Information displayer with interchangeable boards

An information displayer with interchangeable boards for use in displaying advertising messages. Two sets of boards are disposed on two chains respectively, with each chain rotating about a pair of pinions. One pinion is stationary while the other is connected to a stepping motor. Hooks on a rigid bar grasp openings in the boards to release and display the boards. A pre-programmed microprocessor controls the stepping motor, permitting the boards to be displayed in any selected manner.

The present invention relates to an information displayer with 
interchangeable boards. 
More particularly, the invention relates to a device of the above kind that 
allows to display different boards, particularly advertising boards in a 
selective manner. 
It is well known to those who are experts in the art that more or less 
recently different kinds of devices have been realized, said devices 
allowing to change the imagine displayed towards the public. 
A first device of this kind provides a number of horizontal 
triangular-shaped elements that can rotate about their horizontal axis, so 
that, rotating in synchronism the different faces, it is possible to 
change the message that is visible to the public according to a 
predetermined timing. 
Is is well evident that this kind of device is rather limiting under a 
functional point of view: in fact, it allows the vision of only three 
different advertising messages, and only according to a rigid sequence. 
Furthermore, if it is desired to replace the advertising message, it is 
practically necessary to replace all the device, such an operation 
involving high costs and remarkable practical drawbacks. 
A second kind of device to display different images to the public already 
available on the market is the one comprising a sheet wound on two rolls 
and having a sequence of images to be displayed printed on it. 
Winding and unwinding the sheet on said rolls it will be possible to change 
the message shown to the public. 
In this case the number of available messages can also be high, although it 
is in any case is limited by the sizes of the sheet. 
However, the above device does not allow to propose the messages according 
to a casual and selective sequence, since the choice is binded by the 
order of the messages printed on the sheet 
Furthermore, it is very difficult, troublesome and expensive, or even 
impossible or economically not convenient, to replace the sheet with 
another one having a different group of advertising messages. 
In GB-A-182 964 a picture displaying apparatus is disclosed, said apparatus 
comprising removable picture roll drums or carriers and preferably means 
for rendering the picture exhibiting mechanism inoperable unless it is in 
the correct operating position. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,700,435 an automatic advertising machine is described 
wherein a number of advertisements are singly and consecutively brought 
into view. 
In view of the above, the Applicant has studied and realized a displayer of 
multiple information or images that allows to display the images according 
to a casual sequence. i.e. according to any pre-established sequence. 
Moreover the solution according to the invention allows to realize a 
displayer wherein the images are arranged over boards that are selectively 
displayed. 
A further object of the present invention is that of realising an image 
displayer wherein the information over the boards are included in two 
"loaders" that can be easily and quickly replaced without the need to move 
or modify the structure of the displayer. 
It is therefore specific object of the present invention an information 
displayer with interchangeable boards comprising at least a container of n 
boards, provided with means to selectively take out said n boards; means 
to grasp the board to be displayed; and means to bring the board in a 
display position and to bring back the same into the container. 
According to a first preferred embodiment of the displayer according to the 
invention, the displayer comprises two carrier elements, or "loaders", 
each for n boards, provided substantially one above the other; means to 
grasp the board to be displayed from the upper loader or from the lower 
loader; and means to bring the same panel in a display position, and then 
to bring back the same into the upper or lower loader wherefrom it has 
been taken out. 
Particularly, each one of said loaders is provided with n supports, 
preferably made up by cylindrical supports preloaded by harmonic steel 
spring, wherefrom the boards are taken out to be displayed, or whereon are 
bring back after the display, and whereon the boards remains wound when 
they are not used. 
Preferably, according to the invention, said loaders are releasably coupled 
to the displayer so that they can be replaced with other ones containing 
different boards. 
Said loaders are preferably realized with a stepping motion, with a number 
of steps corresponding to the number of boards provided. 
The movement is preferably obtained by a stepping motor for each loader, 
controlled by a pre-programmed microprocessor, that operates a toothed 
flange so as to transmit the motion to the same loader. 
Further according to the invention, said means to grasp the board to be 
displayed and to bring it in a display position, provided both for the 
upper loader and for the lower loader comprises movable elements arranged 
at 45.degree. each other on a rotating roll, projecting from the roll to 
grasp the board by means of a leverage system controlled by an actuator 
device, preferably a solenoid. 
In a second preferred embodiment of the displayer according to the 
invention, said means to selectively take out said n boards comprises a 
first pin element, provided externally on the container, slidable along a 
slot realized on the same container, and couplable with a hole realized on 
the boards: a second pin element, provided at the bottom of the container, 
and parallelly disposed with respect to the same container, couplable with 
said hole realized on the boards, said container being movable along a 
direction parallel to the axis of said pin elements. 
Preferably, said container is realized with a stepping motion, with a 
number of steps corresponding to the number of boards provided. 
The motion is preferably obtained by a stepping motor, controlled by a 
preprogrammed microprocessor, that operates a cam having n tracks. 
Further, said first pin element is moved along said slot by an electric 
motor. 
Said means to grasp the board to be displayed e to bring it in a display 
position are preferably made up by movable elements, which are arranged on 
a rotatable roll at 120.degree. each other, and which can be projected 
from the roll to grasp the board, or withdrawn within the same roll to 
release the board by an actuating device, preferably a solenoid. 
Said means to bring the board in a display position and to bring it back 
within the housing cylinder can be provided, apart from the above 
mentioned roll rotatable in both the directions, one or more magnetic 
strings to properly position the board. 
Still according to the invention, said container is releasably coupled to 
the displayer so that it can be replaced with another one containing 
different boards. 
According to a third embodiment of the displayer according to the present 
application, two set of boards are provided, disposed respectively 
according to an articulated chain rotating around pulleys means, at least 
a motor being provided to move said chains. 
Preferably, it is provided only one motor that operates said two board 
chains, rotating in both the directions, said motor being connected by a 
belt or other suitable means with one of the pulley of each chain. 
Further according to the invention, each one of said boards can be made up 
of a cylindrical container, having inside a hub over which the sheet rolls 
up, spring means being provided so as to determine the automatic roll up 
of the sheet around the hub. 
Again according to the invention, the selective display of the boards 
occurs bay a rigid bar provided on the front portion of the displayer 
according to the invention, said bar being moved by a motor and motion 
transmission means, preferably chain means that rotates around sprocket 
means, and coupled with coupling means provided on the outer edge of the 
board. 
Again according to the invention, said container is provided with n 
housings for n boards. 
On each board it can be laterally provided a set of perforations matchable 
with said movable elements, said perforations being spaced each other of a 
pitch corresponding to the distance between said movable elements. 
Furthermore, two metallic reinforcing strips, having perforations, and 
eventually inner reinforcement metallic strips, can be provided on said 
boards. 
Behind the board displayed a further reinforcement element can be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the enclosed drawings, it can be noted 
that the information displayer according to the invention is an 
electromechanical device provided with an automatic selective system that 
allows to display alternatively, from the above or from the bottom and 
according to a desired sequence, a number n of images printed on the 
boards. 
The displayer 1 comprises two elements 2 or "loaders" bearing the boards, 
arranged one at the top and one at the bottom, and having each one n 
cylinder 3 with boards 4, said loaders 2 having a rotating motion, as it 
will be more clear in the following. 
Every single loader 2 is provided, as already said, with n housing 
cylinders 3, one for every board 4 to be displayed. In the figures, every 
loader 2 provides eight cylinders 3. 
Each one of the boards 4, see in particular FIG. 6, is provided with 
transverse steel strips 5, 6, the outer ones being provided with 
perforations 7 spaced of a predetermined pitch. 
The arrangement to display the boards 4, both for the upper loader 2 and 
for the lower loader 2, is made up, as it can be observed in FIGS. 3 and 
4, of a roll 8 provided with eight sectors 9, preferably movable sectors, 
arranged at 45.degree. each other, operated by suitable levers 10 
controlled by the solenoid 11. 
The roll 8 can rotate in the directions of arrows A of FIG. 5. 
It is further provided a plurality of magnetic belts 12 (see FIG. 2) that 
are useful to obtain a proper display of the board 4. 
The steel strips 5, 6 provided on each board 4 have the goal to reinforce 
the same allowing to obtain an optimum display and to reinforce the edges 
that engage with the movable sectors and over which said perforations 7 
are realized to drag the board 4. 
Obviously, in case the board 4 is realized with a material sufficiently 
resisting, it could be not necessary to provide said strips 6, 7. 
The motion of the cylinders 3 according the direction of the arrows B in 
FIG. 5 is obtained by a stepping motor 13 having a number of steps 
corresponding to the number n of boards 4 provided. 
To display the different boards 4 according to suitable and pre-established 
sequences, the stepping motor 13 will be controlled by a microprocessor 
215 as shown in FIG. 12 with a suitable software. 
The operation of the displayer 1 according to the invention will be 
described in the following with reference to a displayer wherein the 
different boards 4 are sequentially displayed, but it is obvious that the 
same principles are valid in case of a casual pre-established display of 
the boards. 
The upper loader 2 is positioned so as to present the end edge of the board 
4 rolled up on the corresponding preloaded cylinder 3 along a perfect 
vertical direction, see in particular FIG. 3, so that the movable sector 
8, moved by the solenoid 11, can be positioned within the corresponding 
perforation 7 on the edge of the same board 4. The same operation is valid 
for every other board 4. 
Now, by means of a stepping motor 14, the roll 8 starts its rotation until 
reaching of the complete display of the board 4, see clear arrows A, A' of 
FIG. 5. 
To bring back the board 4 just displayed in the original position, wound 
again within its cylinder 3, the roll 8 rotates in an opposite direction, 
according to the dark arrows A, A', helped during this rotation by the 
springs 15 provided within the cylinder 8 and loaded during the preceding 
unrolling step for the display. 
It is to be noted how, at the same time of the beginning of the return step 
of the board 4 displayed, the movable sector 9 placed on the bottom roll 8 
of the displayer 1 is already engaged with the end edge of the board 
prepared by the lower loader 2 according to the work sequence exposed 
above, being so possible to start a new and immediate display of a new 
board 4, in this case from the bottom to the above, so that which dead 
times usually necessary to change the board to be displayed are completely 
eliminated. 
In order to obtain the display of all the n boards 4, it is sufficient that 
the upper and lower loaders 2, following to rotation due to the stepping 
motor 14, prepare the end edge of the next board 4 as described above and 
according to the alternation criteria between the upper one and the lower 
one. 
From the above, it is well evident how, programming the stepping motors 13 
of the loaders 2 by the already mentioned microprocessor, it will be 
possible to determine the desired casual display sequence of the various 
boards 4. 
Coming now to observe FIGS. 7 to 11, it is shown a second embodiment of the 
displayer according to the invention comprising a container 101 for n 
boards 102, and movable, as it will be more specifically described in the 
following, along a direction perpendicular with respect to the plane of 
the boards 102. 
The container 101 is provided with n housings (not shown), one for each 
board 102. 
The container 101 has a first pin 103 slidable according to arrows A within 
a slot 104, provided externally with respect to the same container 101, 
and a second pin 105 provided at the bottom of the container 101. 
Each one of the boards 102 (see FIG. 8) is provided with transverse steel 
strips 106, 107, the outer two of which (106) presents perforations 108 
spaced of a predetermined pitch. 
Always on the strips 106 it is provided an hole 109 for the insertion of 
the pins 103 and 105, as it will be evident in following. The arrangement 
to display the boards 102 is made up of a roll 110 provided with three 
movable sectors 111 arranged at 120.degree. each other and operated 
according to the direction of arrow B by solenoids 112 (see FIG. 9). 
Roll 110 rotates along directions indicated by arrow C. 
It is provided a magnetic string 113 that allows to obtain an optimum 
display of the board 102. 
The strips 106 and 107 provided on the board 102 attend to reinforce the 
same allowing at the same time to obtain its optimum display, and, 
moreover, to reinforce the edges that engage with the movable sectors 111, 
and over which the perforations are realized. 
Obviously, in case the material of the board is sufficiently resistant, it 
could also be unuseful to provide said strips 106, 107. 
The pin 103 is moved along the slot 104 by a motor (not shown). 
The motion of the container 101 according to the direction of the arrow D 
is obtained by a stepping motor (not shown) and a cam (not shown) having a 
number of profiles corresponding to the number n of boards 102 provided. 
To display the different boards 102 according to suitable and 
preestablished sequences, the stepping motor will be controlled by a 
microprocessor with a suitable software. 
The operation of the information displayer according to the invention is as 
follows, and it is quite similar to the one of the displayer of FIGS. 1-6. 
It will be now described in the following the way how the different boards 
102 are sequentially displayed, but it obvious that the same principles 
are valid in case a preestablished casual display of the boards 102 is 
wished. 
The container 111 will be in a completely lifted position, so that the pin 
103, see dashed lines in FIG. 9, engages within the hole 109 of all the 
boards 102. 
Advancing the pin 103 along the slot 104, until the position shown in full 
line in FIG. 9 is reached, the board 102 is brought with its first 
perforation 108 corresponding with the first movable sector 111. 
Said sector 111 is operated by the solenoid 112 and therefore engages the 
board 102. 
Now, by the stepping motor and the cam contour (not shown), the container 
101 descend of a step so that the pin 103 disengage the hole 109 of the 
board 102 coupled to the movable element 111, that will be free to be 
dragged by the roll 110, by the three movable elements 111, until reaching 
its complete display. 
To bring back the board 102 within the container 101, the roll 110 rotates 
in an opposite direction with respect to the preceding one till bringing 
the board 102 with the hole 109 in correspondence of the pin 103. The 
container 101 is now lifted of a step, so that the pin 103 engages again 
the hole 109 of the board 102 formerly displayed and, sliding again along 
the slot 104 towards the bottom, brings back the board 102 within the 
container. 
To display the next board 102, the container 101 is slided of a step 
downward, so that the pin 105 engages the hole 109 of the board formerly 
displayed. 
Now, the pin 103, sliding upward along the slot 104, will bring the second 
board 102 in correspondence with the movable element 111 and the above 
described cycle can be repeated. 
It is well evident that in this case too, suitably programming the stepping 
motor that controls the U notion of the container 101 it will be possible 
to determine the desired casual display sequence of the different boards 
102. 
Referring now to FIGS. 12 to 15, the embodiment shown provides two chains 
201 each comprising twelve boards 202 connected by articulated joints to 
realize the chain structure so that each chain rotates about two pair of 
pinions 203, 204, the first ones (203) being idle and the second ones 
(204) being connected through the transmission 205 with a motor 206. 
The chains 201 made up by single panels 202 are realized opposite and 
symmetrical each other and, employing idle wheels that allow a single 
rotation direction, the motion can be controlled by a single motor 206. 
Hooking and releasing of the board to be displayed is realized by a 
plurality of hooks 207 provided along a rigid bar 208, the ends of which 
are coupled to the links of two chains 209 moved by a motor 210 (see FIG. 
13). 
Each single board 202, see FIG. 14 and 15, is included within a container 
or "magazine" 211 comprising a hub 212, rotating inside the container 211, 
and having the board 202 rolled up on it, by the action of a spiral spring 
213. 
Along the edge of each board opposite to the edge coupled with the 
container 211, it is provided a number of openings 214 that couple with 
the hooks 207 of the rigid bar 208. 
The programming of the display sequence of the different boards is realized 
in a way similar to the one already described with reference to the above 
mentioned embodiments. 
In this case, by the motor 206, a board 202 from one of the two chains 201 
is brought in a display position, and said board 202 will be displayed by 
the translation of the rigid bar 208, through the action of the system 
comprised of chains 209 and motor 210, said rigid bar 208 having grasped 
the board 202 involved by the coupling of the hooks 207 with the openings 
214. 
While displaying the board 202 according to the pre-established sequence, 
the rigid bar 208 determines the rolling up of the board 202 formerly 
displayed inside the corresponding roll 211 by the returning action of the 
spring 213. 
It should be pointed out that this kind of board, as well as the display 
mechanism, can be used for the other embodiments too. 
The present invention has been described with specific reference to its 
preferred embodiments, but is is to be understood that changes and/or 
modification can be introduced by those skilled in the art without 
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the enclosed 
claims.