US1522222A - Shifting-sign machine - Google Patents

Description

, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l.L

Jan, 6.

i u. AmuT'naRsoN SHIFTING SIGN MACHINE.

Filed OCI.. 19

.D I I I IJIIII IIIIJIIN .tI v 1 rII www M... lz., .FCIIIITIIIIIIIII IIII.

1N ENToR: v MX @LM ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 6. 1925". 1,522,222

J. A NDERSON SHIFTING SIGN MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.'

H\ W BY v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

PATE

ULRICH ANDERSON, OF IMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 S. & G. MFG'. CO., OF

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

SHIFTING-SIGN MACHINE.

Application led October 19, 1921.

To all whom t may cmi-cera.'

Be it known that I, ULRICH ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milvvaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and `State of IVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shifting- Sign Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tol the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof. v

This invention relates to machines or apparatus for automatically shifting a series of signs or display holders at intervals one after another into and out of view.

The main yobjects of the invention are to adapt such machines to be operated by either direct or alternating electric current according tol the nature of the available source of supply in different places; to equalize the load on the machine throughout the circuit of the signs or display holders so that universal motors which are designed for operation by either direct or alternating current, and the speed of which fluctuates widely under varying loads, may be used; to provide for variation of the speed of the shifting mechanism and the length of exposure ,of the signs; to provide for villumination of die exposed signs when natural light is insuiicient therefor; to facilitate reino-ving and replacing the sions o-r display holders and changing the advertising or other matter (thereon, and generally to improve the construction and operationA of machines of this class.V

It consists in the construction, arrangement andV combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawing likecharacters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal sec-` tion on the line 1 1, of Fig. 3, of a shift.- ing-sign machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a chine en the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; and

Fig. el is a partial horizontal section of the.

machine on the line fl-4, Fig. 2.

The casing, which encloses the signs or display holders and the mechanism for shifting them one after another into and out of viewcomprises end plates 1, Whichmay be vertical cross section of the ma- Serial No. 508,889.

made o-f cast metal, -flat bars 2, and angle bars 3 rand 4 connecting the end plates, and sheet metal to back and front sections 5, 6 and 7, closing the casing at the top and back and at t-he friont ofthe forwardly extending base or lower part of the casing below the sight openings between the cross bars 2 and 3. A

The end plates 1 are formed or provided at and adjacent their front edges with vertical flanges 9, between which are inserted and held panes or plates 10 and 11, of glass or transparent material, closing the sight openings through which the stationary and shifting signs are displayed.

Flanged guide pla-tes 13 are fastened to the end plates inside of thercasing, forming with the inner flanges 9, brakeV shoes or bars 111 and 15, and plates 16, guideways for the shifting signs 17. These guideways, which are located opposite the sight openings in the casing, and are parallel with each other, form continuous circuitsfor trunnions 18, with which the ends of the signs 17 are prolel vertical stretches or parts, connected at vtheir upper and lower ends by substantially parallel transversestretches or parts.

Link belts or chain 20, mounted on sprocket wheels 21,v 22, 23, 24;, and guided by the flanges on the guide pla-tes A13 along the vertical parts and the upper transverse parts of the guideways, are provided on their inner sides with lugs 26, which are directly opposite each other `and adapted by engagement with thev trunnions 18 of the signs 17, to pick up the signs one ata time from the front ends of the lower transverse parts of the guide-ways, and transfer or shift them frein the lower sight opening upwardly,` backwardly Vand downwardly into engagement with the rear ends of said lower transverse parts of the guideways, whichV are curved upwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, lso as to deflect the signs forwardly out' of the path-ofthe lugs 2G.

The sprocket wheels 21, which sup-port and guide'the chains 2O at the upper ends of their runs, are journaled on pins fastened to and projecting inwardly from the end plates 1, andl project at their peripheries through the flanges lof said guides. The sprocket/wheels 22, around which the chains 2() are guided at the lower endsof their runs, are fixed on a shaft'28 extending longitudiggf nally thro-ugh the casing and having bearings 29 on vthe end plates 1. The sprocket wheels 28 are journaled on studs projecting inwardly from the end plates of the casing below the guide pla-tes 13, in position todirect the chains 2O in clignnient with the front vertical stretches or parts of the guideways. The sprocket wheels 24 are journaled on arins 31, which are pivoted to the end plates 1 of the casing and pressed by springs 32 toward the front runs of the chains 20, soas to hold the sprocket wheels in yielding engagement with the chains and take up slack in the chains.

The brake shoes or bars 14 are adjustably connected by screws 84 with ledges 85, projecti'ng inwardly froni the end plates 1 of the casing, and are held by springs 36 in yielding engagement with the trunnions 18 of the signs as they pass rearwardly through the upper transverse parts of the guideways.

The brake shoes or bars 15 are adjustably connected by screws 38 with the inturned marginal flanges on the rear edges of the end plates l, and are yieldingly held by springs 39 in engagement with the trunnions 18 of the signs as they pass downwardly through the rear vertical stretches of the guideways.

Leaf springs 41, fastened at their upper ends to inwardly projecting brackets 42 on the end plates 1, are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, to engage with the upper edges of the signs 17 as they pass from the upper t'ansverse into the rear vertical stretches of the guideways, and tilt the-in slightly forward, so that their lower edges as they descend will clear and pass behind the rear sign in the lower transverse stretches of the `guideways, which serve as a magazine to hold a considerable or any desired number of signs assembled together facing the lower sight opening in the front of the casing. The lower ends of thel springs 41 are curved forwardly so as to shift the signs as their trunnions are brought into engagement with thel rear ends of the lower transverse parts of the guideways, and press and hold thein together facing the sight opening in the casing, with the front sign in position to be picked up by the lugs 26 on the chains. The lowerrtransverse part-s of the guideways which constitute the magazine for the signs, are preferably inclined slightly downward towards the sight opening, as shown in lfigs.

2 and 3, to assist in shifting the signs towards the sight opening into position to be picked up by the chains.

n electric inotor 44, preferably of the so-called universal type, is mounted in the lower part of the casing niidway between its endsfon a saddle 45, which is supported at its ends on the angle bars 4. A pulley 4.7, en the niotor shaft, is connected by a belt with a cone" or stepped pulley 49 on a shaft 50, inounted parallel with the inotor shaft and transversely to the shaft 28 1n a gear case or housing 5" wuch is supported on el, a the angle bars 4, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shaft 50 is provided with a worin 53, which nieshes with a worin gear 54, fixed on the shaft 28 in the gear case 51.

The inotor shaft and the shaft 50 project at their rear ends through the back of the easing, and the pulleys 47 and 49 are located outside of the casing, to facilitate shifting the belt for varying the speed of the niotor land thus changing the rate of travel of the chains to lengthen or shorten the interval of exposure of the signs to view.

ln order to regulate the speed of the motor and of the sign shifting chains, particularly when a universal inotor is used, the shaft 50 is provided with a centrifugal governor 56, which is connected by crank arins 57 and 58 on rocker shaft 59, and by a link 60 with a vertically and longitudinally inovable bralre or drag bar 61, arranged to engage with the upward runof one of the chains 2O between the adjacent guide plate 13 and the front of the casing. The bar 61 is forined with inclines engaging corresponding inclines 68 on the adjacent end plate 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower reduced end of the bar 61 passes loosely through a lug 65 on a lever 88, which is fulcruined at one end on the adjacent end plate of the easing and is formed at the other end with an incline engaging a longitudinal lever 67, which is fulcrunied as shown in Fig. 1', at the back of the casing. A spring 69., interposed between the lug 65 andan adjust-able collar T0 on the brake bar 6l, tends to shift the bar upwardly and thus reduce its pressure against the chain 20, with which it engages. it the end opposite-that which engages with the lever 66, the lever 6,7 is bent outwardly, passing through a slot in the back of the casing, and is provided with a vertically elongated opening through which the pulley belt passes, as shown in Fig. 2. The outwardly bent end of the lever 67 is forined with a series of notches 81, which correspond in spacing with the steps of the cone pulley 49, and are adapted by engagement with the baci: of the casing at the upper end of the slot therein, to lock and hold saidY lever in adjusted position corresponding with the desired speed of the motor and of the shifting signs.

The glass plate or pane. 11 through which the shiftingV signs are exposed to view, corresponr s in thickness with the signs, and for-nis at its upper edge a ledge for supporting` a stationary sign in position for exposure to view tln'engh the upper sight opening, the back of the stationary sign being in the saine plane with the inner face of the glass plate or pane 11, thus providing a continuous plane surface for guiding the shifting signs and holding them in a vertical position as they are shifted upwardly from the sight opening.

The trunnions 18 are located above the longitudinal centers of the signs, so that the signs suspended thereby from the guide" ways, tend to maintain a vertical position during the passage of the trunnions therethrough.

T he signs, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably consist as shown, of sheet metal holders folded around the edges to engage with and hold sheets 85, of cardboard or other material, on which the advertising or other matter to be displayed, is printed or otherwise shown. These sheets to which the matter to be displayed is applied, thus can be easily removed and replaced by sheets with other matter thereon. Spaces are left between the adjacent ends of the brake shoes or bars la and 15, to permit the trunnions 18 to be lifted from the guideways, so that the signs can be readily removed and replaced for changing the matter thereon or for any other purpose, the top section 5 of the casing being removable to afford access to the signs.

For illuminating both the shifting and stationary signs at night, or in dark places, the machine is provided in the forward exV tension of the base with removable cages S7 having sockets and connections for electric lamps or bulbs 8S. These cages, which also serve as reflectors, are open at the top and are supported in operative position by engagement with the front angle bar 4 and with downwardly projecting flanges 90, which may be integral with or attached to the top of the front section 7 of the casing. The top wall of the base extension formed by the casing section 7, is provided with glazed openings 92, through which the light rays from the lamps 88 are projected and reflected upwardly against the movable sign 17 exposed to view through the lower sight opening and against the stationary sign 83, exposed to view through the upper sight opening of the casing.

rlhe sheet metal casing section 7 is extended inwardly, and upwardly flanged as shown in F ig. 2, to support the lower edges of the glass or transparent panes or plates 10 and ll.

.ln the operation of the machine, the brake shoes or bars 14 and 15 are adjusted to bear with sufi'cient pressure on the sign trunnions 15 during their passage rearwardly and downwardly through the guideways, to equalthe load on the motor, prevent the signs from falling away from and out of engagement with the lugs 26 on the chains in their downward passage through the rear vertical stretches of the guideways, and obtain a steady uniform movement of the signs throughout their upward7 rearward and downward passage through the guideways from the sight opening in the front of the casing to the rear ends of the lower transverse stretches of the guideways forming the Y magazine.

vWith each complete circuit of the chains 20, which are driven in unison by the sprocket wheels 22 on the shaft 28, the lugs 26 in their upward vpassage engaging the trunnions 18 of the front sign 174 in the magazine, shift the sign upward from the lower sight opening in the casing, then backward and then downward, till the trunnions engaging with the upwardly curved rear ends of the plates 16 are deflected into the lower transverse storage part-s of the guideways, and the sign is pressed forward by the springs l1 against the rear sign of the series facing the sight opening. As the front sign is withdrawn upward from the series as above stated, the signs behind .it are moved forward by the springs 41, aided by the downward inclination of the lower parts of the guideways, and the next sign isv brought into place opposite the sight opening. Any fluctuation inthe speed of the motor and hence in the movement of the signs, which may not be remedied by the brake shoes or bars 14 and 15 owing to lack of proper adjustment or otherwise, is taken care of by the governor 56. ln case of an increase above normal speed, the governor tends to shift the brake bar 61 downward, causing the ineline 63 to increase its pressure against the adjoining chain 20, thereby checking the speed of the motor by increasing the load thereon. On the other hand, in oase of a decrease below normal speed, the balls of the governor are dra-wn toward each other by the spring connecting them, thus permitting the spring 69 to force the brake bar 61 slightly upward, and reducing its pressure against the adjoining chain, so that the motor and the chains will resume their normal speed.

As the chains 2O are carried by the sprocket wheels 22 a considerable distance below the guideways in which the signs are held and travel, the signs will be exposed to View one after another for intervals of time corresponding with the time required for the lugs 26 to make a complete circuit, so that the length of exposure of the signs may be varied by varying the speed of the motor, and hence of the chains. This is accomplished by shifting thebelt which connects the motor pulley 47 with the cone pulley 49. Shifting the belt from a larger to a smaller part of the cone pulley, increases the speed of the chains, and the time of exposure of the signs is correspondingly shortened. To shift the belt from a larger to a smaller part of the pulley, the outwardly bent end of the lever (37 is first pressed down out of engagement with the back sectionrt of the casand then pulled backward the required to carry the belt upon the desired step or part of the cone pulley, and is then released so that the proper notch 8l will engage with said back section and loci; the lever in place. vWith a shifting the belt to smaller parts of the pulley 49 to increase the speed oi. the motor as above explained, the opposite end of the lever 6T engaging: 'the incline on the rear end ot the lever 6G, slightly elevates the lug,` (i5, thereby increas ing,` the tension of the spring; 69, which tends to thrust the dragl bar (il upward and reduce its pressure against the adjoining chain Qt). in increase in thc speed ot the motor and sign shifting chains is thus permitted.

ln like manner, to reduce the speed of the motor and chains and thus increase the time ot'exposure of tl c signs, the not l end ol the lever 67 is moved forward into the case, carrying' the belt with it, into engagement with a larger part o? the cone pulley Ll). lVith this mov unent ot the lever the lever W with the lugv 65, is slightly lowered, re-

ing, distance 'I0 ducing the tension on the spring 69 and its resistance to the action ot the governor, which operates to draw the brake bar nl downward on the inclines 33 and increase its pressure against the adjoining chain 2t, thereby increasingv the load anc causing the motor to run at a slower speed. Without this provision i`or adjusting the tension ol the spring,` (S9 for dill'erent speeds, aero:'-ding` to the position of the belt on the cone pulley #29, an increase in speed of the motor acting` through the governo-r would be counteracted by the action of the brake bar (3l. Conversely, a decrease in the speed oi the motor would be prevented by the compensating action o'l said brake bar.

The stationary sign 823 may consist, as shown-in Fig. 2, ol a holder from which the trunnions are omitted, and in which sheets 85, of cardboard or other material bearing the advertising' or other matter itor display, are inserted, so that such matter can be easily changed from time to time as desired.

The electric light cages Si are easily removed for renewing` the lamps 8S, by shil't ing the cages towards the ends ot the casing; out of engagement with the flanges 90, then shifting' them backward out otl engagement with the liront angle bar 4C, when they can be withdrawn through the open bottoni oi the casing.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement oit parts of the machine may be made without materially affecting' its mode of' operation and without departure from the principle and scope ot the invention as detined in the followingv claims.

l claim:

l. ln a shifting-sign machine, the combination of a casing having a sight opening` in one side and having its interior at its ends provided with aligned guides tor determiningv closed 'paths ot movement tor sign guid-y ing,` and supportingv trunnions, disconnected signs provided at their ends with sign guid ingand supporting), trunnions, flexible means` confined to travel only in part in correspondence with said closed paths ot movement and adapted to engage said trunnions so as to positively move a sign througn a predetermined part only of its entire predetermined closed path of movement, motor mechanisi' for actnat-ing1 said tlexible means, and means to tilt said signs to 'prevent interference ot one sign with another sign.

2. ln a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing` having a sight opening` in the front side and provided at the ends with parallel guideways the lower parts oi" which are transverse to the ends o'l' the casing' adjacent the sight opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided in the casing along;` and below the guideways and provided with lugs adapted to traverse the guideways and by engagement with 'the trunnions to shift the signs one at a time from the sight opening upward, backward and downward into engagement with the rear ends ot said lower transverse parts ot the guideways, a motor for actuating the chains, and a brake actin?,` on the downwardly movingsigns as they traverse the descending rear parts of the guideways to hold the signs against falling away from the lugs on the chains and to equalize the load on the motor.

3. ln a shitting-sign machine the combination ot a casing having a sight opening; in front and provided at the ends with parallel guideways the lower parts of which arc transverse to the ends of the casing adjacent the sight opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways,

chains guided in the casing,` and provided with lugs arranged to traverf-ae the guideways and by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another trom the sight opening` upward, baci; ward and downward into engagement with the rear ends of said lower transverse parte of the guideways, a motor for actuating the chains in unison, and brakes acting on the sign trunnions as they traverse the rear descending` parts of the guideways, to equaliZe the load on the motor and to"y prevent the trunnionsin their descent from falling;` away trom the lugs on the chains.

1l. ln a shitting-sign machine the combiv nation of a casing having a "front sight opening` and provided at the ends with parallel guideways' the upper and lower parts of which are transverse to the encs ci the casing, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guidelll) liu

lilo

ways, chains guided in the casing along and below the guideways and provided with lugs adapted to traverse the guideways and by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another from the sight opening upward, backward and downward into engagement with the rear ends of the lower transverse parts of the guideways, a motor for actuating the chains in unison, and brakes arranged to act on the sign trunnions as they traverse the upper transverse parts of the guideways in engagement with the lugs on the chains for equalizing the load on the motor.

5. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having va sight opening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adapted to support a number of signs assembled one behind another facing said opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided in the casing along and below the guideways and provided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another from the sight opening upward, backward and downward to a position behind the assembled signs, a motor for actuating the chains, and brakes engaging the sign trunnions as they traverse the upper transverse and rear vertical parts of the guideways.

6. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sight opening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adapted to support a number of signs assembled one behind another facing said opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided in the casing along the front, upper and rear parts of the guideways and below the lower parts thereof and provided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another from the front to the rear ends of the parts of the guideways supporting the assembled signs, a motor for actuating the chains, and adjustable yielding brakes engaging the sign trunnions as they traverse the rear vertical parts of the guideways.

7. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sight opening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adapted to support a number of signs assembled one behind another facing said opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided in the casing and provided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another from the front to the rear of the assembled signs, a motor for actuating the chains in unison, an adjustable brake acting on one of the chains, and a centrifir gal governor connected with the brake for regulating the speed of the motor and chains. f

8. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sight opening and endless parallel gnideways parts of which constitute a magazine adapted to support a: number of signs assembled one behind another facing said opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains provided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another at intervals from the front to the rear of the magazine, a motor for driving the chains in unison, an adjustable brake engaging one of the chains, a spring tending to release the brake, a centrifugal gov ernor driven 'by the motor and connected with the brake, a change speed transmission between the motor and chains, and a connection between the change speed transmission and the spring adapted to increase the tension of the spring when the change speed transmission is adjusted to increase the speed of the chains.

9. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sight opening, parallel vertical flanges and endless parallel guideways at the ends of the opening, the lower parts of the guideways constituting a magazine adapted to support a number 0f signs assembled one behind another facing said opening and the inner vertical flanges forming parts of the front vertical runs of the guideways, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided 1n the casing and provided with lugsA adapted by engagement l with the trunnions tovshift the signs one after another from the front to the rear of lthe magazine, a motor for driving the chains in unison, a transparent plate held at the ends between said vertical flanges in the lower part of the sight opening opposite the front sign in the magazine, and a stationary sign held at the ends between said flanges in the upper part of the sight opening and resting on the upper edge of said transparent Vplate with which it forms a continuous guiding surface for the shifting signs in their upward movement from the magazine.

l0. In a shifting-sign machine thecombination of a casing having a sight opening and a forwardly extending base having an opening in the top below the sight opening, a number of movable signs, mechanism for shifting said signs at intervals one after another into and out of view through the sight opening, and a lamp in the base eX- tension arranged to project light upwardly through said openings upon the sign eX- posed to view through the sight opening.

1.1t In a shifting-sign machine the com bination of afc'asing having a front sight opening and a forwardly extending base having an opening in the top below vthe sight opening, a number of movable Signs, mechanism for shifting'` the signs at intervals one after another Vinto and out of View through the sight opening, an open top lamp cage removably mounted inthe base eXtension andi providedwith" an'electro lamp arranged to project light upwardly through Said openings upon the sign exposed to View through the sight opening.

1n Witness whereof I hereto affix my Signature.

' ULRICH ANDERSON.

Images