US2839856A - Automatic display apparatus - Google Patents

Automatic display apparatus Download PDF

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US2839856A
US2839856A US570496A US57049656A US2839856A US 2839856 A US2839856 A US 2839856A US 570496 A US570496 A US 570496A US 57049656 A US57049656 A US 57049656A US 2839856 A US2839856 A US 2839856A
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counterweight
plate
elevator
support plate
objects
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US570496A
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Richard E Swank
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F11/00Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position
    • G09F11/30Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being fed one by one from storage place to a display position
    • G09F11/32Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being fed one by one from storage place to a display position the feeding means comprising belts or chains, e.g. endless belts or chains

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  • This invention relates in general to anapparatus for automatically and repeatedly displaying in a selected order a plurality of relatively flat articles, which are preferably substantially uniform in size and shape, such as cards carrying a series of advertising messages. Par ticularly, said invention relates to'an apparatus wherein a plurality of substantially upright, usually parallel, panels are automatically and repeatedly raised in a group and then sequentially dropped for the. purpose of displaying each said panel independently.
  • a primary object of this invention is the provision of a fully automatic apparatus for repeatedly displaying, in a selected order, a plurality of relatively flat articles by first raising said articles and then sequentially dropping said articles so that they maybe viewed one at a time.
  • a further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be installed within a conventional wall between the studs thereof, which has no intricate parts requiring careful setting or periodic maintenance, and whose operation is positive, foolproof, and capable of long and durable service.
  • A' further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be operated completely automatically by a single source of power, such as a motor, which .has an inexpensive operating mechanism, and which is easy to fabricate'an'd install.
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a frame structure for enclosing and supporting the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a front elevation view of said frame struc Patented June 24, 1958 in Figures2 and 4, with the operating parts in different positions.
  • Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI VI of Figure 4.
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of Figure 4.
  • Figure 8 is a fragment of a top plan view of the apparatus as indicatedby the cutting line- VIIIVIII in Figure 4.
  • Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 2.
  • Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along, the line XX of Figure 2.
  • a display apparatus 10 comprised of a frame structure 11 in which a plurality of relatively flat articles or panels 12 are vertically slidably held in substantially upright and parallel relationship.
  • An elevator 13 receives the panels 12 in their lower position 12:: ( Figure 5) and raises them into their raised or upper position 12b ( Figures 2, 4 and 5), where they are received and held in such raised position by support means 14.
  • a potential energy storage device here a counterweight 15, is periodically caused :to' store energy by the actuating mechanism 16, and is then caused to release it quickly for raising said elevator rapidly to its upper position.
  • thecounterweight 15 is provided with means for releasing the panels 12 from the support means 14 sequentially as said counterweight is raised.
  • the frame structure 11 has a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, a left wall 23, a right wall 24 and a' bottom wall 25, which walls define a panel compartment 26.
  • the front wall 21 is provided with a rectangular viewing aperture 27which, in one preferred embodiment, is disposed near the upper end of said wall.
  • the left and right walls 23 and 24 are preferably substantially parallel and opposed to each other.
  • the opposed surfaces of said left and right walls ( Figure 3) are provided with a plurality of vertical, substantially parallel, grooves 23 located in opposed pairs and into which the lateral, opposite edges of the panels 12 are slidably disposed.
  • the counterweight 15' is a flat, rectangular plate disposedparallel with, and rearwardly of, the panels12.
  • A- single pair of grooves 30 are provided, one each, in theopp'osingfaces of said Walls 23 and 24 adjacent' to,-v and parallel with, the rear'wall 22 for slidably receiving the lateral edgesof the counterweight plate 15.
  • Additional weights 18 may be secured to said counterweight plate 15 to adjust the weight thereof.
  • the leftward edge of the counterweight 15 is provided with a notch 29, the inner edge 31 of which is sloped leftwardly, or outwardly, and downwardly to provide a cam.
  • the upper end of the cam edge 31 is spaced inwardly from the adjacent surface o'f the left wall 23, and is located near the lower edge of .the aperture 27, when the lower edge of said counterweight 15 is resting upon the 3 v bottom wall 25.
  • a substantially horizontal slot 32 ( Figure 2) is provided through the left Wall 23 adjacent to, and preferably slightly below, the lower edge of the aperture 27 in the front wall 21. Said slot 32 is opposite the upper end of the notch 29 when said counterweight 15 is resting on the bottom wall 25.
  • a panel support plate 33 ( Figures 2 and 6), which may be part of the resilient support means 14, extends through the slot 32 into the panel compartment 26.
  • the outer end of the panel support plate 33 is secured to the lower end of a resilient, flexible arm 34, the upper end of which is secured to the left wall 23. Due to the resiliency of the arm 34, the panel support plate 33 attached thereto will normally extend substantially into said compartment 26.
  • the inner edge 39 of the panel support plate 33 ( Figures 3 and 6) is provided with a'notch 35 near the rearward end thereof, which notch embraces the adjacent cam edge 31 of the counterweight plate 15. That portion 36 of the inner edge of panel support plate 33 disposed forwardly of the notch 35 is sloped leftwardly, or forwardly, for reasons appearing hereinafter.
  • the sloped edge 36 extends completely across the lower edges of the panels 12 when they are in their raised position, as appearing in v Figure 3.
  • a latch 37 ( Figures 3, 4 and 6), which is fabricated from a strip of flexible, elongated and resilient material, is disposed in a horizontal position and secured at its right end, as by means of the rivets 38, to the inner surface of the rear wall 22 adjacent to the left wall 23.
  • the leftward end of said latch 37 is sprung outwardly, away from the rear wall 22, for engaging the inner edge 39 of the panel support plate 33 adjacent to said rear wall 22, thereby holding said panel support plate 33 in its outward position, as appearing in Figure 6.
  • a latch cam 41 ( Figures 3 and is mounted upon the rear surface of the counterweight plate near to the left wall 23 for engaging the forwardly sprung portion of the latch 37 as the counterweight plate 15 approaches a position of rest upon the bottom wall in its downward movement, whereby said latch 37 is moved rearwardly to ( Figure 3) disengage the latch 37 from the panel support plate 33.
  • the peripheral groove is provided with an obstruction 47 ( Figures 8 and 9) disposed crosswise of said groove adjacent to, and preferably in the direction of rotation from, the point where said chain 46 is secured to said drum.
  • the inner wall 48 of the groove 45 is relieved, asshown in Figures 4 and 8, to provide a lateral opening 49 for a short distance in the direction of rotation of said drum away from saidobstruction 47.
  • a vertically elongated guideway 51 (Figures 2, 5 and 6) is mounted upon the rear wall 22 between the said walls 23 and 24.
  • a slider 52 having a catch 53 ( Figure 7) supported thereon, is slidably supported within the guideway 51.
  • a pulley 54 ( Figure 10) is rotatably supported upon the rear wall 22, a short distance from the drum 42, with its axis in a substantially horizontal position and substantially directly above-the guideway 51.
  • An elongated, flexible element, such as a chain 55 is threaded over the pulley 54 and connected at one end to the slider 52 and at the other end to the elevator 13.
  • the counterweight plate 15 ( Figures 5 and 7) has an elongated flexible and resilient latch member 56, which extends downwarly and slightly rearwardly with respect to the plane of said counterweight plate 15. The lower edge of said latch member 56 is engageable with the catch 53 on the slider 52, as best shown in Figure 7.
  • a cam member 57 is mounted upon the bottom wall 25 adjacent lower position 12a ( Figure 5), said panel support plate is permitted, due to the resiliency of'the flexible arm 34,
  • a circular member or drum 42 ( Figures 2, 4, 8 and 9), which is part of the actuating mechanism 16 for moving the counterweight plate 15 upwardly and downwardly, is rotatably supported upon the rear wall 22 within the compartment 26 and with its axis in a substantially horizontal position transversely of the panels '12.
  • Said drum 42 may be mounted upon the shaft 43 of a motor 44, which to the lower end of the guideway 51 for engaging the lower end of the latch member 56, for moving it forwardly and thereby disengaging said latch member from the. catch 53 as the counterweight plate 15 approaches a position of rest upon'the bottom wall 25.
  • a stop 58- such as a screw ( Figure 2), is located in the upper end of the guideway 51 for preventing upward movement of the slider 52 beyond said stop 58 by the latch member 56 as it sweeps upwardly past the catch 53 during the upward movement of the counterweight plate 15 by the actuating mechanism 16.
  • the panels 12 are movable from the lower position, indicated in broken lines at 12a in Figure 5, into raised position, indicated in broken lines at 12b in Figures 2 and 5, by the elevator 13 upon downward movement of the slider 52 by the counterweight plate 15 acting through the catch 53 and the latch member 56.
  • the inner edge 39a of the panel support plate 33 maybe modified so that the sloped portion 61 of said inner edge 39a slopes outwardly and rearwardly instead of outwardly and forwardly as in the principal embodiment.
  • the front panel will be dropped first as the panel support plate 33 is moved outwardly by the counterweight plate 15.
  • the panel support plate 33 is provided with the alternate form of sloped edge 61, then the rearwardmost panel 12 will be dropped first as the panel support plate 33 is moved outwardly by the counterweight plate 15..
  • the panel support plate 33 will have been moved outwardly sufficiently to permit the latch 37 to spring forwardly infron't of the inner edge 39 of said panel support plate 33 for engaging same and preventing inward movement of the panel support plate 33 after the' counterweight plate 15 starts downwardly again, as described hereinafter.
  • the counterweight plate 15 may be varied, as desired or required, thereby varying the time of exposure of each panel 12 to the person viewing same through the aperture 27.
  • Use of alternate structure, shown in Figure 11, produces no material change in the operation of the apparatus 10 except that said panels 12 will be viewed while in their lowered position 12:: ( Figure 5) instead of while in their raised position 1212 ( Figure 4), thereby necessitating that the viewing aperture be located in its lower, broken line position 27a of Figure 1.
  • the counterweight 15 may be supplemented, if desired, or its function substantially replaced, by a resilient device, such as the spring 15a.
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively fiat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel-and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator disposed within said framefor raising said objects; a counterweight and means repeatedly effecting relatively slow upward move ment of said counterweightfollowed by a relatively rapid downward movement thereof; means responsive to said downward movement for raising said elevator, said lastnamed means including a pulley supported upon.
  • said frame above said elevator forrotation about a horizontal axis; an elongated, flexible element extending around said pulley with one end secured to said elevator; catch means vertically, slidably supported upon said frame beneath said pulley and secured to the other end of said element, said catch means being engaged by said elevator during said downward movement of said counterweight whereby said elevator is raised; means subsequently effecting a lowering of said elevator; support means for receiving and supporting said objects in the raised position; and release means on said counterweight for disengaging said objects from said support means in a selected order as said counterweight is raised.
  • a frame structure including sets of vertical guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways having an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positioned ina plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, the end of said plate so extending through said openings being so shaped that said end makes a substantial angle with the direction of movement of said plate as it is moved into saidopenings and withdrawn out of said openings; power-driven lifting means, acting through a counterweight, for moving said cards to a point above said plate, and upon the sudden release of said counterweight, the force of its downward movement under gravity being utilized for lifting said cards; release means causing a relative lateral movement of said plate with respect to said cards at a selected rate of speed, said release means including a cammed edge on said counterweight and a cam follower on said plate bearing against said edge, the parts being so related that upward movement
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively fiat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator disposed within said frame for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; a'counterweight and means for repeatedly and sequentially effecting a relatively slow upward movement of said counterweight, followed by a relatively rapid downward movement thereof; means responsive to downward movement of said counterweight for raising said elevator; means subsequently effecting a lowering of said elevator; support means for receiving and supporting said objects in said elevated position; means for'causing the returnof said elevator to its lowermost position after said support means receives said objects; and release means on said counterweight for disengaging said objects from said support means in a selected order as said counterweight is raised.
  • a frame structure including sets of vertical guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways being interrupted by an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positionedin a plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, said card support plate having its inner, lateral edge lying at an acute angle with respect to said one guideway in each of said sets of guideways; lifting means for moving all of said cards vertically to a point above said card support plate and, thereafter, placing said cards on the upper surface of said card support plate for support thereby; and release means causing a relative lateral movement of said card support plate with respect to said cards at a selected rate of speed, whereby said cards are dropped, one at a time, from their raised position, but in all positions remain guided by said guideways.
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator for all) 6.
  • a frame structure including sets of vertical and parallel guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways being interrupted by an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, said plate having an inner, lateral edge lying at an acuate angle with respect to the direction of'movement of said plate as it is moved into said openings and withdrawn out of said openings: lifting means for moving said cards vertically to a point above said plate when said plate is outside said openings; means for moving said plate through said simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said elevator; a plate extendible into a position between said guide means for supporting, and blocking downward movement of, said objects, said plate having a tapered edge which underlies said objects; means for extending said plate into a position between said guide means when said elevator is in its
  • the apparatus of claim 9 including an elongatable, resilient member connectible to said elevator for raising said elevator; means for elongating said member before said elevator is raised; and means for thereafter permitting contraction of said resilient member in order to raise said, elevator.
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said elevator, said last-named means including a cylindrical member supported upon said frame above said elevator for unidirectional rotation about a horizontal axis; an elongated, fiexible element secured to said-cylindrical member and adapted to wind about the periphery thereof; means for rotating said cylindrical member to wrap said element about the periphery thereof; and means on the periphery of said cylindrical member for quickly disengaging said element from said periphery at a selected point in the rotative position of said member.
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; lifting means for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said lifting means, said last-named means including a peripherally grooved pulley rotatably supported on said frame and means for rotating said pulley in one rotative direction; an elongated, flexible element secured to said pulley and adapted to wind about the periphery thereof in said groove; and-an obstruction in said groove for quickly disengaging said element from said groove at a selected point in the rotative position thereof.
  • An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects comprising: a frame structure; guide means, on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; lifting means for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said lifting means,
  • said last-named means including a rotatable pulley mounted on said frame and means for rotating said pulley; an elongated, flexible element secured to said pulley and adapted to Wind about the periphery thereof; means on the periphery of said pulley for quickly disengaging said element from said periphery at aselected point in the rotative position of said pulley; a plate extendible into a position between said guide means for supporting, and blocking downward movement of, said objects, said plate having a tapered edge which underlies said objects; means for extending said plate into a position between said guide means when said lifting means is in its raised position, whereby said plate may support said objects when said lifting means is lowered; and means for withdrawing said plate from between said guide means so that said objects may drop, one at a time, from their upper position into their lower position.
  • the means for 10 raising said elevator includes means for applying a constant force onto said elevator in a direction to raise same and timeable means first holding said elevator against raising and subsequently permitting it to raise.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Cage And Drive Apparatuses For Elevators (AREA)

Description

June 24, 1958 R. E. SWANK 2,839,356
AUTOMATIC DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1956 Sheets-Sheet 1 m II M ,l'
35 36 5/ 22 /8 26 A f1" i s.
I:- I a 35 INVENTOR;
fi/CHA/PD E. JVI/A/Vh v BY Va L WmMMM/w AYTORNE S June 24, 1958 R. E. SWANK 2,839,856
AUTOMATIC DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 9 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. RICH/1R0 E. SWAN/f June 24, 1958 E, SWANK 2,839,856
AUTOMATIC DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1956 3 Sheets-She d 3 ,Z WW M22 l I I a: fiw."
M W! W1 known.
United States Patent AUTOMATIC DISPLAY APPARATUS Richard E. Swank, Battle Creek, Mich. Application March 9, 1956, Serial No. 570,496
' 15 Claims. (Cl. 40---36)' I Z. This invention relates in general to anapparatus for automatically and repeatedly displaying in a selected order a plurality of relatively flat articles, which are preferably substantially uniform in size and shape, such as cards carrying a series of advertising messages. Par ticularly, said invention relates to'an apparatus wherein a plurality of substantially upright, usually parallel, panels are automatically and repeatedly raised in a group and then sequentially dropped for the. purpose of displaying each said panel independently.
The advantages of the moving panel type of display, either for'advertising or educational purposes, are well known. The high cost of presently existing, fully automatic apparatus for providing such displays is equally well In order to avoid this high cost, it has been necessary to limit such apparatus to semi-automatic operation, thereby requiring some participation in the operation of the apparatus by an attendant or the person viewing the display. vAs a result, the apparatus must be located where it can be reached conveniently, it must have parts of its operating mechanism exposed to effect the manual operation, and it loses much of its eye appeal by being static until it is operated by the very person, in most instances, who is intended to be attracted by the display apparatus.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of a fully automatic apparatus for repeatedly displaying, in a selected order, a plurality of relatively flat articles by first raising said articles and then sequentially dropping said articles so that they maybe viewed one at a time.
A further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be installed within a conventional wall between the studs thereof, which has no intricate parts requiring careful setting or periodic maintenance, and whose operation is positive, foolproof, and capable of long and durable service.
A' further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be operated completely automatically by a single source of power, such as a motor, which .has an inexpensive operating mechanism, and which is easy to fabricate'an'd install. T:
Other objects and purposes of this invention will'become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the following description and 'examining the accompanying "drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a frame structure for enclosing and supporting the invention. a
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of said frame struc Patented June 24, 1958 in Figures2 and 4, with the operating parts in different positions. v
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI VI of Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a fragment of a top plan view of the apparatus as indicatedby the cutting line- VIIIVIII in Figure 4.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 2.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along, the line XX of Figure 2.
General description In order to carry out the objects and purposes set forth abcve,,I have provided a display apparatus 10 comprised of a frame structure 11 in which a plurality of relatively flat articles or panels 12 are vertically slidably held in substantially upright and parallel relationship. An elevator 13 receives the panels 12 in their lower position 12:: (Figure 5) and raises them into their raised or upper position 12b (Figures 2, 4 and 5), where they are received and held in such raised position by support means 14. A potential energy storage device, here a counterweight 15, is periodically caused :to' store energy by the actuating mechanism 16, and is then caused to release it quickly for raising said elevator rapidly to its upper position. this embodiment, thecounterweight 15 is provided with means for releasing the panels 12 from the support means 14 sequentially as said counterweight is raised.
Detailed construction As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the frame structure 11 has a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, a left wall 23, a right wall 24 and a' bottom wall 25, which walls define a panel compartment 26. The front wall 21 is provided with a rectangular viewing aperture 27which, in one preferred embodiment, is disposed near the upper end of said wall. The left and right walls 23 and 24 are preferably substantially parallel and opposed to each other. The opposed surfaces of said left and right walls (Figure 3) are provided with a plurality of vertical, substantially parallel, grooves 23 located in opposed pairs and into which the lateral, opposite edges of the panels 12 are slidably disposed. In this embodiment, the counterweight 15' is a flat, rectangular plate disposedparallel with, and rearwardly of, the panels12. A- single pair of grooves 30 are provided, one each, in theopp'osingfaces of said Walls 23 and 24 adjacent' to,-v and parallel with, the rear'wall 22 for slidably receiving the lateral edgesof the counterweight plate 15.
Additional weights 18 (Figure 3) may be secured to said counterweight plate 15 to adjust the weight thereof.
The leftward edge of the counterweight 15 is provided with a notch 29, the inner edge 31 of which is sloped leftwardly, or outwardly, and downwardly to provide a cam. The upper end of the cam edge 31 is spaced inwardly from the adjacent surface o'f the left wall 23, and is located near the lower edge of .the aperture 27, when the lower edge of said counterweight 15 is resting upon the 3 v bottom wall 25. A substantially horizontal slot 32 (Figure 2) is provided through the left Wall 23 adjacent to, and preferably slightly below, the lower edge of the aperture 27 in the front wall 21. Said slot 32 is opposite the upper end of the notch 29 when said counterweight 15 is resting on the bottom wall 25.
A panel support plate 33 (Figures 2 and 6), which may be part of the resilient support means 14, extends through the slot 32 into the panel compartment 26. The outer end of the panel support plate 33 is secured to the lower end of a resilient, flexible arm 34, the upper end of which is secured to the left wall 23. Due to the resiliency of the arm 34, the panel support plate 33 attached thereto will normally extend substantially into said compartment 26. The inner edge 39 of the panel support plate 33 (Figures 3 and 6) is provided with a'notch 35 near the rearward end thereof, which notch embraces the adjacent cam edge 31 of the counterweight plate 15. That portion 36 of the inner edge of panel support plate 33 disposed forwardly of the notch 35 is sloped leftwardly, or forwardly, for reasons appearing hereinafter. The sloped edge 36 extends completely across the lower edges of the panels 12 when they are in their raised position, as appearing in v Figure 3.
A latch 37 (Figures 3, 4 and 6), which is fabricated from a strip of flexible, elongated and resilient material, is disposed in a horizontal position and secured at its right end, as by means of the rivets 38, to the inner surface of the rear wall 22 adjacent to the left wall 23. The leftward end of said latch 37 is sprung outwardly, away from the rear wall 22, for engaging the inner edge 39 of the panel support plate 33 adjacent to said rear wall 22, thereby holding said panel support plate 33 in its outward position, as appearing in Figure 6. When the panel support plate 33 in in its inner position, as indicated in solid lines in Figure 3 and broken lines in Figure 6, it completely obstructs all of the grooves 28 in the leftward wall 23. However, when said panel support plate 33 is in its outer, or leftward, position, as shown in Figure 6 in solid lines, being held in that position by the latch 37, said panel support plate 33 does not obstruct any of the said grooves 28. Thus, the panels 12 are permitted to move upwardly and downwardly along the grooves 28 past the slot 32 when said panel support plate 33 is held in its outward position by the latch 37, but said panel are positively prevented from moving upwardly or downwardly past said slot 32 when the panel support plate 33 is in its fully inward position.
A latch cam 41 (Figures 3 and is mounted upon the rear surface of the counterweight plate near to the left wall 23 for engaging the forwardly sprung portion of the latch 37 as the counterweight plate 15 approaches a position of rest upon the bottom wall in its downward movement, whereby said latch 37 is moved rearwardly to (Figure 3) disengage the latch 37 from the panel support plate 33. Thus, assuming the panels are not in their to said counterweight plate 4 15 near its upper edge, Thus, as the drum 42 is rotated, the chain 46 will be wrapped around said drum, within said peripheral groove 45.
The peripheral groove is provided with an obstruction 47 (Figures 8 and 9) disposed crosswise of said groove adjacent to, and preferably in the direction of rotation from, the point where said chain 46 is secured to said drum. The inner wall 48 of the groove 45 is relieved, asshown in Figures 4 and 8, to provide a lateral opening 49 for a short distance in the direction of rotation of said drum away from saidobstruction 47. Thus, as said drum 42 is rotated, the chain 46 will be dislodged from said groove 45 by'the combined action of. the obstruction 47 and the opening 49 in said inner wall 48 each timesaid drum rotates approximately 360 degrees.
If, as in this particular embodiment, the drum rotates at a relatively slow speed, said counterweight plate 15 will be raised slowly as the chain 46 wraps around the drum 42, after which said counterweight plate 15 will be dropped rapidly when the chain 46 is dislodged from the peripheral groove 45 of said drum 42, as described hereinabove.
' A vertically elongated guideway 51 (Figures 2, 5 and 6) is mounted upon the rear wall 22 between the said walls 23 and 24. A slider 52, having a catch 53 (Figure 7) supported thereon, is slidably supported within the guideway 51. A pulley 54 (Figure 10) is rotatably supported upon the rear wall 22, a short distance from the drum 42, with its axis in a substantially horizontal position and substantially directly above-the guideway 51. An elongated, flexible element, such as a chain 55, is threaded over the pulley 54 and connected at one end to the slider 52 and at the other end to the elevator 13.
h Thus, downward movement of the slider 52 in the guideway 51 effects upward movement of the elevator 13, and vice versa.
The counterweight plate 15 (Figures 5 and 7) has an elongated flexible and resilient latch member 56, which extends downwarly and slightly rearwardly with respect to the plane of said counterweight plate 15. The lower edge of said latch member 56 is engageable with the catch 53 on the slider 52, as best shown in Figure 7. A cam member 57 is mounted upon the bottom wall 25 adjacent lower position 12a (Figure 5), said panel support plate is permitted, due to the resiliency of'the flexible arm 34,
to move inwardly until its notch 35 engages the adjacent,
cammed edge 31 of the counterweight plate 15 c A circular member or drum 42 (Figures 2, 4, 8 and 9), which is part of the actuating mechanism 16 for moving the counterweight plate 15 upwardly and downwardly, is rotatably supported upon the rear wall 22 within the compartment 26 and with its axis in a substantially horizontal position transversely of the panels '12. Said drum 42 may be mounted upon the shaft 43 of a motor 44, which to the lower end of the guideway 51 for engaging the lower end of the latch member 56, for moving it forwardly and thereby disengaging said latch member from the. catch 53 as the counterweight plate 15 approaches a position of rest upon'the bottom wall 25. A stop 58-, such as a screw (Figure 2), is located in the upper end of the guideway 51 for preventing upward movement of the slider 52 beyond said stop 58 by the latch member 56 as it sweeps upwardly past the catch 53 during the upward movement of the counterweight plate 15 by the actuating mechanism 16.
The panels 12 are movable from the lower position, indicated in broken lines at 12a in Figure 5, into raised position, indicated in broken lines at 12b in Figures 2 and 5, by the elevator 13 upon downward movement of the slider 52 by the counterweight plate 15 acting through the catch 53 and the latch member 56.
As shown in Figure 11, the inner edge 39a of the panel support plate 33 maybe modified so that the sloped portion 61 of said inner edge 39a slopes outwardly and rearwardly instead of outwardly and forwardly as in the principal embodiment. Where said panel support plate 33 has the sloped edge 36 (Figure 3), the front panel will be dropped first as the panel support plate 33 is moved outwardly by the counterweight plate 15. Thus, in order to expose the front surface of all of said panels successively to view, they must be observed when they are in the raised position 1212. However, if the panel support plate 33 is provided with the alternate form of sloped edge 61, then the rearwardmost panel 12 will be dropped first as the panel support plate 33 is moved outwardly by the counterweight plate 15.. In such case, the aperture ass-9,856
27 must be moved to the bottom of the frame structure 11, as appearing at 27a in broken lines in Figure 1, in order to display the front surface of each successively dropped panel.
' Operationfl Normally, operation of the apparatus 10 will cornmence with the elevator 13 in its lower position (Figures 2 and 5), with the counterweight plate 15 in its lower position (Figure 2) and with the panels 12 in their raised position 1% (Figure 2) supported upon the panel support plate 33, which will be extended into the panel compartment 26. Upon energizing the motor 44, the drum 42 will begin a slow, uniform rotation, which is clockwise as appearing in' Figures 2 and 4, thereby slowly wrapping the chain 46' upon said drum 42 within the peripheral groove 45. This will cause the counterweight plate 15 to be' moved upwardly slowly, which, due to the interengagement between the cam edge 31 of said counterweight plate and the notch 35 in the support plate '33, will slowly move said panel support plate 33' outwardly from under the panels 12. Due to the sloped edge 36 of the panel support plate 33, said panels 12 will be dropped, one after another commencing Withthe-forwardmost panel, from said'r'aised position 12b (Figure 2") into said lower position12a (Figure 5) upon the elevator 13. All of said panels will normally be released from their raised position upon said panel support plate 33 by the time the counterweight plate 15 reaches the upper end of its vertical stroke. Just before the counterweight plate 15 reaches its uppermost position, the panel support plate 33 will have been moved outwardly sufficiently to permit the latch 37 to spring forwardly infron't of the inner edge 39 of said panel support plate 33 for engaging same and preventing inward movement of the panel support plate 33 after the' counterweight plate 15 starts downwardly again, as described hereinafter. I
Immediately after the panel support plate 33 releases the last panel 12 from its raised position 12!), the chain 46 will engage the obstruction 47 in the groove 4'5 and will thereby be dislodged sidewardly through the opening 49 in the inner wall 48 of said groove 45. This will occur when the drum 42 reaches a position about as shown in Figures 4 and 8. However, before said chain 46 is released from the groove 45, the latch member 56 on said counterweight plate 15 will have passed upwardly over the catch 53 on the slider 52. Thus, when said chain 46 is dislodged and unwrapped from the groove 45, and the counterweight plate 15 moves downwardly, said latch member 56 will engage the catch 53, thereby moving the slider 52 downwardly, hence moving the elevator upwardly by the chain 55.
Just before the elevator 13 reaches its uppermost position (Figure 4), which is just before the counterweight plate 15 reaches the bottom wall 25, the latch cam 41 (Figure 3) on said counterweight plate 15 will disengage the latch 37 from engagement with the inner edge 39 of the panel support plate 33, thereby permitting said panel support plate 33 to move inwardly under the-panels 12 under the' urging of the resilient arm 34. Thus, it will be seen that the elevator 13 must, and will, have the panels 12 above the slot 32, through which said panel support plate 33 extends, before the latch cam 41 displaces the latch 37 and releases the panel support plate 33. 7
At about the same time that the latch 37 is being moved away from in front of the support plate 33 so that said plate can move under the panels 12, the latch member 56 will engage the cam member 57, thereby disengagingsaid latch member from the catch 53, whereby the slider 52 will be permitted to move upwardly as said elevator 13 is moved downwardly under the force of gravity and returned to its lowermost position. This completes a cycle of operation of the apparatus and places it in what may be termed a cocked position, ready for another cycle of operation.
Although the movements of the various partsmay be altered in their speed with respect to each other, as desired or required, normally the upward movement of the counterweight plate 15 will be relatively very slow by comparison with the downward movement of said counterweight plate and the subsequent upward and downward movement of the elevator 13. By appropriate selection of the rotational speed of the motor 44, the
speed of said. upward movement 'of the counterweight plate 15 may be varied, as desired or required, thereby varying the time of exposure of each panel 12 to the person viewing same through the aperture 27. Use of alternate structure, shown in Figure 11, produces no material change in the operation of the apparatus 10 except that said panels 12 will be viewed while in their lowered position 12:: (Figure 5) instead of while in their raised position 1212 (Figure 4), thereby necessitating that the viewing aperture be located in its lower, broken line position 27a of Figure 1. The counterweight 15 may be supplemented, if desired, or its function substantially replaced, by a resilient device, such as the spring 15a.
Although particular, preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail hereinabove for illustrative purposes, it will be understood thatvari-ations or modifications thereof, which do not depart from such disclosure, are fully contemplated unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims.
I claim: 1. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively fiat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel-and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator disposed within said framefor raising said objects; a counterweight and means repeatedly effecting relatively slow upward move ment of said counterweightfollowed by a relatively rapid downward movement thereof; means responsive to said downward movement for raising said elevator, said lastnamed means including a pulley supported upon. said frame above said elevator forrotation about a horizontal axis; an elongated, flexible element extending around said pulley with one end secured to said elevator; catch means vertically, slidably supported upon said frame beneath said pulley and secured to the other end of said element, said catch means being engaged by said elevator during said downward movement of said counterweight whereby said elevator is raised; means subsequently effecting a lowering of said elevator; support means for receiving and supporting said objects in the raised position; and release means on said counterweight for disengaging said objects from said support means in a selected order as said counterweight is raised.
2. In apparatus for automatically and successively displaying a plurality of advertising cards, the combination comprising: a frame structure including sets of vertical guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways having an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positioned ina plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, the end of said plate so extending through said openings being so shaped that said end makes a substantial angle with the direction of movement of said plate as it is moved into saidopenings and withdrawn out of said openings; power-driven lifting means, acting through a counterweight, for moving said cards to a point above said plate, and upon the sudden release of said counterweight, the force of its downward movement under gravity being utilized for lifting said cards; release means causing a relative lateral movement of said plate with respect to said cards at a selected rate of speed, said release means including a cammed edge on said counterweight and a cam follower on said plate bearing against said edge, the parts being so related that upward movement. of said counterweight will effect movement of said plate out from under said cards; whereby said cards are dropped, one at a time, from their raised position, but in all positions remain guided by said guideway.
3. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively fiat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator disposed within said frame for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; a'counterweight and means for repeatedly and sequentially effecting a relatively slow upward movement of said counterweight, followed by a relatively rapid downward movement thereof; means responsive to downward movement of said counterweight for raising said elevator; means subsequently effecting a lowering of said elevator; support means for receiving and supporting said objects in said elevated position; means for'causing the returnof said elevator to its lowermost position after said support means receives said objects; and release means on said counterweight for disengaging said objects from said support means in a selected order as said counterweight is raised.
4. The device defined in claim- 3, including a resilient spring device connected to said frame structure and to said counterweight and urging said counterweight to its lowermost position.
5. In apparatus for automatically and successively displaying a plurality of advertising cards, the combination comprising: a frame structure, including sets of vertical guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways being interrupted by an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positionedin a plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, said card support plate having its inner, lateral edge lying at an acute angle with respect to said one guideway in each of said sets of guideways; lifting means for moving all of said cards vertically to a point above said card support plate and, thereafter, placing said cards on the upper surface of said card support plate for support thereby; and release means causing a relative lateral movement of said card support plate with respect to said cards at a selected rate of speed, whereby said cards are dropped, one at a time, from their raised position, but in all positions remain guided by said guideways.
time, from their raised position, but in all positions remain guided by said guideways.
9. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator for all) 6. The device defined in claim 5, including a counterweight and means for connecting said counterweight to said lifting means during downward movement of said counterweight, whereby the force of the downward movement of said counterweight under gravity is utilized for lifting said cards.
7. The device defined in claim 6, wherein said counterweight has a cammed edge and said card support plate has a cam follower bearing against said edge, the parts being so related that upward movement of said counterweight will effect movement of said plate from under said cards.
8. In apparatus for automatically and successively displaying a plurality of advertising cards, the combination comprising: a frame structure including sets of vertical and parallel guideways, each of said guideways being adapted to receive one of said cards, one guideway in each of said sets of guideways being interrupted by an opening intermediate its ends; a card support plate positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to said guideways and extendible through said openings, said plate having an inner, lateral edge lying at an acuate angle with respect to the direction of'movement of said plate as it is moved into said openings and withdrawn out of said openings: lifting means for moving said cards vertically to a point above said plate when said plate is outside said openings; means for moving said plate through said simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said elevator; a plate extendible into a position between said guide means for supporting, and blocking downward movement of, said objects, said plate having a tapered edge which underlies said objects; means for extending said plate into a position between said guide means when said elevator is in its raised position, whereby said plate may support said objects when said elevator is lowered; and means for withdrawing said plate from between said guide means so that said objects may drop, one at a time, from their upper position onto said elevator in its lowermost position.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, including an elongatable, resilient member connectible to said elevator for raising said elevator; means for elongating said member before said elevator is raised; and means for thereafter permitting contraction of said resilient member in order to raise said, elevator.
11. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; an elevator for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said elevator, said last-named means including a cylindrical member supported upon said frame above said elevator for unidirectional rotation about a horizontal axis; an elongated, fiexible element secured to said-cylindrical member and adapted to wind about the periphery thereof; means for rotating said cylindrical member to wrap said element about the periphery thereof; and means on the periphery of said cylindrical member for quickly disengaging said element from said periphery at a selected point in the rotative position of said member.
,12. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; lifting means for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said lifting means, said last-named means including a peripherally grooved pulley rotatably supported on said frame and means for rotating said pulley in one rotative direction; an elongated, flexible element secured to said pulley and adapted to wind about the periphery thereof in said groove; and-an obstruction in said groove for quickly disengaging said element from said groove at a selected point in the rotative position thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, including an elongatable resilient member connectible to said lifting means; means for elongating said member before said elevator is raised; and means for thereafter permitting contraction of said resilient member in order to raise said elevator.
14. An apparatus for automatically, repeatedly and successively displaying a plurality of relatively flat objects, comprising: a frame structure; guide means, on said frame structure defining a plurality of substantially parallel and vertical paths for said objects; lifting means for simultaneously raising all of said objects to an elevated position; means for raising and lowering said lifting means,
9 said last-named means including a rotatable pulley mounted on said frame and means for rotating said pulley; an elongated, flexible element secured to said pulley and adapted to Wind about the periphery thereof; means on the periphery of said pulley for quickly disengaging said element from said periphery at aselected point in the rotative position of said pulley; a plate extendible into a position between said guide means for supporting, and blocking downward movement of, said objects, said plate having a tapered edge which underlies said objects; means for extending said plate into a position between said guide means when said lifting means is in its raised position, whereby said plate may support said objects when said lifting means is lowered; and means for withdrawing said plate from between said guide means so that said objects may drop, one at a time, from their upper position into their lower position.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for 10 raising said elevator includes means for applying a constant force onto said elevator in a direction to raise same and timeable means first holding said elevator against raising and subsequently permitting it to raise.
7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Broatch Mar. 15', 1921 1,510,502 Roth Oct. 2, 1924 1,847,722 McCauley Mar. 1, 1932 2,576,888 Padgett Nov. 27, 1951 2,639,525 Riley et a1. May 26, 1953 2,707,345 Swank May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,494 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1938
US570496A 1956-03-09 1956-03-09 Automatic display apparatus Expired - Lifetime US2839856A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3145819A (en) * 1962-05-07 1964-08-25 Leonard R Forrester Coin controlled card display device

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1371467A (en) * 1920-07-15 1921-03-15 Broatch John Advertising-machine
US1510502A (en) * 1923-07-21 1924-10-07 Roth Harry Photograph-display cabinet
US1847722A (en) * 1930-06-26 1932-03-01 Myron D Mccauley Map displaying mechanism
GB495494A (en) * 1937-07-13 1938-11-15 Nicholas Sandor Improvements in apparatus for displaying advertisements
US2576888A (en) * 1945-07-26 1951-11-27 Benjamin L Padgett Chart display cabinet
US2639525A (en) * 1946-03-07 1953-05-26 Henry M Riley Automatic three-dimensional display device
US2707345A (en) * 1954-07-20 1955-05-03 Richard E Swank Automatic display apparatus

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1371467A (en) * 1920-07-15 1921-03-15 Broatch John Advertising-machine
US1510502A (en) * 1923-07-21 1924-10-07 Roth Harry Photograph-display cabinet
US1847722A (en) * 1930-06-26 1932-03-01 Myron D Mccauley Map displaying mechanism
GB495494A (en) * 1937-07-13 1938-11-15 Nicholas Sandor Improvements in apparatus for displaying advertisements
US2576888A (en) * 1945-07-26 1951-11-27 Benjamin L Padgett Chart display cabinet
US2639525A (en) * 1946-03-07 1953-05-26 Henry M Riley Automatic three-dimensional display device
US2707345A (en) * 1954-07-20 1955-05-03 Richard E Swank Automatic display apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3145819A (en) * 1962-05-07 1964-08-25 Leonard R Forrester Coin controlled card display device

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