Orbita Press Release 153

ORBITA WATCHWINDERS WITH LITHIUM BATTERIES

Automatic (self-winding) watches rely on random wrist motions to keep "ticking". Inside the watch, a ball-bearing mounted eccentric rotor swings back and forth radially as the wearer moves about. That bidirectional circular motion is transmitted through a tiny spur gear and one-way clutch system to wind the watch's mainspring unidirectionally to keep the watch running.

The problem arises when the watch is off the wrist. Automatic watches generally run down their power reserve and stop in 42 to 48 hours. Naturally, the watch time has to be reset when the watch is worn again. No big deal one would think but today's automatic watches frequently do more than tell time; they include day and date. Also many high-end watches show additional complications such as year, leap-year, moon-phase, tides, moon-rise and sunrise. Clearly, resetting such watches can be a daunting task, particularly for watch collectors who have several watches.

Enter Orbita Corporation who produces watchwinders to keep automatic watches wound when they are off the wrist. Winders not only provide convenience in keeping watches wound, they actually "exercise" the watch to keep lubricants from migrating away from wear points and, in doing so, reducing the need for periodic overhauls.

Orbita is now producing a unique battery powered winder which is so energy efficient that they guarantee 5-year battery life. The new patented design employs a heavy semi-circular rotor which, like the rotor inside the watch, is ball bearing mounted to rotate and oscillate freely. Once, every 120 minutes, the mounted watch and cup assembly is rotated 180 degrees by a drive key mounted on the output shaft of the all-plastic gearbox. Gravity then does the rest as the whole assembly is released and swings 18 to 20 times before coming to rest. Actual power-on time is 10 seconds for every 10 minute winding cycle, only running 24 minutes per day. End result? Minuscule power needed and, with an ironless core motor drawing only 5mA, the two supplied Lithium "D" cell batteries easily provide in excess of 5 years service.