Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Exhibiting Pictures, Advertisements, Announcements, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Exhibiting Pictures,
Advertisements, Announcements, and the like.
I, JOSEPHIA SCHIELE, of 2, Parvis Ste Gudule, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, 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 an automatic apparatus for alternately exhibiting
a number of surfaces provided with advertisements, announcements, pictures and
the like.
The apparatus mainly comprises a series of rotatable discs arranged one behind
the other on the same spindle, part of the surface of each disc being covered i.e.,
provided with preferably transparent advertisements, pictures, etc., and part
The discs
being clear or open, the covered area being equal to the clear one.
are operated by a suitable device in such manner that they successively make a
part of a revolution, whereby the surface part or parts provided with advertise-
ments etc., are exhibited, the clear portion of the previous disc advancing mean-
while, while the clear portions of the remainder of the discs are in alignment
with or uncover the exhibited surface on both sides so that not only the front
face of the corresponding surface is exhibited but also its back face may be
exposed to view.
The partial rotation is effected at intervals in such manner that the surface
exhibited remains in position for a certain period. After the surface of the last
disc has been brought into view, the operation begins again at the first or front
disc and so on.
In the accompanying drawing an apparatus according to this invention is
illustrated, by way of example, in which the discs are half covered and half clear
which dises rotate through half a revolution at a time, whereby the inscriptions
or other matter on them are successively brought in front of a corresponding
opening of the apparatus and then disappear behind a shutter.
Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus;
Figure 2 is a plan on the line y-y Figure 1;
Figures 3 to 6 are detail views.
The discs arranged one behind another on the common spindle a consist in the
example illustrated, of annular rings A, A' A² divided by central bars B into two
equal fields a and b, one of the fields, say a, being provided with transparent
semi-discs of silk, cloth, paper etc., provided with inscriptions, advertisements,
pictures etc. the other field b remaining open and clear. The paper (or other
material) half discs D (Figure 4) are preferably mounted and secured in the
ring A by means of a spring ring or plate C, or a wire, whilst there is provided
across the middle of the ring, at the bar B, another bar, not shown in the draw-
ing, for securing the other edge of the semi disc in position. In the centre of
the bar B of each disc there is secured a spring case E, the spiral spring of which
is secured at one end to the casing, the other end engaging by means of a pro-
jection e (Figure 3) with a longitudinal groove in the spindle X. The discs are

page_text: interchangeable and are thus mounted one after another on the spindle X, the
projections e of the springs engaging in the longitudinal groove. The springs
of all the discs can, therefore, when the latter are stopped by a ratchet mechanism
be wound by means of a key applied to the square end portion of the spindle.
The springs rotate the discs in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1. The rota-
tion is regulated by suitably arranged ratchet pawls and projections in such
manner that the discs are stopped after each half revolution, so that the discs
are alternately moved with their free or clear surfaces b and their covered sur-
faces a into the open or upper portion of the apparatus. For this purpose the
rims A are provided with two oppositely arranged projections ce adapted to
engage with pawls d. Each pawl d is operated by an arm f secured to a spindle g
driven by a clockwork mechanism h. There are as many pawls d (Figures 2
and 6) and arms f as there are discs. The arms f are arranged in such manner
that they successively operate the pawls d, so that at the moment when an arm f
releases one pawl, the next arm engages with the next pawl. The movement
of the pawls is limited by two set-screws ik (Figure 1). The projections
the discs are smaller (lower) than the projections (Figures 1 and 2). The
projections have a U-shape corresponding to the shape of the fingers d¹ of the
pawls d.
c of
When the arm f strikes a pawl 7, the latter is so turned about its pivot as
to release the projection c, the spring E then rotates the disc which strikes with
its higher projection against the finger of the pawl (see Figures 1 and 2).
In this position in which the field a provided with advertisements etc., is exposed,
to view, the disc remains for a certain time regulated by the clockwork
(Figure 2) until the latter imparts a further movement to the spindle g.
The arm f is thus withdrawn from the pawl d which is turned, say by a spring
(not shown), into its original position. i.e., approaches with its finger d¹ the edge
of the disc. Owing to the shape of the finger and of the projection c¹ the latter
can pass the finger and the disc rotates so that its clear part 6 comes opposite
the open portion of the apparatus, until the projection c strikes the advanced
pawl. At the same moment the second arm f has withdrawn the pawl d of the
next disc A3 from the projection c of the latter and thus brought the covered
field a of this disc in front of the opening of the apparatus. The disc remains
in this position until it is replaced by the field a of the next disc A³. During
the last release of the last disc the pawl of the first disc A¹ is removed from the
projection and so on. The clock-work mechanisms 7 and d are connected
together in the same way as the hour-movement and alarm movement of an
ordinary clock. The intervals between the releasing of the discs are regulated
by a disc or locking plate m (Figs. 1 & 2) similar to the locking plates or equi-
valent devices used for effecting & regulating the striking in clocks. By means
of a suitable escapement the clockwork may be stopped or started. Of course
these escapement devices may be replaced by any other suitable motor.
The actuating of the discs may be also effected from a ratchet device arranged
outside the apparatus. In such case the apparatus which will generally be used
for exhibiting advertisements and pictures, may be used as an indicator of any
kind, for instance as a station indicator in railway trains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An apparatus for exhibiting announcements, advertisements, pictures and
the like, characterised by a series of rotatable discs arranged one behind another.
with partly clear and partly full or covered fields provided with inscriptions and
the like, the discs being adapted to be successively rotated through a part of a
revolution at intervals in such manner that at each partial rotation one disc
appears with its covered field in front of a corresponding opening of the apparatus
and is displayed at both sides through the clear fields of the other discs.

page_text: 2. In apparatus of the kind described the arrangement of a series of discs
secured to the same spindle said discs being covered with advertisements pictures
or the like in one half and clear in the other half and means for causing them
successively to make half revolutions whereby the covered halves of the discs
appear and disappear alternately and successively in front of the opening of
the apparatus.
3. A construction of apparatus of the kind described characterised by the discs
being provided with two opposite projections which are successively held and
released by a pawl, the first projection being released by the advance move-
ment and the second by the return of the pawl, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the kind described the arrangement of projections of different
heights, the second projection being of a U shape corresponding to the shape of
the finger of the pawl, whereby the projection is enabled to pass the finger on
the return movement of the pawl, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind described, a series of discs interchangeably mounted
one behind another on a common spindle and provided with springs the outer
ends of which are secured to the discs and the inner ends engage with a longi-
tudinal groove of the spindle, whereby the springs may be all wound at once by
rotating the spindle.
6. In apparatus of the kind described, a series of pawls as d d mounted on
the same spindle, are operated by arms as f, arranged on a common spindle in
such relative positions, that the releasing of the discs is effected successively at
intervals determined by clockwork mechanism.
7. In apparatus of the kind described, a series of discs formed by circular rings
provided with central bars in one half of which rings are mounted by means of
spring rings sections of material provided with advertisements pictures and the
like.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for exhibiting pictures, advertisements, announcements, and the like,
substantially as described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.