Improvements in or in connection with Apparatus for Display- ing Advertisements, Samples, Pictures, Fabrics, or Patterns, and for other similar Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1890
J.ROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Apparatus for Display-
ing Advertisements, Samples, Pictures, Fabrics, or Patterns,
and for other similar Purposes.
I, JAMES LITTLER, of 21, Stamford Street, Altrincham, in the County of Cheshire,
Hairdresser, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus forming the subject of this invention is adapted for displaying
Advertisements, Designs, Samples, Pictures, Transparencies, and for other similar or
Suitable purposes in shops, streets, railway stations, and other public or private
-places.
The purposes to which the said apparatus may be adapted are varied and
numerous; and it may also be used either with or without a coin-receiving attach-
ment as preferred. For instance, it may be used to display a number of adver-
tisements which are constantly on the move and thereby arrest the immediate
attention of the public; or it may be used in shops or stores to display successively
Farious samples and colors of materials and fabrics; or it may be adapted for
displaying pictures; engravings, nursery rhymes, transparencies, or the like, upon
inserting a coin of pre-determined size into a receptacle provided therefor; or it
may be applied to any purpose wherein various parts of a flexible band are
successively brought into one position for inspection.
For the sake of brevity, I hereinafter term whatever is submitted by the apparatus
for inspection The Exhibits."
In an apparatus of this description the exhibits may, if desired, have a continuous
motion, so as to bring each successively into view but I prefer to give an inter-
mittent motion to the exhibits by a continuous motion of the driving mechanism, so
as to allow time for a proper inspection of the exhibits between each change.
The machine may be constructed in various forms according to the purpose for
which it is to be applied. I will describe one form which is suitable for displaying
advertisements at railway stations or other places. It consists essentially of a box or
casing arranged to be placed either horizontally or vertically, and having a suitable
opening in the front part thereof, through which the advertisement is seen. The
advertisements to be displayed are printed or otherwise formed upon a band of paper
or other flexible material, which is passed alternately over a number of rollers placed
one behind the other in two rows (one at either side of case) so that a continuous
band of material is formed within the case.
Suitable driving mechanism is also contained within the case to communicate
motion to the rollers and band so as to bring fresh portions thereof opposite the
opening at intervals, and also allow a period of rest between each change. Any
suitable motive power may be employed, such as electricity, air, steam, water, &c.,
but I prefer to employ, clockwork which may be wound up at intervals.
A machine such as described may be utilized to display exhibits at night, if lighted
From the outside; or the lettering or other design may be formed in luminous paint
or other phosphorescent preparation. I may, however, adopt the following arrange-
ment, which allows a light to be placed inside the case so as to display the exhibit as
a transparency when used in shop windows (for which purpose it is particularly
applicable) the ordinary light of the shop would suffice:
In this case I form the advertisements or other display upon a long band which is
not continuous. The said band is carried on a stock spool or roller within the casing.
from which one end is drawn off and the band passed over a measuring roller, then
behind the opening in front of case, and over a second measuring roller, and is finally
wound upon another spool or reel. Both spools are provided with suitable clamping

page_text: devices for attaching the band thereto. All the before-mentioned rollers revolve
freely in suitable bearings, and the circumference of each measurer is equal to the
width of one advertisement. Each spool is provided with a friction-roller which is
always kept in close contact therewith by springs or other suitable devices, and is of
the same diameter as the measurers. The measurers and friction rollers are all
driven at the same speed by means of an endless cord or other mechanism, and in
the same direction simultaneously. The two sets of spools, measures, and friction-
rollers call respectively A and B. Each measurer has a pinion wheel on one
end, which gears into a toothed driving wheel having the teeth cut away from a
portion of its circumference, so that, by a continuous rotary motion, it produces an
intermittent motion of the measurers. This driving wheel is connected to the driving
mechanism, and the whole is carried upon a swiveling arm which allows the main
wheel to gear with either the A or B sets, only, one at a time.
The action is as follows:-On the mechanism being set in motion the A set of
rollers commence to revolve, and the band is drawn one space forward by means of
the friction roller which causes the A. spool to revolve a sufficient amount for that
purpose, and no more. A pause then occurs, until the main wheel has completed
one revolution, when the same action again takes place and is repeated until the
whole band has been wound upon the A spool. The swiveling driving wheel then
moves away and commences to operate the B set, re-winding the whole of the hand
in a similar manner, after which it again winds upon the A sei; these movements
are repeated so long as the motive power is applied. The swiveling arm may be
worked by means of a cord which winds upon the spool as it pays off the band.
If desired, the measurers may be dispensed with, and the driving wheel arranged to
operate direct upon the friction-rollers.
Any of the well-known forms of coin-receiving apparatus and detent for releasing
the mechanism may be employed if desired.
I distinctly wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the precise details
and arrangements herein specified, as various modifications and mechanical equivalents
may be adapted without departing from the original character and principle of the
invention.
Tad this (th
fmum 19Qu
JAMES LITTLER.
Improvements in or in connection with Apparatus for Display-
ing Advertisements, Samples, Pictures, Fabrics, or Patterns,
and for other similar Purposes.
1, JAMES LITTLER of 21 Stamford Street, Altrincham in the County of Cheshire
Hairdresser 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 consists in an apparatus for displaying in successive order, a
number of advertizements, samples, pictures, fabrics, patterns, or like articles, either
for the purpose of advertizing or for convenience in the exhibition of goods or
samples, and the object of this invention is to obtain a medium for advertizement
or display that will attract attention by means of the exhibits being caused either
to repeat or to follow each other successively or intermittently.
In this invention I construct case of any shape or size and of any suitable
material: form said case with either an open or transparent front: I place within
this case horizontal drums or rollers on which to suspend bands or lengths either
of paper or fabric containing advertizements or articles to be exhibited: I cause these
drums or rollers to revolve by means of clockwork mechanism, electricity, steam,
water, or other suitable motive power in order that the exhibits may each in their turn
be brought to view from the open or the transparent front of said case,

page_text: In order that my invention may be readily understood. I have annexed hereunto
two sheets of drawings: In the several views therein illustrated similar letters refer
to similar parts: Fig. I is a front view of a case constructed to stand on the Hour of a
shop, a platform of a railway station, or other place, and Fig. 2 is transverse section
of the same.
Within the case a 1 place a drum : On and over this drum I pass an endless
band c
containing the advertizements or articles to be displayed: Fig. 3 is a irms-
verse section of the case with endless hand passed over smaller drums in order to
obtain increased length by additional folds: said band may also be allowed to collect
in folds in bottom of case for the same purpose.
The band is caused to move by friction contact with the drum & which is actuated
by clockwork mechanism y as shown in end and side views Figs. 4 and 5. Motion is
given to the drum & by ordinary clockwork mechanism which I connect to one end
of shaft : At the same or opposite end of drum . I place fine mechanism f
which actuates the cam 9: I place a stop pin at end of drum by when the
drum has performed one revolution, the stop pin comes is contact with the pro-
jection of lever and prevents further revolution of the drum 4 until the pin
has been released by the action of the cam y causing the lever which is pivotted at
to be raised at the end and thus permit the drum to revolve until again checked
by the pin : In cases where the circumference of drum 6 is not equal to one
advertizement, or the open space in front of case. I allow said drum to revolve a
greater number of times by placing the pin on a toothed wheel which will goar
into pinion placed on shaft of said drum: Figs. 7 and 8 are end and front views
of a frame case formed so as to be suspended as a picture: In these views the
case has either a transparent or an open front as in Fig. 1 but the back is formed
with an aperture / in order that light may pass through to illumine the band 6:
The actuating power which I place within the frame in combination with mechanism
herein after described causes the band to have a reversible motion and said band
is either delivered from or received on rollers k, passing intermediately over drums 6:
Fig. 9 is a transverse section of a case similar in construction to Fig. I but with the
band non-continuous and with reversible motion, the band e being caused to pass
over drum and delivered from or received on rollers k: In this view a light is
placed within the case, the heat or fumes being carried off by ventilating the .
Fig. 10 is plan view of reversing gear: Fig. 11 is a modification of the same and
Fig. 12 is end elevation of stop motion: the rollers have band attached which
passes over drum 6: A pinion slides loosely on each shaft so as to be placed in or
out of gear with roller by means of a pivotied lever a in combination with lever ';
these levers are retained in position by spring which presses against square end of
lever or by means of springs as shown in Fig. 10 or by a counterpoise weight. A
clutch pin is placed on each pinion to catch a corresponding pin of on the end of
roller k. A toothed wheel gears into both pinions m at the same time and always
turns both of said pinions in one direction, but by the lever arrangement herein
above described only one of the rollers kis turned at once. A cord is wound on
the ends of rollers & passing through an eye in lever al:
A knot or other pro-
jection which cannot pass through the eye of the lever is formed near either end
of the cord : When the band is nearly wound on to one roller the projection on the
cord w
pulls the lever to opposite side and places the opposite pinion in gear which
thus causes the band to wind in an opposite direction: the two ends of the hand e
have blank portions without exhibits thereon and the reversal of band takes place
during the passage of either of the blank parts across the opening in case.
By means of the clutch pin the roller and pinion on the opposite side do not
come into gear until immediately after the lever is pulled completely over. In
the modification shown in Fig. 11 the pinious m are put out of gear by means
of the spring or placed in gear by the wedge shaped flange at back of
toothed wheel : attach to one end of each of the rollers a serated wheel or
ratchet : the baud e passes over measuring drum bon one end of which I place
a disc or wheel having a notch formed thereon: A rising and falling or a

page_text: at
pivotted swinging detent lever is placed so as to engage the serated wheels q at the
same time that the drum is locked by the end of the rod falling into the
notch A cam attached to the time mechanism lifts the lever out of gear:
the band then commences to move by the action of the clockwork mechanism
which turns one of the rollers & After the time cam has passed, the detent lever s
is again ready to fall but is kept up until the upper part 2 falls into the notch >¹
when the detents also falls and the drum and the rollers & are thereby locked
until again released by the forward movement of the cam f. In Fig. 6 I have
shown a means of obtaining intermittent motion by the use of semitoothed
wheel which is caused to gear alternately with the pinious m by reversible
motion as described in Fig. 10 and actuated by ordinary clockwork mechanism y.
Fig. 1 shows an endless cord #passing round both drums and friction rollers.
The friction rollers are supported by a pivoited lever or bracket and press
equally against the receiving or distributing rollers according to the varying size
of said rollers caused by the quantity of material received on or distributed there-
from: All the rollers and drums are driven in one direction at the same time by the
cord which is actuated by clockwork mechanism or other motive power and the
friction rollers cause the band e to move by pressure on said band: Fig. 14
shows method of attaching rollers to case the spindle is attached to case a:
the pinion is placed loosely on this spindle, the ratchet wheel is formed with
a rib which fits into roller: the end of spindle is formed with a shoulder.
which fits against face of wheel 2, the roller is held in position by the screw q
which permits roller to revolve freely: Fig. 15 shows another form with spindle a
passed through the roller and screwed into case #. Fig. 16 shows roller k with
clamp to fasten end of band which is secured between roller and clamp.
The various drums and rollers herein before described may be placed vertically if
preferred. Fig. 17 shows a form of coin freed mechanism which may be applied to
the herein before described arrangement for advertizing or display in order to set the
same in motion by means of a coin placed in slot 1: the weight of said coin falling
on to end of lever 2 which is pivotted at releases mechanism at 4 when coin slips
out of box at 5 and weight 6 brings the lever back to horizontal position and stops
mechanism 4. I do not however claim either this or any form of coin freed
mechanism, and I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the exact
details of arrangement as shown on the annexed drawings, as modifications may be
made without departing from the principle of this my invention.
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. An apparatus for displaying in successive order, advertizements, samples,
pictures, fabrics, patterns or other goods in any public or other place by means of a
case of any shape or size in which the advertizements or goods are arranged so as to
be supported or suspended or passed over or around drums or wound upon rollers,
and in combination therewith the use of clockwork or other suitable mechanism for
imparting either constant or intermittent movement to said advertizements, samples,
pictures, fabrics, patterns, or other goods in the manner and for the purpose sub-
stantially as herein before described.
2nd. In an apparatus that is or may be employed for displaying advertizements
samples, pictures, fabrics, patterns or other goods, the use of reversing and stop
motion as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 on drawings in combination
with clockwork or other mechanism for the purpose and substantially as herein hefore
described.
3rd. In an apparatus for displaying advertizements samples. pictures, fabrics,
patterns or other goods the combination with a suitable case or framework of the
rollers having reversing gear and mechanism for imparting motion to said rollers,
mechanism for intermittently releasing said rollers or the motor which operates them,
a measuring drum b to limit the movement or travel of a flexible band and suitable

page_text: locking devices for stopping the motor, the drums, and the rollers for the purposo
and substantially in the manner herein before described.
°
4th. In an apparatus for the purpose and as herein before described, the combination
with rollers of pinions having lateral movement, swinging lever for moving said
pinions, the cord for moving the swinging lever, the devices for retaining said lever in
position, and the clutch for connecting said pinions with the rollers.
5th. In an apparatus for the purpose and as herein before described the method of
driving by friction gearing as illustrated in Fig. 13.
6th: In an apparatus for the purpose and as herein before described the method of
driving intermittently by semitoothed wheels as illustrated in Fig. 6.
7th. In an apparatus for the purpose and as herein before described the rollers.k
provided with clamps for attaching the band thereto, said rollers being detachable
from the case when required.
Sth. In an apparatus for the purpose and as herein before described the general
arrangement and construction of the several parts whereby said apparatus may be
formed as a frame for hanging up or being otherwise supported, in order that it may
be illuminated from behind by any ordinary light.
9th. In an apparatus for displaying advertizements, samples, pictures, fabrics,
patterns or other goods, the application and use of coin freed mechanism for imparting
motion thereto said coin freed mechanism being either of the construction shown on
drawing Fig. 17. or of other preferred design.
Dated this 8th day of October 1889.
JAMES LITTLER,
Applicant.