EP0743628A2 - Archiving/exhibiting system for objects, especially pictures - Google Patents

Abstract

An archiving/exhibiting system for objects, preferably pictures, consisting of a storage device in a cabinet from which a specific object is selected by means of a computing system. The object selected is extracted from the cabinet and exhibited automatically together with a series of bibliographical data presented on the computer screen. The objects exhibited are provided with automatic centring means.

Description

Field of the invention
• This invention would relate to computer-automated means for storing and exhibiting objects in general and, preferably, sheet-type objects of the picture, lithograph, poster or photograph type, but which could be applied to any other object, recreational games, etc.
Prior art
• Means for exhibiting pictures and lithographs in general have scarcely varied over the years. Exhibiting these works to the general public usually takes the form of an exhibition in museums and exhibition halls. This obviously requires specialized staff and installations which enormously increases the price of the works and limits the numbers who can purchase or look at them.
• In fact, with a work of art, it is not only its price which is of significance, since many of them are not for sale, but the possibility of them being looked at by the general public without the latter having to travel from country to country. From the point of view of looking at works by established artists, obviously looking at them in situ in museums and exhibition halls cannot be bettered. However, looking at works by new painters requires the publication of catalogues, which, when all is said and done, are merely printed reproductions of artistic works where such important formal characteristics such as light, brilliance, colour intensity, etc., features which can be studied only by looking directly at the work, are lost. The same situation would occur when the format on which the images were loaded was computer media instead of paper.
• Cabinets for storing various objects were known hitherto, said cabinets having a content information system (ES 514810). Moreover, systems for storing vinyl discs or compact discs are known, said systems using a client- or user-actuated selection system, operating generally via a keyboard and with a prelocation guide index. Systems have been described for storing pictures in museums or gallery store rooms, such as that in Patent EP600506 which, although it saves space, still takes up too much room and does not solve the problem of the automated storage/recovery/exhibiting of works of art. In Patent GB2265044, an attempt is made to solve the problem of exhibition using a system for optimizing the available space but without introducing computing means to selectively automate recovery from the store rooms. Patent CA2009975 shows a computerized system for showing/ illuminating objects previously arranged in cabinets/ display cases. However, this system does not include the possibility of storing said objects in a small-size area away from the exhibition point, their selection by means of a computer program, their transportation and exhibition. There is no description, therefore, in the prior art of systems for storing pictures which permit their automatic exhibition when this is actuated by means of a computer-controlled menu. In this way, it would be possible to exhibit a large number of works within small spaces, with the concomitant advantages of a saving of space, ease of transportation, etc.
Summary of the invention
• The machine which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to remedy deficiencies in the conventional systems mentioned above by storing a series of pictures and exhibiting a specific one via actuation of a computer-controlled selection system.
Detailed description of the invention
• The machine is formed by a cabinet inside which the works to be exhibited, resting on guides (1), will be placed, said guides serving to hold each frame which is controlled for making the correct selection. Said cabinet may be protected by an outer casing made from strong material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said casing may be constructed from a transparent material enabling anyone to see the internal operating mechanisms. In order to select the works, provision has been made for a mechanism in the top part, formed by a horizontal carriage (2) into which all the retention group, vertical and horizontal displacement, has been fixed, which will serve for extracting the work for presentation at the front of the machine.
• The vertical carriage (3) has fixed to it the support (4, one on each side) which serves as extractor for the selected work. When the frame is lowered, the support will tilt until it is located in a housing which will enable it to return to its horizontal position. On rising, this attitude will enable it to entrain the selected work.
• The motor (5) will be used to achieve vertical movement, and the assembly will be formed by the vertical carriage (3), the side wheels (6) and side guides (7), these guides being inserted into the work and fixing it, thereby avoiding sideways displacements. An electromagnet (8) has been fixed to this assembly, said magnet being activated by means of action on the extractor support (4) which will leave it in a free position for entraining the same picture, once the latter has been completely lowered, and initiating the rise for the next one to be picked up.
• The entrainment motor and pulleys have been fixed to the horizontal carriage (2) for displacing the assembly of the vertical carriage (3), the pulleys (9) and belts (10) also having been fixed, the latter facilitating entrainment and guiding of the assembly. The terminals for fixing the belts for horizontal displacement will be placed in the upper plate, this movement being developed by the gear motor (11). An encoder will be placed on the shaft to allow positioning of the assembly, use also being made of an electronic frequency variator which will enable us to adjust the displacement speeds.
• The supports, pulleys and belts for horizontal entrainment, as well as the gear motor (11), with its encoder, have been fixed to the frame.
• A panel, like a curtain (12), will be placed at the front and will be used for announcing the exhibition and it will be secured to a frame (13) which may be actuated with a gear motor (14) until it disappears in the bottom part, this occurring when the work is presented at the front.
• A description is also given of devices (19-20) for anchoring and automatically centring the object to be exhibited to the fixing frame (15) which carries the picture or object. Said anchoring devices are arranged in the rear part of the object to be exhibited (21) and enable it to be centred automatically and secured firmly with no possibility of the exhibited surface bending at its ends. Said anchoring devices interlock with lugs (22) joined to a series of points (a, b, c, d, e and f) distributed on the fixing frames. The distribution of the lugs over the said points on the fixing frame enables different sizes of pictures to be exhibited.
• As an alternative to the electromagnets, coupling devices (23) may be provided which, joined preferably by means of screwing to the fixing frame (15) and in combination with the pulley/guide system provided on the carriage of the archiving system, permit the safe movement of the objects to be exhibited which are secured by means of their respective exhibition frames. The pulley/-guide system may also be replaced by circular components (24) spaced along each rail of the carriage so that the distance between them is proportional to the thickness of the fixing frame. In this way, the system is less likely to jam.
• Likewise, the operation of the archiving/ exhibiting system, controlled by computer, is governed by a diagram for actuating the position detectors (35-41), which act on the control robots, and which is supported by a software alarm system (41-66).
• A further object of the present invention is to protect the incorporation of safety mechanisms for preventing accidents during the automatic operation of the archiving/exhibiting system, as far as in situ handling of the exhibited pictures or objects in general is concerned.
• An alternative construction would consist in providing more than one archiving system coupled in synchronism with one or more exhibiting windows. In this way, it is possible to operate the system in multiple mode and to avoid excessive delays in exhibiting successive pictures. For this purpose, in addition to a translational movement in the vertical direction (up/ down) and horizontal direction (forward/back), the fixing frames will be able to move sideways (right/left). In this way, the exhibiting window will be empty for only a few seconds.
• Likewise, as well as it being possible for the menu provided on the computer to be modified using the keyboard or a mouse provided for this purpose, provision is made for it to be possible for it to be modified by the visitor in other ways. A basic operating procedure would be in the form of a preprogrammed, continuous menu in which the objects to be exhibited appear in a preset sequence. This basic operating procedure may be altered, as well as by the means described above, by using a touch-sensitive screen representing the various objects making up the exhibition. By interacting with the screen, the preestablished order is changed, the objects being exhibited in the order determined by the visitor or the system operator. The menu would make it possible to offer the information and/or to interact with it in various languages, which may be selected. In addition to presenting the work, on-screen data will be offered concerning its production, its creator, etc.
• The program makes it possible to make modifications, adapting its content to each exhibition.
• In addition to the applications mentioned, this archiving/exhibiting system may be used not only to exhibit sheet-type reproductions in general but also ceramic tiles, clothing, flooring, works of art in general, recreational games, etc. In this latter application, the various games will appear in the way selected by the player and would be re-archived after a preestablished delay or score.
Description of the figures

Figure 1:

three-dimensional diagram of the picture-archiving and -selecting system with details of the elements it incorporates and of the control panel.

Figure 2:

detail of the panel identifying the exhibition (curtain).

Figure 3:

detail of the horizontal carriage.

Figure 4:

detail of the vertical carriage.

Figure 5:

detail of the electromagnet.

Figure 6:

front view of the securing system with automatic centring of the object to be exhibited, depending on the latter's size.

Figure 7:

detail of the securing element in the form of a lug arranged on the fixing frame, which ensures automatic centring of the object.

Figure 8:

front view, in detail, of the coupling element arranged on the fixing frame.

Figure 9:

view of the system for supporting and guiding the object to be exhibited, by means of transport pulleys and circular components of the fixing frames.

Figures 10 and 10A

(continuation of the above) : computer-programmed operating diagram for the archiving/exhibiting system.

Figures 11 and 11A-B

(continuation of the above): diagram of computer-programmed alarms for the archiving/exhibiting system.

• A detailed list is now given of the elements incorporated into each mechanism:

1.-

Guide supporting the picture

2. -

Horizontal carriage

3.-

Vertical carriage

4 .-

Extractor support

5.-

Vertical-carriage gear motor

6.-

Vertical-carriage guide pulleys

7.-

Side guides

8.-

Electromagnet

9.-

Horizontal-carriage guide pulleys

10.-

Vertical-carriage belt

11.-

Horizontal-carriage gear motor with encoder

12.-

Control panel/computer with touch-sensitive screen

13.-

Panel-carrying frame (curtain)

14.-

Curtain gear motor

15.-

Picture-fixing frame

16.-

Piece of furniture

17.-

Illumination points

18.-

Horizontal-carriage belt

19.-

Automatic centring device arranged on the fixing frame for a small object

20.-

Automatic centring device arranged on the fixing frame for a large object

21.-

Picture or object to be exhibited

22.-

Automatic centring lug

23.-

Fixing frame side coupling device

24.-

Pulley/guide and circular-component system

25.-

Initial position

26.-

Carriage-position check

27.-

Fast horizontal-carriage return

28.-

Slow horizontal-carriage return

29.-

Horizontal-carriage stop

30.-

Fast horizontal-carriage advance

31.-

Slow horizontal-carriage advance

32.-

Fast vertical-carriage rise

33.-

Slow vertical-carriage rise

34.-

Vertical-carriage stop

35.-

Fast curtain drop

36.-

Slow curtain drop

37.-

Curtain stop

38.-

Fast curtain rise

39.-

Slow curtain rise

40.-

Fast vertical-carriage drop

41.-

Slow vertical-carriage drop

42.-

Machine in operation

43.-

Horizontal carriage advanced

44.-

Empty zone

45.-

Poorly loaded frame

46.-

Automatic return to the sequence

47.-

Horizontal carriage delayed

48.-

Full unloading zone

49.-

Curtain up detector

50.-

Curtain down detector

51.-

Frame up detector

52.-

Frame up or curtain down when starting sequence

53.-

Vertical carriage down detector

54.-

Horizontal carriage delayed detector

55.-

Horizontal carriage early detector

56.-

Frame not unloaded

57.-

Frame not inserted

58.-

Emergency push-button actuation

59.-

Curtain thermal component

60.-

Vertical-carriage thermal component

61.

Horizontal-carriage thermal component

62.-

Curtain variator alarm

63.-

Vertical-carriage variator alarm

64.-

Horizontal-carriage variator alarm

65.-

Poorly positioned frame

66.-

Machine on manual

Claims (24)

1. Archiving/exhibiting system for objects, preferably pictures, consisting of:

   - a cabinet in which the objects to be exhibited are stored in an ordered manner and fixed to frames,

   - a system for extracting the object which is actuated by a motor which is displaced by means of wheels along guides,

   - a displacement system actuated by a motor which, by means of a transmission mechanism, positions the object so that it can be exhibited,

   - suspension means with automatic centring arranged in the rear part of the object to be exhibited,

   - interlocking and automatic centring means joined to the fixing frame of the object to be exhibited,

   - side guide means arranged on the fixing frames,

   - computing system which governs programmable robots and an alarm system,

   - safety means for preventing accidents when handling the objects exhibited with the system in operation,

   - a casing

   - a movable front panel in the form of a curtain which delimits and closes an exhibiting window.
2. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cabinet consists of a set of parallel guides.
3. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cabinet consists of a series of circular components which are equidistant in proportion to the thickness of the fixing frame.
4. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the system for extracting objects consists of a frame with tilting side supports which entrain the object selected in a vertical, horizontal and sideways direction.
5. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the extraction system has side supports with individual electromagnets arranged thereon which release the fixing frames once the entrainment function is complete.
6. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the entrainment motor for the extraction system is a gear motor.
7. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transmission mechanism of the system for horizontal displacement of the object selected is a mechanism based on pulleys and belts.
8. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the motor which entrains the system for horizontal displacement of the object selected is a gear motor.
9. An archiving/exibiting system according to Claim 6, characterized in that the shaft of the gear motor has an encoder with a frequency variator for determining the position of the assembly and adjusting the speed of displacement, respectively.
10. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that automatic centring of the object to be exhibited is achieved by means of the provision in its rear part of at least one tie with at least two cuts, proportional to the size of the object to be exhibited and arranged so that it receives at least two securing projections arranged on the fixing frame which have a diameter smaller than or equal to that of the cuts.
11. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 10, characterized in that the tie is partially separated from the object to be exhibited, leaving a space, at least in the notches, of a thickness which is equal to or greater than the thickness of the securing element arranged on the fixing frame and a distance between the part joined to the object to be exhibited and the contact edge with the securing element of at least half the major diameter of said element.
12. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 10, characterized in that the tie is totally joined to the object to be exhibited and the necessary space for the insertion of the securing projections of the fixing frame is provided with cavities arranged on the actual object.
13. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the securing projections arranged on the fixing frame carrying the object to be exhibited have at least two areas which are joined and substantially cylindrical, of different diameters, a more inwardly arranged one being joined to the fixing frame, of comparatively small diameter, which is the one inserted into the notch and on which the automatic centring tie arranged on the object to be exhibited rests, and the other more outwardly arranged one, of comparatively large diameter, which prevents said object collapsing forwards, acting as a stop for the said tie.
14. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the computing system governs programmable robots by means, inter alia, of the following manoeuvre functions:

    * machine start/stop

    * manual operation

    * detection of position of the horizontal carriage of the archiving system

    * detection of empty unloading zone

    * advance/return of the horizontal carriage at different speeds

    * horizontal-carriage stop

    * detection of the position of the frame of the vertical carriage

    * detection of correct frame load

    * rise/drop of the vertical carriage at different speeds

    * vertical-carriage stop

    * detection of the curtain

    * rise and drop of the curtain at different speeds

    * curtain stop

    * order to retain the object exhibited

    * restart

    * synchronization of various archiving systems coupled to at least one exhibiting window

    * sideways displacement of the exhibiting frame.
15. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 and 14, characterized in that the computing system interacts with an alarm system which comprises, inter alia:

    * horizontal carriage advanced/returned

    * empty load zone

    * poorly loaded frame

    * automatic sequence restart

    * full unloading zone

    * curtain monitoring

    * vertical-carriage monitoring

    * horizontal-carriage monitoring

    * frame not unloading or not being inserted

    * machine on manual

    * machine off/on

    * handling of the object exhibited with the system running.
16. An archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the safety measures provided to prevent accidents when handling the objects exhibited during operation of the system preferably consist of a mechanism for locking the system should any body interfere with a field delimited by a radiation emitter arranged above the archiving/exhibiting system.
17. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the casing is formed and arranged as a piece of furniture.
18. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the moving front panel may incorporate one or more sources of illumination.
19. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 and 18, characterized in that the moving front panel may, in turn, comprise an exhibition-identifying panel which can be actuated by a gear motor which is displaced until it disappears in the bottom part of the casing when the selected work is presented.
20. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claim 1, and 18 to 19, characterized in that the moving front panel may be arranged beside or on top of the picture-archiving system.
21. Archiving/exhibiting system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a number of cabinets for storing the objects to be exhibited, coupled at least to one exhibiting window.
22. Archiving/exhibiting system according to Claims 1 and 17, characterized in that the cabinet where the objects to be exhibited are stored is covered by a protective casing optionally produced in a transparent material which makes it possible to view the operating mechanisms moving inside it.
23. System for exhibiting objects, preferably pictures, consisting of the use of an archiving/exhibiting system as described in Claims 1 to 22.
24. Exhibiting system according to Claim 23, characterized in that the archiving/exhibiting system is built into a wall or the like.

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