Mechanical timepiece with stud adjustment mechanism

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6612734
  • Patent Number
    6,612,734
  • Date Filed
    Friday, April 27, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 2, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A mechanical timepiece movement has a mainspring serving as a power source, a wheel train rotated by a rotational force produced by the mainspring for driving a display, and an escapement and speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the wheel train and having a balance with hairspring, an escape wheel and pinion and a pallet fork. A stud holder is rotatably mounted with respect to a central axis of the balance with hairspring and a hairspring holder is attached to the stud holder to undergo movement in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the balance with hairspring. A hairspring has a central portion fixed to the balance with hairspring and an outer portion fixed to the hairspring holder. The hairspring is adjustable by pivoting the hairspring holder.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to a mechanical time piece having a hairspring holder adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a position of a hairspring holder.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




According to a conventional mechanical time piece, as shown in FIG.


6


and

FIG. 7

, a movement (machine body)


1100


of a mechanical time piece is provided with a main plate


1102


constituting a base plate of the movement. A winding stem


1110


is rotatably integrated to a winding stem guide hole


1102




a


of the main plate


1102


. A dial


1104


(shown in

FIG. 7

by an imaginary line) is attached to the movement


1100


.




Generally, in both sides of the main plate, a side thereof having the dial is referred to as “back side” of the movement and a side thereof opposed to the side having the dial is referred to as “front side” of the movement. A train wheel (or wheel train) integrated to the “front side” of the movement is referred to as “front wheel train” and a train wheel integrated to the “back side” of the movement is referred to as “back train wheel” (or “back wheel train”).




The position in the axis line direction of the winding stem


1110


is determined by a switch apparatus including a setting lever


1190


, a yoke


1192


, a yoke spring


1194


and a setting lever jumper


1196


. A winding pinion


1112


is provided rotatably at a guide shaft portion of the winding stem


1110


. When the winding stem


1110


is rotated in the state in which the winding stem


1110


is disposed at a first winding stem position (0-stage) which is the position furthest inward along the stem axis, the winding pinion


1112


is rotated via rotation of a clutch wheel. A crown wheel


1114


is rotated by rotation of the winding pinion


1112


. A ratchet wheel


1116


is rotated by rotation of the crown wheel


1114


. By rotating the ratchet wheel


1116


, a mainspring


1122


contained in a barrel


1120


is wound up. A center wheel & pinion


1124


is rotated by rotation of the barrel


1120


. An escape wheel & pinion


1130


is rotated via rotation of a fourth wheel & pinion


1128


, a third wheel & pinion


1126


and the center wheel & pinion


1124


. The barrel


1120


, the center wheel & pinion


1124


, the third-wheel & pinion


1126


and the fourth wheel & pinion


1128


constitute a front wheel train.




An escapement & speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front wheel train includes a balance with hairspring


1140


, the escape wheel & pinion


1130


and a pallet fork


1142


. The balance with hairspring


1140


includes a balance stem


1140




a


, a balance wheel


1140




b


and a hairspring


1140




c


. Based on rotation of the center wheel & pinion


1124


, a cannon pinion


1150


is simultaneously rotated. A minute hand


1152


attached to the cannon pinion


1150


displays “minute”. The cannon pinion


1150


is provided with a slip mechanism relative to the center pinion & wheel


1124


. Based on rotation of the cannon pinion


1150


, via rotation of a minute wheel (not illustrated), an hour wheel


1154


is rotated. An hour hand


1156


attached to the hour wheel


1154


displays “hour”.




The barrel


1120


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1120


and a barrel bridge


1160


. The center wheel & pinion


1124


, and the third wheel & pinion


1126


, the fourth wheel & pinion


1128


and the escape wheel & pinion


1130


are supported rotatably by the main plate


1102


and a train wheel bridge


1162


. The pallet fork


1142


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1102


and a pallet bridge


1164


. The balance with hairspring


1140


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1102


and a balance bridge


1166


.




The hairspring


1140




c


is a leaf spring in a helical (spiral) shape having a plural turn number. The inner end portion of the hairspring


1140




c


is fixed to an inner hairspring holder


1140




d


fixed to the balance stem


1140




a


. A stud support


1170


is rotatably attached to the balance bridge


1166


. The rotational center of the stud support


1170


is the same as the rotational center of the balance with hairspring


1140


.




As shown in FIG.


6


through

FIG. 9

, a hairspring holder


1172


is fixedly screwed to the stud support


1170


by a hairspring holder screw


1174


. The outer end portion of the hairspring


1140




c


is fixed to the hairspring holder


1172


. In a state in which the hairspring holder screw


1174


is loosened, the hairspring holder


1172


can be moved in a direction in parallel with the axis line of the balance with hairspring


1140


.




A regulator


1168


is attached rotatably to the balance bridge


1166


. A hairspring bridge


1168




a


and a hairspring rod


1168




b


are attached to the regulator


1168


. A portion of the hairspring


1140




c


proximate to the outer end portion is disposed between the hairspring bridge


1168




a


and the hairspring rod


1168




b.






However, according to the conventional mechanical time piece, the hairspring holder can be moved only in a direction in parallel with the axis line of the balance with hairspring. Therefore, in fabricating a highly accurate mechanical time piece, it has been difficult to effectively carry out an operation of aligning the rotational center of the balance with hairspring and the center of the hairspring (the so-called operation of “centering of rotation of hairspring”). That is, according to the operation of centering of rotation of the hairspring, there is needed an operation of adjusting the original shape of the hairspring by using hairspring tweezers.




The operation of adjusting the original shape of the hairspring is a very difficult operation even in the case in which an operator having a highly skilled technique carries out the operation. Therefore, there poses a problem in which fabrication of a highly accurate mechanical time piece requires an operator having a highly skilled technique and a long period of time.




It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical time piece having a hairspring holder adjusting mechanism constituted such that the position of a hairspring holder relative to a rotational center of a balance with hairspring can be adjusted simply and firmly.




It is another object of the invention to provide a highly accurate mechanical time piece capable of easily carrying out adjustment of the original shape of a hairspring and facilitating fabrication thereof.




DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION




According to the invention, there is provided a mechanical time piece characterized in that in a mechanical time piece having a mainspring constituting a power source of the mechanical time piece, a front wheel train rotated by the rotational force from rewinding the mainspring and an escapement & speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front wheel train in which the escapement & speed control apparatus is constituted to include a balance with hairspring alternately repeating right rotation and left rotation, an escape wheel & pinion rotated based on the rotation of the front wheel train and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel & pinion based on an operation of the balance with hairspring, the mechanical time piece comprising a stud holder provided rotatably to a central axis line of a balance with hairspring, a hairspring holder attached to the stud holder to be movable orthogonal to the central axis line of the balance with hairspring, and a hairspring an inner end portion of which is fixed to the balance with hairspring and an outer end portion of which is fixed to the hairspring holder in the mechanical time piece having the mainspring constituting the power source of the mechanical time piece, the front wheel train rotated by the rotational force of rewinding the mainspring and the escapement & speed control apparatus for controlling the rotation of the front wheel train in which the escapement & speed control apparatus is constituted to include the balance with hairspring alternately repeating right rotation and left rotation, the escape wheel & pinion rotated based on the rotation of the front wheel train and the pallet fork for controlling the rotation of the escape wheel & pinion based on the operation of the balance with hairspring.




According to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that an eccentric pin is rotatably attached to the stud holder, the eccentric pin includes an eccentric hole and the hairspring holder is integrated to the eccentric hole.




Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the mechanical time piece further comprises a hairspring holder setscrew for fixing the hairspring holder to the stud holder, wherein the eccentric pin includes a lateral hole formed in a shape of a long hole which is elongated at the opening such that the length thereof orthogonal to the central axis line is long and the length thereof the same direction as the central axis line is short, and the front end of the hairspring holder setscrew penetrates the lateral hole of the eccentric pin and fixes the hairspring holder by pressing on it.




Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the hairspring holder is rotatably integrated to the eccentric pin.




By constituting the mechanical time piece in this way, adjustment of an original shape of the hairspring holder can easily be carried out.




Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, the eccentric pin is rotatably attached to the stud holder and accordingly, fabrication of the mechanical timepiece and adjustment of the hairspring are facilitated.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a plane view showing an outline shape of a front side of a movement of a mechanical time piece according to the invention. (in

FIG. 1

, portions of parts are omitted and bridge members are indicated by imaginary lines).





FIG. 2

is an outline partial sectional view of the movement of the mechanical time piece according to the invention (in

FIG. 2

, portions of parts are omitted).





FIG. 3

is an enlarged partial plane view of a stud support of the mechanical time piece according to the invention.





FIG. 4

is an enlarged partial sectional view of the stud support of the mechanical time piece according to the invention.





FIG. 5

is an enlarged perspective view of an eccentric pin of the mechanical time piece according to the invention.





FIG. 6

is a plane view showing an outline shape of a front side of a movement according to a conventional mechanical time piece (in

FIG. 6

, portions of parts are omitted and bridge members are indicated by imaginary lines).





FIG. 7

is an outline partial sectional view of the movement of the conventional mechanical time piece (in

FIG. 7

, portions of parts are omitted).





FIG. 8

is an enlarged partial plane view of a stud support of the conventional mechanical time piece.





FIG. 9

is an enlarged partial sectional view of the stud support of the conventional mechanical time piece.











BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION




An explanation will be given of embodiments of a mechanical time piece according to the invention in reference to the drawings as follows.




In reference to FIG.


1


and

FIG. 2

, according to an embodiment of a mechanical time piece of the invention, a movement (machine body)


1300


of the mechanical time piece is provided with a main plate


1302


constituting a base plate of the movement. A winding stem


1317


is rotatably integrated to a winding stem guide hole


1302




a


of the main plate


1302


. A dial


1304


(shown in

FIG. 2

by an imaginary line) is attached to the movement


1300


.




The winding stem


1317


is provided with a square portion and a guide shaft portion. A clutch wheel (not illustrated) is integrated to the square portion of the winding stem


1310


. The clutch wheel is provided with a rotational axis line the same as a rotational axis line of the winding stem


1317


. That is, the clutch wheel is provided with a square hole and is provided to rotate based on rotation of the winding stem


1317


by fitting the square portion of the winding stem


1317


to the square hole. The clutch wheel is provided with teeth A and teeth B. The teeth A are provided at the end portion of the clutch wheel proximate to the center of the movement. The tooth B are provided at the end portion of the clutch wheel proximate to an outer side of the movement.




The movement


1300


is provided with a switch apparatus for determining the position of the winding stem


1317


in the axis line direction. The switch apparatus includes a setting lever


1390


, a yoke


1392


, a yoke spring


1394


and a setting lever jumper


1396


. Based on rotation of the setting lever, the position in the rotational axis line of the winding stem


1317


is determined. Based on rotation of the yoke, the position in the rotational axis line direction of the clutch wheel is determined. Based on rotation of the yoke, the position in the rotational axis line direction of the clutch wheel is determined. Based on rotation of the setting lever, the yoke is positioned to two positions in the rotational direction.




A winding pinion


1318


is provided rotatably at the guide shaft portion of the winding stem


1317


. When the winding stem


1317


is rotated in a state in which the winding stem


1317


is disposed at a first winding stem position (0-stage) most proximate to the center of the movement along the rotational axis line, the winding pinion


1318


is constituted to rotate via rotation of the clutch wheel. A crown wheel


1319


is constituted to rotate by rotation of the winding pinion


1312


. A ratchet wheel


1321


is constituted to rotate by rotation of the crown wheel


1319


.




The movement


1300


is provided with a mainspring


1322


contained in a barrel


1320


as its power source. The mainspring


1322


is made of an elastic material having spring performance such as iron. By rotating the ratchet wheel


1321


, the mainspring


1322


is constituted to be capable of being wound up.




A center wheel & pinion


1324


is constituted to rotate by rotation of the barrel


1320


. A third wheel & pinion


1326


is constituted to rotate based on rotation of the center wheel & pinion


1324


. A fourth wheel & pinion


1328


is constituted to rotate based on rotation of the third wheel & pinion


1326


. An escape wheel & pinion


1330


is constituted to rotate based on rotation of the fourth wheel & pinion


1328


. The barrel


1320


, the center wheel & pinion


1324


, the third wheel & pinion


1326


and the fourth wheel & pinion


1328


constitute the front wheel train.




The movement


1300


is provided with an escapement & speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front wheel train. The escapement & speed control apparatus includes a balance with hairspring


1340


repeating right rotation and left rotation at a constant period, the escape wheel & pinion


1330


rotating based on rotation of the front wheel train and a pallet fork


1342


for controlling rotation of the escape wheel & pinion


1330


based on operation of the balance with hairspring


1340


.




The balance with hairspring


1340


includes a balance stem


1340




a


, a balance wheel


1340




b


and a hairspring


1340




c


. The hairspring


1340




c


is made of an elastic metallic material having spring performance such as “elinbar”.




Based on rotation of the center wheel & pinion


1324


, a cannon pinion


1350


is simultaneously rotated. A minute hand


1352


attached to the cannon pinion


1350


is constituted to display “minute”. The cannon pinion


1350


is provided with a slip mechanism having a predetermined slip torque relative to the center wheel & pinion


1324


.




Based on rotation of the cannon pinion


1350


, a minute wheel (not illustrated) is rotated. Based on rotation of the minute wheel, an hour wheel


1354


is rotated. An hour hand


1356


attached to the hour wheel


1354


is constituted to display “hour”.




The barrel complete


1320


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1302


and a barrel bridge


1360


. The center wheel & pinion


1324


, the third wheel & pinion


1326


, the fourth wheel & pinion


1328


and the escape wheel & pinion


1330


are supported rotatably by the main plate


1302


and a wheel train bridge


1362


. The pallet fork


1342


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1302


and a pallet bridge


1364


.




The balance with hairspring


1340


is supported rotatably by the main plate


1302


and a balance bridge


1366


. That is, an upper mortise


1340




a




1


of the balance stem


1340




a


is supported rotatably by a balance upper bearing


1366




a


fixed to the balance bridge


1366


. The balance upper bearing


1366




a


includes a balance upper hole jewel and a balance upper cap jewel. The balance upper hole jewel and the balance upper cap jewel are made of an insulating material such as ruby.




A lower mortise


1340




a




2


of the balance stem


1340




a


is supported rotatably by a balance lower bearing


1302




b


fixed to the main plate


1302


. The balance lower bearing


1302




b


includes a balance lower hole jewel and a balance lower cap jewel. The balance lower hole jewel and the balance lower cap jewel are made of an insulating material such as ruby.




The hairspring


1340




c


is a leaf spring in a helical (spiral) shape having a plurality. The end portion of the hairspring


1340




c


toward the center is fixed to an inner hairspring holder


1340




d


fixed to the balance stem


1340




a


. A stud holder


1310


is rotatably attached to the balance bridge


1366


. The rotational center of the stud holder


1310


is the same as the rotational center of the balance with hairspring


1340


.




Next, an explanation will be given of a detailed structure of the stud holder


1310


of the mechanical time piece according to the invention.




As shown in FIG.


1


through

FIG. 4

, an eccentric pin


1316


is rotatably attached to the stud holder


1310


.




In reference to

FIG. 5

, the eccentric pin


1316


includes a fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


, an eccentric hole


1316




b


, and an outer peripheral cylindrical portion


1316




c


provided with slit portions


1316




d


and a lateral hole


1316




e


. The central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


is eccentric to the central axis line of the eccentric hole


1316




b


of the eccentric pin


1316


. The central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


is the same as the central axis line of the outer peripheral cylindrical portion


1316




c


of the eccentric pin


1316


.




The lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


is provided to penetrate a portion of a wall of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


from an outer periphery of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


to the eccentric hole


1316




b


. Inner wall faces of the lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


are constituted to be orthogonal to the central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


.




The lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


is formed in a shape of a long hole which is elongated at the opening such that the length thereof orthogonal to the central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


is long and the length thereof in the same direction as the central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


is short. For example, the lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


is formed at an angle of a range of 90 through 180 degree relative to the central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a.






Further, as the lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


, the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


may be formed with a plurality of round holes to direct to the central axis line.




As shown in FIG.


1


through

FIG. 4

, a hairspring holder


1312


includes a fitting shaft portion


1312




a


, a slit portion


1312




b


and a cut portion


1312




c.






The outer periphery of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


is rotatably integrated into an eccentric pin hole


1310




a


of the stud holder


1310


. The hairspring holder


1312


is rotatably integrated into the eccentric hole


1316




b


of the eccentric pin


1316


.




The hairspring holder cut portion


1312




c


is provided at an outer peripheral portion of the hairspring holder


1312


. Wall faces of the hairspring holder cut portion


1312




c


are constituted in parallel with the central axis line of the hairspring holder


1312


.




A hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is screwed to a screw hole of the stud holder


1310


. Fixing of the hairspring holder


1312


to the stud holder


1310


is carried out by screwing the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


to the stud holder


1310


in a state in which the front end of the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


penetrates the lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


and presses the cut portion


1312




c


of the hairspring holder


1312


.




The central axis line of the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is constituted to be orthogonal to the central axis line of the fitting cylindrical portion


1316




a


of the eccentric pin


1316


after fixing the hairspring holder


1312


. Further, the central axis line of the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is constituted to be orthogonal to the central axis line of the hairspring holder


1312


after fixing the hairspring holder


1312


.




The end portion of the hairspring


1340




c


toward the periphery is fixed to a hairspring receiving portion provided at a lower end portion of the hairspring holder


1312


.




A regulator


1368


is rotatably attached to the balance bridge


1366


. A hairspring bridge


1368




a


and a hairspring rod


1368




b


are attached to the regulator


1368


. A portion of the hairspring


1340




c


proximate to its peripheral end is disposed between the hairspring bridge


1368




a


and the hairspring rod


1368




b.






The hairspring


1340




c


is elongated and contracted in the radius direction of the hairspring


1340




c


in accordance with the rotational angle the balance with hairspring


1340


. For example, in the state shown by

FIG. 1

, when the balance with hairspring


1340


is rotated in the clockwise direction, the hairspring


1340




c


is contracted toward the center of the balance with hairspring


1340


, and when the balance with hairspring


1340


is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the hairspring


1340




c


is expanded away from the center of the balance with hairspring


1340


.




Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of adjusting the position of the hairspring holder


1312


in the embodiment of the mechanical time piece according to the invention.




In reference to FIG.


1


through

FIG. 4

, the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is loosened and the front end of the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is separated from the wall faces of the hairspring holder cut portion


1312




c


. In such a state in which the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is loosened, the eccentric pin


1316


can be rotated.




Next, a front end of a driver (not illustrated) is inserted into the slit portions


1316




d


of the eccentric pin


1316


and rotated to thereby rotate the eccentric pin


1316


. By rotating the eccentric pin


1316


, a position of the hairspring holder


1312


integrated to the eccentric pin


1316


is changed. That is, by rotating the eccentric pin


1316


, a position of the eccentric hole


1316




b


of the eccentric pin


1316


is changed, as a result, a distance between the central axis line of the eccentric hole


1316




b


of the eccentric pin


1316


and the central axis line of the balance with hairspring


1340


is changed.




Next, a front end of a driver (not illustrated) is inserted into the slit portion


1312




b


of the hairspring holder


1312


and the driver is rotated to thereby rotate the hairspring holder


1312


. Thereby, the position and the direction of the outer end portion of the hairspring


1340




c


can be adjusted highly accurately.




Next, the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


is screwed to the stud holder


1310


by bringing the front end portion of the hairspring holder setscrew


1314


into a state in which the front end portion penetrates the lateral hole


1316




e


of the eccentric pin


1316


and presses the cut portion


1312




c


of the hairspring holder


1312


. Thereby, the position of the outer end portion of the hairspring


1340




c


is determined.




As has been explained above, according to the invention, in the mechanical time piece, there is constructed the constitution having the stud holder provided rotatably to the central axis line of the balance with hairspring (


1340


), the hairspring holder attached to the stud holder to be movable in the direction orthogonal to the central axis line of the balance with hairspring and the hairspring the center-facing end of which is fixed to the balance with hairspring and the periphery-facing end of which is fixed to the hairspring holder and accordingly, the position of the hairspring holder relative to the rotational center of the balance with hairspring can be adjusted simply and firmly and adjustment of the original shape of the hairspring can easily be carried out. Therefore, fabrication of the mechanical time piece of the invention is facilitated.




INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY




The mechanical time piece of the invention is suitable for realizing a highly accurate mechanical time piece constituted to be able to firmly adjust a position of a hairspring holder.



Claims
  • 1. A mechanical timepiece movement comprising: a mainspring serving as a power source of the mechanical timepiece; a front wheel train rotated by a rotational force produced by the mainspring for driving a time-indicating display; and an escapement and speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front wheel train and comprising a balance with hairspring for undergoing repetitive rotation in alternating directions, an escape wheel and pinion mounted to undergo rotation based on the rotation of the front wheel train, and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion based on the repetitive rotation of the balance with hairspring; wherein the balance with hairspring has a stud holder rotatably mounted with respect to a central axis of the balance with hairspring, a hairspring holder attached to the stud holder to undergo movement in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the balance with hairspring, and a hairspring having a central portion fixed to the balance with hairspring and an outer peripheral portion fixed to the hairspring holder so that the hairspring is adjustable by pivoting the hairspring holder.
  • 2. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 1; wherein the balance with hairspring further comprises an eccentric pin rotatably mounted to the stud holder, the eccentric pin having an eccentric hole formed axially therethrough, and wherein the hairspring holder is rotatably disposed in the eccentric hole.
  • 3. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 2; wherein the balance with hairspring further comprises a hairspring holder set screw for fixing the hairspring holder to the stud holder; wherein the eccentric pin has an elongated hole formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof to extend from the outer peripheral surface to the eccentric hole, the elongated hole having a longer length in a circumferential direction of the eccentric pin than in an axial direction thereof; and wherein a front end of the hairspring holder set screw penetrates the elongated hole of the eccentric pin and fixes the hairspring holder by pressing against the hairspring holder.
  • 4. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 3; wherein the hairspring holder is rotatably inserted in the eccentric hole of the eccentric pin.
  • 5. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 1; further comprising a base plate having a first surface for supporting the mainspring, the front wheel train, the escapement and speed control apparatus, the stud holder, and the balance with hairspring.
  • 6. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 5; further comprising a dial mounted to a second surface of the base plate opposite the first surface; and a time-indicating member driven by the front wheel train to cooperate with the dial to indicate time.
  • 7. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 5; further comprising a winding stem guide hole formed in the base plate; and a winding stem inserted in the guide hole to be axially and rotatably movable with respect thereto for winding the mainspring and setting a time.
  • 8. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 1; wherein the front wheel train comprises a barrel containing the mainspring, a center wheel and pinion mounted to undergo rotation with the barrel, and one or more other wheels and pinions mounted to undergo rotation with the center wheel and pinion to drive the time-indicating display.
  • 9. A mechanical timepiece movement according to claim 1; further comprising a cannon wheel mounted to undergo rotation with the front wheel train for driving time-indicating members of the time-indicating display.
  • 10. A timepiece movement comprising: a mainspring; a wheel train rotated by the mainspring; a time-indicating display driven by the wheel train; and a control apparatus for controlling rotation of the wheel train and having a balance with hairspring for undergoing repetitive rotation in alternating directions, the balance with hairspring having a rotating stem, a stud holder rotatably mounted with respect to a central axis of the rotating stem, a hairspring holder attached to the stud holder to undergo movement in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the stem, and a hairspring having a central portion fixed to the stem and an outer peripheral portion fixed to the hairspring holder so that the hairspring is adjustable by pivoting the hairspring holder.
  • 11. A timepiece movement according to claim 10; wherein the control apparatus further comprises an escape wheel and pinion mounted to undergo rotation based on the rotation of the wheel train, and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion based on the repetitive rotation of the balance with hairspring.
  • 12. A timepiece movement according to claim 10; wherein the balance with hairspring further comprises an eccentric pin rotatably mounted to the stud holder, the eccentric pin having an eccentric hole formed axially therethrough, and wherein the hairspring holder is rotatably disposed in the eccentric hole.
  • 13. A timepiece movement according to claim 12; wherein the balance with hairspring further comprises a hairspring holder set screw for fixing the hairspring holder to the stud holder; wherein the eccentric pin has an elongated hole formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof to extend from the outer peripheral surface to the eccentric hole, the elongated hole having a longer length in a circumferential direction of the eccentric pin than in an axial direction thereof; and wherein a front end of the hairspring holder set screw penetrates the elongated hole of the eccentric pin and fixes the hairspring holder by pressing against the hairspring holder.
  • 14. A timepiece movement according to claim 13; wherein the hairspring holder is rotatably inserted in the eccentric hole of the eccentric pin.
  • 15. A timepiece movement according to claim 10; further comprising a base plate having a first surface for supporting the mainspring, the wheel train and the control apparatus.
  • 16. A timepiece movement according to claim 15; further comprising a dial mounted to a second surface of the base plate opposite the first surface; and a time-indicating member driven by the wheel train to cooperate with the dial to indicate time.
  • 17. A timepiece movement according to claim 15; further comprising a winding stem guide hole formed in the base plate; and a winding stem inserted in the guide hole to be axially and rotatably movable with respect thereto for winding the mainspring and setting a time.
  • 18. A timepiece movement according to claim 10; wherein the wheel train comprises a barrel containing the mainspring, a center wheel and pinion mounted to undergo rotation with the barrel, and one or more other wheels and pinions mounted to undergo rotation with the center wheel and pinion to drive the time-indicating display.
  • 19. A timepiece movement according to claim 10; further comprising a cannon wheel mounted to undergo rotation with the front wheel train for driving time-indicating members of the time-indicating display.
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP99/04076 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO01/09687 8/2/2001 WO A
US Referenced Citations (13)
Number Name Date Kind
3274766 Desaules et al. Sep 1966 A
3395532 Schneider Aug 1968 A
3429120 Charpilloz Feb 1969 A
3623314 Schneider Nov 1971 A
3638419 Diersbock Feb 1972 A
3698179 Kaulins Oct 1972 A
3792579 Inagaki Feb 1974 A
3842592 Giger Oct 1974 A
3846612 Augsburger Nov 1974 A
3906714 Schneider Sep 1975 A
3956881 Vuille et al. May 1976 A
4157008 Perrot Jun 1979 A
6554468 Manaka et al. Apr 2003 B1