WO2015034380A1 - System for ejecting confetti and/or streamers - Google Patents
System for ejecting confetti and/or streamers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2015034380A1 WO2015034380A1 PCT/PL2014/000097 PL2014000097W WO2015034380A1 WO 2015034380 A1 WO2015034380 A1 WO 2015034380A1 PL 2014000097 W PL2014000097 W PL 2014000097W WO 2015034380 A1 WO2015034380 A1 WO 2015034380A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- confetti
- streamers
- housing
- store
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63J—DEVICES FOR THEATRES, CIRCUSES, OR THE LIKE; CONJURING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
- A63J5/00—Auxiliaries for producing special effects on stages, or in circuses or arenas
- A63J5/02—Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
- A63J5/028—Devices for making snow effects
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H37/00—Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours ; Cracker bonbons or the like
Definitions
- the subject of this invention is a system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers, intended to multiple ejecting streamers and confetti with the use of pressurized air.
- the confetti ejector known from the Polish utility patent No 53106, consists of a cylindrical housing with an inner ring on which an upper and lower rollers are located. Between the upper and the lower roller there is a blowing charge. The upper part of the housing is closed with a plug.
- a multimedia set known from the US patent application No US5304096, comprises a steering unit connected with a mechanism pulling out two ejection devices, which act sequentially.
- the first device ejects confetti and streamers from the housing whereas the second one ejects sparklers and fireworks.
- the system is- equipped with an audio device generating sound effects such as music in response to the action of a particular ejection device.
- the essence of the system consists in that its housing equipped with a tube comprises a pneumatic and an electrical system.
- the pneumatic system has an external supplying container connected through a distributor with a reducing valve, which through an equalizing container and a draining valve is connected through air orifices with the tube fixed on the housing, and the distributor with the reducing valve is also connected through the air orifices with a rotating nozzle, located at the outlet of the tube, and with at least one pair of servomotors where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes made in a loading tray.
- the electrical system has a controller connected to DMX junctions, narrow angle lens LEDs seated in the tube, wireless communication module, air valves and draining valve.
- Positioning head TP is advantageously equipped with a speed junction for a stand and sensors: anti-collision ultrasonic sensor seated in the tube, temperature and humidity sensors seated in the tube, outlet velocity sensor and tray position sensor seated in the housing.
- the controller and positioning head TP are advantageously supplied with a battery.
- the loading trays and the nests of cartridges equipped with push rods are se'ated in the housing.
- the loading tray is made in a shape of an elongated flat rectangular openwork cassette, equipped along the longer sides, at the top, with guiding edges, wherein at the both shorter sides of the loading tray, three protruding stabilizing and driving elements are fixed, whereas at the central stabilizing and driving element there is a fixing hole for the servomotor arm, in addition, at each longer side of the loading tray two air orifices connected with two chambers for transferring streamers to the tube are made and the chambers are separated by a wall sealing the ejection chamber, lower surfaces support the piles of streamers while two other walls are sealing and pushing streamers to the ejection chamber.
- the housing is made in a shape of an elongated rectangular prism in which two ejection chambers are made in a form of transverse channels for loading trays, and perpendicular to them there is an air orifice in the housing supplying pressurized air while on the other side there is a hole for the tube and an outlet hole in the housing while along both the channels, at the top, two guiding grooves for guiding edges of loading trays are made and, at the bottom, there is a space for sliding shoes of the loading trays.
- the push rod has a case in which the push rod arm and a spring, unwind from a drum, mounted on a support of the spring drum, are fixed.
- the cartridge for a streamers pile is placed in a case closed with a cartridge lid, and along the cartridge case a vertical notch for the push rod arm is made and at the top there are two symmetrical parallel notches for the pin leaf and at the upper edge of the cartridge there is a hole for the cartridge lid.
- the cartridge for confetti is made as a closed store for confetti, equipped with a ballast, whereby the confetti store, at the side opposite to the ballast, has a surface exposed to pressurized air.
- the confetti store is closed with a movable lid and is loose fitted to the movable lid, whereby on the moveable store lid there is a clip or alternatively, the confetti store is close fitted to the store lid, whereby on the moveable store lid there is a hook, or the confetti store is closed with a foil.
- the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers due to using of pressurized air for a single repeatable streamers and confetti ejection, enables control of the ejection moment including: time, direction, speed of streamers and confetti ejection, assuring, at the same time, similar orientation of every ejected streamer in relation to direction of movement, which makes the streamers expand spontaneously during the flight at predefined distance and trajectory, which makes possible to plan the visual effect with the use of additional lighting of the streamers and confetti, moving in air.
- the system makes possible to perform longer and more spectacular shows controlled and arranged by an operator, in a higher degree.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers in a top view
- Fig. 2 - a schematic diagram of the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers in a side view
- Fig. 3 - loading trays
- Fig. 5 push rod
- Fig. 6 cartridge for streamers
- Fig. 7a, Fig. 7b, Fig. 7c and Fig. 7d show possible variants of realization.
- the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers has a pneumatic and electric system fixed in housing 6 equipped with tube 10.
- the pneumatic system has external supplying container 3 connected through distributor with reducing valve 1, which through equalizing container 2 and draining valve 5 is connected with air orifices in tray 29 and housing 34 with tube 10 fixed in housing 6.
- the distributor with reducing valve 1 is also connected through air valves 16 with rotating nozzle 60, located at the outlet of the tube 10 and two pairs of servomotors 8, where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes 25 made in the two loading trays 7.
- the electrical system has controller 15 connected to DMX junction 12, narrow angle lens diodes LED 13 seated in tube 10, wireless communication module 23, air valves 16 and draining valve 5.
- Positioning head TP 9 is equipped with a speed junction for the stand 22 and sensors anti-collision ultrasonic sensor 14 seated in tube 10, temperature and humidity sensors 17 seated in tube 10, outlet velocity sensor 20 and tray position sensor 21 seated in housing 6. Controller 15 and positioning head TP 9 are supplied with battery 18.
- housing 6 there are seated loading trays 7 and nests of cartridges 4 equipped with push rods 19.
- Loading tray 7 is made in a shape of an elongated flat rectangular openwork cassette, equipped along the longer sides, at the top, with guiding edges 32. At the both shorter sides of loading tray 7, three protruding stabilizing and driving elements are fixed, and at the central stabilizing and driving element there is fixing hole 25 for servomotor arm 8.
- tray 29 At each longer side of loading tray 7, two air orifices of tray 29 are made, which are connected with two chambers for transferring streamers 26 to tube 10, and the chambers are separated from ejection chamber 39 by sealing wall 27, lower surfaces 31 support piles of streamers 24 while two other walls 30 seal and push streamers to ejection chamber 39.
- Housing 6 is made in a shape of an elongated rectangular prism in which two ejection chambers 39 in a form of transverse channels 33 for loading trays 7 are made and perpendicular to them there is an air orifice 34 in the housing supplying pressurized air while on the other side there is hole for the tube 35 and outlet hole in the housing 36 and along both channels, at the top, two guiding grooves 38 for guiding edges 32 of loading trays 7 are made while at the bottom there is space 37 for sliding shoes of loading trays 7.
- Push rod 19 has a case 41 in which push rod arm 40 and spring 42 unwind from drum 43 mounted on a support of the spring drum 44, are fixed.
- Cartridge 11 for streamers pile 46 has a case 45 closed with cartridge lid 50, argi along cartridge case 45, vertical notch for the push rod arm 47 is made and, at the top, there are two symmetrical parallel notches 48 for pin 51 leaf 52 and, at the upper edge of cartridge case 45 there is a hole for pin leaf 49.
- Cartridge 11 for confetti is made as a closed store for confetti 53, equipped with ballast 55, whereby confetti store 53, at the side opposite to ballast 55, has surface exposed to pressurized air 56.
- Confetti store 53 is closed with movable lid 54.
- Confetti store 53 is loose fitted to movable lid 54, whereby on moveable store lid 54 there is clip 59.
- Confetti store 53 may be also close fitted to store lid 54, whereby on moveable store lid 54 there is hook 57. Confetti store 53 may be also closed with foil 58.
- Streamers from streamers pile 24 are loaded into tube 10 of the ejection device by one simple reciprocating linear movement of one movable element in a form of loading tray 7 which is fitted to tube opening 10 and designed in such way that it loads streamers in one movement into tube 10 and, at the same time, closes the opening through which the streamers are introduced to tube 10, leaving only narrow gaps, which are so small compared to the diameter of the outlet hole of tube 10 that enable effective streamers spreading with pressurized air.
- element 31 of loading tray 7 supports and secures the following streamer from falling out from cartridge 11, in which streamers are arranged vertically to loading tray 7 up to the moment of loading tray 7 withdrawing. Withdrawing of loading tray during a return movement results in falling down a following streamer on tray 7.
- Loading tray 7, which moves in a simple reciprocating motion, causes that the operating principle of the whole system is very simple and, by elimination of other movable elements, enables instant ejection after loading a streamer into tube 10 and starting a return movement immediately after ejection.
- the time necessary for making the next ejection is limited only by: the time of slipping tray 7 into housing 6, the time needed for speeding up a streamer with pressurized air, i.e. the time of ejection, the time of tray 7 withdrawing, the time of falling down a following streamer on tray 7, which eventually causes that such manner of streamers loading makes possible to limit the number of movable elements in the system to one element, i.e.
- tray 7 makes possible to shorten the time necessary for repeating the cycle i.e. for making the next ejection.
- symmetrical design of tray 7 causes that it is possible to combine, in one movement, loading of a streamer into housing 6 at one side with simultaneous placing a streamer on tray 7 at the other side. It allows shorten the time between ejections and enables using two streamers stores, providing trays 7 and, as a result, doubling the number of streamers for the same design of streamers cartridges 11.
- Streamers are introduced to tube 10 in a flat position, perpendicular to direction of their unwinding.
- Such orientation of streamers is maintained during the whole time of streamer's guidance in tube 10, which enables its speeding up to a presumed speed and continuing a flight after the streamer leaves the system. Due to spontaneous swinging of streamers during a flight, their unwinding takes place, since they are coiled in such way that allow an air stream flow through the hole of appropriate diameter, which has been left after the coiling.. Thanks to the flow of air stream, a gradual unwinding of subsequent coils of the streamer from inside and an increase in air resistance on the already unwind part of the streamer occur. At the same time, the still winded coils preserve energy necessary for continuing the streamer flight.
- LED 13 or other light sources are coupled synchronously through controller 15 with the streamer ejector.
- the time of switching up, color of emitted light, duration of light pulse and number of light pulses are predetermined in the primary control program of controller 15.
- the light emitted in the direction of ejected streamers is reflected from their surface during the flight and enables, at sufficiently low intensity of light coming from surroundings, receiving of numerous visual impressions by the spectator observing the show, which depend on pulse duration and stage of streamer flight.
- Loading and ejecting of streamers in the system is as follows. After loading cartridges 11 nests 4 with streamers, the streamers are arranged in streamers piles 24. In cartridge nests 4, on one side of the device, the streamers piles are supported on the supporting surface 31 of the loading trays 7, whereas in the nests located on the opposite side of ejection chamber, the streamers piles are supported on the support of ejection chamber 28 of the loading tray 7. Controller 15, after checking signals from tray position sensors 21, transmits a command to air valves 16. Servomotor 8 pulls out the loading tray 7 from channel 33 in housing 6 and at the same time, slips it to the opening on the opposite side of ejection chamber 39.
- Controller 15 sends a signal of opening in a pre-determined time to draining valve 5, which through air orifice 34 in the housing, supplies to the ejection chamber 39 pressurized air from the equalizing container 2. Rapid growth of pressure in ejection chamber 39 causes transferring of a streamer from ejection chamber 39 to tube 10 and throwing it outside the ejection device.
- controller 15 sends a control signal to air valves 16 of rotating nozzles 60 whereby the stream of pressurized air from rotating nozzle 60 causes rotation of the streamer leaving the tube 10. Then, after the pre-determined time, the controller 15 sends a control signal to air valves 16, which actuates servomotor 8 causing a return movement of loading tray 7 toward ejection chamber 39. Under the action of the force imposed through sealing and pushing walls 30 of loading tray 7, the streamer, being at the bottom of the pile, is transferred together with tray 7 toward the ejection chamber. At the same time the streamers being in the pile of streamers are maintained in unchanged position through supporting surface 30 of loading tray 7.
- the streamers may be loaded to ejection chamber 39 one by one from each streamer cartridge 11 or by two, and then, two streamers are ejected at the same time from ejection chamber 39.
- Time delays between ejections and the angles of ejections in the horizontal and vertical planes may be arbitrarily pre-determined in the program of controller 15, which controls the operation of positioning head TP 9 of the system in horizontal and vertical axis.
- controller 15 controls the operation of positioning head TP 9 of the system in horizontal and vertical axis.
- cartridge 11 enables loading inside it streamers forming an even pile.
- holes for pin leaves 49 in cartridge case 45 may be spread arranged relative to each other, thanks to which, streamers do not meet inside the cartridge any edges and do not block themselves during falling down.
- Loading and ejecting confetti in the system is as follows. For ejection of confetti cartridges (Fig. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d), whose flight is stabilized by an additional ballast, are used. During the flight confetti store 53 is emptied by an air stream and confetti spreads in air and falls down. The next ejection of confetti is possible after manual loading of a new cartridge for confetti. Loading of confetti is performed by placing a cartridge for confetti in tube 10. An operator, depending on a cartridge version, tears off clip 59 or protecting foil 58 and then places confetti store 53 in tube 10 of the system.
- Controller 15 sends a signal opening draining valve 5, which causes that pressure grows rapidly in tube 10 and confetti store 53 is ejected out of the system.
- Confetti store 53 makes possible fast and reliable insertion of confetti into the system and its spreading in air in a way assuring interesting visual impressions. Thanks to this, confetti store 53 can be fast replaced in the system in few or dozens time intervals. Confetti inserted in confetti store 53 is secured against spilling out with movable store lid 54 or protecting foil 58. Maximum length of a cartridge is limited by the length of tube 10 of the system while the remaining dimension should assure tightness, required for achieving satisfactory range of ejection. Ballast 55, fixed in the front part of confetti store 53 stabilizes the path of flight.
- confetti store 53 is moving along a presumed trajectory, spreading confetti during the flight and then falls on earth at some distance from the system.
- Design of confetti store 53 may also take into account additional elements, shifting its centre of resistance relative to the centre of gravity in order to enhance flight stability.
- Cartridge for confetti shown in Fig. 7a has confetti store 52 loose fitted to store lid 54, whereby in the moveable store lid 54 there is clip 59. It means that the elements may move unconstrained to each other. At the moment when the pressure inside tube 10 starts to affect the elements, they begin moving toward the outlet of tube, however, with different accelerations - store 52 with a higher one, as its surface exposed to pressurized air 56 is large whereas movable lid 54 of the store with a lower one, as its surface exposed to pressurized air is small. Both elements leave the device; store lid 54 can be utilized since it falls close to the device. After ejection the device is prepared for repeated loading.
- Cartridge for confetti shown in Fig. 7b has confetti store 52 close fitted to store lid 54, which means that at the moment when a pressure is generated inside tube 10, both elements start moving in the direction of its outlet.
- Hook 57 located on store lid 54, stops it at outlet of tube 10, and the notches at the outlet of tube 10, at its upper part, grasp the hook.
- the pressure still existing inside tube 10 causes separation of both elements - confetti store 52 is continuing the flight whereas store lid 54 remains in the tube of the device.
- the operator removes store lid 54 from tube 10 manually.
- Cartridge for confetti shown in Fig. 7c has a confetti store 52 loose fitted to store lid 54 and close fitted to tube 10. It means that at the moment when pressure is generated, confetti store 52 is continuing its flight along a pre-determined trajectory, whereas store lid 54 remains in tube 10 of the device and, before the next ejection, the operator removes store lid 54 from tube 10 manually.
- Cartridge for confetti shown in Fig. 7d has confetti store 53 closed with protecting foil 57.
- the confetti store 53 itself is wider and higher so as to ensure complete tightness of tube 10 upon ejection.
- Protecting foil 58 is torn off by the operator just before inserting confetti store 53 to tube 10. After ejection none element remains in tube 10.
- Narrow angle lens diodes LED 13 or other light sources similar to the case of streamers ejection, enable generation of additional visual impressions, depending on color and pulse duration, synchronously with confetti ejection.
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Abstract
The subject of this invention is a system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers, intended to multiple ejection of streamers and confetti with the use of pressurized air. The system, in housing (6) equipped with tube (10), has a pneumatic and an electrical system. The pneumatic system has external supplying container (3) connected through distributor with a reducing valve (1), which through equalizing container (2) and draining valve (5) is connected through air orifices (29, 34) with tube (10) fixed on the housing (6), and at the same time, distributor with reducing valve (1) is connected through air orifices (16) with rotating nozzle (60), located at the outlet of tube (10) and with at least one pair of servomotors (8) where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes (25) made in loading tray (7). The electrical system has controller (15) connected to DMX junctions (12), narrow angle lens LEDs (13) seated in tube (10), wireless communication module (23), air valves (16) and draining valve (5), positioning head TP (9) is advantageously equipped with a speed junction for stand (22) and sensors: anti-collision ultrasonic sensor (14) seated in tube (10), temperature and humidity sensors (17) seated in tube (10), outlet velocity sensor (20) and tray position sensor (21), seated in housing (6), whereby controller (15) and positioning head TP (9) are advantageously supplied with battery (18) while loading trays (7) and nests of cartridges (4) equipped with push rods (19), are seated in the housing (6).
Description
System for ejecting confetti and/or streamers
The subject of this invention is a system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers, intended to multiple ejecting streamers and confetti with the use of pressurized air.
The confetti ejector, known from the Polish utility patent No 53106, consists of a cylindrical housing with an inner ring on which an upper and lower rollers are located. Between the upper and the lower roller there is a blowing charge. The upper part of the housing is closed with a plug.
A multimedia set, known from the US patent application No US5304096, comprises a steering unit connected with a mechanism pulling out two ejection devices, which act sequentially. The first device ejects confetti and streamers from the housing whereas the second one ejects sparklers and fireworks. Additionally, the system is- equipped with an audio device generating sound effects such as music in response to the action of a particular ejection device.
The essence of the system, according to the invention, consists in that its housing equipped with a tube comprises a pneumatic and an electrical system. The pneumatic system has an external supplying container connected through a distributor with a reducing valve, which through an equalizing container and a draining valve is connected through air orifices with the tube fixed on the housing, and the distributor with the reducing valve is also connected through the air orifices with a rotating nozzle, located at the outlet of the tube, and with at least one pair of servomotors where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes made in a loading tray. The electrical system has a controller connected to DMX junctions, narrow angle lens LEDs seated in the tube, wireless communication module, air valves and draining valve. Positioning head TP is advantageously equipped with a speed junction for a stand and sensors: anti-collision ultrasonic sensor seated in the tube, temperature and humidity sensors seated in the tube, outlet velocity sensor and tray position sensor seated in the housing. The controller and positioning head TP
are advantageously supplied with a battery. The loading trays and the nests of cartridges equipped with push rods are se'ated in the housing.
Advantageously, the loading tray is made in a shape of an elongated flat rectangular openwork cassette, equipped along the longer sides, at the top, with guiding edges, wherein at the both shorter sides of the loading tray, three protruding stabilizing and driving elements are fixed, whereas at the central stabilizing and driving element there is a fixing hole for the servomotor arm, in addition, at each longer side of the loading tray two air orifices connected with two chambers for transferring streamers to the tube are made and the chambers are separated by a wall sealing the ejection chamber, lower surfaces support the piles of streamers while two other walls are sealing and pushing streamers to the ejection chamber.
Advantageously, the housing is made in a shape of an elongated rectangular prism in which two ejection chambers are made in a form of transverse channels for loading trays, and perpendicular to them there is an air orifice in the housing supplying pressurized air while on the other side there is a hole for the tube and an outlet hole in the housing while along both the channels, at the top, two guiding grooves for guiding edges of loading trays are made and, at the bottom, there is a space for sliding shoes of the loading trays.
Advantageously, the push rod has a case in which the push rod arm and a spring, unwind from a drum, mounted on a support of the spring drum, are fixed.
Advantageously, the cartridge for a streamers pile is placed in a case closed with a cartridge lid, and along the cartridge case a vertical notch for the push rod arm is made and at the top there are two symmetrical parallel notches for the pin leaf and at the upper edge of the cartridge there is a hole for the cartridge lid.
Advantageously, the cartridge for confetti is made as a closed store for confetti, equipped with a ballast, whereby the confetti store, at the side opposite to the ballast, has a surface exposed to pressurized air. The confetti store is closed with a movable lid and is loose fitted to the movable lid, whereby on the moveable store lid there is a clip or alternatively, the confetti store is close fitted to the store lid, whereby on the moveable store lid there is a hook, or the confetti store is closed with a foil.
The system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers, due to using of pressurized air for a single repeatable streamers and confetti ejection, enables control of the ejection moment including: time, direction, speed of streamers and confetti ejection, assuring, at the same time, similar orientation of every ejected streamer in relation to direction of movement, which makes the streamers expand spontaneously during the flight at predefined distance and trajectory, which makes possible to plan the visual effect with the use of additional lighting of the streamers and confetti, moving in air. The system makes possible to perform longer and more spectacular shows controlled and arranged by an operator, in a higher degree.
The subject of the invention, exemplified by the realizations is presented in figures, where Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers in a top view, Fig. 2 - a schematic diagram of the system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers in a side view, Fig. 3 - loading trays, Fig. 4 - housing in a front and rear view, Fig. 5 - push rod, Fig. 6 - cartridge for streamers, Fig. 7 - cartridge for confetti, whereby Fig. 7a, Fig. 7b, Fig. 7c and Fig. 7d show possible variants of realization.
The system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers has a pneumatic and electric system fixed in housing 6 equipped with tube 10. The pneumatic system has external supplying container 3 connected through distributor with reducing valve 1, which through equalizing container 2 and draining valve 5 is connected with air orifices in tray 29 and housing 34 with tube 10 fixed in housing 6. The distributor with reducing valve 1 is also connected through air valves 16 with rotating nozzle 60, located at the outlet of the tube 10 and two pairs of servomotors 8, where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes 25 made in the two loading trays 7. The electrical system has controller 15 connected to DMX junction 12, narrow angle lens diodes LED 13 seated in tube 10, wireless communication module 23, air valves 16 and draining valve 5. Positioning head TP 9 is equipped with a speed junction for the stand 22 and sensors anti-collision ultrasonic sensor 14 seated in tube 10, temperature and humidity sensors 17 seated in tube 10, outlet velocity sensor 20 and tray position sensor 21 seated in housing 6. Controller 15 and positioning head TP 9 are supplied with battery 18. In addition, in housing 6, there
are seated loading trays 7 and nests of cartridges 4 equipped with push rods 19. Loading tray 7 is made in a shape of an elongated flat rectangular openwork cassette, equipped along the longer sides, at the top, with guiding edges 32. At the both shorter sides of loading tray 7, three protruding stabilizing and driving elements are fixed, and at the central stabilizing and driving element there is fixing hole 25 for servomotor arm 8. At each longer side of loading tray 7, two air orifices of tray 29 are made, which are connected with two chambers for transferring streamers 26 to tube 10, and the chambers are separated from ejection chamber 39 by sealing wall 27, lower surfaces 31 support piles of streamers 24 while two other walls 30 seal and push streamers to ejection chamber 39. Housing 6 is made in a shape of an elongated rectangular prism in which two ejection chambers 39 in a form of transverse channels 33 for loading trays 7 are made and perpendicular to them there is an air orifice 34 in the housing supplying pressurized air while on the other side there is hole for the tube 35 and outlet hole in the housing 36 and along both channels, at the top, two guiding grooves 38 for guiding edges 32 of loading trays 7 are made while at the bottom there is space 37 for sliding shoes of loading trays 7. Push rod 19 has a case 41 in which push rod arm 40 and spring 42 unwind from drum 43 mounted on a support of the spring drum 44, are fixed.
Cartridge 11 for streamers pile 46 has a case 45 closed with cartridge lid 50, argi along cartridge case 45, vertical notch for the push rod arm 47 is made and, at the top, there are two symmetrical parallel notches 48 for pin 51 leaf 52 and, at the upper edge of cartridge case 45 there is a hole for pin leaf 49. Cartridge 11 for confetti is made as a closed store for confetti 53, equipped with ballast 55, whereby confetti store 53, at the side opposite to ballast 55, has surface exposed to pressurized air 56. Confetti store 53 is closed with movable lid 54. Confetti store 53 is loose fitted to movable lid 54, whereby on moveable store lid 54 there is clip 59.
Confetti store 53 may be also close fitted to store lid 54, whereby on moveable store lid 54 there is hook 57. Confetti store 53 may be also closed with foil 58.
Streamers from streamers pile 24 are loaded into tube 10 of the ejection device by one simple reciprocating linear movement of one movable element in a
form of loading tray 7 which is fitted to tube opening 10 and designed in such way that it loads streamers in one movement into tube 10 and, at the same time, closes the opening through which the streamers are introduced to tube 10, leaving only narrow gaps, which are so small compared to the diameter of the outlet hole of tube 10 that enable effective streamers spreading with pressurized air. At the same time, element 31 of loading tray 7 supports and secures the following streamer from falling out from cartridge 11, in which streamers are arranged vertically to loading tray 7 up to the moment of loading tray 7 withdrawing. Withdrawing of loading tray during a return movement results in falling down a following streamer on tray 7. Loading tray 7, which moves in a simple reciprocating motion, causes that the operating principle of the whole system is very simple and, by elimination of other movable elements, enables instant ejection after loading a streamer into tube 10 and starting a return movement immediately after ejection. As a result, the time necessary for making the next ejection is limited only by: the time of slipping tray 7 into housing 6, the time needed for speeding up a streamer with pressurized air, i.e. the time of ejection, the time of tray 7 withdrawing, the time of falling down a following streamer on tray 7, which eventually causes that such manner of streamers loading makes possible to limit the number of movable elements in the system to one element, i.e. tray 7, and as a result, makes possible to shorten the time necessary for repeating the cycle i.e. for making the next ejection. Furthermore, symmetrical design of tray 7 causes that it is possible to combine, in one movement, loading of a streamer into housing 6 at one side with simultaneous placing a streamer on tray 7 at the other side. It allows shorten the time between ejections and enables using two streamers stores, providing trays 7 and, as a result, doubling the number of streamers for the same design of streamers cartridges 11. Streamers are introduced to tube 10 in a flat position, perpendicular to direction of their unwinding. Such orientation of streamers is maintained during the whole time of streamer's guidance in tube 10, which enables its speeding up to a presumed speed and continuing a flight after the streamer leaves the system. Due to spontaneous swinging of streamers during a flight, their unwinding takes place, since they are coiled in such way that allow an air stream flow through the hole of appropriate diameter, which has been left after
the coiling.. Thanks to the flow of air stream, a gradual unwinding of subsequent coils of the streamer from inside and an increase in air resistance on the already unwind part of the streamer occur. At the same time, the still winded coils preserve energy necessary for continuing the streamer flight. The result of the action of these two competing forces causes, at the end stage of the flight, a complete unwinding of the streamer. After the unwinding, due to significant increase in the friction surface and air resistance, the streamer violently looses its speed and falls down. The time at which unwinding of the streamer takes place is controlled by a rotating nozzle, located at the outlet of the tube, since the operation of the nozzle is synchronized with the work of the draining valve. At the moment when the streamer leaves the tube, appropriate amount of pressurized air is supplied to the rotating nozzle, which results in initial rotation of the flying streamer and in consequence, in more rapid unwinding of the streamer. Lack of such pulse causes that the streamer preserves a parallel orientation relative to the flight direction.
Located in the front part of the system narrow angle lens diodes LED 13 or other light sources are coupled synchronously through controller 15 with the streamer ejector. The time of switching up, color of emitted light, duration of light pulse and number of light pulses are predetermined in the primary control program of controller 15. The light emitted in the direction of ejected streamers is reflected from their surface during the flight and enables, at sufficiently low intensity of light coming from surroundings, receiving of numerous visual impressions by the spectator observing the show, which depend on pulse duration and stage of streamer flight.
Loading and ejecting of streamers in the system is as follows. After loading cartridges 11 nests 4 with streamers, the streamers are arranged in streamers piles 24. In cartridge nests 4, on one side of the device, the streamers piles are supported on the supporting surface 31 of the loading trays 7, whereas in the nests located on the opposite side of ejection chamber, the streamers piles are supported on the support of ejection chamber 28 of the loading tray 7. Controller 15, after checking signals from tray position sensors 21, transmits a command to air valves 16. Servomotor 8 pulls out the loading tray 7 from channel 33 in housing 6 and at the
same time, slips it to the opening on the opposite side of ejection chamber 39. Cooperation of guiding grooves 38 in the housing and gliding edges 32 of the trays ensures proper guidance of loading trays 7 during their transfer inside housing 6. After receiving a feedback signal from the tray position sensor 21, controller 15 stops servomotor 8 by closing air valve 16, which results in positioning of loading tray 7 in an extreme extended position. Such positioning of tray 7 causes falling down of the streamers pile and supporting of the whole pile on the support of ejection chamber 28 of loading tray 7. Falling down of streamers on loading tray 7 is driven by gravitational forces and the force coming from the push rod spring 42, transmitted to the push rod arm 40, thanks to which the streamers may be ejected at a high angle of 80°. At the same time, the streamer, which is currently on the support of the ejection chamber 28 at the opposite side, is placed inside housing 6, which together with loading and sealing walls 27 and sealing and pushing walls 30 of the tray and the walls of ejection chamber 39 of housing 6, make ejection chamber 39 sufficiently tight. Controller 15 sends a signal of opening in a pre-determined time to draining valve 5, which through air orifice 34 in the housing, supplies to the ejection chamber 39 pressurized air from the equalizing container 2. Rapid growth of pressure in ejection chamber 39 causes transferring of a streamer from ejection chamber 39 to tube 10 and throwing it outside the ejection device. Depending on the settings of presentation program, after pre-determined time, controller 15 sends a control signal to air valves 16 of rotating nozzles 60 whereby the stream of pressurized air from rotating nozzle 60 causes rotation of the streamer leaving the tube 10. Then, after the pre-determined time, the controller 15 sends a control signal to air valves 16, which actuates servomotor 8 causing a return movement of loading tray 7 toward ejection chamber 39. Under the action of the force imposed through sealing and pushing walls 30 of loading tray 7, the streamer, being at the bottom of the pile, is transferred together with tray 7 toward the ejection chamber. At the same time the streamers being in the pile of streamers are maintained in unchanged position through supporting surface 30 of loading tray 7. After achieving the end position by loading tray 7, ejection of a streamer takes place and the whole loading cycle is repeated. The streamers may be loaded to ejection chamber 39 one by one
from each streamer cartridge 11 or by two, and then, two streamers are ejected at the same time from ejection chamber 39. Time delays between ejections and the angles of ejections in the horizontal and vertical planes may be arbitrarily pre-determined in the program of controller 15, which controls the operation of positioning head TP 9 of the system in horizontal and vertical axis. The case of cartridge 11 enables loading inside it streamers forming an even pile. Transfer of streamers along horizontal axis is limited by the walls of cartridge case 45, whereas in a vertical axis, the bottom of the cartridge and pin 51, whose leaves are bent at an angle of 90° upward and inserted under cartridge lid 50. Before loading, the operator removes cartridge lid 50 and then rotates the streamer cartridge 11 of an angle of 180°. A rigid pin 51 placed in a hole for pin leaf 48 secures streamers against falling out of streamer cartridge 11 and the bent pin leaves 52 prevent it from accidental drawing out. Then the operator places streamer cartridge 11 in nest 4 of ejection device and, pulling pin 51, draws out pin 51 from the hole for pin leaf 49, thereby preventing the whole pile of streamers from unconstrained falling down. Thanks to a forked design of pin 51, holes for pin leaves 49 in cartridge case 45 may be spread arranged relative to each other, thanks to which, streamers do not meet inside the cartridge any edges and do not block themselves during falling down. On the whole length of cartridge case 45 there is an elongated notch for push rod arm 47 which enables insertion of push rod arm 40 inside.
Loading and ejecting confetti in the system is as follows. For ejection of confetti cartridges (Fig. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d), whose flight is stabilized by an additional ballast, are used. During the flight confetti store 53 is emptied by an air stream and confetti spreads in air and falls down. The next ejection of confetti is possible after manual loading of a new cartridge for confetti. Loading of confetti is performed by placing a cartridge for confetti in tube 10. An operator, depending on a cartridge version, tears off clip 59 or protecting foil 58 and then places confetti store 53 in tube 10 of the system. Controller 15 sends a signal opening draining valve 5, which causes that pressure grows rapidly in tube 10 and confetti store 53 is ejected out of the system. Confetti store 53 makes possible fast and reliable insertion of confetti into the system and its spreading in air in a way assuring interesting visual
impressions. Thanks to this, confetti store 53 can be fast replaced in the system in few or dozens time intervals. Confetti inserted in confetti store 53 is secured against spilling out with movable store lid 54 or protecting foil 58. Maximum length of a cartridge is limited by the length of tube 10 of the system while the remaining dimension should assure tightness, required for achieving satisfactory range of ejection. Ballast 55, fixed in the front part of confetti store 53 stabilizes the path of flight. Regardless of variant, confetti store 53 is moving along a presumed trajectory, spreading confetti during the flight and then falls on earth at some distance from the system. Design of confetti store 53 may also take into account additional elements, shifting its centre of resistance relative to the centre of gravity in order to enhance flight stability.
Elements of confetti store 53 cooperate with each other in different ways depending on particular variants.
Cartridge for confetti, shown in Fig. 7a has confetti store 52 loose fitted to store lid 54, whereby in the moveable store lid 54 there is clip 59. It means that the elements may move unconstrained to each other. At the moment when the pressure inside tube 10 starts to affect the elements, they begin moving toward the outlet of tube, however, with different accelerations - store 52 with a higher one, as its surface exposed to pressurized air 56 is large whereas movable lid 54 of the store with a lower one, as its surface exposed to pressurized air is small. Both elements leave the device; store lid 54 can be utilized since it falls close to the device. After ejection the device is prepared for repeated loading.
Cartridge for confetti, shown in Fig. 7b has confetti store 52 close fitted to store lid 54, which means that at the moment when a pressure is generated inside tube 10, both elements start moving in the direction of its outlet. Hook 57, located on store lid 54, stops it at outlet of tube 10, and the notches at the outlet of tube 10, at its upper part, grasp the hook. The pressure still existing inside tube 10, causes separation of both elements - confetti store 52 is continuing the flight whereas store lid 54 remains in the tube of the device. Before the next ejection, the operator removes store lid 54 from tube 10 manually.
Cartridge for confetti, shown in Fig. 7c has a confetti store 52 loose fitted to store lid 54 and close fitted to tube 10. It means that at the moment when pressure is generated, confetti store 52 is continuing its flight along a pre-determined trajectory, whereas store lid 54 remains in tube 10 of the device and, before the next ejection, the operator removes store lid 54 from tube 10 manually.
Cartridge for confetti, shown in Fig. 7d has confetti store 53 closed with protecting foil 57. The confetti store 53 itself is wider and higher so as to ensure complete tightness of tube 10 upon ejection. Protecting foil 58 is torn off by the operator just before inserting confetti store 53 to tube 10. After ejection none element remains in tube 10.
Narrow angle lens diodes LED 13 or other light sources, similar to the case of streamers ejection, enable generation of additional visual impressions, depending on color and pulse duration, synchronously with confetti ejection.
List of designations and drawings
1. distributor with reducing valve,
2. equalizing container,
3. supplying container,
4. cartridge nest,
5. draining valve,
6. housing,
7. loading tray,
8. servomotor,
9. positioning head TP,
10. tube,
11. cartridge,
12. DMX junction,
13. LED diode,
14. anti-collision ultrasonic sensor,
15. controller,
16. air valves,
17. temperature and humidity sensor,
18. battery
19. push rod,
20. outlet velocity sensor,
21. tray position sensor,
22. speed junction for a stand,
23. wireless communication module,
24. a pile of streamers,
25. fixing hole,
26. transferring chamber,
27. loading and sealing wall,
28. support of ejection chamber,
29. air orifice in the tray,
30. sealing and pushing wall,
31. supporting surface,
32. guiding edge,
33. channel,
34. air orifice in the housing,
35. hole for the tube,
36. outlet hole in the housing,
37. space for sliding shoes,
38. guiding groove,
39. ejection chamber,
40. push rod arm,
41. push rod case,
42. spring,
43. spring drum,
44. support for spring drum,
45. cartridge case,
46. pile of streamers,
47. notch for push rod arm,
48. notch for pin leaf,
49. hole for pin leaf,
50. cartridge lid,
51. pin,
52. pin leaf
53. confetti store,
54. movable store lid,
55. ballast
56. surface exposed to pressurized
57. hook,
58. foil,
59. clip,
60. rotating nozzle.
Claims
1. A system for ejecting confetti and/or streamers comprising a controller, characterized in that housing (6), equipped with tube 10, has a pneumatic and electric system whereby the pneumatic system has an external supplying container (3) connected through distributor with reducing valve (1), which through equalizing container (2) and draining valve (5) is connected with air orifices (29, 34) with tube (10) fixed in housing (6) and at the same time, distributor with reducing valve (1) is connected through air valves (16) with rotating nozzle (60), located at the outlet of tube (10) and at least one pair of servomotors (8), where each of them has one arm seated in fixing holes (25) made in loading tray (7), whereas the electrical system has a controller (15) connected to DMX junction (12), narrow angle lens diodes LED (13), seated in tube (10), wireless communication module (23), air valves (16) and draining valve (5); positioning head TP (9) is advantageously equipped with a speed junction for stand (22) and anti-collision ultrasonic sensor (14) seated in tube (10), temperature and humidity sensors (17), seated in tube (10), outlet velocity sensor (20) and tray position sensor (21), seated in housing
(6) , whereby controller (15) and positioning head TP (9) are supplied with battery (18), in addition, in housing (6), loading trays (7) and nests of cartridges (4) equipped with push rods (19) are seated.
2. The system, as said by claim 1, characterized by that loading tray 7 is made in a shape of an elongated flat rectangular openwork cassette, equipped along the longer sides, at the top, with guiding edges (32) whereby at both shorter sides of loading tray (7), three protruding stabilizing and driving elements are fixed, and at the central stabilizing and driving element there is fixing hole (25) for servomotor arm (8), in addition, at each longer side of loading tray
(7) , two air orifices (29) in the tray are made, which are connected with two chambers for transferring streamers (26) to tube (10), separated by a wall (27) sealing ejection chamber (39); lower surfaces (31) support piles of
streamers (24) while two other are walls (30) sealing and pushing streamers towards ejection chamber (39).
3. The system, as said by claim 1, characterized by that housing (6) is made in a shape of an elongated rectangular prism in which two ejection chambers (39) are made in a form of transverse channels (33) for loading trays (7) and, perpendicular to them, there is air orifice (34) in the housing, supplying pressurized air while on the other side there is hole (35) in the tube and an outlet hole (36) in the housing and along both channels, at the top, two guiding grooves (38) for guiding edges (32) of loading trays (7) are made while on the bottom there is space (37) for sliding shoes of loading trays (7).
4. The system, as said by claim 1, characterized by that push rod (19) has a case (41) in which push rod arm (40) and spring (42) unwind from drum (43) mounted on support for spring drum (44) are fixed.
5. The system, as said by claim 1, characterized by that cartridge (11) for streamers pile (46) has case (45) closed with cartridge lid (50), and along cartridge case (45) vertical notch for push rod arm (47) is made and, at the top, there are two symmetrical parallel notches (48) for pin (51) leaf (52) and at the upper edge of cartridge case (45) there is hole for pin leaf (49).
6. The system, as said by claim 1, characterized by that cartridge (11) for confetti is made as closed store for confetti (53) equipped with ballast (55), whereby confetti store (53), at the side opposite to the ballast (55), has surface exposed to pressurized air (56).
7. The system, as said by claim 6, characterized by that confetti store (53) is closed with movable lid (54).
8. The system, as said by claim 7, characterized by that confetti store (52) is loose fitted to movable lid (54), whereby on moveable store lid (54) there is clip (59).
9. The system, as said by claim 7, characterized by that confetti store (52) is close fitted to store lid (54), whereby on moveable store lid (54) there is hook (57).
10. The system, as said by claim 6, characterized by that confetti store (53) is closed with foil (58).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PLP.405266 | 2013-09-06 | ||
PL405266A PL225933B1 (en) | 2013-09-06 | 2013-09-06 | Device for throwing out confetti and/or streamers |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2015034380A1 true WO2015034380A1 (en) | 2015-03-12 |
Family
ID=51628421
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/PL2014/000097 WO2015034380A1 (en) | 2013-09-06 | 2014-08-29 | System for ejecting confetti and/or streamers |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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PL (1) | PL225933B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015034380A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT201800009243A1 (en) * | 2018-10-08 | 2020-04-08 | Super Show Ind Srl | DEVICE FOR SHOOTING CONFETTI, STREAMERS AND THE LIKE |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2319268A1 (en) * | 1973-04-16 | 1974-10-31 | Frattolillo | DEVICE FOR SPREADING LIGHT PARTICLES, FOR EXAMPLE CONFETTI |
US5304096A (en) | 1992-09-10 | 1994-04-19 | Wilk Peter J | Entertainment system and associated method |
CN2387943Y (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2000-07-19 | 胡桂宝 | Device capable of ejecting several colour paper pieces and confetti |
US6364737B1 (en) * | 2000-04-14 | 2002-04-02 | Artistry In Motion, Inc. | Lightweight material projection system |
US20030024956A1 (en) * | 2001-08-02 | 2003-02-06 | Gary Crawford | Confetti, theatrical snow, and fog launching mechanism and system |
US20030134566A1 (en) * | 2001-12-28 | 2003-07-17 | Bartek Edward J. | Pneumatic material delivery gun with removable material cartridge |
EP1629873A1 (en) * | 2004-08-27 | 2006-03-01 | Machine Shop Special Effects Limited | Confetti discharge methods and machines |
-
2013
- 2013-09-06 PL PL405266A patent/PL225933B1/en unknown
-
2014
- 2014-08-29 WO PCT/PL2014/000097 patent/WO2015034380A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2319268A1 (en) * | 1973-04-16 | 1974-10-31 | Frattolillo | DEVICE FOR SPREADING LIGHT PARTICLES, FOR EXAMPLE CONFETTI |
US5304096A (en) | 1992-09-10 | 1994-04-19 | Wilk Peter J | Entertainment system and associated method |
CN2387943Y (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2000-07-19 | 胡桂宝 | Device capable of ejecting several colour paper pieces and confetti |
US6364737B1 (en) * | 2000-04-14 | 2002-04-02 | Artistry In Motion, Inc. | Lightweight material projection system |
US20030024956A1 (en) * | 2001-08-02 | 2003-02-06 | Gary Crawford | Confetti, theatrical snow, and fog launching mechanism and system |
US20030134566A1 (en) * | 2001-12-28 | 2003-07-17 | Bartek Edward J. | Pneumatic material delivery gun with removable material cartridge |
EP1629873A1 (en) * | 2004-08-27 | 2006-03-01 | Machine Shop Special Effects Limited | Confetti discharge methods and machines |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT201800009243A1 (en) * | 2018-10-08 | 2020-04-08 | Super Show Ind Srl | DEVICE FOR SHOOTING CONFETTI, STREAMERS AND THE LIKE |
EP3636330A1 (en) | 2018-10-08 | 2020-04-15 | Super Show Industries S.r.l. | Device for shooting confetti, streamers and the like |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
PL405266A1 (en) | 2015-03-16 |
PL225933B1 (en) | 2017-06-30 |
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