Timepiece comprising a striking mechanism

摘要

A timepiece includes a chime mechanism (1) having an hours component (2), a quarters component (4) and a minutes component (6), the hours (2), quarters (4) and minutes (6) components being pivot-mounted about one and the same spindle (3), the quarters component (4) and the minutes component (6) being kinematically linked by a first driving member collaborating with a first driving toothset (34). Out of the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), one includes a second driving toothset (21) and the other includes a second driving member designed to be capable of collaborating with the second driving toothset (21) and of kinematically linking the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), thereby eliminating the dead time between the chimes for the hours and those for the quarters, or between those for the hours and those for the minutes when there isn't a quarter to chime.

主权项

1. A timepiece comprising a striking mechanism comprising a strike-train, at least two strike-hammers arranged to produce sounds of different timbres, an hour lift and a first quarter lift to actuate one of the hammers, a minute lift and a second quarter lift to actuate the other hammer, an hours component comprising a toothed sector arranged to cooperate with the strike-train, an hour-rack arranged to actuate the hour lift and an hour feeler-spindle arranged to cooperate with an hour cam, a quarters component comprising a quarter-rack having a first toothing arranged to actuate the second quarter lift and a second toothing arranged to actuate the second quarter lift, and a quarter feeler-spindle arranged to cooperate with a quarter cam, and a minutes component comprising a minute-rack arranged to actuate the minute lift and a minute feeler-spindle arranged to cooperate with a minute cam, said hour, quarter and minute components being pivotably mounted around a same staff, the quarters component and the minutes component being kinematically connected using a first driving organ cooperating with a first driving toothing, wherein one of the hours component and the quarters component comprises a second driving toothing and the other of the hours component and the quarters component comprises a second driving organ arranged to be able to cooperate with said second driving toothing and kinematically connect the hours component and the quarters component, by eliminating the dead time between the striking of the hours and that of the quarters, or between that of the hours and that of the minutes when there is no quarter to strike, wherein the strike-train comprises a strike driving wheel comprising, arranged coaxially, a strike-wheel cooperating with an energy source, a first pinion cooperating with the hours component, and a coupling system, said coupling system being part of the strike-train and being arranged to move between a coupled position, in which said strike-wheel is kinematically connected to said first pinion to allow striking, and an uncoupled position, in which said first pinion is disconnected from said strike-wheel to allow preparation for striking.