Improvements in and in connection with Apparatus for Exhibiting Advertisements and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1893
Complete Specification, Left, 1st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Apparatus for Exhibiting
Advertisements and the like.
I, CARL KNUT EDVARD BILDT, of Gothenburg, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to devices adapted for use in connection with apparatus
for exhibiting shifting views, etc., for advertising and similar purposes, and
enabling such apparatus to be operated and adjusted, and the successive exhibition
of the views or announcements to be controlled, interrupted and resumed at will.
Stationary apparatus of the class referred to may be erected in streets, squares
or places of public resort, such as hotels, shops or the like, and assume any
convenient shape, as, for example, that of posts, glass show-cases, show-boards, etc.;
and such apparatus may be arranged to expose notices, pictures, photographic
views, and the like, in the order of succession which is optionally determined at the
operating station (which station, however, need not necessarily be the source of
power). By arranging show-apparatus of this description-but in a portable
form in conspicuous parts of railway-carriages, within the compartments, or on
ships, either on deck or in the cabins, convenient station-indicators may be
provided, the operating station being in that case under the control of the guard,
or of the captain or mate, as the case may be, who so regulates the mechanism
as to indicate the names of the stations or places which the train or ship passes,
in the order in which they succeed each other along the line or in the ship's
course.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1, is a side elevation partly in section, and
Fig. 2, an end view of the improved apparatus.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views.
The parts of the improved apparatus which were known before, and which have
been retained in the present arrangement, are bands carrying the views or
announcements to be exhibited; such bands being adapted to move on rollers and
to be operated by means of an electric motor. In the main frame or casing A, the
hand rollers B and C, and two guide-rollers D and E are supported in suitable
bearings. The spindles or journals of the band-rollers B and C project from the
frame or casing on one side, and are provided with toothed wheels I and K which,
by means of intermediate wheels L', L, L' and L', change-wheels M', M³, a worm-
wheel N, a worm O, and a friction-wheel P, are operated from a friction-roller Q
provided for the purpose on the motor.
The electric conductor or conductors lead from a storage battery or other source
of electricity to the operating station which, in a train, may be placed in the
guard's compartment or brake-van, and in the case of a vessel, in the captain's or
steersman's cabin. At the station a connection is made with the current-trans-
mitter X by means of which the current may be caused to operate one particular
apparatus or series of apparatus. To enable the direction of motion of the motor
to be changed or reversed if required (say, for the return journey of the train or
the return voyage of the ship), the station is also provided with a switch J by
means of which the current may be caused to pass through the inductors of the
motor or motors in any required direction, while in the coils of the magnet the
direction of the current at all times remains the same.

page_text: To enable the motion of the band carrying the views or announcements to be
instantaneously arrested in case of an interruption in the supply of current, a
magnetic coupling or connection is provided between the motor and driving
mechanism of the apparatus. It consists of a frame or bearing h pivotted at i and
provided with an armature k. In this bearing there rests a screw-spindle o carrying
the friction wheel P (Fig. 5.). While the current is passing through the motor,
the armature, with the bearing or frame h, is attracted by, and raised towards, the
pole of the magnet. In rising it presses the friction wheel P against the friction
roller Qmounted on the motor shaft, whereby the motive power is transferred
from the motor shaft to the worm and worm-wheel and thence to the gearing
above described. When, however, the current is cut off, the armature is released,
and the wheels P and Q are thrown out of gear, thereby instantly arresting the
apparatus.
on
The
As it is necessary for the band-rollers B and C to be thrown into or out
of gear alternately, there is arranged between the change-wheels M' and M*,
adjusted to turn loosely on their shaft a, a coupling device constructed as
follows: The part of the shaft a included between the wheels M', M³, is
screw-threaded, and a coupling disc b is screwed on this portion of the shaft.
As the shaft a turns in either of the two directions, the said disc moves up
to one of a pair of dises or clutches C1, C2, until a projection provided
that disc or clutch meets a pin e passing through the disc (Fig. 1.),
when this disc, being in gear, will be carried round. The coupling disc >>
carries projections on both sides near the periphery, which projections, as the
said disc revolves, meet a corresponding projection on one or the other of the
change-wheels M1, M2, with the result that the disc b carries round one or
the other of the said wheels according to the direction in which the motor
turas (Fig. 3.). It is also particularly important that, whenever the motor is set in
operation, only a certain length or section of the show-band should advance,
irrespective of the greater or less speed of the motor. For this purpose, one of
the guide-rollers D is fitted with a checking device, consisting of a pin wheel
loosely revolving on the said roller, and the periphery of which is in a certain
relation to the size of the band-section which is to advance at each stroke.
teeth or pins of the wheel engage in holes provided in the band, at distances
corresponding to the pitch of the said wheel, which thus moves forward a pre-
determined length of band at each stroke. With the wheel is connected another
toothed wheel of loosely turning on the same shaft and which by means of a toothed
wheel p transmits the motion of the wheel to a contact disc 7 of insulating
material. This contact disc q is formed with pieces or plates m and n, connected
with each other, and with a notch at its periphery, the piece m terminating at
the end-points rands of the said notch. A contact arm v, pivotted at u, tends to
take up its position towards the centre of the contact disc; but as this disc
revolves, the said arm slides in contact with the piece m, until its point reaches
either of the two points and s, whereupon the arm suddenly resumes its normal
position, while the current which is supplied through a spring t moving in contact
with piece n, is cut off. A spring w, the insulating back of which slides along the
piece m serves to supply the next following show apparatus (if a series or group
of them be employed) with the amount of electrical energy necessary to actuate
it. This is effected by a contact pin y, provided on the spring w, coming into
contact with the plate m, when the disc is in such a position that the rear surface
of the spring may descend into the notch or recess in the contact disc g.
The diagram of conductors (Fig. 6.) shows three combined apparatus each
supposed to be in a different phase of its movement. Apparatus No. 1, which is
about to complete its movement, has already imparted to No. 2 the electrical
impulse required for setting it in motion; and apparatus No. 2 has just arrived at
the position in which it imparts in its turn the necessary impulse to No. 3. The
thick dotted lines indicate the conductors through which the current passes while the
several apparatus occupy the positions in which they are shown; whereas the thinner

page_text: lines represent the remaining conductors, receiving no current for the time being.
The contact X at the station (arranged at a convenient part of the train or ship,
as aforesaid), being pressed by the attendant at stated times, sets in operation
apparatus No. 1, which in its turn starts apparatus No. 2 by means of the contact
device w, which, consequently, answers the same purpose in the case of apparatus
In the same
No. 2 as the contact X does in connection with the first apparatus.
manner one apparatus after the other is set in motion by the contact w of the next
preceding apparatus. As the contact w comes into operation as soon as the
mechanism has moved forward one half of the visible section of the band, it follows
that two apparatus are always in motion at the same time. By still earlier
closing the contact ir, a greater number of apparatus may be set in operation at the
same time.
By pressing the contact X once, the current from the storage battery is caused
simply to pass through the motor of apparatus No. 1. As, however, the current
at the same time passes through the magnet coils of an ordinary relay, this relay
instantly attracts an armature, whereby a circuit is closed, the contact X how-
The current then
ever being short circuited, so that it can freely re-descend.
passes through the relay and keeps down the armature until the motor has turned
the contact disc g a sufficient distance to permit of contact taking place between
the plate
m of that disc and the contact arm v. At this moment the relay also is
short-circuited, while the current passes through the last mentioned contact
arrangement.
The relay now releases the armature so that the further progress of the
current in that direction is checked. The only course, therefore, which remains
open to the current is through the contact existing between the arm v and the
disc g, m; and as this contact, too, is destroyed as soon as the said disc completes
one revolution, it is obvious that, when this takes place, the operation of the machine
must discontinue until it receives a fresh impulse from the current.
With a view to the better illustration of the course of the current sent through
the system of conductors by the contact X, and of its action on the apparatus, the
first apparatus is shown separately in Fig. 7.
By thus successively setting in operation the several apparatus, a material
advantage is secured, resulting from the fact that the source of electricity need
not supply current of greater power or tension than is required for actuating two
or three apparatus in succession, as the case may be.
If all the machines are to
operate simultaneously, the arrangement will have to be modified in this particular,
that the conductor starting from the contact X must be connected with the relays
of all the machines, instead of (as shown) only with that of No. 1. The contact
devices w in this case are unnecessary and may be dispensed with.
Dated this 5th day of June 1893.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Apparatus for Exhibiting
Advertisements and the like.
I, CARL KNUT EDVARD BILDT, of Gothenburg, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Works Manager, 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 devices adapted for use in connection with apparatus
for exhibiting shifting views, etc., for advertising and similar purposes, an:1
enabling such apparatus to be operated and adjusted, and the successive exhibition
of the views or announcements to be controlled, interrupted and resumed at will.

page_text: Stationary apparatus of the class referred to may be erected in streets, square
or places of public resort, such as hotels, shops or the like, and assume any con-
venient shape, as, for example, that of posts, glass show-cases, show-boards, etc.;
and such apparatus may be arranged to expose notices, pictures, photographic
views, and the like, in the order of succession which is optionally determined at
the operating station (which station, however, need not necessarily be the source
of power). By arranging show-apparatus of this description-but in a portable
form in conspicuous parts of railway-carriages, within the compartments, or on
ships, either on deck or in the cabins, convenient station-indicators may be pro-
vided, the operating station being in that case under the control of the guard, or of
the captain or mate, as the case may be, who so regulates the mechanism as to
indicate the names of the stations or places which the train or ship passes, in the
order in which they succeed each other along the line or in the ship's course.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification of this application:-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation partly in section, and
Fig. 2, an end view of the improved apparatus.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views."
-
The parts of the improved apparatus which were known before, and which have
been retained in the present arrangement, are bands carrying the views or
announcements to be exhibited; such bands being adapted to move on rollers and
to be operated by means of an electric motor. In the main frame or casing A, the
band-rollers B and C, and two guide-rollers D and E are supported in suitable
bearings. The spindles or journals of the band-rollers B and C project from the
frame or casing on one side, and are provided with toothed wheels I and K which,
by means of intermediate wheels L', L2, L³ and L, change-wheels M1, M2, a worm-
wheel N, a worm O, and a friction-wheel P, are operated from a friction-roller Q
provided for the purpose on the motor.
The electric conductor or conductors lead from a storage battery or other source
of electricity to the operating station which, in a train, may be placed in the
guard's compartment or brake-van, and in the case of a vessel, in the captain's or
steersman's cabin. At the station a connection is made with the current-
transmitter X by means of which the current may be caused to operate one
particular apparatus or series of apparatus. To enable the direction of motion of
the motor to be changed or reversed if required (say, for the return journey of the
train or the return voyage of the ship), the station is also provided with a switch J
by means of which the current may be caused to pass through the inductors of the
motor or motors in any required direction, while in the coils of the magnet the
direction of the current at all times remains the same.
To enable the motion of the band carrying the views or announcements to be
instantaneously arrested in case of an interruption in the supply of current, a
magnetic coupling or connection is provided between the motor and driving
mechanism of the apparatus. It consists of a frame or bearing h pivotted at i and
provided with an armature k. In this bearing there rests a screw-spindle o
carrying the friction-wheel P (Fig. 5). While the current is passing through the
notor, the armature, with the bearing or frame h, is attracted by, and raised
towards, the pole of the magnet. In rising it presses the friction-wheel P against
the friction-roller Q mounted on the motor shaft, whereby the motive power is
transferred from the motor shaft to the worm and worm-wheel and thence to the
gearing above described. When, however, the current is cut off, the armature is
released, and the wheels P and Q are thrown out of gear, thereby instantly
arresting the apparatus.
As it is necessary for the band-rollers B and C to be thrown into or out of gear
alternately, there is arranged between the change-wheels M and M², adjusted to
turn loosely on their shaft a, a coupling device constructed as follows: The part
of the shatt a included between the wheels M1, M2, is screw-threaded, and a
coupling disc b is screwed on this portion of the shaft. As the shaft a turns in
either of the two directions, the said disc moves up to one of a pair of discs or

page_text: clutches C, C, until a projection provided upon that disc or clutch meets a pin e
passing through the disc b (Fig. 1), when this disc, being in gear, will be carried
round. The coupling disc 6 carries projections on both sides near the periphery,
which projections, as the said disc revolves, meet a corresponding projection on
one or the other of the change-wheels M', M2, with the result that the disc 6 carries
round one or the other of the said wheels according to the direction in which the
motor turns (Fig. 3). It is also particularly important that, whenever the motor is
set in operation, only a certain length or section of the show-band should advance,
irrespective of the greater or less speed of the motor. For this purpose, one of the
guide-rollers D is fitted with a checking device, consisting of a pin-wheel / loosely
revolving on the said roller, and the periphery of which is in a certain relation to
the size of the band-section which is to advance at each stroke. The teeth or pins
of the wheel engage in holes provided in the band, at distances corresponding
to the pitch of the said wheel, which thus moves forward a predetermined length
of band at each stroke. With the wheel is connected another toothed wheel f
loosely turning on the same shaft and which by means of a toothed wheel
P
transmits the motion of the wheel to a contact disc g of insulating material. This
contact disc g is formed with pieces or plates m and n, connected with each other,
and with a notch at its periphery, the piece m terminating at the end-points r and s
of the said notch. A contact arm v, pivotted at u, tends to take up its position
towards the centre of the contact disc; but as this disc revolves, the said arnı
slides in contact with the piece m, until its point reaches either of the two points
and s, whereupon the arm suddenly resumes its normal position, while the current
which is supplied through a spring t moving in contact with piece n, is cut off.
A spring, the insulating back of which slides along the piece m serves to supply
the next following show apparatus (if a series or group of them be employed) with
the amount of electrical energy necessary to actuate it. This is effected by a
contact pin y, provided on the spring w, coming into contact with the plate m, when
the disc is in such a position that the rear surface of the spring may descend into
the notch or recess in the contact disc q.
7°
The diagram of conductors (Fig. 6) shows three combined apparatus each
supposed to be in a different phase of its movement. Apparatus No. 1, which is
about to complete its movement, has already imparted to No. 2 the electrical
impulse required for setting it in motion; and apparatus No. 2 has just arrived at
the position in which it imparts in its turn the necessary impulse to No. 3. The
thick dotted lines indicate the conductors through which the current passes while
the several apparatus occupy the positions in which they are shown; whereas the
thinner lines represent the remaining conductors, receiving no current for the time
being. The contact ✗ at the station (arranged at a convenient part of the train
or ship, as aforesaid), being pressed by the attendant at stated times, sets in
operation apparatus No. 1, which in its turn starts apparatus No. 2 by means of the
contact device w, which, consequently, answers the same purpose in the case of
apparatus No. 2 as the contact X does in connection with the first apparatus. In
the same manner one apparatus after the other is set in motion by the contact w of
the next preceding apparatus. As the contact w comes into operation as soon as the
'mechanism has moved forward one half of the visible section of the band, it
follows that two apparatus are always in motion at the same time. By still earlier
closing the contact w, a greater number of apparatus may be set in operation at
the same time.
By pressing the contact X once, the current from the storage battery is caused
simply to pass through the motor of apparatus No. 1. As, however, the current
at the same time passes through the magnet coils of an ordinary relay, this relay
instantly attracts an armature, whereby a circuit is closed, the contact X however
being short circuited, so that it can freely re-descend. The current then passes
through the relay and keeps down the armature until the motor has turned the
contact disc q a sufficient distance to permit of contact taking place between the
plate m of that disc and the contact arm V. At this moment the relay also is

page_text: short circuited, while the current passes through the last mentioned contact arrange-
ment. The relay now releases the armature so that the further progress of the
current in that direction is checked. The only course, therefore, which remains
open to the current is through the contact existing between the arm and the
disc q, m; and as this contact, too, is destroyed as soon as the said disc completes
one revolution, it is obvious that, when this takes place, the operation of the
machine must discontinue until it receives a fresh impulse from the current.
With a view to the better illustration of the course of the current sent through
the system of conductors by the contact ✗, and of its action on the apparatus, the
first apparatus is shown separately in Fig. 7.
By thus successively setting in operation the several apparatus, a material
advantage is secured, resulting from the fact that the source of electricity need
not supply current of greater power or tension than is required for actuating two
or three apparatus in succession, as the case may be. If all the machines are to
operate simultaneously, the arrangement will have to be modified in this particular,
that the conductor starting from the contact X must be connected with the relays
of all the machines, instead of (as shown) only with that of No. 1. The contact
devices w in this case are unnecessary and may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In adjustable show-apparatus in which bands carrying advertisements, pictures
photographs, etc., are adapted to travel on rollers alternately set in motion by a
motor; it being possible to combine a number of such apparatus, with their
respective motors, so that they are operated from one common source of electricity
(such as a storage battery or the like); the arrangement whereby the power
conductors connecting the source of electricity with the several motors are made
at a certain suitable point to join a contact such as X and a switch such as J, so
that the apparatus or series of apparatus may from this point be at all times
operated and controlled, by actuating either one apparatus or a group of them at
a time, or all apparatus together; and that the direction of the current may be
reversed so as correspondingly to reverse or change the direction of motion of the
apparatus or series of apparatus.
2. In adjustable show-apparatus as characterized in the first claim, the arrange-
meut of magnetic coupling between the motor and the driving mechanism of the
apparatus, consisting of a movable frame such as h pivotted at and provided with
an armature such as situated in the vicinity of the magnet of the motor; in which
frame there is supported a shaft such as o, carrying two change-wheels or pinions
such as P, O, one of which O fully engages with the corresponding part N of the
driving mechanism of the apparatus, while the other P, while the frame is in its
normal position, does not quite reach the corresponding pinion Q on the shaft of the
motor; so that, when the current passes through the motor, the frame-owing to
the fact that the armature is attracted by the motor magnet-is instantaneously
raised, so that the corresponding change-wheel P on the shaft o resting in the frame,
and the pinion Q on the motor shaft, are thrown into gear; they being thrown out
of gear again, as soon as the current is cut off, as, in that case, the frame which is
released, in consequence of the magnet no longer attracting the armature, returns
to its normal position.
3. In adjustable show-apparatus, as characterized in the first claim, the inter-
position of coupling gear between the motor and apparatus, enabling either of the
rollers B, C, carrying the movable show-bands, to be put in and out of operation
alternately; consisting of two change-wheels such as M1, M2, mounted on a shaft a,
one of which wheels is alternately geared to one, and the other to the other baud
roller; the portion of the shaft a comprised between the said change-wheels being
screw-threaded and having a coupling disc or clutch such as screwed on to it,
which on both sides is provided with projecting pins, the ends of which, as the said

page_text: disc is screwed about the shaft, strike corresponding projections or tappets provided
on the change-wheels; so that, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft a,
one or the other change-wheel is carried round, the wheels being changed when the
direction of rotation is reversed.
4. In adjustable show-apparatus, as characterized in the first claim, the employ-
ment of an automatic checking device, consisting of a pin-wheel loosely revolving
on one of the guide rollers 1) for the show-bands or the like, which by means of
gearing such as f, p, is connected with an electrical cut out such as m, v, included
in the motor circuit; so that the show-band itself may, through the medium of the
said wheel and the cut out, cut off the current actuating the motor, and thereby
instantaneously arrest the apparatus.
of
5. In adjustable show-apparatus such as characterized in the first claim, the
insertion of an automatic current-breaker or cut out, consisting of a disc
insulating material, adapted to be set in motion when the show-band is changed,
and fitted with a current-conducting metal plate or piece such as m, divided by a
break or recess; and of a contact arm such as comprised in the motor circuit and
adapted to move in contact with the said metal piece, and to transmit current to
the motor, until it reaches the recess r, s, in the metal fitting or plate m, when, the
contact being broken, the current is cut off.
6. In adjustable show-apparatus such as characterized in the first claim, the
insertion of an automatic current-transmitter or contact for the purpose of
transmitting the current from one apparatus to the next following apparatus of
the same series or group; consisting of a spring controlled or yielding contact arm
such as we included in the circuit of the last mentioned (second) apparatus and
provided with an insulating back surface; and of a current-conducting disc, such
as y, m, having a recess or notch; the rear surface of the contact arm w being
adapted to move in contact with, or slide on, the said disc q, m, until this disc takes
up such a position that the back of the spring slips into the recess so that the arm
comes into contact with the disc, whereby current is supplied to the next following
apparatus; the main object of the whole arrangement being to enable entire series
of combined apparatus to be actuated by a current of comparatively low tension.
Dated this 1st day of March 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.