GB2228354A

GB2228354A - Display device

Info

Publication number: GB2228354A
Application number: GB8901413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wai-Kan Lau; Yiu-Ming Kenneth Ho; Wai-Sin Yip; Kam-Keung Chan
Original assignee: CHAN KAM KEUNG; LAU WAI KAN; YIP WAI SIN
Current assignee: CHAN KAM KEUNG; LAU WAI KAN; YIP WAI SIN
Priority date: 1989-01-23
Filing date: 1989-01-23
Publication date: 1990-08-22
Also published as: GB8901413D0

Abstract

A display device for sequentially displaying pieces of information on panels 11 interconnected by string 12 comprises a displaying region 20, a plurality of sections 21 for bearing the pieces of information, wheels 13, 22 and 14 co-operating together for transporting the sections 21 into and out of the displaying region 20, and deflector wheels 26 both for extending the section 21 so that the panels pivot to face a window 19 in the displaying region 20 and for contracting the section 21 ready for it to be transported out of the displaying region. As shown, flexible spokes 23 pass the panel connectors 16 on to a sprocket wheel 13 driven on the same axis but at a different speed. The defector wheels 26 have deflecting arms to turn the panels 11 towards and away from the viewing window 19 and are driven by belts 27. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE The present invention relates to a display device for sequentially displaying pieces of information.

According to the invention there is provided a display device for sequentially displaying pieces of information, comprising a displaying region, first means having a plurality of sections for bearing corresponding said pieces of information, second means for transporting the sections of said first means into and out of the displaying region, and third means for extending a section of said first means in the displaying region for displaying a corresponding piece of information, and for contracting a section of said first means which is transported out of the displaying region, said first means being removable from the display device for replacement by a further said first means.

Preferably, at least one section of said first means is formed by a plurality of inter-connected panels.

More preferably, each section of said first means is formed by a said plurality of inter-connected panels.

In a preferred embodiment, the panels are arranged to lie substantially in a plane when they are in the extended position, and each panel is arranged to be located adjacent and facing or substantially facing its neighbouring panel when the panels are in the contracted position.

Preferably, said second means include a rotatable member having peripheral recesses for engaging and thereby transporting the panels to and from the displaying region.

Preferably, said third means are arranged to pivot individually the panels in the displaying region from the extended position into an intermediate position in which each of them faces its neighbouring panel.

More preferably, said third means include a rotatable member having peripheral projections for moving the panels in turn from the intermediate position towards and to engage with the rotatable member of said second means.

Other preferred features of the invention are apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims 7 to'13, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of a display device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the display device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of another part of the display device of Figure 1; Figures 4A to 4E are fragmentary plan views demonstrating the operation of a part of the display device of Figure 1; and Figures 5A to 5D are fragmentary plan views demonstrating the operation of another part of the display device of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, an embodiment of a display device 10 shown therein comprises a plurality of vertical panels 11 inter-connected together by a string 12, two ratchet wheels 13 and 14 supported for rotation about respective vertical axes, and an overhead rail 15 for supporting the panels 11 around the ratchet wheels 13 and 14. Each panel 11 is slidably supported on the rail 15 by a connector 16 so that the panels 11 can be slid along the rail 15.

The ratchet wneels 13 and 14 are connected togeter by a drive-transrission elt 17, an- ar- driven to rotate a the same speed by a motor (not shown) which is connected to the ratchet wheel 12. As best shown in Figure 2, each ratchet wheel 13 or 14 has teeth 18 for engagement with the panels 11 at either end 10' or 10" of the display device 10 b receiving the connectors 15 in corresponding recesses 13' formed between respective adjacent teetn 18, thus along the panels 11 to be transported by the ratchet wheels 13 and 14.

The display device 10 further includes a spoke-wheel 22 having four flexible eq i-angularly spaced spokes 23.

Spokes 23 are arranged generally above or below the panels 11 but able to engage therewith. The spoke-wheel 22 is supported for rotation about the same axis as that of the ratchet wheel 13, and the rotational speed of the spoke-wheel 22 relative to that of the ratchet wheel 13 is controlled such that when the ratchet wheel 13 rotates through an angle corresponding to the angular tooth-pitch between adjacent teeth 18, the spoke-wheel 22 rotates through an angle corresponding to the angular arm-pitch between adjacent spokes 23, i.e. 90 degrees.

The spoke-wheel 22 is located below the ratchet wheel 13 so that the spokes 23 can engage the forthcoming panels 11, as hereinbelow described.

As shown in Figures 4A to 4E, the display device 10 includes a displaying region 20 on one side thereof, covered by a viewing window 19. The panels 11 are divided into sections 21, each carrying or bearing thereon a corresponding piece of information. The operation of the ratchet wheels 13 and 14 is controlled such that the panel sections 21 are in turn transported into and subsequently out of the displaying region 20, allowing the pieces of information to be sequentially displayed in the displaying region 20.

Each panel 11 is located adjacent and substantially facing its neighbouring panel 11, in a contracted position, when they are engaged by either ratchet wheel 13 or 14. The length of the segment of the string 12 connecting adjacent panels 11 is approximately equal to the width of each panel 11. When the panels 11 are located in the displaying region 20, they are parallel to one another, and have a non-displaying and a displaying position. In the non-displaying position (as shown in Figures 4B and 4D) adjacent panels 11 face each other, and in the displaying position (as shown in Figures 4A and 4E) the panels 11 lie in the same plane.

The segments of the string 12 connecting together the panels 11 in the displaying region 20 are fully stretched.

The display device 10 yet further includes two groups 24 and 25 of deflector wheels 26, and the groups 24 and 25 are symmetrically located on respective sides of the portion of the rail 15 directly above the displaying region 20, and extend across su'bstantially the entire width of the region 20. The deflector wheels 26 are positioned at regular intervals along each group 24 or 25. The arrangement is such that when a particular section 21 of panels 11 is located in either the non-displaying or displaying position in the displaying region 20, the connector 16 of each panel 11 of that section 21 is located between and for co-operation with two deflector wheels 26 of respective groups 24 and 25, as shown in Figures 5A to 5D.

Each connector 16 includes two identical parts, each having a uniform quadrantal cross-section, connected directly together and in opposed fashion to form part of a cylinder. The connectors 16 are connected to and above the corresponding panels 11 at the same orientation relative to each other.

Each deflector wheel 26 has a radially extending arm 26'. The deflector wheels 26 in each group 24 or 25 are arranged to be rotated simultaneously by means of a drive-transmission belt 27 which is driven by a motor (not shown), and the arms 26' of which are arranged to be in the same orientation as each other. The two groups 24 and 25 of deflector wheels 26 are, however, arranged so that their respective arms 26' are in opposite orientations, and so that the groups 24 and 25 will rotate in the same speed but in opposite directions.

The operation of the display device 10 will now be described.

Figure 5A shows the condition in which the section 21 of panels 11 in the displaying region 20 are in the non-displaying position. When the belts 27 are driven in the opposite directions as shown by arrows A and B, respectively, the deflector wheels 26 of the group 25 are rotated clockwise, causing the corresponding arms 26' to turn away from the respective connectors 16. At the same time, the deflector wheels 26 of the group 24 are rotated anti-clockwise, and the connectors 16 will be driven by the respective arms 26' to turn 90 degrees clockwise, causing the panels 11 to turn into the displaying position, as shown in Figure 5B. In the displaying position, the sides of the panels 11, carrying or bearing the corresponding piece of information, are viewable through the window 19, as shown in Figure 4E.

Continued rotation of the deflector wheels 26 will cause the arms 26' of the group 24 to turn anti-clockwise away from the corresponding connectors 16, and will simultaneously cause the arms 26' of the group 25 to turn clockwise towards and subsequently to engage and turn the corresponding connectors 16 ninety degrees anti-clockwise, as shown in Figures 5C and 5D. The panels 11 will now be turned back into the nondisplaying position, and the system will eventually return to the initial condition as shown in Figure 5A, completing the first operating cycle of the displaying device 10.

The second operating cycle of the display device 10 commences when the ratchet wheels 13 and 14 and the spoke-wheel 22 start to rotate. As mentioned above, the spoke-wheel 22 will rotate for an angular arm-pitch when the ratchet wheels 13 and 14 rotate for an angular tooth- pitch.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the ratchet wheel 13 serves both to transport the panels 11 and to hold them in the contracted position to save space when they are outside the displaying region 20. More specifically, the ratchet wheel 13 rotates clockwise to transport the section 21 of panels 11 in the displaying region 20 away therefrom, and simultaneously to transport the succeeding section 21 into the displaying region 20.

When the ratchet wheel 13 starts to rotate, a first, vacant recess 18" will come round forwards for receiving a connector 16' of a forthcoming panel 11'.

Simultaneously, a next-available spoke 23' of the spoke-wheel 22 will come round to move the forthcoming panel 11' further forwards for the vacant recess 18" to receive its connector 16'. The panel 11' will eventually be transported out of the displaying region 20.

Continued rotation of the spoke-wheel 22 will cause the spoke 23' to deflect round the panels 11' and 11 already engaged with the ratchet wheel 13. The operation repeats for the remaining panels 11 of the section 21 in question until they are all transported out of the displaying region 20, and at this time the second operating cycle finishes. During this operating cycle, a panel 11 will be released at the rear of the ratchet wheel 13 when a corresponding panel 11 is received at the front, and the released panels 11 at the rear of the display device 10 will remain contracted together.

In the first operating cycle, the deflector wheels 26 operate to pivot the section 21 of panels 11 in the displaying region 20 into an extended position (the displaying position) for displaying the corresponding piece of information, and subsequently to pivot the section 21 back into an intermediate position (the nondisplaying position) ready for being transported out of the displaying region 20. In the second operating cycle, the ratchet wheels 13 & 14 and the spoke-wheel 22 operate to transport the section 21 of the panels 11 in the displaying region 20 away therefrom, and simultaneously to transport a succeeding section 21 of panels 11 into the displaying region 20. The first and second operating cycles of the display device 10 alternate to display the pieces of information sequentially.

It is preferable that the operating time of the second cycle be kept as short as possible in order to minimise the transition time between successive displays of information, and that of the first cycle is controlled so as to provide an adequate displaying time.

It is conceived that both sides of the panels 11 can be used to display different pieces of information by modifying the first operating cycle, thus doubling the amount of information which can be displayed, and reducing the transition time between successive display of information.

The display device 10 is particularly suitable for use in displaying advertisement.

One of the features of the display device of the present invention is that the panels constituting the first means and hearing the advertising or other information can be removed from the display device and replaced by fresh panels hearing, e.g. different advertisements or other information this may be achieved by lifting the contracted bundle or stack of panels off its rail after disconnection thereof from the drive means. It is a simple matter to incorporate a fresh handle or stack of panels in place of the original bundle or stack.

Claims

1. A display device for sequentially displaying pieces of information, comprising a displaying region, first means having a plurality of sections for bearing corresponding said pieces of information, second means for transporting the sections of said first means into and out of the displaying region, and third means for extending a section of said first means in the displaying region for displaying a corresponding piece of information, and for contracting a section of said first means which is transported out of the displaying region, said first means being removable from the display device for replacement by a further said first means.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one section of said first means is formed by a plurality of inter-connected panels.

3. A display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each section of said first means is formed by a said plurality of inter-connected panels.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the panels are arranged to lie substantially in a plane when they are in the extended position, and each panel is arranged to be located adjacent and facing or substantially facing its neighbouring panel when the panels are in the contracted position.

5. A display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second means include a rotatable member having peripheral recesses for engaging and thereby transporting the panels to and from the displaying region.

6. A display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotatable member includes a ratchet wheel.

7. A display device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said third means are arranged to pivot individually the panels in the displaying region from the extended position into an intermediate position in which each of them faces its neighbouring panel.

8. A display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third means include pivoting means for pivoting the panels in the displaying region between the intermediate and extended positions.

9. A display device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said third means include a rotatable member having peripheral projections for moving the panels in turn from the intermediate position towards and to engage with the rotatable member of said second means.

10. A display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rotatable member of said third means includes a spoke-wheel.

11. A display device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the two rotatable members are driven about the same axis but at different speeds.

12. A display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second means further include a second said rotatable member supported for rotation about a separate axis which is substantially parallel to the first-mentioned axis, and said first means are disposed around the three rotatable members.

13. A display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the three rotatable members are supported for rotation about respective substantially vertical axes, and the panels are supported on a substantially horizontal rail which provides a travelling path for the panels, the rotatable members of said second means being arranged to drive the panels along said travelling path.

14. A display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pivoting means are provided on one side of the panels in the displaying region for pivoting said panels from the intermediate to the extended position, and also on the other side of the panels for pivoting said panels from the extended to the intermediate position.

15. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.