CH715027B1 - Timepiece with striking mechanism and release safety device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece (1000) with a striking mechanism (100) with a detent ratchet (2) cooperating with a passing actuation pawl (3) controlled by a movement or a repeater pawl (4) operable by a user, comprising a disengagement lever (6) preventing access to said pawl (3; 4) to said ratchet (2) under the action of a reversing rocker (7) operable by an earthing rod time (8), or by a main ringtone or melody selection command (10), or by a stop command, and comprising a triggering safety device during a ringtone or melody selection, arranged to prevent the triggering of any ringing by said movement or by the user, and which comprises a trigger safety rocker (20) the pivoting of which, under action on said main control (10), moves any pawl (3; 4) away from said trigger ratchet (2).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a movement and a striking mechanism, which comprises a striking driving mobile carrying a trigger ratchet with which is arranged to cooperate at least one actuating pawl on passage controlled by said movement or a repeating ratchet by a trigger rocker on demand operable by a user, said striking mechanism comprising a striking release lever capable of preventing access of a said pawl to said trigger ratchet under the action of a ringtone inversion rocker which can be operated either by a time-setting stem included in said movement, or else by a main ringtone or melody selection control included in said striking mechanism , or by a stop mechanism in the event of insufficient energy resource that said ringing mechanism comprises.

[0002] The invention relates to the field of clockwork sound display mechanisms, and in particular striking timepieces and/or music boxes, for the execution of ringtones, chimes, melodies in passing or Requirement. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of musical watches, with a mechanical striking and/or melody-playing movement.

Background of the invention

[0003] Clockwork striking mechanisms are grand complications, complex as much by the number and complexity of the kinematics of their components, as by the modes of operation of which they are capable. For watches with additional complications such as a minute repeater, security management is very complex, and it is difficult to block passing bells to let a minute repeater play, or conversely to block the launch of a repeater minutes when a passing chime approaches, to prevent a minute repeater from being restarted when a repeat cycle has just been launched, to prevent a timer setting while a chime is running, or other, these safeties generally implement a fairly large number of insulators, which further complicates the mechanism and the risks of interference.

[0004] The problem is even more delicate for a timepiece capable of operating according to different ringing modes, with differentiated melodies, in particular a chime, or even with different sets of gongs, when this timepiece comprises means selection of ringing mode, melody, stamps. And it is a question of ensuring total security, not only of the components of the striking mechanism or of the musical mechanism, but also of this selection mechanism, which is also complex. It is particularly necessary to prevent the accumulation of stresses in the mechanism, in particular at the level of the lifts, and in particular to prevent any collision between the watch parts and the lifts.

[0005] The patents EP2947523B1, EP3096189B1, EP3136188B1, and the applications CH713279A2, CH714016A2, CH714017A2, CH714018A2, by the same applicant, already address various aspects of this difficult problem, since it is a question, on the one hand, of preventing the user to launch an action of selecting or triggering a ringtone or a melody at an inopportune moment, and on the other hand to prevent the mechanism of the timepiece from starting a ringtone or melody cycle when the user is performing an action on some of the manual control means of this timepiece. In particular, application CH714362A2 by the same applicant presents a time-setting safety mechanism, for a regulator striking mechanism.

Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention proposes more particularly to prevent any triggering of ringing or melody execution, when the user is in the process of operating the manual selection means. To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece according to claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where: FIGS. 1 to 20 represent, schematically and partially, the same ringing mechanism according to the invention, with a manual control for ringing mode and/or melody selection, at different successive instants, in groups of four figures, respectively in recto and verso plan, and in detail at the two ends of a trigger safety rocker: Figures 1 to 4 in the rest position, the manual control being inoperative; Figures 5 to 12 illustrate a first angular stroke: Figures 5 to 8 at the start of a pressure on the manual control in a first part of the first angular stroke; Figures 9 to 12 during the continuation of this pressure on the manual control, in a second part of the first angular stroke; figures 13 to 20 illustrate a second angular stroke: Figures 13 to 16 at the end of the idle stroke, in a position where the safety is engaged; FIGS. 17 to 20 at the end of the pressure stroke on the manual control, the change of ringing or melody mode then being operated; Figures 21 to 24 illustrate the return to the rest position; FIGS. 25 to 38 represent, schematically, each in front and back plan view and in perspective, the main components of the striking mechanism; Figure 25 shows a bell release lever; FIG. 26 represents an assembled driving set, comprising a detent ratchet; FIG. 27 represents an intermediate trigger rocker, comprising an actuation pawl on passage, for triggering the chime by movement; FIG. 28 represents a grand ringing engagement star; FIG. 29 represents a trigger-on-demand flip-flop, carrying a repeat pawl, for triggering the ringtone by the user; Figure 30 shows a clutch release rocker; FIG. 31 represents a ringing inversion flip-flop; Figure 32 shows an interlock flip-flop; FIG. 33 represents a column wheel; FIG. 34 represents a column-wheel jumper; FIG. 35 shows a main control latch, in particular a column-wheel control latch; FIG. 36 represents a trigger safety flip-flop, specific to the invention; Fig. 37 shows a column wheel control spring; FIG. 38 represents a trigger safety latch spring; FIG. 39 is a view similar to FIG. 2, and on which is indicated in phantom a cutting trajectory, according to which the section of FIG. 40 and its detail of FIG. 41 are visible; FIGS. 42 to 49 illustrate, in plan views, an additional safety mechanism, in conjunction with a minute part that comprises the striking mechanism, and which is intended to prohibit a selection when a passing chime or a launched chime is operating by a minute repeater or the like, this additional safety mechanism comprising a melody selection safety rocker arranged to bear against the minute piece, and hinged with a ringtone selection lock, which is arranged to cooperate with the rocker main command: FIG. 42 illustrates the configuration where the bell is at rest, and where the security is triggered; FIG. 43 illustrates the configuration where ringing is in progress, and where the security is engaged; Figures 44 and 45 are similar to Figures 42 and 43 respectively, components are not shown, so as to better visualize the mechanism; Figure 46 shows the minute part, which has a track concentric with its pivot axis, interrupted by a clearance ramp; Figure 47 shows the melody select safety flip-flop; FIG. 48 represents the melody selection latch, which is a cam cooperating with the main control rocker of FIG. 35; Figure 49 shows a melody selection safety toggle spring, which pushes the melody towards the minute piece; FIG. 50 is a block diagram representing a timepiece with a movement, a manual sound display control on demand, and a striking mechanism according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to a timepiece 1000, more particularly a watch, comprising a movement 500 and a striking mechanism 100 Such a timepiece 1000 can also be a music box, or include a music box .

[0009] François LECOULTRE's book "Les montres complexes", Editions horlogères, Bienne (Switzerland), 1985, ISBN 2-88175-000-1, describes in detail the basic mechanisms constituting striking mechanisms, on pages 97 to 205, under different chapters: ringtones, antique repeat, modern quarter repeat, simplified repetition, half-quarter repeat, Breguet half-quarter repeater, five minute repeat, minute repeater, big ringtone.

[0010] Unless necessary, these basic mechanisms will not be repeated here in detail, the ringtone specialist will be able to find their constitution in this universal reference work, in particular in the last two chapters cited above.

[0011] The striking mechanism 100 comprises, conventionally, at least one reference mobile, and preferably a plurality of reference mobiles, comprising snails and/or time reference stars, and in particular a minute snail, a cochlea of the quarters, a cochlea of the hours.

This ringing mechanism 100 also includes at least one mobile ringing trainer 1, as set out in particular in the chapter “Grande Sonnerie” of the book “Les Montres Complicates” and visible in particular in Figure 40 of this book. This striking trainer mobile 1 conventionally includes a trigger ratchet 2 and a rack pinion.

[0013] The striking mechanism 100 cooperates with the movement 500, which drives the reference mobile(s), and of which a particular output is illustrated in FIG. 28, in the non-limiting form of a striking star by the movement, adjusted to a road surface, and comprising four teeth, so as to be able to raise, every quarter of an hour, an intermediate lever triggered by the movement, hereinafter referred to as lifting.

[0014] The mobile ring trainer 1 thus carries a trigger ratchet 2, which is arranged to cooperate with at least one actuating pawl at the passage 3 controlled by the movement 500, in particular by the cooperation between the star of figure 28 and the latch 73 of figure 32, and as exposed in the application CH714016A2 of the same applicant, or a repetition pawl 4 by a trigger latch on demand 5, visible in figure 29 , operable by a user, for example for a minute repeater control or the like, and as disclosed in the same application CH714016A2 from the same applicant.

The ringing mechanism 100 comprises a ringing release lever 6 able to prevent access of such a pawl 3, 4, to the trigger ratchet 2, under the action of a ringing reverse rocker 7, as described in applications CH714016A2, CH714017A2, CH714018A2, by the same applicant. This ringing inversion rocker 7 can be operated either by a time-setting stem 8 which the movement 500 comprises, or else by a main control 10 for ringing or melody selection which the striking mechanism 100 comprises. , or even by a stop mechanism in the event of insufficient energy resource that the striking mechanism 100 comprises. Such a stop mechanism, arranged to prevent the launch of any ringing when the ringing reserve, in particular at the level of 'a striking barrel or similar, is empty or insufficient, is not illustrated or detailed here, and is the subject of application CH714016A2 from the same applicant.

[0016] According to the invention, the ringing mechanism includes a safety device for triggering during ringtone or melody selection, which is arranged to prevent the triggering of any ringtone, whether by the movement 500 or by a user. . This triggering safety device comprises a triggering safety rocker 20, the pivoting of which, under the action of a ringtone or melody selection made on the main control 10 by a user, moves any pawl 3, 4 away from the trigger ratchet 2. And the striking mechanism 100 comprises elastic return means, which are arranged to return the main control 10 to a single rest position in the absence of action by a user.

[0017] More specifically, the main control 10 comprises a main control rocker 11 pivoting, which carries a control pin 12. This control pin 12 is arranged to cooperate in support, under the action of a main control spring 9, with a first surface 23 of the trigger safety rocker 20 in a first angular stroke allowing triggering maneuvers, and with a second surface 24 of the trigger safety rocker 20 in a second angular stroke of release of the rocker safety trigger 20 prohibiting any bell trigger operation. The trigger safety rocker 20 is pushed towards the control pin 12 by the return of a trigger safety rocker spring 29. The movement 500 includes a fixed pin 28, which serves as a support position for the trigger rocker. trigger safety 20 when the latter is in the rest position.

In the rest position of the main control 10, the control pin 12 faces the first surface 23, from which it is separated by a first non-zero safety distance S1, as shown in Figure 3.

During the first angular stroke, the control pin 12 bears against the first surface 23, as shown in Figure 7, where the trigger safety rocker 20 bears against a fixed pin 28 of the movement 500 , at the start of an action on the pusher of the main control 10, while, in FIG. 11, the control pin 12 is still resting on the first surface 23, but the trigger safety rocker more resting on the fixed pin 28.

During the second angular stroke, the control pin 12 bears against the second surface 24, as long as a force is exerted on the main control 10 by a user, as shown in Figures 15 and 19, where the trigger safety rocker 20 is remote from the fixed pin 28.

[0021] More specifically, the second surface 24 of the trigger safety rocker 20 is adjacent to the first surface 23, from which it is separated by an edge or by an intermediate flat, the crossing of which during an action on the control main 10 corresponds to the end of the first angular stroke, and to the engagement of the security preventing the triggering of any bell.

In the non-limiting variant illustrated by the figures, the first surface 23 is substantially flat, and is separated from the second surface 24, substantially cylindrical, by an edge. The second surface 24 is coaxial with the pivot axis of the main control rocker 11 when the safety is engaged.

In another variant not shown, the first surface 23 and the second surface 24 are two substantially cylindrical surfaces, and substantially centered on the pivot axis of the main control rocker 11, one of which is further away than the other, and are separated by an intermediate plate. And, in the same way, the second surface 24 is coaxial with the pivot axis of the main control rocker 11 when the safety is engaged.

Other arrangements are of course possible, and depend in particular on the space available in the vicinity of the main control 10, which comprises, in the variant illustrated by the figures, a main control rocker 11 on which acts a push-button not represented maneuverable by the user.

[0025] Advantageously, the ringing inversion rocker 7 comprises an eccentric 71, which is arranged to bear against a bearing surface 22 that includes the trigger safety rocker 20, for the fine adjustment of the pivoting stroke of the ringing reversing rocker 7, and to ensure the release of each pawl 3, 4, relative to the trigger ratchet 2.

When the control pin 12 comes into contact with the first surface 23 of the trigger safety rocker 20, the latter comes into contact with the eccentric 71 by its bearing surface 22.

[0027] This security engages during the idle travel of the main control rocker 11: while the control pin 12 moves on the first surface 23, the safety distance gradually changes from a value of a second safety distance S2 to zero value, and ringing inversion rocker 7 begins its travel to drive ringing release lever 6 which disconnects the two pawls 3, 4, keeping them at a distance from trigger ratchet 2.

[0028] When the user makes a melody selection by action on the main control rocker 11, the control pin 12 moves from the first surface 23 to the second surface 24 of the trigger safety rocker 20. fact, the main control rocker 11 comes into contact, with its bearing surface 22, on this eccentric 71 of the striking inversion rocker 7, which then disconnects the pawls 3, 4, by the connection with the lever ringer release button 6.

[0029] In another variant, not shown, the ringing reversing rocker 7 carries a simple pin arranged to cooperate with the bearing surface 22. In yet another variant, not shown, the ringing reversing rocker 7 carries an opening arranged to cooperate with a pin of the release safety lever 20, or with a pin fixed to the plate of the movement 500.

[0030] More particularly, in the rest position of the main control 10, the eccentric 71 faces the bearing surface 22 from which it is separated by the second non-zero safety distance S2, as shown in the figure. 4

During a first part of the first angular stroke, this eccentric 71 faces the bearing surface 22 from which it is still separated by a second non-zero safety distance S2, as seen in Figure 8, at the same instant as in FIG. 7, at the start of an action on the push-button of the main control 10, while the control pin 12 is resting on the first surface 23, and the trigger safety rocker 20 is resting on the fixed pin 28.

During a second part, consecutive to the first part, of the first angular stroke, as shown in Figure 12, at the same time as Figure 11, the eccentric 71 bears against the bearing surface 22 .

During the second angular stroke, the eccentric 71 bears against the bearing surface 22, as long as a force is exerted on the main control 10 by a user, as seen in Figure 16, at the same instant as figure 15, which correspond to the end of the idle run and the end of the safety engagement phase, as well as in figure 20, at the same instant as figure 19, and which corresponds to the end of the race of the pusher, the selection then being made, for example in the form of a change of melody or ringing mode, or even of choice of stamp, or other. This arrangement makes it possible to prevent any breakage of the mechanism.

In the non-limiting version illustrated by the figures, the main ringtone or melody selection control 10 comprises a column wheel 30. And the main control rocker 11 is then a main column wheel control rocker, which comprises a hook 13, which is arranged to drive teeth 31 of column wheel 30 by traction, which is held in position by a column wheel jumper 32. And the main control spring 9 is then a main spring of column wheel control, which comprises at least one pin 93, 94, for its positioning. Patents EP3096189B1 and EP3136188B1 of the same applicant disclose the operation of such a column wheel, in conjunction with such a control rocker.

The first angular stroke, during which the control pin 12 bears against the first surface 23 of the trigger safety rocker 20, corresponds to the idle stroke of the main column wheel control rocker 11 , that is to say that this main column-wheel control flip-flop 11 has not yet come into contact with the column-wheel 30.

[0036] The first surface 23 alone makes it possible to engage the trigger safety according to the invention The second surface 24 of the trigger safety flip-flop 20 makes it possible to keep this active trigger safety, during the rest of the race of the control pin 12 of the main column wheel control rocker 11.

Other variants not shown may include other types of selectors than a column wheel, the hook is then replaced by a control device suitable for this purpose. It is in particular possible to install a cam selector, or a shuttle as for a chronograph. Patent EP2947523B1 by the same applicant thus illustrates melodic selection means. Applications CH 714016 A2, CH 714017 A2, CH 714018 A2 by the same applicant disclose a ring mode selector which includes a cam selector.

In the variant illustrated with a column wheel, the first part of the first angular stroke corresponds to an empty stroke of the main column wheel control rocker 11, between the rest position and the first contact of the hook 13 with column wheel 30.

In a particular variant, the trigger safety rocker 20 comprises a bearing radius 26, which is a mechanical stop safety.

In a particular variant, the ringing inversion rocker 7 is arranged to control a display, visible to a user, of the operative or inoperative mode of the ringtone, depending on its angular position. Such a display can in particular be controlled by a clutch rocker 78, articulated on the ringing inversion rocker 7 and in indirect connection with the control rod 8 of the movement, the operation of which is explained in application CH 714016 A2 of the same depositor, relating to a ringing stop mechanism, and which release rocker 78 carries a shutter visible through a window, or a needle, or other, making it possible to warn the user of the availability or the unavailability of ringtones.

[0041] The mechanism is also advantageously designed to prohibit action on the selection mechanism, during the operation of a passing chime or a minute repeater. To this end, more particularly, the striking mechanism 100 conventionally comprises at least one control part which is a quarter part or a minute part for striking the hour on passage or on command, and comprises at least one cam, which is associated with the control part, and which is arranged to prohibit the pivoting of the main control 10 for ringtone or melody selection when a ringtone or melody play is in progress, as explained in the patent EP3096189B1 of the same applicant, where, for each stage of a striking mechanism which comprises several, such a cam cooperates with the respective quarter part to prevent any action on the control pusher when this quarter part is moving to play a ringtone or melody. In particular, such a cam is advantageously arranged here to cooperate with a minute piece, and pivot to block the main control rocker 11 when playing a ringtone or melody.

[0042] Figures 42 to 49 illustrate the advantageous case where this additional safety mechanism cooperates with the minute piece 90, which is the last to play during the execution of a chime, and which also has the function of stop the bell regulator at the end of the cycle. This additional safety mechanism is intended to prohibit a selection when a passing ringtone or a ringtone launched by a minute repeater or the like is operating, and comprises a melody selection safety rocker 95, which is arranged to rest on the coin. 90 minutes, through a 97 nozzle it features.

[0043] Figures 42 and 44 show the ringtone at rest, this spout 97 rests on a track 910 of the minute piece 90, concentric with its pivot axis. The melody selection safety latch 95 comprises a hinge fork 96 with a tenon 980, which comprises a melody selection latch 98 pivotally mounted on a bridge. This lock 98 is a cam, and comprises a finger 99 capable of occupying, depending on the angular position of the lock 98, either a position in a pocket 150 of the main control rocker 11, delimited by a threshold 15, or a position in face of this threshold 15, in a position where the safety is engaged. A melody selection safety toggle spring 951 which pushes, by an arm 952, the melody selection safety toggle 95 towards the minute piece 90.

[0044] During the ringing game, according to Figures 43 and 45, the minute piece 90 pivots, counter-clockwise in these figures, the beak 97 leaves the track 910 and escapes along a clearing ramp 920, the finger 99 comes opposite the threshold 15 and both the melody selection safety rocker 95 and the lock 28 pivot, the latter clockwise in the figure.

[0045] A pin 999 of the bridge blocks a support face 981 of the lock 98. The safety is engaged, and will not be retriggered until the return of the minute 90 piece to its rest position, after the complete execution of The ring. Patent EP3096189B1 illustrates alternative variants of this additional security mechanism.

The striking mechanism 100 more particularly comprises a minute repeater or another on-demand sound display, which comprises a demand trigger rocker 5 operable by a user, to cause a repeater pawl 4 to cooperate with the ratchet of relaxation 2.

In a variant, the invention relates to such a striking mechanism 100 alone, which is arranged as an additional mechanism on a striking bridge which can be attached to the movement 500.

The invention makes it possible, independently of the other securities mentioned in the other patent applications and patents, cited above from the same applicant, and in particular independently of the judgment subject of application CH714016A2, to ensure the total security of the ring mode and/or melody selection function.

Claims (10)

1. Timepiece (1000) comprising a movement (500) and a striking mechanism (100), which comprises a striking driving mobile (1) carrying a trigger ratchet (2) with which is arranged to cooperate at least one passage actuation pawl (3) controlled by said movement (500) or a repeat pawl (4) by a demand trigger rocker (5) operable by a user, said striking mechanism (100) comprising a bell disengagement lever (6) capable of preventing access of said pawl (3; 4) to said trigger ratchet (2) under the action of a bell reversing rocker (7) and which is operable, either by a time-setting stem (8) which comprises said movement (500), or else by a main control (10) for selecting the ringtone or melody which comprises said striking mechanism (100 ), or else by a stop mechanism in the event of insufficient energy resource that said striking mechanism (100) comprises, characterized terized in that said ringing mechanism comprises a safety device for triggering during ringtone or melody selection, which is arranged to prevent the triggering of any ringtone, by said movement (500) or by the user, and which comprises a trigger safety rocker (20) whose pivoting, under the action of a ringtone or melody selection on said main control (10) by a user, removes any said pawl (3; 4) of said trigger ratchet (2), and in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises elastic return means for returning said main control (10) to a single rest position in the absence of the action of an user. 2. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that said main control (10) comprises a main control rocker (11) pivoting, which carries a control pin (12) which is arranged to cooperate in support, under the action of a main control spring (9), with a first surface (23) of said release safety rocker (20) in a first angular stroke allowing release operations, and with a second surface (24) of said triggering safety rocker (20) in a second angular disengagement travel of said triggering safety rocker (20) prohibiting any bell triggering operation, said triggering safety rocker (20) being pushed towards said control pin (12) by the return of a trigger safety latch spring (29). 3. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 2, characterized in that, in said single rest position of said main control (10), said control pin (12) faces said first surface (23) of which it is separated by a first non-zero safety distance (S1). 4. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, during said first angular stroke which corresponds to an idle stroke of said main control rocker (11), said control pin (12) rests on said first surface (23). 5. Timepiece (1000) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, during said second angular travel, said control pin (12) bears against said second surface (24), as long as a force is exerted on said main control (10) by the user. 6. Timepiece (1000) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said second surface (24) of said trigger safety latch (20) is adjacent to said first surface (23), of which it is separated by a ridge or by an intermediate flat, the crossing of which during an action on said main control (10) corresponds to the end of said first angular stroke 7. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 6, characterized in that said first surface (23) is substantially flat, and separated by an edge from said second surface (24) which is substantially cylindrical. 8. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 6, characterized in that said first surface (23) and said second surface (24) are two substantially cylindrical surfaces and substantially centered on the pivot axis of said main lever of control (11), one of which is further away than the other, and are separated by an intermediate plate. 9. Timepiece (1000) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said striking inversion rocker (7) comprises an eccentric (71) arranged to bear against a bearing surface (22) that said trigger safety latch (20) comprises, for the fine adjustment of the pivoting stroke of said ringing inversion latch (7), and to ensure the release of each said pawl (3; 4) said trigger ratchet (2). 10. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 9, characterized in that in said single rest position of said main control (10), said eccentric (71) faces said bearing surface (22) of which it is separated by a second non-zero safety distance (S2).