EP0771457B1 - Device for individually and selectively displaying a set of posters - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of posters or similar panels (4) are attached to individual support sheets (1,2) of flexible material wound at least partly around a drum (5). A control system allows unwinding of the sheets from the drum such that the poster appears in a selected position, e.g. behind a display aperture or window (9). A series of posters may be mounted in slightly varying positions, such that their display positions are in planes (a-e) slightly differently spaced relative to the window. Movement of the support sheets and posters is controlled by traction cords wound around drive pulleys (7), and the posters are secured by transverse bars and lateral fastening strips of the support sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for individually displaying, selectively, the different posters of a set of posters by positioned successively behind a viewing window.

This device finds application in particular in the field of advertising or traffic information.

It can be provided at a fixed post, for message display panels (or other inscriptions) changing.

It also finds application on vehicles, viewing windows advertising messages being in this case provided on the side faces and / or on the rear wall of a van type vehicle.

In this type of device, posters are generally placed end-to-end on a flexible support in order to constitute a very long strip.

It can be an endless band, as is provided for example in documents FR-A-1 051 852, FR-A-2 579 810 and US-A-1 530 888.

According to other possible embodiments, as described for example in FR-A-2 692 395, FR-A-2 152 012 and WO-92/03813, we are dealing with a strip of limited length, the ends of which are wound on drums.

The long strip scrolls past the display window. It is provided means for driving and controlling the position of the strip, which allow bring the selected poster right behind the viewing window, making it visible to observers, especially the public if we are dealing with an advertising device.

According to the first four documents cited above, the device display equips an advertising vehicle.

The control of display sequences can be easily controlled by a PLC or microcomputer. Appropriate means of control such as that opto-electronic detector cells, and / or mechanical detectors, are associated with the device to ensure correct operation of the assembly.

In known devices, the posters located at the queue-leu-leu, in a pre-determined order, necessarily scroll past the viewing window in this order.

There is therefore a problem in the case where the display sequence does not does not match this order.

Thus, if two non-neighboring posters are to be successively displayed, it is necessary to scroll empty, behind the viewing window, the poster (s) intermediate (s). There is therefore a momentary untimely display of posters in movement, which is not completely satisfactory for observation. In addition, this empty scrolling results in a loss of time which is deducted from the time total exposure.

In this regard, it should be noted that the advertising contract binding the display to its customers can predict that the exposure cycles of the various posters may not be the same for all posters. So each poster will have a frequency and well-defined exposure times, which may however be changed over time.

The order in which certain posters may pass may also be imposed, in especially if there is an intellectual relationship between two or more posters, which is particularly the case for so-called progressive advertising campaigns.

These imperatives linked to the sequencing of successive exposures are hardly compatible with the fact that all of the posters are connected end-to-end, as provided in the state of the art.

FR-A-388 854, entitled luminous advertising device, relates to a display device comprising a set of screens (carrying announcements) likely to be exhibited successively in the same space, hanging in parallel vertical planes. The posters are retracted by winding on a roller located in the upper part of the device. The set of rollers is driven from a single motor shaft, via a movement transmission mechanism which ensures that while a screen rolls up, the screen that comes immediately after starts to lower, and so on for the whole series, in a determined order.

This known device therefore also involves a passage of the different announcements in a predetermined order, and unchanging.

The invention therefore aims to resolve this difficulty by proposing a device display of the type mentioned above, in which one can have a total freedom for the exhibition of the selected poster, as well as for its frequency as its duration, as well as for the order of their scrolling.

The apparatus which is the subject of the present invention makes it possible to display individually, selectively, different posters of a set by positioned successively behind a viewing window.

As in the device described in document FR-A-388,854, each posters is secured to a flexible support capable of being rolled up, at least partially, on a rotary receiving drum, control means making it possible to bring said displays either in a retracted position, in which it does not appear behind the viewing window, either in a deployed position, in which it is facing of said window, and the deployed positions of the various posters are inscribed in separate parallel planes slightly apart from each other.

The objectives set out above are achieved, in accordance with the invention, thanks to the fact that the drive of each of the receiving drums is ensured by a electric gear motor, a programmable controller or a microcomputer controlling all of these engines, so as to selectively display the posters.

Of course, the arrangement of the device is such that when a poster is in the retracted position, neither the constituent elements of its support, nor itself hinders the viewing of other posters, when these are deployed.

• le support souple comprend une bande souple s'enroulant sur le tambour récepteur et se prolongeant au niveau de la fenêtre de visualisation, par une paire de sangles latérales ;
• les deux sangles sont reliées par une barre transversale servant à la fixation de l'affiche ;
• l'affiche est fixée de manière amovible d'une part à cette barre, et d'autre part au bord transversal de la bande souple ;
• le dispositif comporte des moyens de mise sous tension de la bande souple ;
• la barre est attachée à une paire de câbles tendeurs s'enroulant sur des poulies de rappel à enroulement automatique ;
• à la sortie du tambour récepteur, la bande souple passe sur un rouleau de renvoi ;
• ce rouleau de renvoi possède une paroi biconique, de diamètre légèrement plus grand en son centre, ce qui favorise le centrage de la bande ;
• la fenêtre de visualisation est disposée verticalement, tandis que les tambours et, le cas échéant, les rouleaux de renvoi, ont des axes horizontaux parallèles au plan général de la fenêtre, et sont placés dans un caisson situé à la partie haute de cette fenêtre ; dans ce cas, les poulies de rappel ont avantageusement un axe horizontal et sont placés dans un caisson disposé à la base de la fenêtre.

Furthermore, according to a certain number of advantageous, non-limiting additional characteristics of the invention:

• the flexible support comprises a flexible strip winding on the receiving drum and extending at the viewing window, by a pair of side straps;
• the two straps are connected by a transverse bar used to fix the poster;
• the poster is removably attached on the one hand to this bar, and on the other hand to the transverse edge of the flexible strip;
• the device comprises means for tensioning the flexible strip;
• the bar is attached to a pair of tensioning cables wound on self-winding return pulleys;
• at the outlet of the receiving drum, the flexible strip passes over a deflection roller;
• this deflection roller has a biconical wall, of slightly larger diameter at its center, which promotes centering of the strip;
• the viewing window is arranged vertically, while the drums and, where appropriate, the deflection rollers, have horizontal axes parallel to the general plane of the window, and are placed in a box located at the top of this window; in this case, the return pulleys advantageously have a horizontal axis and are placed in a box disposed at the base of the window.

The invention also relates to an advertising vehicle which is equipped at least one device as defined above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and attached drawings which represent a preferred embodiment.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique et en perspective du support souple recevant une affiche (représentée partiellement arrachée), ainsi que des moyens de guidage et d'entraínement, l'affiche se trouvant en position déployée en regard de la fenêtre de visualisation (non représentée) ;
• la figure 2 est un détail de la barre transversale servant à la fixation de l'affiche, cette barre étant représentée coupé transversalement ;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, correspondant à la position escamotée, affiche supposée enlevée ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'un tambour récepteur et du rouleau de guidage qui lui est associé ;
• la figure 5 représente, de manière schématique, le dispositif dans son ensemble, coupé par un plan vertical transversal, perpendiculaire aux affiches et à la fenêtre de visualisation ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, à plus grande échelle, et montrant seulement deux supports d'affiches voisins, dont l'un est en position escamotée et l'autre en position déployée ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de côté d'un jeu de poulies de rappel assurant la traction des câbles tendeurs, situé sur l'un des côtés du dispositif ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de côté, à plus petite échelle, de la partie inférieure de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 9 représente, très schématiquement, un véhicule publicitaire équipé de plusieurs dispositifs selon l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, montrant deux supports d'affiche voisins, dont les deux affiches sont abaissées, l'affiche antérieure portant une fenêtre;
• la figure 11 est une vue analogue à la figure 10, dans laquelle l'affiche postérieure est partiellement relevée.

In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the flexible support receiving a poster (shown partially broken away), as well as guide and drive means, the poster being in the deployed position opposite the viewing window (not shown);
• Figure 2 is a detail of the cross bar for fixing the poster, this bar being shown cut transversely;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, corresponding to the retracted position, poster assumed removed;
• Figure 4 is a top view of a receiving drum and the guide roller associated therewith;
• FIG. 5 schematically represents the device as a whole, cut by a transverse vertical plane, perpendicular to the posters and to the viewing window;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, on a larger scale, and showing only two neighboring poster supports, one of which is in the retracted position and the other in the deployed position;
• FIG. 7 is a side view of a set of return pulleys ensuring the traction of the tensioning cables, located on one of the sides of the device;
• Figure 8 is a side view, on a smaller scale, of the lower part of Figure 6;
• FIG. 9 very schematically shows an advertising vehicle equipped with several devices according to the invention;
• FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing two neighboring poster supports, the two posters of which are lowered, the front poster carrying a window;
• Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, in which the posterior poster is partially raised.

In the embodiment presented below, with reference to the drawings, the viewing window has a vertical layout, and the device has a set of five posters that can be positioned in turn, selectively, behind this window.

It goes without saying that the number five is only one possible example of realization, this number can be arbitrary.

Figure 1 shows the flexible support receiving one of the posters.

This support is formed by a flexible strip 1, such as an oilcloth of thin, a pair of side straps 2 and a pair of side cables 3.

The strip 1, which forms the upper part of the support, is wound on a rotary cylindrical drum 5, with a horizontal axis 50. The latter is parallel to the general plane vertical, containing the viewing window, not shown.

Drive means, which will be described later, allow the drum 5 to rotate in one direction or the other, as symbolized by the double arrow F in FIG. 1.

The strip 1 passes over a deflection roller 6, with a horizontal axis parallel to that of the drum 5. The return takes place at approximately 45 °, the part of the strip connecting the roller 6 to the drum therefore being approximately horizontal. Roll 6 has a biconical wall, of small conicity, the largest diameter of which is found in its part central, as seen more precisely in Figure 4.

At its ends, which correspond to the small diameters of the wall conical, there are provided flanges 60 forming stops for the lateral edges of the strip. These flanges 60 also have a conical wall, which converges inwards, of so as to prevent lateral escape of the strip. The slightly biconical form of roller 6 ensures automatic alignment, and good centering of strip 1, as well when it is unrolled than when it is rolled up.

The end of the strip 1 extends from the unrolled side onto the drums 5 by the side straps 2, which are made of a fabric resistant to voltage. The attachment of the straps 2 to the band 1 is ensured by any appropriate means, by example by gluing or using rivets. The free ends of the straps 2 are connected to each other by a crossbar 20.

As seen in Figure 2, the bar 24 consists of a set of two small plates 21, 22 with rounded edges, which sandwich the two straps 2, the fixing being made by rivets 23 which pass through the elements 21, 22 and strap 2.

To the cross member 20 are attached the cables 3, directed downwards, and each winding on a pulley 7. These are pulleys with two lateral flanges discoids, delimiting a groove receiving the cable (see Figure 7).

The pulleys 7 are automatic return pulleys, of known type, containing an internal spiral spring which constantly tends to rotate in the direction of the winding of the cable in the groove, thus permanently exerting a tensile force on the cable, as this is symbolized by the arrows T in Figure 1.

This support carries a poster 4 which is easily attached to it removable.

In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment is done by a system of binding to gripping fabrics, loops and hooks, of the kind widely distributed under the name commercial "VELCRO" (registered trademark).

To this end, the transverse end edge of the flexible strip 1, referenced 10, and the crossbar 20, bear, on the side facing the viewing window, one of the two elements of the gripping fabric, for example the hooks.

The back of the posters 4 is trimmed, in the corresponding location zones, of the other element of the fabric - in this case the loops -.

Thus, the placement of the poster on the support is done in a very easy, at the touch of a button. After fixing, the poster occupies the space corresponding to the rectangle formed by the two straps 2, the edge 10 and the bar 20.

The 40 inscriptions carried by the poster are centered on it. so as to appear correctly through the viewing window (not shown in the figure 1), the dimensions of which are slightly smaller than those of the poster.

A simple comparison of Figures 1 and 3, we understand that by doing turn the drum 5 in the direction of the unwinding of the tape, the poster will deploy and to place in a vertical plane; this deployment is done under tension, as a result of the traction of the cables 3 stressed by the return pulleys 7.

If the drum 5 is rotated in the opposite direction, the strip 1 is wound up almost completely on the drum, while the bar 20 occupies a position high, above the level of the viewing window. The poster is therefore in a retracted position, folded over the deflection roller 6. It will be noted that in position high, the straps 2 are retained laterally by the flanges 60 of the roller 6.

Figure 5 shows how a set is installed in the device of five poster supports such as the one just described.

In this figure, the reference window 9 has been designated, which includes a frame 91 and a transparent panel 90, for example a window.

The device comprises a frame 8, essentially consisting of a wall before 82, in which the window 9 is mounted, a high box 80 and a low box 81.

In the upper box 80 are mounted all of the drums 5 and guide rollers 6. In the bottom box 81 are installed all the pulleys of reminder 7.

The positioning of these different elements is such that each of the five flexible poster supports has a deployed position which is part of a plane a, b, c, d, e vertical, parallel to the window 90. These different planes are spaced regularly, separated by a small space j . Similarly, the plane a of the first poster (the poster closest to the window) is located a short distance k from the window 90.

The locations of the various deflection rollers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e, and different drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e, inside the box 80, are determined so as to present the smallest possible footprint, without any risk of contact between poster supports or posters.

Similarly, the different pulleys 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and 7e provided in the bottom box 81 have offset positions, avoiding the interference of the different cables, with maximum compactness.

In the embodiment shown, as seen more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 7, the five pulleys provided on each side of the device are divided into two groups.

The pulleys 7a, 7b, 7c associated with the first three posters, have axes located in the same horizontal plane, but offset both transversely and from front to rear - to ensure the spacing j mentioned above -.

The other two pulleys 7d and 7e are arranged in the same way, at a level higher than that of pulleys 7a, 7b and 7c.

Each pulley is mounted idly on a square support 70 fixed to the chassis 8.

The offset in the transverse direction of the pulleys is compensated by the fact that the different cables 3 have different attachment points on the crossbar 20.

This feature is clear from Figure 8, which shows that the mutual spacing of the cables 3a is greater than that of the cables 3b.

The drive of each drum 5 is carried out by a gear motor electric 51 fixed to the chassis 8, and the output shaft of which coaxially drives the shaft 50 of the drum.

The set of five motors driving the drums 5a to 5d is controlled by a programmable logic controller or a microcomputer, not shown, in which entered the various data linked to the desired display cycle, in particular scrolling and exposure order, frequency and exposure time of each poster.

Certain posters could of course be displayed longer and / or more frequently than others, depending on the program.

In FIG. 6, only the systems associated with the two have been represented. first posters, corresponding to indices a and b.

The first poster 4a is in the retracted position, the strip being wound on its receiving drum 5a, while the poster is in the high position, not visible through window 90 by an observer who would be located on the left of the figure.

On the contrary, the poster 4b is in the deployed position, and is located opposite of the window 90. It is therefore visible to the observer.

The window 9 is so dimensioned that the various organs of the system control straps, such as straps, cables, and cross bars undeployed systems are not visible through the window.

In FIG. 8, it will be noted that the poster 4, the outline of which has been shown in dashed lines, has dimensions substantially larger than those of the window.

In Figure 6, there is shown schematically detectors 92 and 93 of the good deployment, and, respectively, good retraction of each of the posters.

The detectors 92a, 92b are placed at the bottom of the window, while that the detectors 93a, 93b are arranged in its upper part.

These are detectors known per se, for example of the type optoelectronics, such as photocells.

These detectors allow you to check the deployment status at any time of each poster, and send to the microprocessor or programmable logic controller which controls the motor of the signals corresponding to this state, in order to ensure correct operation of the display.

As already said, the posters and their support are constantly maintained under tension, thanks to the return pulleys which act on the tensioning cables.

In an alternative embodiment, the tension of the posters and their support could simply be carried out under the effect of the weight of the crossbar 20, the latter can be ballasted if necessary.

Substitution of one poster for another can be done in one time extremely short, because the retraction of the previous poster and the deployment of the new poster can be done simultaneously, in hidden time.

The device is remarkably suitable for advertising campaigns in which a poster carries a message announcing information to find out on one or more of the following poster (s).

The posters used are made of thin and flexible material, resistant to tearing and creasing, for example of paper or plastic film.

Hanging systems other than gripping fabrics may well understood to be provided, for example fixing by clamps, by snap-fastening of the press-button type, or by adhesive tapes.

To make it easier to change the posters, a viewing window that can be opened, or having an easily removable window 90, which will provide access to the various poster supports.

It goes without saying that the dimensions of the device will be adapted to the dimensions affected posters.

As an indication, the width of the strip 1 will be between 1 m and a few meters, the drums 5 and the deflection rollers 6 having a suitable length.

The drums 5 may be made of aluminum, with a diameter of around 60 mm.

The rollers 6 will preferably be made of surface-treated aluminum, to do not leave marks on the back of posters; their diameter will be of the order of 30 to 40 mm.

The inter-poster spacing j will be of the order of 15 to 30 mm.

The return pulleys 7 will have a diameter of the order of 80 to 100 mm.

This kind of device can be used in a fixed location, for example integrated into the facade of a building, or housed in a panel mounted on a stand or any other support.

It can also be mounted on an advertising vehicle, as is illustrated in figure 9.

This figure shows a pickup-type vehicle 100, the cab of which steering system is referenced 103. The vehicle has lateral faces 101 and a wall rear 102, provided with viewing windows 9 respectively 9 'of the posters. The display devices according to the invention, three in number, are installed at the interior of the vehicle and each associated with one of the windows.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the poster 4 presents a window 400 which lets see the poster located behind it. It is a simple opening through the poster, or a transparent area. So depending on the degree of winding of the strip 1 ′ which carries the poster placed behind the poster 4, these are different areas of this poster which will be visible through said window 400. In Consequently, if drawings, messages or other appear on the poster posterior different inscriptions, able to come selectively opposite window 400, it is possible to modify the displayed scene in an evolutionary way, visible on the previous poster.

In the example of Figures 10 and 11, the window is a representative "bubble" of the reflection of an advertising figure.

On the posterior poster (hidden) are provided two messages, in this case "YES" and "NO" placed at levels offset in height, and able to fit one or the other in the bubble when the posterior posterior is lowered (figure 10) or partially raised (arrow H , figure 11).

Of course, we could have several windows on the poster previous and assign to each of them more than two messages on the poster posterior. In addition, messages can also be affixed to one (or more) more distant poster (s) which becomes visible when the poster (s) inserted between it (s) and the previous poster is (are) completely raised.

In another possible embodiment of the device, the poster and its flexible support are one and the same plastic band. This includes a primer area blank with inscriptions, winding on the receiving drum. The rest of the band carries the inscriptions, drawings, or other message to display. These can be affixed to the strip in any suitable manner, in particular to be glued to it or directly prints. A ballast bar attached to the free end of the band ensures it is placed under tension and its return to the deployed position. Advantageously, the ends of the bar are guided in vertical side rails.

Claims (11)

1. Device for individually and selectively displaying the various posters of a set by positioning them one after the other in front of a display window, in which each of the posters (4) is secured to a flexible backing (1, 2, 3) at least partially windable onto a rotary receiving drum (5), a control assembly (51, 7) being provided for selectively positioning the poster (4) in a stowed position in which it cannot be seen through the display window (9), or in an operative position in which it is aligned with said window (9), and in which, in the operative positions, the various posters (4) lie in separate slightly spaced apart parallel planes (a, b, c, d, e) characterized by the fact that each of the receiver drums (5) is driven by an electric gear motor (51), a programmable controller or a micro-processor piloting the set of those motors (51), in order to display the posters (4) selectively.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the above-mentioned flexible support contains a flexible strip (1) wound onto the receiver drum (5) then continuing up to the level of the display window (9) by a pair of lateral straps (2).
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the two straps (9) are linked by a crossbar (20) used to secure the poster (4).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the poster is both attached onto said bar (20) in such a way that it can be removed, and to the transversal edge (10) of the strip (1).
5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by the fact that it contains means (7) of tensioning the flexible strip (1).
6. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, taken in combination with claim 5, characterized by the fact that the bar (20) is attached to a pair of stretcher cables automatically wound onto return pulleys (7).
7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by the fact that at the exit of the receiver drum (5), the flexible strip (1) passes on a countershaft roller (6).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the countershaft roller (6) is tapered, with a slightly larger diameter at the middle, in order to better center the strip.
9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized by the fact that the viewing window (9) is arranged vertically, while the horizontal axes of the said drums (1) and when applicable, the said countershaft rollers (6) are parallel to the general plane of the display window (9) and are located in a box (80) in the upper part of this window (9).
10. Device according to claims 6 and 9 taken in combination, characterized by the fact that the said return pulleys (7) have horizontal axes and are placed in a box (81) at the base of the window (9).
11. Advertising vehicle (100) equipped with at least one device according with one of the previous claims.

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