, respectivement en vue de dessus et de dessous, lors du passage du 30 d'un mois, au 1^er du mois suivant, soit lors d'une correction en avant ou lors d'un entraînement normal par le mouvement,
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent ce même mécanisme, en plan, respectivement en vue de dessus et de dessous, lors du passage du 1er d'un mois de mars, au 28 du mois de février précédent, c'est-à-dire lors d'une correction en arrière,
• les figures 7 et 8 montrent des détails du système, dans les deux sens d'entraînement d'une correction, et
• la figure 9 montre en détail les éléments relatifs à la prise en compte des années bissextiles.

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, respectively from above and from below, of a mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
• the figures 3 and 4 represent this same mechanism, in plan, respectively from above and below, when passing from the 30th of a month, to the ^1st of the following month, either during a correction in advance or during a normal training by movement,
• the Figures 5 and 6 represent this same mechanism, in plan, respectively in top view and below, during the passage from the 1st of a month of March, to the 28 of the previous February, that is to say during a correction in back,
• the Figures 7 and 8 show details of the system, in both directions driving a correction, and
• the figure 9 shows in detail the elements relating to the taking into account of leap years.

Mode of carrying out the invention

We have represented on the figure 1 and on the figure 2 , perspective, top and bottom views of a date mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The date mechanism can be arranged on an assembled module plate and kinematically connected to a basic movement, or if necessary, be integrated into a movement.

The mechanism notably comprises a date wheel 10 intended to provide information relating to the date. This date wheel 10 can carry indications or a disc with the 31 numbers of the date or carry a needle intended to move opposite a graduation. The date wheel 10 typically has 31 teeth and is intended to be driven at a rate of one step per day, around midnight, except for the last day of a month of less than 31 days where, as will be detailed below. afterwards, it is intended to be driven by at least one additional step.

The date wheel 10 is intended to be driven by a control wheel 12, which is driven by the watch movement.

The control wheel 12 comprises first of all a power take-off member, in the form of a star 12.0 intended, in the example illustrated, to be pushed one step per day by a 24-hour wheel of the movement, not shown. Other types of training are also possible, for example by a rocker.

The star 12.0 is mounted coaxially and integral in rotation with a first drive level 12.2 to drive the date wheel 10 by one step at the end of each day. The first training level 12.2 also takes the form of a star. Preferably, the stars have the same number of branches and they are superimposed on each other, in order to favor the synchronization of the drive of the date wheel 10 with the time of the movement. In this case, the stars have 7 branches each.

To allow the thicknesses of the mechanism to be reduced while controlling the interactions of star 12.0 and that of the first training level 12.2, with the various elements of the mechanism, star 12.0 has shorter branches than those of the star 12.2, so that it has no interaction with the date wheel 10, even if it is located in the same plane as the teeth of the date wheel 10.

The control wheel 12 also includes a second drive level 12.4 for driving the date wheel 10 by an additional step at the end of the last day of a month of 30 days, as well as a third drive level 12.6 to drive the date wheel 10 by three additional steps at the end of the last day of February, typically when it lasts 28 days.

More particularly, the third level 12.6 has actuation zones 12.62 located on branches, which have a shape similar to a branch of the Maltese cross. The second level 12.4 has actuation zones 12.42 interposed between the branches of the second level 12.4, advantageously in the shape of a U, opening to the outside, that is to say in the direction of the date wheel 10. For these two levels 12.4, 12.6, the actuation zones are symmetrical with respect to a radius of the control wheel 12, allowing operation in both directions of rotation, as will be understood below.

For each level 12.4, 12.6, there are 7 actuation zones, respectively 12.42 and 12.62. The spokes forming the axes of symmetry of the actuation zones 12.42 of the second level 12.4 are superimposed on the branches of the stars 12.0 and 12.2, while the rays forming the axes of symmetry of the actuation zones 12.62 of the third level 12.6 are superimposed on the bisectors angles formed by the rays of two branches of stars 12.0, 12.2 juxtaposed.

As can be seen particularly on the Figures 1 and 2 , the second 12.4 and third 12.6 drive levels may have come in one piece, the actuation zones 12.62 of the third level 12.6 extending, in a separate plane, the actuation zones 12.42 of the second level 12.4.

The control wheel 12 thus has three separate drive levels 12.2, 12.4, 12.6, capable of cooperating with the date wheel 10, at determined times, as will appear below.

• un mobile de saut de fin de mois 10.0, destiné à coopérer avec le deuxième 12.4 ou le troisième 12.6 niveaux d'entraînement de la roue de commande 12 à la fin des mois de moins de 31 jours, ledit mobile de saut de fin de mois 10.0 étant monté de manière satellitaire sur la roue de quantième 10,
• un ensemble d'une came annuelle 10.1 et d'un palpeur 10.2 agencé pour positionner angulairement le mobile de saut de fin de mois 10.0 en référence à son propre axe de rotation sur la roue de quantième 10.

To do this, in addition to its toothing 31 intended to cooperate with the first drive level 12.2 of the control wheel 12, the date wheel 10 carries:

• an end-of-month jump mobile 10.0, intended to cooperate with the second 12.4 or the third 12.6 drive levels of the control wheel 12 at the end of the months less than 31 days, said end-of-month jump mobile 10.0 being mounted by satellite on the date wheel 10,
• a set of an annual cam 10.1 and a feeler 10.2 arranged to angularly position the end of month jump mobile 10.0 with reference to its own axis of rotation on the date wheel 10.

The annual cam 10.1 is arranged in a satellite manner on the date wheel 10. It is integral with a drive board 10.3, intended to be driven by cooperating with a fixed finger 14, located in the center of the date wheel 10, and around which the date wheel 10 pivots. The drive board 10.3 typically has 12 teeth and advances by one step for each revolution made by the date wheel 10, that is to say each month.

As can be seen particularly on the Figures 7 and 8 , the annual cam 10.1 has a profile defining portions of different radii, corresponding to the different months. As will be understood later, the radii of said portions are determined so as to angularly position, in a synchronized manner, the end-of-month jump mobile 10.0 in relation to the control wheel 12. There is therefore a correspondence between the shape of the cam and the length of the months of the year, the initials of which have been written in the center of their respective portions. 12 portions are thus defined, one per month, it being understood that if two consecutive months have the same number of days (July-August and December-January), the two consecutive portions of the same radius are extended.

Thus, the 31-day months correspond to portions of the cam 10.1 having the largest radii, the 30-day months correspond to portions of the cam 10.1 having relatively small radii, and the portion corresponding to the month of February has the smallest radius, forming a notch in the cam 10.1.

The probe 10.2 is held in contact with the profile of the cam 10.1. To allow the cam 10.1 to pivot in both directions and thus to have a bidirectional date drive, in particular in the case of correction, the variations of the cam radii are progressive. Similarly, the profile of the fixed finger 14 and that of the teeth of the drive board 10.3, are arranged so as to allow rotation of the board in both directions of rotation, depending on whether the date wheel rotates in the opposite direction. clockwise (with reference to the figure 8 , which is a bottom view), or clockwise (with reference to the figure 9 , which is also a bottom view).

The feeler 10.2 is carried by a rocker 11 further carrying a rack 10.4, engaged with a pinion 10.5 secured to an intermediate rake 10.6, which is engaged with a second sprocket 10.7, secured to the end of month jumping mobile 10.0 . All the elements of the kinematic link between the probe 10.2 and the end of month jump mobile 10.0 are mounted on the date wheel 10. However, the detail of this kinematic link is given by way of example not limiting.

It will be noted that the date wheel 10 also carries a spring 13 (visible on the figures 1 , 3 and 5 ) arranged to apply a force to a finger 13.1 (visible on the Figures 7 and 8 ) carried by the rocker 11 to hold the probe 10.2 in abutment against the cam 10.1.

In an embodiment of leap calendar type, that is to say taking into account the months of 30 days and 28 days, but not 29 days, the end of month jump mobile 10.0 comprises two arms 10.01 and 10.02 , of different lengths. A first arm 10.01, long, is arranged to cooperate with the second level 12.4 of the control wheel 12 at the end of the 30-day months, to cause the date wheel 10 to take an additional step ( Fig. 4 ). A second arm 10.02, short, is arranged to cooperate with the third level 12.6 of the control wheel 12 at the end of the month of 28 days, to cause the date wheel 10 to take three additional steps. The interaction between the second arm 10.02 and the third level 12.6 is visible on the figure 6 , but in the case of a correction, that is to say with the control wheel located upstream side, in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow.

• aucun bras, pour les mois de 31 jours, avec comme conséquence que la roue de quantième 10, au soir du dernier jour du mois, est entraînée d'un seul pas par le premier niveau 12.2 de la roue de commande 12,
• le bras long, pour les mois de 30 jours, avec comme conséquence que la roue de quantième 10, au soir du dernier jour du mois, est entraînée d'un pas par le premier niveau 12.2 de la roue de commande 12, et d'un pas supplémentaire par le deuxième niveau 12.4 de la roue de commande 12, ou
• le bras court, pour les mois de février, avec comme conséquence que la roue de quantième 10, au soir du dernier jour du mois, est entraînée d'un pas par le premier niveau 12.2 de la roue de commande 12, et de trois pas supplémentaires par le troisième niveau 12.6 de la roue de commande 12.

Thus, depending on the radius of the portion of the cam 10.1 with which the probe 10.2 cooperates, the end-of-month jump mobile 10.0 present in the travel of the control wheel 12:

• no arms, for the months of 31 days, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven with a single step by the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12,
• the long arm, for the months of 30 days, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven by one step by the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12, and an additional step via the second level 12.4 of the control wheel 12, or
• the short arm, for the months of February, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven by one step by the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12, and by three steps additional by the third level 12.6 of the control wheel 12.

With this construction, in the case of a leap year, the setting for the end of February will have to be managed manually.

In an embodiment not shown making it possible to obtain an annual calendar, that is to say taking into account only the months of 30 and 31 days, the end of month jump mobile 10.0 comprises only one arm, corresponding to the long arm 10.01 above, and the control wheel 12 includes only the first 12.2 and second 12.4 drive levels.

At the end of the 31-day months, as above, the month-end jumping mobile 10.0 has no arms in the travel of the control wheel 10.0, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven in a single step by the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12.

At the end of the 30-day months, the long arm 10.01 is positioned in the travel of the control wheel 12, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven by one step. the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12, and an additional step by the second level 12.4 of the control wheel 12.

The month of February can be treated as a month of 30 or 31 days, the display of the calendar at the end of February having to be managed manually.

In a preferred embodiment, particularly illustrated particularly in the figure 9 , the date mechanism is adapted to provide a perpetual calendar, taking into account the months of February in leap years.

To do this, the annual cam 10.1 is associated with a leap cam 10.8 arranged to make a turn in 4 years and position every 4 years, at the level of the notch in February of the cam, a portion of larger radius.

With regard to the sharing plans, the probe 10.2 is arranged to cooperate with the annual cam 10.1 and the leap cam 10.8, in order to cooperate with the latter when it takes position in the notch of February. It will be noted that over three-quarters of its perimeter, the leap cam 10.8 has a radius less than the February portion of the annual cam 10.1, so that the feeler 10.2 cooperates, in February in non-leap years, only with the annual cam 10.1.

To control the leap cam 10.8, the annual cam 10.1 is integral with a pinion 10.9, engaged with a first stage of a deflection mobile 10.10, which includes a second stage also engaged with a leap drive board 10.11, integral with the leap cam 10.8, the gear ratios being determined so that the leap cam 10.8 performs one revolution in 4 years.

In this embodiment, the end-of-month jump mobile 10.0 comprises a third arm 10.03, of intermediate length between the long arm 10.01 and the short arm 10.02, arranged to be positioned in the travel of the control wheel 12, particularly of its third level 12.6, when the probe 10.2 is in contact with the leap cam 10.8. Typically, the third arm 10.03 is angularly offset from the second arm 10.02, being located in the same plane.

Thus, at the end of the 29-day months, the intermediate arm 10.03 is positioned in the travel of the control wheel 12, with the consequence that the date wheel 10, on the evening of the last day of the month, is driven by a step by the first level 12.2 of the control wheel 12, and two additional steps by the third level 12.6 of the control wheel 12.

In order to ensure good transmission of the torque between the arm (s) of the end of month jump mobile 10.0 and the control wheel 12, the date mechanism may also include a locking system 10.12 of the end jump mobile of month 10.0. This locking system 10.12 is designed to block the rotation of this mobile with reference to its axis, at least when said end-of-month jump mobile 10.0 cooperates with the control wheel 12. Thus, it is possible to mount the end of month jump mobile 10.0, in order to consume little energy to position the end of month jump mobile 10.0.

Advantageously, the locking system 10.12 comprises a locking lever 10.13, positioned by a locking cam 16, fixedly mounted in the center of the date wheel 10 which pivots with reference to it. The locking lever 10.13 comprises a feeler 10.15 held in contact with the locking cam 16, and a lug 10.14 able to cooperate with the end of month jump mobile 10.0 to block its rotation.

Thus, at the end of the month, typically from the 26th, when the end of month jump mobile 10.0 is positioned, the lug 10.14 of the locking lever 10.13 falls into the teeth of the end of month jump mobile 10.0 , thus blocking its rotation on its axis, allowing energy to be transmitted between the control wheel 12 and the date wheel 10.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a date mechanism as described above.

Thus, thanks to the configuration of the driven elements and of the driving elements, as well as of the cams and of the feelers, the date system according to the invention makes it possible to operate by rotating the control wheel both directions, either under the action of movement, or under the action of a corrector kinematically connected to the control wheel. This corrector can act via the hour wheel, or be a rapid corrector, acting directly on the control wheel, typically the star 12.0 for example.

Thus a particularly reliable and compact date mechanism is proposed, which can be actuated in both directions by a correction system. A person skilled in the art can directly adapt it to produce a simple calendar, a leap calendar or an annual calendar. The example described above, with reference to the figures, has been given by way of nonlimiting illustration of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

Claims (14)

1. Date mechanism comprising

   - a date wheel (10) intended to provide an item of information relating to the date,

   - a control wheel (12) intended to be driven by a clockwork movement and to drive the date wheel (10) by at least one step per day,

   in which the control wheel (12) comprises:

   - a first drive level (12.2) for driving the date wheel (10) by one step at the end of each day,

   - a second drive level (12.4) for driving the date wheel (10) by an additional step at the end of the last day of a month comprising 30 days,

   and in which the date wheel (10) bears:

   - a jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0), intended to collaborate with the second drive level (12.4) of the control wheel (12) at least at the end of months comprising 30 days, the said jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) being mounted in the manner of a satellite on the date wheel (10),

   characterized in that the date wheel (10) also bears:

   - an assembly of an annual cam (10.1) and of a feeler-spindle (10.2), the latter being borne by a lever (11) and being designed to position the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) angularly with reference to its own axis of rotation on the date wheel (10).
2. Date mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the annual cam (10.1) is secured to a drive plate (10.3) intended to be driven by its collaboration with a finger (14) fixed at the centre of the date wheel (10).
3. Date mechanism according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the annual cam (10.1) has a profile defining portions with different radii, the said feeler-spindle (10.2) being kept in contact with the profile of the annual cam (10.1), the radii of the said portions being determined in such a way as to angularly position the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) synchronously in relation to the control wheel (12).
4. Date mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeler-spindle (10.2) is secured to a rack (10.4) in mesh with a pinion (10.5) secured to an intermediate rack (10.6) which is in mesh with a second pinion (10.7) secured to the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0).
5. Date mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control wheel (12) comprises a third drive level (12.6) for driving the date wheel (10) by three additional steps at the end of the last day of a month comprising 28 days.
6. Date mechanism according to Claim 5, characterized in that the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) comprises at least two arms (10.01, 10.02) of different lengths which are intended respectively to collaborate with the second drive level (12.4) and with the third drive level (12.6).
7. Date mechanism according to one of Claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the third drive level (12.6) has actuation zones (12.62) situated on branches, the second level (12.4) having actuation zones (12.42) intercalated between the branches of the third level (12.6), the said actuation zones (12.42, 12.62) being symmetrical with respect to a radius of the control wheel (12), allowing the jumping end-of-month wheel to be actuated in both directions of rotation.
8. Date mechanism according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said branches have a shape similar to a branch of a Maltese cross, and the actuation zones (12.42) of the second level (12.4) are in the shape of a U, open to the outside.
9. Date mechanism according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the annual cam (10.1) is associated with a bissextile cam (10.8) designed to effect one revolution in four years and to position, every four years, in the February notch of the cam, a cam portion having a larger radius than the February portion of the annual cam (10.1),
   and in that the feeler-spindle (10.2) is designed to collaborate with either the annual cam (10.1) or the bissextile cam (10.8), according to whether the bissextile cam (10.8) protrudes radially beyond the annual cam (10.1).
10. Date mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized in that the annual cam (10.1) is secured to a pinion (10.9) in mesh with a first stage of an intermediate wheel (10.10) which comprises a second stage likewise in mesh with a bissextile drive plate (10.11) secured to the bissextile cam (10.8), the gear ratios being determined so that the bissextile cam (10.8) effects one revolution in four years.
11. Date mechanism according to one of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) comprises three arms.
12. Date mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the date wheel (10) further bears a jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) locking system (10.12) designed to block the rotation of this wheel with reference to its axis, at least when the said jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) is collaborating with the control wheel (12).
13. Date mechanism according to Claim 12, characterized in that the locking system (10.12) comprises a locking lever (10.13), positioned by a locking cam (16), mounted fixed at the centre of the date wheel (10) which pivots with reference thereto, the locking lever (10.13) comprising a lug (10.14) able to collaborate with the jumping end-of-month wheel (10.0) to block its rotation.
14. Timepiece comprising a date mechanism according to one of the preceding claims.

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