Abstract: A music box includes a plurality of star wheels, a frame, a casing, a vibration plate, and a moving mechanism. Each of the plurality of star wheels being configured to rotate about a first axis. The frame is configured to rotatably support the first axis. The vibration plate comprises a plurality of vibration valves corresponding to the plurality of star wheels. Each of the plurality of vibration valves is extending in a first direction. The plurality of vibration valves is arrayed along a second direction parallel to the first axis. The vibration plate is fixed to the casing. The moving mechanism is configured to move the frame to the vibration plate in the first direction.

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 plurality of star wheels, a frame, a casing, a vibration plate, and a moving mechanism. Each of the plurality of star wheels being configured to rotate about a first axis. The frame is configured to rotatably support the first axis. The vibration plate comprises a plurality of vibration valves corresponding to the plurality of star wheels. Each of the plurality of vibration valves is extending in a first direction. The plurality of vibration valves is arrayed along a second direction parallel to the first axis. The vibration plate is fixed to the casing. The moving mechanism is configured to move the frame to the vibration plate in the first direction.

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: The invention concerns a sound generator mechanism including a control member (10) and a mechanism (14) for locking/unlocking the control member (10), the control member (10) being able to move between a first position in which the control member is held by the locking/unlocking member (14) and in which it holds the vibrating member (12) away from the rest position thereof, and a second position wherein the control member is released by the locking/unlocking mechanism (14) and wherein it simultaneously releases the vibrating member (12), which starts to vibrate and to produce a sound.

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: There is provided a performance apparatus that can reduce energy consumption while allowing sounding elements to appropriately generate sound. A CPU supplies driving energy to an actuator to drivingly control the same based on pulse width modulation. A rotary pick is rotatively driven by the actuator to pluck reeds to generate sound. The CPU sets the duty of a driving pulse for driving the rotary pick during time points t3 and t4. Thus, higher driving energy is supplied to the actuator in timing in which the rotary pick plucks any of the reeds than in timing in which the rotary pick does not pluck any of the reeds.

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 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 for playing music with a disk or a card as a medium has an improved ratchet unit for driving a vibrating reed assembly having a plurality of vibrating reeds. The ratchet unit has two arcuate shaped spacers which fit inside circular holes of a plurality of ratchets having teeth so that the teeth are guided by arcuate shaped grooves in the spacers. A hollow cylindrical member is then inserted between the spacers and a driving shaft is inserted into the hollow cylindrical member for driving the medium. A braking member is then inserted between the hollow cylindrical member and the ratchets to prevent the ratchets from being displaced due to external vibrations. The ratchet unit can be readily assembled and easily adapted to conventional music boxes.