APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC PRESENTATION IN CYCLE OF IMAGES, IN PARTICULAR ADVERTISEMENTS

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic displaying in cycle of advertisements, which includes a series of images formed by horizontal strips fixed onto two vertical rods, comprises two groups of rocker arms pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft and supporting one end of said rods, the other end of which is fixed to a tension spring, and two groups of cams fixed on a rotating shaft, the rotation of which causes a simultaneous lowering and raising of said two vertical rods related to the strips for forming one of the images.

Description: "APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC PRESENTATION IN CYCLE OF IMAGES, IN PARTICULAR ADVERTISMENTS" DESCRIPTION Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus for so-called "animated publicity", that is to say to an apparatus capable of alternating automatically a certain number of publicity images at predetermined intervals of time. More particularly, the present invention refers to an apparatus of the type which presents each image of a series of images one after the other in succession, in which each separate image is formed by a group of horizontal strips, vertically disposed one beneath the other and partially overlapping. The visible part of the strips forming the image is the bottom third of the surface of each strip. The top two thirds of each strip are covered by the strip in front. For the formation of the different images in the series of images, a set of strips is provided, in which each strip of the set belongs to one of said groups. A matrix for the strips is therefore provided. The matrix includes a group of strips as above for each image and a series of overlapping strips relative to the different images of the series. Therefore each strip in the matrix has a well defined position and progressive order in the matrix. In order to form one of the images of the series, the strips relating to said image are lowered by one third of their height with respect to the respective series. In this way the lower third of said strips will be visible below the respective series of strips and the strip in front of its own group of strips. In order to carry out the movement of the groups of strips and to obtain the alternation of the images, a mechanism is provided. Background Art Apparatus of the type mentioned above are already known, and all have in common the drawback of being provided with a mechanical system for the alternation of the images, with a notably complicated structure such as to be subject to frequent breakdown and consequent interruption of the alternation of the images. Disclosure of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the automatic display in cycle of images, in particular advertisments, including a mechanism suitable to carry out the alternation of said images, having a structure which is extremely simple, efficient and safe, such as to avoid the inconveniences seen in the similar prior art apparata. The above object is accomplished with an apparatus for the automatic presentation in cycle of images, in particular advertisments, including a series of images, each image being formed by a group of horizontal strips partially overlapping each other from the top towards the bottom, each group of strips being fixed onto a respective pair of vertical rods, and all corresponding strips in the strip series of different groups being overlapped, in the same progressive order, an outer covering with sides presenting on at least one side a window, closed by a sheet of transparent material, for the observation of said images and a mechanism for the automatic alternation of said images supported in said covering, said apparatus comprising a fixed shaft; at least two groups of rocker arms pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft, on each of which one of said vertical rods is removably hung; a rotating shaft; at least two groups of cams keyed to said rotating shaft, each cam being engaged with a respective arm, to cause an oscillation of said arm and a simultaneous lowering or raising of the vertical rod associated to said arm; spring means fixed to said covering and to said rods for pulling said rod and the arm engaged thereto toward the lowering direction; and means for activating the rotation of said rotating shaft. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be better illustrated below in the description of its preferred embodiment, given as an example and not as a limit, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: fig. 1 shows the apparatus in object in an expanded general prospect; fig. 2 shows a rocker arm according to the invention; fig. 3 shows the arm engaged to a cam, in a cross- sectional view, and fig. 4 is a top general view of the operating mechanism. Best Mode for carrying out the Invention With reference to the drawings, a parallelpipedal frame is indicated in 1 for the support of the mechanism for the alternation of the images, which is enclosed, in the present embodiment, between two covers 2 and 3 formed by box elements, also of parallelpipedal shape, which can be coupled to each other in correspondence to their open rear faces in such a way as to form a container for frame 1 itself. In the front face of each of the covers 2, 3 a window 4 for the observation of the single images is placed, provided with a sheet of transparent material. The windows 4 in covers 2, 3 are of the same size as the images which alternate in correspondence with each of them. As can be seen, the cover is represented in figure 1 as if it were completely transparent simply for the more convenient illustration of said mechanism. In the present embodiment the apparatus displays a series of five images, each of which is formed by a group of horizontal strips 5, flexible or rigid, of which only a part are illustrated in the figure, partially overlapping each other starting from the highest one, the other images of the series being formed by an equal number of horizontal strips placed behind the first image in view. The strips 5 forming each one of said five images of the series are fixed in the position described above, for example by means of adhesive tape, to a respective pair of vertical rods 6, spaced, parallel, of flexible or rigid material, which protrude for a short distance above and below the respective upper and lower margins of the image formed. In the embodiment illustrated there will therefore be five pairs of said rods 6. In particular, in the present case, the strips 5 for the formation of the first image of the five in the series are associated to the first and sixth rod 6, those for the formation of the second image to the second and seventh, and so on. On the upper part of the frame 1, in correspondance with each of the two sides for the presentation of the images, a fixed shaft 7 is supported, on which five pairs of rocker arms 8 are mounted so as to turn freely and independantly from each other, each pair being engaged to a respective pair of rods 6 to which, as described above, the group of strips forming one of the images of the series is attached. In order to join the rods 6 to the rocker arms 8 said rods have a portion integral therewith (not shown) of flexible material, for example plastic, at their upper ends, provided with holes in such a way that their free extremity can be removably hung on two hooks 9 (see also figures 2 and 3) formed on the arms themselves. The lower end of each of said rods 6 is, on the other hand, connected to one end of a respective spring 10, the other end of which is fixed to the base of the frame 1. The springs 10 are put under tension following said hooking of the rods 6 to the respective rocker arm 8. Beneath the fixed shaft 7 which supports the rocker arms, a rotating shaft 11 is mounted to the frame 1, onto which cams 12 are keyed. In the center of the rotating shaft 11 a gear¬ wheel 14 is keyed, said gear-wheel being engaged to a pinion 15 on the drive shaft of an electric reduction gear 16 which rotatably operates the shaft 11. According to the invention, in order to obtain a smooth operation of said rods 6 and strips 5, the rocker arms 8 are realized as shown in figures 2 and 3. Each arm 8 comprises a pair of side flanges 18 and, integral therewith, a central portion 19 pivotally engaged to the fixed shaft 7. A hollow 13 is so formed between said flanges 18 and said central portion 19. On said flanges 18, the hooks 9 are formed for the retention of the upper ends of said rods 6. A roller cam follower 20 is pivotally mounted in said side flanges 18, in the area of said hollow 13, and it is engaged on the periphery of a respective cam 12. In the present embodiment, in which, as already stated, the apparatus of the present invention as illustrated in figure 1 is prepared for the alternation of five images through the windows 4 in covers 2, 3, and as the strips 5 forming each image are attached to two rods 6 in the manner mentioned above, two series of five rods 6 will consequently be provided, as well as two corresponding series of five rocker arms 8 and respective cams 12. The cams 12 show a circular profile followed by a recessed section 21 (fig. 3), and they are keyed onto the rotating shaft 11 with their respective recessed sections offset by 72° from the first to the fifth of each group so as to complete at each 360° rotation of the shaft 11 the presentation in cycle of said five images In operation, on starting the electric reduction gear 16, the rotation of its shaft is transmitted through the pinion 15 and the gear-wheel 14 to the shaft 11 which causes the cams 12 keyed to it in the offset manner mentioned above to rotate. At the start of rotation of the shaft 11, two cams 12, in the present embodiment employed to operate the pair of rods 6 supporting strips 5 relative to one of the images, find themselves with their recessed sections 21 engaged with said followers 20 of the respective levers 8, so that the latter are forced to turn downwards under the action, both of the weight of the rods 6 and their associated strips 5, and of springs 10. This causes a downwards movement of the two rods 6 hung on hooks 9, in figure 1 the third and the ninth, causing the displaying of one of the images relative to the series of strips 5 fastened to said rods 6. Obviously all the other cams 12 will engage the followers 20 in the respective rocker arms 8 with the circular profile, and therefore said arms will be held in the raised position. As the rotation of shaft 11 procedes the recessed sections 21 of the two cams 12 mentioned before will move until they disengage with the followers 20 in their respective rocker arms 8, which will instead become gradually engaged with the circular profiles which determine the raising of said associated arms 8, and consequently of the two rods 6 hung on the same, whereas at the same time the recessed sections of the two cams 12 succeeding the first two mentioned, engage themselves with the followers 20 of the corresponding arms 8, causing the same to rotate downwards, with the consequent lowering pf the two rods 6 hung to the same, thus bringing about the formation of the image, succeding in the series to the first one. In the same manner described above the alternation in cycle of all the images in the series will occur. In brief, by raising and lowering the vertical rods 6, the strips 5 attached to said rods will move with respect to the strips attached to the other rods, thereby revealing or covering respectively the lower terminal portions of said other strips, forming images which will alternate with a "dissolution" effect between one figure and the next, the speed of said "dissolution" being inversely proportional to the height of strips 5. Although in the present embodiment an apparatus of the invention has been illustrated and described in which the mechanism for the alternation of the images provides a number of components suitable for the presentation in cycle of two series of five images of a certain size corresponding to the respective windows i the larger opposite sides of the apparatus, the invention is not to be considered as limited to said embodiment, but can be adapted to numerous types of composition which can be varied both in number and in size. Moreover the images can be displayed on one side only of the apparatus. In particular, for the alternation of a larger or smaller number of images than those of the described embodiment, a certain number of vertical rods 6 with their relative rocker arms 8 and cams 12 must simply be added or removed for each image to be added or removed, whereas in the case of images of considerable dimensions it will be necessary to add one or more vertical support rods 6 to each image, in addition to the two provided in the embodiment in example, obviously complete with their relative rotating levers 8 and cams 12. Finally, in the case of display of the images on one side only of the apparatus in object, the frame 1 can be dispensed with, the rocker arm and cam mechanism for operation of the image support rods being mounted directly on the inside of the box-shaped body of one of the covers. The present invention is not limited, therefore, to the example embodiment described, but includes all possible modifications.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for the automatic displaying in cycle of images, in particular advertisments, including: a series of images, each image being formed by a group of horizontal strips (5) partially overlapping each other from the top towards the bottom, each group of strips being fixed onto a respective pair of vertical rods (6), and all corresponding strips in the strip series of different groups being overlapped in the same progressive order; an outer covering with sides presenting on at least one side a window, closed by a sheet of transparent material, for the observation of said images and a mechanism for the automatic alternation of said images supported in said ' covering, characterized by the fact of comprising: a fixed shaft (7) ; at least two groups of rocker arms (8) pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft, on each of which one of said vertical rods (6) is removably hung; a rotating shaft (11); at least two groups of cams (12) keyed to said rotating shaft, each cam being engaged with a respective arm (8), to cause an oscillation of said arm and a simultaneous lowering or raising of the vertical rod associated to said arm; spring means (10) fixed to said covering and to said rods for pulling said rod and the arm engaged thereto toward the lowering direction; and means for activating the rotation of said rotating shaft. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said arms comprise; a pair of said flanges (18) having hooks (9) for retaining the upper end of a rod (6); a central portion (19) pivotally engaged to said fixed shaft and integral with said flanges; and a roller cam follower (20) pivotally mounted on said flanges in the hollow (13) formed between said flanges and said central portion, said follower being peripherally engaged to one respective cam (12). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said cams have a circular profile for maintaining in a raised position the respective rod, interrupted by a recessed section, for maintaining in a lowered position the respective rod, said cams being keyed to said rotating shaft with their respective recessed sections offset at an angle in order to present successively and in cycle all the images of said series of images during a rotation of 360° of said rotating shaft. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means for activating include an electric reduction gear, on the shaft of which a pinion, engaged with a gear wheel keyed to said rotating shaft, is keyed. 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each of said vertical rods has its end connected to one end of a spring, the other end of which is connected to the base of said covering, said springs being put under tension when the relative rods are in the hung position on said arms.

Inventors: PAGLIA PAOLO, PAGLIA, PAOLO
Applicants: AGENZIA PUBBLIC AFFISSI
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G09F11
IPC codes: G09F11