Improvements in Apparatus for the Collection or Storing and Exhibition of Notices, Patterns, Advertisements, and other Publications.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Collection or Storing and
Exhibition of Notices, Patterns, Advertisements, and other
Publications.
1, NICOLAUS POPow of Mjasnickaja Street, Moscow in the Empire of Russia,
Natural Philosopher, 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 following invention relates to an exhibiting apparatus for all possible
publications, notices, drawings, patterns of wares, samples of colours, photographs,
etc., which are collected and placed under a glass, in a long box or case upon
frames or leaves hinged together in such a way that the subject of advertisement
can be conveniently read when the series of frames is drawn out or expanded, so
that the adjacent leaves form each with its neighbour an angle of from 90° to 120°.
The show case is illustrated by the figures in the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 shews the rectangular frames drawn out in expanded form. In these
frames the notices or advertisements, whether in the form of cards, metal plates, or
leaves, are arranged. Each frame consists of a pair of channelled bars a, between
which the sheets are held, and two rods b, c, to which the bars a are hinged in such
manner that one continuous channel is formed for the notices etc., when the frames
are stretched out flat, as shewn at Fig. 2, along which channel the notice sheets
may be pushed, to shift them from one frame to another, as required. To facilitate
the insertion of the notice papers, etc., especially if they are without stiffness, and
to ensure that they shall be held securely in the channels of the bars a, the two
portions of the bars a are pinched together upon the inserted sheet by means of a
spring d, Fig. 1, coiled round the connecting rods bc of the frame, and its free ends
pressing on the upper and lower faces of the bars a, so as to contract the width of
the channels therein.
Between the hinge rods of every frame, are one or more flat springs e, embracing
the lower rod c, which springs are intended for keeping the sheets from falling out
of the frames.
The sheets arranged on the frame are folded up, and placed in a box /, Figs. 3, 4, 5;
they can be arranged either with the ends of their several rods 6 resting on a
longitudinal rail g in the box, or better still, if the frames are to carry heavy objects
as metal plates, special auxiliary rods h, Fig. 1, may be provided, to support the upper
rods b. These rods rest, in the described manner, with their ends on the
longitudinal rail g of the box, and lie parallel on this, and with greater or less
distance between, according as the frame is more or less drawn out.
In the cover, Fig. 5, an arrangement of selecting and shifting mechanism Lis
situated, by means of which the shifting of the rod A, for the purpose of expanding
the frames, and consequently the exhibition of advertisements selected out of the
total number, is effected. This arrangement, in its entirety (designated by L,
Figure 5), is situated in the lid of the box, k, and movable longitudinally therein.
The selecting mechani-m L is provided with lever arms (described later on) moving
in grooves made lengthways of the frame of the lid k. These arms project downward,
and engage with the ends of the rod h. If the mechanism L be pushed in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 5, a spring carried by the lever arms before mentioned
rides over the upwardly inclined ends of the rods h, Fig. 4, and, by the production
of a sound, and light engagement with the mechanisin L, the number of rods passed
over is discernible. Therefore the rods passed over are in some measure counted, so
that the mechanism L can be pushed behind any desired rod h. (ascertained by this
counting), and stopped.
When this has taken place, one pair of the lever arms of the mechanism L is

page_text: placed between two rods h (selected by the counting mechanism), and will, when the
mechanism Lis drawn back, carry one rod with it, i.e., expand the frames at the
determined point, so that the contents of the required sheets can be conveniently
seen.
The special arrangement of selecting and shifting mechanism L, Fig. 5, is con-
structed as follows:-Parallel to the rod h, Fig. 4, is a rod m, Fig. 5, with handle n,
which rod m is provided, at both ends, with a projecting flange or nose o,
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, taking under arms p on the spindles p', and consequently either the left
or right one will be oscillated by the arm p, just as the handle is rocked to the left or
right. On the end of the spindles p₁, are fixed arms p³, making,.with the spindles p',
a double armed lever, see Fig. 13. These arms p² are provided with noses p³, Fig. 7,
and, on the above described oscillation of either spindle being made, the arms p³ will
move downward, and insert their spring attachments between the upwardly
inclined ends h¹, Fig. 7, of two neighbouring bars h¹, Figure 4, i.e., behind the
bar h to be shifted. The lever arms fit into spaces f1, Fig. 3, between the angle
irons (forming part of the walls of the box) and the rails . The angle ironsk³
and rails (the latter having grease grooves k) serve as guides for the selecting
and shifting mechanism L, Fig. 5, to ride in, and are situate in the division walls k¹
of the box lid (see Figs. 3 and 5). By depressing the hand lever n to the left or
right, only one spindle p¹ with its connections, will be actuated, i.e., brought into
engagement with the ends of the bars h, because one of the arms p will be raised
by the upward rocking of one of the projections o of the rod m.
The other pro-
jection o on the opposite side of the rod m rocking downwards, its arm p will come
under the influence of the spring 9, Fig. 14, connected with it, and will be drawn
down, rocking the other spindle p¹, and lifting the arm p³ and its connections out of
operative position.
The numbering apparatus, combined with its connections p, consists, with reference
to each connection p³, Fig. 14, of two springs r r', situate in a recess p' in the end of
the arm p³, which springs catch between the ends h' of the bars h, so that when the
device is moved, they will travel over them, and striking upon them, will produce a
sound, by which the number of bars passed can be ascertained.
Connected to the handle is a locking mechanism, serving to lock the same in its
several working positions. This consists of a rigid locking quadrant t, provided with
notches Figs. 6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, and a spring click in combination with the handle n
(Fig. 11), let in with a wedge shaped piece, and having a tooth s¹ to enter the
notches I, II, III, of the quadrant t, according to the position of the handle. The
click is under the influence of a spring s³, Figs. 11, 19, 20, inside a case s³ on the
piece n', Fig. 11, and presses against the upper end of the click, and raises it
upwards, so that the tooth projects into one of the notches I, II, III,
Figs. 15, 16, when it and one of the notches come together by the rocking of
the handle. In the locked position, the upper end of the click, projects from the
piece n', Figs. 11, 7, and when depressed, will lift the tooth out of the quadrant
notch.
Underneath the rod m, and at right angles thereto, is a bolt u, formed with a
semi-circular recess u¹, and two vertical wedge-shaped notches, Figs. 17, 18, in
which are plates u³, resting on springs u, each with a locking tooth u
On one side, the quadrant t, and on the other, a plate c, presses (Fig. 12) on the
upper surface of the bolt u, so that the bolt pieces or teeth u are brought level with
the surface of the bolt u. If the bolt u be pushed either to one side or the other by
a hand lever provided for that purpose, or by any convenient means, one of the bolt
pieces u will enter the spaces w w in the sides of the quadrant t and plate v, and
lock therewith (see Figs. 8 and 12).
If the apparatus L. is to operate by means of the arms p² of the left side, Fig. 8,
to count first and then draw apart the frames, the bolt u must be pushed over to the
right, Fig. S.
In this position, the left shoulder of the bolt recess u¹ catches under the left of
the two teeth m' and m² forming the end of the side arm ², which joins the bandle n

page_text: and the spindle m, Fig. 19, and in this manner the handle (n n¹ m) is propped on
the left side so that the whole device L, Fig. 5 (in order that the counting springs
of the lett arms p³ may count), can be moved to the left by means of the handle n.
When this displacing of the apparatus L has been finished, the handle (for the
purpose of totally depressing the left arms p³) will be turned down to the right,
which movement is not prevented by the bolt, because the tooth m³ on the right
of the spindle m has room to move in the recess u¹.
In this new position, in which the handle is turned down, it is stopped by the
bolt locking into the space III of the quadrant, and therefore allows the whole
device L to be returned (traversed to the right) by the handle, during which
movement the frames are drawn apart by means of the depressed left arms p².
A similar operation takes place when the right arms are to operate, in which
case the bolt is to be pushed to the left. The changed position described above, of
the two under surfaces of the teeth m¹ m², Fig. 19, will form an obtuse angle,
because the handle, from its first (normal) position, receives an inclined position
as soon as one or the other of these teeth is resting upon a shoulder of the bolt
recess u¹, consequently the arms p³ of the two spindles are held at different.
heights, and the counting springs of one side are raised out of working position,
while those of the other side are in counting position, Fig. 8.
The ends, Fig. 4, are made to pull out, in order to permit of there being
sufficient room for the show cards, the bars of which rest on the rails, which also
draw out.
The lid of the box is provided with double hinges and a³, fixed to
the side walls, Figs. 3, 21, 22, 23; the first hinge permits of the box lid being
opened horizontally, the second allows the lid to hang down vertically. The
second leaf of the hinge lies in a horizontal position, and its tail end catches against
a shoulder in the wall of the box, and in order that the lid, Figs. 23, 22, when
hanging down, may be retained in a vertical position, a spring locking tooth **,
Fig. 22, is provided in the leaf of the hinge ³, to catch into a notch cut in the
lid, and to support the same when brought to a vertical position.
Fig. 23 shows a modification of this locking device, in which, instead of the
tooth (Fig. 22), there is a piece (Fig. 23), protruding through a hole in the
leaf, with one shoulder catching therein, and the other holding up the flap of
the lid.
Each of the plates must be ensured against displacement, as such occurrence would
prevent the drawing out of the frames.
Such plates or leaves as are too small to be inserted in the frames a, Fig. 1, are
placed in auxiliary frames, as shewn in Fig. 24, which latter can be made of tin,
and inserted into the channel bars a of the frames, Fig. 1.
To facilitate the passing of the cards from one frame to another, special lapping
pieces F, Figs. 25, are provided, by which the frames can be attached together, so
as to form one continuous rigid trough, along which the cards may be slidden as
desired. Should it be desired to shift the cards from one frame to another, the
frames must then be laid out flat (Fig. 2), and supported in that position. To this
end the cross bars y, shewn in Fig. 26, are provided, secured to the side walls of the
box, and to the hooks y' of which the spindles e are attached, thus supporting the
series of frames. To hold the rods e vertically, springs d' are attached to the links
connecting the rods c and the bars together, being coiled round the links, and
pressing on the rods r.
C
The described show case or box may be of any desired length, and several can
be bound together by iron bands, to constitute one case of any suitable length.
When it is desired to transfer a row of show cards from one case to another, to
make room for fresh ones in the first case, the frames carrying the cards are lifted
from the first case, placed in the other case, and the cards contained therein are
pushed into the frames of the second case. The empty frames are once more
returned to their case, and the new cards inserted therein. To facilitate this
transfer of the cards from case to case, an apparatus shewn at Fig. 27, is provided.
It consists of two U-shaped rails 12, which are pushed over the ends of the bars h

page_text: of the frames to be transferred. The U-shaped rails are provided with a cross
bar, which also serves as a handle to lift it and the frames, which in this way are
transferred from case to case when emptied.
As will be understood, the last frames of each case must be released from the
remaining frames of the series previous to transference.
It may be remarked that the apparatus shewn above is very applicable to
address offices, to enable a systematic series of addresses to be kept and quickly
found when wanted. These are mostly collected by the police on slips of paper,
which can easily be arranged in order in this machine.
The cases can also be used to exhibit indexes of collections, exhibitions, or
catalogues of books, etc.
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 :-
1. A "collecting" and exhibiting apparatus for information, claims (notices of
requirements or wants), drawings, specimens of goods, samples of colours, photo-
graphs, &c., in which these objects of exhibition are systematically arranged in
card form, one after another, in long exhibiting (or collecting) cases, in hinged
frames, which, on being drawn out, hold their contents open for inspection, so that
they can be plainly seen or read, substantially as explained with reference to the
drawings.
2. In an exhibiting apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrange-
ment (L, Fig. 5) for separating the exhibition sheet frames, consisting of pairs of
arms p³, having springs, one of which arms comes into operation from the right,
and the other from the left, of the selecting and shifting mechanism L, whilst the
one or the other, according to the position of a handle n, is pressed so far that the
springs only take between the frame rods, and, on the device L being traversed
(Fig. 5), pass over the frame rods with a noise that enables them to be counted, or
further, so that the arms p' take in between the rods, and draw the frames out into
position, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In an arrangement for separating the exhibition sheet frames, the employment
of a cross bolt u, which, when pushed to the left or right, comes under either the
right or left tooth (m³ m³) of the rod m, and lifts the same to the left or right, so
that only the arm p³ of either the left or right side comes into operation, sub-
tantially as described.
4. The employment of a locking quadrant t, having slots (I or III, or II) for
receiving a snap bolt or click ¹ carried by the handle when the latter is moved
over to the right or left (or finds itself in the extreme positions), for the purpose of
lowering the arms p', substantially as described.
5. In combination with the apparatus hereinbefore described, auxiliary apparatus
for supporting the flat lying frames carrying the notice sheets, when transferring
the latter from one frame to another, such auxiliary apparatus consisting of cross
bars y, fixed to the sides of the case, from which cross bars project hooks y', to
engage with the rods c of the hinged frames, and thereby support them.
6. In combination with the exhibiting apparatus hereinbefore described, an
auxiliary apparatus, to effect the transfer of a row of show cards from one case to
another, and composed of two gutter-formed rails 2' 2", which are slidden sideways,
singly, over the ends h¹ of the bars h of the frames which serve to carry the show
cards, then fastened together by a cross bar 2³, and lifted with the row of show
-cards which they carry.
Dated this 10th day of October 1891
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.