A spring type controller for a high-voltage or medium-voltage switch, the controller comprising: at least one spring; a first toothed wheel adapted to be driven in rotation with a driving power; a shaft adapted to drive a movable contact of the switch in rotation during an operation of the switch; an arm secured to the shaft and connected to the spring(s); and a free-wheel coupling device coupling the first toothed wheel with the drive shaft in order to transmit the driving power to the spring so as to load the spring, and uncoupling them in order to transmit the torque from the loaded spring to the movable contact but not to the driving power, the controller being characterized in that the free-wheel coupling device comprises: • a second toothed wheel having its entire outer periphery provided with teeth permanently meshing with the first toothed wheel and having its entire inner periphery provided with teeth; • a release element arranged at the peripheral proximity of the second toothed wheel; and • at least one pawl (7, 70) pivotally mounted on the arm and adapted to be in the following respective positions: • meshing with the inner teeth of the second toothed wheel to load the spring until the spring reaches its compression top dead-center by rotation, in a given direction of rotation, of the second toothed wheel and of the arm thus meshing therewith; • bearing mutually against the release element once the spring reaches its compression top dead-center, thereby disengaging from the inner teeth by pivoting on the arm in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the second toothed wheel, while blocking the arm; and • spaced apart from the release lever by action thereon, in order to unblock the arm and allow it to be driven in rotation by the release force from the spring(s) and in the same given direction of rotation, while the second toothed wheel remains stationary. • a second toothed wheel having its entire outer periphery provided with teeth permanently meshing with the first toothed wheel and having its entire inner periphery provided with teeth; • a release element arranged at the peripheral proximity of the second toothed wheel; and • at least one pawl (7, 70) pivotally mounted on the arm and adapted to be in the following respective positions: • meshing with the inner teeth of the second toothed wheel to load the spring until the spring reaches its compression top dead-center by rotation, in a given direction of rotation, of the second toothed wheel and of the arm thus meshing therewith; • bearing mutually against the release element once the spring reaches its compression top dead-center, thereby disengaging from the inner teeth by pivoting on the arm in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the second toothed wheel, while blocking the arm; and • spaced apart from the release lever by action thereon, in order to unblock the arm and allow it to be driven in rotation by the release force from the spring(s) and in the same given direction of rotation, while the second toothed wheel remains stationary. • meshing with the inner teeth of the second toothed wheel to load the spring until the spring reaches its compression top dead-center by rotation, in a given direction of rotation, of the second toothed wheel and of the arm thus meshing therewith; • bearing mutually against the release element once the spring reaches its compression top dead-center, thereby disengaging from the inner teeth by pivoting on the arm in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the second toothed wheel, while blocking the arm; and • spaced apart from the release lever by action thereon, in order to unblock the arm and allow it to be driven in rotation by the release force from the spring(s) and in the same given direction of rotation, while the second toothed wheel remains stationary.