Geneva mechanism

English

Etymology

So called from Geneva in Switzerland, an important center of watchmaking.

Noun

An animation of a Geneva mechanism.

Geneva mechanism (plural Geneva mechanisms)

1. A mechanism that translates a continuous rotation into an intermittent rotary motion, using an intermittent gear where the drive wheel has a pin that reaches into a slot of the driven wheel and thereby advances it by one step, and having a raised circular blocking disc that locks the driven wheel in position between steps.