Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Regulating means – For setting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-03-06
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Regulating means
For setting
C368S196000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196713
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an arrangement for setting the minute hand of a timepiece which has at least minute and second hands, having a setting stem which can be moved axially out of a normal position into a setting position, it being the case that, upon movement of the setting stem out of the normal position into the setting position, a zero setting drive of the second hand can be driven such that it moves the latter into its zero position.
The disadvantage of a known arrangement of this type is that the second hand can only be moved fully into the zero position when the setting stem is forced right into its setting position. If this is not the case, the second hand is only moved more or less, but not fully, into the zero position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is thus to provide an arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction which, while being straightforward to actuate, carries out rapid and complete zero setting of the second hand for the purpose of minute time setting.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that, by virtue of the setting stem being moved out of the normal position in the direction of the setting position, it is possible to initiate operation of a spring-force-operated drive by means of which the zero setting drive of the second hand can be driven such that it moves the latter into its zero position. All that is necessary here is for the setting stem to be moved by a certain minimum distance out of the normal position in the direction of the setting position, without having to reach the setting position fully in order to initiate operation of the drive. This drive then ensures independently that the second hand is moved fully into the zero position.
The setting stem may serve exclusively for the zero setting of the second hand.
If the setting stem is a minute setting stem of the timepiece and the setting position is the minute setting position, in which, by virtue of rotation of the setting stem, the minute hand can be driven such that it can be moved manually, then the setting stem fulfils both the function of initiating operation of the zero setting drive and the function of actuating the minutes setting. Movement of the setting stem into its minute position alone automatically brings about zero setting of the second hand.
If, when the setting stem is located in the setting position, the second hand can be arrested in the zero position by the zero setting drive, then the second hand remains in its zero position until the setting operation of the minute hand has been completed and the timepiece is to be restarted precisely in accordance with, for example, a time signal.
For the purpose of initiating the operation of the drive, it is possible for the lever, in straightforward and space-saving form, to be a two-armed lever, in particular a two-armed angle lever.
A reliably functioning construction of straightforward configuration is achieved if the zero setting drive is a cam-plate drive, of which the cam plate is arranged fixedly on the seconds stem, which bears the second hand, and, upon movement of the setting stem in the direction of the setting position, can be driven by the spring-force-operated drive such that it can be moved into the zero position by a zero setting lever, it being the case that the cam-plate drive is preferably a heart-cam zero setting drive. If the cam plate can be arrested in the zero position by the zero setting lever, then these components serve not just for movement into the zero position, but also for keeping the second hand in the zero position.
Just a small amount of installation space is required if the zero setting lever is a lever which can be pivoted about a spindle parallel to the seconds stem and which acts on the radially peripheral lateral surface of the cam plate.
A straightforward and space-saving setting drive is achieved in that the zero setting drive has a pivot lever which can be pivoted, about a pivot spindle parallel to the seconds stem, between a normal position and a zero setting position, which is forced into its zero setting position by spring action and which can act on the zero setting lever such that it can be moved out of its normal position, in which it is spaced apart from the cam plate, against the cam plate,
The drive may be formed in that, by virtue of the lever, a control plate can be driven such that it can be pivoted about a spindle parallel to the spindle of the lever, it being the case that the control plate has a control curve which can act on an activation surface of the pivot lever, and the pivot lever can be moved out of its normal position into its zero setting position counter to the action of its spring.
If, in this case, the control curve and activation surface are inclined with respect to one another at an angle at which self-locking is ruled out, then the control curve and activation surface slide along one another under the force of the spring action and cause the pivot lever to pivot.
The control curve may be an arc which is equidistant from the spindle of the control plate, and the activation surface may be a slope which is inclined with respect to a radial line to the pivot spindle of the pivot lever, it being the case that, for reasons of the small amount of installation space required, the control curve is an arc section which, in the rest position, butts against the slope of the pivot lever and, in the zero setting position, is disengaged from the slope of the pivot lever.
If the control plate can be pivoted freely relative to the lever over a certain distance, then, at the end of the sliding operation between the control plate and slope, it is disengaged from the slope, as a result of which the spring force acting on the pivot lever serves fully for the purpose of driving the zero setting drive.
The certain distance is limited in a straightforward manner in that arranged on the lever is a stub which engages in a groove which belongs to the control plate and extends over the certain distance in the radial direction in relation to the spindle of the control plate.
In order for the setting stem always to be kept in a defined manner in one of its end positions and, furthermore, for the pivot movement of the lever to be accelerated, it is possible, depending on its pivot position, for the lever to be forced into its rest position or its hand setting position by the action of a catch spring.
If, when the setting stem is located in the setting position, the second hand can be arrested in the zero position by the zero setting drive, then the second hand remains in its zero position until the setting operation of the minute hand has been completed and the timepiece is to be restarted precisely in accordance with, for example, a time signal. For this purpose, by virtue of the setting stem, when the latter is moved out of the normal position into the setting position, a stopping device can be actuated for the purpose of stopping the movement mechanism for the timepiece. This can take place in a straightforward manner in that the stopping device can be actuated by the pivot lever.
The stopping device may have a stopping lever which can be driven such that it can be moved, by the pivot lever, between a normal position, in which it releases the balance wheel of the timepiece, and a stopping position, in which it acts on the balance wheel with a force fit, it being the case that the pivot lever can preferably act on the stopping lever such that it forces said stopping lever away from the balance wheel in the radial direction counter to the force of a spring. For this purpose, that region of the stopping lever which acts on the balance wheel with a force fit is preferably a spring arm.
In order to be able to carry out zero setting of the second hand without the drive of the movement mechanism being affected thereby, the seconds stem may be coupled to the movement mechanism of the timepiece with a force fit.
For this purpose, in a straightforward embodiment, there may be arranged between the seconds stem
Geyer Helmut
Meis Reinhard
Schneider Jens
Farber Martin A.
Lange Uhren GmbH
Miska Vit
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