Abstract: A music box includes a star wheel, a stopper, a sun wheel, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The star wheel is configured to rotate about a first shaft. The sun wheel is fixed on a second shaft and engages the star wheel. The motor is configured to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft. The sensor is configured to detect a rotation state of the sun wheel. The controller is configured to: read a music data; control the motor to rotate at a rotational speed based on a temp; determine a start timing at which the stopper starts to release the star wheel based on a sound output timing and the rotation state; calibrate the start timing to a calibrated start timing based on a value related to the rotational speed; and control the stopper to release the star wheel at the calibrated start timing.

Abstract: A disc-vibration plate assembly for a musical or striking timepiece, including at least one disc rotating about an axis and provided with pins projecting substantially parallel to this axis, and arranged to cooperate with strips comprised in at least one vibration plate of this assembly, each pin including an actuation surface arranged to cooperate with a complementary receiving surface of a corresponding strip and the section of these strips of the vibration plate gradually increases from the shortest strip which is the highest pitched, to the longest strip which is the lowest pitched. The complementary receiving surface includes an end edge, which, at the end of actuation of the strip, is on the same radius as a complementary end edge comprised in the pin.

Abstract: A music box includes a plurality of star wheels, a plurality of vibration valves, a plurality of anchoring members, a plurality of electromagnets, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control one or more of the plurality of the electromagnets to be a first state by supplying a first electricity and control each of the plurality of electromagnets to be a second state by supplying a second electricity. Each of the plurality of anchoring members is configured to engage with one of the plurality of protruding parts in the second state. The one or more of the plurality of anchoring members is configured to rotate about a second axis extending parallel to a first axis in the first state, and the one or more of the plurality of anchoring members is positioned remote from the electromagnet with a gap therebetween in the first state.

Abstract: A music box includes a plurality of star wheels, a plurality of sun wheels, a drive unit, a plurality of anchoring members, a plurality of vibration valves, a rotating disk, a detection unit, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of anchoring members is configured to engage one of a plurality of protruding parts of the plurality of star wheels. The rotating disk is configured to rotate according to a rotation of an axis. The rotating disk is formed with a plurality of slits arrayed in a circumferential direction of the rotating disk. The detection unit is configured to detect a passage of one or more of the plurality of slits. The control unit is configured to control one or more of the plurality of anchoring members to disengage one of the plurality of protruding parts, based on a detection result of the detection unit.

Abstract: A music box includes a bed plate, a vibration plate, a plurality of projections, and a flange part. The vibration plate has one end portion fixed to the bedplate and another end portion provided with a plurality of vibration reeds extending in a first direction. The plurality of projections is configured to contact the plurality of vibration reeds and corresponds to the plurality of vibration reeds. The flange part protrudes from the bedplate in the first direction and confronts the plurality of vibration reeds.

Abstract: An automated ornament includes a power source coupled to a drive shaft that provides rotatory power about a drive axis. The drive shaft is coupled to a first drive gear, which engages a second idler gear such that rotation of the first gear in one direction causes the second gear to rotate in the opposite direction. A third driven gear engages the second gear such that rotation of the second gear in one direction causes the third gear to rotate in the opposite direction. The gear ratio of the first gear to the third gear is at least two to one. When the automated ornament is supported by support means, the power source causes an ornamental housing to rotate about the support means via the first, second, and third gears. The power source also can cause a sound module to produce musical notes via a subsidiary gear train.

Abstract: A music box movement having a mechanism to impede or cause rotation of star wheels, wherein spaced points on the star wheels pluck the tines of the musical comb to perform a desired series of musical tones. In its preferred embodiment, the mechanism comprises activating arms with rods having tips thereon, wherein the tips contact the surface of the star wheel and only permit rotation of the star wheel when the tips are withdrawn via activation of a computer-controlled solenoid. Alternatively, again via a computer-controlled solenoid, the mechanism actively causes movement of the star wheel by pushing against, or pulling via hooks, the star wheel points to cause rotation. In lieu of a solenoid, computer-controlled electromagnetically-engaged plates in communication with the activating arms are selectively utilized to adhere to a rotating drum, thereby moving the activating mechanism.

Abstract: A musical module for a watch movement, said module comprising a barrel (11), at least one part (5) having pins (12), a comb (13) with a number of tines, a regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10), and a control device (16, 17, 21). The part (5) or each part (5) is a toothed disc driven by the barrel (11) via at least one pinion (6). The or each toothed disc (5) with said pins (12) on at least one face is able to be positioned over or underneath the comb (13) so that the pins (12) act on the tines of the comb (13) to play a tune. The control device (16, 17, 21) is designed to trigger a rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5) in order to start the tune. The regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10) maintains a constant rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5).

Abstract: An automatic musical instrument includes a tine, a rotor, an actuatable arm, and a rotatable cam. The tine emits an audible sound when vibrated. The rotor has plural picks extending radially outwardly therefrom, and the actuatable arm is disposed to displace the rotor when the actuator arm is pivoted between a normal position and an actuated position. The rotatable cam has at least one protrusion extending outwardly from a surface thereof, and is disposed to contact a pick on the rotor when the rotor is displaced by the actuatable arm. The contact of the rotating cam with the pick of the rotor further displaces the rotor, causing a pick on the rotor to vibrate the tine, emitting the audible sound.

Abstract: A music box includes a daisy reed wheel having reeds radially projecting from a hub for generating tones and solenoid-operated player's fingers arranged around the daisy reed wheel; the tips of the reeds are widely spaced from one another by virtue of the radial arrangement so that large-sized solenoid-operated actuators are used for the player's fingers; this results in the compact music box.

Abstract: There is provided a performance apparatus that is capable of reducing mechanical noise by a simple construction. Rotary picks are disposed in the vicinity of and in association with respective ends of a plurality of reeds, and four driving nails are formed integrally with outer peripheries of the rotary picks. A hook part is attached to the top of a plunger, and they make reciprocating motions together. The rotary pick is rotated by a driving force applied to the driving nail thereof from an engaging part formed by a lower end of the corresponding hook part. When the driving nail located symmetrically to the driving nail having received the driving force plucks the corresponding reed, the reed is sounded. The hook part is almost completely covered with a cushioning member formed of an elastic material such as rubber to absorb an impact that may occur when the driving nail of the rotary pick comes into contact with the hook part.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for a music box having a plurality of ornaments coupled thereon includes a driving mechanism having a rotary wheel with an eccentric rod and disposed in the music box, a first support mounted in the music box and having a through hole, a connection rod having two opposite ends, a first elongated support member inserted through the through hole of the first support, secured on the first support and having one end coupled with an ornament and the other end secured on one end of the connection rod, a coupler having a first end connected with the other end of the connection rod and a second end coupled with the eccentric rod.

Abstract: A disk music box comprises a center shaft, around which a disk is rotated by being engaged with the center shaft. The disk has a plurality of engagement portions which correspond to a music selection. A reed portion is included which comprises a comb having reeds arranged like a comb. Further, the disk music box comprises a pin shaft which is arranged opposite the disk and a plurality of pinwheels which plays a melody by playing the reeds. The pinwheels are rotated while being engaged with the engagement portions of the disk. The disk music box also comprises an arm having a tip and a base end. The arm is rotatably supported against a base so that the base end remains within a plane which is almost perpendicular to the disk. The tip is engaged with the center shaft to be arranged opposite the pin shaft. A contact member is included which is rotatably supported by the arm so that it can contact the disk. A transmission device transfers force from the arm to the pin shaft.

Abstract: A music box comprises a base disc which has a plurality of projections corresponding to a music piece on its surface, a plurality of pin wheels which are individually rotated by contacting one of a plurality of such projections while the disc moves, a reed which generates sound by being picked by a pin portion projecting in the radial direction of the pin wheels, a plurality of dampers which are formed corresponding to each of the pin wheels to reduce vibration of the reed and a fixed shaft which rotatably supports individual pairs of the pin wheels and the corresponding dampers.

Abstract: A disc music box for playing a melody comprises a base (21); a music box disc (1) having a plurality of engaging drive parts (3) and a drive hole (4); a plurality of music box petals (27a) provided on the base; a plurality of star wheels (26) each guided and revolved by one of the engaging drive parts, a turn plate (23) provided coaxially with the music box disc and having a detecting member (42) thereon; a motor (M) provided on the base; a transmission mechanism (24) disposed between the turn plate and the motor to transmit the drive force of the motor to the turn plate; a drive projection (23d) provided on the turn plate for engagement with the drive hole of the music box disc for positioning the music box disc; and a switch (43) provided on the base for engagement with the detecting member of the turn plate when the music box disc makes one rotation.

Abstract: A disc music box for playing a melody, which comprises a disc (3) having a plurality of engaging parts (4, 40), a motor (M) for rotating the disc, and star wheels (12) guided and rotated by the engaging parts of the rotating disc for plucking music box petals (17a), wherein control information for controlling other instruments to be operated in association with the play of the music box is recorded at desired portions on the disc excepting portions where the engaging parts are disposed on the disc. An information disc (101) has both playing and control information and is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed. A tricky timepiece comprises a disc music box instrument (120) to which a music box disc (101) is attached and a tricky device (150) interconnected with the disc music box instrument to move puppets (151), thereby providing tricky performance. The term "tricky" is defined as mechanized movements designed to amuse or impress.

Abstract: A music crystal ball structure capable of rotating in alternating directions. A music bell serves as a power source for transmitting power to a mutilated gear which further transmitting the power to a gear member having inner circumferential teeth and outer circumferential teeth. The gear member is driven to rotate in alternating directions. For example, the gear member is counterclockwise rotated through an angle and then clockwise rotated through another angle. Such movement is circularly repeated to form a "forward 3, backward 1" state. By means of more than one set of gears, the decorative articles installed in the crystal ball and driven by the gear member can act like dancing opposite to each other and create a dynamic live view.

Abstract: A music box timepiece A having a clock body 10 with a disc music box instrument 20 to which a music box disc 1 is fitted, characterized in that a space 11 in which a spare music box disc 1' can be housed is formed within the clock body, and when the spare music box disc 1' is stored, at least a part of the spare music box disc can be seen from the front.

Abstract: A music box comprising a blower unit and a flute unit. Each flute in the flute unit includes a mouth and a wind inlet hole for feeding air to the mouth and the wind inlet holes for feeding air to the flute are selectively opened/closed to produce a desired melody. Further, an air outflow hole is provided in a wind trunk of the blower unit and a disk having holes for cyclically opening/closing the hole is rotatably provided. Thus the pressure of wind fed to each flute changes at a predetermined interval of time. As a member for recording a melody, the following two methods are available. One method is a disk having protrusions for pressing the key members of the flute unit and another method is a film member which opens/closes the air inlet hole of the flute unit.