US1765215A - Publicity apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. H; M. DUCHARD 51 3 5 PUBLICITY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6; 192B A fi fk k IA 3 6 Sheets-Sheet II. .I.

June 17, 1930. H. M. DUCHARD PUBLICITY APPARATUS Filed. Aug. 6, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1930. H. M. DUCHARD 1,765,215,

PUBLICITY AfPARATUS Filed Aug. 6; 1928 e Sheets-Sheet 3 June 17, 1930. H. M. DUCHARD 1,755,215-

PUBLICITY APPARATU Filed Aug. 6. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIII,

|A\\\\\ xmlililili ililililm:

June17, 1930. H. M. DUCHARD I PUBLICITY APPARATUS Fi1edAug.6. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 17, 1930. H. M. DUC'HARD 1,765,215

PUBLICITY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6. 192B 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 feren't-ly. p I According to another form of embed-i5 j Patented June 17, 1936 1 UNITED STATES HENRLMAUMCE DUGHARD, 0F PARIS, FRANCE PUBLICITY APPARATUS" Application filed August 6 1928, Serial No.

The present invention relat'es to a publici'ty apparatus adapted to pass before the public gaze a continuoussequence of advertisements (drawings or script) as olot'ains with the luminous gazettes now installed in the main thoroughfares of large cities. v

The object of the present invention is'to provide a publicity apparatus differing; totally from the luminous gazettes alluded to above in that no electric lamp is used in the apparatus according to the invention, for the formation of the letters played. The apparatus is constituted by elements visible in broad daylight; which ailords the great advantage of enablii'ig the or many hours and. likewise a; nightby throwing an artificial light on the elements.

The publicity apparatus aCCOTCllDg to the iln ention broadly comprises a continuously moving endless member Winch is provided nth shutters adapted to pivot about spindles secured to said endless inel'nber whereby saidshutters can take up two positions in each of which they exhibit a different appearance to the public gaze, so that certain shutters may be contrasted'with others and, hence letters maybe formed which move with the endless member and may constitute advertisements. v I 7 According to a form of embodimenhthe shutters display one or other oftheirfaces; according to their position, the contrast b'eobtained by colouring'the 'fa ce's dili merit; the contrast is obtained simply the fact that in one of the positions the shutter covers the Window corresponding therefor Whilst, in the other positionyit uncovers the Window which is then clearly dis tinguishable fro-in the adjacent shutters, it being possible to emphasize such distinction by making use of a central luminous source conunon to all the Windows. v i

The endless member may comprise two endless belts located in parallel relation to each: other and secured together" with the shutters located in between them. Moreover,

to be disublicity apparatus to be utilized everyday 1 'Vation on I I Fig; 3

297319, and in Germany August 92, 1927 the endless belts may be constituted either by chains passing over sprocket Wheels 01 by ordinary Wheels.

1 Thepiv'ot movement oft-he shutters may be" advantageously controlled through electro-in'agnets energized at the opportune inonients by 'providing a Contact in their cir euit which is opened and closed through the. instrumentality of a perforate strip of the type which is familiar'in this kind ot' 2.13: paratus and which moves in "synchronisin with the endless member 1 carrying the shutters. p p v r The invention has been illustrated diagrainmatically and merely by Way ofexample in the. accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic" sectional eleof the apparatus unit in eccordance with the inventio i I :Fig. 2 is an elevation of the endless memher and the shutters.

Fig.1 3 is.-

list sectionon IV IV, ig.

' Fig. 5 is an' enlarged'detail View illu'strating the arrangements of one'of 'the groups lot electroinag'nets actuat1ng I the shutters.

the device for v a View corresponding to" that-of *Fig' 2. i

sf ip. v V Fig; '4' isa plan view corresponding 'to thatjofFig. 6.-

ig', is e; sect-ion on VIII VIII, Fig. 7.

Fig; 9 is a fragmentary sectional'vie'w on ecuit'breaker cooperatingwith. the endless member forv controlling the. device for progressing the perforate strip. 7 1

Fig. 11v shows,in elevation 2t bank of shutters according to another.constructional form o'f'the apparatus.-

Fig-12 is the corresponding plan view.

'Fig. 12 is a perspective detail View.

Fig. 18 is a section" on XIIL XIII Fig.12.

Fig; 14' isia se'ctionallelevation of the. ap- Y paratlis unit.

10 is a detail View showing the cir-1 Fig. 15 shows another modified form of construction. 7

' The publicity apparatus according to the inventionis broadly constituted by an endless member comprehensively designated by 1, Fig. l, and which s constitutedby two chains 2 and 3 (see Figs. 2 to 4:) located parallel to each other and connectedtogether by equidistant parallel spindles t which are perpendicular to the chains 2 and 3. r

The, chains 2 and 8 are .mounted on sprocket wheels, associated, for'example, with the chain 2, and the wheels 3 and 3 with the chain 3. The wheels 2 and 3 are mounted on the ends of a shaft 5, and the Wheels 2 and 3 are mounted in similar fashion on the ends of a shaft 6 parallel to the shaft 5.

. A plurality of shutters 7 are loosely mounted on the spindles l in aligned relation in order to form rows of shutters parallel to the chains 2 and Suitable means are provided to prevent the shutters 7 from sliding longitudinally over the spindles l.

' The shutters 7 have. the form of a polygon,

in the example illustrated they have been shown'square, and their two faces are of different colours which clash, the face 7 5 being blue for example, whilst the face 7 is white. i r p 1 v The shutters 7 are intended to display one or the other of their faces, so as to form letters which taken to ether constitute an V I b advertisement. 7 y V In order that the letters formed throughv the instrumentanty of the shutters 7 shall stand out sharply, theIshutters. 7 entering into the'composition of the letters-will 'display their white surface 7 whilst at the same instant the other shutters will display their blue face '7 in order to form a kind f background. Fig.2 shows the letter E formed after. this manner.

A continuous translational movement in the direction of the arrow 8 is imparted to'the endless member lby a motor 9 driving, through a suitable gear ratio, a worm 10 meshing with a worm Wheel 11 mounted on the shaft-,5. In thiscase, only the wheels ,2 and 8 are drivers and must hence be keyed to the shaft 5. The wheels 2 and 3 may, on the other hand, be loosely mounted on the shaft 6. z

In order to prevent indiscriminate pivot ing of the shutters Tabout the spindles 4 during the movement of the memberl, this 7 I latter has associatedtherewitha fixed guide l2c0nstitutedfor example by a metal plate.

At some point along its length, .the guide 12 is however broken off in order to allow an operator to pivot the shutters 7 as they pass before this" open space, so as to form the letters to be displayed. 9

.It is however practically impossible to perform this operation by hand owing to the wheels 2 and 2 being row of. shutters 7 so asto tordisplay their face 7.

To this end, and in accordance with a form of embodiment of the inventioin each shutter 7 is fitted with two magnetic masses l3 and 14; situated on either side of the shutter 7 substantially diagonally opposite each 1 7 other.

lVith the magnetic masses l3 ll there respectively co-operate electromagnets coniprehensively designated by 15 (Figs. 8 and 4) and located in aligned relation facing the open space left by the guide. 12 and lying parallel to the pivot spindles ters 7. pairs, each pair of electromagnets corre sponding to a row of shutters Y perpendicular to the spindles t, and each electromagnet of one of the groups cooperates with one of the magnetic masses or 1% of the corresponding row' of shutters 7 defined above. V The two electromagnets of the same group never operate together but, however, one electromagnet is always in operationlin one group.

The several groups of electromagnets in question are adapted to act on the shutters 'r' so as to cause'them toldisplay either-the face7 or the face 7 depending on whether they do or do not enter into the composition of the letter to be displayed. ihS will be more clearly apparentfrom that part of the lof the shut- These electromagnets operate in' eration "of the. apparatus, the upper electroniagnet of any one of the groups of electromagnets co-operates with the masses l l of a given row of shutters in order to rotate these latter so that they shall display the face On the contrary, tlie'lower electromagnetof the group und r consideration cooperates with the masses of the same; rotate the latter 'ln order to energize, or in other words, in order to cause onefor the other of the electromagnets of any one of the groups ofelectromagnets to operate, it is essential that these latter shall be directly controlledf by the device carrying the lettersto be reproduced on the endless member fl, through the medium of the shutters Z. lnthe e::-

lli'

ample illustratedyit will be assumed'that' the device carrying the'letters to be reproduced is constituted by a known type of ,per-

forate strip in which the said letters are punched. 1 7 V r According to the invention, the perforate strip is supported -ane d'riven'by a device illustrated in detail-in Figs. t3 to l). The

supporting and driving member of the strip is constltuted by a drum under voltage on either side of which are provided a row of teeth 21 which engage with corresponding strip feeding perforations in the perforate'strip when the latter is placed on the drum 20. The perforations may be akin to those provided on the edges of ordinary motion picture films. The drum 20' is rotated in order to progress the perforate strip in continuous manner through the medium of a special mechanisi'n which will be described in detail presently.

Conducting contacts 22- cooperating with the drum 20 are mounted on insulating supports 23 and are adapted to contact with said drum 20 through perforations made in the perforate strip to form the letters to be reproduced. .The contacts 22 are equal in number to the transverse perforations of the strip and, in consequence, to the number of shutters 7 mounted on a spindle l or yet again to the number of pairs of electromagnets provided for actuating the shutters 7.

Each contact 22 is electrically connected by circuit 24 to an electromagnet 25 {see Fig. 5) adapted to act on a magnetic armature 26 secured to a mercury circuit-breal-ier 27 constituted by a tube 28 containing mercury and fitted with three terminals .29, and 81. The terminals 29 and 30 are connected to the electromagnet 15 and the terminals 30 and 81 are connected to the elec-" tromagnet 15 The tube 28 is pivotally mounted at its centre on a fixed support 32'.

The circuit-breaker 27 inserted in an electric circuit feeding one of th pairs of electromagnets. Of course, each pair of electromagnets is provided with a' circuitbrcaker of the character described.

With this arrangement, depending on whether the contact 22 contacts with the drum 20 under voltage, through perforation of the strip, or remains in contact with the strip which is an insulator, one or other of the electromagnets 15 or 15? of the group of two electromagnets corresponding to such contact 22 will be energized; For, when the contact 22 contacts with the drum 20, voltage is applied to the circuit 24- and theelectromagnet '25 is energized, attracting the armature 26 of the circuit-breaker 27. The latter, rocks in the-direction of the arrow 33 and the mercury contained in the tube 28 makes an electrical connection between the terminals 29 and- 30. (Jurrent thenflows through the electromagnet 15"- which can then attract the magnetic mass 14- of the shutter 7 which is at that moment opposite the electromagnet 15.

On the contrary, when the contact-22 remains in contact with the-perforate strip, voltage is no longer appliedto the circuit 24, the electromagnet 2. 3 no longer acts on the armature 26 and the tube 28 rocks back in the opposite direction under the actionv of return spring 28. An electric connection is established between the terminals 30 and 31 and current flows to the electromagnet l5 which can then acton the magnetic mass 13 of the shutter 7 which at that'moment happens to be opposite the electromagnet 15*. I i

It has been pointed out in the foregoing that the actuation of the shutters 7 bythe electromagnets 15 and 15 is solely conditioned by the position assumed by the per forate strip on the drum 20 under voltage. In order satisfactorily to reproduce on the endless member 1 the letters formed on the perforate strip, it is consequently essential that the movements of the perforate strip and the endless member shall be synchronized. To this end, the strip progressing device is under the direct control of the endless member 1. v

In order to achieve this result, on the upper face of the chain 2 of the endless member 1 (see Figs. 1, 2,- 3 and 10) are fitted a plurality of inclined membersil lconstituted by angle irons havingthe flange perf pendicular to the chain 2 cut away in the manner illustrated. The inclined members 8% connect together two consecutive spindles 4-, two consecutive inclined members 84 be ing spaced however slightly lessapart than two consecutive spindles 4C. 1

With the same end in View, the device for progressing the perforate strip proper is constituted by two electromagnets 35 and 36 adaptedto act respectively on two opposite- 1y. disposed magnetic armatures 37 and 38, both secured to a disc 38* provided interwith two fingers 39' and 40 at opposite ends of a diameter. The lingers 33and 40 may engage with pins 41 provided on one of the faces of a disc 12 mounted on a spinis so located relative to the endless member.

1, that whenth-e pointer 49 bears against the chain 2, an electric contact is established between the terminals 45 and 46 whilst, when the pointer 49' bears against the inclined member 3 an electric contact is established between the terminals 44 and 45'. In this manner, if the terminals 465 and 46 are elec trically connected to the electromagnet 35 die as carr 'in the drum 20 under volta e.

and the terminals 44- and 45- to the-electro- 1n-agnet'36, the electromagnet willbe en gi'zed when the pointer 4-9 rests on the oh i 2 and the electromagnet 36' will be energized when the pointer 49 rests on the inclined part continuous alternating movements to the disc 38 V The consequence is that the fingers 89 and 40 will alternately engage with the pins 41 with consequent rotation of the disc 42 and hence of the spindle 42 of the drum 2O 'tacts 22 come into contact with the drum 20 through a given angle. This angle 'is so calculated that the perforate strip will ad vance one row of transverse perforations each time the endless member 1 has advanced one row of axial shutters 7 relative to the group of electromagnets 15.

Instead of driving the drum 20 in the manner just described, an appropriate mechanical drive directly controlled by one or other of the chains 201 3 might be provided. Such form of drive will be simpler when the strip progressing device is proximate the endless member.

Two rollers 50 mounted on a system of pin-jointed levers 51 maintain the perforate strip on the drum 20. The rollers 50 serve the additional purpose of raising the contacts 22 to 'lift them out of contact both with the perforate strip and the drum 20.

A second drum 20* may be mounted on the spindle 42 as well as a system of contacts and levers similar to that described. The

objectof the second system is to enable the contacts to be replaced without consequent stoppage of the apparatus, a perforate strip being mounted on each drum.

The publ1c1ty apparatus described, which may be mounted on a roof for example, operates as follows:

WVith all the shutters 7 of the endless member 1 arranged so as to display the blue 45 face 7, the perforate strip is placed on the drum 20 under voltage and the motor 9 started up. The endless member 1 is set in motion and actuates the device for progressing the perforate strip.

As the perforate str1p progresses,the conor remain in contact with the perforate strip. In the first instance, the electromagnet 15 corresponding to the masses 14 attracts the mass 14 of the shutter 7 then opposite the energized electromagnet 15. The. mass 14 is attracted to the energized electromagnet and causes the corresponding shutter 7 to pivot about the spindle, 4." With the endless member 1 continuing to move in the direction of the arrow 8, the mass 14 leaves the electromagnet 15 which incidentally is no longer energized if the corresponding contact 22 has come into contact with the perforatestrip due to 1 this latters progression The shutter 7 which has been attracted and has pivoted, now displays its white face 7 Of course, what has been said with regard to a shutter 7 likewise applies to all the shutters 7 of a given spindle since as many airs of electroma nets obtain as there are shutters 7 on a given spindle 4. It is likewise obvious that all the shutters 7 are not necessarily turned so as to display their face 7 for this solely depends on the position, relative to the drum 20, of the contact 22 corresponding to the group of electromagnets under consideration. of shutters is successively'acted upon in this wise and the letters of the advertisement formed.

When an axial row of such shutters has The endless member may be constituted by a drum as has been illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14. As may be seen from these figures, the apparatus comprises a drum formed by two wheels arrangedparallel to and secured to each other and between which the shutters 7 are mounted. These shutters may be constructed in the same manner as those described above, that is to say, they may be arranged so as to display either one or the other of their faces to the publiogaze; However, in this case a modified form of construction of the shutters has been illustrated according to which they are pivoted about one of their edges, preferably the horizontal lower edge 61, so that they may be brought '(see Fig. 13) either into the position in whichthey cover the corresponding window (such is the case of the shutter 7 or into the position in which they completely .uncover the window (such is the ease of the shutter 7 Thewindow thus uncovered formsa markedcontract with the adjacent shutters. i

In this manner, a kind of cylinder of shut ters is obtained rotating uniformly and forming letters under the same conditions as obtained w1th the apparatus previously described. In order to, distinguish the letters. more clearly, a central luminous source com 7 mon to all the windows and constituted, for

example, by a series of lamps 62 (Fig. 12) .may be located to advantage at the centre of the disc.

It willbe noticed that by pivoting the Each axial row shutters about their lower edge, they may bev by means of a cam to be described presently.

Under these circumstances, only one electromagnct 15 need he provided instead. of the two electromagnets and 15 previously described. The shutters are actuated in the following manner:

Each of t e shutters maintained in its closure p1: (see Fig. 13) by a latch 63 pivotally mounted at it end 64 and having a profiled nose 65 engaging with the end of the corresponding shutter 7. The other end of the latch 63 includes the magnetic mass 66 cooper with the corresponding electromagnct 15. The electromagnet is energized in the same manner as previously, that is to say when a hole in the perforate strip comes opposite a contact stud. When the eleetromagnet 15 is energized, it attracts the latch 63 which releases the shutter 7 and the latter falls under gravity into the horizontal position in which it uncovers the corresponding window. Of course, as in the previous case, there is only one vertical row of elec tromagnets 15, which row includes as many electromagnets as there are horizontal rows of shutters 7 The vertical rows of shutters successively pass before the row of electromagnets 15 and the shutters are actuated according to the arrangement of the holes in p the perforate strip.

Each horizontal row of shutters has associated therewith a cam 67 for returning to closure position those shutters which had previously been brought into open position, each cam being located forward of the row of electromagnets 15 and so shaped as to be engaged by the nipples 68 of those shutters of its row which are open, so as to return the shutters to the closure position. Each cam 67 will naturally have the profiledesired which will approach to a helicoidal profile as is apparent from Figs. 12 and 12 illustrating the cam 67 in perspective.

This device is particularly advantageous in connection with small installations. It will be observed that, as has been illustrated in Fig. 14, the electric driving motor-69 may be mounted direct on a fixed central shaft 7 0 relative to which the wheels 60 may rotate freely, such wheels being driven for example through a pinion 71 mounted on the motor shaft and a spur wheel? 2 secured to the lower wheel 60 by the web 73. The perforate strip and the mechanisms pertaining thereto for driving, contacting and synchronizing, may be located without the apparatus and the current leads 74 for the electromagnet 15 which latter are mounted on arms 75 radiating from the shaft 7 0 may be brought up throughthe hollow shaft 70. The cylinder formed by the shutters and the wheels may, in order to lend artistic effect, be completed.

by upper and lower spherical caps illustrated in chain dotted lines at 76. The compact ball thus formed may either be supported on a pedestal or be suspended. In this manner an apparatus of reduced bull; and pleasing appearance is obtained. The apparatus may operate by day just as well as by night, the contrast between the open windows and the closed shutters being enhanced in broad daylight by utilizing any known type of device for concentrating the solar light.

It will be noticed that the form of construction of the shutters described with ref-' erence to the, apparatus of Figs. 11 and 14 may be applied under the same conditions to e apparatus previously described.

Likewise, in both these apparatus, the shutters might be shifted vertically instead of transversely, as illustrated in Fig. 15. This arrangement however calls for a greater number of rows of shutters;

The apparatus according to the invention affords numerous advantages. As has been seen, it may be utilized by day just as well as by night and it entails a far less expenditure of power than do the present luminous gazettes. I

It is moreover self-evident that the in vention has only been described and illustrated here in a purely explanatory but by no means limitative manner, and that it might be subjected to various modifications of detail without departing from the spirit 1 thereof.

I claim:

1. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters dis posed in rows and capable of assuming two different positions, a plurality of spindles carried by said endless member, each of said spindles carrying a row of shutters pivotally mounted thereon, and a plurality of means for pivoting said shutters whereby an advertisement sign is created by the contrasted positions of said shutters.

' 2. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the QII 3. Publicity apparatus for passing adv ircombination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters disposed in rows and capable of assuming two (lllferent positions, a plurality of spindles carried by said endless member, each of said spindles carrying a row of shutters pivotally mounted thereon, means cooperating with each row of shutters for pivoting the latter whereby an advertisement sign is created by the contrasted positions of said shutters, means for selecting the shutter pivoting means to be put in operation, and means for actuating said selecting means in synchronism with said endless member.

a. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession b fore the public gaze, said apparatus comprising,in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in rows on said endless member and capable of assuming tvo different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, and switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets.

5. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in

combination, an endless member,means for imparting continuous movement tosaid endless member, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in rows on said endless member and capable of assuming two different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it,

a source of current for energizing said elec- Qil tromagnets, switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets, and'means for selectively actuating said switches.

6. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, meansfor imparting continuous movement to said endless member,a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in rows on said endless member and capable of assumingtwo different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets, means for selectively actuating said switches, and means for controlling said switch selecting means in synchronism with said endless member.

7. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters piv otally mounted in rows on said endless memher and capable of assuming two different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets, a re tating drum, means for applying voltage to said drum, a strip progressed by said drum and having perforations spaced according to the advertisement sign to be reproduced, and a plurality of contact fingers respectively connected to said switches and rubbing over said strip, said fingers when contacting with said drum through said strip perforations transi itting current for actuating said switches.

8. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in. rows on said endless member and capable of assuming two different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, switches for closing circuits throu h said eletromagnets, a drum, means for rotating said drum in synchronism with said endless member, means for applying the public gaze, said apparatus comprisin member and capable of assuming two different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets, a drum, pair of electromagnets, a switch, means actuated. by said endless member for rocking said switch to complete a circuit through each of said electromagnets alternately, means for applying voltage to said drum, armatures to said electromagnets, a member coupling said armatures together whereby the latter are reciprocated, coupling means between said drum and said member for converting said reciprocating movement into rotary movement whereby said drum is rotated continuously in synchronized with said endless member, a strip mounted on said drum and fed forward thereby, said strip having perforations spaced according to the advertisement sign to be reproduced, and a'plurality of contact fingers respectively wired to said switches and rubbing over said strip, said fingers when contacting with said drum through said strip perforations transmitting current for actuating said switches.

10. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in rows on said endless mem her and capable of assuming two different positions whereby an advertisement sign is created by said shutters in contrasted positions, an electromagnet located on a level with each row of shutters and adapted, when energized, to pivot the shutter then opposite it, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, switches for closing circuits through said electromagnets, a drum, a switch adapted to rock about a given axis, a pointer mounted on said switch on said axis, a plurality of inclined members mounted in spaced relation on said endless member and over which one end of said pointer rides and thereby rocks said switch, apair of electromagnets through which a circuit is closed alternately by said rocking switch, armatures to said electromagnets coupled together and alternately attracted to them, coupling means between said. armatures and said drum for converting the reciprocating movement of said armatures into unidirectional rotation of said drum, a strip mounted on said drum and fed forward thereby, said strip having perforations spaced according to the advertisement sign to be reproduced, and a plurality of contact fingers respectively wired to said switches and rubbing over said strip, said fingers when contacting with said drum through saidstrip performations transmitting current for actuating said switches.

l1. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising,

in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of spindles mounted on said endless member in parallel rows, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted on said spindles in rows, each of said shutters having two differently coloured-faces, a pair of electromagnets located opposite each row of shutters, a source of electric current for energizing said electromagnets, two magnetic masses mounted on each of said shutters and adapted to be respectively attracted by the two electromagnets of the corresponding pair, a switch for each pair of electromagnets adapted to occupy two positions in each of which it closes circuit through the corresponding electromagnet 0f the pair, and a plurality of independent means for selecting the positions to be occupied by said switches.

12. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisement-s in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combinatioman endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of spindles mounted on said endless member in parallel rows, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted on said spindles in rows, each of said shutters having two differently coloured faces, a pair of electromagnets located opposite each row of shutters, the two electromagnets of a pair being located vertically one below the other, a source of current for energizing said electromagnets, two magnetic masses mounted diagonally opposite each other on each of said shutters and adapted to be attracted respectively by the two electromagnets of the corresponding pair when opposite the same, a switch for each pair of electromagnets adapted to 'occupy two positions in each of which it closes a circuit through the corresponding electromagnet of the pair, a drum, a source of ourllO rent for placing said drum under voltage,

means for rotating said drum in synchronism with said endless member, a perforate strip progressed by said drum and whose perforations form the signs to be reproduced, a plurality of contact fingers rubbing over said strip and adapted to contact with said drum through the perforations of said strip, a plurality of electromagnets respectively connected to said fingers and adapted when energized by said drum to rock said switches into one of their two positions, and

means tending to return said switches into the other of their two positions.

13. Publicity apparatus for passing advertisements in continuous succession before the public gaze, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless member, means for imparting continuous movement to said endless member, a plurality of spindles mounted on said endless member in parallel rows, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted on said spindles in rows, each of said shutters having two differently coloured faces, a pair of eleotromagnets located opposite each row of shutters, a source of electric current for energizing said electromagnets whereby said shutter is made to display the face corresponding to the eleotromagnet energized, a strip with perforations so arranged as to form the advertisement signs to be reproduced, a drum on which said strip is mounted for progressing the same, means for rotating said drum in synchronism with said endless member, said means including a pair of electromagnets and a switch rocked alternately from one position to another for sending current through said second electromagnets alternately, a plurality of contact fingers rubbing over said strip and adapted to contact with said drum through the perforations of said strip, a plurality of electromagnets respectively connected to said fingers and adapted when energized by said drum to rock said first mentioned switches into one of their two positions,.and means tending to return said switches into the other of their two positions.

HENRI MAURICE DUCHARD.

Images