GB2165075A

GB2165075A - Information display unit

Info

Publication number: GB2165075A
Application number: GB08422541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Coulter
Original assignee: ALLANDER CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Current assignee: ALLANDER CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Priority date: 1984-09-06
Filing date: 1984-09-06
Publication date: 1986-04-03
Also published as: GB8422541D0; GB2165075B

Abstract

An information display unit comprises a casing, a spaced pair of vertically arranged endless chains 9, 10 which are movably supported in the casing, information carrying panels 2, 3, 4 freely suspended on mounting elements 17 on the endless chains, slides 20 serving to receive the panels from the chain for storage thereof and to deliver the panels to a pick-up location for pick-up by the mounting elements 17 of the endless chains, a layshaft 14 drivingly connected to the endless chains by separate drive chains 15, 16, and a centrally located motor 13 to intermittently drive the layshaft 14 whereby the panels 2, 3, 4 can be moved to receiving windows (5, 6, 7) in the casing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Information display unit The present invention relates to an information display unit, and especially to a unit which presents advertising material for viewing.

Various forms of devices are known for presenting advertising material or information for viewing by the public. For example some of these devices comprise support structures serving to carry movable advertisement panels or sheets. For efficiency, it is desirable that the advertising devices can present an extensive amount of advertising and that the advertising material can be viewed at all times, i.e. both by night and day. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved information display unit which can meet these requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided an information display unit comprising a casing, movable carrying means within the casing to carry a plurality of information carrying panels, and a drive for the movable carrying means, the casing including windows to which respective panels are brought by the carrying means for viewing.

Preferably the carrying means comprises a pair of endless bands or chains which are located in respective spaced vertical planes and between which bands the panels are freely suspended, drive means for the endless bands or chains being located between said spaced vertical planes. Preferably, the drive means comprises a double outlet drive motor located substantially mid-way between the vertical planes and coupled to the endless bands.

In a preferred embodiment, the double drive motor is coupled to the panel-carrying bands or chains by means of an additional pair of endless take-off chains or bands.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 7 shows a schematic isometric view of a display unit for advertising material according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the unit of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a side view of the unit.

Referring to the drawings, a display unit 1 serves to display movable panels or slides, three of which slides, 2, 3, 4 are shown located at windows 5, 6, 7 (see Figure 3) whereby advertising material on the panels can be viewed by the public. The unit 1 comprises a parallelopiped form casing 8 provided with the windows 5, 6, 7 and housing the various mechanisms for supporting and moving the panels. Thus there is provided a pair of endless chains 9, 10 located in spaced-parallel vertical planes P, P2 (Figure 2) and trained around sprockets 11 which are supported in bearings 12 carried within an upper part of the casing 8.The chains 9, 10 are driven by a twin-drive electric motor 13 located in the bottom part of the casing 8 and positioned centrally between the planes P1 P2 outputs shafts 14, 14' from the motor 13 being drivingly coupled to take-off chains 15, 16 driving the endless chains 9, 10 respectively. The motor 13 can be a Crouzet' twin drive motor having a speed of 60 RPM and taking a 240 Volt AC supply. Variation in speed to the chains 9, 10 can be achieved by suitable sprocket sizes on the chains 15, 16.

The chains 9, 10 carry pick up carriage elements 17 to pick up the panels, and the panels are pivotally received so as to be freely suspended from the chains. Further, the chains 9, 10 are given a 'moveand-stop' action so that the panels 2, 3, 4 dwell at successive windows for an appropriate period of time: to this end the motor 13 is controlled by a control apparatus 18 including a 24 hour/7 day timer and a variable setting cycle control timer.

Additionally, stationary return slides 20 of plastics material extend transversely across the casing 8 at a level of approximately the mid-height of the back window 7. Each slide 20 has an inclined upper support surface 21 and serves to pick up the rear located panel (i.e. panel 4) as it moves downwardly away from window 7 so that the panel (4) becomes supported by the upper surfaces 21. The slides 20 can carry a bank of advertising panels (as shown in dashed lines 22) and the bank can comprise any suitable number, for example twenty-five. The panels 22 of the bank slide on surfaces 21 and are presented in sequence at the lower front window 6 by means of the slides 20, and the front panel (i.e.

panel 3) of the bank is picked up by the pick up chain elements 17 from the slides 20 for re-display at the other viewing windows 5, 7, the panel at window 5 joining the back of the bank. Appropriate illumination is provided using for example fluorescent tubes (not shown). The unit includes an 'onoff' switch 19, and the casing may support a leaflet holder.

The casing 8 can have a main frame of mild steel construction and the sheeting of the casing can be of any suitable material, e.g. Makore, teak, magagony, oak or stainless steel. An outer finish of polyurethane could be applied.

The above advertising display unit of the present invention can provide a substantial amount of advertising material for viewing and is able to operate for very considerable periods of time without the need for attention. Also, by the provision of internal illumination, night-time viewing of the advertising material is also possible.

1. An information display unit comprising a casing, movable carrying means within the casing to carry a plurality of information carrying panels, and a drive for the movable carrying means, the casing including windows to which respective panels are brought by the carrying means for viewing.

2. A display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying means comprises a pair of endless bands or chains which are located in respective spaced vertical planes and between which bands

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Information display unit The present invention relates to an information display unit, and especially to a unit which presents advertising material for viewing. Various forms of devices are known for presenting advertising material or information for viewing by the public. For example some of these devices comprise support structures serving to carry movable advertisement panels or sheets. For efficiency, it is desirable that the advertising devices can present an extensive amount of advertising and that the advertising material can be viewed at all times, i.e. both by night and day. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved information display unit which can meet these requirements. According to the present invention there is provided an information display unit comprising a casing, movable carrying means within the casing to carry a plurality of information carrying panels, and a drive for the movable carrying means, the casing including windows to which respective panels are brought by the carrying means for viewing. Preferably the carrying means comprises a pair of endless bands or chains which are located in respective spaced vertical planes and between which bands the panels are freely suspended, drive means for the endless bands or chains being located between said spaced vertical planes. Preferably, the drive means comprises a double outlet drive motor located substantially mid-way between the vertical planes and coupled to the endless bands. In a preferred embodiment, the double drive motor is coupled to the panel-carrying bands or chains by means of an additional pair of endless take-off chains or bands. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 7 shows a schematic isometric view of a display unit for advertising material according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the unit of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a side view of the unit. Referring to the drawings, a display unit 1 serves to display movable panels or slides, three of which slides, 2, 3, 4 are shown located at windows 5, 6, 7 (see Figure 3) whereby advertising material on the panels can be viewed by the public. The unit 1 comprises a parallelopiped form casing 8 provided with the windows 5, 6, 7 and housing the various mechanisms for supporting and moving the panels. Thus there is provided a pair of endless chains 9, 10 located in spaced-parallel vertical planes P, P2 (Figure 2) and trained around sprockets 11 which are supported in bearings 12 carried within an upper part of the casing 8.The chains 9, 10 are driven by a twin-drive electric motor 13 located in the bottom part of the casing 8 and positioned centrally between the planes P1 P2 outputs shafts 14, 14' from the motor 13 being drivingly coupled to take-off chains 15, 16 driving the endless chains 9, 10 respectively. The motor 13 can be a Crouzet' twin drive motor having a speed of 60 RPM and taking a 240 Volt AC supply. Variation in speed to the chains 9, 10 can be achieved by suitable sprocket sizes on the chains 15, 16. The chains 9, 10 carry pick up carriage elements 17 to pick up the panels, and the panels are pivotally received so as to be freely suspended from the chains. Further, the chains 9, 10 are given a 'moveand-stop' action so that the panels 2, 3, 4 dwell at successive windows for an appropriate period of time: to this end the motor 13 is controlled by a control apparatus 18 including a 24 hour/7 day timer and a variable setting cycle control timer. Additionally, stationary return slides 20 of plastics material extend transversely across the casing 8 at a level of approximately the mid-height of the back window 7. Each slide 20 has an inclined upper support surface 21 and serves to pick up the rear located panel (i.e. panel 4) as it moves downwardly away from window 7 so that the panel (4) becomes supported by the upper surfaces 21. The slides 20 can carry a bank of advertising panels (as shown in dashed lines 22) and the bank can comprise any suitable number, for example twenty-five. The panels 22 of the bank slide on surfaces 21 and are presented in sequence at the lower front window 6 by means of the slides 20, and the front panel (i.e. panel 3) of the bank is picked up by the pick up chain elements 17 from the slides 20 for re-display at the other viewing windows 5, 7, the panel at window 5 joining the back of the bank. Appropriate illumination is provided using for example fluorescent tubes (not shown). The unit includes an 'onoff' switch 19, and the casing may support a leaflet holder. The casing 8 can have a main frame of mild steel construction and the sheeting of the casing can be of any suitable material, e.g. Makore, teak, magagony, oak or stainless steel. An outer finish of polyurethane could be applied. The above advertising display unit of the present invention can provide a substantial amount of advertising material for viewing and is able to operate for very considerable periods of time without the need for attention. Also, by the provision of internal illumination, night-time viewing of the advertising material is also possible. CLAIMS

2. A display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying means comprises a pair of endless bands or chains which are located in respective spaced vertical planes and between which bands the panels are freely suspended, drive means for the endless bands or chains being located between said spaced vertical planes.

3. A display unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein support and guide means are provided for said information carrying panels, said guide means serving to receive panels from the movable carrying means and to present panels to said carrying means.

4. A display unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support and guide means comprises spaced guide plates each having an upper inclined surface on which the panels are slidingly supported, the guide plates receiving a panel from a back run of the carrying means and directing the panel to be picked up at a front run of the carrying means.

5. A display unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drive means comprises a double outlet drive motor located substantially mid-way between the vertical planes and coupled to the endless bands.

6. A display unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the double drive motor is coupled to the panel-carrying bands or chains by means of an additional pair of endless take-off chains or bands.

7. An information display unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.