MECHANICAL ELEMENT PRIMARILY FOR ALPHANUMERICAL INFORMATION PANEL

Abstract: A mechanical element primarily for alphanumerical information panels or the like, where a panel comprises a plurality of elements preferably arranged in one plane, and each element is capable to assume preferably two distinct appearances, for example a light and a dark one, whereby, for example, alphanumerical characters can be formed on said panel by means of the elements. The element according to the invention is especially characterized in that a first disc-shaped, for example circular member (1) of a certain, for example dark appearance is rigidly mounted and comprises, for example, four equal portions (2) of sector shape separated by radially extending slits (3), that each portion (2) has helical shape similar to a turbine blade with a certain pitch in tangential direction, which portions (2) are arranged symmetrically as at a turbine or propeller, and that a second disc-shaped, preferably circular member (4) of a certain, for example light appearance is mounted rotatably by an axle (5) or corresponding component extending perpendicularly to the main extension plane of the member, which member comprises portions (6) of sector shape projecting from the axle (5) or corresponding component, which portions in number are equal to and of a configuration substantially corresponding to the protions of said first member (1).

Description: Mechanical element primarily for alphanumerical inform¬ ation panel This invention relates to a mechanical element intended primarily for alphanumerical information panels or the like, which comprise a plurality of elements capable to assume preferably two distinct appearances, for example a dark and a light one, whereby, for example, alphanum*- erical characters can be formed on said panel by means of the elements. Elements for this purpose are known previously. An ess¬ ential disadvantage of the known mechanical structures is that they are complicated and require relatively great movements for causing an element to change from one appearance to another one. The present invention has the object to provide a mech¬ anical element, which is very simple and inexpensive and, besides, flexible in respect of the possibility of producing elements of different sizes from one basic unit. The present invention, thus, relates to a mechanical element primarily for alphanumerical information pan¬ els or the like, where a panel comprises a plurality of elements preferably arranged in one plane, and each element is capable to assume preferably two distinct appearances, for example a light and a dark one, where¬ by, for example, alphanumerical characters can be form¬ ed on said panel by means of the elements. The invention is characterized, in that a first dise- -shaped, for example circular member of a certain, for example dark appearance is rigidly mounted and compris¬ es, for example, four equal portions of sector shape, which are separated by radially extending slits, that each portion has helical shape similar to a turbine blade with a certain pitch in tangential direction, O PI Jv 7 which portions are arranged symmetrically as at a turb¬ ine or propeller, and that a second disc-shaped, pref¬ erably circular member of a certain, for example light appearance is mounted rotatably by means of an axle or corresponding component extending perpendicularly to the main extension plane of the member, which member comprises portions of sector shape projecting from the axle or corresponding component, which portions are in number equal to and of a configuration substantially corresponding to the portions of said first member, that said members are located substantially in parall¬ el with and adjacent one another, whereby the portions of said second member can assume a first position corr¬ esponding to a first, for example dark appearance of the element and are located on one side of and subst¬ antially entirely overlapped by the portions of the first member, and a second position corresponding to a second, for example light appearance of the element and are located on the other side of and substantially entirely overlap the portions of the first member, that the portions of the second member at rotation are in¬ tended to pass through the gaps between the portions of the first member, and that means are provided for rotating said second member between said positions. The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to an embodiment thereof and to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 schemat¬ ically shows a first member of the element according to the invention, which member is intended to be mount- ed rigidly and constitute a first one of two different appearances of the element, Pig. 2 schematically shows the member according to Fig. 1 seen from below in Fig. ^a Fi . 3 schematically shows a second member of the element according to the invention, which member is intended to be mounted rotatably adjacent said first member and constitute a second one of said appearances, Fig. 4 schematically shows the member according to Fig. 3 seen from below in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a first posit- 5 ion of said second member, in which the first member is exposed, Fig. 6 shows an intermediate position, Fig. 7 shows a second position of the second member, in which said second member is exposed, Fig. 8 schematically shows an a.o. electromagnetic arrangement for rotation 10 of said second member, Fig. 9 shows a disc-shaped per¬ manent magnet and a coil provided with a core accord¬ ing to Fig. 8 seen from above in Fig. 8 and a position corresponding to one of the positions according to Figs. 5 and 7, and Fig. 10 shows the arrangement acc- 15 ording to Fig. 9 in a position corresponding to the second one of the positions according to Figs. 5 ana, 7. In Fig. 1 the numeral 1 designates a first disc -shaped, ' preferably circular member intended to be rigidly mount¬ ed in the element, which member comprises preferably 20 four equal sector-shaped portions 2 separated by four radially extending slits 3. Each portion 2 has helical shape similar to a turbine blade with a certain pitch in tangential direction. According to a preferred emb- . odiment, the portions have a configuration correspond- 25 ing substantially to a part of the surfa e of the radi¬ us described by a ' nut when being turned about .a screw matching the nut.. The portions 2 are arranged symmetr¬ ically as at a turbine or propeller. In Fig. 3 the numeral 4 designates a second disc-shap- 30 ed, preferably circular member, which is mounted rot¬ atably by means of an axle 5 or corresponding compon¬ ent extending perpendicularly to the main extension plane of the member 4. Said second member 4 comprises sector-shaped portions 6 in number equal to and of a 35 configuration substantially corresponding to the port¬ ions of the first member 1. In the element according to the invention the members 1,4 are intended to be located substantially in parall¬ el with and adjacent one another, Figs. 5-7, whereby the portions 6 of said second member can assume a first position, Fig. 5 3 corresponding to a first, for example dark appearance of the element and are located on one side of and substantially entirely overlapped by the portions 2 of the first member l,.and a second position, Fig. 3 corresponding to a second, for example light appearance of the element and are located on the other side of and .substantially overlap the portions 2 of said first member 1, whereby the portions 6 of the second member 4 pass through the gaps 3 between the portions 2 of the first member 1. The member 1 was pre- supposed to be dark, and the member 4 to be light. For effecting said rotation, preferably electromagnet- ically operated devices, Figs. 8-10, are provided which comprise a permanent magnet 7 in the form of a diametr¬ ically magnetized disc, ring or the like, which is conn- ected to the axle 5 and located substantially perpend¬ icular theieto ,and which co-operates with a coil 9 prov¬ ided with a preferably U-shaped core 8, the leg ends 10 of which are intended to face to the magnet, disc or corresponding component 7- The said first and second positions correspond to two different conditions of pol¬ arization of the coil 9, and the magnet 7 is caused to rotate from a starting position to a final position, in that the coil is given polarization corresponding to the final position, as appears from Figs. 9 and 10. The mode of operation of the element according to the invention substantially should have become apparent from the aforesaid. Due to the curved configuration of the portions 2,6, thus, the member 1 or the member 4 can be caused to be shown by rotation of the member 4. In Fig. 6 the member 1 has been shaded for showing the function of the element. In the remaining Figures no difference in colour has been laid in between the memb¬ ers, for reasons of better clearness. The function of the device for rotating the member 4 should be evident from Figs. 8-10. For returning the ma-gnet 7 to the position according to Fig. 9, the pol¬ arization on the coil 9 is changed. As should have become clear from the aforesaid, the element according to the invention is a very simple device. The element, further, changes its appearance at a very limited rotation. An advantage from a manuf¬ acturing aspect is that the members 1,4 are of one colour.' The size, surface, of the members 1,4 also can be varied within wide limits while maintaining the means 7-10 for rotation. A further essential feature is that current through the coil 9 is required only when the element is updated, i.e. changes appearance. The invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment. It is, of course, possible to imag¬ ine more embodiments and minor alterations without ab¬ andoning the invention idea. Each member 1,4, for ex¬ ample, can be imagined to comprise a number of porti¬ ons 2,6 other than four, for example two, hree,five or six. The rotation then shall be through l8θ°, 120°, 72 or 60 for causing the element to change its app¬ earance. It also can be imagined that at least the first, fixed member has square shape and one colour, for example. As regards the choice of material can be said that the members 1,4 preferably are made of . plastic, whereby it is easy to obtain the special shape. The member 1 can be manufactured as a front piece of the element. It is also imaginable that the first member 1 is des¬ igned substantially plane, and the movable member 4 by means of a thread or the like is moved in axial direct¬ ion during the rotation, whereby the portions 6 of the member 4 are "screwn" through the slits 3 of the member 1. As regards the size of the effective surface of the ele¬ ment, i.e. the surface of the member 1 and, respectively, 4,it. can be varied within wide limits, the lower limit being about 10 mm, or a still smaller diameter of the respective member. The invention, thus, must not be regarded restricted to the embodiments set forth, but can be varied within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A mechanical element primarily for alphanumerical information panels or the like, where a panel compris¬ es a plurality of elements preferably arranged in one plane, and each element is capable to assume preferably two distinct appearances, for example a light and a dark one, whereby, for example, alphanumerical charact¬ ers can be formed on said panel by means of the elem¬ ents, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a first disk:-shaped, for example circular member (1) of a cert¬ ain, for example dark appearance is rigidly mounted and comprises, for example, four equal portions (2). of sector shape, which are separated by radially extending slits (3), that each portion (2) has helical shape sim- ilar to a turbine blade with a certain pitch in tang¬ ential direction, which portions (2) are arranged symm¬ etrically as at a turbine or propeller, and that a sec¬ ond dis.§-shaped, preferably circular member (4) of a certain, for example light appearance is mounted rotat- ably by means of an axle (5) or corresponding compon¬ ent extending perpendiculary to the main extension plane of the member, which member comprises portions of sector shape projecting from the axle (5) or corr¬ esponding component, which portions in number are equal to and of a configuration substantially corresponding to the portions of the first member (1), that said members (1,4) are located substantially in parallel with and adjacent one another, whereby the portions (6) of said second member can assume a first position corresponding to a first, for example dark appearance of the element and are located on one side of and substantially entirely overlapped by the portions (2) of the first member (1), and a second position correes- ponding to a second, for example light appearance of the element and are located on the other side of and O PI Λ,. WIPO _ substantially entirely overlap the portions (2) of the first member (1), that the portions (6) of the second member (4) at rotation are intended to pass through the gaps (3) between the portions (2) of the first member (1), and that means (7-10) are provided for rotating said second member (4) between said positions. 2. An element as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that each portion (2.6) has a con¬ figuration substantially corresponding to a part of the surface described by the radius of a nut when the nut is turned about a screw matching the nut. 3. An element as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that the axle (5) or corres¬ ponding component for rotation of the second member (4) is connected to a permanent magnet (7) in the form of a diametrically magnetized disc, ring or the like, which is located substantially perpendicularly to the axle and co-operates with a coil (9) provided with a pref¬ erably U-shaped core (8), the leg ends (10) of which are intended to face to the disc (7) or the like,where said first and second positions correspond to two diff¬ erent conditions of polarization of the coil (9), and * the disc (7) or the like is caused to rotate from a starting position to a final position in that the coil (9) is given polarization corresponding to the final position. 4. An element as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a - c t e r i z e d i n that said first member (1) is a part of the front of the element intended to face to the direction, from which the element is intended to be observed. - * sJHA] O PI 5. An element as defined in claim 1,2,3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rotation separating said first and second position corresponds to the quotient between a full revolution and the number of portions (2,6) of the respective members (1,4).

Inventors: JANCZEWSKI WOJCIECH PIOTR, JANCZEWSKI, WOJCIECH PIOTR
Applicants: EURODISPLAY AB, AB EURODISPLAY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: G09F11
IPC codes: G09F9, G09F11