US1256431A - Display apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

B. B. BIENHOFR DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, me.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

B. B. BIENHOFF.

I DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16,1916- 1,256,%31 Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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BENJAMIN B. IBIENHOFF, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,747.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B..BIEN- HOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to the displaying of flexible signs, etc., which are used in advertising purposes. I use a simple supporting means and the signs travel from front to the back of the machine in consecutive order during the operation of the machine.

' A primary object of this invention is the use of a single pair of carrying chains which make my device very simple andpositive in operation.

Further objects of my invention are means for holding the carrying chains rigid when lifting a sign and means forming a part of the chain for receiving the ends of the ods carrying the signs and holding them beyond the center of the pivoted points of the chain, thus causing the rods to tend to lock themselves into the notched links of the chain rather than twist the chain in the opposite direction and allow the rods to-fall out of the engaging links.

It is also an object of my invention to have a portion of the ends of the rod which carry the signs squared so as to prevent climbing, as they are held adjacent to each other on the supports in the frame.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical section inside elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 1, taken on the lines X-X, showing one-half of the same, as both sides of the machine are identical.

Fig. 3 is a vertical front section in elevation of a portion of my machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the discharge of the sign carrying rods on to the supports.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the carrying chain and a portion of the guide to hold the lifting chain and notched link.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one end of the rods which carry the signs.

In the drawings, A represents an inclosing frame having back 1, front 2, top 3, bottom 4 and ends 5. The front 2, has an opening 6, which may be covered by a glass 7, and through which the signs are displayed. Declining downwardly toward the front of the frame A and secured to the opposite sides 5, are supports 8, which carry the sign supporting rods 10.

The flexible signs B are adapted to be detachably held in the rods 10, by a split pin 9, or any other suitable manner. Near the outer end of the rods 10 is a squared portion 11, which is adapted to lie adjacent to the squared'portion of the adjacent rods as a plurality of rods are held on the supports 8; thus preventing the tendency of climbing over each other, as the rods travel by gravity down the declining support 8, when the foremost sign is lifted and passed to the back of the series and deposited on the support 8 again.

The rods 10 are formed with a circular end 12, of the same diameter as the thickness of the squared portion 11, which rests on the supports 8, to hold the signs in position in the frame A.

A portion 18, of the rods 10 is of smaller diameter than the ends 12, which allows the easy engagement of the rod by the hook on the carrying or lifting chain.

It is obvious that wheels may be used on the ends of the rods 10, in place of the circular portion 12, to eliminate most of the friction in the travel of the rods from the front to the back of the supports 8.

The supports 8 are formed with stops 1%, on their forward end, which hold the foremost sign in displaying position.

The rods 10, and their signs are carried, one at a time, from the displaying position at the front of the supports to the rear of the series by means of a pair of endless carrying chains 15, which travel over the sprockets 18 19, 20, 21, 22 and 45.

The sprockets 20 and 21, are mounted upon shafts 23 and 21, respectively, which extend across the inclosed frame A near the top.

The sprockets 22 are secured to the horizontal shaft 26, which extends across the frame A and is held free to move up and down in the U-shaped bearings 24, which are mounted on the sides 5 of the frame, thus keeping the carrier chain taut at all times.

The idle sprockets 19, are freely j ournaled upon gudgeons 25, which are mounted in any suitable manner on the sides 5 of the frame and the sprockets 18, are freely j ournaled on the gudgeons 27, which are secured on the sides 5 of the frame.

On one side of the frame A the sprocket 18, has a pulley, rigidly connected therewith, in

cured to-the shafts 23 and 24:, and theshafts 23- and 124:, are journaled in any suitable manner'on thG'OPPOSltGSlClC-JS 50f the frame,

thus the chains 15 will be driven in unison at all I time.

Rollers 28and129 are freelyjournaled on the horizontal shafts 23 and24 respectively and extend the, full length betwenthe pairs of sprockets 20 and 21, and as the signsB are carried from the front to the back of the frame they'dr-ag on these'rollers which keeps them straight without causing any excessive friction and roller 29 which is freely journaled on the shaft 26 and extending between'the sprockets 22 across the machine assiststo turn the signs over easily as they go down and around the roller 29' and thence upward and deposited upon the sup ports 8 with the display surfaceforwart 'lhe width of the frame A is just-a trifle g-reater than thelength-of the rods lO, thus the sides 5 of the frame A act as a guide to the rods as they are moved from one position to another.

'The'pairs of chains 15 are composed of theordinary links and each chain 15 has a link E which is positioned directly opposite the lin'k'E on the other chain and travels in synchronism therewith. One side 32, of the links 'E being in the form of a loop with a recess 33, and the other side 34:, being formed with a forwardl ro'ectin hook or engaging end "35, and backwardly projecting portion 36.

The portion 36 is adapted to carry two horizontallyprojecting rollers 37, which are freely journaled on the gudgeons 38 and adapted totravel in'the guides 39, which are secured to either side 5 of the frame A.

The sides 34: ofthe links E have a similar recess'33, as in the side 32,- which is adapted toreceive the portion 13 of the rods 10, when the hook '35 engagesthe foremost rod.

Angularly formed guards 41, are secured to the walls or sides'5, a portion of which is'parallel to the supports 8 andpositioned far enough above the same to form a free passage-way forthe ends 12 of the rods 10,"

but serving to prevent the 'rodsfrom raising upoff the supports until they reach the foremost position on the supports 8.

The guards 41 are bent up nearthe "for- Ward end of the supports 8 to form a passage way 42 between the stops and the guards 11 to allow the foremost rod 10 only to'be liftedoff the-supports8 by the engaging links E of the chainsas they pass the rods in the operation of my apparatus.

Theguards 41 continue upward and curve outward to be in line with the inner edge of the chains-15, thence. continuing inthe same direction and the same horizontal plane as the inner edge of thechains 15,-thence-to the back offrame A, around sprocket 21 and down around the sprocket 22, then up tothe sprocket 45. (See 1* ig. 1).

Thus-in: operation the chains 15will travel upward in=the direction of thearrowsand the rollers 37 ODiJGPthGgUlClBS 39 andas-the hooks35engage the portion 13 of the fore- -most rods 10 the guides "3'9will hold the hooks rigid-until-the rod is-lifted-from the support 8, and'slides into the recesses 3.3 of the links E, the guards 41 assisting'in pushing it into the recess 33 and-as the link E carries the rod up 1 around sprocket 2.0, the endsl2= of the rod 10 will'rest onthe guards e1 to prevent'its falling. out of the recess 33.

' lhe guards 41 also serve to hold the rod in the recesses 33, as it travels with the chains 15, down the back of the machine and around sprocket 22 and up to-sprocket 4.5. Oneof theteeth of the sprockets is cut away, so as not:to bind -the -end of the :rod 10 as it passes around the sprockets, and the end 12 of the rod :10, engagesuthe upper rear edge 46 0f the supports 8 which is cam shaped, and thereby forcing the rod outof the recesses33 unto the back ofsupport 8, placing it at the-back of the series-of rods 10, with its same display surface facing forwardly as'illustrated in Fig. 4.

hen-the foremost rodis-removed with its sign B, the next rod andsign slide by gravity into its place against the stops 1 1 and its sign or displaysurface is displayed through the aperture 6, until the links E travel around and engage it and: carry it to the back of the series. V

The I operation is continued in this manner' displaying the signs, one after the other, over and over again, is positivein action and simple in operation.

WVhile Ihave used one particular form of frame and constructiontc illustrate my in vention, I do not wish to confine myself to thisparticular form, whichis only illustrativeandthe invention can be'carriedout by other means and appliedto other uses within the scope of the following claims.

:Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. Ina displayapparatus, comprising,-an inclosing :frame, declining supportsin said frame,a series of rods adapted to rest on said supports, each of-said rods carrying a most rod with its sign upward, andgfro'm" the front to the back of said frame, said carrying means comprising a pair of chains having a pair of recessed links which are adapted to engage the ends of said foremost rod, and means formed on said recessed links for holding said links and chain rigid in a vertical plane while lifting and receiving said rod in said recessed links.

2. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, declining supports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on said supports, each of said rods carrying a flexible sign, means for carrying the foremost rod with its sign from the front to the back of said supports, and said sup ports being formed with a semi-circular cam-shaped rear end which is adapted to begin to engage said rod while still in said carrying means, and to completely force said rod free of said carrying means, when said carrying means has delivered said rod to the topmost point of said support, substantially as described.

3. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, declining supports, secure to the sides of said frame, a series of rods resting with their ends upon said supports, each carrying a depending flexible sign, a pair of endless carriers disposed on opposite sides of said frame, a pair of links forming a part of said carriers, each having a hook formed on one side and recesses in both sides of said links, said hooks being adapted to engage the ends of said rods and allow them to slide into said recesses, the back of said hook being formed with an outwardly projecting portion, upon which are freely journaled rollers, a guide secured to the wall of said frame into which said rollers are adapted to slide when said links are lifting said rods olf of the forward ends of said supports, and thereby hold said links and carrier rigid in a vertical plane, substantially as described.

4. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, declining supports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on said supports, a pair of chains having a pair of recessed links adapted to engage the ends of the foremost rods on' said supports, a guard above the forward end of said support lying parallel thereto, and extending upwardly at the forward end of said support to allow a passage for the foremost rod resting on said support, said guard curving forwardly toward said chains, so as to engage the ends of said rod while said rod is being lifted from said supports by said links, and forcing said rod into said recesses, said guard extending parallel with said chains to the back of said supports and adapted to hold said rod, and means formed on the ends of said supports for disengaging said rod from said links to deposit said rod on the rear of said supports.

5. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, declining supports on either side of said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on said supports, and each of said rods carrying a flexible sign, a pair of chains having a pair of recessed links, one side of each of said links having a forwardly projected hook thereon, an elongated portion formed near the end of said rods of a smaller diameter than the ends of said rods, and a squared portion formed on said rods which is adapted to space the rods apart, so as to form a space between said elongated portions of the adjacent rods, thereby allowing the engaging end of said hooks on the recessed links to pass between the first and second rod on the supports to engage one rod at a time, said links adapted to carry said rods to the back of said supports, and to turn said sign over, so that the same display surface will face forwardly in said frame.

6. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, declining supports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on said supports, a pair of chains adapted to travel over a series of sprockets in said frame, a pair of recessed links on the inside of said chains forming part of said chains adapted to engage the foremost of said rods resting on said supports, and carry it over some of said sprockets to deposit said rod on the rear of said supports, said sprockets over which said rod is carried having some of the teeth removed, so as not to bind said rod as it passes over the same, substantially as described.

BENJAMIN B. BIENI-IOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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