US3786582A

US3786582A - Illuminated pictorial display mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3786582A
Application number: US00181688A
Authority: US
Inventors: I Ralbowsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-09-20
Filing date: 1971-09-20
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22

Abstract

In illuminated display mechanisms the automation has heretofore consisted of automatic off-on switches controlling the illumination or sequential lighting of patterns of light bulbs or tubes which greatly restricts the number of displays which may be presented on a single surface. In this invention back or front illumination may be provided for a great number of pictures, signs or messages; the number being limited only by the duration of each display, the interval of time between each and the allowable size of the body of the mechanisms which may have one or several display faces depending on their size and shape. The pictures, signs or messages to be displayed are printed or painted full size on a band of translucent flexible material of suitable size which moves between two reversible terminal rolls appropriately located within the mechanism and to which the ends of the band are connected. Idler guide rollers are placed at each point at which a direction change of the translucent material occurs. During the change of displays the internal illumination is interrupted so that the actual change is not visible externally. The automatic driving mechanism, timing sequences, illumination control and movement reversal are all electrically operated and controlled and may be activated by self-contained built-in units or by remote control. This invention increases the number of displays available from each display unit, decreases the display change time and permits multifaced units with a minimum of mechanical or electrical addition or variation.

Description

United States atent [1 1 Ralbowsky ILLUMINATED PICTORIAL DISPLAY MECHANISM [76] Inventor: Istvan Ralbowslry, 1265 Blvd.

dAuteuil, Laval, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 181,688

[52] 11.8. CI. 40/31, 40/52 R [51] Int. Cl. G09f 11/29 [58] Field of Search... 40/31, 33, 52 R, 53 R, 78.07,

Primary Examiner--Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Vance Y. l-Ium Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds 57 ABSTRACT In illuminated display mechanisms the automation has heretofore consisted of automatic off-on switches controlling the illumination or sequential lighting of patterns of light bulbs or tubes which greatly restricts the number of displays which may be presented on a sin gle surface. In this invention back or front illumination may be provided for a great number of pictures, signs or messages; the number being limited only by the duration of each display, the interval of time between each and the allowable size of the body of the mechanisms which may have one or several display faces depending on their size and shape. The pictures, signs or messages to be displayed are printed or painted full size on a band of translucent flexible material of suitable size which moves between two reversible terminal rolls appropriately located within the mechanism and to which the ends of the band are connected. Idler guide rollers are placed at each point at which a direction change of the translucent material occurs. During the change of displays the internal illumination is interrupted so that the actual change is not visible externally. The automatic driving mechanism, timing sequences, illumination control and movement reversal are all electrically operated and controlled and may .be activated by self-contained built-in units or by remote control. This invention increases the number of displays available from each display unit, decreases the display change time and permits multifaced units with a minimum of mechanical or electrical addition or variation.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANQQ m4 SHEU u u; 4

mom

Nu mt too ILLUMINATED PICTORIAL DISPLAY MECHANISM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a display or sign board with one or more display faces or windows on each of which the displayed material is automatically changed.

Devices commonly used for similar purposes usually utilize simultaneously rotating multi-sided blocks within the display frame and when the subject blocks attain proper positions an integral unique display is formed. The disadvantage of such display method is the limited number of different frames which can be displayed and the inefficient usage of display time against the change-over time.

These disadvantages are overcome by the invention described herein, by assembling the matter to be dis played in a row of frames on an internally rolled-up material. A driving mechanism is arranged in such a way as to change the frames which appear on the display face or faces of the apparatus automatically in a predetermined sequence, governed by an adjustable timing mechanism.

In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the driving mechanism FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram.

The invention illustrated comprises of a welded frame 1 which supports the components and assemblies arranged within the device, a drive motor 7 supported on a horizontal pivotal base 9, motor driven rolls 2 to hold the material (PCB, FIG. 4) on which the display matter appears, idler guide rollers 3 to position the material in relation to the rolls 2 and to the display window or rear closure of the apparatus if there is only one display window, idler guide rollers 15 to position the material at any point of direction change, a gear train assembly 10 operating rotary switches l6, l7 and 18 controlling movement and illumination cycles of the material and connecting to a power source, a motor timer II and microswitch 11a to restart each advance cycle and drive motor reversal means, contacts 8, and in FIG. 4, DCC l and DCC 2 and solenoids and supporting framing 6. The sizes and shapes of the frame, the components and the assemblies may vary for each particular application and the frame may be replaced entirely by other supporting structures as applications and installations may call for.

The display bearing material is carried on powered rolls 2 which are driven by an electric motor 7 through a worm-drive. Electric power enters the motor and lighting control circuit through the rotary continuous band switch 18 band 3 and passes through it to

rotary band switches

17 and 16. The operation of the motor 7 is controlled by driving mechanism composed of the

geartrain comprising gears

20, 21 and 19 and the rotary band switch 17 Band 2. When the sliding contact of switch 17 Band 2 reaches the non-conducting area, the driving motor stops and the conducting spot on rotary switch 16 Band 1 through the ballast transformer I2 switches on the fluorescent illuminating lamp assembly 14 supported on metal frame 13 and starts the timer motor I1 controlling the microswitch 11a.

When the timer motor cam disc indentation permits the spring-loaded microswitch contact to close momentarily, the driving motor starts up and the display bearing material will start the advance-cycle again until a new frame is placed on the display window of the device. During this time, the fluorescent tube is switched off by the opening of rotary switch 16 Band 1 thus the change is not readily visible to the viewer.

A narrow strip along the length of the bottom section of the display bearing material is perforated. Into the perforations a gear wheel gear 20 is engaged and is driven by the movement of the material. This serves as a governing device to determine the position of the dis' played frames and through the reduction gear train,

gears

21 and 19, it controls the positions of switches 16 Band 1 and 17 Band 2; thus controlling the starting and stopping of the driving motor 7 and the timer motor I1 and the alternating periods of illumination and absence thereof. The reduction ratio is determined or fixed by the ratio between the length from center to center of the frames carrying the material to be displayed and the circumference of the gear on the shaft carrying switches I6, 17 and 18.

When the band of material carrying the pictures, signs or messages has completed its movement in one direction, a direction reversing mechanism is triggered by a conducting strip (DCS) inserted through the material near one edge which completes a circuit as it passes between the two surfaces of the appropriate pair of contacts 8 (DCC l or DCC 2) energizing the appropriate solenoid 5 (S1 or S2) connected to the pivotal base plate of the drive motor 7 which transfers the worm gear drive of motor 7 from one of the rolls 2 to the other, thus reversing the movement of the band of translucent material. A snap spring 4 is attached to the top of the bar or lever connecting the solenoid unit to the base plate of the drive motor 7 to retain the worm gear in firm contact with the ring gear of one of the rolls 2.

With respect to FIG. 4, the components denoted therein are as follows. Motor 7 is represented by M and can be, for example, a belt drive motor using 1 15 V AC, hertz, single phase electric power. Motor timer ll is designated TM and lamp assembly 14 is designated FT." Terminal boards are designated TBA and TBB" and a ballast transformer, connected to lamp assembly 14, is designated BT."

The embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings is self-contained and has a manually operated switch to the power source and in general mechanical controls for start up and shut down but within the scope of my invention the switch may be replaced by an automatic timer controlling unit and some of the controls by photo-electric units and in the case of the switch and all controls they may be replaced by, in whole or in part, a master control situate in, or by equivalents electronically or otherwise operated from, a central control.

The embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings has only a single display window but within the scope of my invention other embodiments may have two or more such windows by appropriate changes where required in the framing structure in the number and location of the guide and positioning rollers, in the location of the drive motor and solenoid direction control, in the location of the powered rolls and in the gear train ratios and, if necessary, by the addition of one or more sources of illumination.

The embodiment shown also contemplates horizontal movement of the material carrying the display matter and a rectangular display window but without depart ing from the scope of my invention movement in other directions and variations in the size and shapes of the display windows may be provided.

Furthermore if a three dimensional effect is desired several bands of translucent material may be inserted in the apparatus of my invention on interconnected powered rolls and in spaced relationship.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the band of material carrying the pictorial or reading matter is a film or other translucent material and is back lighted but if the use of opaque material is desired or required, this may be done by merely replacing the interior or back lighting of the material by suitably located front lighting without any other change being required.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A self contained automatically operable mechanism for continuously displaying a plurality of units of indicia such as pictorial and reading matter to the public, said mechanism comprising:

a. a housing having at least one viewing window;

b. first and second reversible power driven rolls rotatably mounted inside said housing;

c. a single electric drive motor for alternately driving said power driven rolls;

d. mounting means for pivotabley mounting said drive motor to said housing;

e. coupling means for selectively alternately coupling said drive motor to one of said power driven rolls, said coupling means comprising a single worm gear assembly rotated by said drive motor;

f. a wide band of translucent flexible material end connected at a first end to one of said power driven rolls and end connected at the other end to the other of said power driven rolls, said band bearing the indicia thereon and having perforations along one edge thereof;

g. means for retaining said band in spaced relationship to said at least one viewing window and for guiding the movement of said band within said housing from one of said power driven rolls to the other of said power driven rolls;

h. means for engaging said coupling means to one of said power driven rolls, said engaging means comprising two opposite acting solenoids, an electric circuit for selectively energizing one of said solenoids and including first and second switch means, a cylindrical slug constrained to move axially into the energized one of said solenoids, a connecting member connecting said slug to said coupling means, and spring means for retaining said coupling means in firm engagement with the selected one of said power driven rolls;

i. means attached along the length of said band and movable with said band for actuating the one of said switch means which said means has been moved into contact with by the movement of said band;

j. electrically powered illumination means for providing alternating periods of illumination and nonillumination of the areas of said band appearing in said at least one viewing window k. third switch means for selectively energizing said drive motor for moving said band so as to locate a unit thereof in the field of said at least one viewing window and de-energizing said drive motor for suspending the movement of said band for a predetermined fixed period of time and for synchronizing the illumination of said band and said fixed period of time the movement of said band is suspended, said switch means comprising 1. a sprocket wheel mounted on a shaft and in engagement with the perforations of said band, said sprocket wheel being rotated by the movement of said band, 2. a gear train driven by the shaft of said sprocket wheel, and 3. band switch means rotationally driven by said gear train for selectively suppling electrical power to said drive motor and said illumination means, said band switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said base including a first circumferential band having an electrically conductive area extending completely around the circumference thereof, a second circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and a third circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, the nonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the same angular are as the conductive area of said second band, said band switch means further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contact with said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, first conductive means for electrically connecting said first band to the conductive areas of said second band and said third band, second conductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contact to said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization and de-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contact with said third band, and third conductor means for electrically connecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means, whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement of said band of flexible material; and l. fourth switch means for re-energizing said drive motor, said fourth switch means comprising a second electric motor, a microswitch and means for connecting said microswitch to said second motor for the operation of said microswitch for supplying electrical power to said drive motor independently of said third switch means, said microswitch being operated so as to energize said drive motor for a sufficient time period so as to permit the resultant movement of said band of flexible material to operate said gear train for a time period sufficient to rotate said band switch means for the normal energizing of said drive motor.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch actuating means comprises first and second short strips of conductive material attached near the edge of said band near the respective said first and other ends therof and wherein said first switch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mounted near said first power driven roll for engagement with said band therebetween and said second switch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mounted near said second power driven roll for engagement with said band therebetween whereby the passage of said first inbetween said power driven rolls.

Claims

1. A self contained automatically operable mechanism for continuously displaying a plurality of units of indicia such as pictorial and reading matter to the public, said mechanism comprising: a. a housing having at least one viewing window; b. first and second reversible power driven rolls rotatably mounted inside said housing; c. a single electric drive motor for alternately driving said power driven rolls; d. mounting means for pivotabley mounting said drive motor to said housing; e. coupling means for selectively alternately coupling said drive motor to one of said power driven rolls, said coupling means comprising a single worm gear assembly rotated by said drive motor; f. a wide band of translucent flexible material end connected at a first end to one of said power driven rolls and end connected at the other end to the other of said power driven rolls, said band bearing the indicia thereon and having perforations along one edge thereof; g. means for retaining said band in spaced relationship to said at least one viewing window and for guiding the movement of said band within said housing from one of said power driven rolls to the other of said power driven rolls; h. means for engaging said coupling means to one of said power driven rolls, said engaging means comprising two opposite acting solenoids, an electric circuit for selectively energizing one of said solenoids and including first and second switch means, a cylindrical slug constrained to move axially into the energized one of said solenoids, a connecting member connecting said slug to said coupling means, and spring means for retaining said coupling means in firm engagement with the selected one of said power driven rolls; i. means attached along the length of said band and movable with said band for actuating the one of said switch means which said means has been moved into contact with by the movement of said band; j. electrically powered illumination means for providing alternating periods of illumination and non-illumination of the areas of said band appearing in said at Least one viewing window k. third switch means for selectively energizing said drive motor for moving said band so as to locate a unit thereof in the field of said at least one viewing window and de-energizing said drive motor for suspending the movement of said band for a predetermined fixed period of time and for synchronizing the illumination of said band and said fixed period of time the movement of said band is suspended, said switch means comprising 1. a sprocket wheel mounted on a shaft and in engagement with the perforations of said band, said sprocket wheel being rotated by the movement of said band, 2. a gear train driven by the shaft of said sprocket wheel, and 3. band switch means rotationally driven by said gear train for selectively suppling electrical power to said drive motor and said illumination means, said band switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said base including a first circumferential band having an electrically conductive area extending completely around the circumference thereof, a second circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and a third circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, the nonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the same angular arc as the conductive area of said second band, said band switch means further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contact with said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, first conductive means for electrically connecting said first band to the conductive areas of said second band and said third band, second conductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contact to said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization and de-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contact with said third band, and third conductor means for electrically connecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means, whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement of said band of flexible material; and 1. fourth switch means for re-energizing said drive motor, said fourth switch means comprising a second electric motor, a microswitch and means for connecting said microswitch to said second motor for the operation of said microswitch for supplying electrical power to said drive motor independently of said third switch means, said microswitch being operated so as to energize said drive motor for a sufficient time period so as to permit the resultant movement of said band of flexible material to operate said gear train for a time period sufficient to rotate said band switch means for the normal energizing of said drive motor.

2. a gear train driven by the shaft of said sprocket wheel, and

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch actuating means comprises first and second short strips of conductive material attached near the edge of said band near the respective said first and other ends therof and wherein said first switch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mounted near said first power driven roll for engagement with said band therebetween and said second switch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mounted near said second power driven roll for engagement with said band therebetween whereby the passage of said first and second strips respectively through said first and second switch means respectively energizes the corresponding solenoid and thereby shifts the engagement of said coupling means to the other power driven roll.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has a substantially rectangular cross-section taken along the lengTh thereof, said power driven rolls are pivotably mounted at one end of said housing, one power driven roll being mounted above the other, and said drive motor mounting means is located at said one end of said housing, said worm gear assembly extending inbetween said power driven rolls.

3. band switch means rotationally driven by said gear train for selectively suppling electrical power to said drive motor and said illumination means, said band switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said base including a first circumferential band having an electrically conductive area extending completely around the circumference thereof, a second circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and a third circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extending substantially around the circumference thereof and the second area consisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, the nonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the same angular arc as the conductive area of said second band, said band switch means further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contact with said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, first conductive means for electrically connecting said first band to the conductive areas of said second band and said third band, second conductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contact to said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization and de-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contact with said third band, and third conductor means for electrically connecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means, whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement of said band of flexible material; and