Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELEMENT FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION
The subject of the invention is an element for displaying information
which comprises a frame, rollers which are located some distance
w 5 apart from each other in the frame, and a web on which the
information is placed and which can be moved between the rollers
where the information is visible. Identifying codes are located on the
web for monitoring the movement of the web and a sensor device is
located on the frame to observe the identifying codes, where the
~o identifying codes are codes situated on the web, of which one code
is the data code concerning the position of information on the web,
Elements with changing information are used to display one or
generally more notices, advertisements, publications or other
15 display material in such traditions( locations as external or internal
sites in public or business premises, exhibitions, sports stadiums
such as ice hockey rinks, fairs and presentation sites, by roadsides,
at airports or in department stores. Currently, equipment is used in
which the web is reeled from one roller to another by one roller
2o pulling and the other roller rotating freely. Possible tensioning of the
web is carried out using a sprung tensioning toiler or with motors
rotating in opposite directions.
With the equipment currently being used, the point where the web is
2s desired to stop is indicated with various marks or groups of marks
attached to the web, which is or are read with various sensor
devices. Accurate data concerning the movements of the web, such
as its speed, distance travelled and even direction is not reliably
available with current equipment. Attempts to monitor these
3o properties are made by observing the functioning of the motor or the
rotation of the rollers or equivalent, but reliable information on the
movements of the web itself cannot be obtained in this way under all
conditions. This is the situation, for example, in the event that the
web or equivalent is damaged and does not move, even though the
35 rollers move. A further drawback is that with the equipment currently
in use, it cannot be known for certain what information is being
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displayed, neither can the web bearing the information be guided in
the desired manner.
The purpose of this invention is to introduce an element which can
be used to eliminate the drawbacks associated with present
elements. In particular, the purpose of this invention is to introduce
an element in which data concerning the speed, direction and
distance travelled of the web, as well as the location of the
information can be determined precisely and reliably, and which,
to when in use, can guide and control assemblies containing one or
more advertising elements.
The purpose of the invention is achieved with an element that
possesses the characteristics presented in the appended patent
claims.
In the element according to the invention, one code or code group is
for measuring the web speed, direction and distance travelled. This
code is formed by signals located on the web some distance from
2o each other, which the sensor device has been arranged to observe
continually. The code concerning the location of the information is
contained in a different code strip. These two code groups or strips
can be used to monitor precisely and reliably the movement of the
web, i.e. its speed, direction and distance travelled, on a continual
basis since monitoring and measurement is taken direct from the
web itself. This means that information can be brought into view for
the desired period of time and the operation of the web can be
monitored continually. With this equipment, information can be
obtained concerning for how long certain information, such as an
3o advertisement, has been displayed.
In the advantageous arrangement of the invention, the codes are
number codes presented in the form of bar code strips, and the
sensor device is an optical or efectro-magnetic sensor. With this
kind of arrangement the movement of the web can be observed
reliably and the position of information on the web defined precisely.
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The number codes according to the invention are advantageously
binary, BCD or hexacodes, or equivalent codes, of a particular
length, which have had start and end signals added at the start and
end. In this way the start and end positions of the web can be
determined and the web can be stopped if necessary.
In addition, the codes are advantageously situated such that they
are in phase displacement to each other. This makes it possible to
positron the data correctly with the sensor device and to obtain
~o precise and reliable data of the web section, in other words to know
precisely the web section in question.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with
reference to the attached illustrations, in which:
~ 5 figure 1 shows one element viewed from the front,
figure 2 shows the element in figure 1, viewed from the rear and
partly opened,
figure 3 shows an enlargement A of the element web according to
figure 2, viewed from the side, and
2o figure 4 shows a complete system incorporating elements according
to the invention.
The element according to figures 1 and 2 comprises a frame 2,
which has a transparent window on one side 8. The frame contains
25 two rollers 3 positioned some distance apart from each other, with
one in the upper section and the other in the lower section of the
frame. The element includes a web 4 containing the information,
which can be wound onto the rollers and moved between the rollers.
The rollers 3 are removable and can be easily changed in the normal
3o manner to exchange the web for another. Vllhen the web is between
the rollers the information at that position on the web can be seen
through the window 8. In addition, the element includes motors 9 to
rotate the rollers. There is a microprocessor 10 in the element 1,
with which the element 1 can be regu~ated and controlled
35 independently. The electronics are located in the case 11 behind the
web, where they are easy to service. The case 11 contains the web
4 manual/automated guidance equipment and the forwardlreverse
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switches with which the exchange and removal of the web 4 is made
simple. The case 11 also contains the measuring sensor 7 forming
the sensor equipment.
s The element frame is constructed from tubes and with plastic
sheeting as protective panels. The window plastic is double or single
layer plastic depending on the location where it is used. The bases
of the motors 9 are attached to the end panels of the element. The
motors 9 rotate the transmissions 12 which rotate the rollers 3. The
to number of motors rotating the rollers can be reduced by using the
same motor to operate several elements.
On one side of the web 4 according to figure 3 is located the code
which comprises two code strips 5, 6, where one 5 is the so-called
15 time signal and the other 6 is the web data signal. The codes in the
code strip 5 are a short distance apart from each other along the
whole length of the web. Every picture section on the web has as its
highest point the centre mark 6a of the previous (higher) picture and
number code 6b. At the lower edge of the picture section is the
2o number code 6c for this picture section. The centre marks can be
positioned either at the upper or lower edge of the picture section,
depending on the location of the sensor and it is coded in a
recognised way to observe the signal. The time signal is used to
measure the direction of travel of the web, its speed and distance
2s travelled. The data signal contains data on the web's stopping
positions, the web code and details of every picture on the web. The
number code is according to the application a certain length binary,
BCD or hexacode or other series code, which has had start and end
codes added to the start and end. The number code of the
3o application shown in the figure is a 6 bit binary code, but longer
codes are also possible.
The time signal 5 and data signal 6 are in the desired phase
displacement position with each other. In this application the phase
35 displacement is 90°, but it can vary with different applications.
Every
web has a specific web code from which can be identified the web
being used and the specific picture code from which can be
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identified the picture in question. With this method, any incorrect
positioning of the web as a result of power cuts or other faults can be
remedied immediately. The stop signal on the edge, i.e. the centre
mark can be coded in a certain manner, so that it can be checked
5 whether the signal is correct.
The data signal is read on either the rising or falling edge of the time
signal. The distance between the number code and the centre mark
can change depending on the application. Also the code mark
1 o colours and sizes can alter.
The time and data signals are read either optically or electro-
magnetically with the measuring sensor 7. The measuring sensor
measures the length and speed of the web from the code signals 5
at certain distances on the web 4, and the web can be positioned
wherever desired and its movement and speed monitored. On
finding the picture code 6 the following time pulse is sought, after
which the speed of the web is reduced and when the picture stop
signal is observed the web is stopped. When a certain number of
2o time pulses have come the picture stop signal should be found from
the web. If it is not found it is moved forward.
In the solution according to figure 4, a computer 14 is used to control
the elements, in which there is a programme which is used to control
the communications network 15. The element or elements 1 are
connected to the network and the microprocessors inside the
elements are controlled via the network, through which the
management of the elements is centralised and flexible. The motors
of the elements are controlled by the microprocessors so that the
3o webs can continually travel at the desired speed from end to end. In
addition, the desired section of the web can be held in position and
previously selected sections can be driven with the desired stop
intervals. An advantage of the former is the minimisation of the
mechanical parts of the element and the diverse application
possibilities of the equipment.
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Many types of arrangements can be created from the elements
according to the invention, such as for ice hockey rinks or other
locations. In addition, the exchange of information-bearing web
rollers for other types of information bearing web rollers is possible
and easy.
The invention is not limited to the advantageous arrangements
shown but can vary within the framework of the invention concept
formed by the claims.
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