SYSTEM FOR THE EXHIBITION OF ADVERTISING INFORMATION, SIGNS, MESSAGES

Abstract: System for the exhibition of information, signs, messages and the like, in particular of advertising communication, having modules with two rollers to wind and unwind sheets or pages with messages. For any number of modules from 1 to n, where n can be over 50, the system essentially comprises two universal sub-systems, one of motorization (M M) by a sole motor for all the modules, and onof transmission (S S T) by rod (A T) linkages to drive said modules.

Description: SYSTEM FOR THE EXHIBITION OF ADVERTISING INFORMATION. SIGNS. MESSAGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for the exhibition of information, signs, messages and the like, in particular of advertising communication, substantially involving at least one module that includes a framework or walled chassis accommodating two rollers for the winding and unwinding of sheets or pages with said messages, as well as actuating means for said rollers. PRIOR ART The art of exhibiting messages, images etc. on wound up panels or rolls is currently going through a phase of enormous development in particular as a direct consequence of the increase in number and importance of television broadcasts, in particular of live broadcasts, of sport events. Known prior art is therefore wide and among all relevant documents, only the following will be mentioned here. In the old Patent us N. 3.255.541, the rollers on which the opposite ends of a sheet are wound are coupled by means of sprockets and a chain so they rotate together when one of the sprockets or gear is driven by a single motor. The drive shafts for the rolls are coupled by means of pre-loaded coils or torsion springs which are preloaded in a direction so as to impart tension to the panel extending between the rolls. The drive motors for the rolls are placed where they will not cast shadows on the webs. The chassis or frame of the signs should be made larger so that the power can be displaced from the webs. In PCT / ES 92/00079 filed on 04/12/92, and published as WO 9311522, corresponding to EP 92924731.0, the system for exhibiting advertisements on a panel presents cylindrical rollers set in action by motors, said rollers moving panels up and down in front of a window. The motors that pull the cylinders are entirely accommodated within said rollers and the end side walls of the frame include passages communicating with the inside of the cylinders so as to connect power cables to motors. The relevant EPO's Search Report dated 23.03.93 mentions US Patent N. 5003717 of category (x), US Patent N. 3754342, NL Patent N. 63730 and other patents that have led to the official withdrawing of said E.P. Indeed, said prior US PATENT n. 5.003.717 describes a system composed of n modules mounted adjacent each other, each module being provided with two rollers for the support of rolls, a motor being mounted within each roller. This particularly relevant USP 5003717 filed in the USA on 18.09.1989, and granted on 02.04.1991, acts as prior art also for Spanish patent n. 2.088.322 (AD-TIME WORLDWIDE BV) (filed on 30.05.1991 - thus after the grant date, 02.04.1991, of said USP 5003717), in which the framework for the rollers of each module is equipped with wheels sliding on tracks and each roller presents a motor that is partially inserted in its roller and partially jutting out of said roller so that it can be inserted into one of the sides of the adjacent module. Also because n modules require 2n motors for the 2n rollers (and 4n wheels sliding on tracks), the chassis of the n. modules and the corresponding adjacent cross-sectional walls have a prohibitive complexity (weight, dimensions, consumption etc.). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the present invention is to provide a system for exhibiting information, messages, signs (numerical and/or alphabetical) and the like, that does not present the disadvantages of the known prior art and that offers a set of features (such as extreme simplicity, efficiency, reliability, flexibility, compactness, lightness, resistance to atmospheric agents and social circumstances, as well as reduced maintenance and operating costs, etc) that provide an amazing "maximum maximorum" of innovative advantages. To mention but a few of these features, the system includes, for any number of modules from 1 to n (where n can be higher than 50), two universal sub-systems, one of motorization by only one motor for all the modules, and one of transmission by rod linkages to drive said modules. In one embodiment, the two sub-systems coexist in a single module consisting of a shell framework in which a frame is inserted that lodges said universal sub-systems. In an other embodiment, the motorization sub-system includes a specific and independent motor that can be inserted in the framework or rack of a motorized module, on which rack are lodged, together with said single motor, a variable-speed drive; pairs of electrically-driven brakes and clutches; gears and chains connecting to the gears that are associated to the two rollers of the motor module and to a sub-system that provides motion to the other 2 (n-1) rollers of the unmotorized modules that are pulled by the rollers of said motor module. According to another feature of the invention, the modules present a substantially universal framework, composed of the bone structure of each module, in the sense that said framework represents an advantageously standard and repetitive sub-system, equipped with vertical closing panels (front - back) as well as of horizontal bases (upper and lower) having a multi-layered structure with material gradients. Preferably, the rollers are internally crossed by rods that support them and give them motion; preferably, the sheets to wind around said rollers are made of partial sheets, in particular half-sheets having borders (parallel to the axes of the rollers) equipped with coupling devices, such as mutually engaging means. The most relevant features of the invention are recited in the claims at the end of the present description, which claims are considered herein incorporated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The various aspects and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description of the embodiments (provided as illustrative and non limiting examples) represented in the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1, 1A and IB are block diagrams of different arrays of the modules comprising the system; Figure 2 is a general block diagram of a system composed by n modules; Figure 2A is an exploded partial perspective view illustrating one motorized module MM and one unmotorized module FMo combined to form a maxi-screen (n=l); Figure 3 is a partial and exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a motor module MM including a universal motorized driven sub-system SSM for a system having n modules (as in Figure 1 A or IB); Figure 4 is a partially perspective view on enlarged scale of said universal subsystem SSM in Figure 3; - Figure 4A is a partially cross-sectioned perspective view of the universal rod linkage sub-system SST that moves the rollers of any type of module (maxi-screen or other); Figure 4B is a perspective view of cup-like plug 41 -41s, and Figure 4C is a schematic view of its coupling with the internal ring of a ball-bearing wheel; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of one of the n-1 free modules MF of Figures 1A and IB; Figure 5A is a view analogous to Figures 3 and 5 and shows the basic structure of all the modules according to the system embodiments of Figures 1A, IB, 3, and 5; Figure 6 is a large scale sectional view of one horizontal base of the module framework in Figures 3, 5, and 5 A; Figures 7 and 7A are perspective views of the front and back composite panels that close a standard module STRU.STA of Figures 3 and 5; Figures 8 and 8A are perspective views of the joggled ends of the pages or sheets that support the images to exhibit; Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating the management and power system associated to the control board EL.AL that controls multiple systems each having maxi-screen modules or a plant Sin of a first system with n modules, possibly associated to another system S2n' with n 1 modules. Figure 1 shows a system consisting of a single motor module MM and a single associated free module Mfo that is preferably a maxi-screen module (Figure 2A). Figure 1A shows a case in which the motor module MM is set at the end of a series of slave modules MF1, MF2, MFn-1. In Figure IB, said motor module MM is set in a central position with respect to the series of modules MFn-1 and it has modules from MF1 to MFi on its right hand and modules from MFi+1 to MFn-1 on its left hand. Figure 2A shows an embodiment made of a single module (n=l) (for example, a so- called maxi-screen) that consists of the motor sub-system MM and of the free subsystem MFo (Figure 1); in a large shell SHE with a transparent door WIN, a framework STRU is inserted which accommodates motor (37) (with the respective speed-reducer not represented in the Figure), brake-clutches pairs 20(38), 38(20), winding and unwinding rollers (5 -5 1 ) for the image sheet (100), and rollers 12 and 12 ' for keeping sheets extended. The shell SHE carries lights LIGH for back-lighting said images (100) from the inner or outer back wall PO. Rollers are moved by the universal rod linkage sub-system SST (42 and 42') whose details are shown in Figures 4 and 4A. In other words, the motor (37) and the corresponding brake-clutch pairs 20(38) and 38(20) constitute the universal motor driven sub-system SSM of Figure 4 while rods 42- 42 ' internal to rollers 5-5 ' (in Figure 2 A only outlined) represent the core of the universal sub-system SST that is illustrated in detail in Figure 4A. Figure 2 shows the other embodiment of a system Sin consisting of n modules of which n-1 - MFI ... MFi..., MFn-1 - are not provided with a motor (unmotorized), and only one module MM is motor driven (motorized) and includes, as is the case in Figure 2A, a single motor sub-system SSM that actuates a driving (transmission) sub-system SST by means of shaft AM. By means of rods AT - Atn-1 (42 and 42 1 in Figures 2A, 4, 4A), said sub-system SST moves pairs of rollers R-R^Rl-R' l Rn-l-R'n-l (corresponding to pairs 5-5 1 in Figures 2A, 3, 5) that represent the pairs of rollers associated to each motor or non-motor driven module on which message sheets or pages Tel-Te2 are wound. As anticipated, transmission (driving) sub-system SST is constituted by a series of drive rods AT, ATI .... ATN-1 and AT 1 , AT' l AT'n-1 respectively (42 in Figure 4), that are serially connected one to the other and inserted into and across said rollers. As, according to an advantageous feature of the invention, all modules of the embodiment in Figures 1A, IB, 2, 3, etc... include a substantially standard structure STRU.STA (Figure 5 A), it is advantageous to describe this last structure with reference to Figure 5 which illustrates a slave module, that is a module deprived of the motor driven sub-system SSM that is typical only of module MM. In both Figures 5 and 3, the substantially standard module is shown open on both the front end F and the back end P, as well as on top S. As it can be seen from Figures 5, 5A, and 3, the standard framework is composed of, for example, three mounting bars (24) horizontally distanced one from the other that (in Figure 5) alternatively present either crossties (spacers) (44) carrying a plate (26) or, an ajutting full plate (29) reinforced by an angle iron (30) (not shown in Figure 5A). The distance between the bars with crossties (24,44,26) and those with full plates (24,29,30) leaves space for a sheet (100) that winds and unwinds, for example, on rollers Rl and R' l, externally passing on the stretching rollers (12 and 12 1 ). Every structure STRU.STA is closed to the ends El -E2 with metal plates (34) for a module MF (Figure 5) that takes the shape of a single plate (3) in El in the case of a module MM(Figure 3). The upper and lower ends Bl and B2 (Figure 5) are characteristically composed of compound plates (39-19) that (as best shown in Figure 6) consist of an alveolar metal profile (39) having, for example, four grooves named from CAl to CA4 that are separated one from the other by inner ribs COl,CO2, CO3, through which power conductors CU, and, for example, conductors CC for management signals of the entire system (see Figure 9) pass. On top (60) (Figure 6) of profile (39) it is anchored a thick layer (19) of elastomeric-plastomeric material preferably having a micro-cellular structure with remarkable anti-shock, fireproof, waterproof, nonskid capabilities and being resistant to atmospheric agents; preferably, said protective layer acts also as an angle iron following the shape (70) (Figure 6) of the profile (39). In a particular embodiment, in layer (19) a seat (71) for the application of covering sheets TC possibly showing messages or images is obtained. While profile (39) is made of metal, for example aluminum, the elastomer-polymer plastic layer (19) is obtained from a mixture of ethyl ene co-polymers with a co- monomer, for example another olefin and/or diene, preferably an etilen-vinyl acetate co- polymer (a so-called EVA); in the blends, expanding, cross-linking or swelling agents as well as organic or inorganic charges or extenders can be incorporated. One of the preferred products is that marketed with the trademark Polymat® by CODEX srl, a company based at Dosson di Casier (TV) Italy. The thickness of layer (19) ranges from 15 to 30 millimetres and the thickness of profile (39) ranges from 1 to 3 millimetres; the height of the profile (including grooves and alveoli) ranges from 25 to 50 millimetres. Returning to Figure 3, the standard module STRU.STA presents the only difference of being provided with motor driven sub-system SSM that, as is particularly clear in Figures 3 and 4, consists of an ad-hoc little framework formed by the mounting bar (24 1 ), crossties (24 2 ) and plates (16-16 1 ). Characteristically and analogously to the case of the maxi-screen in Figure 2 A, in Figures 3 and 4, the motor sub-system SSM presents a single motor (37), a speed reducer (36) on whose shaft (25) a gear (14) is fastened which engages with two gears (38, 38 ') fastened, on their turn, on two shafts (21-21 ') on which a pair of brakes (20) and a pair of clutches (13) are mounted, both of which are electrically controlled. The ends of the shafts protruding from the clutches (13 and 13 1 ) drag two sprockets (1, l 1 ) which, on their turn, move other two sprockets (2 - 2 1 ) each of which is engaged with the polygonal (f.i. rectangular or quadrangular) rod (42) (AT) that at one end moves roller (R) and at the other end is engaged with rod (AT,) of the successive roller (R ] ) that on its turn will couple with rod (AT 2 ), and so on. As illustrated in Figure 2 and, even better, in Figures 3, 4 A, and 5, the coupling between the rods (42 and 42 ' in Figure 4A and AT and AT, in Figure 2) of successive modules is accomplished by means of pins (40) that are engaged by the shape of their edges (210 in Figure 4A for example) to the two plugs (41-41 ') tightly secured at the ends of rollers (5) (Figures 3, 4A, 5). In order to further facilitate the understanding of one of the basic features of the invention, it is convenient to provide a chronological description of the making of the rods that are coupled to the rollers by means of the body of plug (41), the ball bearing (4) and, one to the other, by means of pins (40). It starts from a metal rod (42) having the length of a roller for example 5 (Figure 4A) with a preferably polygonal (or similar) cross-section, so as to provide greater engagement by means of the shape. Separately, two cup-like plugs (41-41S) are moulded that, as best illustrated in the perspective view of Figure 4B, consist of a body (200) having an external diameter (207) substantially equal to the inner diameter of roller (5), an edge (201) with a slightly higher diameter, an intermediate bottom (203), spokes (204) reinforcing the external body (200) starting from the outer part (206) of the inner canal (205) that has the same cross-section (even if slightly smaller) of rod (41). In the cross-sectioned portion of Figure 4A, it is clearly seen that each plug has a longitudinal extension L such as to tightly couple with the inside of the roller; to such aim, on the external surface (200) of the cup-like plug (41) a layer of adhesive AD is placed and forced inside roller (5). The adhesive strength of plug (41) in said roller (5) can be increased by means of heat or cross-linking treatments of the coupled zone L. Furthermore, after inserting the roller, the body (200) is secured by means of rivets (208) that obviously penetrate from outside of the roller into surface (200). The flexed edge (201) works as a stopper to the plug when it is inserted into the roller. Typically, a canal (205) crosses the entire inner body (210) that is integral with the body (200) and is also reinforced by means of the spokes (204), and the intermediate bottom (203). Therefore, the end of a rod (42) that is completely accommodated inside the roller inserts by virtue of form coupling in the portion of canal (205) which is comprised between edge (207) and the intermediate bottom (203), while a swaged end 40' of pin (40) inserts into the other portion of the canal (205) comprised between said bottom (203) and external end (212) of edge (210). As illustrated in Figure 4A, the other swaged end 40" of pin 40 inserts into end (212) of canal (205). In this way, coupling is accomplished between rods and consequently between end of rollers of adjacent modules. In the crowded Figure 3, the various components indicate: (6) transparent panel for the scrolling of pages for reading of proximity switch (9); (7) support angle iron for panel (6); (8) support plate for proximity switch (9); (9) proximity switch; (10) self-turning bearings; (11) lodging bushings for rollers (2); (12) page stretching rollers; (13 - 13 ») clutches; (14) motor shaft gear (15) bearing housing and self-turning bearings for housing shafts; (16) bearing support plate of chassis of motor driven sub-system "SSM " (17) anti-crash plate protecting the motor driven group "SSM " ( 18) safety plate of modules (MM-MF... MF...); (19) compound plates; (20 - 20 ') brakes (21 ) motor group shafts (22-23) boxes for electrical and electronic components and cutouts. The elements listed above for the purpose of completeness have non-basic roles with reference to the invention. Significantly, according to Figure 4C, the external surface (206) of the protuberance (207) enters the rotating ring (4 1 ) of a ball bearing (4), whose outermost ring (4 1 1 ) is immovably lodged in the module end sides E2 and El respectively. In this way, said ball-bearing (4) acts as a support for the rods (42 - 42'in Figure 4A). Said protuberance (210) from the intermediate bottom (203) of the plug (41 - 41 1 ) has the three functions of accommodating the head of a rod (42) into an inner end (207) of its canal (205), of receiving and blocking a swaged end (40 1 ) of the pin (40) at the outer end of said canal (205), and of inserting with its external surface into the hole of the internal turning ring of a ball bearing. The modules can be additionally provided with trolleys rolling directly on the ground. Characteristically, the numerals (33) and (27) (in Figures 3 and 5) indicate respectively front and back panelings, of the standard framework STRU.STA; these panels are illustrated with greater detail in Figures 7 and 7A and have a composite structure with material gradient. It has been found particularly convenient to make said panels with an alveolar body (110) consisting, as an example, of two layers (90-91) of synthetic material preferably chosen among olefin polymers, PVC and, above all, polycarbonate. According to a feature of the invention, the front panel (33) also includes an additional layer (missing in panel (27)) of textile material (120), preferably of non-woven material, so as to avoid the possible formation of a liquid film between the panel (33) and the sheets or pages (100), which would increase friction. Figures 8 and 8A illustrate the preferred embodiment of sheets Te that are now constituted by multiple portions of joggled sheets; for the sake of simplicity, in said Figures 8, the portions of sheets are two semi-sheets Te, and Te 2 including edges or borders zip A and zip B having joggles or teeth D that can be easily engaged together. A processing and power board El.Al is associated to every system, having one or multiple slave modules. As a matter of fact, the structure of the universal motor driven sub-system SSM requires input/output on-off pulse signals to coordinate and synchronize, in and alternated motor-reducer way, clutch-brake pairs and the positioning of the pages (the pages rotate at intervals and with rest times that are variably set by programs that may be or not be related to images). Moreover, if the system includes back and front lighting, said board also coordinates the turning on and off of the lights. To make things clearer, when a roller R of a module MM is to wrap the sheet Te, the first thing to do is to activate motor (37) and regulate its reducer; then, the brake-clutch group under traction (associated to R) sets in the following position: idle brake and working clutch. On the contrary, the brake-clutch group of the unwinding roller R' should have the brake working and the clutch idle. When the time of exhibition of the current piece of message is over, the cycle starts again following the program loaded in the electronic cards contained in the cutout boxes 22 and 23, which on their turn have been loaded with a program having its source in the PC of El.Al of the bus board. In the embodiment in Figure 9, the board El.Al is coupled with full lines (300) that bring command signals to all the modules of a plant MM(1) and n 1 MF and of other plants MM (2) and further slave modules n MF, and so through the plants. Dotted line (310) power feeds motors, clutches, brakes, proximity switches and possible internal or external light sources (see LIGH in Figure 2A). From board El.Al., cutouts (311) to management control peripherals (312) and data output peripherals (313) depart. For the sake of exemplification, peripherals (312) can include a touch screen TSC, a personal computer PC, a pocket computer CP, a modem, a TV set and a radio-assistance board CRA (for distant managing). Analogously, the block (313) can include printers ST, plotters and recording devices (floppy-disks, CDs...). Preferably, rollers R are made of synthetic material, preferably PVC, and cup-like plugs are also preferably made of PVC containing organic and inorganic extenders, preferably made of glass silica. As anticipated, back and front panels (27, 33) of the framework are two-layer plates (110) enclosing vertically-distributed alveoli; preferably, said two layers are made of polycarbonate and are 4-12 mm thick and the air space is 3-11mm wide. The additional layer of non-woven material is 3-6 mm thick. For the sake of clarity, the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiments, which constitute non limitative examples, in the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are susceptible to all those changes, modifications, substitutions etc. that, for being within the ability of an average technician working in this field, are considered included and falling within the spirit of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. System for the scrolling exhibition of information, signs, messages and the like in particular of advertising communication, including at least one module essentially comprising a containment structure, generally in the form of walled chassis in which rollers to wind and unwind at least one sheet or page with said messages, and means to drive said rollers are accommodated and caused to rotate, characterised in that it includes, for any number of modules from 1 to n, where n can be even above 50, two universal sub-systems one of motorization by only one motor for all the modules, and one of transmission by rod linkages to drive the rollers of said modules. 2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that, beside said single motor, the motorization sub-system includes brake-clutch pairs and gears, and the transmission sub-system comprises rods that pass in the rollers of all modules including the rollers of the motor module and are equipped with means to rotate each roller and to couple with the motor gear and the other rods. 3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the motor sub-system and the transmission sub-system are associated to or included in an exhibition module whose rollers move a maxi-sheet. 4. System according to claim 3, characterised in that said exhibition module includes: a shell structure or frame; a framework which is inserted into said shell and is equipped with mounting bars and crossties to support the components of the motor sub-system and to couple them with the two rods passing in the two rollers and provided with means to couple with the gears of the motor sub-system. 5. System according to claim 1, comprising n modules, characterised in that it includes n- 1 non-motor driven modules (MF) enslaved to one motor driven module (MM) of the universal single motor sub-system (SSM), the universal transmission sub-system comprising 2n transmission rods, 2(n-l) of which are associated to the 2(n-l) rollers of the non-motor driven modules and are set in motion by the first two rods associated and passing in the two rollers of the motor driven module. 6. System according to claim 2, characterised in that each rod of the transmission subsystem has a length substantially equal to that of the respective roller and comprises at each end a double body multifunctional plug, a first external body having an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the roller, an intermediate bottom and a peripheral risen edge; as well as a second central body protruding from said intermediate bottom, having axial length identical to that of the first body and centrally crossed by a canal having the same section of the rod that enters it to an end, the other end of the canal accommodating an end of a rod coupling pin whose other end enters the canal of the plug of the rod associated to the roller of the adjacent module. 7. System according to claim 6, characterised in that every plug is secured, with its outer surface, to the roller, by means of backsighted rivets and/or one layer of adhesive, while the plug internally protruding body whose inner canal accommodates on one side the end of a rod and on the other side the end of said pin enters with its outer cylindrical surface into the rotating inner ring of a ball bearing whose outer ring is immovably imbedded in the plate at the end of the module framework, said inner ring being rotated by said rods. 8. System according to claim 4, characterised in that the n modules comprise standard frameworks consisting of two upper and lower plates or bases two end-side mounting bars at the edges of said bases, and two intermediate mounting bars with horizontal brackets towards the inside carrying a pierced jolted plate. 9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that said framework comprises frontal panelings involving a plate made of two sheets or layers of plastic material chosen among olefin, vinyl, ammidic, styrene co-polymers, or polycarbonates spaced apart by an alveolar space, and of an external layer on the remote surface with respect to the motor driven sub-system, consisting of textile material, preferably non-woven material, said material gradient compound plate providing anti-crash and anti- waterfilm protection. 10. System according to claim 8, characterised in that the lower and the upper bases or plates of the standard framework comprise a metal profile with special section on whose outer surface is tightly secured a layer of elastomeric-plastomeric material with microcellular structure, chosen among co-polymers of ethylene, styrene, butadiene, in particular of ethylene with vinyl acetate, said metal profile having, in its cross-section, at least four buckets delimited by ribs, in which electrical power conductors and management and command data transmission conductors pass.

Inventors: BATTEZZATI STEFANO, BERRA GIORDANO, COMASCHI ANDREA, MERLINI DANILO, TACCHINI CLAUDIO, BATTEZZATI, STEFANO, BERRA, GIORDANO, COMASCHI, ANDREA, MERLINI, DANILO, TACCHINI, CLAUDIO
Applicants: BATTEZZATI STEFANO, BERRA GIORDANO, COMASCHI ANDREA, MERLINI DANILO, ONDAVISION S P A, TACCHINI CLAUDIO, BATTEZZATI, STEFANO, BERRA, GIORDANO, COMASCHI, ANDREA, MERLINI, DANILO, ONDAVISION S.P.A., TACCHINI, CLAUDIO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G09F11
IPC codes: G09F11