Improvements in Advertising Devices.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
Improvements in Advertising Devices.
I, ALFRED CANNAN SNELL of Culver Park Saltash in the County of Cornwall,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce attractive advertisements, preferably
changing at prearranged intervals, in combination with the delivery into a con-
venient receptacle of an article likely to prove a source of pleasure or convenience
to the public.
For instance I propose to use a continuous roll of any suitable material, which is
arranged to wind off a roller or its equivalent in one part of the machine, and wind
on to another roller in another part of the machine, between these two points
however passing before a suitable opening (preferably glazed) through which the
public may examine the advertisement painted, printed, or otherwise arranged
thercon.
These advertisements in some cases I make more or less transparent so that with
a lamp or light behind them they are readily seen at night or they may be lighted
from a lamp and reflector in front, and further to interest onlookers I may arrange
each advertisement so that it contains a "picture puzzle.'
The movement of these advertisements may be continuous, but I prefer to give
them an intermittent movement allowing one of them to remain quite still for any
convenient time, and then as quickly as possible change to another the mechanism
effecting this being so arranged as to change the direction of movement when at or
near the end of the series.
At every change if desirable a curtain may descend and rise after the change.
The lamp, if used, I prefer to so control that the light is turned up towards
dusk and turned down at or about midnight or other prearranged time.
In combination with the above I so arrange the driving mechanism or some
supplementary gearing that a match is taken from a reservoir and deposited into a
convenient lip or recess accessible to the public, this (or a similar movement acting
upon sweatmeats, cigarettes, or other suitable articles) taking place at intervals of
two minutes or other prearranged time.
Dated this Oth dow of Mo 1801
ALF. C. SNELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Advertising Devices.
I, ALFRED CANNAN SNELL of Culver Park, Saltash in the County of Cornwall
Engineer 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce attractive advertisements preferably
changing at prearranged intervals in combination with the delivery into a con-
venient receptacle of an article likely to prove a source of pleasure or convenience
to the public.
For instance I propose to use a continuous roll of any suitable material which is
arranged to wind off a roller or its equivalent and wind on to another roller in
another part of the machine between these two points however passing before a

page_text: suitable opening (preferably glazed) through which the public may examine the
advertisements painted printed or otherwise arranged thereon.
These advertisements in some cases I make more or less transparent so that with
a lamp or light behind them they are readily seen at night or they may be lit from
a lamp and reflector in front and further to interest onlookers I may arrange each
advertisement so that it contains a "picture puzzle."
The movement of these advertisements may be continuous but I prefer to give
them an intermittent movement allowing one of them to remain quite still for any
convenient time and then as quickly as possible change to another the mechanism
effecting this being so arranged as to change the direction of movement when at or
near the end of the series.
The lamp, if used. I prefer to so control that the light is turned up towards
dusk and turned down at or about midnight or other prearranged time.
In combination with the above I so arrange the driving mechanism or some
supplementary gearing that a match is taken from a reservoir and deposited into a
convenient lip or recess accessible to the public, this (or a similar movement acting
upon sweetmeats, cigarettes or other suitable articles) taking place at intervals of
two minutes or other prearranged time.
In the annexed drawings an apparatus is shown constructed in accordance with
my invention,
In Fig. 1 is shown a section of a small machine the back of the case being
removed.
In Fig. 2 is shown the plan of the machine and in Fig. 3 another plan at a lower
level.
Fig. 4 gives details of the winding mechanism.
Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the match delivery mechanism.
Fig. 7 shows releasing or governing mechanism on clock.
Fig. 8 is a special escapement and
Fig. 9 diagramatically illustrates the arrangement in a larger type of machine.
It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the spring barrels A drive the pinions B and
therefore the shaft C which through mitre wheels D & E two sets causes the two
vertical shafts F to be rotated, but in opposite directions. The shafts support
through diaphragms G the drums H to which motion is communicated through
clutches I and levers J (see Fig. 2). A clutch on being turned outwards as shown
on left hand drum engages with a pin standing up from the flange of the drum
and carries the drum around with the shaft. If however a clutch is thrown
inwards as shown on the right hand it clears the pin K and leaves the drum
quite free.
If these two drums have attached to them opposite ends of the advertising
ribbon it is obvious the ribbon will travel in the direction of the drum which is
engaged with a clutch and to reverse the direction of rotation when the end of
the ribbon is approached the lever L is used. This has at each extremity a catch M
kept up to its work by a flat spring so that at a prearranged position of the drum
the catch enters (through a hole in the ribbon) a similar opening in the drum and
supposing the left hand drum to be winding up the ribbon (in the direction of
arrow N in Fig. 2) by drawing it over the faceplate O behind the glass face P the
right hand drum will be rotated (by the connecting ribbon) in the same direction in
spite of the right hand lever J turning in the opposite direction. In doing this
however the right hand catch M engages with the slot in the drum and the lever L
is drawn to the right carrying with it the horizontal levers D. These levers are
fitted with pins R projecting downwards far enough to engage with clutches I but
not to touch levers J. The catches M are automatically disengaged by causing
their inward movement to be limited, so that they do not follow the d'um more
than a certain amount of its travel, and when the rotation is reversed the bevelling
of the extreme end of the catch prevents any interlocking taking place.
It will now be seen that the continued rotation of the levers J. causes their
respective clutches to occupy reverse positions, the left hand one being thrown

page_text: inwards or out of action by contact with the pin R, whilst the right hand one is
thrown outwards or into action by contact with the other pin, the clutches being
made dovetail shape for that purpose.
The rotation of levers J continue unchanged but the right hand drum now winds
up the ribbon and the left drum is free until ultimately the reversing process is.
repeated.
Now for the purpose of stopping the advertising ribbon in a central position
as regards each advertisement (in spite of varying diameter in the drums due to
winding or unwinding the ribbon) a slot is cat at a prearranged position in each
advertisement and small wheels S (one is over the other) forced by springs St
into the slot, allow levers T see Fig. 3. to engage at their opposite extremities with.
toothed wheels V on the bottoms of the drums (see also Fig. 1) and thus stop any
rotation thereof.
These levers and appurtenances are not shown in Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness,
but their level is obviously near the base of the drums. The machine is now
practically locked, but by means of a clock V Fig. 1 which rotates ratchet wheel W
we, see Fig. 1, 3 and 7, the latter an inverted plan, it will be seen that the levers T¹
are thrown outwards and levers T attached to the same vertical spindle (shown
broken in Fig. 1) leave the drums free again and they rotate the ribbon; being
dragged across the face plate O as before explained and at the same time as the
wheels S are working behind a slotted plate X see Fig. 3 the levers T cannot again
stop the drums until an opening in the ribbon is again opposite the wheels. To
prevent the ratchet clock wheel from preventing this action, the clock spindle is
inade to drive the ratchet wheel (see Fig. 7) through a spring blade Y which is
slightly compressed whilst the wheel is forcing out the arms T' Fig. 3. but directly
release of the drums is effected the work is lessened and the wheel jumps slightly
forward leaving the extremities of levers T ready to fall inwards when a slot in
the ribbon gives the favourable opportunity.
To lessen the work for the clock, where strong driving springs operate the
drums, I may make the toothed wheels U of the shape shown in Fig. 8, and arrange
a kind of anchor escapement Z so that lever T¹ and wheel W act upon it as before
explained but the work is less.
Now the match delivery is effected by a box or reservoir I Fig. 5 with a number
of vertical compartments which are filled with matches, and the fall by gravity or
otherwise on to wheel 2 see also Fig. 1, driven by the axle C by means of a square
boss (as shown in Fig. 5.) which is attached to the said axle, and the motion of the
said axle and boss is conveyed to the drum 2, on account of the gripping action of
two flexible embracing springs belonging to the drum as shown, otherwise the
drum 2 is independent of the axle, and it will be seen that the rotation of the axle
may still take place if a match be jammed in one of the drum apertures 3 provided
to take it, and by the consequent intermittent jerking effect of this spring con-
nection the match may be shaken into place and carried around (see Fig. 4) until
recess 4 is met with when the match will drop out, or if this be already occupied
the match is carried on and under the reservoir again a guard 5 preventing it
dropping.
If a match is in recess 4 it can be taken out by the public by pulling down
lever 6 which in its course forces back plate 7 and allows the match to fall down
incline 8 ready for use. Plate 7 is returned by a spring, but these parts are not
shown in Fig. 1 for clearness, indeed the match reservoir is shown removed and
form Figs. 5 side elevation and 6 front elevation.
As the cheeks 9 Figs. 6 and 7. are notched it is easily seen they can be placed
over the axle and the reservoir put in place.
In further reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that pulling down lever 6 winds up
ratchet piece 10 through an intermediate spring see Fig. 1 and thereby works
5 ratchet wheel 11 which through pawl 12 Fig. 4 winds main spring A which is of
course provided with retaining pawl 13. The spring between 6 and 10 Fig. 1 of
course prevents main spring being overwound.

page_text: In Fig. 9 is shown diagramatically a lamp 14 at the back of a box, in this the
match reservoir is kept at the side of the drum whilst a large intervening space
between that and the other drum is kept for the advertising ribbon to be displayed,
the face plate O being cut away for the light to show through and obviously more
than one advertisement may be in view at the same time.
It will be seen that cigarettes might be delivered instead of matches by using a
larger reservoir and larger recesses in the drum or any other conveniently formed
package may be worked readily by the delivering mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The construction or combination of the parts of a machine for advertising
purposes whereby a ribbon or band of advertisements is worked by intermittent
action across the sight opening or its equivalent and automatically reversed, as
regards the direction, at the same time a match or cigarette or similar article is
delivered in a position accessible to the public substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated.
2nd. The special construction or arrangement whereby the reversing of the
direction of rotation of the drums is effected, although the main mechanism is kept
going in one direction, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
illustrated.
3rd. The special construction or arrangement whereby the ribbon or band is
detained in a central position as regards the advertisements and the clock or
equivalent releasing gear is caused to effect the release in such a manner that it is
immediately afterwards ready to allow of the relocking action substantially as and
for the purpose herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 9th dox of February 1802
ALF. C. SNELL.