New or Improved Means of and Mechanism for Displaying Notices, Signs, and Delineations for Advertisements, and Automatically Raising, Disconnecting, and Reconnecting and Reraising, Inter- mittently, Various Objects for other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1591-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. .
New or Improved Means of and Mechanism for Displaying Notices,
Signs, and Delineations for Advertisements, and Automatically
Raising, Disconnecting, and Reconnecting and Reraising, Inter-
mittently, Various Objects for other purposes.
ALEXANDER JAMES ELI, of 52, Regent Street, London, W. Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain new or improved means of and mechanism for
displaying notices signs, and delineations for advertisements and automatically
raising, disconnecting and reconnecting and reraising, intermittently various objects
for other purposes.
In carrying the invention into effect, when used for advertisement purposes, there
is to be employed a boxing, framing, or container and therein is to be arranged
means for elevating and for showing at any one or more apertures (glass covered or
otherwise) of the casing notices or signs produced upon the surface of loose boards,
sheets, or slats (transparent or semitransparent or opaque) the same being herein-
after denominated "slats" for convenience of description.
The casing will be made with a narrow opening or "clear-way" immediately in
rear of and across the front cover, down which the slats when disconnected or freed
will descend successively from the upper portion of the casing to a lower position
thereof.
In the rear of the front framing are arranged, above and below, "suspending-
boards" or guides, extending across an open space within the casing and there is
also arranged below the upper suspension-board when required a guide board or
guide arms to regulate the descent of the slats.
The advertisement slats are to be carried upon the upper suspension-board or
guides and be displayed there if required and thence are to be discharged and to
drop down the clear-way of the framing and be received upon the lower suspension-
board or guides where they will remain for time with the advertisement
displayed.
This second or lower, suspension-board is placed at an incline so that the
suspension portion of the slats (to be hereinafter described) will engage with and
be free to slide along a transverse groove or opening therein.
In the rear of these suspension-boards there will be provided a clear-way or
opening so much wider than the thickness of the slats as will allow of said slats
being carried up as soon as they are disconnected from or leave the inclined
suspension-board and guides.
Immediately rearward of this second inner clear-way I provide means for raising
the slats, and this will consist of an Archimedian screw elevator made and arranged
as follows:-
The spindle upon which is the Archimedian screw thread will be mounted, in
vertical position, in bearings above and below, so as to be capable of rotation by
gearing from any source of motion.
The upper worm surface of the screw will be channelled-out leaving an outer
thin edge and a curved trough like hollowing thereof for the purpose of receiving
runners or balls pivoted to a neck or shank-piece which is to be attached to the
slats. These necks or shank-pieces of the slats may be of wire or metal of
thickness such as will allow of their passing through the transverse opening or
openings of the suspension-boards so that the slats are suspended thereby, at the
same time that they are enabled to engage with the channel on the upper worm
surface of the screw, that is the necks of the slat-suspenders hook over the outer

page_text: edge of the worm and the runner, ball, or enlargement will travel in the channel
upwards, when the Archimedian screw shaft is rotated, having been compelled to
engage with the channel of the worm on its .descent from, the incline of the lower
suspension-board or guide.
The slats so suspended, as described, and extending across the ascension clear-
way, it is obvious that they cannot turn with, the screw shaft and consequently
must ascend so long as the rotation continues, until they reach the upper end of the
worm. At this point they are turned off the worm and deposited onto and into the
transverse slot of the upper suspension board.
It will also be obvious that if the transverse slot of the suspension-boards, upper
and lower, have-placed therein a full complement of slat suspenders and slats
(which will be determined by the number of advertisements to appear inter-
mittently and the slat in the lower transverse suspension-board nearest to the
worm elevator, be engaged therewith as before provided the said slat will, upon
motion being given to the screw, travel upwards and when it reaches the upper
part it will be placed between the slat above and nearest to the shaft thereby
taking its position on the upper suspension device so causing the slat nearest to the
front of the container, and after it has been displayed, to leave its suspended
position and fall down (by way of its guides and clear-way) to take up its further
position at the rear of the lower suspended set of slats.
At the same time that this has taken place another slat will have been caused to
engage itself with the screw elevator as described and so on whilst the rotation
continues, the automatic raising, disconnecting, displaying, reconnecting and
reraising will go on, so exhibiting the whole predetermined number and arrange-
ment of advertisements, announcements, signs or delineations intermittently but
at intervals of time regulated by the speed of or pitch of the screw elevator or
both.
If two display openings are provided the upper and lower slat upon the
suspension-boards nearest to the front of the container will, whilst in their normal
position, be shown-or displayed at one and the same time.
This mechanism may be put in motion either by fan-wheel, clockwork, gearing
from a revolving part of any travelling vehicle, or other convenient or desired
source.
Dated 5th March 1831.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means of, and Mechanism for Displaying Notices,
Signs, and Delineations for Advertisements, and Automatically
Raising, Disconnecting, and Reconnecting and Reraising, Inter-
mittently, Various Objects for other purposes.
I, ALEXANDER JAMES ELI of 76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., (late of
52 Regent Street London W.) 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 :-
This invention relates to certain new or improved means of and mechanism for
displaying notices, signs and delineations for advertisements; and automatically
raising, disconnecting, and reconnecting and reraising intermittently various objects
for other purposes.
In carrying the invention into effect when used for advertisement purposes, there
is to be employed a boxing, framing, or container and therein is to be arranged
means for elevating, and for showing at any one or more apertures (glass covered or
otherwise) of the casing, notices, signs, or objects produced or carried upon by
or in loose boards, sheets, slats, carriers or containers (transparent, semitransparent
or opaque or partially so) the same being hereinafter denominated "slats
convenience of description.
for

page_text: The casing will be made with a narrow opening or "clear way" immediately in
rear of and across the front cover, down which the slats, when disconnected, or
freed will descend successively from the upper portion of the casing to a lower
position thereof or therein.
"
In the rear of the front framing are arranged above and below "suspending-
boards or guides, extending across (from the front clear-way to the back) an open
space or spaces within the casing; and there is also arranged below the upper
suspension board, or suspension-guide or guides, when required, means to regulate
the descent or ascent of the slats.
The "slats" carried upon the upper suspension-board or guides are successively
displayed or brought forward at an aperture of the front of the casing and then,
after resting for a certain time, are to be discharged off the suspension-guide or
-guides so as to drop down the front clear-way of the casing until they reach a
position at which the suspension portion of the slats will engage with the lower
suspension guide or guides. The slats may here be displayed through or in rear of
a front aperture of the casing.
The said second or lower suspension guide or guides is or are placed at an incline
so that the suspension portion of the slats (to be hereinafter described) will engage
with and be free to slide along same successively.
In the rear of the suspension guide or guides will be provided a clear-way or
opening so much wider than the thickness of the slats as will allow of said slats
being carried up as soon as they are disconnected, discharged from, or leave the
inclined suspension guide or guides.
Immediately rearward of this second inner clear-way I provide means for
receiving or engaging with and raising the "slats" containers or carriers. For
this purpose I use and find most convenient an Archimedian screw elevator made
and arranged as follows:-
The spindle upon which is the Archimedian screw thread will be mounted in
vertical position, in bearings above and below so as to be capable of rotation by
gearing or transmission from any available source of motion.
The upper worm-surface of the screw will be channelled out leaving an outer
thin edge and a troughlike hollowing thereof, for the purpose of receiving the
heads (runners, balls or enlargements) of a neck or shank-piece which is attached
to the slats. These necks or shank-pieces of the slats may be of wire or metal of
thickness such as will allow of their passing along a slot or channel of the suspension
guide or guides and are curved over (rearwardly) towards their heads (and towards
the elevator), said heads being larger than the slot or channel of the suspension
guide or guides, so that the slats are suspended thereby, and they are thus enabled
to engage with the channel of the upper worm-surface of the screw or elevator;
that is (when the descending slats reach the elevator) the heads and necks of the
slat suspenders hook over the outer edge of the worm and the heads will travel in
the elevator channel (the necks being guided by and passing up a vertical guide
slot in front of the elevator) upwards when the elevator is operated, said head being
compelled to engage with the elevator on their descent from the incline of the
lower suspension guide or guides.
The slats so suspended and extending across the ascension clear-way obviously
cannot turn with the elevator and consequently must ascend so long as the motion
of the elevator is continued and until they reach the upper end of the worm or
channel of the elevator. At this point the heads of the slat suspenders are turned
off the end of the worm; when such is employed, and are deposited on and into the
upper suspension guide:
It will be obvious that if the channels of the suspension guides have placed
therein a full complement of slat-suspenders one after the other (which will be
determined by the number of advertisements or objects to appear intermittently
and by the free space within the casing between the front and rearward clear-ways)
and the slat (in the lower suspension guide) nearest to the elevator be engaged
therewith, the said slat will, upon motion being given to the elevator, travel

page_text: upwards and when it reaches the upper part it will be placed next to the last
previously suspended slat on the upper suspension guide so causing the slat nearest
to the front of the casing, and after it has been displayed, to leave its suspended
position and fall down the front clear-way to take up its position at the rear of the
lower suspended set of slats.
At the same time that this has taken place another of the lower slats will have
.been allowed and caused to engage itself with the elevator and so on; and, whilst
the motion continues, the automatic raising, disconnecting, displaying, reconnecting
and reraising will go on so exhibiting the whole predetermined number and
arrangement of advertisements, announcements, signs, delineations or objects
intermittently but at intervals of time regulated by the speed of movement or pitch
of the screw elevator or both.
If two display openings are provided the upper and lower slat nearest to the
front of the casing will whilst in their normal position be shown or displayed at one
and the same time.
This mechanism may be put in motion by fan-wheel, clock-work, gearing from a
revolving or oscillating part or parts of any travelling vehicle ship or other
convenient or desired source.
In order that my said invention may be well understood and carried into practice.
.I have hereunto annexed three sheets of drawings illustrative of the application of
the same.
Fig. 1, (Sheet 1) represents an inside view of a casing made of sheet metal.
Figs. 2, and 3, are, respectively, a plan and partial plan of the top plate of the
casing, wherein is provided the upper suspension guide for the slat suspenders,
showing the same in changed position according to the operation of the parts and
the changing action.
+
Figs. 4, and 5, are, respectively, an end view partly in section and a partial front
view of a slat fitted with the suspending head and shank.
Figs. 6, and 7 (Sheet 2) show, on larger scale, a central cross section of the
casing and parts and a partial face view of the front of the casing and the display
openings.
Figs. 8, and 9, (Sheet 3) illustrate, in plan, and partial front view, a modification
of construction wherein is employed two elevators working at even speed, whereby
the slats, screens, or other object to be displayed may be suspended upon a cross
bar or trunnions the ends whereof will be carried up on the top surface of the screw-
elevator and be discharged upon end guide-bars (upper and lower) fixed on the
inner sides of the casing.
As shown, the casing is made of sheet metal, but it may be of wood in ordinary
cabinet style.
The casing is divided into two free spaces a, b, (upper and lower) so that the
slats or containers æ, may hang and move forward therein, the upper plate c, having
the suspension guide channel d, for the heads e, and necks e' of the slat suspenders.
f, is the lower suspension guide placed at an incline and having the channel d', said
guide being carried on the cross dividing bracket f", extending across the casing
but leaving a front and rearward clear-way for the descent and elevation of the
slats or containers ..
The front of the casing is shown fitted with a sheet of glass a¹, in front, said
sheet having an opaque dividing line a³, across the middle portion thereof, upon
which may appear a permanent announcement sign or advertisement or the like.
This opaque bar may be of a piece with the casing and an upper and lower
display sheet be fitted over the display apertures above and below (one or both).
At the back of the casing, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, is fastened a tube within which
the Archimedian screw elevator h, will be fitted and work.
The vertical front channel d, of the tube g, will retain the heads e, and allow
free passage for the necks e, of the slat-suspenders whilst they are being carried
up by the screw . The lower end of the spindle of the screw will be received
in a footstep and the upper end may be supported by the tube g, alone or have a

page_text: fixed bearing provided for same. To the spindle 4', either above or below, will be
fitted the means for transmission of the motion from any available source, whether
by pulley, gear wheel, universal joint or as may be convenient or desirable.
In the figures, Sheet 3, the spindles h', of the right and left handed screws g, g',
are shown fitted with bevil wheels 2, in gear with like wheels carried upon the
motion shaft h³, in such wise that the screws will work in unison to carry up in
horizontal position the suspension trunnions of the suspended slat, container, or
sheet, said trunnions being carried upon the upper surfaces of the screw worms.
The hollowing or trough like form of the upper surface of the screw h, will be
clearly seen from inspection of the partial section at h, of Fig. 6, wherein the
heads of the slat-suspenders, or the ends of the trunnion e, will find lodgement
and be securely retained in the transit from the lower to the upper position.
Certain further means have to be employed for regulating the proper discharge,
retention, and automatic progression or travel of the slats or containers, and I will
now proceed to describe such as will serve and are effective for these purposes and
which are illustrated by the drawings.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, and 3, there is provided (between the
upper plate c, and the front plate a¹) at the front end of the upper suspension
channel d, an opening d.
As retaining means, ensuring that only one slat be discharged at a time the
spring fingers c', (secured in brackets 2) clip by their forward points the heads e,
of the slat-suspenders until these are forced forward by the next rising slat and the
cam g', carried on the spindle /'. In Fig. 2, the cam has just completed its throw
to force the head e, of the rearward slat (just raised) on to the suspension guide d,
so forcing the forward head e, clear of the said guide d into the opening d³, free to
drop as shown.
Fig. 3, shows the forward head e, retained by the springs, and the cam about
to commence its forward pressing action upon the head e, of the rearward slat r,
last elevated.
The forward slat or container when released drops down the front clear-way
until the head engages with the lower suspension guide.
This said slat in taking up its position will cause the packed and suspended slats
in the lower free way to move forward to the extent of the thickness of the said
slot or container so feeding the rearward 'slat of this set clear of the guide
on to the foot of the screw as indicated at 4°.
and
Upon the inside of back of the casing are fixed two finger-springs, at equal
distance apart, one on each side of the centre line, of the elevating screw. These
will press against the lower or tail portion of the ascending slat or container so
leaving the rearward clear-way free for the ascent of the succeeding and rising slat.
By these means all danger of the slat edges striking against or fouling each other
in their travel is prevented.
The slats or containers shown in detail Figs. 4. and 5, represent boards upon
the face of which will be applied, printed or produced the printed or other matter
to be displayed. The heade of the slat suspension is made sharp at the lower edge
thereof adjacent to the neck so as to facilitate the engagement with or hooking-on
of same to the rim and hollow of the upper surface of the worm of the screw
elevator. A portion of the slate, will be cut away under the suspenders as shown
at, to give clearance, and the lower part of the slat is reduced in thickness or
apered off so as to make room for the next ascending slat, see Figs. 4 and 6.
The slats may be used as containers for displaying any objects such as samples
of cloth, colors or other samples of merchandise for sale, together with prices or
particulars of same or specimens of goods, or photographs or the like for shop
vindows, exhibitions, and elsewhere.
These container slats will for some of these cases be made in two parts, hinged
nd capable of being clamped together and the front-thereof will be made or fitted
with glass.
.
The mere designs of these slats, containers, or carriers may however be varied

page_text: almost indefinitely such as for further instance, by the use of a metal rim carrying
a mica sheet, for very light work.
The mode of attachment of the suspension heads e, and necks e', may obviously
be varied, but is shown by Figs. 4, and 5, to be by a continuing small metal
plate, recessed into and rivetted to the slat .
It may be remarked that the Archimedian screw h, need not terminate at the
point h, but whatever may be the surplus length of the elevator below this point
the heads e, of the slat suspenders, on their discharge from the lower suspension
guide channel 2, will engage with or drop on worm hooking over the rim thereof
at the said point ', because the head e, cannot escape or go forward before the
open way between the worm comes opposite thereto whereupon the action
immediately takes place and the said slat will commence its ascent so ensuring the
proper timing of the operation of course another slat is always ready to come
forward and for a time will be in contact with the face of the said ascending slat
but owing to the recess the head e of the next following slat will not scratch or
damage the face of the one in front thereof although as before stated it allows the
slat to come close up to the worm channel d' and gives clearance to the head e and
neck for engaging with the elevator.
Before the operation of the mechanism commences the upper and lower suspension
guides d, and d, and consequently the free ways a, and b, will be properly packed
with the full complement of slats as before described.
These casings and device may be set up and employed at railway stations and
elsewhere for automatic display of advertisements, specimens of goods, photographs,
or prices current, or the like alternating affording great attraction, variety, and
multiplicity of such display within a comparatively small compass.
A cap or cover is indicated as applied to the top of the casing in Fig. 7.
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 new or improved means and mechanism for displaying notices, signs,
delineations, or objects, working automatically for raising, disconnecting, displaying
lowering reconnecting and reraising same intermittently and successively as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
2nd. In means as herein set forth the combination of the casing, the upper and
lower suspension guides, the elevator, and the "slats" with the means of suspension
therefor, constructed and operating as and for the purpose substantially as
specified.
3rd. In means as herein set forth the screw elevator operating to raise the
separate objects through the clear-way as and for the purpose specified.
4th. The combination with the screw elevator of the cam, operating upon the
slat heads or carriers to push the same off the top of the screw and to discharge
the slats on to the upper suspension guide, substantially as set forth.
5th. In means as herein set forth the springs in the casing, acting on the back of
the slats or containers, to ensure the proper and regular clearance and keeping the
clear-way for the elevation of the successively rising slat substantially as described.
6th. The slats or containers as herein described in relation to and shown by the
respective figures of the drawings.
7th. In means as herein described the combination of two elevators for the
reception, elevating, and discharging of the slats or containers substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
.
1001