Improvements in and relating to animated advertisement signs or displays and to controlling motor mechanism for the same

摘要

622,894. Changing signs. ROSE, F. G. April 16. 1947, No. 10124. [Class 3(i)] An advertising or display device comprises a translucent panel 2 sub-divided into spaces by rear partitions 4, each space being lit by one or more lamps 10 which are sequentially controlled by a selector switch 15 ; the selector switch is impulseoperated by a multihump cam 34 through a switch 37, the cam is driven by a synchronous motor 32, and the sequence is controlled by an initiating switch 12 and switch means which keep the motor 32 energized to the end of the cycle. The panel 2 is mounted in a frame 1 of metal or plastic material and the display material is printed on a sheet 3 of translucent paper attached to the rear of the panel 2. The partitions 4 are of cardboard or like material attached to the sheet 3 and have a backing sheet 5 of cardboard, rubber or felt. The lamps 10 are mounted on a board 8 which is attached to a frame 7 which also carries the control mechanism. The frame 1 together with the panel 2, the partitions 4 and the backing sheet 5 may be removed as a whole from the frame 7 to expose the lamps 10, the backing sheet 5 having holes 6 through which the lamps can pass. To start the sequence, the switch 12 is momentarily depressed. Its contact 14 starts the motor 32 and its contact 13 energizes a stepping electromagnet 23 of the selector switch 15 through contact 16x of bank 16 of the switch 15. The electromagnet moves a spring-loaded pawl 25 and, when the switch 12 is released to de-energize the electromagnet, the switch 15 is stepped one contact by the pawl 25 moving ratchet wheel 23. This movement of the switch breaks the circuit for the electromagnet through the switch 12 and so leaves the electromagnet under the sole control of switch 37 which is controlled by the motordriven cam 34. The circuit for the cam motor 32 is broken at switch 12, but an alternative maintaining circuit is completed by the switch 15 through the contacts of its bank 17, all the contacts except the first being interconnected. Thus the switch is stepped periodically by the cam 34 and lights the lamps in the desired sequence. The sequence is terminated when the switch 15 reaches its initial position, its contacts 17x, 18x breaking the motor and lamp circuits. Additional contact banks for the lamps may be provided on the selector switch and, if desired, more than one sequence may be provided on the one selector switch by dividing the motor circuit maintaining connections on bank 17 into groups separated by an unconnected contact. The motor will then stop after each group. Suitable modifications are made to the connections of banks 16 and 18. The motor 32 may be maintained in operation by a second cam-controlled switch on the motor shaft instead of by a selector switch bank. The starting switch may be operated by clockwork.