Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for setting a clock hand, which indicates for example a date in defined positions of a scale. The mechanism comprises a cam disc and a first rake which is connected to the cam disc in a force-transmitting manner and has teeth which engage into the teeth of a pinion and transmit a force. A second rake likewise has teeth that engage into the teeth of the pinion, wherein the second rake exerts a force on the teeth of the pinion that is opposite to the force exerted by the first rake exerts on the pinion. According to the invention, the first rake and the second rake are arranged so as to overlap, and the second rake can likewise be borne pivotally around the first axle. The embodiment has the advantage that it is space-saving and the rakes stabilize one another mutually.

Abstract: The invention proposes a drive module intended to engage with a clock wheel having a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material comprising a lower layer, which forms a substrate, and an upper layer, into which an MEMS type of micromotor is etched, wherein the micromotor has at least one actuator rotatably driving a rotor, characterized in that a pinion arranged coaxially to the rotor is rotatably connected to the rotor and disposed above the rotor, said pinion being provided to engage with the clock wheel in an engagement zone located close to an outer peripheral edge of the plate, that the rotor is disposed on the plate in order to minimize the distance between the outer peripheral edge of the rotor and the outer peripheral edge of the plate corresponding to the engagement zone, and that the diameter of the pinion is larger than that of the rotor so as to protrude relative to the plate into the engagement zone.

Abstract: There is realized a multifunction timepiece constituted to be able to constitute a plurality of types of hand operating train wheels by only changing positions of integrating parts without changing dimensions and shapes of parts of a movement. A movement of a multifunction timepiece includes a first train wheel rotation center, and a second train wheel rotation center. A train wheel for indicating calendar information is arranged to be rotatable relative to one of the first train wheel rotation center, and the second train wheel rotation center. When the first train wheel rotation center is arranged with a train wheel for indicating calendar information, the calendar information can be indicated by a small hand rotated to move by the train wheel, when the second train wheel rotation center is arranged with a fan shape hand operating train wheel for indicating the calendar information, the calendar information can be indicated by a small hand moved in a fan shape operating train wheel.

Abstract: A timepiece display apparatus causes a day hand to move reciprocally by means of center wheel, driven day wheel, cam, lever, and rack. These wheels, cam, lever, and rack can be easily arranged to fit the available space on the main plate of the movement, and the construction of the display apparatus can thus be simplified. Furthermore, locating the cam between the rotary shaft and rack of the lever portion enables arranging a plurality of parts more compactly than if the cam is disposed to a different location, and affords a simple assembly.

Abstract: A gear shifting mechanism intended to be integrated into an horological movement includes a gear pinion rotated by a first wheel of the movement, an element holding a first fly-back heart freely mounted on the gear pinion, and rotated by the first wheel or by a second wheel of the movement. A second fly-back heart is attached to the gear pinion, a gear wheel is mounted freely rotating around the gear pinion and holds a first hammer or also a second hammer pretensioned against the first heart or also the second heart by a first pretensioning spring or also a second pretensioning spring, and a shift wheel being rotatably mounted on the periphery of the gear wheel (4.6) holds a first cam or also a second cam.

Abstract: Watch comprising a mechanism (50) for driving a device (1) that displays a time-dependent value, this drive mechanism (50) itself being driven by the movement of the watch, this watch also having at least one first correction element (42) acting on the display device (50) via a clockwork mechanism (2) of the drive mechanism (50), and at least one second correction element (48) acting directly on the device (1) that displays the time-dependent value, the watch being characterised in that the drive mechanism (50) is arranged so as to drive the device (1) that displays a time-dependent value in both directions when the first correction element (42) is operated, and so as to be overridden when the second correction element (48) is operated, acting directly on the device (1) that displays a time-dependent value.

Abstract: A clock 1000 of the invention includes a dead-weight body, dead-weight body lifting means 100 for lifting the dead-weight body supplied to a lower position to an upper position, a rotation wheel 210 having, at its periphery, plural reception parts 212 which can hold the dead-weight body, and an escapement mechanism which actuates the rotation wheel intermittently. The dead-weight lifting means includes a drive body 110 provided with a spiral drive surface having a horizontal or inclined axis, and a rotation drive source which rotation-drives the drive body around the axis. The dead-weight lifting means is constructed such that the dead-weight body is driven on the drive surface by rotation of the drive body thereby to be translated from the lower position to the upper position. The dead-weight body lifted by the dead-weight lifting means to the upper position is supplied to the upper reception part, whereby the rotation wheel rotates by the predetermined angle.

Abstract: There is realized a multifunction timepiece constituted to be able to constitute a plurality of types of hand operating train wheels by only changing positions of integrating parts without changing dimensions and shapes of parts of a movement. A movement of a multifunction timepiece includes a first train wheel rotation center, and a second train wheel rotation center. A train wheel for indicating calendar information is arranged to be rotatable relative to one of the first train wheel rotation center, and the second train wheel rotation center. When the first train wheel rotation center is arranged with a train wheel for indicating calendar information, the calendar information can be indicated by a small hand rotated to move by the train wheel, when the second train wheel rotation center is arranged with a fan shape hand operating train wheel for indicating the calendar information, the calendar information can be indicated by a small hand moved in a fan shape operating train wheel.

Abstract: Gear for day of the month display mechanism in a watch movement, including: a driving organ (1), a driven organ (50), characterized in that said driving organ (1) is provided with z1 first teeth (120) and z2 second teeth (121), the height of the second teeth (121) being lower than the height of the first teeth (120), and in that said driven organ (50) is provided with z3 third teeth (501) and z4 fourth teeth (503), the height of the third teeth (501) being greater than the height of the fourth teeth (503), the height of the z1 first teeth (120) allowing the z3 third teeth (501) as well as the z4 fourth teeth (503) to be driven, the height of the z2 second teeth (121) allowing however only the z3 third teeth (501) but not the z4 fourth teeth (503) to be driven.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watch movement comprising an annular casing (10), having an external diameter D, which is provided with a central round opening (48) that is defined by an internal diameter d. According to the invention, the gear train (34) comprises a mobile (36) consisting of a minute wheel (36a) and a pinion (36b), a cannon pinion (38), which is driven by the minute wheel (36a) and intended to support a minute hand (40), and an hour wheel (42) which is driven by the pinion (36b) and intended to support an hour hand (44). The cannon pinion (38) and the hour casing (10) and are provided with a central opening that is more or less equal to d. The minute wheel (36a) is provided with a diameter that is slightly smaller than (D?d)/2.

Abstract: A mechanical-type watch movement is disclosed. In one implementation, the movement may include a frame. The frame may support a work train that is periodically driven in rotation by a driving element. The frame may also support an animation part. The animation part may be configured to be visible, and may be arranged to be animated by an oscillating movement that is capable of simulating, for example, a pendulum movement. The movement may also include, supported by the frame, an animation train that meshes with a mobile of the work train, and is kinematically connected to the animation part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio controlled clock movement control system, including two stepper motors, two gearings, and a photo electronic control unit. The two stepper motors are operated independently each one driving a gearing, where the first gearing contains a second wheel, and the second gearing contains an hour wheel and a minute wheel. The photo electronic control unit contains a first photo detector, a second photo detector, and a light source. Multiple through holes are formed in succession over one sector near the rim of the second and minute wheels, which are moved in the direction of rotation over the photo detectors that undertakes to check the minute and second wheels for the zero alignment. Therefore, a radio controlled clock having the present clock movement control system can be self reset in a fast manner.

Abstract: Watch movement comprising a housing (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) and a gear train, formed from a series of spindles (36, 38, 40, 42), pivotably mounted on the housing, of which a first of said spindles (42) is provided with a shank (42a), for fixing a first hand (16) and a second of said spindles (50) is provided with a cylinder (50b), arranged co-axially to said shank, for fixing a second hand (20). According to the invention, the second spindle (50) is rotationally mounted on said housing (34) by means of a ball bearing (54).

Abstract: To realize a chronograph timepiece capable of firmly and simultaneously zeroing an hour heart cam, a second heart cam and a minute heart cam. A chronograph timepiece of the invention includes a hammer operated by operating a reset button for controlling to operate to zero an hour chronograph wheel & pinion, a minute chronograph wheel & pinion and a second chronograph wheel & pinion. When the hammer is brought into contact with an hour heart cam, a second heart cam and a minute heart cam, a position of the hammer is determined only by the hour heart cam, the second heart cam and the minute heart cam. When the hammer is brought into contact with the hour heart cam, the second heart cam and the minute heart cam, a direction of a press force exerted to the hammer is constituted to pass a rotational center of the second chronograph wheel.

Abstract: In order to position a clutch plate 20 in a first angular position, in which teeth 2a of a second gear 2 mesh with a pinion 3b of a third gear 3, an abutment 21 and a projection 12 are provided on the clutch plate 20 and a main plate 10, respectively. An abutment surface 21A that is substantially perpendicular to a straight line ? connecting between centers of rotation of the gears 2, 3 is provided on abutment 21. The abutment surface 21A restricts displacement in a direction, in which a distance between the centers of rotation of the gears 2, 3 is decreased, to prevent deformation of the clutch plate 20, which leads to deep meshing of the gears 2, 3, and rotating drive resistance of the gears 2, 3 is maintained small to prevent an increase in loss of mechanical energy and prevents unwanted stoppage of the timepiece 1.

Abstract: An analog chronograph timepiece has a main plate and a setting stem for correcting time information. Defined at the main plate are a reference vertical axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed parallel to a central axis line of the setting stem, and a reference horizontal axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed orthogonal to the main plate reference vertical axis line. The main plate has regions disposed relative to the reference vertical and horizontal lines and in which a time coil block and first and second chronograph coil blocks are selectively arranged.

Abstract: A super-thin hanging clock includes a housing, a transparent cover, and a core that has a first shell, a second shell fitted with the first shell and having a swingable lid to hide the battery and a through hole for the button to pass through, a stator, a PC board with a control circuit, an electrically time-adjusting button, an electronic battery and a transmitting gear system consisting of a rotor, a transmitting gear, a minute gear, a front hour gear and an hour gear, whereby a coil of the stator is powered to rotate the rotor to rotate the transmitting gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the minute gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the front hour gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the hour gear provided with a shaft connected to a shaft of a needle unit, thus making up the super-thin hanging clock.

Abstract: A time keeping device of an electric timepiece comprising one motor that can rotate in the forward direction and the reverse direction, a branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism, wherein the motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display. The time keeping device further comprises a merge mechanism in addition to the branch mechanism, and a plurality of wheel trains that are branched by the branch mechanism and are merged by the merge mechanism. The motor is rotated in the forward direction to drive one wheel train thereby to carry out a mechanical display, and is rotated in the reverse direction to drive the other wheel train thereby to carry out another mechanical display.

Abstract: Watch movement with hand display, comprising mobile elements (44, 42), designed to receive the hour (16) and minute (20) hands indicating current time, mounted pivoting to pivot about a first axis (A—A) arranged substantially at the center of the movement and four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) designed to receive hands displaying complementary functions. According to the invention, the four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) are mounted pivoting on the movement about second (B—B), third (C—C), fourth (ND) and fifth (E—E) axes arranged on a straight line (X—X) perpendicular to them.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a reference wheel and a target wheel each having one or more reflective members for reflecting a light generated from a light emitting device. The position of the reference wheel may be determined when receiving a starting code, in order to align an orifice of the reference wheel with the light emitting device, for allowing the light to be reflected by the reflective member of the target wheel. The reflective members of the target wheel are arranged in a binary code sequence for determining the position of the target wheel relative to the reference wheel.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a light emitting device for generating a light, and one or more rotary wheels having one or more light receiving orifices, and one or more reflective members attached onto the sides of the rotary wheels for reflecting the light generated by the light emitting device and emitted through the orifices of the rotary wheels. The orifices may be easily and precisely formed in the rotary wheels while forming the rotary wheels, and the reflective members may be easily attached onto the rotary wheels without precisely positioning relative to the rotary wheels.

Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece has a rotor mounted to undergo rotation. A first indicator wheel has a first cylindrical portion and undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the rotor. A second indicator wheel is coaxial with the first indicator wheel and undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the first indicator wheel. The second indicator wheel has a second cylindrical portion extending through the first cylindrical portion of the first indicator wheel. A third indicator wheel is coaxial with the first and second indicator wheels and undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the second indicator wheel. The third indicator wheel having a shaft portion extending through the second cylindrical portion the second indicator wheel.

Abstract: A super-thin hanging clock includes a housing, a transparent cover, and a core that has a first shell, a second shell fitted with the first shell and having a swingable lid to hide the battery and a through hole for the button to pass through, a stator, a PC board with a control circuit, an electrically time-adjusting button, an electronic battery and a transmitting gear system consisting of a rotor, a transmitting gear, a minute gear, a front hour gear and an hour gear, whereby a coil of the stator is powered to rotate the rotor to rotate the transmitting gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the minute gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the front hour gear provided with a toothed shaft engaging the hour gear provided with a shaft connected to a shaft of a needle unit, thus making up the super-thin hanging clock.

Abstract: To provide a hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece whose ability has been improved. As to a spring having a flat portion and a bent portion, the flat portion is disposed between a second chronograph wheel and a center wheel, and the bent portion is sandwiched and supported under a pressurized state by a train wheel bridge and a bottom plate. By this, the spring portion prevents a hand motion irregularity of the second chronograph wheel by the fact that the second chronograph wheel is pressure-contacted with the train wheel bridge. Further, by forming a gap between the second chronograph wheel and the center wheel, an accompanying rotation between the second center wheel and the center wheel is prevented.

Abstract: A timepiece movement (10) is disclosed as including an hour-wheel (12) with an hour-shaft (12a) to which an hour-hand is securable, a minute-wheel (14) with a minute-shaft (14a) to which a minute-hand is securable, a seconds-wheel (16) with a seconds-shaft (16a) to which a seconds-hand is securable, a light emitter (18) for emitting light, and a light receiver (20) for receiving the light emitted by the light emitter (18), in which the hour-shaft (12a) includes a first aperture (12b), the minute-shaft (14a) includes a second aperture (14b) and the seconds-wheel (16) includes a third aperture (16b), and the apertures (12b, 14b, 16b) allow the light emitted by the light emitter (18) to pass through, and to be received by the light receiver (20) only when the hour-wheel (12), the minute-wheel (14) and the seconds-wheel (16) are in a respective predetermined reference position.

Abstract: Watch movement comprising a housing (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) and a gear train, formed from a series of spindles (36, 38, 40, 42), pivotably mounted on the housing, of which a first of said spindles (42) is provided with a shank (42a), for fixing a first hand (16) and a second of said spindles (50) is provided with a cylinder (50b), arranged co-axially to said shank, for fixing a second hand (20). According to the invention, the second spindle (50) is rotationally mounted on said housing (34) by means of a ball bearing (54).

Abstract: The invention concerns the structure of a timepiece movement, more particularly the structure of the hour wheel (1), the inside of whose pipe (4) includes an annular bulge (6) co-operating with an annular groove (22) arranged on the outer wall of the pipe (21) of the cannon-pinion (7). Thus, the hour wheel is snap-fitted onto the movement, without it being necessary to provide an additional part for this purpose, and its toothed wheel (3) cannot therefore be released from the motion-work pinion (19) during transport of the movement.

Abstract: An intermittent feed mechanism has a counting wheel and a cam balancer mounted on the counting wheel and having a hole. A feed pawl is mounted on the cam balancer and has a spring portion and a pawl portion. The pawl portion of the feed pawl has a protrusion disposed in the hole of the cam balancer and pressed against an edge portion of the hole by a biasing force of the spring portion.

Abstract: In an analog electronic timepiece in which the rotation of a rotor (1a) step motor (1) is decelerated through train wheels before it is transmitted an hour hand (17) and a minute hand (15), the gravity center of a center wheel composed of a center wheel gear (9), a center wheel pinion (10), and a center wheel shaft (11) to which the minute hand (15) is mounted is displaced from the axis of the center wheel shaft (11) to within an angle range of less than ±90° with respect to the opposite direction to a direction in which a time indicating part (15a) of the minute hand (15) extends so as to reduce a moment on the center wheel shaft (11) caused by a combination of the minute hand (15) and the center wheel. This makes it possible to prevent a hand-skip due to disturbance even if the value of holding energy of the step motor (1) is reduced.

Abstract: A microminiature timer having an optical readout is disclosed. The timer can be formed by surface micromachining or LIGA processes on a silicon substrate. The timer includes an integral motor (e.g. an electrostatic motor) that can intermittently wind a mainspring to store mechanical energy for driving a train of meshed timing gears at a rate that is regulated by a verge escapement. Each timing gear contains an optical encoder that can be read out with one or more light beams (e.g. from a laser or light-emitting diode) to recover timing information. In the event that electrical power to the timer is temporarily interrupted, the mechanical clock formed by the meshed timing gears and verge escapement can continue to operate, generating accurate timing information that can be read out when the power is restored.

Abstract: A timepiece movement comprises a first luminous element for emitting light, a second luminous element for emitting light, and a light-receiving element for receiving the light emitted by the first and second luminous elements. A second wheel has an aperture through which light from the first luminous element may pass and a reflecting portion. A first transmitting wheel transmits a rotational drive to the second wheel as a function of second time and has an aperture through which light from the first luminous element may pass and which is positioned to become aligned with the aperture of the second wheel. A rotational minute wheel has apertures disposed at equal angular intervals and through which light from the second luminous element may pass. A rotational hour wheel has apertures through which light from the second luminous element may pass.

Abstract: A timepiece movement comprises a light-emitting device for emitting light and a light-receiving device for receiving the light emitted from the light-emitting device. An hour wheel has a plurality of apertures through which light from the light-emitting device may pass. A minute wheel has an aperture through which light from the light-emitting device may pass, the aperture being positioned to become aligned with respective ones of the apertures of the hour wheel during rotation of the minute and hour wheels. Minute and hour wheel gear trains respectively rotate the minute wheel and the hour wheel as a function of minute and hour time.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clockwork movement comprising a lower plate (1) situated on the side of the dial (19), a bridge (2), an upper plate (3) and a rotary shaft (10) which passes through a guiding tube (15) mounted in the bridge (2) and the lower plate (1).The tube (15) has two opposite shoulders (21, 26) which abut respectively against the bridge and the plate to maintain a determined gap between the latter. Three tubes of this type are preferably provided, corresponding to three shafts (10) which may be shafts of chronograph counter hands. At least one of the tubes (15) has an external bearing surface (22) which assures the positioning of a printed circuit board (24).The invention applies to any type of watch, in particular to chronograph watches.

Abstract: A chronograph mechanism comprises a coupling member (17) engaging, on the one hand, with a pinion (15") solid with the seconds wheel and, on the other hand, with the chronograph's seconds wheel (18). This coupling member (17) also carries a retractable finger (27) adapted to drive, each turn, the first rotatable member (35) of a cinematic transmission connecting together a rotatable member (38) of the minutes wheel to that of the hours counter (41). This transmission is indexed, between two drives by the retractable finger (27), by a jumper (51) engaged in an intermediate wheel (37) of this transmission. The coupling member (17) is controlled by two levers (44, 45), one lever (44) carrying a pin (44c) which, in the uncoupled position, locks the jumper (51) in the intermediate wheel (37)'s toothing. The minutes and hours counter rotatable members (38, 41), solid with zero setting cams (42, 43), are friction fitted on their respective axles.

Abstract: A gear train structure of an electronic watch which is high in hand indication accuracy and which eliminates the occurrence of stopping of the watch due to dust, nap or the like. The electronic watch gear train structure includes a second wheel 13 having a minute hand attached thereto, and a braking wheel 15 for applying to the second wheel 13 a rotary torque of a reverse direction to a direction of rotation of the second wheel 13. The braking Wheel 15 includes a gear adapted to mesh with the second wheel 13, a spring 21 having one end thereof fastened to a shaft of the gear, and a balance spring frame 23 having a circumferential wall surface for contacting with the free end side of the spring 21.

Abstract: A clock movement includes a circuit board, first and second motors, a minute wheel connected to the first motor by a first gear train and an hour wheel connected to the second motor by a second gear train. The first and second gear trains preferably extend in a first direction, and the first and second motors are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the first and second gear trains and extend in a second direction transverse to the first direction. A first detection device detects when the minute hand is in a predetermined reference position and a second detection device detects when the hour wheel is in a predetermined reference position. The first detection device includes a minute detection sensor mounted on the circuit board and having a first light-emitting device and a first light-receiving device. The second detection device includes an hour detection sensor mounted on the circuit board and having a second light-emitting device and a second light-receiving device.

Abstract: A dial train of a clock is suspended by a plurality of lines. The arbors of the dial train are pivotally coupled permitting the dial train shape to change as the suspension is altered. These new features result in a dial train that is hung rather than placed which permits the dial train to be viewed and enjoyed from a completely new perspective.

Abstract: A gear train structure of an electronic watch which is high in hand indication accuracy and which eliminates the occurrence of stopping of the watch due to dust, nap or the like. The electronic watch gear train structure includes a second wheel 13 having a minute hand attached thereto, and a braking wheel 15 for applying to the second wheel 13 a rotary torque of a reverse direction to a direction of rotation of the second wheel 13. The braking Wheel 15 includes a gear adapted to mesh with the second wheel 13, a spring 21 having one end thereof fastened to a shaft of the gear, and a balance spring frame 23 having a circumferential wall surface for contacting with the free end side of the spring 21.

Abstract: The movement, of the conventional type with barrel (10) and spring balance, includes two time displays with hands, the hands (3m, 3h, 3s) of one of the displays, arranged opposite one of the principal faces (1) of the movement, being driven in rotation in a known manner by a gear train comprising a toothed center wheel (12) fixed onto an arbor (13) with a pinion (11) meshing with the barrel. Opposite the other principal face (2) is found another time display, the hands (5m, 5h) of which are driven by another gear train (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41), a toothed wheel (35) of which is fixed onto the arbor (13) of the center wheel (12). This arrangement permits reducing to a minimum the height of the other gear train and to guarantee the same small backlash for the hands of both displays. The barrel spring (10) is wound by an automatic winding arrangement comprising an oscillating mass (7) arranged opposite the other principal face (2) of the movement.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a main plate and gear train bridge with a center wheel and pinion supported therebetween by one or more bearing members integrally formed in the main plate and gear train bridge. A plurality of springs integrally formed in said plate and bridge are used for positioning internal members of the timepiece relative to each other. Additional similar springs are used for fixing the frame structure to the casing of the timepiece. A pressing plate can be connected to the main plate and includes one or more leaf springs for fixing a back cover of the timepiece away from the frame structure. One or more of the plates or bridge can be electrically conductive for delivery of current to an internal member.

Abstract: A manually or automatically wound extra-thin watch movement, comprising at least one barrel (3) and in which all the wheel sets are assembled in cantilever on one sole base plate (1) with the help of one ball bearing only (15 to 21). The ratchet (25) is in the form of a drum surrounding the barrel. It is swivelled by its periphery with the help of at least three rollers, each pivoted on a ball bearing, and the barrel (3) is pivoted within the ratchet by means of a ball bearing (23). This design enables reducing to a minimum the energy losses due to friction.

Abstract: This invention concerns a braking arrangement for a gear wheel. The purpose of the invention is to brake the last wheel in a gear train in order to avoid the latter rotating through unequal angular steps. Such purpose is achieved with the help of an element forming a brake (1) fixed onto a first wheel set (2) of a gear train in a manner to be driven in rotation by the latter, such element (1) exhibiting a friction surface (39) at its periphery brought to bear elastically onto a second wheel set (6) meshing with the first so as to brake such second wheel set (6). The invention is more especially applied to horological and chronograph gearing.

Abstract: Analog timepiece movement adapted for a large diameter, thin energy cell, the movement comprising a molded frame of insulating material having a top central wall, and having depending peripheral side wall portions. A flat bridge of insulating material divides the movement into an inner cavity. A stepping motor and gear train are disposed in the inner cavity and a quartz crystal is disposed outside of the cavity. One of the wheel assemblies is of non-magnetic material and extends through a hole in by the stepping motor stator. The peripheral wall portions and the bridge together define a circular envelope in the outer cavity adapted to locate and contain said energy cell. The movement is substantially elliptical in shape, the ellipse having a minor axis slightly greater than that of the energy cell, and the quartz crystal is disposed on one end of the elliptical frame alongside the energy cell.

Abstract: A movement subassembly adapted for use in either a two hand timepiece or a three hand timepiece, the subassembly having a first set of elements common to both timepieces adapted to cooperate with a second set of components, including at least one intermediate wheel assembly to make up a three hand timepiece movement, the first set also adapted to cooperate with a third set of components, using a different wheel assembly to make a two hand timepiece. The second set components includes a seconds wheel assembly, an intermediate wheel assembly, a third wheel assembly and a once-per-second pulsing integrated circuit. The subassembly frame includes bearings for journaling all of said aforementioned wheel assemblies using a common subassembly.

Abstract: An improved reduction gear assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece movement, comprising a metal pinion member having a toothed pinion and a coaxial stem extending from an abutment surface on said pinion, including (1) a cylindrical portion, (2) a frustum portion tapering from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter (3) a terminating tapered end portion; and a plastic wheel member having a toothed wheel and first and second coaxial journals extending from opposite sides of the. A central passage in the journals has a constricted section therein with a diameter slightly less than that of said larger diameter of said frustum portion on said metal pinion member with the frustum disposed in said constricted passage with a snap fit, whereby a friction drive/slip coupling is provided between the metal frustum portion of the metal pinion member and the constricted passage of the plastic wheel member.

Abstract: A three-handed clock has a single movement to rotationally drive the second, minute and hour hands. The rotary output of the movement is transmitted directly to the second hand and is transmitted through a transmission belt to the minute and hour hands. The use of the transmission belt eliminates the need for a gear train to drive the minute and hour hands thereby providing greater design flexibility and ease of assembly and maintenance.

Abstract: A rotational transmission reducer having plane waving gear mechanism comprises at least a reducer unit of an input member, an output member, and a plane flexible member which lays between the input member and the output member. The reducer unit may be coaxially piled to be a multistage reducer. A typical example is a transmission of a clock or a watch, which can simplify a conventional mechanism and lower the manufacturing cost. The reducer unit functions by some salient portions on the input member pushing the flexible member, to engage a part of a ring gear furnished on the flexible member with another ring gear furnished on the output member. The output member is rotated by differential pitches of aforesaid two ring gears. For a clock or watch transmission, the ring gear on the output member is an independent member joined frictionally with a substance of the output member so that they can be slid relatively for time adjustment.

Abstract: A clock movement for table or wall clocks, the movement including at least a synchronous motor section and analog display section, the synchronous motor section adapted to receive a fixed cycle pulse signal to rotatably drive analog indicating hands at a fixed speed.The synchronous motor section includes an elongated C-shaped stator disposed within a case and a rotor rotatably supported by the case and rotated between stator poles of the stator, the rotor having a rotor pinion engaged by a first reduction wheel, the rotation of the first reduction wheel being transmitted to the analog indicating hands through a time indicating gear train, both of the first reduction wheel and time indicating gear train being disposed within the case.The gear train from the rotor to the time indicating gear train is disposed on a straight or curved line extending from the central stator axis to provide an elongated configuration to the movement case.

Abstract: A train wheel of an electronic timepiece having more than two motors which drive hand wheels through individual train wheels includes a guide pipe driven and fixed in a bottom plate in the timepiece. The first hand wheel driven by the rotor of the first motor through the first train wheel has a central shaft as its rotational axis. The central shaft of the first hand wheel is inserted into the guide pipe so as to be guided and supported by the inner surface of the guide pipe. The second hand wheel has a central pipe as its rotational axis. The central pipe of the second hand wheel has the guide pipe inserted therein so as to be guided and supported by the outer surface of the guide pipe. Whereby the hand wheels do not come into contact with each other with result that the drive force of one of the hand wheels is not transmitted to the other hand wheel.

Abstract: The movement comprises a bottom-plate (1), a gear-train bridge (2), a center gear (14), an hour wheel (24) and a cell (25). The center gear (14) has a shaft (15) and a wheel (19) frictionally mounted on the shaft (15). Within the thickness of the movement, the frictionally mounted wheel (19) is adjacent the cell (25) to one side and the hours wheel (24) to the other side. The movement is so designed that the center gear (14) and the hours wheel (24) may be fitted into place at the very end of the assembly process.