EP0528082A1

EP0528082A1 - Scrolling mechanism for signs

Info

Publication number: EP0528082A1
Application number: EP91307535A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernard P. Grace
Original assignee: OLDHAM SIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: OLDHAM SIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-15
Filing date: 1991-08-15
Publication date: 1993-02-24

Abstract

A scrolling mechanism for signs which forms an integral part of a display sign 2, said display sign having cassettes 6 mounted therein which allow information to be displayed. Said information mounted on a length of material 30 with one end portion rolled around a roller 26 and the other end portion rolled around a second roller 28. Between the two rollers the material forms a web 32 which passes vertically in the cassette 6. The scrolling mechanism is formed of said rollers and web material 32 with an idle 34 roller engaging the web of material 32. Said rollers have the facility to be rotated such that the information displayed from the display sign 2 can be altered to display the varied information on the web. Any slack in the web during operation of said rollers is accounted for by the moving action of the idler roller 34 in engagement with the said web 32.

Description

The invention relates to a sign which is commonly used to display information in the form of letters or numerals stored in the interior of the sign. The said sign typically has the facility to allow the information to be changed by mechanical or electrical movement of a scrolling mechanism. The sign is backlit such that the information to be displayed is clearly defined to the onlooker. The information is protected from the elements by a body with at least the face adjacent the information display formed from translucent material.
In the consumer environment of today it is desired to display information such that it is displayed clearly and with eye appeal. The information to be displayed is typically that relating to the price of goods and one particular use which has been found to be particularly suited for this sign is the display of petrol prices on garage forecourts. The sign shall now be described with reference to use as a display of petrol prices on the garage forecourt however it should be understood that the sign of the invention shall be capable of use in any circumstances where it is required to display information which can be altered.
At present, the display of the price of petrol per gallon or litre is displayed by any of three means. The first such means is by a digital display which can be changed by electrical means. In this format the information displayed as a series of digits is formed by the combination of flip over flaps or liquid crystal or diode elements all of which can be electrically operated to change one or all of the digits. The second form of display sign system involves the use of plates with a digit thereon which are mounted on the sign to display the required information. To alter the information it is necessary to remove the plate in question and mount a plate or plates which include the required digits. The third sign display system utilises a scrolling mechanism wherein a length of material with the information printed thereon is held on two rolls mounted in the sign. The two rolls are spaced apart such that there is a web of the material passing therebetween. The two rolls are positioned such that the web between is positioned in the part of the sign through which the digit is to be displayed to the public. When it is desired to alter the digit the rolls are rotated and in turn the web is moved onto one of the rolls to be replaced such that the web is now formed including the required digit wound from the other roll. To produce a sign for use in the garage forecourt the scrolling mechanisms can be mounted side by side to allow a series of digits to be displayed.
Over the past few years great use has been made of each of the display sign systems so described above. However each system has considerable disadvantages in their present state.
The use of removable plates has been found to be unsatisfactory in that the sign changer is required to keep a substantial stock of plates to ensure that any required change in the display can be accomodated. In addition these plates when on display are susceptible to damage of their appearance from external elements. This damage can be in the form of discolouring or simply becoming dirty which therefore leads to a reduction in the clarity and eye appeal of the display.
The use of electrically operated digital display signs have been found to be expensive to manufacture and inefficient upon use. The expense is due to the relatively high technology involved in the manufacture of the display system with no improvement in the overall display. It has been found that the movement mechanisms for those digits which are required to be moved least frequently become easily blocked such that when they are required to be moved they are immovable and require expensive repair work. It is therefore felt that the use of remotely electrically operated digital display signs is not suited to those areas where the sign may be susceptible to ingress of foreign matter or the displays are altered infrequently.
Furthermore the use of a digital display system, does not allow the use of customised graphics in the display, wherein it may be desired that a companies logo or somesuch device should be incorporated in the display, the use of digital systems as described herein do not allow this to be done, and the display in this case is greatly restricted in the possible variations of display.
The best suited system has been found to be that which uses a scrolling mechanism to alter the display. The system ensures that the digit to be displayed is mounted on a web suspended between two rolls; the said web an integral part of a length of the suitable material. The remainder of the length of material is held in rolled form on both of the two rolls and has printed, at regular spaced intervals, the other required digits. The main criteria for the smooth operation of this system is that during both the display of information and the operation of the scrolling mechanism that the web be maintained in tension. If the tension in the web is not maintained then the material which is being scrolled tends to bunch up and can lead to the jamming of the scrolling mechanism. This jamming of the scrolling mechanism can lead to the web being torn or to one roll releasing the one end of the material.
These disadvantages have been addressed previously and one system which has been designed to provide and maintain tension in the web involves the use of a clutch and braking mechanism. This system involves the use of two drive shafts to which a number of scrolling mechanisms can be mounted and subsequently coupled thereto by means of a clutch. In addition, to maintain tension a braking means is provided on the rollers which maintains a differential force between the rewinding and unwinding rollers of the scrolling mechanism. Such systems however are extremely complex and this has proved to be prohibitive to the manufacture and use of these systems. In addition the number of components required for this system makes the finished article extremely heavy, hence requiringstronger supporting fittings. It is evident that purchasers of such display systems require simple, inexpensive and efficient scrolling mechanisms which are easy to maintain and have a minimum of complex machinery.
It is also a disadvantage of present scrolling signs that there is no flexibility possible in the driving of the said scrolling mechanism. It has been found to be desirable to be able to adapt the scrolling mechanism to be operated automatically, mechanically, electrically or manually such that frequency of display change, the location, use and external conditions can be taken into account.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a display sign which utilises a web maintained in tension between two rollers which is simple to operate, yet provides for the web to be maintained in tension. A further aim of the invention is to minimise the degree of complexity of the scrolling mechanism of the display sign such that the display sign as a whole is relatively inexpensive to produce and maintain and to allow a selection of drive means to be provided.
The present invention provides a display sign including a scrolling mechanism formed of two rollers supporting thereon a length of suitable material with information thereon such that there is provided between the two rollers a web of the material displaying the desired information, characterised by an idler roller engaging the web of material to take up slack in the web as a result of differential feed and take up of the web by respective rollers.
Preferably the scrolling mechanism shall be contained within a cassette in which the two rollers shall be rotatably mounted.
In one embodiment the two rollers shall be positioned such that the first roller is mounted below the second roller.
Preferably the information on the web of material in the scrolling mechanism shall be printed onto the said material.
The idler roller of the invention when in contact with the web shall preferably be held in suspension by the said web of material.
The display sign shall preferably be provided with lighting therein to illuminate the information displayed.
The web of material shall be maintained in tension when it is in stationary position and take up slack when the length of material is being unwound and rewound onto the first and second rollers.
The idler roller shall be of cylindrical form and shall be formed from a material of sufficient weight as to allow the web to be maintained in tension whilst allowing the material to be rewound and unwound onto the first and second rollers. The display sign referred to shall be capable of connection to other similar display signs such that any number can be so mounted to provide the required amount of information.
Typically the display sign shall be mounted as an integral part of the displays which are used to indicate the price of petrol on the garage forecourt and to this end the display sign unit shall be sealed and waterproofed.
The drive means for the scrolling mechanism shall be capable of being adapted to suit the requirements of each particular use with reference given to frequency of use, location and the external environment.
In one embodiment the said rollers shall be driven at the same speed by means of a timing belt linkage connected to the shafts of each roller.
The drive means used to drive the timing belt shall in one embodiment be an electrical motor mounted on the shaft of one of the rollers.
A further embodiment of drive means shall be by manual means wherein a specially adapted tool or handle is provided to turn a geared arrangement to transmit turning movement to the rollers.
In a third embodiment the drive means shall be provided by a mechanical tool which shall be specially adapted to fit into a means for turning the gearing mechanism of the scrolling mechanism hence producing turning motion in the rollers.
In the electrical and mechanical drive means there shall be provided a torque limiter such that should there be excessive force on the roller and hence strain on the web the drive means shall automatically be cut off.
When a cassette is to be banked with a series of said cassettes they shall be supported on a main framework in the desired configuration.
There shall be provided in the cassette, bearings, in which the ends of the rollers shall be able to rotate.
Preferably the bearings in the cassette shall be formed from acetal.
Preferably the display sign of the invention shall be capable of being retrofitted into existing display sign fittings.
To decrease the risk of shadow across the sign face the first and second rollers and associated fittings may be formed from a translucent material.
In a further embodiment the said cassette shall be formed wholly from translucent light transmitting material such that there shall be no shadowing effect produced on the sign face.
The lighting provided to illuminate the information to be displayed through the said web shall be of a format and located such that the light effect produced shall be uniform across the sign face.
Preferably, in one embodiment, the web of the said display, shall include, in addition to the information printed thereon, shall include customised graphics to be printed thereon.
An embodiment of the invention shall now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 illustrates a cassette mounted in conjunction with other such cassettes to form a display sign;
Figure 2 shows an end elevation of one cassette and scrolling mechanism of the display sign in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows an elevation of the cassette and scrolling mechanism of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows an elevation in section along line A-A of Figure 2 of the cassette and scrolling mechanism of Figure 4.
Figure 5 illustrates the cassettes mounted on a mainframe in a configuration to form the display of a display sign.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a display sign 2 which is typically mounted on supporting fittings 4. The display sign 2 contains a bank of cassettes 6 from which are displayed digits 8. The cassettes 6 are surrounded by a border area 10 which may contain further information which is not required to be altered.
The cassettes 6 are shown in more detail in Figures 2-4. Referring firstly to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown the cassette 6, scrolling mechanism 12 and backlight 13. The cassette has a surface 16 formed of acrylic. On the side walls 20 there is provided bearings 22 therein and to the rear two lipped portions 24 protruding at right angles to the side walls 20.
The scrolling mechanism comprises two rollers 26 and 28 mounted in the bearings 22 in the cassette. Mounted between the rollers is a length of material 30 with one end portion 31 rolled around roller 26 and the other end portion 33 rolled around roller 28. Between the two rollers there is formed a web 32 of the material 30 which passes vertically along surface 16 in the cassette 6. At the bottom section of the web 32 there is provided an idle roller 34 and a guide roller 36. The said idle roller is held in suspension by the web 32 which passes under said roller. Upon the length of the material there is printed a series of digits 37 such that at any one time one such digit can be positioned in the web section 32 and clearly be displayed.
Figure 4 illustrates one possible means for the driving of the said rollers 26 and 28 wherein there is shown, in section, roller 26 coupled to an electric motor 38. The roller is mounted in the cassette 6 by means of bearings 22. Coupled at one end of the roller is a drive wheel 40 which in turn is connected directly to the drive shaft 42 of the electric motor 38. Coupled to roller 28 is an idler wheel 44 which is connected to drive wheel 40 by timing belt 46.
Figure 5 illustrates a typical banking arrangement of the said cassettes to form a display sign 2. The cassettes are arranged and attached to a main frame 48 in the desired configuration. The timing belts 46 can clearly be seen in the drawing however further coupling belts 50 are required to connect the drive source 52 to the cassette. In this case the drive source is designed for mechanical drive means. Each drive source 52 has a cassette drive socket 54 which is connected to a bevel gear arrangement 56 which serves to transmit the power to the cassette rollers 26 and 28 by means of the coupling and timing belts 50 and 46. The coupling belts are in turn connected to extension drive wheels 58 which extend outwardly from the cassette 6 to ensure that the coupling belt does not snag on the components of other cassettes.
The display sign as described above and as shown in Figure 1 therefore provides for the displaying of information to the onlooker. To change the information on display the appropriate scrolling mechanisms 12 mounted in the sign have to be operated such that the required information is displayed on the web 32. To operate the scrolling mechanism largely depends on the drive means. An electrical drive means allows the scrolling mechanism to be operated remotely from the display sign. A mechanical drive means may require a specially adapted driving tool and a manual drive means requires manual turning of, for example, a handle.
Given that there is provided a drive means the operation of the scrolling mechanism can now be described. Power is provided on the bottom roller which is translated to the upper roller by means of the timing belt 46. This ensures that the two rollers 26 and 28 are driven to rotate with equal speed. The rollers are capable of clockwise and anticlockwise rotation as required either to wind or unwind the end of the length of the material 30. In this manner so the information which is to form the web section 32 can be changed as the length of the material is wound or unwound on to each of the rollers. To ensure that during the scrolling action there is sufficient tension maintained on the length of the material 30, the idler roller 34 is of sufficient weight such that as it is held in suspension by the web 32 so there is sufficient tension maintained on the length of material 30. To allow ease of movement of the scrolling mechanism the idler roller is able to move in a vertical direction over a limited path 58 as the scrolling action takes place.
The scrolling action can therefore be continued until the desired information is displayed on the web 32 of the cassette. The web 32 is kept free of wrinkles as it passes along the surface 16 which keeps the web 32 in a condition such that the information thereon is easily defined.
The display sign of the present invention has the advantage that the scrolling mechanism therein is simple in design and, importantly, adaptable. This adaptability allows the said scrolling mechanism to be powered by a variety of drive means, the choice of which is dependant upon the situation, use and environment in which the display sign is required to be used.
The scrolling mechanism allows an effective and efficient system of changing the information which is required to be displayed, wherein the mechanism is simple to operate yet is of a design which is highly efficient.
The display sign is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and shall also be capable of being retrofitted to existing display fittings, hence increasing the potential market of the display sign of this design.
The mounting of the scrolling mechanism within a cassette allows the said cassette to be easily fitted to a mainframe in combination with further cassettes to form the display sign in the configuration as required.
By manufacturing the majority of the components from translucent material any risk of shadow on the information displayed is minimised.

Claims

A display sign (2) including a scrolling mechanism (12) formed of two rollers (26) and (28) supporting thereon a length of suitable material (30) with information thereon such that there is provided between the two rollers a web (32) of the material displaying the desired information, characterised by an idler roller (34) engaging the web of material to take up slack in the web (32) as a result of differential feed and take up of the web (32) by respective rollers (26) and (28).
A display sign as in claim 1 characterised in that the scrolling mechanism is contained within a cassette (6) which in turn is located within in the display sign (2).
A cassette (6) as in claim 2 characterised in that the cassette (6) is formed of translucent material.
A cassette (6) as in claim 2 characterised in that the cassette (6) and components therein are formed of translucent material.
A cassette (6) as in claim 2 characterised in that the said cassette shall be formed with a pair of bearings (22) formed in the side walls thereof, in which the rollers (26) and (28) shall be located.
A cassette (6) as in claims 2 and 5 characterised in that the bearings (22) are formed from acetal.
A display sign as in claim 1 characterised in that there shall be mounted therein a series of cassettes (6) such that there shall be provided a series of changeable information displays.
A display sign (2) as in claim 1 characterised in that the cassettes (6) are mounted on a mainframe formed of a suitable material within the said display sign such that the configuration of the cassettes (6) can be adapted to suit display requirements.
A display sign as in claim 1 and scrolling mechanism (12) therein characterised in that there is provided a first roller mounted below a second roller.
A display sign (2) as in claim 1 and web (32) therein characterised in that the information on said web is printed thereon.
A display sign (2) as in claim 1 and web (32) therein characterised in that the web shall include thereon, customised graphics to be displayed from the said sign.
A display sign as in Claim 1 characterised in that there shall be provided within the said sign lighting (13) to illuminate the information to be displayed.
A display sign as in claim 1 characterised in that during operation of the scrolling mechanism the idler roller (34) is capable of limited movement (58) in a generally vertical direction.
An idler roller as in claims 1 and 12 characterised in that the idler roller, when in contact with web (32) is held in suspension by said web.
An idler roller (34) as in Claims 1 characterised in that the said idler roller shall be of cylindrical form and of sufficient weight as to take up slack in the web (32).
A display sign as in claim 1 characterised in that to effect a change in the information displayed there is provided a drive means connected to both rollers (26) and (28).
A drive means as in claim 15 characterised in that the drive means shall be connected to both rollers by means of a timing belt (46) such that the rollers (26) and (28) rotate with equal speed.
A drive means as in claim 15 characterised in that there shall be provided as part of the said drive means a torque limiter to prevent the web (32) of material from being damaged.
A drive means as in claim 15 characterised in that the said drive means shall be provided by a mechanically powered means.
A drive means as in claim 15 characterised in that the said drive means shall be provided by manual action.
A drive means as in claim 15 characterised in that the said drive means shall be in the form of an electric motor.
A display sign (2) as in any preceding claims characterised in that the display sign unit shall be sealed and waterproofed.