Improvements relating to the Display of Advertisements.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Display of Advertisements.
WALTER THOMSON, Manager, of 2, Linden Terrace, Whitley, Northumberland,
and THE JACTHO PATENT AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING LAMP Co. LTD., Strawberry
House, St. James Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To effect our purpose we mount on to a suitable iron standard our movement
say (clockwork in this instance) with 2 trains of wheels, each set driven by a
spring and governed by a speed fan. One train. is for continuous running, an
upright spiral stem or worm is used instead of the ordinary clock escapement.
This spiral stem has at its head a speed fan acting as a governor. On one of
the spindles of this train, a cam or wheel with projections in form of teeth,
may be adopted, so to come in contact as it revolves with a pivoted lever depress-
ing or raising the same. This lever on being depressed or raised, causes its
opposite end to relieve a notched wheel into which it falls in one of the second
train of wheels, allowing this train free to run a given distance, & so on repeat-
ing this action until the movement is stopped by our automatic arrangement
described later.
One of the spindles in second train projects through framework, on which we
mount a flange, & fix to it a large disc containing a number of apertures for
advertisements. This disc is actuated & stopped as described by the depression
of lever, & releasing notched wheel. Each aperture when stationary is in direct
line with, & between condenser & lense ready for projection. A powerful electric
light or other illuminent is used.
STARTING APPARATUS.
Fixed to both sides of framework of movement is a bridge made of any suit-
able metal except iron or steel. Its position is near to speed fan of first train of
wheels, between the legs of bridge is fixed an electro magnet which actuates an
iron plate, suspended & free to move, in a vertical plane, between the magnetic
poles, & the fly or governor of clock movement. Attached to this iron plate
is a pin of such length, that when current is caused to flow in coils of electro
magnet, the iron plate is attracted up to the face of magnetic poles. The pin
being fixed to iron plate is drawn clear of fly or governor, leaving the mechanism
free to work. When the current is switched off, the iron plate & pin again drop
into position, & stops movement. The whole is mounted in a suitable iron
casing.
AUTOMATIC SWITCH.
This apparatus is distinct from the other mechanism, but forms part of our
combination. It is also enclosed in an iron or tin case & described as follows:-
A clock movement for timing switching on & off of current. We place side
by side two wheels of same diameter & with equal number of teeth, one of these
is geared with hour pinion of movement. These wheels only make one revolu
tion in 24 hours. On the face of each & near the circumference pins are placed,

page_text: which are adjustable so to admit of their being set to come in contact with a
balanced lever at any desired time. These pins carry the lever upwards until
its vertical position is reached when the weight carries it past its dead centre &
falls to the other side. This lever has a loop at its lower end which comes in
contact with another weighted lever, the stem of which is screwed into an in-
sulated pivoted block. Two other wires are screwed into each side of this block,
at right angles to the one named, one wire having two prongs at its free end &
the other a weight or balance. Two mercury cups are placed immediately under
the prongs named, & when the lever is thrown over by the clock movement,
the prongs are forced into the mercury cups, this making contact for automati-
cally switching on the current for light & causing the electro magnet to with-
draw pin from fan of movement allowing the whole mechanism to work, until
the pin on the second geared wheel worked by the hour pinion throws the lever
back again & breaks contact thus stopping movement.
3000
Improvements relating to the Display of Advertisements.
We, WALTER THOMSON, Manager, of 2, Linden Terrace, Whitley, in the County
of Northumberland, and THE JACTIO PATENT AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING LAMP
COMPANY LIMITED, Strawberry House, St. James Street, in the City and County
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to apparatus for displaying advertisements, notices,
pictures and the like, and it specially refers to that type of apparatus in which
the said matter is inscribed on transparent plates which are automatically carried
by a clockwork operated disc into the line of the rays proceeding from a light,
whereby, with the aid of lenses and so forth, illuminated and enlarged images of
the matter are cast upon a suitable surface.
In the ordinary form of the apparatus, the clockwork is started and stopped,
and the light is turned on and off, by hand which at times is very disadvantageous
owing to the attendance necessary.
Our chief object is to provide for the automatic performance of the said acts,
and in this way render the apparatus entirely automatic, and avoid the disadvan-
tage above mentioned. A subsidiary object is to simplify the part of the clock-
work governing the periodic motion of the disc carrying the matter to be dis-
played.
The invention therefore comprises a clockwork arrangement and devices for
starting and stopping the mechanism and lighting and extinguishing the light,
these devices being electric contrivances, namely a catch and a time switch.
We will fully describe our improvements in reference to the accompanying
drawings whereof Fig. 1 is a general side elevation indicating a complete
arrangement; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clockwork (with one of the side
plates of its framework removed) and the catch device for starting and stopping

page_text: it; and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side and end elevations of the time
switch.
Referring to Fig. 1. A is the disc carrying, in apertures near its periphery,
the matter to be displayed, and it revolves in line with, and between the con-
denser and lens of a magic lantern B. C is the light, which is exemplified
as an electric arc lamp, and D is the clockwork. E is the clockwork catch
and F is the time switch. All these parts are appropriately arranged and sup-
ported and the disc A, lantern B, light C and the mechanism (with the
exception hereafter described) are constructed and adapted for use in the ordinary
O manner.
The mechanism D) consists of two trains of wheels d, d, the one, d, running
continuously, and the other, d, periodically under the control of the train d.
so that the disc A, which is mounted on the spindle of the train d', is revolved
to bring each advertisement or the like in turn into the display position and is
stopped and locked for a time to admit of the required display.
and
Our improvement in the clockwork is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2
according to it we fasten on the spindle №³, of the train d, a wheel having
cam-like teeth which co-operate with one arm of a lever d³, pivoted at de to
one of the side plates of the framework d, and whose other arm co-acts with a
notched wheel 8, fixed on the spindle d' of the train d', through the medium
of a pivoted lever do, which is centered at du and provided with a pin d¹2
adapted to enter and leave the notches of the wheel 8, and be engaged by the
lever d5.
In use, as the train d operates, the wheel rotates, and in course one of its
teeth comes in contact with the adjoining end of the lever d, thereby depressing
same and raising the other end, which end lifts the pin 2 out of its seat in a
notch of the wheel 8, whereupon the train d' is free to operate to drive the
disc A to displace one advertisement or the like from the display position and
bring the succeeding one into it. When the contact between the wheel d and
the lever is interrupted, due to the revolution of the wheel, the levers
and drop by their own weight, and the pin enters another notch in the
wheel d, and so stops and locks the train, and hence the disc A, whereby
the advertisement or the like is displayed until the next engagement of the
wheel d and lever, when the same cycle of operations is repeated.
shown, the levers and may co-operate with pins on a wheel of the train d
to assist the stopping and locking of the mechanism.
As
We will now explain the catch E. To the framework d, and near the speed
fan of the train d, we fix a bridge e whereupon we arrange a magnet el
whose armature e² is suspended from the bridge e so that it may swing between
the magnet and the fan. The magnet circuit is opened and closed by the
switch F, as we will presently describe. On the armature e² a pin eis fur-
nished, and it is made of such a length that when the magnet el is not energised,
it is in engagement with the fan d¹³ and prevents its revolution, but when the
armature is attracted, the pin is withdrawn from the fan, and so offers no
impediment to the operation of the mechanism D.
Now as regards the switch F. This switch consists of an ordinary clock with
which we combine the following parts, the whole being suitably supported. With
the hour pinion of the clock gears the wheel f, and with this wheel another
equal wheel f. At the face, and near the periphery, the wheel f is fitted with
pin or projection f, and the wheel with a pin or projection f³. These pins.
Oscillate a weighted lever f*, centered at f³, and each pin may be adjustable
so that it may be set to engage the lever at any desired time. However, as
llustrated the pin or projection is only adjustable, and for convenience it is
constituted by a sector whose position is altered by a screw. The lever 7 is
ashioned or provided with a loop or fork f for co-operating with a lever f
composed by a rod or wire connected to an insulated block pivoted at fs. To
his block is connected a rod or wire having prongs f10 f10, and also a rod.

page_text: or wire carrying a weight. The prongs enter and leave mercury cups f¹², f12,
which are connected in the ordinary way to a dynamo or other source, the
magnet e¹ and the lamp C, the requisite insulations and fittings being made and
applied as and where necessary to ensure proper working.
Assuming the apparatus is not working, the operation of the switch and catch
is as follows:-
As the wheels f. f revolve, the pin eventually engages the lever f' and
throws it over into the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 3, consequently
the fork or loop f similarly moves the lever fi, whose prongs f10, f10 enter the
cups 13, 18, thus closing the circuit to the lamp C and the magnet e whereupon
the lamp is lighted, and the magnet attracts the armature 2 and draws the pin e³
from engagement with the fan d³, thereby allowing the mechanism D to start,
which it does and operates the disc A as described. Thus the apparatus con-
mences, and continues to work until the pin f³ engages the lever f when the
reverse operations occur, that is to say the lever is returned to its original posi-
tion with the result that the prongs fio fio are withdrawn from the cups F12, F13,
thus opening the circuits, so extinguishing the light C and rendering the
magnet e inert, hence the armature e falls and its pin e re-engages the fan,
thus stopping the mechanism D until the next operation of the switch when the
same actions occur.
We have described the use of an electric arc lamp for the light C as we recom-
mend it for obtaining the best results, but, of course, a gas or oil lamp may be
adopted, in which event the catch E and switch F. will operate as explained,
and the operation of the switch will be adapted to turn a cock or a wick, the
lighting being effected by any suitable known automatic method.
Further, as will be obvious, our improvement in the mechanism D is applic
able to clockwork of this type in general, while the catch E may be used with
another time switch, and the switch F may be used alone.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of parts constituting a complete apparatus for displaying
advertisements, notices, pictures and the like, all constructed, arranged and
adapted for use, substantially as described in reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. In clockwork mechanism, the combination of the wheel 4, the lever d³,
the wheel 8, the lever do and the pin 2, all arranged and operating substan-
tially as described in reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In clockwork mechanism, the combination of parts arranged substantially
as described for releasing, stopping and locking one train of the mechanism.
4. A catch, such as E, for clockwork mechanism, arranged, substantially as
described in reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, to stop the
mechanism and permit it to start.
5. The combination with clockwork mechanism, such as D), of a starting or
stopping device composed of a magnet e¹, an armature and a pin ³, all
arranged and operating substantially as described in reference to Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. A time switch constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
in reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a time switch, the combination of the wheels f, f, having pins or pro-
jections, f, the lever f with the loop f6, the lever f with prongs f10 f10,
and the cups f12, 12, all arranged and operating substantially as described in
reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination with clockwork mechanism, of a catch, such as E, and
a time switch, such as F, substantially as and for the purposes described in
reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. The use, in combination with apparatus of the kind referred to, of a catch,

page_text: such as E, and a time switch, such as F, for automatically lighting and extin-
guishing the light, and stopping the clockwork mechanism and permitting it
to start, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. In apparatus of the kind referred to, the combination of the parts for
releasing, stopping and locking one train of the clockwork mechanism, the
catch E for stopping the mechanism and permitting it to start, and the time
switch F for extinguishing and lighting the light and rendering the catch E
inoperative and operative, substantially as described in reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.