Abstract: Timepiece striking mechanism including control means, releasable by a timepiece movement or by a user, and arranged to start a melody or striking sound, and melody selection means including a lever for selecting a selector mechanism arranged to allow the movement of a specific control-piece in order to perform a specific melody or striking sound, this striking mechanism including a safety mechanism for preventing the selection or the actuation of a melody or striking sound when a melody or striking sound is already being performed, this safety mechanism includes, for each control piece, a cam arranged to prevent the operation of the melody selection means by immobilizing the lever, when its control piece has started to perform a melody or striking sound.

Abstract: For a timepiece movement, a striking train mechanism having: at least one resonant element (32) which can emit at least two sounds of different frequencies, at least two pallets (36), and at least two hammers (34) which are designed to be driven by the pallets (36) in order to strike the resonant element (32).

Abstract: A laser beam projection apparatus includes a light source, a vessel containing a transparent liquid which transmits a light beam from the light source and has a free liquid surface, a condensing optical member for condensing the light beam transmitted through the vessel and the liquid to form a secondary source of the light source, and a first optical member for collimating the light beam from the secondary source into a parallel beam. The focal lengths of the condensing optical member and the first optical member are set in accordance with the refractive index of the liquid. Preferably, the focal lengths are set in accordance with the refractive index of the liquid such that the parallel beam from the first optical member emerges in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An electronically controlled postage meter with easier user setting of the date. Postage values are input via a keyboard connected to a control device. The control device automatically counts upwardly for incrementing a date. The upward incrementation can be prevented with a function key. The control device compares the entered date with the date stored in the calendar module and changes the date to be printed, depending on the comparison. The control device then outputs a print command for printing a postage imprint with a new, changed or current date. The method includes automatic counting upward for incrementing the date. Actuating the function key to selectively prevent at least the automatic incrementation of the date. It is also possible to reset the setting of the current date by either actuating the function key again or by actuating an additional function key.