GB2207276A

GB2207276A - A display device

Info

Publication number: GB2207276A
Application number: GB08817200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence George Zerf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-20
Filing date: 1988-07-19
Publication date: 1989-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-19
Also published as: GB2207276B; GB8817200D0

Abstract

A display device 10 comprises a plurality of prismatic rotors 12 mounted for rotation within a support frame 16, the rotors being mounted in a configuration in which, upon rotation, different faces of the rotors can combine to define a continuous display surface 18. The drive arrangement for the rotors 12 permits rotation of the rotors in different modes and different faces of the rotors to be aligned with the continuous display surface 18 in different sequences. As shown, a motor 26 and gear 22 drives belts 34 which carry a toothed portion 38 for consecutively rotating the prismatic rotors 12 through 120 DEG to cause a rippling effect. Further effects can be achieved by using a timer, adjusting the axial position of the rotor sprockets to vary which rotor is to be rotated, intermittently or continuously, using different sets of rotors in combination one in front or below the other, and driving rotors in opposite directions by providing drives on opposite sides of the device 10. <IMAGE>

Description

A DISPLAY DEVICE THIS INVENTION relates to a display device and particularly to a parallel segment display device for advertising information, communication and other applications.

Various types of display devices in which a plurality of information and messages are caused to appear in succession, are known. Apparatus in the prior art commonly use prismatic rotors mounted on axles in a frame and rotatable around axes defined by the axles so that in their operative configuration the faces present a permanently recurring sequence.

The display devices of the prior art are generally driven by an electric motor and the rotors are synchronously rotated using a complex set of intermeshing gears and toothed belts or chains and like flexible continuous engaging elements. In all cases the rotors are interconnected and movement of one axle causes synchronous rotation of all axles.

In rotors of the type described above it is possible to have a repetitive sequence of three messages, which synchronously repeat indefinitely unless the message strips on each of the segments are changed.

After viewing a display device of the above kind for a while there is a rapid level of loss of interest as the sense of anticipation is lost quickly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple yet versatile drive mechanism for a display device that can provide a variable sequence of displays, thereby providing for heightened anticipation.

According to this invention there is provided a display device, which includes a plurality of rotors supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes within a support frame, in a parallel adjacent relationship with one another, forming in combination a continuous exposed display surface by alignment of the faces of the rotors with each other; a mechanical drive arrangement comprising at least one continuous flexible engaging means of which at least one includes meshing means on a portion of its continuous operatively active length, said continuous flexible engaging means being operatively engageable with transmission means axially disposed at the ends of the rotors, by means of its meshing means; and means for driving the said continuous flexible engaging means.

The support frame may be a peripheral frame that surrounds the said continuous exposed surface that can be defined by the rotors, the support frame therefore essentially forming a picture frame surrounding the rotors. The rotors themselves may be mounted onto axles that are rotatably supported within the support frame. The number of rotors may be variable and may depend on the particular requirements of the display device, in use.

The mechanical drive arrangement may be one or more chain and sprocket arrangements, axles supporting the rotors having transmission means such as sprockets mounted thereon that can engage a chain that is displaceable between a drive sprocket and a freely locatable jockey sprocket, which themselves are rotatably supported in a fixed location with respect to the support frame.

For the above arrangement, the axial positioning of the transmission means such as sprockets on the shafts of the rotors may be adjustable so that the sprockets can either be positioned to be in engagement with the chain or out of engagement therewith, thereby providing for the selective rotation of the rotors in accordance with pre-determined requirements.

An alternative mechanical drive arrangement may include a belt and gear arrangement, the axles of the rotors having driven gears mounted thereon that can engage gear formations defined by a belt that is displaceable between a suitably located driving gear and a spaced apart freely rotatable jockey gear.

Once again, the axial position of the driven gears on the shafts of the rotors may be adjustable between an operative position in which they can engage the gear formations defined by the belt and an inoperative position in which they do not engage these gear formations.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the belt to have different sets of gear formations defined along operatively active paths along the length thereof, the sets of gear formations being divided across the width of the belt, with the driven gears being' axially positionable so that they can be aligned with pre-determined sets of gear formations on the -belt, to be rotatable by engagement with such sets of gear formations.

Clearly, at least one set of gear formations will be a continuous set of gear formations that will engage the drive gear and jockey gear and possibly one or more driven gears, whereas alternative sets of gear formations may be provided which can engage pre-determined driven gears at intervals, or in any other sequential order to provide for rotation of the rotors in a pre-determined but variable sequence.

At least one of the continuous flexible engagement means has teeth or like meshing means on a portion of its length, either on the belt or chain or connected to it, which in its oprative configuration will be able to displace one or more rotors through a predetermined arc, Therefore, each rotor or a group of rotors can be indexed at a time until the partially toothed portion has traversed along the complete length of the frame or has indexed all or the desired rotors.

In the return movement the toothed portion of the belt or chain may be allowed to move freely, which may result in the message remaining stationary on the frame for visual display, followed by a recurrent cycle of indexing.

One or more such partial toothed portions may be envisaged on one or more belts or chains, either the belts or chains being partially toothed or having an extended toothed or link piece attached to the belt or chain.

The drive means of the display device may be a suitable motor, such as an electric motor, or the like.

The display device of the invention may further include a timing mechanism whereby the drive means can be switched on and off at selected intervals and which can further enhance the versatility of the display device, insofar as the sequence of rotating rotors can also be controlled thereby.

The invention can advantageously be used with prismatic rotors.

Three sides of the rotors may be particularly adapted to have pictures or parts of pictures mounted thereon, so that the continuous exposed surface that can be defined by the rotors can provide an overall picture that can be varied by altering the particular sides of the individual rotors forming the said continuous surface. However, it is within the scope of this invention that the rotors may be polyhedral or even cylindrical in configuration.

It will be appreciated that the display device may also include a housing within which all the components and parts defined above can be housed. The housing may typically be a box-like housing.

The invention is now described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevational front view of a display device, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the display device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the display device of Figure 1; and Figures 4 and 5 show schematic views of an alternative embodiment of a mechanical drive arrangement for the display device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a display device, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The display device 10 as illustrated includes six elongate three-sided rotors 12 that are mounted onto support axles 14, the support axles 14 being rotatably supported within a support frame 16.

The rotors 12 are supported in a parallel adjacent relationship with one another, this relationship being such that the rotors 12 together define an extended, continuous, exposed surface 18, with one of their sides angularly aligned with one another. It will be appreciated that by rotating either rotor 12 through 1200, an alternative side of this rotor will form a part of the exposed surface 18.

The support frame 16 peripherally surrounds the said exposed surface 18 defined by the rotors 12 and, as such, forms the equivalent of a picture frame that surrounds the said surface. The axles 14 onto which the rotors 12 are mounted, may conveniently be supported within suitable bearings located within the operative side walls of the frame 16.

Each axle 14 has a driven gear 20 mounted thereon. Operatively above the driven gears 20 there is provided a driving gear 22 that is mounted onto a drive shaft 24, the drive shaft 24 being operatively connected to an electric motor 26. The motor 26 can thus drive the drive shaft 24 and therefore the driving gear 22.

This motor 26 may be any conventional type electric motor.

Operatively beneath the driven gears 20 there is provided a freely rotatable jockey gear 28, mounted on a shaft 30, both the shafts 24 and 30 being rotatably supported within support- lugs 32, via bearings, or the like, the lugs 32 being secure with and projecting from the support frame 16.

An infinite drive belt 34 defining teeth or gear formations on the internal side thereof is received on the driving gear 22 and jockey gear 28, being displaceable by the rotation of the driving gear 22. The configuration of the gears 22 and 28, and the belt 34 is particularly such that gear formations projecting from the belt 34 can engage the teeth of the driven gears 20, providing for their rotation'in the manner hereinafter described (this is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings).

In the particular configuration of the belt 34 as shown, the belt comprises two elongate spaced apart active paths 36, that positively engage the driving gear 22 and jockey gear 28, these paths 36 being connected by a toothed section 38 disposed between the paths 36, defining effectively a third path. The driven gears 20 are aligned with the toothed section 38 so that, as a result of displacement of the belt 34 through rotation of the driving gear 22 in the direction illustrated by arrow 40, the toothed section 38 will alternately engage the driven gears 20, the relationship between the teeth or gear formations being such that each rotor 12 will be rotated through 120 , ouring its engagement with the toothed section 38.

Referring particularly to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be appreoiated that the belt 34, on the side that engages the driven gears 20, will be displaced operatively upwardly as a result of the rotation of the driving gear 22 in the direction of arrow 40. As such, it will be appreciated that in the position of the toothed section 38 as shown, the driven gear 20.1 and thus the rotor 12.1 has just been rotated through 120 , while the driven gear 20.2 and thus the rotor 12.2 is about to be rotated through 120". As the toothed section 38 moves upwardly from one driven gear to the next, all the rotors will be consecutively rotated through 120 , and a rippling effect will result on the front face of the display device 10, which is defined by the exposed surface 18.This rippling effect will clearly occur at intervals, the intervals being determined by the time it takes for the toothed section 38 to be displaced from the operatively top driven gear 20 around the driving gear 22 and jockey gear 28 back towards the lower most driven gear 20.1.

The device 10 can be used for an advertising function, or the like. As such separate picture portions may be secured onto the respective sides of the rotors 12, the arrangement being such that a continuous picture is defined with the rotors in one particular orientation and two different pictures is defined with the rotors in their other two positions of orientation. Three separate pictures can therefore be provided by means of the display device 10, the substitution of one picture with another occuring through the rotation of the rotors 12 in the manner hereinabove described.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a drive arrangement for a display device which includes a chain and sprocket arrangement, the axial position of driven sprockets 40, 42 and 44 on their respective shafts 46, 48 and 50 being adjustable, so that not all rotors 12 need essentially be rotated as a result of the displacement of a chain 52. For example, one or more sprockets 42 of a drive arrangement may thus be aligned with the chain 52, as a result of which particular rotors can be continuously rotated. One or more other sprockets-44 may further be aligned with an extended link segment 54, or other meshing means, projecting from the Claim 52 to achieve the rippling effect in some or all of the rotors of the device. Still again, one or more sprockets 40 may be misaligned so that they may not rotate at all.This arrangement may be combined with a timing mechanism which can control the operation of the motor 26 and, as such, various different effects can be provided by the display device 10, as a -result of the variable sequence of rotation of the rotors 12. As seen in Figure 5 spring loaded urging means 56 may be required to ensure proper engagement between the extended link segment 54 and sprockets 44. The urging means 56 also ensure that the sprockets do not rotate more than they should by suitably engaging the teeth of the sprockets as shown.

It is still further anticipated that a drive belt 34 can be provided with additional sets of teeth along the length thereof, the separate sets of teeth being divided across the width of tne belt, with the axial position of the driven gear again being adjustable so that they can be acted on by different sets of teeth, in order to provide for different effects. Clearly, many pre-determined sequences can be provided by means of different configuration drive belts and so also through the use of a timing mechanism that can determine the operation of the motor 26.

Although it is particularly anticipated that the display device 10 will be used for advertising purposes, it is also anticipated that it can be usea for various other applications. Clearly, the particular picture portions that are applied onto the rotors 12 can be replaceable and a particular display device 10 can therefore be used over an extended period of time for different advertising applications.

As is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the complete device 10 may be housed within an outer housing 42, the operative front face of the housing 42 either defining an aperture therein or being defined by a transparent sheet material, which will render the surface 18 defined by the rotors 12 clearly visible.

It is further anticipated that a chain or belt may be used to drive one or more sets of rotors located above or below a first set of rotors or in front or behind or angularly displaced from the said first set. Drive arrangements may also be provided on opposite sides of the device 10, which will permit rotation of rotors in opposite directions and other different effects

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A display device which includes: a plurality of rotors supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes within a support frame, in a parallel adjacent relationship with one another, forming in combination a continuous exposed display surface by alignment of the faces of the rotors with each other; a mechanical drive arrangement comprising at least one continuous flexible engaging means of which at least one includes meshing means on a portion of its continuous operatively active length, said continuous flexible engaging means being operatively engageable with transmission means axially disposed at the end of the rotors, by means of its meshing means; and means for driving the said continuous flexible engaging means.
2. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support frame is a peripheral frame that surrounds the said continuous exposed display surface.
3. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said rotors have a prismatic cross-section.
4. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said rotors hae a polyhedral cross-section.
5. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said rotors are cylindrical.
6. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said continuous flexible engaging means is a chain.
7. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said continuous flexible engaging means is a belt.
8. A display device as claimed i Claim 1, wherein the said continuous flexible engaging means is partially a chain.
9. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are integral with the said continuous flexible engaging means and are provided on a predetermined portion of its continuous length.
10. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are rigidly connected to the said flexible engaging means along its continuous length.
11. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are removably mounted on the said flexible engaging means along a portion of its continuous length.
12. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are extended from a portion of the said flexible engaging means along a portion of its continuous length.
13. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, being further provided with urging means to ensure engagement between the meshing means or the transmission means.
14. A display device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the urging means are spring loaded.
15. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said transmission means are axially located at one end of the rotors.
16. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means are axially located at both ends of the rotors.
17. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means are axially located on some of the rotors.
18. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means are axially located on all the rotors.
19. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said transmission means is a gear.
20. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said transmission means is a sprocket.
21. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said transmission means is a pulley.
22. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means includes at least one gear operatively engageable with the meshing means on the said continuous flexible engaging means.
23. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means includes at least one sprocket operatively engageable with the meshing means on the said continuous flexible engaging means.
24. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means are operatively engageable with the continuous flexible engaging means.
25. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the meshing means are operatively engageable with all the said transmission means at the ends of the rotors.
26. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are operatively engageable with a predetermined number of the said'transmission means at the ends of the said rotors.
27. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means are operatively adjustably engageable with a predetermined sequence of the said transmission means at the ends of the said rotors.
28. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmission means are provided with spring loaded means to control movement.
29. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means include at least one tooth.
30. A display device, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said meshing means include at least one driving element operatively engageable with the transmission means.
31. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said continuous flexible engaging means traverses one or more pathways between a driving means and a jockey.
32. A display device as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the jockey is freely locatable.
33. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the driving means is an electric motor.
34. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the continuous flexible engaging means engage more than one set of transmission means.
35. A display device substantially as described herein with reference to Fiqures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 5.