Patent GB-212949-A (GB)
Title: An automatic device for changing displayed announcements
IPC: G09F11/29
Filed: 1924-03-17
Abstract: 212,949. Perrin, L. E. T., and Chanard de la Chaume, G. H. J. March 15, 1923, [Convention date]. Reel and non-endless web apparatus; actuating.-An announcement displaying apparatus or a station indicator comprises a triangular shaped casing for attachment to a ceiling &c. and containing bands, bearing information &c., which are intermitently advanced, e.g. by electrical rail contacts, and reversed by electromagnets. The bands are wound on and off storage rollers 13, 14 and 20, 21 by an electric motor 24 operating geared wheels 26, 27 coaxial with pinions 28, 29 respectively. The pinions 28, 29 are mounted on an arm 30 fixed to a shaft 31, Fig. 6, rocked bv two solenoids 32, 33, so that the pinions 26, 28 or 27, 29 can be clutched together. The drive is thus conveyed by a gear-wheel 36 and worm 37 to a shaft 38 or by a gear-wheel 39 and worm 40 to a shaft 41 whereby the rollers 13, 20 or the rollers 14, 21 are made the winding-on rollers. The bands are held taut by heavy jockey rollers. To stop the band after it has been started by a rail contact, the motor circuit is controlled at 55, 56, Fig. 7, by a spring-retracted pivoted lever 47 carrying at one end a roll 49 and slidably connected at its other end to a pin 52 on a member 53 pivoted at 54 and bearing a carbon contact 55. The roll 49 rides on the band 43, but drops at required intervals into a groove 46 in a guide roller 45 through slots 44 in the band to make the circuit. Other compartments containing separate advertising bands may be provided, all corresponding rollers 13, 14, 20, 21 being in line. Fig. 8 shows a bearing 50 and connecting shaft 60 for two rollers 13. The shaft 60 has keyed to it two grooved washers 62 round each of which is disposed a slidable ring 64 having an internal projection engaging the groove. A projection in the washer 62 engages a seating in the roller, which can be detached by sliding back the ring 64. Fig. 10 shows the electrical circuit in which, when the hand switch 73 is closed and a shoe 77 rides on a rail contact 78, current from a main 71 passes through a resistance 81 and a solenoid 75. The latter closes an interrupter 74, thus making the motor circuit through a resistance 76 to earth 72. By the movement of the interrupter 74 a rod 88 is depressed and a bridge contact 90 for illuminating lamps 92 is broken while a bridge contact 89 is made to ensure current passing through the solenoid 75 after the contact 77, 78 has been broken. The motor 24 rotates until a slot 44 in the band 43 makes a contact which short-circuits the solenoid 75, thus breaking the motor circuit and making that of the lamps 92. The apparatus may be mounted in each carriage of a train and may be connected together by a wire 93 from a single shoe 77. To ensure unrolling of all the bands in the same direction, one reverser 86 may be placed in one of the carriages. Intercommunicating wires 97, 98 run from the two contacts 94. 95 of the reverser 86 and the magnets 32, 33. When the train returns, the reverser 86 will be coupled to the device which operates the reversal of the train. Alternatively, an automatic mechanical device on the band 43 may reverse the movement. A handle may be provided on the motor shaft for manual adjustment of the band. When employed for advertising only, the shoe 77 will be replaced by an intermittent contact, such as a rotating disc.