TECHNICAL FIELDS
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The present invention relates to an electronic
timepiece with indicator hands integrally formed with figures
or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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Conventionally, the electronic timepieces with
indicator hands integrally formed with figures, such as
characters have been utilized.
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In the conventional electronic timepieces with
indicator hands, the hand having a function as an indicator
hand is structured by a needle-like second hand or disk-formed
second hand, wherein the second hand serves also as the
indicator hand. Also, in a conventional electronic timepiece
having an indicator hand to be operated only by operation of
the user, the indicator hand served also as a time hand
indicative of time or the indicator hand operates interacting
with the time hand.
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Consequently, in any of the above electronic
timepieces, there was nothing more than having one indicator
hand serving also for time indication. With one indicator
hand, it was impossible to provide the figure such as a
character with a variety of movements and a variety of
indications.
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Meanwhile, despite there has existed the electronic
timepieces having an indicator hand moving at all times, they
have been nothing more than providing a figure or the like on
a disk-formed second hand or needle-like second hand and could
not have made a variety of indications, such as providing a
variety of movements.
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Meanwhile, where the indicator hand serves also as a
time hand or interacts with the time hand, the figure or the
like to be integrally formed on the indicator hand is
restricted in size making it difficult to use an indicator hand
capable of a variety of indications.
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It is an object of the present invention to provide an
electronic timepiece with indicator hands capable of making
a variety of indications by utilizing a mechanical drive
mechanism.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention adopts a technical structure as
described below in order to achieve the above object.
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That is, an electronic timepiece with indicator hands
of the present invention is characterized by comprising a time
hand to indicate time, first and second indicator hands
separately provided from the time hand, a motor for conveying
rotation of the motor in one direction, and a train wheel for
conveying rotation of the motor and reciprocally rotating the
first and second indicator hands in opposite directions to
each other within a predetermined range. The train wheel
receives one-directional rotation of the motor to
reciprocally rotate the first and second indicator hands
within the predetermined range.
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Here, the train wheel may be structured to have a first
wheel to rotatively drive the first indicator hand, a second
wheel to rotatively drive the second indicator hand, first and
second pinions each formed in part of an circular periphery
and meshing alternately with first wheel and the second wheel,
and has a third wheel to rotate responsive to rotation of the
motor and a wheel for reverse rotation, wherein, when the first
pinion meshes with the first wheel, rotation of the first
pinion is conveyed through the wheel for reverse rotation to
the second wheel, and when the second pinion meshes with the
second wheel, rotation of the second pinion being conveyed
through the wheel for reverse rotation to the first wheel.
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Also, the third wheel may be structured to have the first
and second pinion and a gear to receive rotation of the motor
to be conveyed to the gear and rotate, the second pinion being
out of mesh with the second wheel when the first pinion is in
mesh with the first wheel, and the first pinion is out of mesh
with the first wheel when the second pinion is in mesh with
the second wheel.
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Furthermore, the first and second pinions may be
structured with a same number of teeth.
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Also, the time hand and the indicator hands may be
arranged on a same shaft.
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Incidentally, the electronic timepiece is an electronic
wristwatch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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- Fig. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance
of one concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a rear view of a drive mechanism used in the
one concrete example of the electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention.
- Fig. 3 is a magnified rear view of the drive mechanism
used in the one concrete example of the electronic timepiece
with indicator hands according to the invention.
- Fig. 4 is a B-B sectional view in Fig. 2.
- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary magnified sectional view of Fig.
4.
- Fig. 6 is a front view showing an external appearance
of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention.
- Fig. 7 is a front view showing an external appearance
of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention.
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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
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Hereunder, concrete examples of electronic timepieces
with indicator hands according to the present invention will
be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.
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Fig. 1 is a front view of showing an external appearance
of a concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention, showing an example
of an electronic wristwatch. In Fig. 1, an electronic
wristwatch 100 has time hands comprising a minute hand 101 and
hour hand 102 to indicate time, and is provided with a first
indicator hand 104 integrally formed with a star-shaped figure
106, a second indicator hand 103 integrally formed with a
crescent-shaped figure 105, an dial 107 and an operation
switch 108 for generating music. The indicator hands 103, 104
are arranged between the minute hand 101 and hour hand 102 and
the dial 107.
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As described later, two systems of train wheels are used
having one motor as a drive source different from a motor for
driving the time hands 101, 102 and conveying oppositely
reverse rotation to the indicator hands 103, 104 at a reduction
ratios corresponding to a second hand, thereby rotatively
driving the indicator hands 103, 104 in pair in a manner
reciprocally moving them in opposite directions to each other
at a same rate and within a predetermined range of angle A.
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Fig. 2 is a backside view showing a drive mechanism of
the electronic wristwatch 100 with indicator hands shown in
Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a magnified backside view showing the drive
mechanism of the electronic wristwatch 100 with indicator
hands shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a B-B sectional view in Fig.
2, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary magnified sectional view of Fig.
4, wherein the same parts are denoted by the same reference
numerals.
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In Fig. 2 to Fig. 5, between a main plate 201 and a
support plate 202 are accommodated time hands comprising the
minute hand 101 and the hour hand 102, a drive mechanism for
rotatively driving the pair of indicator hands 103, 104 and
an electronic circuit. Specifically, the structure is
provided as follows.
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A first stepping motor 200, structured by a coil 203,
a stator 204 and a rotor magnet 205, rotates only in one
direction. The stator 204 and the coil 203 are fixed on the
main plate 201 through screws 207, 208.
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A pinion 206 of the rotor magnet 205 is in mesh with a
gear 301 of a wheel 209. A pinion 302 of the wheel 209 is in
mesh with a gear 303 of a wheel 210 as a third wheel. A wheel
210 has a same number of teeth of a first pinion 304 and a second
pinion 305 that are each formed in part of the circumference
and arranged at upper and lower sandwiching the gear 303. That
is, the wheel 210 is in a three-stage structure of the gear
301 and the pinions 304, 305.
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The pinions 304, 305 each alternately are structured to
mesh with an hour wheel 213 as a first wheel and an hour wheel
212 as a second wheel. That is, when the pinion 304 meshes
with the gear 307 of the hour wheel 213, the pinion 305 does
not mesh with the gear 306. When the pinion 304 becomes out
of mesh with the gear 307, the pinion 305 meshes with the gear
306. Also, when the pinion 305 becomes out of mesh with the
gear 306, the pinion 304 structurally meshes with the gear 307.
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The hour wheel 213 is for rotatively driving the
indicator hand 104, and integrally formed with the indicator
hand 104. The hour wheel 212 is for rotatively driving the
indicator hand 103, and integrally formed with the indicator
hand 103.
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On the other hand, between the hour wheel 212 and the
hour wheel 213 are arranged in mesh a same shape of a fourth
wheel 230 and a fifth wheel 229 that are structured such that
the hour wheels 212, 213 rotate at a same speed but in opposite
directions. Due to this, the indicator hand 103 and the
indicator hand 104 are structured to be rotatively driven at
a same speed but in reverse directions to each other.
Accordingly, the crescent-shaped figure 105 integrally formed
on the indicator hand 103 and the star-shaped figure 106
integrally formed on the indicator hand 104 are rotatively
driven at a same speed but in opposite directions to each
other.
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Incidentally, the wheel 210, the hour wheels 212, 213,
the wheels 229, 230 constitute a train wheel to convey rotation
of the motor 200 and reciprocally rotate the first and second
indicator hands 104, 103 each in reverse directions and in a
predetermined range.
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On the other hand, the wristwatch 100 is provided with
a structure to rotatively drive the minute hand 101 and the
hour hand 102. That is, provided are a second stepping motor
222 structured by a coil 219, a stator 220 and a rotor magnet
221 as well as a third train wheel structured by a wheel 214
to rotatively drive the wheels 223, 224 for conveying rotation
of the rotor magnet 221 and the minute wheel 101, and an hour
wheel 215 to rotatively drive the hour wheel 102.
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The hour wheels 212, 213, 215 are concentrically
arranged on a shaft 216 integrally formed with the wheel 214.
Due to this, the minute hand 101, the hour hand 102 and the
indicator hands 103, 104 are arranged on the same shaft.
Consequently, because of unnecessity of an exclusive space for
mounting the indicator hand 103, 104, size reduction is
feasible and united feeling with the design on the dial 107
is possible to provide with.
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Meanwhile, an integrated circuit 217 is incorporated
that incorporates a quartz oscillator 218 constituting an
oscillator circuit and a drive circuit.
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Hereunder, the operation of the present concrete
example will be explained in detail using Fig. 1 to Fig. 5.
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In Fig. 3, when the rotor magnet 205 of the stepping
motor 200 rotate in one direction (arrow direction) and the
pinion 206 rotates in the arrow direction, the wheel 209 whose
gear 301 is in mesh with the pinion 206 rotates in the arrow
direction. The wheel 210 whose gear 303 is in mesh with the
pinion 302 of the wheel 209 rotates in the arrow direction,
and the pinion 305 rotates in a state that the pinion 305 meshes
with the gear 306 of the hour wheel 212. Due to this, the hour
wheel 212 rotates in the solid-lined arrow direction and the
indicator hand 103 rotates in the arrow direction.
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Simultaneously, the wheel 229 whose gear 308 is in mesh
with the gear 306 of the hour wheel 212 rotates in the arrow
direction, and the wheel 230 whose gear 309 is in mesh with
the gear 308 rotates in the arrow direction. Due to this, the
hour wheel 213 whose gear 307 is in mesh with the gear 309
rotates in the broken-lined arrow that is opposite in
direction to the hour wheel 212, and the indicator hand 104
rotates in the arrow direction.
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The above operation is made while the pinion 305 is in
mesh with the gear 306. Due to this, the crescent-shaped
figure integral 105 with the indicator hand 103 rotates a
predetermined angle in the arrow direction, and the
star-shaped figure 106 integral with the indicator hand 104
rotates a same angle at a same speed as the crescent-shaped
figure 105.
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Next, the wheel 210 rotates in the arrow direction from
the state of Fig. 3, and the pinion 305 leaves from the gear
306 and simultaneously the pinion 304 meshes with the gear 307
of the hour wheel 213 and, in this state, rotates in the arrow
direction. Due to this, the hour wheel 213 rotates in the
solid-lined arrow direction, and the indicator hand 104
rotates in the anti-arrow direction.
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At the same time, the wheel 230 whose gear 309 is in mesh
with the gear 307 of the hour wheel 213 rotates in the
anti-arrow direction, and the wheel 229 whose gear 308 is in
mesh with the gear 309 rotates in the anti-arrow direction.
Due to this, the hour wheel 212 whose gear 306 is in mesh with
the gear 308 rotates in the broken-lined arrow direction, and
the indicator hand 103 rotates in the anti-arrow direction.
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The above operation is made while the pinion 304 is in
mesh with the gear 307. Due to this, the crescent-shaped
figure 105 integral with the indicator hand 103 rotates a
predetermined angle in the arrow direction, and the
star-shaped figure 106 integral with the indicator hand 104
rotates a same angle at a same speed as the crescent-shaped
figure 105.
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Next, the wheel 210 further rotates and the pinion 304
rotates and leaves from the gear 307, and simultaneously the
pinion 305 rotates in the arrow direction in the state meshing
with the gear 306 of the hour wheel 212.
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Thereafter, the above operation is repeated thereby
enabling the crescent-shaped figure 105 integral with the
indicator hand 103 and the star-shaped figure 106 integral
with the indicator hand 104 to reciprocally rotatively move
in directions opposite to each other and at a same speed within
a predetermined angle range.
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Fig. 6 is a front view showing an external appearance
of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention.
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In Fig. 6, an electronic wristwatch 100 has time hands
comprising a minute hand 101 and an hour hand 102, and a first
indicator hand 103 integrally formed with an arrow-shaped
figure 801 and a second indicator hand 104 integrally formed
with a heart-shaped figure 802. The indicator hands 103, 104
are arranged between the minute hand 101 and hour hand 102 and
the dial 107. The pair of indicator hands 103, 104 are each
rotatively driven to reciprocally move in directions opposite
to each other at a same speed within a predetermined angular
range C.
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Fig. 7 is a front view showing an external appearance
of another concrete example of an electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according to the invention, wherein the same
parts as in Fig. 1 and Fig 6 are denoted by the same reference
characters.
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In Fig. 7, an electronic wristwatch 100 has time hands
comprising a minute hand 101 and an hour hand 102, and a first
indicator hand 103 integrally formed with an arrow-shaped
figure 801 and a second indicator hand 104 integrally formed
with a heart-shaped figure 802. The indicator hands 103, 104
are arranged between the minute hand 101 and hour hand 102 and
the dial 107. The pair of indicator hands 103, 104 are each
rotatively driven to reciprocally move in directions opposite
to each other at a same speed within a predetermined angular
range D.
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As shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, various forms of
representation can be provided by changing the figures
attached to the indicator hands 103, 104 to various figures
such as characters or letters, or the attaching angle of the
indicator hands 103, 104 or the rotation angular range of the
indicator hands 103, 104.
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As described above, the electronic timepiece with
indicator hands according the concrete examples of the
invention is characterized by comprising time hands 101, 102
to indicate time, first and second indicator hands 104, 103
separately provided from the time hands 101, 102, a motor 200
rotating in one direction, and a train wheel ( wheels 210, 229,
230, hour wheels 212, 213) to convey rotation of the motor 200
and reciprocally rotate the first and second indicator hands
104, 103 each in opposite directions within a predetermined
range.
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Therefore, an electronic wristwatch 100 with indicator
hands can be provided that is provided with indicator hands
103, 104 capable of providing a variety of representations.
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Also, to drive the indicator hands 103, 104 is realized
with one motor. Because there is no need of using a plurality
of motors, structuring is feasible at low cost. Also, where
realized using a forward-reverse rotating motor in place of
the motor 200, problems occur with high consumption power, low
produced torque and as a result a short battery life in the
electronic timepiece. However, the present concrete example
does not pose such problems because of use of a motor rotating
in one direction.
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Also, it becomes possible to indicate such movement as
desirably moving within a certain predetermined range, such
indication as cannot be represented only rotation in one
single direction, e.g., integrally forming character's both
hands or both legs on the two indicator hands 103, 104.
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Also, where figures of both hands are formed integrally
on the indicator hands 103, 104, it is possible to represent
such motions as reciprocally moving pit-a-pat the both hands
within a predetermined range of movement or widely waving the
hand of the character by variously setting the attachment
angle of the indicator hands 103, 104 or displaying to clap
the hands.
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Furthermore, because the indicator hands 103, 104 are
being reciprocally moved at all times, where for example
exhibited at a point of sale, differentiation from other
timepieces is possible to achieve.
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Furthermore, by arranging the indicator hands 103, 104
between the hour hand and the dial, it is possible to provide
a united feel with the design on the dial 107.
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Incidentally, in the above concrete examples, although
the indicator hands 103, 104 were made to rotate at a same
speed, they may be rotated at different speeds from each other
by changing the reduction ratio of the train wheel.
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Also, in the above concrete examples, the indicator
hands 103, 104 were made same in rotation range, it may be made
different.
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Furthermore, in the above concrete examples, the time
hands were structured by the minute hand 101 and the hour hand
102, a second hand may be added thereto.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
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As above, the electronic timepiece according to the
present invention is applicable to various electronic
timepieces ranging from electronic wristwatches to wall
electronic timepieces and desk electronic timepieces.