US2117045A - Exhibiting machine - Google Patents

Description

R. L. L. WARNER EXHIBITING MACHINE May 10, 1938.

Filed July 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l W UM 1 4n w t r M@ ....c w z May 10, 1938.

R. L. L. WARNER EXHIBITING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [wen/f0 RoertLLMrzzer fllforney.

May 10, 1938. R.,L. WARNE I 2,117,045

EXHIBITING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1 936 s Sheets-Sheet 5 [rave/afar:

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Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXHIBITING MACHINE Calif.

Application July 27, 1936, Serial No. 92,739

14 Claims.

This invention relates generally to exhibiting apparatus, and more particularly to changeable exhibitors.

An object of this invention is to provide a changeable exhibitor by which any selected portion of a web can be displayed for observation of reading or other matter thereon for a predetermined period of time upon the insertion of a proper coin or token.

Another object of this invention is to provide a changeable exhibitor particularly adapted although not necessarily for the display of any one of a number of horoscopes over a predetermined period of time in accordance with the setting of a selector, by the passing of the preselected portion of a web containing such horoscopes, across an observation window at reading speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a changeable exhibitor of the above described character embodying means for rapidly feeding the web to any one of a plurality of starting positions in accordance with the preselection of a particular portion of the web to be displayed, and then feeding such selected portion of the web across the observation window at a sufficiently reduced speed for reading, all automatically and under the direct control of the operator, to the end of obviating unnecessary delays in the operation of the machine which would be otherwise caused were the web fed at reading speed to the proper starting position preparatory to the display of the selected portion of the web.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a changeable exhibitor embodying mechanism for projecting onto a screen images of matter on a web of film, which screen is unilluminated from within the machine except during the motion of a pre-selected portion of the 71m across the screen, so that the film will, at all other times, be invisible.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation partly broken away the changeable exhibitor embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of fast and slow motors and the operative connection therebetween as embodied in the invention;

Figure 4 is a detail plan sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and illustrating web driving means and a circuit controller embodied in the invention;

Figure 5 is a view of the circuit controller in 5 side elevation partly broken away;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line E6 of Figure 5;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are plan, front and side Views, respectively, of a coin-controlled switch embodied in the invention;

Figure 10 is a front View of a dial for a selector embodied in the invention;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits embodied in the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the in-- vention in its present embodiment comprises a generally rectangular cabinet C having a front portion of its top wall It] upwardly and rearwardly inclined and provided with a rectangular opening spanned by a translucent screen I I onto which is adapted to be projected the image of matter on a web l2 in the form of an endless strip oi film such as is employed for motion pictures. The web I2 is trained over several flanged idler pulleys l3, l4, l5, I6, l1, l8, I9, 20, 2|, 22 and 23 mounted at various locations in the cabinet as shown in Figure 2, so as to accommodate a relatively long strip of film in the cabinet and provide the necessary space in the cabinet for 30 mechanism embodied in the invention. Between the pulleys l9 and a weighted tensioning roller 24 bears on the web and is secured to a shaft 25 slidably mounted in vertical guides 26--26, so as to constantly tend to gravitate in the guides and thus maintain the film taut irrespective of such variations in the length of the film as occur in response to temperature changes.

Between the pulleys l3 and Hi the web I2 is arranged in parallelism with and directly opposite the screen II and passes through a lamp housing 21 suitably supported in the cabinet C. The stretch of the web within the housing 21 is interposed between a lamp 28 backed by a reflector 29, and a lens 30 for projecting an image of matter on the web, against the inner'side of the screen ll when the lamp 28 is lighted.

Between the pulleys l5 and IS the web [2 is trained over a driving sprocket 3|, the teeth of which are adapted to co-act with the usual openings provided along the edges of motion picture film, to drive the film in response to rotation of the sprocket. The sprocket is fixed to a shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33-33 in the cabinet and is adapted to be driven at high and low speeds by electric motors 34 and 35, respectively, supported on a platform 36 in the cabinet. For this purpose a worm wheel 31 is fixed to the shaft 32 and constantly meshes with a worm 38 fixed to an inclined shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40 and having fixed to its lower end a bevel gear 4| constantly meshing with a bevel pinion 42 fixed to the shaft 43 of the high speed motor 34.

Co-axially arranged with respect to the motor shaft 43 is a shaft 44 journaled in bearings 45 and having fixed to that end confronting the shaft 43, one jaw of a ratchet type of clutch 46, the other jaw of which is slidably keyed on the projecting end of the shaft 43 and is urged by a coil spring 41 into clutching engagement with the first mentioned jaw. Fixed to the shaft 44 between the bearings 45 is a bevel gear 48 constantly meshing with a second bevel gear 49 fixed to the low speed motor shaft 50, all of which is clearly shown in Figure 3. When current is supplied to the high speed motor 34 to drive its shaft 43 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, the clutch 46 will be ineffective to drive the shaft 44 and hence the low speed motor 35, but when current is supplied to the latter the clutch is operative to drive the shaft 43 and hence the sprocket 3| through the intervening gearing. Thus the clutch functions to prevent damage to the low speed motor when the high speed motor is in operation.

In one use of the invention for the display of horoscopes for amusement purposes, the total length of the web I2 is divided into portions, one for each month of the year or sign of the zodiac, and each bearing such matter as would relate to characteristics of a person born under such sign.

A manually operable selector S is provided at the inner side of the front wall of the cabinet and is correlated with the aforestated different portions of the web for the selection of any one of such portions for display. This selector comprises a series of twelve contacts 5|a, 5| b, 5|c, 5|d, 5|e, 5|), 5|g, 5|h, 5|i, 5|7' and 5|k, equally spaced circumferentially on a plate 52 of insulating material supported from the front wall. A spring contact member 53 is fixed to a shaft 54 extended through the front wall of the cabinet and provided exteriorly thereof with a knob 55 adapted to be manipulated to engage the member 53 with any one of the aforestated contacts 5|, 5|a to 5|7c, inclusive. A pointer 56 is also fixed to the shaft 54 and is adapted to traverse a dial 5? provided with suitable indexes relating to the included days in twelve monthly periods of the year, corresponding to the twelve signs of the zodiac.

In the present instance, the operation of the changeable exhibitor is checkor coin-controlled, and for this purpose a coin chute 58 is provided in the cabinet C and has an entrance slot 56 in one side wall of the cabinet for the insertion of a coin. This coin chute is in two sections, the upper one of which is inclined and has its lower end disposed for the discharge of a coin into the vertical lower section 66 of the chute. Correlated with the discharge end of the chute section 60 is a coin-controlled switch 6| composed of a fixed contact 62 secured to and insulated from the chute section, and a movable contact arm 63 carried by the armature 64 of an electro-magnet 65 supported on the chute section, all of which is clearly shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9. A coil spring 66 co-acts with the armature and chute section 60 to urge the contact arm 63 to the position shown in Figure 8, wherein such arm coacts with the fixed contact 62 to obstruct the passage of a coin so that the latter will bridge the contact and contact arm to complete an electrical circuit to the high speed motor 34 as will be more fully described in the operation of the exhibitor. However, when the winding of the electro-magnet 65 is energized, the contact arm 63 is moved by the armature 64 to a position sufficiently further spaced from the contact 62 to permit a bridging coin to gravitate from the coin chute into a coin box 61 so as to disrupt the aforestated circuit at the switch 6|.

Correlated with the selector S and operating in conjunction with twelve relays 68, 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f, 68g, 68h, 681', 687' and 6870, one for each of the selector contacts 5|, 5|a to 5|k, inclusive, is a circuit controller 69 embodying twelve switches 70, a, 70b, 10c, 10d, 16e, 10f, 16g, 10h, 162', 107 and 10k, (Figures 5 and 6), one for each relay. This circuit controller is in the form of a drum fixed to a shaft 1| journaled in bearings 12 and having at one end a worm wheel 13 constantly meshing with a worm 14 fixed to shaft 32 so as to be driven thereby in such ratio that the drum makes one revolution during the passage of the total length of the web l2 past a'fixed point.

Each of the switches 10, 16a to 107:: comprises a metallic disk (Figures 5 and 6) having a forced fit on the shaft H and provided with a peripheral contact 16 adapted during the rotation of the drum to engage a spring contact arm 1! of the respective switch, fixed to and insulated from a cross member 18 in the cabinet C, which also supports the bearings '12. The disks 15 are separated by insulating disks T9 to provide spaces for the contact arms 11; and the shaft N forms a common grounded return line for these switches as shown in Figure 11. It will be noted that the arrangement of the peripheral contacts is such that they are equally spaced circumferentially around the controller drum so as to successively engage the respective contact arm 11 from one end of the drum to the other as the drum is rotated in synchronism with the movement of the web I2.

From a consideration of Figure 11, it will be noted that each of the relays 68, 68a. to 6870 is provided with three switches 60, 8| and 82, each composed of a fixed contact and a spring contact arm, and that the three contact arms of each relay are influenced as a unit by the magnet 83 of the respective relay. The twelve normally open switches 80 are arranged in multiple series, and in series with the winding of the electromagnet 65. The twelve normally closed switches 8| are arranged in series with each other and with the high speed motor 34 and the coin-controlled switch 6|. The switches 82 are arranged in multiple series and in series with the low speed motor 35. The winding of each one of the magnets 83 is arranged in series with the coin-controlled switch 6|; with one of the switches formed by the contacts 5| 5|a to 5|k and the contact member 53 of the selector S; and with one of the switches 10, Illa to 10k of the circuit controller 69.

The operation of the changeable exhibitor is as follows:

Reference will be had particularly to Figure 11. The knob 55 is first manipulated to correlate its pointer 56 to that one of the twelve month- 1y periods of days on the dial 5'! for which a reading is desired, this operation correspondingly moving the contact member 53 into engagement with that one of the contacts 5|, 5|a to 5H0 of the selector S, correlated with the particular portion of the web l2 containing the horoscope for such part of the year. In the present instance, the setting is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 as being for the period between September 24 and October 23. Following such selection, a coin is deposited in the chute 58 to bridge the contact 62 and contact arm 63 of the coin controlled switch 6| to supply current to the high speed motor 34 by completing a circuit as follows:

From one side of the line through conductor 84 to the contact arm 63, the coin, contact 62, conductor 85, high speed motor 34, through all of the normally closed series connected relay switches 8| to the other and grounded side of the line.

The web l2 will now be driven through the sprocket 3| at a high speed, the circuit controller 69 also being positively driven in synchronism with the feed of the web. The selected setting as illustrated utilizes that one of the twelve relay circuits including the relay 68, so that when the correlated switch 18 of the twelve switches of the circuit controller has been closed by engagement of the respective peripheral contact 16 with the respective spring contact arm 11 as will occur when the drum has been rotated to a position wherein the selected portion of the film reaches a starting position relative tothe screen H for the display of the matter on such selected web portion, the magnet 83 of the relay 68 will be energized to open the switch 8| and close the switches and 82 by completing one of the twelve relay circuits as follows:

From one side of the line through conductor 84, conductor 86, contact member 53, selector contact 5|, conductor 81, winding of relay magnet 83, conductor 88, contact 16 and contact arm 11 of the circuit controller switch 10, and shaft H to the other side of the line.

By thus opening the switch 8| of the relay 68, the supply of current to the high speed motor 34 is discontinued, as the first described circuit for such motor is now broken. By the closing of the switch 88 of the relay 68, the electromagnet B5 is energized to attract its armature 64 and thus actuate the contact arm 63 to release the coin and permit same to gravitate into the coin box 61. By the closing of the switch 82 of the relay 68, current will now be supplied to the low speed motor 35 by completing a circuit as follows:

From one side of the line through conductor 84, conductor 89, slow speed motor 35, conductor 9|], through switch 82 to the other side of the line. Current is also supplied to the lamp 28 so that as the web is now moving at reading speed the matter on the selected portion of the web will be projected onto the screen When the contact 16 of the circuit controller switch ID disengages the respective contact arm Tl, which occurs upon suflicient feeding of the web to pro ject onto the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web, the magnet 83 of the relay 68 is de-energized to restore the switches 80, 8| and 82 of such relay to their normal positions, thus opening the two circuits including the electro-magnet 65 and the slow speed motor and lamp 28 so that the cycle of operation is completed, and the exhibitor ready for a succeeding operation by a desired manipulation of the selector S and the deposit of the proper coin.

It will be clear that in accordance with the position of the selector S, the proper one of the twelve relay circuits is rendered operative following the insertion of a coin to discontinue the the web has been fed thereby to the proper start ing position for the display of the selected portion of the web, and is further rendered operative to supply current to the slow speed motor 35 during the period of engagement of that peripheral contact 16 and contact arm 11 of the circuit controller 69 included in the relay circuit selected.

It will thus be manifest that, irrespective of the position to which the web has been previously fed to display a reading, upon manipulation of the selector S to one of its twelve positions, followed by the deposit of a coin, the web will be fed automatically at a high speed to the proper starting position, and will then be fed at reading speed to display the matter on the selected portion of the web.

What is claimed is:

l. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means correlated with said different portions of the webfor the selection of any one of said portions for display; means for feeding the web at a rela tively high speed, in accordance with the setting of the selector, to the proper starting position for the display of the selected portion of the web; and means for feeding at a relatively slow speed and in image-projecting relation to said screen, that portion of the web selected by said selector.

2. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means one for each of and correlated with said different portions of the web to select any one thereof for display; means for feeding the web at a high speed; means for feeding the web at a low speed for reading of matter thereon; means operatively connecting the selecting means and high speed feeding means for rendering the latter active to feed the web: to the proper starting position for the display of the selected portion of the web; and means operable when the web has been fed to the aforestated starting position, to discontinue activation of the high speed feeding means and render the low speed feeding means active to continue feeding of the web sufficiently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

3. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen;

a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means one for each of and correlated with said different portions of the web to select any one thereof for display; an electric motor for feeding the web at a high speed; a second electric motor for feeding the web at a low speed for reading; means operatively associating the selecting means and high speed motorand including a check controlled switch through which current is supplied to the high speed motor to feed the web at high speed to the proper starting position for the display of the selected portion of the web; means for discontinuing the supply of current to the high speed motor and for supplying current to the supply of current to the high speed motor 34 when 7 low speed motor when the web has been fed to the aforestated starting position, to continue feeding of the web sufiiciently to display on the screen at reading speed the matter on the selected portion of the web.

4. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means one for each of and correlated with said different portions of the web to select any one thereof for display; an electric motor for feeding the web at a high speed; a second electric motor for feeding the web at a low speed for reading; means operatively associating the selecting means and high speed motor and including a check controlled switch through which current is supplied to the high speed motor to feed the web at high speed to the proper starting position for the display of the selected portion of the web; means for releasing a check from said switch to discontinue the supply of current to the high speed motor when the web has been fed to the aforestated starting position; and means for supplying Icurrent to the low speed motor to continue feeding of the web sufiiciently to display on the screen at reading speed the matter on the selected portion of the web.

5. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively difierent matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means one for each of and correlated with said different portions of the web to select any one thereof for display; an electric motor for feeding the web at a high speed; a second electric motor for feeding the web at a low speed for reading; a plurality of relays one for each of said means of the selector; a circuit controller having switches correlated with the relays; means for driving the circuit controller in synchronism with the feed of the web; means for supplying current to the high speed motor; and means by which one of the relays and one of the switches of the circuit controller are rendered operative to discontinue operation of the high speed motor when the web has been fed to a proper starting position in accordance'with the setting of the selector, and to supply current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web suiTiciently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

6. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a selector having means one for each of and correlated with said different portions of the web to select any one thereof for display; an electric motor for feeding the web at a high speed; a second electric motor for feeding the web at a low speed for reading; a plurality of relays one for each of said means of the selector; a circuit controller having switches correlated with the relays; means for driving the circuit controller in synchronism with the feed of the web; means including a check controlled switch through which current is supplied to the high-speed motor when a check is deposited to close said switch; and means by which one of the relays and one of the switches of the circuit controller are rendered operative to release the check from said switch so as to discontinue operation of the high-speed motor when the web has been fed to the proper starting position in accordance with the setting of the selector, and to supply current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web sufi'iciently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

7. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a high speed; a second motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a low speed; means for selecting one of said portions of the web for the display of such portion on the screen; a plurality of relays one for each of said portions of the web; a circuit controller having switches one for each relay; means for driving the circuit controller in syn-chronism with the feed of the web; means for supplying current to the high-speed motor; means co-acting with one of said relays and one of the switches of the circuit controller in accordance with the setting of said selecting means, to discontinue the supply of current to the high speed motor when the web has been fed to the proper starting position, and to supply current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web sufiiciently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

8. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a high speed; a second motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a low speed; means for selecting one of said portions of the web for the display of such portion on the screen; a plurality of relays one for each of said portions of the web, and including electrical circuits electrically associated with the selecting means and said motors; and means for activating one of said relays in accordance with the setting of the selecting means to discontinue the current supply to the high speed motor at the proper starting position, and to supply current to the low speed motor for the display of the selected portion of the web on the screen.

9. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a high speed; a second motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a low speed; means for selecting one of said portions of the web for the display of such portion on the screen; a plurality of relays one for each of said portions of the web and each embodying three switches; a source of current supply; a check controlled switch having an electro-responsive means and through which current can be supplied to the high speed motor upon the deposit of a check to close said switch; an electrical circuit including the source of current supply, said electro-responsive means in series, and one normally open switch of each relay in multiple series; a second circuit including the source of current supply, said coin-controlled switch in series, the high speed motor in series, and another normally closed switch of each relay in series, a third electrical circuit including the low speed motor in series, and the third and normally open switch of each relay in multiple series; a fourth electrical circuit including the source of current supply, the selecting means, and the magnet of each relay; and means for controlling the supply of current to the magnets of the relays so as to discontinue the current supply to the high speed motor when the web has been fed to the proper starting position in accordance with the setting of the selecting means, and to supply current to the slow speed motor to continue feeding the web sufficiently to display the selected portion of the web.

10. A changeable exhibitor comprising a screen; a movably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed on the screen; means for projecting an image of said matter on the screen as the web is moved; a motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a high speed; a second motor operatively connected to the web to drive the latter at a low speed; means for selecting one of said portions of the web for the display of such portion on the screen; a plurality of relays one for each of said portions of the web and each embodying three switches; a source of current supply; a check controlled switch having an electro-responsive means and through which current can be supplied to the high speed motor upon the deposit of a check to close said switch; an electrical circuit including the source of current supply, said electro-responsive means in series, and one normally open switch of each relay in multiple series; a second circuit including the source of current supply, said coin-controlled switch in series, the high speed motor in series, and another normally closed switch of each relay in series, a third electrical circuit including the low speed motor in series, and the third and normally open switch of each relay in multiple series; a fourth electrical circuit including the source of current supply, the selecting means, and the magnet of each relay; a circuit controller having switches one for each relay and respectively included in circuit with the magnets of the relays; and means for synchronously driving the circuit controller relatively to the feed of the web, to cause the supply of current to the high speed motor to be discontinued when the web has been fed to the proper starting position in accordance with the setting of the selecting means, and to supply current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web sufficiently to display the selected portion of the web.

11. A changeable exhibitor comprising a cabinet having a screen; an endless web mounted in the cabinet for movement across the screen, and divided throughout its length into portions containing matter to be displayed; means for projecting onto the screen an image of matter on said portion of the web; feeding mechanism for the web; a high speed motor; a low speed motor; means operatively connecting said motors to the feeding mechanism; means for selecting a portion of said web for the display of matter thereon; means adapted to supply current to the high speed motor; means for discontinuing the supply of current to the high speed motor when the web has been fed to the proper starting position for the display of matter on a portion of the web in accordance with the setting of said selecting means; and means for supplying current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web sumciently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

12. A changeable exhibitor comprising a cabinet having a screen; an endless web mounted inthe cabinet for movement across the screen, and divided throughout its length into portions containing matter to be displayed; means for projecting onto the screen an image of matter on said portion of the web; feeding means for the web; a high speed motor; a low speed motor; means operatively connecting the high speed m0- tor directly to the feeding mechanism; means for operatively connecting the low speed motor to the feeding mechanism through the high speed motor, and including a uni-directional clutch by which the high speed motor is rendered incapable of driving the low speed motor; means for selecting a portion of said web for the display of matter thereon; means adapted to supply current to the high speed motor; means for discontinuing the supply of current to the high speed motor when the web has been fed to the proper starting position for the display of matter on a portion of the web in accordance with the setting of said selecting means; and means for supplying current to the low speed motor to continue feeding the web sufliciently to display on the screen the matter on the selected portion of the web.

13. A changeable exhibitor comprising movably mounted means having portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed; means by which any one of said portions of the movably mounted means can be selected for display; means for feeding the movably mounted means at a relatively high speed to the proper starting position for the display of that portion of the movably mounted means which has been selected; and means for feeding the movably mounted means at a relatively low speed and sufliciently to display the selected portion of the movably mounted means.

14. A changeable exhibitor comprising a mov- :L

ably mounted web divided along its length into portions containing respectively different matter to be displayed; means by which any one of said portions of the web can be selected for display; means for feeding the web at a relatively high speed to the proper starting position for the display of that portion of the web which has been selected; and means for feeding the web at a relatively low speed and sufficiently to display the selected portion of the web.

ROBERT L. L. WARNER.

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