Improvements in Optical Lanterns and other Apparatus for Display- ing Advertisements and other similar purposee.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Optical Lanterns and other Apparatus for Display-
ing Advertisements and other similar purposee.
I, HERBERT PIERPOINT, of The Chase, Malvern, in the County of Worcester, Art
Student, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.
This invention relates to optical apparatus and is designed for the purpose of
exhibiting or displaying the image upon a screen (or the like) progressively and
then obscuring it. The invention is primarily applicable for displaying advertise-
ments but may be applied to other classes of picture if desired
As applied to a sign comprising one or more words each letter would be dis-
played successively and then the full name or names suddenly be obscured
This may be carried out in a number of ways either by a continuously travelling
or revolving band with slots or slits cut in it, a revolving disc with slots or slits
cut therein; a revolving disc with steps or notches cut in the periphery, a
revolving scroll shaped plate, or by means of vertically sliding plates shutters or
strips of material resting upon the periphery of a suitably shaped disc or cam, in
each case in combination with an obscuring shutter which is automatically raised
or removed by the displaying apparatus and released again by it to quickly
obscure the object
The form I at present prefer is an endless travelling band provided with a
suitably shaped slit or slot which travels in front of the plate. When there is
more than one line of lettering the slot is stepped or otherwise shaped to first
uncover one line and then the other and if the word or words be in written
characters this presents the representation of the name being written out as it
18 progressively exposed or displayed Where printed words are exhibited each
letter appears progressively The band is provided with a shaped edge or with
pins or projections thereon which engage oi lift a pivoted or other shutter and
carry it away as the slit in the band comes opposite the plate and releasing it
again at the desired time it falls of its own weight or is drawn back quickly by a
spring quickly obscuring the whole picture or word
In another arrangement a revolving disc may be employed cut with suitably
shaped slits or slots to give the desired effect or cut away or stepped at the
periphery for the same purpose Two discs may be employed one behind the
other which come into operation successively to expose the parts of the plate in
any desued order either backwards or forwards A pivoted or revolving shutter
is carried forward by the disc and released and drawn back by its own weight or
by a spring to quickly obscure the image when desued
In another arrangement one two or more sliding strips plates or bands may be
caused to move backwards and for wards before the plate to give the desired effect
Such stups plates or bands may be of different widths and slotted or notched as
desired and one of them will act as an obscuring shutter. In another arrange-
ment a scroll shaped disc 18 pivoted to revolve in front of the plate the scroll

page_text: being so cut or proportioned as to progressively expose the plate
shutter 18 automatically lifted and released as the disc rotates
An obscuring
In another arrangement a number of obscuring strips are mounted on the
periphery of a rotating cam which as the cam rotates are allowed to drop in
progression one after the other or a sliding bar or cam may be stepped to act in
a similar manner
It will be evident that other arrangements of the obscuring parts will produce
similar effects and that multiple effects may be produced by combinations of
these arrangements.
Coloured effects can also be produced by means of a rotating or sliding coloured
screen and the pictures or plates may also be varied by means of a rotating or
sliding caner in which a number of slides can be mounted
It is also to be understood that instead of slits slots or steps cut in the opaque
material a transparent material may be used and the desued apertures be formed
by coating or rendering opaque the other part of the material.
Dated the 10+1
1000
WM. P THOMPSON & Co,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents
Improvements in Optical Lanterns and other Apparatus for Display-
ing Advertisements and other similar purposes,
I, HERBERT PIFRPOINT, of 22, Golborne Street, Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Art Student, formerly of The Chase, Malvern, in the County of
Worcester, 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 optical or other apparatus designed for the purpose of
exhibiting or displaying names or words-forming advertisements-upon a screen
(or the like) progressively and then obscuring them The invention is applicable
for displaying name advertisements.
As applied to a sign comprising one o more words each letter would be
displayed progressively and then the full name or names preferably be suddenly
obscured or its appearance progressively changed
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings;
Fig. 1 18 a front elevation of one arrangement of the apparatus
Fig 2 Side elevation of same
Fig 3 Plan of Fig. 2.
Fig 4. Plan showing a modifted arrangement with front and back of band
travelling across the screen
Fig 5 Front elevation showing the operation of the front and back of bands
across the sheet corresponding with Fig 4.
Fig. 6 Front elevation showing the endless band travelling in a vertical
direction
Fig 7 Sectional elevation of same (Fig 6.)
Fig 8 Front elevation showing arrangement for exhibiting printed letters
successively
Fig 9 Sectional elevation of same (Fig 8)
Fig 10. Front elevation of a further modification in which an endless band of

page_text: Fig. 25. Front elevation of another modification.
Figs. 26 & 27 Front elevations of other modifications of the shield
Fig. 28 Front elevation of a further modification of the apparatus.
Fig 29. Plan of same (Fig. 28).
Fig 30. Front elevation of another modification.
Fig. 31. Front elevation, showing carriers for changing the changing screens
carrying the words or advertisements to be displayed and panels of different
colours.
Fig 32. Side elevation of same.
Fig. 33 Front elevation of details showing catch for rotating the changing
screens
The invention may be carried out in various ways by means of a flexible band
or a slide travelling past a screen with legible characters and formed with a
stepped or inclined or serrated edge cut therein or formed thereon by different
colours upon the material or by a band or slide in part opaque and in part
transparent or of transparent contracting portion the parts being separated by
a stepped inclined or serrated edge, or the screen containing the legible characters
may travel past a fixed edge similarly shaped Or by a disc or part of a disc or
plate forming a shield pivoted to rotate of scroll shape or with steps notches slits
or the like cut in its periphery or formed by making part of shield opaque and
part transparent or by two or more contrasting colours which when rotated or
moved to and fro will progressively expose display on render the image to produce
the effect of writing applied to the letters of a word or name
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 an endless travelling band A. 18 caused to travel across
the screen B carrying the characters which is placed in front of the condenser C
of an ordinary optical lantern The part a of the band A 18 opaque through which
the light will not penetrate, the part a' is either cut away o 19 transparent to
permit of the letters being projected through and the part a of the band A may
be either transparent and coloured or opaque The edge or line D-D dividing
the opaque part a from the transparent is stepped or inclined to successively
expose as the band travels one letter or portion of a letter of the image and one
line and then the next line. The contour or configuration of the line D-D 18

page_text: formed or adapted to the letters to be exposed, a written name or word 18 preferred
and the letters are then progressively shown as if being written. When the
part a of the travelling band is transparent and coloured the effect is of one
colour writing out the preceding colour of the letters The band is mounted upon
a number of rollers E driven by a small pulley e on the spindle of one of the rollers
Both the front and back of the endless band A are carried in front of the
screen B and condenser C as shown in Figs 4 & 5, the front of the band exposing
and obscuring portions of the letters and the back of the band at the same time
exposing and obscuring other portions of the letters. As an example the front
of the blind successively exposes or writes the letters of the name and the back
of the blind exposes the dash or tail of the letter
The contrast may be heightened between any portions by the shading or
graduating of the colours. Thus a transparent succession of 'different colours
could be rendered gradually opaque by abrupt edge of transparent following
colour which in its turn would gradually shade off to opacity
The band may be caused or placed to travel vertically as shown in Figs 0-9
instead of horizontally in which case the inclined edge D-D will be cut at the
proper angle to give the progressive effect desired In Fig 6 writing 18 illus-
trated and in Fig. 8 the printing of the letters. In the arrangement shown in
these Figs 69 the shaded portion of the band may be either opaque, or coloured
and transparent and the lettering transparent or cut out of a fixed opaque screen H,
the colour of the travelling band shows up the letters as it passes behind the
screen. The band may pass in front if the screen is in part or all transparent.
As an instance, if the letters on the screen are white and the ground black the
passing of the various colours would display or render them in a succession of
colours and if they were opal they could be illuminated.
These Figures 6-9 can be illuminated in which case the band could be trans-
parent with different colours or transparent with opaque portions. The same
apparatus 18 also suitable for a non-illuminated and an illuminated effect by
suitable colours and opaque and transparent portions on the band Thus a trans-
parent ruby portion of band would show as dark colour through the transparent
portion of the letters when not illuminated and the other portion of the band
the same colour as the screen H is say white opaque Hence the on coming of
the dark colour (ruby) would render effect, or display the letters in ruby colour
A light being placed behind the band the opaque (white) portion would obscure
and the transparent ruby portion would appear as bright red.
The same arrangement 18 shown horizontally in Figs. 10 and 11 the lettering
being transparent or cut out of a fixed opaque screen H¹ set in a suitable frame h
and an endless band A¹ travelling behind it divided into different colours by the
hne D D which progressively changes the colour or appearance of the letters
with writing effect
Instead of the travelling band being endless a travelling band A³ may be
employed one end attached to one roller and the other end attached to another
roller and be drawn or reciprocated backwards and forwards between the two
rolleis as in Figs 12 and 13 the same effects being produced as above described
The edge 18 here formed so as to progressively expose one line then to commence
exposing the next at about the completion of that preceding
In another modification reciprocating rigid bands may be employed attached
at both ends to flexible strips a which are attached to or passed round rollers to
which a reciprocating movement is given. This arrangement is shown in
Figs. 14 and 15 in which two such reciprocating bands A3 and A' are shown to be
reciprocated in front of a lettered screen B and a lens condenser C. The front
band A³ exposes one part of the writing and the back band A' the other part of
the writing in the reverse direction the effect being similar to that illustrated in
Fig. 5.
A flowing appearance as of the ink flowing into the form of writing may be

page_text: given by gradually shading off the screen B₁ from the line or edge D³—D® as
shown in Figs. 16 & 17
In this case an endless transparent band A' travels from right to left inscribed
with black or opaque characters or letters with a stationary screen B' a portion of
which 18 black and a portion white the line or edge between the black and white
being formed as before described to give the effect of progression as shown in
Figs. 16 & 17. The effect produced is that of a flowing of the ink or writing on
moving paper. This band A³ may be transparent with transparent coloured
characters, opaque with transparent or perforated characters, or transparent with
opaque characters
Referring to Figs. 16 and 17ª, the band A. is provided with a pivoted or hinged
flap A and the lettered screen B with projecting pieces or arms b which corre-
spond in width and dimensions with the letters one for each The projections b
are so arranged that as the flap A¹ passes over one of them the next letter remains
covered, but as soon as the spring flap passes the projection b it springs or flies
back completely uncovering the next letter by a rapid movement The band A
and hinged flap A' are shown in front of the lettered screen but may be placed
behind it The flap may be of any suitable form, a curl form for instance made
of an elastic or springy material might be used. Instead of totally obscuring the
letters the band A may be transparent (plain or coloured) with a second band of
different colour following on behind it attached to the flaps A¹
For the forming of loops upon letters the dotting of certain letters and crossing
of others pivoted levers or tumblers L may be employed (see Figs. 18, 19, & 20)
which are pivoted so that the travelling band will pass them. These tumblers
are weighted or hung to fall by gravity and are lifted by a pin attached to or
carried by the travelling band which successively raises one to obscure the loop
dot or cross and allows it to drop at the proper moment to expose it. Figs 18 & 19
show the arrangement for one class of letters and Fig 20 the arrangement for
reversed letters.
Referring to Figa 21 to 23 A. is the condenser of the lens and B the lettered
screen. In front (or behind) the lettered screen B is placed a shield C mounted
on a pivot or spindle e and driven by a band pulley o¹ or otherwise to rotate or to
move backwards and forwards.
The shield C is shaped along the edge D to progressively disclose the letters
so as to give the effect of writing thereto. The edge D of the shield C is stepped
in any desired graduation of steps the face of such being inclined at such an angle
as will give the desired effect.
The shield C 18 rotated by a pin wheel E on the shaft or spindle with two
projecting pins e el The pin e on the wheel E engages with a projection on
the back of the disc C and carries the disc slowly round it. When the disc
plate C has completed about half its revolution it falls quickly for ward of its own
gravity to obscure the image the second pin e' acting as a stop against which
the projection falls F is a counterbalance weight
The inclined edge D as the shield rotates progressively exposes the word, first
the down strokes and then the upstrokes to give the effect of writing. The scroll
shaped part d of the edge of the shield C subsequently progressively displays the
tail of the last letter
Referring to Figs 21* and 21 The disc C is similar to that described with
reference to Figs. 21 to 23 it 18 however provided with an additional counter-
balance weight F1 loose on the spindle The disc is rotated by the pieces --
acting against the projection, as already described The projection is
elongated to prevent the disc moving too far in advance of the pin e when it falls
over to obscure the word. The loose weight F1 is carried as the disc rotates by
the pin on the face of the disc, and when it is carried beyond the centre it falls
over and permits the disc to fall quickly to obscure the word
In Fig 21 the full lines show the disc C in position commencing to display

page_text: the letters on the screen B, the dotted lines show position when the pin ƒ¹ begins
to act upon the weight F to lift it
In Fig 21b The full lines show the disc C held from falling over by the
weight and the weight F1 1aised to nearly the top position as soon as the weight
passes the top centre it and the disc C fall to the position shown by the dotted lines
Referring to Fig 24. Shield C 18 formed with an inclined edge D¹ and a
second step and inclined edge d¹ to progressively expose two lines of written
wolds
Referring to Fig. 25. The shield C is formed with an inclined edge D₁
and a second step and inclined edge to progressively expose two lines of printed
words
Referring to Fig 26
The shield C is formied with an inclined edge D³ and
a plurality of steps and edges one for each letter to successively expose letters
set radial to the centie upon which the shield rotates.
Referring to Fig 27. The shield C is formed with a scioll or cam shaped
edge D to progressively expose the written words
Referring to Figs 28 to 33 Two shields are employed to move or operate in
different directions. The two shields C and C are actuated by pins g g' on
tho wheel G rotated in the direction of the arrow and the pins engaging with the
face or edge H H of the shield alternately move first one and then the other away
from the centre The shield Cremains stationary while the shield C¹³ 18 moved
into the position shown in Fig 28 such movement having been caused by the
travel of the piny along the face or edge H fiomh to h The shield C³ then
remains stationary while the pin g travels from 1 to 3 and at the same time the
shield C is caused to move by the action of the pin g' on the face or edge H¹³
from to h* The two shields then continue to be moved outwards until the
pin g has traversed the whole of the face on edge H and reached the point ⁄³, and
tho pin gl has traversed the whole of the face or edge H¹ and reached the point h
The two shields CC then fall sharply back of their own gravity or assisted
by the spring K to obscure the image The lower edges of the shields C C
may be stepped or shaped to give the desired effect.
Referring to Fig 30 the shields C7 and Cs may be formed separate from the
upper parts thereof and be connected by a pivoted connection so that the lower
parts C and C will slide in a rectilinear path
In all cases the shields may be wholly opaque and pass behind the screen with
transparent letters, or they may be in part opaque and in part transparent or
altogether transparent, and may pass behind oi in fiont of the screen B
Referring to Figa 31 to 33 Behind the shields C5 and C are placed two
carriers M N preferably circular with apertures m and a formed on cut therein.
The carrier M serves to carry a number of the lettered screens B placed in the
apertures m of which there may be six or more Each of the lettered screens has
preferably a different word or wording so that a fresh one is presented after each
exposure.
In the same way the second carrier N has in each aperture n a transparent screen
of different colour so that the colour is changed after each exposure
It is preferred that the apertures m in the caller M shall be more (or fewer)
than those in the carrier N so that as the carriers are rotated there will be a
change of colour each revolution that is to say each of the lettered screens will
be successively exposed in the five colours carried by the carrier N
The carriers M and N are in the form of discs and held in position for the
exposure of the writing by the two pawls or catches 0 0¹ engaging in notches m¹n¹
in the respective peripheries On the peripheries there are other notches m³ n
with which a spring catch P pivoted to the edge of the shield C5 engages each
time the shield falls to obscure the writing The spring catch P first engages
the pin o on the pawl O drawing it out of contact with the notch n in the
carrier N and then engages the notch in the carrier and rotates The pin o¹
next withdraws the pawl O' from the notch m¹ in the carrier M and the spring

page_text: catch Pengages the notch m in the periphery and rotates both carriers until
the apertures m and n coincide with the condenser at the back
Either of the preceding forms of apparatus may be used with a projector or search
light to duect the rays of light on to a fixed sign or they may be employed where
light falls upon instead of being projected through the screen to give a non-
illuminated effect
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18.
1 An optical device for displaying names in which each letter is progressively
displayed comprising a band passing across a lettered screen with a dividing
edge between opaque and transparent or open portions, opaque contrasting
coloured portions, or transparent contrasting colour portions so shaped or formed
relatively to the shape of the letters on the screen as to give the effect of pro-
gressive writing, or forming of the letters substantially as described
2 An optical device for displaying names in which each letter is progressively
displayed constructed with a lettered screen carrying the name, a travelling band
provided with a shaped dividing line on edge so formed or shaped relatively to
the shape or configuiation and position of the letters as to progressively display
them and rollers over which the band is caused to travel substantially as described
and shown
3 An optical device for displaving names in which each letter is progressively
displayed constructed with a lettered screen carving the name, in combination
with a travelling band with a pivoted or spring flap at one end by which the
letters are quickly displayed in succession substantially as described and shown.
4 An optical device or apparatus for displaying names in which each letter 18
progressively displaved constructed with a rotary shield rotated across a lettered
screen, with a dividing edge between opaque and transparent or open portions,
opaque contrasting coloured portions, or transparent contrasting colour portions,
so shaped or formed relatively to the shape and position of the letters on the
screen as to give the effect or appearance of progressive writing or forming of the
letters substantially as described
5. An optical device or apparatus for displaying names in which each letter is
progressively displayed the combination with a lettered screen of a rotary shield
provided with inclined step shaped on scroll shaped edges to successively expose
the letters and indicate the writing or forming thereof substantially as described
6. An optical device or apparatus for displaying names in which each letter 18
progressively displayed constructed and alianged substantially as described and
shown with reference to either of the figs of the drawings
Dated this 231d day of September 1899