Patent Publication Number: US-11042123-B2

Title: Clockwork module

Description:
This application claims priority of European patent application No. EP 15202595.3 filed Dec. 23, 2015, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The invention relates to a clockwork module. The invention also relates to a clockwork movement including such a module. The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, including such a module or such a movement. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a clockwork system. The invention finally relates to a clockwork system obtained using such a method. 
     Clockwork mobile parts are usually designed to cooperate with elastic return means to enable same to be positioned or actuated when performing the different functions of a clockwork movement. These elastic return means are usually springs, in particular leaf springs or wire springs, that are put in place by a watchmaker when assembling the movement. Such positioning operations can be delicate, notably on account of the pre-stressing of the spring, which entails a risk of marking the clockwork mobile part. Furthermore, such springs occupy a significant amount of space, in particular in the plane of the frame of the movement, in relation to the area available inside the clockwork movement. There are alternative designs in which the springs are in the form of washers or metal foils. Nonetheless, assembly of such springs in the movement may be particularly delicate on account of the small size of same. 
     Patent application EP0063543 discloses a pull-out piece pivoted on an axis, the clearance of which is delimited by a support spring. This spring is formed by the end of a stamped blank. Firstly, this solution is particularly bulky. Secondly, the support spring may damage the visible surface of the pull-out piece, depending on the bearing force generated by the spring. 
     Patent application EP2133759 describes a vertical clutch device arranged within a time setting train. The clutch device is provided to prevent the hands from being set outside of predetermined periods by an additional striking mechanism. For this purpose, a setting wheel has an outer circular groove engaging with the free end of a leaf spring, the base of which is attached to a frame of the movement and pre-stressed so that the elasticity of the spring pushes the wheel downwards to keep same in the clutched position. Like in the embodiment in the aforementioned document, such a design occupies a significant surface area in the frame of the movement. 
     Patent application US20070201315 describes a vertical clutch device of a time setting train, which is actuated directly by the time setting stem. A setting wheel, in particular a rotary shaft of the setting wheel, is held in position against the time setting stem by a leaf spring. Like in the solution in the aforementioned document, such a design occupies a significant surface area in the frame of the movement. 
     Patent application WO2012175595 discloses a vertical clutch device of a manual winding mechanism for a movement, in which a first crown wheel has contrate toothing designed to be pressed against the contrate toothing of a second crown wheel under the effect of a metal foil. This latter is designed to be pre-stressed by the winding bridge during assembly of the mechanism inside the movement. The assembly operations of such a structure may be delicate. 
     Patent application CH702420 describes a vertical clutch device of a time setting train. The clutch device is actuated directed by the time setting stem. A setting wheel, in particular a rotary shaft of the setting wheel, is held in position against the time setting stem by a helical spring. This latter is designed to be pre-stressed by a blank during assembly of the mechanism inside the movement. The assembly operations of such a structure may be delicate. 
     The purpose of the invention is to provide a clockwork device to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and to improve the devices known in the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a clockwork module with a simple structure, which is therefore reliable. Furthermore, the clockwork module proposed helps to simplify assembly operations. 
     A clockwork module according to the invention is defined by point 1 as follows: 
     1. A clockwork module including:
         a mobile part including a first functional part and/or a second functional part and an arbor, the arbor having a first axis,   a spring, notably a helical spring,   a casing including a housing having a second axis of translation and/or of rotation of the mobile part,   a first guide surface in the housing,   a first stop in the housing,   a second stop arranged on the mobile part,
 
the arbor being guided by at least the first guide surface, the spring being arranged, notably having been pre-stressed, in the housing between the first and second stops.
       

     Different embodiments of the clockwork module are defined by points 2 to 11 as follows: 
     2. The module as defined in the preceding point, characterized in that the first functional part includes or is a member acting by translation and/or rotation about the second axis, notably a wheel, a toothed sector, a yoke, a lever, a pull-out piece, a cam and/or in that the second functional part includes or is a shape designed to receive or to transmit a force along the second axis, notably a domed shape of the arbor, a concave shape of the arbor, a throughout cut-out in the arbor, a wheel having toothing designed to transmit a force along the first axis and/or the second axis. 
     3. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the first axis and the second axis are coaxial or substantially coaxial. 
     4. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the arbor is integral with the first functional part and/or the second functional part of the mobile part, or attached to the first functional part and/or the second functional part of the mobile part. 
     5. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the second stop is formed by shaping the arbor, notably by means of a flange integral with the arbor or a ring attached to, and in particular driven into, the arbor. 
     6. The module as defined in the preceding point, characterized in that the shape has an outer surface cooperating with the first guide surface of the housing. 
     7. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the housing has a first hole that is blind and a second hole that is open. 
     8. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the casing includes an attachment element for attaching same to a plate or a bridge, notably an external rotationally symmetrical cylindrical surface of the casing designed to cooperate with a guide and/or driving surface of the plate or of the bridge and/or one or more attachment holes formed in the casing and designed to cooperate with attachment screws or rivets. 
     9. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that it includes a third stop on the casing arranged to stop the mobile part from moving in translation along the second axis. 
     10. The module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that the casing is a bushing or a bridge. 
     11. The clockwork module as defined in one of the preceding points, characterized in that it includes:
         n mobile parts, each including a first functional part and/or a second functional part and a translational and/or rotational arbor of the mobile part, the arbor having a first axis,   n springs, notably n helical springs,   a single casing including n housings, each having a second axis,   n first guide surfaces in the housings,   n first stops in the housings,   n second stops arranged on the mobile parts,
 
the n arbors being guided by at least the first guide surfaces, the n springs being arranged, notably having been pre-stressed, in the housings between the first and second stops, in which n is a natural whole number strictly greater than 1, for example n=2 or n=3 or n=4 or n=5.
       

     A movement according to the invention is defined by point 12 as follows: 
     12. A clockwork movement including a module as defined in one of points 1 to 11. 
     A timepiece according to the invention is defined by point 13 as follows: 
     13. A timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, including a module as defined in one of points 1 to 11 or a movement as defined in the preceding point. 
     A method for manufacturing a system according to the invention is defined by point 14 as follows: 
     14. A method for manufacturing a clockwork system, notably a clockwork movement or a timepiece, including a plate or a bridge, the method comprising the following steps:
         Supplying a finished or assembled or pre-assembled module as defined in one of points 1 to 11,   Attaching the module to the plate or to the bridge, notably by driving in or by screwing or by welding or by riveting.       

     A system according to the invention is defined by point 15 as follows: 
     15. A clockwork system obtained by carrying out the manufacturing method as defined in point 14. 
    
    
     
       The attached drawings show four embodiments of a clockwork module according to the invention, by way of example. 
         FIGS. 1 to 5  show a first embodiment of the clockwork module according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 6 to 9  show a second embodiment of the clockwork module according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 10 to 12  show a third embodiment of the clockwork module according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 13 to 14  show a fourth embodiment of the clockwork module according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     A first embodiment of the clockwork module  100  according to the invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 .  FIG. 1  shows a timepiece  120  according to the invention. This timepiece is for example a wristwatch. The timepiece includes a clockwork movement  110 , notably a mechanical clockwork movement. The clockwork movement includes the clockwork module  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     The clockwork module  100  includes:
         a mobile part  11  including a first functional part  11   a , a second functional part  11   b  and a translational and/or rotational arbor  15  of the mobile part  11 , the arbor having a first axis  151 ,   a spring  13 , notably a helical spring,   a casing  14  including a housing  140  having a second axis  141 ,   a first guide surface  140   a  in the housing  140 ,   a second guide surface  14   a  in the housing  140 ,   a first stop  140   b  in the housing,   a second stop  16   b  arranged on the mobile part  11 ,
 
the arbor  15  being guided by at least the first guide surface or the second guide surface, the spring  13  being arranged, notably having been pre-stressed, in the housing  140  bearing between or against the first and second stops.
       

     In the first embodiment, the mobile part  11  has a first functional part  11   a  that includes a wheel  12 . The wheel is arranged at a first end of the arbor  15 . The mobile part  11  also has a second functional part  11   b . In this case, the second functional part is a shape  15   b  of the arbor. This shape is located at a second end of the arbor  15 . The shape may be domed. This shape may be used to transmit axial movement forces of the mobile part along the axis  151  of the arbor, as detailed below. 
     Such a mobile part  11  is, for example, provided inside a clutch device, notably a vertical clutch device, of a mechanism, in particular a correction mechanism, of a timepiece. The mobile part then has a first axial position in which same is clutched to a kinematic train and a second axial position in which same is unclutched from the kinematic train. As such, the first functional part can be used to effectively connect the mobile part and the second functional part can be used to activate or deactivate the clutching by moving the mobile part in order to position the first functional part as desired. 
     The arbor  15  can also be a rotational and/or translational arbor of the mobile part, i.e. the mobile part is guided in rotation and/or in translation by the arbor. Notably, this guidance may only be provided by one portion of this arbor. 
     The arbor  15  is for example a rotationally symmetrical cylinder. The first functional part and/or the second functional part may be integral with the arbor. Consequently, the following assemblies:
         arbor, first functional part and second functional part, or   arbor and first functional part, or   arbor and second functional part,
 
may be single-piece parts. Notably, the wheel  12  can be arbor-mounted, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 .
       

     The housing  140  formed in the casing includes a first hole  140  and a second hole  14   a . The first and second holes are for example coaxial and/or rotationally symmetrical. The first hole has a first guide surface  140   a . This first guide surface is for example simply a portion of the first hole  140 . The second hole has a second guide surface  14   a . This second guide surface is for example simply all or a portion of the second hole. Both the first and second guide surfaces are arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with a surface of the arbor  15  to perform the guide function. The diameter of the second hole is less than the diameter of the first hole. Thus, the first and second holes are connected by a shoulder  140   b  at the bottom of the first hole. The housing  140  can also contain the spring  13 . 
     The casing has an outer surface  14   c  preferably forming a rotationally symmetrical cylinder. This surface may be coaxial with either or both of the first and second holes. The casing may therefore be a bushing. 
     The spring  13  is a helical spring in this case. The spring is arranged between the first stop and the second stop, notably against the first and second stops. The spring may be pre-stressed between the first and second stops. Alternatively, the spring may be mounted in the casing without pre-stressing. The spring may nonetheless be pre-stressed when the module is assembled in a system for which same is intended, such as a blank, a plate or a bridge. In this case, an element surrounding the clockwork module is used to pre-stress the spring. In the clockwork module, the spring is used in all cases to return the mobile part to an idle position, notably an axial idle position. 
     The first stop is or includes the shoulder  140   b  formed at the bottom of the hole. 
     The second stop is formed on the arbor. For example, said stop may be formed by a ring  16  mounted on the arbor. This ring may notably be driven into the arbor. In particular, said ring may be driven in until contact is made with a shoulder formed on the arbor. Alternatively, the ring may be attached to the arbor using any other means. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the ring also has an outer surface  16   a  cooperating with the first hole  140   a  to guide the mobile part in relation to the casing. 
     Alternatively, the second stop may be a flange formed on the arbor. The spring  13  is mounted between these first and second stops. As such, the spring  13  is contained within the casing. 
     The wheel  12 , the arbor  15  and the spring  13  are in this case delimited axially in relation to the bushing  14  by the ring  16  attached to the arbor  15  at one end of the mobile part  11  opposite the end of the wheel  12 . The spring  13  can therefore be kept pre-stressed, such that the portion  12   b  of the wheel  12  can naturally be kept pressed against a third stop  14   b  provided on the casing under the effect of the spring  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The third stop is for example formed by a portion  14   b  of the bushing  14 . As such, the casing  14  includes a third stop  14   b  arranged to stop the mobile part from moving in translation. 
     As detailed previously, in this first embodiment, the mobile part  11  has a second functional part  11   b  located at a end opposite the end with the first functional part  11   a . This second functional part is the end  15   b  of the arbor  15 . In this case, in which the mobile part  11  is for example provided inside a clutch device  111 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , this second functional part may be provided to cooperate with a control cam  112  of a correction mechanism  110 . In this case, the bushing  14  is driven into a blank  115 , notably into a plate  115 . For this purpose, the bushing  14  has a portion  14   c  designed to be driven into a hole of the plate  115 . Alternatively, the bushing  14  may be riveted, screwed or welded into a hole in the plate  115 . As such, the casing includes an attachment element for attaching same to a plate or a bridge, notably an external rotationally symmetrical cylindrical surface of the casing designed to cooperate with a guide and/or a driving surface of a plate or of a bridge and/or one or more attachment holes formed in the casing and designed to cooperate with attachment screws or rivets.  FIG. 3  shows the clutch device  111  in the clutched position. In this arrangement, the end  15   b  is arranged in a hollow  112   a  of the control cam  112 , such that the toothing of the wheel  12 , which is continuously in mesh with the toothing of a second setting wheel  113 , can mesh with the toothing of a third setting wheel  114 .  FIG. 4  shows the clutched device  111  in the unclutched position. In this arrangement, the end  15   b  bears against a surface  112   b  of the control cam  112 , such that the toothing of the wheel  12  is outside the range of the toothing of the wheel  114 . The wheel  12  can nonetheless preferably remain in mesh with the second setting wheel  113 . 
     Advantageously, the control cam  112  may be a control stem implementing a setting and/or winding mechanism, such as the one described in patent application WO2012175595. 
     Naturally, the first functional part  11   a  of the mobile part  11  may comprise more than one wheel. By way of example,  FIG. 5  shows a variant of the first embodiment of the clockwork module that differs from the subject matter described above in that the mobile part  11  has two wheels  12 ,  12 ′, each of which is designed to actuate a specific kinematic setting train. For example, the wheel  12  may be arbor-mounted or integral with the arbor  15 . The wheel  12 ′ may be attached to the arbor  15 , notably driven into the arbor  15 . Alternatively, the elements  12  or  12 ′ may be limited to a toothed sector. 
     A second embodiment of the clockwork module  200  according to the invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 9 .  FIG. 6  shows a timepiece  220  according to the invention. This timepiece is for example a wristwatch. The timepiece includes a clockwork movement  210 , notably a mechanical clockwork movement. The clockwork movement includes the clockwork module  200  according to the second embodiment. 
     In the first and second embodiments, the reference signs for elements that are identical or that perform the same function only differ in the first digit: a “1” for the elements in the first embodiment and a “2” for the elements in the second embodiment. 
     Advantageously, the second embodiment has the following features. 
     The clockwork module  200  includes a mobile part  21  that has a first functional part  21   a  that includes a yoke  22 , notably a pull-out piece  22 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Such a mobile part is for example provided in a stem correction mechanism of a timepiece, as shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 . In this embodiment, the pull-out piece  22  also includes a helical spring  23  contained in the housing  240  of a bushing  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . This pull-out piece  22  also includes an arbor  25  pivoting inside the bushing  24  at the respective portions  25   a ,  24   a  of the axis and of the bushing. A surface  24   a  of a second hole of the housing cooperates with a surface  25   a  of the arbor  25  to guide the arbor  25  into the bushing. 
     In this embodiment, the ring  26  also delimits the pull-out piece  22  axially in relation to the bushing  24 . Advantageously, the arbor  25  may be guided, additionally or alternatively, within the inner wall  240   a  of the housing  240  of the bushing  24  by the outer periphery  26   a  of the ring  26 . Thus, a surface  240   a  of a first hole of the housing cooperates with a surface  26   a  of a ring  26  attached to the arbor to guide the arbor  25  into the bushing. 
     Such an embodiment advantageously enables a conventional pull-out piece structure, such as the one disclosed in document EP0063543, to be replaced.  FIG. 7  shows a stem correction mechanism  210 , notably a pull-out piece mechanism  211 . Conventionally, a first end  22   a  of the pull-out piece  22  is designed to cooperate with a stem  212 , while a second end  22   c  is designed to cooperate with a lever (not shown) of the correction mechanism. In this case, the pull-out piece  22  is positioned in the plane of the frame of the movement by a return spring  213  by means of a pin  220  of the setting mechanism  22 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are cross sections of the mobile part  21  built into such a correction mechanism. In this case, the bushing  24  is driven into a blank  215 , notably into a plate  215 . For this purpose, the bushing  24  has a portion  24   c  designed to be driven into a hole in the plate  215 . Alternatively, the bushing  24  may be riveted, screwed or welded into a hole in the plate  215 . 
     Since in this case the spring  23  is kept pre-stressed inside the clockwork module  200 , the portion  22   b  of the pull-out piece  22  naturally tends to be pressed against a portion  215   b  of the plate  215  under the effect of the spring  23 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In this second embodiment, the mobile part  21  has a second functional part  21   b  located at the end opposite the end of the first functional part  21   a . This latter is a beveled cut-out  25   b  in the arbor  25  that is designed to cooperate with a watchmaker&#39;s point shown as an arrow in  FIG. 9 , to enable the stem  212  to be disassembled, for example. When disassembling the pull-out piece, the portion  22   b  of the pull-out piece  22  can no longer rest against the portion  215   b , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     In both the first and second embodiments, the wheel  12  and the pull-out piece  22  have a degree of freedom in translation along the arbor  15 ,  25 , for example in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame of the movement. Naturally, a clockwork module could include a mobile part with a degree of freedom in translation in a different direction, for example a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the frame of the movement. 
     A third embodiment of the clockwork module  300  according to the invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 12 .  FIG. 10  shows a timepiece  320  according to the invention. This timepiece is for example a wristwatch. The timepiece includes a clockwork movement  310 , notably a mechanical clockwork movement. The clockwork movement includes the clockwork module  300  according to the third embodiment. 
     In the first and third embodiments, the reference signs for elements that are identical or that perform the same function only differ in the first digit: a “1” for the elements in the first embodiment and a “3” for the elements in the third embodiment. 
     Advantageously, the third embodiment has the following features. 
     In this third embodiment, the clockwork module  300  includes a mobile part  31  including, in the vicinity of the first functional part  31   a , a winding pinion  32  designed to be built into the clutch device  311  of a winding train of a mechanism  310 . 
     In particular, the module  300  includes a bridge  34  in the form of a stretcher that is designed to be screwed to a plate  315 . As such, in this third embodiment, the casing is a bridge. 
     Apart from the geometry of the casing  34 , the structure of the mobile part  31  is similar to the structure of the mobile parts  11  and  21 . In this third embodiment, the winding pinion  32  is positioned axially by a spring  33  that is contained within a housing  340  of the bridge  34 . In this case, the spring  33  acts directly against the pinion  32 . This latter is driven into an arbor  35 , which may be designed to pivot at the respective portions  34   a ,  35   a  of the bridge and of the arbor. As such, the surfaces  34   a  and  35   a  cooperate to guide the arbor into the housing  340 . Advantageously, the arbor  35  may be guided, additionally or alternatively, within the inner wall  340   a  of the housing  340  of the bridge  34  by the outer periphery  32   a  of the pinion  32 . This latter is also delimited axially at the respective portions  34   b ,  32   b  of the bridge and of the arbor, which are naturally held in contact under the effect of the spring  33 . 
     The mobile part  31  also includes a second functional part  31   b . This latter is a non-circular axial cut-out  35   b  in the arbor  35  that is designed to cooperate with a square portion  312   a  of a stem  312  of the clutch device  311  when the movement winding function is actuated, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     In this case, the spring  33  provides the pinion  32  with a degree of freedom in translation when the square portion  312   a  of the stem  312  enters the cut-out  35   b  in the arbor  35 , thereby enabling the Breguet toothing of the winding pinion  32  to mesh, without risk of blocking, with the toothing of the second winding pinion  313 , simply pivoted on the winding stem, which is in mesh with a winding crown  314 . 
     A fourth embodiment of the clockwork module  400  according to the invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  FIG. 14  shows a timepiece  420  according to the invention. This timepiece is for example a wristwatch. The timepiece includes a clockwork movement  410 , notably a mechanical clockwork movement. The clockwork movement includes the clockwork module  400  according to the fourth embodiment. 
     In the first and fourth embodiments, the reference signs for elements that are identical or that perform the same function only differ in the first digit: a “1” for the elements in the first embodiment and a “4” for the elements in the fourth embodiment. 
     Advantageously, the fourth embodiment has the following features. 
     In this fourth embodiment, the clockwork module  400  includes a plurality of mobile parts  41 . For example, the different mobile parts  41  have wheels  42 , notably wheels making up portions of different kinematic trains. If the clockwork module  400  has n mobile parts, it consequently also has n springs  43 , n housings  440 , n first guide surfaces  44   a, n  second guide surfaces  440   a, n  first stops  440   b  in the housing, and n second stops  46   b , but only one casing  44 . n is a whole natural number. In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , n=4. In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the casing is a bridge. The bridge includes screw holes as attachment elements for attaching same to a plate  415 . 
     In the fourth embodiment, the wheels  42  are attached to the arbors  45  and the flanges  46  are integral with the arbors  45 . 
     In the fourth embodiment described, all of the first functional parts have wheels  42  and therefore perform identical or similar functions. Alternatively, this need not be the case. Different first functional parts may perform different functions. For example, a first functional part may have a wheel, another first functional part may have a yoke or a lever, another functional part may have a cam, a follower or a jumper head. 
     Regardless of embodiment, the mobile part may include a functional part, such as a wheel, that is pivoted eccentrically in relation to the axis of the arbor and to the axis of translation and/or of rotation of the arbor in the casing. 
     Regardless of embodiment, the clockwork module is provided to overcome the drawbacks of the mobile parts known in the prior art. The clockwork module is noteworthy in that it contains a return spring as well as guide and assembly means. 
     This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it is simple to implement and assemble in the movement. Thus, the clockwork module is a pre-assembled module that is ready to be attached to a blank of a clockwork movement. Such a solution helps to reduce the volume of a clockwork mechanism incorporating such a mobile part. Furthermore, the return spring may be pre-stressed independently of assembly of the mobile part inside the movement. This considerably simplifies assembly of same in the movement. 
     Regardless of embodiment, the clockwork module is particularly advantageous as it is simple to implement and assemble in the clockwork movement. In addition to the presence of a mobile part or of a clockwork component  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42 , which is designed to actuate a second clockwork component of a mechanism  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 , the module is characterized by return elements  13 ,  23 ,  33 ,  43  contained within a bushing or a bridge  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  that is designed to be assembled on a blank  115 ,  215 ,  315 ,  415 . 
     The mobile parts  11 ,  21 ,  31 ,  41  have at least one first degree of freedom in translation in a direction preferably substantially perpendicular or parallel to the plane of the frame of the movement. Advantageously, the mobile parts  11 ,  21 ,  31 ,  41  have at least one second degree of freedom in rotation. Optionally, the mobile parts have at least one second functional part  11   b ,  21   b ,  31   b ,  41   b  that is designed to cooperate with a mechanism of the clockwork movement or with a tool used when assembling or disassembling the clockwork movement. 
     Advantageously, the axial travel of the mobile part  11 ,  21 ,  31 ,  41  is less than the axial length of the casing  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44 . Advantageously, the return means are helical springs  13 ,  23 ,  33 ,  43 . 
     In the different embodiments described, the clockwork module includes a mobile part pivoted in the casing. Nonetheless, the clockwork module may alternatively include a mobile part that only has a sliding connection in the casing. This may notably be the case of a mobile part acting as a jumper head or a finger, for example a position indexing finger or a cam follower. 
     The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a clockwork system including a plate or a bridge, notably a clockwork movement  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410  as described above or a timepiece  120 ;  220 ;  320 ;  420  as described above. 
     The method includes the following steps:
         Supplying a finished or assembled or pre-assembled clockwork module, as described above,   Attaching the clockwork module to the plate or to the bridge, notably by driving in or by screwing or by welding or by riveting.       

     The invention also relates to a clockwork system  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ;  120 ;  220 ;  320 ;  420  obtained by carrying out the manufacturing method described above.