CA1061111A

CA1061111A - Numeric display using three endless belts

Info

Publication number: CA1061111A
Application number: CA251,275A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert J. Harruff
Original assignee: General Indicator Corp
Current assignee: General Indicator Corp
Priority date: 1976-04-28
Filing date: 1976-04-28
Publication date: 1979-08-28

Abstract

NUMERIC DISPLAY USING THREE ENDLESS BELTS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Any numeric display (0-9) can be obtained by rotating the three endless belts to position the indicia on each to combine with the others to form the desired numeral.
Each belt has a plurality of faces or display areas along its length and is driven by a separate motor until a sensing means determines the proper face is in display position.
The belts follow a serpentine path to permit the belts to be housed in a frame about as high as the numeric readout. A
change in the readout can be programmed and initiated at a remote location.

Description

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This inven-tion relates to nurneric display devices in which the display can be changed from a remote location.
The -type d:isplay con-templa-ted here is relatively large.
In the past tapes bearing all the numera'.s have been used but have had problems associated wi-th the great lenyth of the tape and with the width of the tape (too much unsupported area).
According to the present invention, there' is provided a numeric display device having a housing with a front opening and three endless belts mounted in the housing in side-by-side relationship with each belt reeved over rollers in serpentine fashion wi-th a con-tinuous face portion of each belt facing outwardly through the open fron-t of the housing. Each o:E the three belts has only five face portions, and one of the belts has indicia on each of its five face portions. A second oE the belts has indicia on four face portions and a third of the belts has indicia on a maximum of four face port~ons. The remaining face portions of the second and third belts are blank. The indicia on the three helts is combinable in the open front to form any desired numeral from 0-9, with means being provided for driving each belt independ--en-tly of the others so as to enable the various face portions to be positioned in the open front. Guide means is provided in the open front between adjacent bel-ts to guide the edges of each belt.
Any numeric display (0-9) can be obtained by rota-ting the three endless belts -to position the indicia on each to combine with -the o-thers to Eorm the desired numeral.

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DESCRlPTION OE`_TIIF DR~WINGS
FicJ. 1 is a perspective view of- one type oE siyn in which his inven-tion may be used to advan-tage.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one unit showing the numeral 6 in the readou-t.
Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 3--3 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the belt and drive.
Fig. 5 is a "stretched" view of the three endless belts laid out flat to show the indicia.
; Fig. 6 is a detail showing the belt guide between adjacent belts.

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DE~SC~IPTION OE' T~-IE PE~E~ERRED EMBODIMENT
The sign sho-~n in Fig. 1 is well suited to use adjacen~ highways since it stands 30 meters ox more high and can be read at a great distance. In this inst~nce the numeric display is the price of gasoline. The present design is also suitable for display of any numeric readout such as ilight numbers, etc. Each digit is formed by proper posi-tioning of the indicia on three tapes. The housing 10 encloses a number of frames 12 corresponding to the number of digits to be displayed~ The front of each frame is open to display the tapes 14, 16, 18. Each tape is continuous and is reeved o~er a roller 20 at the ~op front, passes under a tensioning roller ~2, over a drive roller 24, to idler rollers 26, 28, 30, 32 and then over roller 34 ~t ~he lower front to make the exposed pass i.n the front of the frame to roller 20. The drive roller 24 is drive~n b~ a mo~or 36, 38, ;-- 40 (as the case may be) through a belt 42.-Each motor is separately energized to drive the corresponding belt to its proper position to display the desired indicia on that belt which, w~en combined with the other displayed faces, will form the desired digit. The motors are energized from a remote location at which the desired digit is electrically selected whereupon the motors drive the belts until each belt reaches the proper position and the motor is de-energized. This type of positioning circuitry is not unique and may take various fDrms depending on the use of conductive strips on the inside of the tape or perorations in the tape with suitable conductive ~Ifeelers~
sensin~ the proper position. The orm of cireuit employed is not important to this invention and a detailed disclosure thercof ~Jould only conuse tllc disclosurc o~ this inveltion.

Each of -the bel-ts has five face areas bearing indicia as illustrated in Fig. 5. The following chart illustrates the manner in which the faces are combined to form numerals 0-9.

Belt ~ace 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ~ 9 . ~ ~ 1 I x -1~ =--=--14~ 3-- - _ ~ X - X
- 4_ _ X - X X
lo - -51- - = X y -X X X -X X X
~ .. . _ X _ _ _ 6 - 3 _ X _ _ _ 4 X _ - X - ~ ~

2 -X = X _ _ = = _ X X =
~8 3 - _ _ _ X X _ 4 _ - _ _ - _ 5- _ = -X = = = = =
.

The tapes or belts are preferably made of a tough material such as a polyester film, which is sold under the trade mark "Mylar" having good dimensional stability. The edges are guided in channel shaped tracks 44 such as in Fig. 3. The exposed face of the track is kept narrow to minimize the gap between adjacent indicia. Rollers 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 include flanges 46 at each end guiding the belt. Each tensioning roller 22 is carried on a pivoted arm and is loaded by spring 50 to tension the associated belt. All the idler rollers (20, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) are mounted on common shafts for independent movement i.e. all rollers 20 are on a single shaft. Each drive roller 24 is separately driven.

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The maxlmum time to change numbers is -the time to change four panels (or face portions). If one were to use a single belt with numerals 0-9, the maximum time to change numbers would be the time to move nine panels -- 2.25 times as long. Further, the length of a 10-digi-t belt to be wound in the serpentine manner becomes difficult to house.
It will be noted that at least two belts must have at least one blank face in order to display numeral 1. Thus, as illustrated, belts 14 and 18 each have blanks at face 5 (also at face 4 in the case of belt 18). If numeral 1 is to be made out of face 1 on belt 18, then belt 16 would require a blank face (as would belt 14). The iilustrated form with a centered numeral 1 and permit-ting the use of a serif is preferred for better legibility.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A numeric display device comprising a housing having an open front, three endless belts mounted in the housing in side-by-side relationship with each belt reeved over rollers in serpentine fashion with a continuous face portion of each belt facing outwardly through the open front of the housing, each of the three belts having only five face portions, one of the belts having indicia on each of its five face portions, a second of the belts having indicia on four face portions, and a third of the belts having indicia on a maximum of four face portions, the remaining face portions of said second and third belts being blank, the indicia on the -three belts being combinable in the open front to form any desired numeral from 0-9, means driving each belt independently of the others so as to enable the various face portions to be positioned in the open front, and guide means in the open front between adjacent belts to guide the edges of each belt.