EP3460587B1 - Guiding system - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a guide system for a timepiece, and a module for a timepiece comprising said system.

State of the art

Devices are known which make it possible to control the movement of an indicator on a watch dial, for example the movement of a time indicator.

The document US6809992 describes a watch where the hour hand moves in a closed circuit which is made in the form of two conchoid-type loops: an inner loop and an outer loop, the loops intersecting at a point of intersection. The buckles are arranged in the face of the watch. The needle is coupled to a rocker which moves in the groove to alternate between the outer loop and the inner loop and vice versa when the rocker arrives at the point of intersection. The rocker comprises three wheels which are in permanent contact with the groove. In the event of impacts, the device does not include means for guiding the rocker in the groove, or for preventing the rocker from being blocked at the point of intersection.

The document WO2011160242 describes a rotating bezel for a timepiece comprising a rotating guide part at its center. When the rotating part is actuated, it comes to bear on sliding members positioned in a peripheral zone of the rotating part and causes their translation in a rectilinear groove, each member being arranged in a groove.

The document EP3211487 describes a calculation mechanism for automatic movement. The mechanism comprises a wheel which carries a cam mounted on said wheel by a linear guide device by rails. The rotation of the wheel causes the cam to rotate. The position of the cam is controlled by a cam control having a finger which fits into a groove in the cam. The movement further comprises a feeler cooperating with the cam to guide the translation or pseudo translation of the cam.

The document EP1953611 describes a drive mechanism, for example a date mechanism, comprising a first correction member and a second correction member which act on the display device. The mechanism can adopt two positions: a position where it drives the display device when the first correction member is actuated; a second position where it is decoupled from the display device and the second correction member acts on the display device.

The patent EP0509965 , of which the applicant is the holder, discloses a device comprising a half-wheel carrying a time indicator. The half-wheel is mounted on a slide which moves in translation and in rotation in a groove. The half-wheel comprises two lugs at the straight ends, the lugs fitting into a slide positioned in the extension of the groove: when the half-wheel is in translation, the lug of the half-wheel is housed in the slide for check the translation of the half-wheel.

Requirement WO2011 / 160242 describes a watch bezel comprising a guide system comprising slides movable in a plane. A support element comes to bear against the slide to press the slide against the bottom of a slide and block the movement of the slide perpendicular to the slide.

The existing guidance systems do not provide satisfactory results in the event of impacts. In the event of an impact, the needle slide sometimes comes out of the groove and the device is no longer in working order.

It also happens that the imprecise positioning of the slide causes a blocking of the half-wheel, the teeth of which no longer mesh correctly with the driving wheel set.

Thus, there is a need for a guide system where the holding of the slide is optimized to improve the precision of the penetration of the teeth.

The device EP0509965 is also complex to assemble. There is a need for a simpler system.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a system free from the limitations of known guidance systems, or which minimizes these limitations.

• au moins une glissière;
• au moins trois goupilles de guidage non alignées liées au coulisseau et destinées à coulisser dans la glissière pour contrôler le déplacement latéral du coulisseau dans le plan;
• un élément d'appui supérieur venant en appui contre le coulisseau pour appuyer le coulisseau contre le fond de la glissière et bloquer le déplacement du coulisseau perpendiculairement au plan.

According to the invention, these aims are achieved in particular by means of a guide system for a timepiece, the system comprising a slide movable along a path in a plane (x, y),

• at least one slide;
• at least three non-aligned guide pins linked to the slide and intended to slide in the slide to control the lateral displacement of the slide in the plane;
• an upper support element bearing against the slide to press the slide against the bottom of the slide and block the movement of the slide perpendicular to the plane.

This solution has the particular advantage over the prior art of providing a guidance system in which the movement of a slide along a path is controlled in three dimensions, that is to say in the plane (x, y) by a slide, and along the axis (z) perpendicular to the plane (x, y) thanks to the upper support element.

The slide can rest directly against the upper support element, or through a shock absorber, as will be seen.

To control the lateral movement of the slide, the system includes a slide along the path so that the guide pins slide in the slide that defines the path.

The guide pins can be driven out or glued or fixed by other means to the slide.

The guide pins are integral with the slide.

The guide pins can be made integrally with the slide.

The guide pins may form a projection which extends from the underside of the slider.

The guide pins are intended to be housed in the slide. When the guide pins are in the slide, their lateral movement is limited by the contact between these pins and the walls of the slide. Thus, the guide pins keep the slide along the path.

Using three pins keeps the slide in the (x, y) plane as it moves along the path.

The pins ensure the stability of the slide, especially in the event of impacts.

The presence of three pins also makes it possible to improve the reliability of the system by improving the precision of the movement of the slide in the slide.

For example, the three guide pins are positioned on the vertices of a triangle.

The guide pins are movable with the slide. Instead of providing guide elements along the path, the guide pins move.

The section of the slides can be V-shaped.

The distal end of the guide pins, i.e. the remote end of the slider, may be tapered, the angle of the cone corresponding to the angle of the bottom of the slider.

The distal end of the guide pins has a section of complementary shape to the section of the slide.

The distal end of the guide pins, in other words the end which is in the slide, in particular in contact with the bottom and / or the walls of the slide, can be made of ruby, or any other hard material ensuring a good coefficient of friction.

The guide pin (s) may include a ruby portion on the distal end.

It is also possible to use guide pins made entirely of rubies.

The use of at least one ruby at the distal end of the guide pins makes it possible to facilitate their movement in the slide. It also improves the strength of the pins and minimizes wear on the contacting parts.

The system also comprises an upper support element bearing against the slide to block the movement of the slide along the (z) axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the slide.

When the guide pins are housed in the slide or slides, the movement of the slide along this axis (z) is blocked by the bottom of the slide; and in the opposite direction by the support element, which makes it possible to maintain the slide in a precise position along z.

Thus, the slide is held between the slide and the support element, which guarantees the lateral stability of the slide in the plane (x, y) and transverse along the axis (z).

The slide can be a closed or open loop.

The slide can include rectilinear, curved, semi-circular and / or circular portions.

In one embodiment, the slide is integral with an internally toothed wheel, an internally toothed half-wheel, or a rack, and driven by a pinion.

The guide system includes at least three pins. If there are four pins, they are positioned on the vertices of a square, rectangle, or other quadrilateral. Using four pins is hyperstatic, but possibly improves the lateral stability of the slide.

In one embodiment, the slide carries a display member, for example an hour indicator, a minute indicator, a second indicator, a calendar or an star indicator. The guidance system makes it possible to control the movement of the display member, for example to make a particular trajectory follow a needle. The system of the invention can also be suitable for driving other indicators above or below the dial, for example to move a star in an elliptical orbit, or a calendar.

According to one embodiment, the bearing element comprises a damper and a plate forming an upper bearing surface, the damper being compressed between the slide and the plate. The shock absorber exerts a bearing force on the slide to press it against the slide. It also makes it possible to compensate for any clearances and tolerance errors, and improves the resistance of the system to shocks.

The shock absorber also has elastic properties, which makes it possible to damp the displacement of the slide along the (z) axis in the event of impacts. For example, the shock absorber can be a compression spring, a coil spring, or a leaf spring.

The plate forming the upper support may be a dial.

The plate forming the upper support may be a guide plate under the dial.

The plate forming the upper support may be provided with a passage slot for the axis of a needle or for another indicator.

The plate forming the upper support may be a mirror.

In one embodiment, the slide is fitted in a support fixed to the plate of the movement or of an additional module.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises two slides along the path. The slide comprises at least two guide pins, so that when the slide moves along the path, the pins move in the two slides simultaneously, each slide cooperating with at least one pin. In this embodiment, the guide pins are housed in two slides.

The two slides can include parallel portions, the spacing of the parallel portions then depends on the spacing of the pins on the slide.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises a circular slide along the path, the slide comprising at least three guide pins, for example positioned along the vertices of a triangle, so that when the slide moves along the path , said pins move simultaneously in the circular slide.

In this last embodiment, the slide is for example mounted on a wheel having internal teeth, said wheel being actuated by a pinion which meshes with the teeth to drive the wheel in rotation. The rotation of the wheel causes the movement of the slide pins in the slide. The trajectory is circular.

The invention also relates to a module for a timepiece comprising at least one guidance system according to the invention. The module is for example a movement.

• Deux systèmes comprenant chacun deux glissières le long de la trajectoire, le coulisseau comprenant au moins trois goupilles de guidage non alignées, de sorte que lorsque le coulisseau se déplace selon la trajectoire, le coulisseau se déplace simultanément dans les deux glissières, chaque glissière coopérant avec au moins une goupille de guidage; ou
• Deux systèmes comprenant chacun une glissière circulaire le long de la trajectoire, le coulisseau comprenant au moins trois goupilles de guidage, de sorte que lorsque le coulisseau se déplace selon la trajectoire, lesdites goupilles se déplacent simultanément dans la glissière circulaire;

In one mode, said module comprises two systems according to the invention:

• Two systems each comprising two slides along the path, the slide comprising at least three non-aligned guide pins, so that when the slide moves along the path, the slide moves simultaneously in the two slides, each slide cooperating with at least one guide pin; or
• Two systems each comprising a circular slide along the path, the slide comprising at least three guide pins, so that when the slide moves along the path, said pins move simultaneously in the circular slide;

• un système comprenant deux glissières le long de la trajectoire, le coulisseau comprenant au moins trois goupilles de guidage non alignées, de sorte que lorsque le coulisseau se déplace selon la trajectoire, le coulisseau se déplace simultanément dans les deux glissières, chaque glissière coopérant avec au moins une goupille de guidage; et
• un système comprenant une glissière circulaire le long de la trajectoire, le coulisseau comprenant au moins trois goupilles de guidage de sorte que lorsque le coulisseau se déplace selon la trajectoire, lesdites goupilles se déplacent simultanément dans la glissière circulaire.

Alternatively, the module includes

• a system comprising two slides along the path, the slide comprising at least three non-aligned guide pins, so that when the slide moves along the path, the slide moves simultaneously in the two slides, each slide cooperating with at minus one guide pin; and
• a system comprising a circular slide along the path, the slide comprising at least three guide pins so that when the slide moves along the path, said pins move simultaneously in the circular slide.

The slide of each system can be coupled to a different member, for example a first display member a second display member, said display members can be time indicators.

The embodiments of the guidance system apply mutatis mutandis to a module according to the invention.

Brief description of the figures

• Les figures 1A et 1B illustrent une vue générale d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, dans deux positions distinctes de l'indicateur des heures.
• La figure 2 est une vue rapprochée du système des figures 1A et 1B ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de coupe du système de la figure 2.
• La figure 4 illustre un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• La figure 5 représente un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention;

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• The figures 1A and 1B illustrate a general view of a first embodiment of the invention, in two distinct positions of the hour indicator.
• The figure 2 is a close-up view of the system of figures 1A and 1B ;
• The figure 3 is a sectional view of the system of the figure 2 .
• The figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention;
• The figure 5 represents a third embodiment of the invention;

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

The figures illustrate several embodiments of the present invention, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

The figure 1A is a top view of the system with the 13 hour hand pointing at 3 o'clock; the figure 1B illustrates the same system with the hour hand pointing at 1 o'clock.

The system 1 illustrated in the figures is mounted on a plate 2 of a movement for a wristwatch (not shown) on the dial side 3. Plate 2 of this example has two guide systems 1, but to facilitate reading, only one system 1 is detailed on the left side of plate 2.

System 1 comprises a slide 4 which moves along the path defined by a slide 5.

The slide 5 is arranged in a support 6 which is fixed to the plate 2. The slide 5 here forms a closed loop, comprising two circular portions 7 connected by two rectilinear portions 8. The rectilinear portions 8 are parallel in themselves and of the same length. . The slide 5 is thus symmetrical with respect to an axis perpendicular (d) to the rectilinear portions 8 which passes through their midpoints.

The end of each rectilinear portion 8 intersects each circular portion 7 at two points of intersection 9: part of each rectilinear portion 8 is thus included in each circular portion 7.

The slider 4 comprises a rectangular base. Guide pins 11 extend under the underside of this slide. In this example, the slide 4 comprises four guide pins 11 positioned at the four vertices, so that the slide 4 rests on the four pins 11.

The pins can be driven into openings passing through the slide, or secured by other means.

In this embodiment, the guide pins 11 are made of ruby, or of another hard material with a low coefficient of friction, for example ceramic. It is also possible to produce guide pins of which only the distal end housed in the slide 5 is made of ruby. This distal end can be formed by a ruby ball or by ceramic. The ruby can be replaced by a carbon coating, for example of the DLC type.

The slide carries an indicator. In this example, the indicator comprises a rod 12 which extends perpendicularly to the plane of the slide 4. This rod 12 can pass through the support plate. The rod 12 carries a display member, here a hand 13, for example an hour, minute or second hand.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1 , the dial 3 comprises two guidance systems 1: a system to the left of the dial to guide the movement of the hour hand and another system to the right of the dial to guide the movement of the minute hand, or vice versa.

The system can include a shock absorber (not shown in the figures), for example a leaf spring, compressed between the slide 4 and a support element, for example a plate provided for this purpose, the glass, a bridge or even the face. internal dial.

The position of the slide 4 perpendicular to the plane of the path is then constrained between the slide and this support element.

This damper makes it possible in particular to compensate for tolerance errors or the play between the slide and the support element. It can be omitted; in this case, the upper face of the slide 4 slides directly under the support element.

The upper face of the slide may be provided with other guide pins engaged in one or more slides under the support element. This variant guarantees very precise positioning, but requires a greater thickness.

The movement of the slide 4 along its path is defined by the slide 5. In the example illustrated, this movement comprises a translational and rotational movement. The slide 4 moves in translation in the rectilinear portions 8. Once the slide is at one end of the rectilinear portions 8, each guide pin 11 is at a point of intersection 9. In this position, the slide 4 can rotate 180 °, then resume translational movement.

The slide 4 is driven in the slide 5 by a pinion 14 which meshes with a half-wheel 15 integral with the slide and having internal teeth 16. The pinion 14 is connected by kinematic connections to a source of energy to actuate the rotation. pinion 14: for example pinion 14 is meshed with the movement of the wristwatch.

The slide 4 is integral with the half-wheel 15. Here, two of the guide pins 11 are driven into the half-wheel 15, as illustrated in the figure. figure 3 , so that when the pinion 14 drives the half-wheel 15, the slide 4 is driven by the half-wheel 15.

The half-wheel 14 comprises a straight segment 17 and a circular segment 18. When the pinion 14 meshes with the straight segment 17, the slide 4 moves in translation in the rectilinear portion 8 of the slide 5. The distance between the slide 4 and the ends of the straight segment 17 is calculated so that, when the pinion 4 arrives at one end of the straight segment 17, the guide pins 11 are on the intersection points 9 of the slide 5. Therefore, the pinion 14 meshes with the circular segment 18, which causes a progressive rotation of the slide 4: when the pinion 14 arrives at the end of the circular segment 18, the slide has performed a 180 ° rotation. Then, the pinion 14 again meshes with the right segment 17 to resume a translation-rotation cycle. This arrangement allows the end of each needle to travel an oval path.

The figure 4 shows a system 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention. System 100 shown on figure 4 is mounted on a plate 102 of a movement, said plate is covered with a dial 103. The plate 102 of this example comprises two guide systems 1,100 but to facilitate reading, only a system 100 is detailed on the right part of the dial 103 because the system 1 (left of the dial) has already been described in the first embodiment.

The system 100 includes a slide 104 which moves along the path defined by a slide 105. In this embodiment, the slide 105 is circular.

The system 100 can include a shock absorber (not shown in the figures), for example a leaf spring, compressed between the slide 104 and a support element, for example a plate provided for this purpose, the mirror, a bridge or even the internal face of the dial.

The position of the slide 104 perpendicular to the plane of the trajectory is then constrained between the slide and this support element.

The movement of the slide 104 along its path is defined by the slide 105. In the example illustrated, this movement comprises a rotational movement centered on the slide 104.

Slider 104 includes a rectangular base. Guide pins 11 extend under the underside of this slider 104. In this example, as in that of the first embodiment, the slider 104 comprises four guide pins 111 positioned at the four vertices, so that the slide 104 rests on the four pins 111.

The slide 104 is driven in the slide 105 by a pinion 114 which meshes with a wheel 115 integral with the slide and having an internal toothing 116. The pinion 114 is connected by kinematic links to a source of energy to actuate the rotation of the pinion 114: for example the pinion 114 is meshed with the movement of the wristwatch.

The slider 104 is integral with the wheel 115. Here, the slider 105 is aimed at a carriage with three branches 119, the end of each of the branches being fixed on the wheel 115. Thus, the slider 104 is integral with the wheel 115. via the carriage 119, so that when the pinion 114 drives the wheel 115, the slide 104 is driven by the wheel 115.

The figure 5 shows a system 200 according to a third embodiment. The 200 system shown on figure 5 is mounted on a plate 202 of a movement, said plate is covered with a dial 203. The plate 202 of this example comprises two guide systems 1, 200 but to facilitate reading, only a system 200 is detailed on the part. right of the dial 203 because the system 1 (left of the dial) has already been described in the first embodiment.

System 200 is identical to system 100, except for slide 204 and pins 211. In system 200, slide 204 has a triangular base and is mounted on a carriage 219 with three spreading legs. Each branch of the slide 204 is driven into a branch of the carriage 219 by a pin 211, the slide 204 thus comprising three pins 211.

The pins 211 of the slide 204 move in a circular slide 205.

The carriage 205, on which the slide 204 is fixed, is mounted on a wheel 215 having internal teeth 216. A pinion 214 meshes with the internal teeth 216 to drive the slide 204 in rotation around the central axis 220 passing through the center of slide 204.

On the embodiments of figures 4 and 5 , the dial 103, 203 further comprises a window 121, 221 for displaying the day of the month.

Reference numbers used in figures

1

System according to a first embodiment

2

Platinum

3

Dial side

4

Slide

5

Slide

6

Support

7

Circular portion

8

Straight portion

9

Intersection

11

Guide pin, e.g. taper pin

12

Rod

13

Needle

14

Pinion

15

Half wheel

16

Internal teeth

17

Right segment

18

Circular segment

100

System according to a second embodiment

102

Platinum

103

Dial

104

Slide

105

Slide

106

Support

111

Guide pin, e.g. taper pin

112

Rod

113

Needle

114

Pinion

115

Wheel

116

Internal teeth

119

Three-arm trolley

121

Counter

200

System according to a third embodiment

202

Platinum

203

Dial

204

Slide

205

Slide

206

Support

211

Guide pin, e.g. taper pin

212

Rod

213

Needle

214

Pinion

215

Wheel

216

Internal teeth

219

Three-arm trolley

220

Slider rotation axis

221

Counter

Claims (15)

1. Guiding system (1;100;200) for a timepiece, the system (1;100;200) comprising a slide (4;104;204) movable along a trajectory in a plane (x,y),

   - at least one slide-rail (5;105;205);

   - an upper support element bearing against the slide (4;104;204) to press the slide against the bottom of the slide-rail (5;105;205) and block the movement of the slide (4;104;204) perpendicularly to said plane,

   characterized in that:

   - at least three non-aligned guide pins (11;111;211) connected to the slide for sliding in the slide rail (5;105;205) to control the lateral movement of the slide (4;104;204) in the plane.
2. The system (1;100;200) according to claim 1, wherein the slide (4;104;204) is connected to an inner-toothed wheel (115;215), an inner-toothed half-wheel (15), or a rack, and driven by a pinion (14;114;214).
3. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said guide pins (11;111;211) comprise or consist of a ruby lodged in the slide-rail (5; 105;205).
4. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distal end of said guide pins (11;111;211) is cone-shaped.
5. The system (1;100;200) according to claim 4, wherein the cross-section of said slide-rails (5;15;205) is V-shaped.
6. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slide-rail (5;105;205) comprises portions selected from straight, curved, semicircular, circular portions.
7. The system (1; 100; 200) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said slide (4; 104; 204) carries a display element (13; 113; 213), for example an hour indicator, a minute indicator, a second indicator, a calendar or an astrological indicator.
8. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the upper support member comprises a damper and a plate constituting the upper support member, the damper being compressed between said slide (4;104;204) and said plate.
9. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 8, said upper support element consisting of a dial, a guide plate or a watch glass.
10. The system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said slide-rail (5;105;205) is arranged in a support for attachment to a plate (2;102;202) of a watch movement or a watch module.
11. The system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the system (1) comprises two slide-rails (5) along the trajectory, the slide (4) comprising at least three non-aligned guide pins (11), so that when the slide (4) moves along the trajectory, the slide (4) moves simultaneously in both slide-rails (5), each slide-rail (5) cooperating with at least one of said at least three guide pins (11).
12. The system (100; 200) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the system (100; 200) comprises a circular slide-rail (105; 205) along the trajectory, the slide (104; 204) comprising at least three guide pins (111; 211), so that when the slide (104; 204) moves along the trajectory, said at least three guide pins (111; 211) move simultaneously in the circular slide-rail (104; 204).
13. A module for a timepiece comprising at least one guiding system (1;100;200) according to one of claims 1 to 12.
14. The module according to claim 13, wherein said module comprises

    - two systems (1) according to claim 11 ; or

    - a system (1) according to claim 11 and a system (100; 200) according to claim 12.
15. The module according to claim 13, wherein the slide (4, 104; 204) of each system comprises a display element.

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