US3780459A

US3780459A - Apparatus for exhibiting display panels

Info

Publication number: US3780459A
Application number: US00234498A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Modglin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-14
Filing date: 1972-03-14
Publication date: 1973-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-25

Abstract

An apparatus for exhibiting display panels of the type in which each panel is provided with a top transverse rod having its end portions projecting beyond the lateral margins of the panel. The apparatus includes front endless carrier members for lowering the panels one at a time past a front viewing area, and rear endless carrier members for raising the panels one at a time past a rear viewing area for viewing the display on the rear surface of the panel. The apparatus further includes top transfer rails permitting the rod portions of the panels to feed down to the front carrier members from the rear carrier members, and declining transfer rails permitting the panels to gravitate down from the bottom of the front endless members to the bottom of the rear endless members. Escapement mechanisms are located at the lower end portions of the upper and lower rails for substantially simultaneously feeding one panel at a time to the upper end of the front endless members and to the lower end of the rear endless members. A single escapement lever is pivotally supported in the upward path of a panel on the rear endless members for engagement and simultaneous actuation of the escapement mechanisms. The apparatus further includes separate front and rear motors for driving the corresponding endless members independently of each other, and control means for driving the motors at different times and at different speeds, if desired.

Description

United States Patent [191 Modglin APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING DISPLAY PANELS [76] Inventor: Donald D. Modglin, 924 Rodney Dr., Nashville, Tenn. 37205 [22] Filed: Mar. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,498

Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb Att0rney-Harrington A. Lackey [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for exhibiting display panels of the type in which each panel is provided with a top transverse rod having its end portions projecting beyond the lat- Dec. 25, 1973 eral margins of the panel. The apparatus includes front endless carrier members for lowering the panels one at a time past a front viewing area, and rear endless carrier members for raising the panels one at a time past a rear viewing area for viewing the display on the rear surface of the panel. The apparatus further includes top transfer rails permitting the rod portions of the panels to feed down to the front carrier members from the rear carrier members, and declining transfer rails permitting the panels to gravitate down from the bottom of the front endless members to the bottom of the rear endless members. Escapement mechanisms are located at the lower end portions of the upper and lower rails for substantially simultaneously feeding one panel at a time to the upper end of the front endless members and to the lower end of the rear endless members. A single escapement lever is pivotally supported in the upward path of a panel on the rear endless members for engagement and simultaneous actuation of the escapement mechanisms.

The apparatus further includes separate front and rear motors for driving the corresponding endless members independently of each other, and control means for driving the motors at different times and at different speeds, if desired.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 5 HS SiEHZBfS APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING DISPLAY PANELS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for exhibiting display panels, and more particularly to a rotary type apparatus for exhibiting both sides of a display panel.

Rotary type apparatus for exhibiting display panels having top transverse rods having projecting end portions for engagement by lugs on endless chain members and also for support upon inclined tracks are known in the art. US. Pat. Nos. 1,058,853 of Farley and 1,230,313 of Neese disclose such rotary type display panel exhibiting apparatus including escapement mechanisms.

However, it is not believed that the rotary exhibiting apparatus made in accordance with this invention, including independently driven front and rear panel carrier members for simultaneously actuated escapement mechanisms exist in the prior art, much less the specific construction of the escapement mechanism made in accordance with this invention or the combination of elements incorporated in this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for exhibiting indicia or information on both the front and rear surfaces of a display panel at different times through respective front and rear viewing areas, and to be able to control the movement of the panels for optimum effect of the display information through the respective viewing areas.

A specific example of the type of use to which this apparatus can be adapted is serially rotating panels, the front surfaces of which display directory information and the rear surfaces of which display advertising literature. In order to benefit interstate travelers and also the merchants of products and services to interstate travelers, such an apparatus could be located in a filling station, a motel, a restaurant, an airport or a travel information center. Upon the front surfaces of the panels could be displayed directory information to inform the travelers of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, locations and available services of motels, restaurants, automoblie service stations, sight-seeing attractions and other information regarding local facilities in which a traveler might be interested. The rear surfaces of each panel might include advertisements of local merchants which would capture the attention of the viewer on the opposite side of the apparatus from that in which the directory information is displayed.

Each of the above panels is provided with a top carrier rod having projecting end portions adapted to engage the lugs of carrier chains or endless members moving vertically in the front and the rear of the machine. For example, the front carrier members or chains lower the front panels to display the front surfaces of the panels in the front viewing area, while a separate pair of rear endless carrier chains can elevate the panels past a rear viewing area. As the panel in the front reaches its lowermost position, it is deposited upon rearward declining rails causing the panel to gravitate rearward, where, in its turn, it is engaged by the lugs on the rear carrier chain for elevation to the top of the apparatus. A pair of top rails declining forward from the upper portion of the rear chains receive the rod portions of the panels after they have been raised past the rear viewing area for gravitation downward and forward. Escapement mechanisms of substantially the same construction are located at the lower end portions of the upper and lower declining rails for feeding one panel at a time to corresponding lugs on the front and rear carrier chains. The escapement mechanisms are connected through a particularly constructed linkage to an escapement lever which is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis to normally extend across the path of an upward moving panel carrier by the rear chains. Engagement by the top rod portion of the upward moving panel pivots the lever to actuate both escapement mechanisms at substantially the same time.

The front and rear endless chain carrier members are independently driven, preferably by separate electric motors. Also, the front motor is preferably driven faster than the rear motor so that a panel in the front viewing area may be moved faster to uncover the next panel displaying directory information. Thus, a slower moving panel in the rear portion of the machine for displaying advertising literature through the rear view area gives more time for a panel to remain in a stationary position in the front of the machine for displaying directory information.

A panel is moved faster past the front viewing area than the rear viewing area by three different methods. First of all, the travel of the front endless members is shorter than the travel of the rear endless members. Secondly, if desired, the front motor is operated to drive the front endless members faster than the rear motor drives the rear endless members. Thirdly, the apparatus includes a timer device and control for stopping the rear motor and holding the panel in the rear view area for a predetermined dwell time. Since the starting of the front motor is controlled by movement of a panel by the rear carrier members, the stationary time of the front carrier members isIncreased by the dwell time of the rear carrier members.

It is also within the scope of this invention to provide controls for bypassing the timer device and the stoplimit switches to operate the motors continuously in order to speed up the exhibition of the display panels. Moreover, it is also within the scope of this invention to provide control means to manually de-energize the motors in order to hold a particular display panel in a viewing area as long as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1, with portions broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, with portions broken away;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6 disclosing the lower escapement mechanism in holding position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of the escapement mechanism in a feeding position;

FIG. is a fragmentary end elevation of the lower escapement mechanism;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 1l-11 of FIG. 5 disclosing the escapement lever in operative and inoperative positions; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken along the. line 12--12 of FIG. 5, disclosing the rear motor stop switch finger actuation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the apparatus 15 made in accordance with this invention includes a housing 16 having a front viewing opening 17, a rear viewing opening 18 and a front control panel 19. Adapted to be moved within the housing 16 past the front viewing opening 17 and the rear viewing opening 18 are a plurality of uniform display panels 20 the top edge of each of which is secured to a top transverse rod 21 having end portions projecting laterally beyond the side margins of the panel.

A frame 23 within the housing 16 supports a front carrier including a pair of front endless carrier members, such as belts or chains 24 trained about upper sprockets 25 and lower sprockets 26 along opposite sides of the front viewing opening 17. Each carrier member 24 is provided with a pair of carrier lugs 27 in transverse alignment, each transverse pair being adapted to support the opposite end portions of the top rod 21 of a panel. The front carrier members 24 are driven in the direction of the arrows by front motor 28 through belt transmission 29 and driven shaft 30 fixed to the lower sprockets 26.

Mounted in the rear portion of the frame 23 is a rear carrier including a pair of endless carrier members in the form of belts or chains 32 trained about transversely aligned upper sprockets 33 and lower sprockets 34. Each rear endless carrier member 32 carries a pair of carrier lugs 35, one lug on each member 32 being transversely aligned with a carrier lug 35 on the other endless member. The carrier lugs 27 as well as the carrier lugs 35 are equidistantaly spaced along each endless member 24 and 32, respectively. The carrier lugs 35 are also adapted to support the projecting end portions of the top rod 21 for any panel 20. The rear endless carrier members 32 are driven by rear motor 36 through a belt transmission 37 to drive transverse shaft 38 to which are fixed the lower sprockets 34. The rear endless members 32 are located on opposite sides of the rear opening 18 and are adapted to be driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3.

The outer ends of each rod 21 are provided with enlarged cylindrical bearing caps 40.

Disposed on opposite sides of the frame 23 are a pair of forward declining upper transfer tracks 42, the upper ends of which are adjacent the upper sprockets 33 and the lower ends of which terminate adjacent the upper sprockets 25 of the front carrier members 24. Specifically, the upper ends of the transfer tracks 42 are positioned to receive the end bearing caps 40 as the rear carrier lugs 35 carry the corresponding top rod 21 over the top of the sprockets 33 so that the corresponding bearing caps 40 are deposited upon the tracks 42 for gravitational movement downward and forward.

In a similar manner, a pair of lower transfer tracks 43 decline rearward from the vicinity of the lower sprockets 26 of the front carrier members 24 and terminate at their lower ends adjacent the lower sprockets 34 of the rear carrier members 32. As best disclosed in FIG. 3, most of the panels 22 are stored by suspension either from the upper track members 42 or the lower track members 43, waiting their turn for conveyance, one at a time, to the respective carrier members 24 and 32.

As best disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 7, the lower ends of the lower transfer tracks 43 form a cradle comprising curved pick-up rails 44 of circular configuration having the same center as the driven shaft 38 and spaced from the periphery of the lower sprocket 34 a distance to permit the rear carrier lugs 35 to sweep along the curved rails 44 and pick up the projecting end portions of a rod 21 of a panel supported on the cradle 44.

To feed one panel 20 at a time from the lower transfer rails 43 to the cradle 44, are a pair of lower escapement mechanisms 45, best disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 6-10. Each lower escapement mechanism 45 comprises an elongated shaft 46 rotatably supported in bearings 47 above the lower transfer track 43. At the lower end of the shaft 46 is fixed an enlarged annular head 48 having a radially extending leading finger or pawl 49 and an axially spaced radially extending trailing finger or pawl 50. However, the trailing finger 50 extends in a different radial direction from the leading finger 49, as best disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9. It will also be noted in FIG. 7, that the axial spacing of the fingers 49 and 50 is approximately equal to the diameter of the top rod 21.

Thus, it is seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, that when the leading finger 49 is in the depending position, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8, the leading rod 21 is prevented from gravitating into the cradle 44. Moreover, the trailing finger 50 is raised to permit the next succeeding rod 21' to have its end cap 40' gravitate freely in abutment against the leading end cap 40.

However, when the rotary shaft 46 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9, the leading finger 49 is raised above the leading top rod 21, so that the leading top rod 21 gravitates into the cradle 44. Simultaneously, the trailing finger 50 drops in front of the next trailing rod 21' to prevent the rod 21' from passing the escapement head 48. Then when the rotary shaft 46 is counter-rotated to its original holding position disclosed in FIG. 8, the leading finger 49 returns to hold the next trailing rod 21' until the escapement mechanism 45 is actuated again. In this manner, the actuation of the escapement mechanism 45 permits the feeding of one panel at a time to the cradle 44.

In a similar manner, a similarly constructed escapement mechanism 52 is located at the lower end portion of each upper transfer track 42. The upper escapement mechanism 52 is provided with a rotary shaft 53 mounted in bearings 54, to the lower end of which is fixed a rotary escapement head 55 having the same leading and trailing pawls as the lower escapement head 40. Upon each actuation of the upper escapement mechanisms 52, the lowermost rod 21 is permitted to gravitate down over the lower ends of the upper transfer tracks 42 and drop upon the forward projecting carrier lugs 27 for lowering of the corresponding panel 20 by the front endless carrier members 24 past the front viewing opening 17.

The rotary shaft 46 of the lower escapement mechanism 45 is rotated by a crank arm 57 connected through a ball coupling 58 to the lower end of a vertically disposed link rod 59. In a similar manner, the rotary shaft 53 of the upper escapement mechanism 52 is rotated by a crank arm 60 connected through a ball coupling 61 to the upper end of a connecting rod 62. The opposite ends of the link rods 59 and 62 are coupled through appropriate journal connections to the same free end of an elongated link arm 64, the opposite end of which is fixed to a pivot shaft 65.

Depending from the pivot shaft 65 is an escapement lever 66, depending into the path of the end portion of a transverse rod 21 of an upwardly moving panel 40 carried by lugs 35 of the rear endless carrier members 32. The escapement lever 66 and the link arm 64 constitute the arms of a bell crank pivotal about the shaft 65. The link arm 64 is many times longer than the operating or effective length of the escapement lever 66 so that forward movement of the escapement lever 66 by merely the distance of approximately the diameter of an end cap 40 will cause the free end of the link arm 64 to which the link rods 62 and 59 are connected, to travel a distance which is the multiple of the lateral movement of the escapement lever 66. When the end cap 40 engages the escapement lever 66 to move it forward, the link arm 64 is raised to simultaneously raise' both the link rods 62 and 59 causing both crank arms 57 and 60 to rotate their corresponding shafts 46 and 52 to simultaneously actuate the escapement mechanisms 45 and 52. Accordingly, when the rod 21 of a panel 20 is picked up by a lower carrier lug 35 in the pick-up station 44 and raised to actuate the escapement lever 66, a panel on the upper transfer track 42 and the lower transfer track 43 are simultaneously discharged by the respective escapement mechanisms 52 and 45 into the respective paths of forward carrier lugs 27 and lower carrier lugs 35.

The actuation of the escapement lever 66 is best illustrated in FIG. 11. The construction of the escapement lever 66 is also best disclosed in FIG. 11. It will be noted that the escapement lever 66 has a lever portion 67, a gradually inclined cam surface 68 and an escape land 69 to permit the upward moving end cap 40 to pass the escapement lever 66.

As best disclosed in FIG. 3, a front start switch 70 is mounted on the frame 23 above the upper transfer track 42. An actuating switchfinger 7] depends from the front start switch 70 in front of a leading rod 21 held by the escapement head 55. Thus, when the escapement mechanism 52 is actuated to release the leading rod 21, the falling rod 21 will move the switch finger 71 to actuate the start switch 70, which is electrically connected to the front motor 28. The energized front motor 28 rotates the endless front belt members 24 which lower the panel supported by the front carrier lugs 27 past the front viewing opening 17.

As best disclosed in FIG. 3, a front motor stop switch 72 is mounted on the frame 23 adjacent the lower end of the front carrier members 24. The front stop switch finger 73 extends into the path of an upwardly traveling front carrier lug 27. Thus, after the front carrier lug 27 has been rotated around the lower sprocket 26 to deposit the display panel 20 upon the lower transfer tracks 43, the upward moving carrier lug 27 moves the switch finger 73 to actuate the front motor stop swtich 72 which is electrically connected to the front motor 28. The front motor 28 is de-energized to stop the movement of the front carrier members 24. Thus, the next succeeding display panel 20 is held by the upper escapement mechanism 52 in a stationary position for unobstructed view through the front opening 17, until the next actuation of the escapement member 52.

As best disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 12, a rear motor stop switch 75 is mounted adjacent the upper travel of the rear carrier members 32 and is provided with a switch finger 76 extending across the path of an upward moving rod 21 of a panel 20 carried by the moving carrier members 32. As the upward moving rod 21 engages and forces forward the switch finger 76, the stop switch 75 is actuated to open the circuit to the rear motor 36 and thereby stop the movement of the rear endless carrier members 32.

In a preferred form of the invention, the rear motor stop switch 75 is also electrically connected to a timer mechanism br device 78, which after a predetermined dwell time is programmed to restart the rear motor 36 to resume the movement of the rear carrier members 32, and thereby carry the rod 21 and its corresponding panel 20 upward past the stop switch finger 76.

In operating the apparatus 15, the rear motor 36 is started in any desired manner. Assuming that the display panel 20 and the carrier lugs 27 and 35 are in the positions disclosed in FIG. 3, the panel 20 displayed through the rear opening 18 is elevated by the rear carrier members 32 until the lifting lugs 35 move over the sprocket 33 and deposit the end caps 40 of the top rod 21 upon the upper ends of the upper transfer tracks 42. The caps 40 then come to rest against the uppermost caps of the panel 20 in front of it. The lugs 35 then continue downward on the return leg of the endless member 32 until they sweep above the cradle 44 and engage the rod 21 of the panel 20 suspended in the cradle 44.

This lowermost panel 20 is then elevated on the upward moving leg of the carrier belts 32 until the end caps 40 engage the cam surfaces 68 of the escapement levers 66, gradually rotating each escapement lever 66 about the shaft 65 and simultaneously elevating the link rods 59 and 62 through magnified distances until each end cap 40 passes the escape land 69 as disclosed in phantom in FIG. 11. In this position, both escapement mechanisms 52 and are actuated to release the leading panels suspended at the lowermost portions of the transfer tracks 42 and 43.

The leading panel 20 at the lowermost end of the upper transfer tracks 42 drops upon the forward carrier lugs 27, and in doing so trips the switch finger 71 to actuate the front motor start switch 70 and energize the front motor 28 to start the movement of the front endless carrier members 24. The panel supported on the lugs 27 is then lowered until the lugs rotate round the lower sprocket 26, at which time the corresponding end caps 40 of the panel rod drop upon the rearward declining transfer tracks 43 and come to rest against the next leading panel caps, where they remain in stored position until ultimately discharged at the lower end of the transfer tracks 43. As the lug 27 rotates around the lower sprocket 26 it engages the switch finger 73 to de-energize the front motor 28 and stop the movement of the front carrier members 24. In the meantime, the other lug 27 has been moved over the top of the upper front sprocket 25 and comes to rest in its forward projecting upper position preparatory to receiving the next panel rod 21. After the endless members 24 have stopped, then the forwardmost panel 20 held by the escapement head is fully exposed to view through the front opening 17 and remains in this stationary, exposed position until the next actuation of the upper escapement mechanism 52.

In the meantime, the lugs 35 on the rear endless member are still moving upward past the escape land 69 until the corresponding end caps 40 clear the escapement levers 66, permitting the escapement levers 66 to return by gravity to their original solid-line position in FIG. 11, preparatory to being engaged by the next upward moving panel. The panel 20 continues to move upward until the rear stop switch finger 76 is engaged and moved by the corresponding rod 21 to actuate the stop switch 75, which in turn de-energizes the rear motor 36 and simultaneously activates the timer device 78 to commence its dwell time. At the end of the dwell time, the timer device 78 re-energizes the rear motor 36 to rotate the carrier belts 32, and the cycle is repeated.

It will be understood, particularly as viewed in FIG. 2, that the escapement lever 66 is duplicated on each side of the apparatus for simultaneous engagement by both end caps 40 ofa common panel rod 21. Moreover, all of the linkages between each escapement lever 66 and the escape mechanisms 52 and 45 are also duplicated on both sides of the apparatus for simultaneous operation at both ends of the corresponding panel rod 21.

Both the front view opening 17 and the rear view opening 18 are provided with marginal lamps 80 and 81, respectively, for illuminating the exposed front surface and rear surface of a corresponding panel exposed through the respective openings 17 and 18.

Interlocking switches 85, 86 and 87 having respective switch fingers 88, 89 and 90 are provided to actuate the timer device 78 and thereby turn off the rear motor 36 in the event that any one of the switch fingers 88, 89 and 90 is not actuated at its usual time during each cycle. Thus, if a panel 20 fails to be discharged by the lower escapement mechanism 45 into the cradle 44, then switch 85 will not be actuated at its normal time, and consequently it will cause the rear motor 36 to stop. In a similar manner, if no panel 20 is deposited by the downward movement of the front carrier members 24 upon the lower transfer racks 43, then switch 876 will 86 be regularly actuated, and accordingly the rear motor 36 will be de-energized. In a similar manner, switch 87 will turn off the rear motor 36 if the escapement levers 66 are not pivoted at their normal time, and the rear carrier members 32 move upward without carrying a panel 20.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control panel 16 may be provided with a manually operated switch button 91, which, when depressed, opens the circuit to both the front and rear motors 28 and 36 and the timer device 78 in order to hold the panels 20 in a desired position, particularly in one or both of the viewing areas 17 and 18. The control panel 19 is also provided with a manually operated pushbutton switch 92 whichcontrols a circuit to bypass the timer device 78 in order to drive the rear motor 36 directly, in order to move the display panels 20 more rapidly through their cycles. Of course, bypassing the timer device 76 will also cause the front motor 28 to operate more often in order to move the panels past the front viewing area 17 more rapidly.

In a preferred form of the invention, the front motor 28 is designed to move the front carrier members 24 faster than the rear motor 36 moves the rear carrier members 32. In this manner, panels 20 moved down past the front opening 17 are moved much more rapidly than a panel passing upward past the rear view opening 18, not only because of the faster speed of the carrier members, but also because the travel of the front carrier members 24 is shorter than the travel of the rear carrier members 32. By moving a front panel 20 faster, the next succeeding front panel is in a position to be viewed longer in a stationary position through the front opening 17. On the other hand, the rear surface of panels 20 moving upward past the rear opening 18 are viewed longer while moving. Such slower movement is ideal for advertising purposes, since the advertising material will attract more attention the longer it is moved, and usually the information it displays is more casually viewed or read than is directory information on the front surfaces of panels 20 viewed through the front opening 17.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for exhibiting display panels comprising:

a. a frame having top, bottom, front and rear portions,

b. a front carrier member mounted on said front frame portion for vertical movement, said front carrier member having means for carrying a display panel for vertical movement,

0. a rear carrier member mounted on said rear frame portion for vertical movement, said rear carrier member having means for carrying a display panel for vertical movement,

d. motor means operatively connected to said front and rear carrier members for driving said carrier members vertically,

e. first means for transferring display panels from said front carrier member at a first front elevated position to said rear carrier member at a first rear elevated position,

f. second means for transferring display panels from said rear carrier member at a second rear elevated position to said front carrier member at a second front elevated position,

g. first escapement means operative to feed one panel at a time from said first transferring means to said rear carrier member,

h. second escapement means operative to feed one panel at a time from said second transferring means to said front carrier member,

i. a single trigger member mounted on said frame in the path of one of said carrier members, for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position,

j. link means operatively connecting said trigger member to both said first and second escapement means, so that both said escapement means are operated through said link means to feed a panel from each of said transferring means, substantially simultaneously, to a corresponding carrier member when said trigger member is in said operative position, and

k. said trigger member being adapted to be moved to said operative position by a panel on said carrier member moving in said path and engaging said trigger member.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said first and second transferring means each comprises a declining guide means for said panels, each panel having a transverse rod portion adapted to be supported for gravitational movement on said declining guide means, each escapement means comprising a rotary shaft member, a leading finger and a trailing finger spaced apart axially of said rotary shaft member and projecting radially from said rotary shafr member in different radial directions, said leading finger normally depending in front of the lowermost rod portion of a panel on said guide means, said leading finger being rotated out of the path of said leading rod portion and said trailing finger being movable into the path of the next succeeding rod portion when said escapement means is operated, whereby said leading panel is released to feed by gravity from said corresponding transferring means to said corresponding carrier member.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said trigger member comprises an escapement lever mounted for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, said escapement lever being disposed in the vertical path of a transverse rod portion of a panel carried by one of said carrier members, said escapement lever comprising one arm of a bell crank, said link means comprising an elongated link lever constituting the other arm of said bell crank and being substantially longer than said escapement lever, said link means further comprising first and second link rods coupled to the free end of said link lever, first and second crank means respectively connected to said link rods and operatively connected to the rotary shaft members of said escapement means to alternately rotate said leading and trailing fingers between their operative and inoper- 10 ative positions.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said motor means comprises a front motor drivingly connected to said front carrier member and a rear motor drivingly connected to said rear carrier member, a front start switch mounted on said front frame portion adjacent said second front elevated position and connected to said front motor, whereby the engagement of said front start switch by a panel deposited on said front carrier member by said second escapement means causes said front motor to start driving said front carrier member, a front stop switch located on said front frame portion adjacent said first front elevated position and connected to said front motor, whereby engagement of said front stop switch by a panel carried by said front carrier member causes said front motor to stop, and said trigger member is adapted to be engaged by a panel on said rear carrier member.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said front motor drives said front carrier member at least as fast as said rear motor drives said rear carrier member.

6. The invention according to claim 4 further comprising timer means for automatically starting said rear motor after a predetermined dwell time, and a rear stop switch mounted on said rear frame portion adjacent said second rear elevated position and connected to said rear motor, whereby engagement of said rear stop switch by a panel on said rear carrier member stops said rear motor and actuates said timer means to commence said dwell time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exhibiting display panels comprising: a. a frame having top, bottom, front and rear portions, b. a front carrier member mounted on said front frame portion for vertical movement, said front carrier member having means for carrying a display panel for vertical movement, c. a rear carrier member mounted on said rear frame portion for vertical movement, said rear carrier member having means for carrying a display panel for vertical movement, d. motor means operatively connected to said front and rear carrier members for driving said carrier members vertically, e. first means for transferring display panels from said front carrier member at a first front elevated position to said rear carrier member at a first rear elevated position, f. second means for transferring display panels from said rear carrier member at a second rear elevated position to said front carrier member at a second front elevated position, g. first escapement means operative to feed one panel at a time from said first transferring means to said rear carrier member, h. second eScapement means operative to feed one panel at a time from said second transferring means to said front carrier member, i. a single trigger member mounted on said frame in the path of one of said carrier members, for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position, j. link means operatively connecting said trigger member to both said first and second escapement means, so that both said escapement means are operated through said link means to feed a panel from each of said transferring means, substantially simultaneously, to a corresponding carrier member when said trigger member is in said operative position, and k. said trigger member being adapted to be moved to said operative position by a panel on said carrier member moving in said path and engaging said trigger member.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said trigger member comprises an escapement lever mounted for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, said escapement lever being disposed in the vertical path of a transverse rod portion of a panel carried by one of said carrier members, said escapement lever comprising one arm of a bell crank, said link means comprising an elongated link lever constituting the other arm of said bell crank and being substantially longer than said escapement lever, said link means further comprising first and second link rods coupled to the free end of said link lever, first and second crank means respectively connected to said link rods and operatively connected to the rotary shaft members of said escapement means to alternately rotate said leading and trailing fingers between their operative and inoperative positions.