Timepiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480922-B2
Application number	US-202016801365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

Provided is a timepiece that improves the ease of unwinding a spring. The timepiece has a bridge disposed between the rotor and the main plate when seen in a side view; a pawl lever that is disposed between the rotor and bridge in side view, moves bidirectionally in a direction toward and a direction away from the transmission wheel in conjunction with the rotor, and causes the transmission wheel to turn in one direction; a release mechanism that is disposed to the bridge, and can change between an engaged state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are engaged, and a released state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are not engaged; and a train bridge disposed in side view between the pawl lever and the rotor, and having a first hole disposed to a position superimposed with the release mechanism when seen in a plan view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece comprising:
a main plate;
a barrel including a barrel arbor and a spring;
a ratchet wheel configured to rotate with the barrel arbor and wind the spring;
a rotor that rotates centered on a pivot;
a transmission wheel that causes the ratchet wheel to turn;
a bridge disposed between the rotor and the main plate when seen in a side view from a direction perpendicular to the pivot;
a pawl lever that is disposed in the side view between the rotor and the bridge, moves bidirectionally in a direction toward and a direction away from the transmission wheel in conjunction with the rotor, and causes the transmission wheel to turn in one direction;
a release mechanism that is disposed on the bridge, and can change between an engaged state, in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are engaged, and a released state, in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are not engaged; and
a train bridge disposed in the side view between the pawl lever and the rotor, and having a first hole located at a position superimposed with the release mechanism when seen in a plan view from a direction parallel to the pivot.

2. The timepiece described in claim 1 , wherein:
the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are axially supported by the main plate and the train bridge.

3. The timepiece described in claim 1 , wherein:
the pawl lever includes two pawl lever parts disposed in plan view with the transmission wheel therebetween;
the release mechanism is an eccentric pin disposed between one of the pawl lever parts and the transmission wheel, and is rotatable between an engaged position where the one pawl lever part and the transmission wheel change to the engaged state, and a release position where the one pawl lever part and the transmission wheel change to the released state; and
the train bridge has a second hole disposed in plan view to a position where part of the second hole is superimposed with the other pawl lever part, and the remaining part of the hole is superimposed with a space between the other pawl lever part and the pawl lever.

4. The timepiece described in claim 1 , wherein:
the pawl lever includes two pawl lever parts disposed in plan view with the transmission wheel therebetween; and
the release mechanism is an eccentric pin disposed between one pawl lever part and the other pawl lever part, and is rotatable between an engaged position where the one pawl lever part and the other pawl lever part change to the engaged state engaging the transmission wheel, and a release position where the one pawl lever part and the other pawl lever part change to the released state not engaged with the transmission wheel.

5. The timepiece described in claim 1 , further comprising:
a position indicator that indicates the engaged state or the released state of the release mechanism.

6. A timepiece comprising:
a main plate;
a barrel including a barrel arbor and a spring;
a ratchet wheel configured to rotate in unison with the barrel arbor and wind the spring;
a rotor that rotates centered on a pivot;
a transmission wheel that causes the ratchet wheel to turn;
a pawl lever that is disposed in a side view from a direction perpendicular to the pivot between the rotor and the main plate, moves bidirectionally in a direction toward and a direction away from the transmission wheel in conjunction with the rotor, and causes the transmission wheel to turn in one direction;
a train bridge disposed in the side view between the pawl lever and the rotor; and
a release mechanism that is disposed on the train bridge, and can change between an engaged state, in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are engaged, and a released state, in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are not engaged.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Mukaiyama Keiichi

Classifications

• G04B11/04

  Pawl constructions therefor, e.g. pawl secured to an oscillating member actuating a ratchet · CPC title

• G04B1/16 Primary

  Barrels; Arbors; Barrel axles (arrangements facilitating the removal of the mainspring G04B33/14) · CPC title

• G04C3/06

  using electromagnetic coupling between electric power source and balance · CPC title

• G04B11/006 Primary

  Clutch mechanism between two rotating members with transfer of movement in only one direction (free running devices) · CPC title

• G04B35/00

  Adjusting the gear train, e.g. the backlash of the arbors, depth of meshing of the gears {(adjusting the escapement G04B15/12)} · CPC title