WO2008065459A1 - Display apparatus for changing images - Google Patents

Display apparatus for changing images Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008065459A1
WO2008065459A1 PCT/HU2007/000114 HU2007000114W WO2008065459A1 WO 2008065459 A1 WO2008065459 A1 WO 2008065459A1 HU 2007000114 W HU2007000114 W HU 2007000114W WO 2008065459 A1 WO2008065459 A1 WO 2008065459A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
image
image carriers
panels
changing images
changing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/HU2007/000114
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
József BOGNÁR
Original Assignee
Bognar Jozsef
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bognar Jozsef filed Critical Bognar Jozsef
Publication of WO2008065459A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008065459A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F11/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position

Definitions

  • the object of the invention is a device for changing images that is capable of alternately presenting at least two different images utilizing image carriers.
  • the image carriers are divided into panels adapted for sliding between each other.
  • Image carriers of the image changing device are usually moved with respect to each other by moving means and the image carriers are usually covered by a transparent cover sheet.
  • a prior art solution for changing images is the so called ..prismatic" advertising board that uses multiple prism-shaped elements, triangular in cross-section. Each image is composed of sections located on one of the three faces of the prism-shaped elements, and the images are changed by the synchronized rotation of the image- bearing elements.
  • Prismatic boards look unwieldy in many indoor environments and cannot be visually appealing due to their excessive weight and dimensions.
  • a serious disadvantage of small-size advertising devices of the above kind is that images have to be glued together and cut into sections on-site, which is a very labour-intensive task. It is mainly due to these disadvantages that prismatic boards could not have become widespread in indoor applications.
  • US patent No. 5,974,709 discloses a solution where the image carrier means are joined in a cassette-like unit that can be placed into a frame.
  • a mechanism suited to provide for the relative displacement of the image carriers of the cassette unit is disposed inside the frame, so it becomes possible to replace only the cassette-like unit when new images are to be presented. Nevertheless, with this apparatus the need for the application of image carriers made of relatively strong material remains there, which makes individual replacement cassettes expensive and reduces the possibility of using such cassette units in large numbers.
  • US patent application No. 20060236573 discloses a device for changing images that can be produced cheaply and utilizes easily exchangeable image carriers made of paper. This solution has the disadvantage of utilizing preferably two paper image carriers for each image to be presented (thus four image carriers are required in case two images are to be presented). This makes the operation of the device rather costly.
  • Internal illumination here denotes the application of illumination means (e.g. fluorescents lamps) disposed inside the support frame of the advertising device.
  • illumination means e.g. fluorescents lamps
  • image changing devices utilizing image carriers subdivided into panels
  • internal illumination may be difficult to realize. This has two main reasons. First, only front illumination can be applied to the image carriers, otherwise, e.g. in case of back (through)-illumination, the two images would appear at the same time, superposed on each other. Second, in case the images were illuminated from the front by illumination means (e.g. fluorescent lamps) built into the frame, the depth-size of the frame would necessarily increase to unacceptable levels because of the moving means disposed behind the image carriers.
  • illumination means e.g. fluorescent lamps
  • the objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for changing images that is ideal for indoor use, is lightweight, has small footprint, can be operated with image carriers made of paper, provides good image quality, and can be produced cheaply. Further objectives are that the device may be produced utilizing conventional, flat image frames and that the device may be fitted with illumination means built into the support frame. Both the advertising device and the image carriers should be producible cheaply, and image carriers should be quickly and easily exchangeable. A particularly important objective is that the advertising device should apply a single image carrier for each image to be presented to fulfil the requirement of utilizing conventional advertising posters made of paper with minimal additional costs.
  • the solution according to the invention is thus a device for changing images that has multiple sheet-formed image carriers, the image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels adapted for sliding between each other.
  • each image is displayed by a single image carrier, each image carrier is formed of a single sheet, and at least one image carrier comprises wedge-shaped panels.
  • Another solution according to the invention is a device for changing images which comprises multiple sheet-formed image carriers, the image carriers having image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels adapted for sliding between each other, and further comprises moving means for moving the image carriers relative to each other, and also comprises a support frame for holding the image carriers.
  • the moving means is disposed outside the support frame, and the device comprises a Bowden cable connected to the moving means, said Bowden cable being applied for force transfer.
  • the present invention provides a new solution to the problem of jam-free image carrier movement that makes it possible to apply a single, cheap thin paper poster for presenting a single image in very high visual quality.
  • Fig. 1. shows the first image carrier of the device of the invention presenting a first image (a house)
  • Fig. 2 shows the second image carrier of the device according to the invention presenting a second image (a table)
  • Fig. 3 shows a device for changing images according to the invention which comprises a moving means and a support frame in a position where the device presents the first image (a house)
  • Fig. 4-7 illustrate the device for changing images according to Fig. 3 in subsequent phases of the image changing process
  • Fig. 8 shows an exploded view illustrating the configuration of the device for changing images of Fig. 3,
  • Fig. 9 shows a section of the transparent, thin guide tape
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a panel of the first image carrier, showing the section of the transparent, thin guiding tape that is attached to the image carrier at the tip of the wedge-shaped panel.
  • Fig. 11 shows a series of adjacent sections of the guide tape (to be mounted on the first image carrier),
  • Fig. 12 shows the first image carrier immediately after the guide tape sections have been mounted
  • Fig. 13 shows a part of the first image carrier where the non-adhesive portion of all guide tape sections is inserted below the adjoining panel
  • Fig. 14 illustrates the manner of assembling the two image carriers
  • Fig. 15 illustrates the manner of assembling individual panels of the two image carriers
  • Figs. 16A, 16B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the first image carrier
  • Figs. 17A, 17B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the second image carrier
  • Fig. 18A, 18B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of both the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where the device presents the first image (a house)
  • Figs. 19A, 19B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of both of the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where, during the image changing process, portions of both images are presented
  • Fig. 2OA, 2OB show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where the device presents the second image (a table)
  • Fig. 21 shows the sectional view of a short portion of the composite tape
  • Fig. 22 shows the sectional view of a full-length composite tape
  • Fig. 23 shows the sectional view of the transfer tape, together with the sections of the guide tape mounted thereon, after the protective tape has been removed
  • Fig. 24 shows the top view of the transfer tape together with the sections of the guide tape mounted thereon
  • Fig. 25 shows the cross-section of the transfer tape as it is placed on the image carrier
  • Fig. 26 shows the cross-section of panels of one of the image carriers and the sections of guide tape mounted thereon immediately after it has been mounted
  • Fig. 27 shows the cross-section of panels of one of the image carriers and the guide tape sections mounted thereon after the guide tape sections have been properly arranged
  • Fig. 28 illustrates the manner of flexing the image carrier panels
  • Figs. 29-33 are cross-sectional views of the image carriers having curved panels
  • Figs. 34-36 show other implementations of image carriers with curved panels and their cover sheets
  • Figs. 37-39 show the configuration of the integrally exchangeable image carrier cassette
  • Figs. 40-43 are schematic views of moving means consisting of a chain and sprocket wheel
  • Figs. 44-45 show image changing devices implemented with the application of adapters 70.
  • Fig. 1 shows the first image carrier 21 of the device for changing images 10 shown in Fig. 3, whereas in Fig. 2 the second image carrier 22 of said device is shown.
  • the first image carrier 21 presents a first image 14 (a house), while a second image 16 (a table) is presented by the second image carrier 22.
  • the first and second image carriers 21, 22 have wedge-shaped panels 23.
  • the exemplary embodiment of the device for changing images 10 illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be hung on a wall. Main structural elements of the device for changing images 10 are shown in Fig. 8. In the state shown in Fig. 3 the first image 14 (a house) is presented by the device for changing images 10, while in the state shown in Fig.
  • FIGs. 4-7 show the device for changing images 10 in subsequent intermediate stages of the image changing process.
  • the device for changing images 10 shown in Figs. 3-8 comprises a moving means 30 adapted for moving one of the image carriers and it also has a support frame 28 for holding together and supporting the structural elements of the device.
  • the aesthetic appearance of the device for changing images 10 is enhanced by a decorative frame 29 that is also applied for concealing the spines 26 of the image carriers 21 , 22.
  • the decorative frame 29 may also be implemented by painting or mounting it on a transparent cover sheet 41 (made preferably of plastic).
  • the prior art principle of changing images applied in the device for changing images 10 is realized by multiple image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, the image carriers being subdivided into 23 panels adapted for sliding between each other. As panels of the image carrier slide between each other, the image presented by the device for changing images 10 gives the best impression if the image carriers are substantially two-dimensional plates, with a negligible thickness relative to the size of the image.
  • the image parts of the first and second images 14, 16 are disposed on image carriers 21 , 22 made preferably of paper.
  • the image carriers are subdivided into wedge-shaped panels 23 that in the assembled state of the image carriers 21 , 22 can slide between each other.
  • An image is presented by a single image carrier.
  • the first image carrier 21 presents the first image 14 (a house), while the second image carrier 22 presents the second image 16 (a table).
  • the first image carrier 21 is preferably made from a poster showing a house printed on paper
  • the second image carrier 22 is made from another poster (showing a table) printed on paper.
  • Image carriers may be produced by cutting the paper posters showing the first and second images with a cutting tool or laser cutting machine according to the cut pattern shown in thin lines in Figs. 1-2 to form the wedge-shaped panels 23.
  • the moving means 30 applied in the device for changing images 10 shown in Figs. 3-8 is driven by a (preferably small-sized) electric motor.
  • a mechanism known per se adapted for transforming rotary motion into reciprocating straight-line motion, is connected to the output shaft of the motor, to which mechanism a cam pin 31 adapted for moving the second image carrier 22 to right and left and left to right in a manner shown in Fig. 8 is connected.
  • the cam pin 31 can move the second image carrier 22 with respect to the first image carrier 21 supported by the support pins 33, 34 to achieve image changing.
  • the moving means 30 moves the second image carrier 22 directly through the cam pin 31.
  • movement may be imparted to the image carrier by attaching a rectangular cover sheet (made preferably of paper) to the back of the second image carrier 22 with adhesive strips along the spines 26 of the second image carrier 22 and moving the cover sheet by the moving means.
  • a back sheet is secured to the second image carrier 22 along the spines 26, provides firmer support to the image carrier made of thin paper and also provides mechanical protection, which makes shipping and installation of the image carriers safer due to the reduced vulnerability of the image carriers.
  • the size of the cover sheet is substantially equal to that of the second image carrier 22.
  • the cover sheet may be connected to the moving means in a number of ways known in the art, such as by a connection produced automatically.
  • the moving means may be connected to the image carrier through a magnetic connecting element, e.g. utilizing a thin iron plate attached to the cover sheet, the iron plate sticking to a magnetic plate of the moving means that is undergoing reciprocating straight-line motion.
  • the image should be subdivided into bands or strips. This is realized by the panels 23 of the image carriers 21 , 22.
  • the image carriers are not cut into separate pieces but, in a way applied by prior art solutions, the image carriers are provided with cuts between the strips formed by the panels 23. Individual strips (the panels 23) are held together by a spine 26 running along the borders of the panels 23.
  • the panels 23 have to be prevented from getting stuck in each other by some means.
  • the simplest solution to prevent panel jams is the known method of restricted movement. According to this method the degree of overlapping of panels 23 presenting the two images is always kept above zero (that is, panels 23 of one of the image carriers are never fully removed from between the panels belonging to the other image carrier).
  • the disadvantage of the method is that complete (100%) image changing cannot be achieved.
  • the inventive device may be implemented utilizing the principle of restricted image changing. It can be held that this principle may be applied for changing images in the range shown in Figs. 4-7 but the situation illustrated in Fig. 3 (where the first image takes up the 100% of the image field) cannot be realized.
  • the moving means can provide that the relative displacement of the image carriers 21 , 22 is kept precisely at the preset amount, "foreign" image parts will appear only as very small spots on the device of Fig. 3.
  • each wedge-shaped panel 23 of the second image carrier 22 should smoothly slide between the two corresponding panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 following the image position shown in Fig. 3.
  • the problem of panels becoming stuck in each other is restricted to the vicinity of the wedge points of the panels 23.
  • Fig. 9 shows a section of the thin, transparent guide tape 52.
  • the guide tape 52 is coated with an adhesive layer 53 in the dotted area.
  • the adhesive layer 53 is applied for securing the guide tape 52 section according to Fig. 9 to one of the panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 in the vicinity of the wedge point as indicated in Fig. 10.
  • a transparent guide tape 52 section is mounted on each panel 23 of the first image carrier 21 in a manner shown in Fig. 12.
  • the entire guide tape (all guide tape sections) may be placed and mounted on the panels 23 in a single operation. All guide tape sections are thus simultaneously stuck to the panels 23 at their respective positions shown in Fig. 12.
  • Fig. 12 shows how the dotted sections of the guide tape 52 are secured to the panels 23.
  • the non-adhering portions of each section (shown without dots in the drawing) are introduced one-by-one under the neighbouring panel 23 in a manner illustrated in Fig. 13 where tape portions introduced from the right under the panels are shown in dashed lines.
  • Figs. 16A and 16B The section of the panels 23 taken along line A-A of Fig. 13 is shown in Figs. 16A and 16B (Fig. 16B is on the same page as Fig. 1).
  • the guide tape configuration shown in Fig. 16B also applies to Fig. 1 where the guide tape 52 sections are not shown because they are mounted in a bubble-free manner on the image carriers and thus blend seamlessly into the image such that they are virtually invisible to the casual observer.
  • the bubble-free placement (sticking) of the guide tape 52 on the image carrier contributes to good image quality because the transparent guide tape placed in such a manner constitutes an integral unit with the paper poster as it does not introduce an extra refracting surface and therefore remains invisible when looking at the image.
  • Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the manner of assembling (or rather, interweaving) the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22.
  • the image carriers 21 , 22 may be assembled in the following manner.
  • the second image carrier 22 (presenting the image of a table) is laid down on a horizontal plane surface, and the first image carrier 21 (presenting the image of a house) is placed on the second image carrier 22 according to Fig. 14.
  • panels 23 showing the image of a table are placed above transparent guide tape sections 52 of the neighbouring panels 23 showing a house as illustrated in Fig. 15.
  • the second image carrier 22 shows a table
  • the second image carrier 22 is slid to the right by an amount corresponding approximately to half the width of a panel.
  • the two image carriers are now assembled.
  • the visual impression given by the assembled image carriers is illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • Figs. 16A-20A and Figs. 16B-20B show the cross sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 13 of the four leftmost panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 shown in Fig. 1
  • Figs. 17A, 17B show the cross sectional view of the four leftmost panels 23 of the second image carrier 22 of Fig. 2.
  • Figs. 18A, 18B are cross-sectional views of the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 in the position shown in Fig. 3.
  • Figs. 19A, 19B are cross-sectional views of the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 in the position shown in Fig. 5.
  • Figs. 2OA, 2OB are cross-sectional views of the intertwined image carriers in the position shown in Fig. 7.
  • the entire guide tape 52 (all guide tape sections) may be placed and mounted on the panels 23 in their respective positions shown in Fig. 12 in a single operation utilizing a suitable applying device.
  • Figs. 21-25 will now be referred to describing the configuration and use of such an applying device, a composite tape.
  • the composite tape 50 is a special multi- layer tape.
  • the cross-sectional view of a short portion of the composite tape 50 is shown in Fig. 21.
  • the thickness dimensions of tapes and layers are shown disproportionately magnified.
  • the sectional view of the full-length composite tape 50 is shown in Fig. 22.
  • transfer tape 51 is shown at the top, with sections of the guide tape 52 being located below it (in the middle of the composite tape).
  • An adhesive layer 53 is disposed across approximately one-third of the undersurface of each guide tape 52 section.
  • the bottommost part of the composite tape 50 is a protective tape 54, expediently made of paper, the upper surface of said protective tape 54 being coated with a silicon coating 55.
  • An adhesive coating 56 is disposed on the undersurface of the transfer tape 51 , the sections of the guide tape 52 adhering to said adhesive coating 56.
  • the composite tape 50 is utilized as an applying device in the following manner: First, the protective tape 54 is removed from the bottom of the composite tape 50. Because the silicon coating 55 of the protective tape 54 only weakly adheres to the adhesive layer 53 of the guide tape 52 sections, the protective tape 54 can be removed easily.
  • Fig. 23 shows the sectional view of the transfer tape 51 together with sections of the guide tape 52 mounted thereon after the protective tape 54 has been removed, while Fig. 24 shows a top view of the same.
  • the transfer tape 51 and the guide tape 52 sections disposed thereon are mounted on panels 23 of the first image carrier 21. With this operation a corresponding guide tape 52 section has been mounted on each panel 23 of the first image carrier 21. Now the transfer tape 51 can be removed. The situation after removing the transfer tape 51 is shown in Fig. 26. This is the same as the situation shown in Fig. 12.
  • the free (non- adhering) portions (shown without dots in the drawing) of the guide tape 52 sections are introduced one-by-one under the left neighbouring panel 23. The result of the operation is shown in Fig. 27 (same as the situation shown in Fig. 13).
  • the transfer device described above may be produced relatively cheaply applying known-art technology developed for producing specially cut multiple-layer tapes (such as those used by Parafix, see www.Parafix.com)
  • FIGs. 28-33 Another cheaply producible embodiment of the inventive device for changing images is illustrated in Figs. 28-33.
  • the jam-free movement is provided by the curved (flexed) configuration of the panels 23 rather than by applying guide means.
  • the second image carrier 22 shown in Fig. 28 is wound up tightly around a suitable cylindrical object for a few seconds, and then it is unwound.
  • the panels 23 of the image carrier permanently remain in their curved, arced state illustrated in detail in Fig. 29 after they are unwound from the cylindrical object.
  • Fig. 30 shows the cross-sectional view of the first image carrier 21 , on which a similar operation is carried out. Finally, first image carrier 21 is intertwined with the second image carrier 22.
  • FIG. 31 shows the panels 23 of the image carriers in a phase of the image changing process which corresponds to that shown in Fig. 32
  • Fig. 33 shows a phase corresponding to that of Fig. 7.
  • the curved panels 24 are designated with a different reference numeral in Figures 28-33 than panels 23 to emphasize that in this embodiment the panels 23 are not flat but curved.
  • this embodiment does not have separate guiding means, the points of the slightly curved panels 24, that is, the panels 23 do not bump at each other (get stuck in each other) when the panels are moved.
  • Figs. 34-36 show a further embodiment of the inventive device for changing images where jam-free movement is provided by the curved shape of the panels 23, similarly to the previous exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, however, panels are not flexed during the preparation of the image carriers. Both the first and second image carriers 21 , 22 are flat when they are placed into the image changing device, their panels 23 not being curved yet. The panels 23 will be curved to a shape providing a jam-free image changing process by the device for changing images itself, during operation. The image for changing images thus applies flexing elements 72 for curving (flexing) the panels 23. In this embodiment the flexing elements 72 are implemented as projections 62.
  • Fig. 34 shows the transparent cover sheet 41 on which a decorative frame 29 is painted.
  • a series of tiny round projections 62 is disposed in the midline of the transparent cover sheet 41 made of thin sheet plastic.
  • the number of projections 62 of the transparent cover sheet 41 corresponds to the number of panels 23 belonging to an image carrier.
  • the projections 62 of the transparent cover sheet 41 may for instance be produced by making round, crater- like, calotte-shaped indentations having a depth of approx. 1-2 mm in the transparent plastic sheet by pressing a series of steel balls having a diameter of approx. 10 mm against it.
  • Fig. 35 shows the back sheet 43, on which the series of projections 62 is also produced.
  • the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22 are disposed between the transparent cover sheet 41 and the back sheet 43.
  • Fig. 36 shows a schematic sectional view of the configuration of panels 23 of the first and second image carriers 21 , 22, and the projections 62 disposed on the transparent cover sheet 41 and on the back sheet 43 at the image carrier insertion phase.
  • the panels 23 are curved by the projections 62 into a direction providing that the panels can smoothly slide between each other during the image changing process.
  • the image carriers may be manufactured at extremely low cost because only a printing and a operation is required to produce them.
  • the projections 62 disposed on the transparent cover sheet 41 can be barely noticed and do not deteriorate the aesthetic quality of the image.
  • the image carriers are implemented as an integrated unit exchangeable substantially as a cassette unit.
  • an envelope 61 made of transparent, thin material such as polypropylene sheet is shown.
  • the envelope has one elongated perforation and two circular perforations.
  • Fig. 38 shows an envelope similar to that shown in Fig. 37 but comprising a decorative frame 29 printed thereon.
  • Fig. 39 shows the finished cassette unit 42.
  • the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 are disposed inside the envelope 61 shown in Fig. 38.
  • the cassette unit 42 of Fig. 39 can be shipped securely and on the advertising site it can be inserted in an easy operation into a device for changing images 10 similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8.
  • the jam-free movement of the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22 has been provided by a guide tape 52 secured to the panels 23 and by the wedge-shaped configuration of the panels 23.
  • the shaft of the sprocket wheel 35 shown on the left in Fig. 40 is driven by a low- speed electric motor.
  • the motor is preferably a small-sized synchronous motor, with a simple speed reduction gear mechanism being built into its housing. Such motors have small dimensions, are very reliable and cheap.
  • the motor is not shown in Fig. 40 (and also in Figs. 41-44).
  • the sprocket wheel 35 shown on the left in Fig. 40 rotates the sprocket wheel 35 shown on the right via a chain 36 (preferably a bicycle chain).
  • the chain 36 is connected to one end of a crank 37 by the chain rivet 39 of a chain link of the chain 36.
  • the other end of the crank 37 is connected to a moving sheet 38, to which a cam pin 31 is attached.
  • the chain drive shown in Fig. 40 is very efficient in terms of torque transfer, that is, the rotation of the synchronous motor is very efficiently transformed into the reciprocating straight-line motion of the cam pin 31.
  • the moving sheet 38 is moved by the chain rivet 39 directly (without the introduction of a crank).
  • a slit 40 is disposed in the moving sheet 38, with the chain rivet 39 being adapted for moving in the slit 40.
  • the moving sheet 38 moves through the following phases. In the phase shown in Fig. 41 the moving sheet 38 is being moved by the chain rivet 39 to the right. When the chain rivet 39 reaches its rightmost position, the moving sheet 38 stops and remains halted while the chain rivet 39 is on its way upwards in its right extreme position.
  • Figs. 42-45 illustrate an embodiment where the moving means 30 is disposed outside the support frame 28 of the device for changing images.
  • the device may therefore be implemented applying completely flat frames, including image frames conventionally applied for advertising purposes.
  • Fig. 42 shows the top view of the moving means 30, with Fig. 43 showing a magnified front view of the portion A-A.
  • the moving sheet 38 is made from iron sheet material or any other material attracted by magnets.
  • the moving sheet 38 is moved by the steel chain 36 not through a chain-rivet but via a small, powerful magnet 63 (in other words, through a magnetic connecting piece).
  • a magnet 63 is attached, for instance pasted (the adhesive layer is not shown) to a chain link 64 of the chain 36.
  • the magnet 63 is attracted and adheres to the moving sheet 38. While force conditions permit, the moving sheet 38 moves together with the magnet 63 adhering thereto. When slide-free movement is not permitted by force conditions, the magnet 63 will slide along the surface of the moving sheet 38 adhering thereto. For instance, when the chain link 64 and the magnet 63 attached thereto move along an arc, the magnet 63 will necessarily slide along the moving sheet 38 because the movement of the latter is constrained to a straight line. At the straight-line section of the movement path of the chain link 64 the moving sheet 38 moves together with the magnet 63 until it butts against one of the walls 65 bounding the moving means 30 on the left and on the right.
  • the movement/pause time ratio of the moving sheet 38 can be adjusted by selecting appropriate width dimensions for the moving sheet 38 and an appropriate distance between the walls 65.
  • the applied magnetic connection also functions as a safety clutch. In case, for instance, a playful child leans against the device for changing images and arrests the movement of the poster (the moving image carrier) the magnet 63 will undergo a constant sliding movement along the surface of the moving sheet 38, preventing the device from getting any damage.
  • the moving means 30 advantageously comprises a Bowden cable 66 (such as the Bowden cable applied in bicycles). As it is shown in Fig. 44, the moving means 30 imparts motion to a second moving sheet 67 through a Bowden cable 66, the second moving sheet 67 being disposed inside the support frame 28 of the device.
  • the moving wire 68 of the Bowden cable 66 is attached to the moving sheet 38 by a retaining element 69. Because each image carrier 21 , 22 of the inventive device for changing images is made from a single sheet of paper, the image carriers 21 , 22 have low weight and low frictional resistance. Due these favourable characteristics, the moving means 30 may be less powerful than those applied in known devices. The size of the moving means 30 applied in the embodiment of Figs. 42-45 may be reduced to the extent that the moving means driving the image changing device can be implemented as an adapter 70 disposed in a separate housing. As it is shown in Fig.
  • the input of the adapter 70 can be connected to a wall power outlet, and at the output side the adapter 70 may be connected to the completely flat support frame 28 with a Bowden cable 66.
  • an advertising device capable of changing images on both its front and back sides can be implemented.
  • a further advantage of the solution utilizing an adapter 70 is that electric current need not be introduced into the support frame.
  • illumination means e.g. fluorescent lamps
  • image changing devices utilizing image carriers subdivided into panels can only be illuminated from the front.
  • internal illumination means in a conventional device applying image carriers subdivided into panels, it is necessary to apply image frames of great depth because the moving means is disposed behind the image carriers.
  • the moving means 30 is disposed outside the support frame 28 (and therefore does not take up any space inside), it is not necessary to utilize a particularly deep support frame 28.
  • Fig. 45 Such a device for changing images is shown in Fig. 45, where image carriers are illuminated from the front by two illumination means 71 built into the support frame.
  • the display according to the invention may be produced in a very flat embodiment by utilizing so-called artificial muscles. These imitate the operation of a natural muscle. Artificial muscles are metal wires or thin cords made of organic material that can contract or relax (extend) when actuated by electric current, and thus they may be advantageously applied as moving means in a device for changing images according to the invention.
  • the development of artificial muscles has intensified considerably in research and development industries. Such devices are known in literature, for example from the publication "ELECTROSTRICTIVE POLYMER ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE ACTUATORS" by Roy Kombluh et al. Website of SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, Calif. 94025. (http://www.erg.sri.com/publications/7247-pa-98-032.pdf))
  • the device for changing images according to the invention is not limited to applying the moving means described above but includes any mechanism adapted to provide reciprocating straight-line motion.
  • the scope of the invention includes embodiments where the image carrier is moved not by means of a mechanism driven by an electric motor but by any other means such as with human hands, by the wind or by any other physical action such as the inertial force arising from the braking or acceleration of a public transport vehicle or shopping cart where the image changing device is displayed.
  • Bowden cable is used in a broader sense than its dictionary meaning.
  • the term “Bowden cable” is used to denote all structural elements utilized for force transfer that consist of a thin protective tube and an element disposed inside the tube for undergoing longitudinal displacement. According to the invention this element undergoing longitudinal displacement may not only be a thin steel wire but may also be a liquid medium.
  • the wedge-shaped panels of the image carrier of the inventive device may not necessarily have a shape of a letter V but the term "wedge shape" should be taken in a broader sense, covering shapes that thanks to their gradually widening edges are capable of penetrating between panels of the other image carrier.
  • the gradually widening shape may also be repeated, such as in the case of panels having shapes like the letter W.
  • functions of the moving means shown in the figures may be realized by various drive mechanisms, instead of the exemplary mechanisms shown.
  • Image carriers of the device for changing images herein described undergo horizontal movement inside the support frame 28 of the device during the image changing process.
  • the inventive device for changing images is not restricted to such arrangements but solutions where the image carrier undergoes vertical movement or movement in other directions during the image changing process also fall into the scope of the invention.
  • the device for changing images according to the invention is suitable as advertising means both for indoor and outdoor use as well as for other applications.
  • image changing is taken to mean changing a view of any nature or kind.
  • the image carriers may be reinforced in a known manner (e.g. by weatherproofing image carriers, reinforcing frames) against wear caused by rain, humidity, UV-radiation, excessive temperatures and the like.

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Abstract

The object of the invention is a device for changing images which comprises a, multiple sheet-formed image carriers (21, 22), the image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels adapted for sliding between each other. In the device for changing images according to the invention b, each image is displayed by a single image carrier (21, 22), c, each image carrier (21, 22) is formed of a single sheet, and d, at least one image carrier (21, 22) comprises wedge-shaped panels (23, 24). Another object of the invention is a device for changing images (10) that comprises a, multiple sheet-formed image carriers (21, 22), the image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels (23,24) adapted for sliding between each other, and b, moving means (30) adapted for moving the image carriers (21, 22) relative to one another, and further comprises c, a support frame (28) adapted for holding the image carriers (21, 22). In the device for changing images according to the invention d, the moving means (30) is disposed outside the support frame (28) and e, the device for changing images comprises a Bowden cable (66) connected to the moving means (30), said Bowden cable (66) being applied for force transfer.

Description

Display apparatus for changing images
The object of the invention is a device for changing images that is capable of alternately presenting at least two different images utilizing image carriers. The image carriers are divided into panels adapted for sliding between each other. Image carriers of the image changing device are usually moved with respect to each other by moving means and the image carriers are usually covered by a transparent cover sheet.
Indoor advertising, more particularly, POP (Point of Purchase) and POS (Point of Sale) advertising is becoming more and more important all over the globe. The rapid increase of indoor advertising calls for more intensive use of available advertising surfaces. One way of exploiting the full potential of a given advertising surface is presenting alternating or cyclically changing images. This not only intensifies the use of the advertising surface, but grabs the attention of the observers more effectively than static advertisements, simply because of the moving, changing images.
A prior art solution for changing images is the so called ..prismatic" advertising board that uses multiple prism-shaped elements, triangular in cross-section. Each image is composed of sections located on one of the three faces of the prism-shaped elements, and the images are changed by the synchronized rotation of the image- bearing elements.
Prismatic boards look unwieldy in many indoor environments and cannot be visually appealing due to their excessive weight and dimensions. A serious disadvantage of small-size advertising devices of the above kind is that images have to be glued together and cut into sections on-site, which is a very labour-intensive task. It is mainly due to these disadvantages that prismatic boards could not have become widespread in indoor applications.
Other prior art display apparatus for changing images achieve the presentation of alternating images by means of image carriers subdivided into panels that are adapted for sliding between each other. Such apparatus are disclosed for instance by patents US 5,974,709, US 4,783,923 and US 3,430,771. In these patents the image carrier is made of a relatively strong and rigid material, and the image carriers are moved relative to one another by a complex mechanism. Because of these two reasons the production of the device and of the image carriers is costly, and consequently the replacement of the images to be presented is also expensive.
Normally, images printed on paper are best suited to be viewed by a human eye. Using paper for display purposes is cheap, and printed images on paper have outstanding visual quality, and may be observed from a wide angle. Therefore, it is desirable to use paper for advertising posters.
US patent No. 5,974,709 discloses a solution where the image carrier means are joined in a cassette-like unit that can be placed into a frame. A mechanism suited to provide for the relative displacement of the image carriers of the cassette unit is disposed inside the frame, so it becomes possible to replace only the cassette-like unit when new images are to be presented. Nevertheless, with this apparatus the need for the application of image carriers made of relatively strong material remains there, which makes individual replacement cassettes expensive and reduces the possibility of using such cassette units in large numbers.
US patent application No. 20060236573 discloses a device for changing images that can be produced cheaply and utilizes easily exchangeable image carriers made of paper. This solution has the disadvantage of utilizing preferably two paper image carriers for each image to be presented (thus four image carriers are required in case two images are to be presented). This makes the operation of the device rather costly.
In recent years a growing demand has been observable for applying internal illumination to advertising boards. "Internal illumination" here denotes the application of illumination means (e.g. fluorescents lamps) disposed inside the support frame of the advertising device. However, with image changing devices utilizing image carriers subdivided into panels internal illumination may be difficult to realize. This has two main reasons. First, only front illumination can be applied to the image carriers, otherwise, e.g. in case of back (through)-illumination, the two images would appear at the same time, superposed on each other. Second, in case the images were illuminated from the front by illumination means (e.g. fluorescent lamps) built into the frame, the depth-size of the frame would necessarily increase to unacceptable levels because of the moving means disposed behind the image carriers.
The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for changing images that is ideal for indoor use, is lightweight, has small footprint, can be operated with image carriers made of paper, provides good image quality, and can be produced cheaply. Further objectives are that the device may be produced utilizing conventional, flat image frames and that the device may be fitted with illumination means built into the support frame. Both the advertising device and the image carriers should be producible cheaply, and image carriers should be quickly and easily exchangeable. A particularly important objective is that the advertising device should apply a single image carrier for each image to be presented to fulfil the requirement of utilizing conventional advertising posters made of paper with minimal additional costs.
The solution according to the invention is thus a device for changing images that has multiple sheet-formed image carriers, the image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels adapted for sliding between each other. According to the invention each image is displayed by a single image carrier, each image carrier is formed of a single sheet, and at least one image carrier comprises wedge-shaped panels.
Another solution according to the invention is a device for changing images which comprises multiple sheet-formed image carriers, the image carriers having image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels adapted for sliding between each other, and further comprises moving means for moving the image carriers relative to each other, and also comprises a support frame for holding the image carriers. According to the invention the moving means is disposed outside the support frame, and the device comprises a Bowden cable connected to the moving means, said Bowden cable being applied for force transfer.
In all image changing device designs utilizing image carriers subdivided into panels it is important to ensure that image carriers do not become stuck during the image changing process. Moving image carriers have to be prevented from getting entangled, and edges of panels moving relative to each other have to be prevented from becoming stuck in each other.
Conventional solutions address this problem by utilizing rigid image carriers made of cardboard or other rigid materials, or, in case of posters made of thin paper are applied, image carriers of an image to be presented are made from more than one paper posters so that panels belonging to different images remain overlapped to some extent during the whole image changing process. Devices for changing images of the latter type apply image carrier panels having parallel edges perpendicular to the direction of movement of the image carriers, the panels being arranged in a manner similar to the rungs of a ladder. This means that the panels have a substantially rectangular shape.
The present invention provides a new solution to the problem of jam-free image carrier movement that makes it possible to apply a single, cheap thin paper poster for presenting a single image in very high visual quality.
The invention will now be explained in detail referring to the attached drawings where
Fig. 1. shows the first image carrier of the device of the invention presenting a first image (a house), Fig. 2 shows the second image carrier of the device according to the invention presenting a second image (a table), Fig. 3 shows a device for changing images according to the invention which comprises a moving means and a support frame in a position where the device presents the first image (a house),
Fig. 4-7 illustrate the device for changing images according to Fig. 3 in subsequent phases of the image changing process,
Fig. 8 shows an exploded view illustrating the configuration of the device for changing images of Fig. 3,
Fig. 9 shows a section of the transparent, thin guide tape,
Fig. 10 illustrates a panel of the first image carrier, showing the section of the transparent, thin guiding tape that is attached to the image carrier at the tip of the wedge-shaped panel.
Fig. 11 shows a series of adjacent sections of the guide tape (to be mounted on the first image carrier),
Fig. 12 shows the first image carrier immediately after the guide tape sections have been mounted,
Fig. 13 shows a part of the first image carrier where the non-adhesive portion of all guide tape sections is inserted below the adjoining panel, Fig. 14 illustrates the manner of assembling the two image carriers,
Fig. 15 illustrates the manner of assembling individual panels of the two image carriers,
Figs. 16A, 16B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the first image carrier,
Figs. 17A, 17B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the second image carrier, Fig. 18A, 18B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of both the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where the device presents the first image (a house), Figs. 19A, 19B show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of both of the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where, during the image changing process, portions of both images are presented, Fig. 2OA, 2OB show the cross-sectional view of the four leftmost panels of the assembled first and second image carriers, in a position where the device presents the second image (a table),
Fig. 21 shows the sectional view of a short portion of the composite tape,
Fig. 22 shows the sectional view of a full-length composite tape, Fig. 23 shows the sectional view of the transfer tape, together with the sections of the guide tape mounted thereon, after the protective tape has been removed, Fig. 24 shows the top view of the transfer tape together with the sections of the guide tape mounted thereon, Fig. 25 shows the cross-section of the transfer tape as it is placed on the image carrier,
Fig. 26 shows the cross-section of panels of one of the image carriers and the sections of guide tape mounted thereon immediately after it has been mounted, Fig. 27 shows the cross-section of panels of one of the image carriers and the guide tape sections mounted thereon after the guide tape sections have been properly arranged,
Fig. 28 illustrates the manner of flexing the image carrier panels,
Figs. 29-33 are cross-sectional views of the image carriers having curved panels, Figs. 34-36 show other implementations of image carriers with curved panels and their cover sheets, Figs. 37-39 show the configuration of the integrally exchangeable image carrier cassette,
Figs. 40-43 are schematic views of moving means consisting of a chain and sprocket wheel, and Figs. 44-45 show image changing devices implemented with the application of adapters 70.
Referring to Figs. 1 , 2, and 3, Fig. 1 shows the first image carrier 21 of the device for changing images 10 shown in Fig. 3, whereas in Fig. 2 the second image carrier 22 of said device is shown. The first image carrier 21 presents a first image 14 (a house), while a second image 16 (a table) is presented by the second image carrier 22. The first and second image carriers 21, 22 have wedge-shaped panels 23. The exemplary embodiment of the device for changing images 10 illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be hung on a wall. Main structural elements of the device for changing images 10 are shown in Fig. 8. In the state shown in Fig. 3 the first image 14 (a house) is presented by the device for changing images 10, while in the state shown in Fig. 7 the device presents the second image 16 (a table). Figs. 4-7 show the device for changing images 10 in subsequent intermediate stages of the image changing process. The device for changing images 10 shown in Figs. 3-8 comprises a moving means 30 adapted for moving one of the image carriers and it also has a support frame 28 for holding together and supporting the structural elements of the device. The aesthetic appearance of the device for changing images 10 is enhanced by a decorative frame 29 that is also applied for concealing the spines 26 of the image carriers 21 , 22. The decorative frame 29 may also be implemented by painting or mounting it on a transparent cover sheet 41 (made preferably of plastic).
The prior art principle of changing images applied in the device for changing images 10 is realized by multiple image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, the image carriers being subdivided into 23 panels adapted for sliding between each other. As panels of the image carrier slide between each other, the image presented by the device for changing images 10 gives the best impression if the image carriers are substantially two-dimensional plates, with a negligible thickness relative to the size of the image.
In the embodiment herein described the image parts of the first and second images 14, 16 are disposed on image carriers 21 , 22 made preferably of paper. The image carriers are subdivided into wedge-shaped panels 23 that in the assembled state of the image carriers 21 , 22 can slide between each other.
An important consideration for devices for changing images employing image carriers with panels 23 sliding between each other is that panels have to be prevented from getting entangled and stuck during the image changing process. According to the inventive solution the panels 23 of the image carriers are wedge-shaped. Due to the wedge-shaped configuration of the panels, the problem of panel edges getting stuck becomes reduced to the problem of entangled (wedge) points, which can be solved more easily.
An image is presented by a single image carrier. The first image carrier 21 presents the first image 14 (a house), while the second image carrier 22 presents the second image 16 (a table).
Individual image carriers are made of a single sheet of paper. The first image carrier 21 is preferably made from a poster showing a house printed on paper, whereas the second image carrier 22 is made from another poster (showing a table) printed on paper. Image carriers may be produced by cutting the paper posters showing the first and second images with a cutting tool or laser cutting machine according to the cut pattern shown in thin lines in Figs. 1-2 to form the wedge-shaped panels 23.
The moving means 30 applied in the device for changing images 10 shown in Figs. 3-8 is driven by a (preferably small-sized) electric motor. A mechanism known per se, adapted for transforming rotary motion into reciprocating straight-line motion, is connected to the output shaft of the motor, to which mechanism a cam pin 31 adapted for moving the second image carrier 22 to right and left and left to right in a manner shown in Fig. 8 is connected. The cam pin 31 can move the second image carrier 22 with respect to the first image carrier 21 supported by the support pins 33, 34 to achieve image changing.
According to the configuration shown in Fig. 8 the moving means 30 moves the second image carrier 22 directly through the cam pin 31.
Alternatively, movement may be imparted to the image carrier by attaching a rectangular cover sheet (made preferably of paper) to the back of the second image carrier 22 with adhesive strips along the spines 26 of the second image carrier 22 and moving the cover sheet by the moving means. This latter solution, where a back sheet is secured to the second image carrier 22 along the spines 26, provides firmer support to the image carrier made of thin paper and also provides mechanical protection, which makes shipping and installation of the image carriers safer due to the reduced vulnerability of the image carriers. The size of the cover sheet is substantially equal to that of the second image carrier 22. The cover sheet may be connected to the moving means in a number of ways known in the art, such as by a connection produced automatically. For instance, the moving means may be connected to the image carrier through a magnetic connecting element, e.g. utilizing a thin iron plate attached to the cover sheet, the iron plate sticking to a magnetic plate of the moving means that is undergoing reciprocating straight-line motion.
In the present invention a principle known per se is utilized to achieve the changing of images. The principle is explained in detail referring to Figures 9-20B.
According to the principle in question the image should be subdivided into bands or strips. This is realized by the panels 23 of the image carriers 21 , 22.
Utilizing such a principle for changing images presents a problem, namely that relative positions of strips (the panels 23) belonging to the same image have to be fixed with some structural element.
Thus the image carriers are not cut into separate pieces but, in a way applied by prior art solutions, the image carriers are provided with cuts between the strips formed by the panels 23. Individual strips (the panels 23) are held together by a spine 26 running along the borders of the panels 23.
The panels 23 have to be prevented from getting stuck in each other by some means. The simplest solution to prevent panel jams is the known method of restricted movement. According to this method the degree of overlapping of panels 23 presenting the two images is always kept above zero (that is, panels 23 of one of the image carriers are never fully removed from between the panels belonging to the other image carrier). The disadvantage of the method is that complete (100%) image changing cannot be achieved. The inventive device may be implemented utilizing the principle of restricted image changing. It can be held that this principle may be applied for changing images in the range shown in Figs. 4-7 but the situation illustrated in Fig. 3 (where the first image takes up the 100% of the image field) cannot be realized. In case of known art devices for changing images utilizing the principle of restricted movement (which comprise panels 23 of rectangular shape instead of wedge-shaped ones) narrow "foreign" image strips appear between the sectors of presented images. These narrow "foreign" strips of panels of the image carrier presenting the just disappearing image remain visible during the image changing process, regardless of which image is being presented by the device. In case of the device for changing images according to the invention the situation is more favourable as only little diamond-shaped "foreign" image parts appear in the middle of the panels 23 as it can be seen in Fig. 4. A further advantage is that the tiny "foreign" image parts appear only in one of the pictures to be presented. The other image (in our case, the one showing a table) is always free of "foreign" parts. This behaviour results from the fact that - because due to the wedge-shaped configuration of the panels no jamming problems can occur in the position where image carriers are completely interwoven (and the device presents the image of a table) - movement should only be restricted in one direction.
If the moving means can provide that the relative displacement of the image carriers 21 , 22 is kept precisely at the preset amount, "foreign" image parts will appear only as very small spots on the device of Fig. 3.
Referring to Figs. 9-20B the configuration of a further embodiment of the invention will now described. According to this embodiment, the jam-free movement of the panels 23 is provided by sections of transparent guide tape secured to the wedge- shaped panels 23. The problem to be solved is that each wedge-shaped panel 23 of the second image carrier 22 should smoothly slide between the two corresponding panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 following the image position shown in Fig. 3. As has been already discussed, in case wedge-shaped panels 23 are applied, the problem of panels becoming stuck in each other is restricted to the vicinity of the wedge points of the panels 23.
Fig. 9 shows a section of the thin, transparent guide tape 52. On one side the guide tape 52 is coated with an adhesive layer 53 in the dotted area. The adhesive layer 53 is applied for securing the guide tape 52 section according to Fig. 9 to one of the panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 in the vicinity of the wedge point as indicated in Fig. 10. Similarly, a transparent guide tape 52 section is mounted on each panel 23 of the first image carrier 21 in a manner shown in Fig. 12.
Utilizing a composite tape (to be detailed below) as applying device, the entire guide tape (all guide tape sections) may be placed and mounted on the panels 23 in a single operation. All guide tape sections are thus simultaneously stuck to the panels 23 at their respective positions shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 12 shows how the dotted sections of the guide tape 52 are secured to the panels 23. After the guide tape 52 sections have been mounted on the panels, the non-adhering portions of each section (shown without dots in the drawing) are introduced one-by-one under the neighbouring panel 23 in a manner illustrated in Fig. 13 where tape portions introduced from the right under the panels are shown in dashed lines.
The section of the panels 23 taken along line A-A of Fig. 13 is shown in Figs. 16A and 16B (Fig. 16B is on the same page as Fig. 1). The guide tape configuration shown in Fig. 16B also applies to Fig. 1 where the guide tape 52 sections are not shown because they are mounted in a bubble-free manner on the image carriers and thus blend seamlessly into the image such that they are virtually invisible to the casual observer. This constitutes a significant advantage for the inventive solution, because with the application of a cheap, transparent guide tape 52 mounted in a bubble-free manner on the wedge-shaped panels 23 the jam-free motion of the image carrier is ensured while perfect image quality is preserved. The bubble-free placement (sticking) of the guide tape 52 on the image carrier contributes to good image quality because the transparent guide tape placed in such a manner constitutes an integral unit with the paper poster as it does not introduce an extra refracting surface and therefore remains invisible when looking at the image.
Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the manner of assembling (or rather, interweaving) the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22. The image carriers 21 , 22 may be assembled in the following manner. The second image carrier 22 (presenting the image of a table) is laid down on a horizontal plane surface, and the first image carrier 21 (presenting the image of a house) is placed on the second image carrier 22 according to Fig. 14. Then, advancing for instance from left to right, panels 23 showing the image of a table are placed above transparent guide tape sections 52 of the neighbouring panels 23 showing a house as illustrated in Fig. 15. After this operation has been completed with all panels 23, the second image carrier 22 (showing a table) is slid to the right by an amount corresponding approximately to half the width of a panel. The two image carriers are now assembled. The visual impression given by the assembled image carriers is illustrated in Fig. 5.
The configuration of panels 23 in different stages of the image changing process is illustrated in cross-sectional views shown in Figs. 16A-20A and Figs. 16B-20B as follows. Figs. 16A, 16B show the cross sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 13 of the four leftmost panels 23 of the first image carrier 21 shown in Fig. 1 , whereas Figs. 17A, 17B show the cross sectional view of the four leftmost panels 23 of the second image carrier 22 of Fig. 2.
Figs. 18A, 18B are cross-sectional views of the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 in the position shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 19A, 19B are cross-sectional views of the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 in the position shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 2OA, 2OB are cross-sectional views of the intertwined image carriers in the position shown in Fig. 7.
As it has been already mentioned referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the entire guide tape 52 (all guide tape sections) may be placed and mounted on the panels 23 in their respective positions shown in Fig. 12 in a single operation utilizing a suitable applying device. Figs. 21-25 will now be referred to describing the configuration and use of such an applying device, a composite tape. The composite tape 50 is a special multi- layer tape. The cross-sectional view of a short portion of the composite tape 50 is shown in Fig. 21. For easier comprehension the thickness dimensions of tapes and layers are shown disproportionately magnified. The sectional view of the full-length composite tape 50 is shown in Fig. 22. In the drawings, transfer tape 51 is shown at the top, with sections of the guide tape 52 being located below it (in the middle of the composite tape). An adhesive layer 53 is disposed across approximately one-third of the undersurface of each guide tape 52 section. The bottommost part of the composite tape 50 is a protective tape 54, expediently made of paper, the upper surface of said protective tape 54 being coated with a silicon coating 55. An adhesive coating 56 is disposed on the undersurface of the transfer tape 51 , the sections of the guide tape 52 adhering to said adhesive coating 56.
The composite tape 50 is utilized as an applying device in the following manner: First, the protective tape 54 is removed from the bottom of the composite tape 50. Because the silicon coating 55 of the protective tape 54 only weakly adheres to the adhesive layer 53 of the guide tape 52 sections, the protective tape 54 can be removed easily. Fig. 23 shows the sectional view of the transfer tape 51 together with sections of the guide tape 52 mounted thereon after the protective tape 54 has been removed, while Fig. 24 shows a top view of the same.
Second, having positioned the transfer tape 51 according to Fig. 25, the transfer tape 51 and the guide tape 52 sections disposed thereon are mounted on panels 23 of the first image carrier 21. With this operation a corresponding guide tape 52 section has been mounted on each panel 23 of the first image carrier 21. Now the transfer tape 51 can be removed. The situation after removing the transfer tape 51 is shown in Fig. 26. This is the same as the situation shown in Fig. 12. In the next step, the free (non- adhering) portions (shown without dots in the drawing) of the guide tape 52 sections are introduced one-by-one under the left neighbouring panel 23. The result of the operation is shown in Fig. 27 (same as the situation shown in Fig. 13). The transfer device described above may be produced relatively cheaply applying known-art technology developed for producing specially cut multiple-layer tapes (such as those used by Parafix, see www.Parafix.com)
Another cheaply producible embodiment of the inventive device for changing images is illustrated in Figs. 28-33. In this embodiment the jam-free movement is provided by the curved (flexed) configuration of the panels 23 rather than by applying guide means. According to a conceivable exemplary implementation the second image carrier 22 shown in Fig. 28 is wound up tightly around a suitable cylindrical object for a few seconds, and then it is unwound. The panels 23 of the image carrier permanently remain in their curved, arced state illustrated in detail in Fig. 29 after they are unwound from the cylindrical object. Fig. 30 shows the cross-sectional view of the first image carrier 21 , on which a similar operation is carried out. Finally, first image carrier 21 is intertwined with the second image carrier 22. Sectional views of the two intertwined image carriers are shown in Figs. 31-33. Fig. 31 shows the panels 23 of the image carriers in a phase of the image changing process which corresponds to that shown in Fig. 32, while Fig. 33 shows a phase corresponding to that of Fig. 7. The curved panels 24 are designated with a different reference numeral in Figures 28-33 than panels 23 to emphasize that in this embodiment the panels 23 are not flat but curved.
Although this embodiment does not have separate guiding means, the points of the slightly curved panels 24, that is, the panels 23 do not bump at each other (get stuck in each other) when the panels are moved.
Figs. 34-36 show a further embodiment of the inventive device for changing images where jam-free movement is provided by the curved shape of the panels 23, similarly to the previous exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, however, panels are not flexed during the preparation of the image carriers. Both the first and second image carriers 21 , 22 are flat when they are placed into the image changing device, their panels 23 not being curved yet. The panels 23 will be curved to a shape providing a jam-free image changing process by the device for changing images itself, during operation. The image for changing images thus applies flexing elements 72 for curving (flexing) the panels 23. In this embodiment the flexing elements 72 are implemented as projections 62. Fig. 34 shows the transparent cover sheet 41 on which a decorative frame 29 is painted. A series of tiny round projections 62 is disposed in the midline of the transparent cover sheet 41 made of thin sheet plastic. The number of projections 62 of the transparent cover sheet 41 corresponds to the number of panels 23 belonging to an image carrier. The projections 62 of the transparent cover sheet 41 may for instance be produced by making round, crater- like, calotte-shaped indentations having a depth of approx. 1-2 mm in the transparent plastic sheet by pressing a series of steel balls having a diameter of approx. 10 mm against it. Fig. 35 shows the back sheet 43, on which the series of projections 62 is also produced. In the inventive device for changing images the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22 are disposed between the transparent cover sheet 41 and the back sheet 43. The wedge points of panels 23 of the image carriers are aligned along the straight line constituted by the projections 62. Fig. 36 shows a schematic sectional view of the configuration of panels 23 of the first and second image carriers 21 , 22, and the projections 62 disposed on the transparent cover sheet 41 and on the back sheet 43 at the image carrier insertion phase. The panels 23 are curved by the projections 62 into a direction providing that the panels can smoothly slide between each other during the image changing process. According to this implementation the image carriers may be manufactured at extremely low cost because only a printing and a operation is required to produce them. The projections 62 disposed on the transparent cover sheet 41 can be barely noticed and do not deteriorate the aesthetic quality of the image.
According to a further advantageous embodiment illustrated in Figs. 37-39, the image carriers are implemented as an integrated unit exchangeable substantially as a cassette unit. In Fig. 37 an envelope 61 made of transparent, thin material such as polypropylene sheet is shown. The envelope has one elongated perforation and two circular perforations. Fig. 38 shows an envelope similar to that shown in Fig. 37 but comprising a decorative frame 29 printed thereon. Fig. 39 shows the finished cassette unit 42. In the finished cassette unit 42 the intertwined first and second image carriers 21 , 22 are disposed inside the envelope 61 shown in Fig. 38. The cassette unit 42 of Fig. 39 can be shipped securely and on the advertising site it can be inserted in an easy operation into a device for changing images 10 similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8.
According to the embodiments described above referring to Figs. 9-20B, the jam-free movement of the first image carrier 21 and the second image carrier 22 has been provided by a guide tape 52 secured to the panels 23 and by the wedge-shaped configuration of the panels 23.
In all known image changing devices applying panels 23 sliding between each other images are changed utilizing reciprocating straight-line motion. A great variety of moving means capable of providing such motion are known, and many types of such moving means are applicable in the devices according to the present invention. It is thus not necessary to describe the moving means applied in the present invention in full detail. Therefore, only some particularly advantageous embodiments of the moving means will be sketched below.
The shaft of the sprocket wheel 35 shown on the left in Fig. 40 is driven by a low- speed electric motor. The motor is preferably a small-sized synchronous motor, with a simple speed reduction gear mechanism being built into its housing. Such motors have small dimensions, are very reliable and cheap. The motor is not shown in Fig. 40 (and also in Figs. 41-44). The sprocket wheel 35 shown on the left in Fig. 40 rotates the sprocket wheel 35 shown on the right via a chain 36 (preferably a bicycle chain). The chain 36 is connected to one end of a crank 37 by the chain rivet 39 of a chain link of the chain 36. The other end of the crank 37 is connected to a moving sheet 38, to which a cam pin 31 is attached.
The chain drive shown in Fig. 40 is very efficient in terms of torque transfer, that is, the rotation of the synchronous motor is very efficiently transformed into the reciprocating straight-line motion of the cam pin 31. In the moving means 30 shown in Fig. 41 the moving sheet 38 is moved by the chain rivet 39 directly (without the introduction of a crank). A slit 40 is disposed in the moving sheet 38, with the chain rivet 39 being adapted for moving in the slit 40. According to this embodiment the moving sheet 38 moves through the following phases. In the phase shown in Fig. 41 the moving sheet 38 is being moved by the chain rivet 39 to the right. When the chain rivet 39 reaches its rightmost position, the moving sheet 38 stops and remains halted while the chain rivet 39 is on its way upwards in its right extreme position. As the chain rivet 39 reaches its right-top extreme position and takes a turn to the left, the moving sheet 38 starts moving to the left and carries on moving left until the chain rivet 39 reaches its left-top extreme position. The moving sheet 38 thus remains stopped for a given amount of time in its two (right and left) extreme positions in each image changing cycle. This method provides a more favourable full-picture time/transitional-picture time ratio. Images are halted in the extreme positions while the motor shaft is constantly rotating. This construction is very reliable and cheap as motor control means are not necessary.
Figs. 42-45 illustrate an embodiment where the moving means 30 is disposed outside the support frame 28 of the device for changing images. The device may therefore be implemented applying completely flat frames, including image frames conventionally applied for advertising purposes. Fig. 42 shows the top view of the moving means 30, with Fig. 43 showing a magnified front view of the portion A-A. The moving sheet 38 is made from iron sheet material or any other material attracted by magnets. Here the moving sheet 38 is moved by the steel chain 36 not through a chain-rivet but via a small, powerful magnet 63 (in other words, through a magnetic connecting piece). As it can be seen in Fig. 43, a magnet 63 is attached, for instance pasted (the adhesive layer is not shown) to a chain link 64 of the chain 36. The magnet 63 is attracted and adheres to the moving sheet 38. While force conditions permit, the moving sheet 38 moves together with the magnet 63 adhering thereto. When slide-free movement is not permitted by force conditions, the magnet 63 will slide along the surface of the moving sheet 38 adhering thereto. For instance, when the chain link 64 and the magnet 63 attached thereto move along an arc, the magnet 63 will necessarily slide along the moving sheet 38 because the movement of the latter is constrained to a straight line. At the straight-line section of the movement path of the chain link 64 the moving sheet 38 moves together with the magnet 63 until it butts against one of the walls 65 bounding the moving means 30 on the left and on the right. The movement/pause time ratio of the moving sheet 38 can be adjusted by selecting appropriate width dimensions for the moving sheet 38 and an appropriate distance between the walls 65. The applied magnetic connection also functions as a safety clutch. In case, for instance, a playful child leans against the device for changing images and arrests the movement of the poster (the moving image carrier) the magnet 63 will undergo a constant sliding movement along the surface of the moving sheet 38, preventing the device from getting any damage. The moving means 30 according to this embodiment advantageously comprises a Bowden cable 66 (such as the Bowden cable applied in bicycles). As it is shown in Fig. 44, the moving means 30 imparts motion to a second moving sheet 67 through a Bowden cable 66, the second moving sheet 67 being disposed inside the support frame 28 of the device. The moving wire 68 of the Bowden cable 66 is attached to the moving sheet 38 by a retaining element 69. Because each image carrier 21 , 22 of the inventive device for changing images is made from a single sheet of paper, the image carriers 21 , 22 have low weight and low frictional resistance. Due these favourable characteristics, the moving means 30 may be less powerful than those applied in known devices. The size of the moving means 30 applied in the embodiment of Figs. 42-45 may be reduced to the extent that the moving means driving the image changing device can be implemented as an adapter 70 disposed in a separate housing. As it is shown in Fig. 44, the input of the adapter 70 can be connected to a wall power outlet, and at the output side the adapter 70 may be connected to the completely flat support frame 28 with a Bowden cable 66. In case a configuration utilizing an adapter 70 is applied (particularly for devices hanging down from the ceiling), an advertising device capable of changing images on both its front and back sides can be implemented. A further advantage of the solution utilizing an adapter 70 is that electric current need not be introduced into the support frame.
Internal illumination of the image changing device by illumination means (e.g. fluorescent lamps) disposed in the support frame may easily be implemented according to the invention. For reasons explained above, image changing devices utilizing image carriers subdivided into panels can only be illuminated from the front. However, in case images are illuminated from the front by internal illumination means in a conventional device applying image carriers subdivided into panels, it is necessary to apply image frames of great depth because the moving means is disposed behind the image carriers. Since according to this "adapter" implementation of the device for changing images the moving means 30 is disposed outside the support frame 28 (and therefore does not take up any space inside), it is not necessary to utilize a particularly deep support frame 28. Such a device for changing images is shown in Fig. 45, where image carriers are illuminated from the front by two illumination means 71 built into the support frame.
The display according to the invention may be produced in a very flat embodiment by utilizing so-called artificial muscles. These imitate the operation of a natural muscle. Artificial muscles are metal wires or thin cords made of organic material that can contract or relax (extend) when actuated by electric current, and thus they may be advantageously applied as moving means in a device for changing images according to the invention. The development of artificial muscles has intensified considerably in research and development industries. Such devices are known in literature, for example from the publication "ELECTROSTRICTIVE POLYMER ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE ACTUATORS" by Roy Kombluh et al. Website of SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, Calif. 94025. (http://www.erg.sri.com/publications/7247-pa-98-032.pdf))
The device for changing images according to the invention is not limited to applying the moving means described above but includes any mechanism adapted to provide reciprocating straight-line motion. Moreover, the scope of the invention includes embodiments where the image carrier is moved not by means of a mechanism driven by an electric motor but by any other means such as with human hands, by the wind or by any other physical action such as the inertial force arising from the braking or acceleration of a public transport vehicle or shopping cart where the image changing device is displayed.
In the context of the present invention the term "Bowden cable" is used in a broader sense than its dictionary meaning. For the sake of brevity, the term "Bowden cable" is used to denote all structural elements utilized for force transfer that consist of a thin protective tube and an element disposed inside the tube for undergoing longitudinal displacement. According to the invention this element undergoing longitudinal displacement may not only be a thin steel wire but may also be a liquid medium.
The invention is not limited to the shown and disclosed embodiments, but other elements, improvements and variations are also within the scope of the invention. For instance, the wedge-shaped panels of the image carrier of the inventive device may not necessarily have a shape of a letter V but the term "wedge shape" should be taken in a broader sense, covering shapes that thanks to their gradually widening edges are capable of penetrating between panels of the other image carrier. The gradually widening shape may also be repeated, such as in the case of panels having shapes like the letter W. For example, it is clear for those skilled in the art that functions of the moving means shown in the figures may be realized by various drive mechanisms, instead of the exemplary mechanisms shown.
Image carriers of the device for changing images herein described undergo horizontal movement inside the support frame 28 of the device during the image changing process. The inventive device for changing images is not restricted to such arrangements but solutions where the image carrier undergoes vertical movement or movement in other directions during the image changing process also fall into the scope of the invention.
The device for changing images according to the invention is suitable as advertising means both for indoor and outdoor use as well as for other applications. In the context of the present invention the term "image changing" is taken to mean changing a view of any nature or kind. In case of outdoor use, the image carriers may be reinforced in a known manner (e.g. by weatherproofing image carriers, reinforcing frames) against wear caused by rain, humidity, UV-radiation, excessive temperatures and the like. device for changing images 43 back sheet first image 50 composite tape second image 51 transfer tape first image carrier 52 guide tape second image carrier 53 adhesive layer panel 54 protective tape curved panel 55 silicon coating spine 56 adhesive coating support frame 61 envelope decorative frame 62 projection moving means 63 magnet cam pin 64 chain link support pin 65 wall sprocket wheel 66 Bowden cable chain 67 moving sheet crank 68 moving wire moving sheet 69 retaining element chain rivet 70 adapter slit 71 illumination means transparent cover sheet 72 flexing element cassette unit

Claims

Claims
1. Device for changing images, comprising a, multiple sheet-formed image carriers (21 , 22), the image carriers comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels (23,24) adapted for sliding between each other, characterised by that b, each image is displayed by a single image carrier (21 , 22), c, each image carrier (21 , 22) is formed of a single sheet, and d, at least one image carrier (21 , 22) comprises wedge-shaped panels (23, 24).
2. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that a transparent, thin guide tape (52) is fixedly attached to the image carrier (21 , 22) at the tip of the wedge-shaped panels (23) of at least one of the image carriers (21 , 22).
3. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that said device for changing images (10) comprises flexing elements (72, 62) adapted for curving the panels (23).
4. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that the image carriers (21 , 22) have curved panels (23, 24) adapted for sliding between each other.
5. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterized in that the image carriers (21 , 22) are substantially two-dimensional plates, with a negligible thickness relative to the size of the image.
6. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterized by that the image carriers (21, 22) are made of paper.
7. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterised by that it has moving means (30) adapted for moving the image carriers (21 , 22) relative to one another.
8. The device for changing images according to Claim 6, characterised by that it comprises a moving means (30) consisting of a chain (36) and sprocket wheel (35).
9. The device for changing images of Claim 1, characterised by that it has a support frame (28) adapted for supporting the image carriers (21 , 22), and the moving means (30) is disposed outside the support frame (28).
10. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that at least one image carrier (21 , 22) is covered by a transparent cover sheet (41).
11. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that it comprises a back sheet (43) attached to one of the image carriers (22) along the spines (26) thereof.
12. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterised by that the image carriers (21 , 22) are implemented as an integrated unit exchangeable substantially as a cassette unit (42).
13. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterised by that the moving means is connected to an image carrier (21 , 22) through a magnetic connecting element.
14. The device for changing images according to Claim 1 , characterised by that the moving means (30) adapted for moving the image carriers (21 , 22) relative to one another is made of artificial muscle.
15. The device for changing images of Claim 1 , characterised by that it has illumination means (71) disposed inside the support frame (28).
16. Device for changing images, comprising a, multiple sheet-formed image carriers (21 , 22), the image carrier comprising image parts constituting at least two different images, and the image carriers being subdivided into panels (23,24) adapted for sliding between each other, b, moving means (30) adapted for moving the image carriers (21 , 22) relative to one another, and further comprises c, a support frame (28) adapted for holding the image carriers (21 , 22), characterised by that d, the moving means (30) is disposed outside the support frame (28), and e, the device comprises a Bowden cable (66) connected to the moving means (30), said Bowden cable (66) being applied for force transfer.
PCT/HU2007/000114 2006-11-28 2007-11-27 Display apparatus for changing images WO2008065459A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
HUP0600875 2006-11-28
HU0600875A HUP0600875A2 (en) 2006-11-28 2006-11-28 Picture alternating device

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WO2008065459A1 true WO2008065459A1 (en) 2008-06-05

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Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2799105A (en) * 1954-05-25 1957-07-16 Tilley William Kemp Inter-changeable picture means
US3430372A (en) * 1966-11-07 1969-03-04 Nat Advertising Co Display device with reversible and replaceable four-message display cartridge
SU625633A3 (en) * 1976-01-16 1978-09-25 Сосьете Аноним Д.Б.А., (Фирма) Bowden cable
US4759141A (en) * 1985-06-18 1988-07-26 Youhitirou Aoyagi Display sheet apparatus
SU1513505A1 (en) * 1986-11-03 1989-10-07 Э.И.Ионтель Demonstration apparatus
US5094022A (en) * 1989-02-27 1992-03-10 Rapid Mounting And Finishing Company Display device
US5974709A (en) * 1994-03-09 1999-11-02 I.D. Cassette Limited Display apparatus
WO2004057556A1 (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-07-08 Bognar Jozsef Display apparatus for changing images

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2799105A (en) * 1954-05-25 1957-07-16 Tilley William Kemp Inter-changeable picture means
US3430372A (en) * 1966-11-07 1969-03-04 Nat Advertising Co Display device with reversible and replaceable four-message display cartridge
SU625633A3 (en) * 1976-01-16 1978-09-25 Сосьете Аноним Д.Б.А., (Фирма) Bowden cable
US4759141A (en) * 1985-06-18 1988-07-26 Youhitirou Aoyagi Display sheet apparatus
SU1513505A1 (en) * 1986-11-03 1989-10-07 Э.И.Ионтель Demonstration apparatus
US5094022A (en) * 1989-02-27 1992-03-10 Rapid Mounting And Finishing Company Display device
US5974709A (en) * 1994-03-09 1999-11-02 I.D. Cassette Limited Display apparatus
WO2004057556A1 (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-07-08 Bognar Jozsef Display apparatus for changing images

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HU0600875D0 (en) 2007-01-29

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