FR2737933A1 - Motor-driven poster display unit for advertising - Google Patents

Abstract

The display unit has a printed strip (20) passing in front of a display screen (12). The roller strip is wound up at the top and bottom (21,22) of the display running on rollers (23) at the front. The strip is lit by bulbs (41) inside the display unit, and the strip is driven up and down by a motor (30) and command unit (31). The command unit can be remotely controlled.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of display, and more particularly to a display device comprising a panel-type display box equipped with a window allowing the display of a poster placed inside the box.

 The term "sign" used in the context of this text must be understood in a broad sense, encompassing both use in public outdoor space and use in public or private indoor space.

 Fixed type display devices have been known for a long time, according to which a poster already cut and printed is placed in the display box. Replacing the poster to install a new one involves opening the case, removing the poster in place, and installing the new poster. The change is therefore made panel by panel, each time with manipulations that take time.

 To alleviate this constraint, display devices of the scrolling type were then developed, according to which a strip already printed, carrying a continuous succession of representations each corresponding to a poster to be displayed. Scrolling the strip with a step corresponding to the height or length of the poster thus makes it possible to quickly change the poster. The running of the pre-printed web is generally controlled by a motor whose operation is regulated by an electronic time delay, or sometimes also by a motor whose operation is controlled remotely.

 However, this solution involves loading each panel with a pre-printed strip, then coming back again to exchange this strip with a new pre-printed strip. The replacement procedure thus involves an intervention on each individual display panel.

 We have also sought to develop other display systems that are better adaptable to a centrally managed remote control, so that the same display can be triggered remotely on several display panels. Such a system significantly increases the frequency of poster replacement. However, these are light display systems made up of groups of electric bulbs, the lighting and extinction of which are controlled individually by electronic means, so that the quality of finesse of the representation is de facto relatively poor. , even when the bulbs are small and numerous. In practice, these systems are often limited to displaying alphanumeric characters. We can also cite video systems, but these systems remain very limited in size and the graphic quality is never perfect.

 The object of the invention is to provide a display device capable of combining both the quality of graphic fineness of printed posters and the flexibility of management of light display devices.

 It is more particularly a display device comprising a panel-type display box equipped with a window allowing the viewing of a poster placed inside the box, characterized in that it comprises a strip of printable print support passing on rollers with parallel axes at least some of which are rotated by associated motorized means, so that this strip can pass in front of the window of the housing, as well as a printing apparatus housed inside the housing, being arranged to print the strip of printable print medium as and when the strip passes in front of said device, before the passage of said strip at the window, and in this that the motorized means associated with the rollers and the printing apparatus are remotely controllable.

 It is thus possible to compose an image to be displayed at a central office and to trigger the remote display of this image simultaneously for a large number of display panels, for example 10,000 panels, without requiring the least intervention of operators on the individual sites concerned. The simultaneous triggering, on several sites, of the same information or advertising poster thus represents a considerable progress compared to existing devices.

 Preferably, the printing apparatus operates in response to instructions given by a control unit also arranged in the housing, said control unit being programmable remotely by a local network or by a central unit managing several local networks.

 According to a first embodiment, the printable print support strip is unwound from a reserve roll, the other end of the already printed strip being wound on a rewind roll, this latter roll at least being driven in rotation by the aforementioned motorized means.

 In particular, the strip can pass, between the reserve roller and the rewinding roller, over a plurality of support rollers whose axes are fixed. As a variant, the strip can pass, between the reserve roller and the rewinding roller, over a wandering roller arranged to gradually draw from the reserve roller a section of strip in synchronization with the printing of this section of strip, and over a plurality of support rollers whose axes are fixed. Preferably then, the length of the strip section pulled by the wandering roller corresponds substantially to the dimensions of the window, and the motorized means wind up the already printed strip in synchronization with the return of the wandering roller to its initial position.

 It is also possible to provide that at least some of the rollers with a fixed axis are coupled together, for example by an endless belt.

 According to a second embodiment, the printable print support strip is produced in the form of a continuous strip passing over a plurality of support rollers whose axes are fixed, and an erasing device is housed at the interior of the housing, being arranged to erase the printing of the strip after it has passed through the window, said erasing device also being remotely controllable.

 Finally, preferably, the strip of printable print medium passes over rollers with a horizontal axis, and the printing apparatus is arranged in the lower part of the housing.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures or
- Figure 1 is a half-view in elevation of a display panel incorporating a device according to the invention, which device is better visible in Figure 2 which is the section according to Il-Il
- Figure 3 illustrates another variant of the display panel, the wandering roller device is better visible in Figures 4a and 4b which are sections according to IV-IV, showing the wandering roller respectively in the low position and in position high (the other corresponding position being indicated in dashed lines each time)
- Figure 5 illustrates in exploded perspective an arrangement similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, but with a printing device mounted in the upper part of the panel, and Figure 6 is a detail view on a larger scale according to arrow F of figure 5
- Figures 7 and 8 are sections similar to that of Figure 2, illustrating two other variants of the display device
- Figure 9 schematically illustrates a display control organized in a network, in connection with the remote controllable display device of each panel of a group of panels
- Figure 10 illustrates in the same way a command organized from a central unit managing several local network display commands, in connection with the display device remotely controllable from each panel of several groups of several panels.

Figure 1 shows a display device
P comprising a display box 10 of the panel type, mounted on a support leg 11, and equipped with a window 12 enabling the display of a poster placed inside the box.

 As is better visible in the section of FIG. 2, the display device P is equipped, inside the housing, with means allowing the printing of a strip of printable print support, this print being able to be triggered remotely in accordance with a determined display program.

 There is in fact provided a strip 20 of printable printing support passing over rollers with parallel axes, at least some of which are driven in rotation by associated motorized means, so that this strip can pass in front of the window 12 of the housing 10 as shown by the arrow 60. In this case, the strip 20 of printable print medium is unwound from a reserve roll 21, then passes around several (here two) support rollers 23, the other end of the strip winding on a rewinding roller 22, this latter roller at least being driven in rotation by the aforementioned associated motorized means, here shown diagrammatically in the form of a motor 24 whose output shaft controls, by means of a belt 25, the rotation about its axis of the rewinding roller 22. It is essential to note that the reserve roller 21 carries a strip of printable print support which has not yet been printed rhymed, while the rewinding roll is used to wind the end of the already printed strip.

 The display device according to the invention further comprises a printing device 30 housed inside the housing 10, being arranged to print the strip 20 of printable print support as the scrolling of this strip in front of said device, before the passage of said strip at the level of window 12. Thus, when the strip of printable print support not yet printed is unwound from the reserve roll 21, this strip passes in front of the head of the device printing device 30 so as to be gradually printed, according to the stepwise progression of said strip in front of this device. The printing device 30, shown here schematically, can operate in response to instructions given by a printing unit. control 31 which is preferably also placed in the housing 10, which control unit can be programmed remotely by a local network or by a central unit managing several local networks, as well as this will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Thus, the interior space 13 of the housing 10 allows to receive the entire strip 20 of printable print medium with its two winding rollers 21 and 22 , this assembly possibly being able to be organized in the form of a unitary cassette in the manner of a photographic film. The interior space 13 also makes it possible to house the printing apparatus 30 and its control unit 31, the latter being represented here surmounted by an antenna to schematize the remote control.

 It goes without saying that the control of the drive motor 24 must be synchronized with the control of the printing device 30 so that the running of the strip is compatible with the printing mode of the printing device. printing used. This synchronization can be ensured electronically by a link (not shown here) between the control unit 31 associated with the printing apparatus 30 and the motor 24 for driving the running of the strip 20, scrolling shown diagrammatically by the arrow 60 Thus, as the strip 20 scrolls past the printing device 30, a representation denoted 50 is gradually printed on the strip (the representation 50 is shown here in over-thickness, but it goes from Of course, this is only a schematic representation insofar as the printing of the strip involves practically no appreciable excess thickness). Once the strip section corresponding to the desired poster has been printed, this section comes to the window 12 of the display unit, and the poster can thus be viewed from the outside. If the printing strip is translucent, provision may be made for printing the strip both on the front and on the back thereof.

 It is also possible to provide, quite conventionally, inside the housing 10, a ramp of lighting tubes 41 with an associated cover 40.

 The strip 20 passes, between the reserve roller 21 and the rewinding roller 22, over a plurality (here two) of support rollers 23 whose axes are fixed, and in this case horizontal. The printing device 30 is then preferably placed in the lower part of the housing 10, which is advantageous insofar as this lower part generally constitutes a cold zone in addition to being an often useless access zone. It goes without saying, however, that other variants can be provided in which the rollers on which the printable print support strip passes are each of a vertical axis, the strip then running horizontally at the level of the window of the housing. .

 The printing apparatus 30, shown here schematically, may be with a fixed printing head, then relating to the entire width of the printing strip moving past it, or even with a head moving transversely, generally on a support rail, in accordance with a carriage assembly well known in the field of printheads. We can use laser print heads or liquid ink jets or with phase change, or thermal transfer or sublimation print heads. Depending on the printing technique used, it goes without saying that the strip of printable printing support used will have to be made of material compatible with this technique so as to obtain an optimal quality printing produced as quickly as possible.

 As is easy to understand, when it is desired to control the printing of a new poster remotely, it suffices to address to the control unit 31 of each individual panel the control instructions necessary for the apparatus to printing 30 proceeds to the desired printing, the running of the strip 20 then being controlled in synchronization with the printing of this strip. The already printed part of the strip 20, which becomes an unnecessary part when one decides to change the poster, rewinds on the corresponding roll 22, gradually revealing the new printed poster.

 Figures 3 and 4a, 4b illustrate a variant of the aforementioned device, variant for which the bodies homologous to the previous embodiment have been assigned the same reference signs, and will therefore not be the subject of a new description.

 This variant differs from the previous embodiment by the presence, immediately downstream of the reserve roll 21 of printable print media strip, of a wandering roll 26 arranged to gradually pull a section of strip from the reserve roll, in synchronization with the printing of this stretch of tape. The strip 20 thus passes, after the reserve roller 21, on this wandering roller 26, then on two support rollers 23, before being wound up on the rewinding roller 22. The printing apparatus 30, here represented schematically by a carriage mounting of a print head on a transverse rail 32, is disposed between the reserve roller 21 and the wandering roller 26, in the vicinity of the external face of the strip 20. The wandering roller 26 is movable by associated means (not shown here) between two extreme positions, in this case a low position and a high position insofar as all the rollers are of horizontal axis. The starting position for a new printing is the bottom position of the wandering roller 26, which is illustrated in FIG. 4a. The progressive raising of the wandering roller 26 has the effect of pulling a section of strip by passing it past the printing apparatus 30, and thus of printing this section over the entire desired length, in order to obtain a poster section 50 At the end of printing, the wandering roller 26 is in its high position, which is illustrated in FIG. 4b. During the progressive ascent of the wandering roller 26, the rewinding roller 22 remains stationary. Preferably, the motorized means 24 wind up the already printed strip in synchronization with the return of the wandering roller 26 to its initial position. Thus, when the wandering roller 26 comes down from its high position, the motor 24 rotates the rewinding roller 22 in synchronization with this descent so that the strip 20 always remains correctly tensioned. Once the wandering roller 26 has returned to its low position, the movement of the strip is if necessary controlled so that the printed section 50 is disposed at the level of the window 12 of the housing of the display device. Thus, the printing of a poster can be carried out during the presentation of the previous poster. The double arrow 61 shows schematically the back and forth movement of the wandering roller 26. An elongated light 27 is shown here by way of example, corresponding to the guiding of one end of the axis of the wandering roller 26, such light being provided in each of the side walls of the housing 10, so that the wandering roller 26 retains its horizontality during its movement between its high and low positions. It should be noted that the cowling 40 has, for such an arrangement, the advantage of protecting the printed section 50 of the strip against excessive exposure to the heat generated by the light bar 41, which is particularly important if the 'a thermal printing process is used.

 When it is desired to trigger the command to print a new poster, the portable roller 26 pulls a new section of strip not yet printed coming from the reserve roller 21, so that this section passes in front of the printing apparatus 30, until the complete printing of said section. Then, it suffices to complete the scrolling of the strip so that the new printed section comes at the level of the window 12 of the housing.

 FIG. 5, with the associated detail of FIG. 6, illustrates an embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2.

 The perspective view makes it possible in particular to clearly see the printable print support strip 20 unwound from a reserve roll 21, and winding up on a rewind roller 22. The embodiment shown makes it possible to distinguish the belt. notched 25 driven by the motor 24 and which here passes around the axes of the rollers 21 and 22 above, and around the support rollers 23, but also around a belt tensioner roller 28. Such a belt 25 ensures a perfectly synchronous drive of the printing strip 20, thus avoiding any undesirable crease, the strip remaining perfectly taut at the window 12 of the housing. There is also shown, immediately downstream of the reserve roller 21, a pressure roller 29 applying the strip 20 against an adjacent support roller 23. The printing apparatus 30 is here arranged in the upper part of the device, and it is shown with a movable head on a transverse rail 32. There is shown the control means of this movable head, with a strap 33 passing over two end rollers 34. Such a mode of turning is well known in the field of heads d printing with transverse mobility.

 Another variant is illustrated in FIG. 7.

This variant differs from that of FIG. 2 by the presence of a pressure roller 29 cooperating with the upper support roller 23, with in addition a transmission belt 25 connecting this upper support roller 23 with a support roller lower bigger. Such a coupling makes it possible to improve the precision of the means for driving the movement of the strip 20. An additional support roller 23 ′ has also been illustrated making it possible to deflect the printing strip 20 coming from the reserve roller 21, so as to carry out the printing by the associated apparatus 30 at a section which remains well tensioned between the lower support roller 23 and this additional roller 23 '.

 In FIG. 8, the principle of an unwinding and a winding on two parallel rollers is not repeated, and on the contrary there is provided a continuous strip passing over a plurality of support rollers 23 whose axes are fixed. We find the printing apparatus 30 in the lower part of the device making it possible to gradually print the section of strip passing at its print head before arriving in front of the window 12 of the housing. An erasing device 35 is also housed inside the housing 10, here in the upper part of said housing, being arranged to erase the printing of the strip 20 after the passage of the latter at the level of the window 12 The erasing apparatus 35 is also remotely controllable, for example by means of the same control unit 31 as that which is associated with the printing apparatus 30. Thus, with such an embodiment, the same continuous strip is successively printed then erased according to the instructions given remotely to the control unit. The outer face of the continuous strip thus has a succession of printed sections and erased sections ready to be printed again.

 FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a display command organized in a network, in connection with the remote controllable display device of each panel P of a group of panels. A microcomputer 60 has thus been represented, connected by links 61 shown diagrammatically by dashed lines to each individual display device P. It may be a remote link by any means, such as modem, telephone link. , or shortwave link. Thus, from the microcomputer 60, it is possible to organize simultaneous printing at several sites of each of the display devices P, without requiring intervention on each individual panel.

 More generally, and as illustrated in FIG. 10, it is possible to organize a command from an image creation and communication center managing several local commands for display on a network, in connection with the display device. remote control of each panel of several groups of several panels. A central control unit 70 is connected by the diagrammatic links 71, which are for example of the same type as the aforementioned links 61, to the local control units 60, each of these local units being itself connected by links 61 to each individual display device P of the group concerned. Such network management makes it possible to organize remote printing for a very large number of display panels, for example several tens of thousands of panels scattered in the same country or in several countries.

 We have thus achieved a display device capable of combining both the quality of graphic finesse of printed posters and the flexibility of management of light display devices, while retaining an uncomplicated structure, and using devices printing technology whose technology is currently well mastered.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (10)

 1. Display device comprising a panel-type display box equipped with a window allowing the display of a poster placed inside the box, characterized in that it comprises a strip (20) for supporting the printable impression passing on rollers (21, 22, 23) of parallel axes, at least some of which are rotated by associated motorized means (24), so that this strip (20) can run past the window (12 ) of the housing (10), as well as a printing apparatus (30) housed inside the housing (10), being arranged to print the strip (20) of printable print medium as and when of the movement of this strip in front of said device, before the passage of said strip at the level of the window (12), and in that the motorized means (24) associated with the rollers and the printing device (30) are controllable at distance.  2. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing apparatus (30) operates in response to instructions given by a control unit (31) also disposed in the housing (10), said unit control being programmable remotely by a local network (60) or by a central (70) managing several local networks (60).  3. Display device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the strip (20) of printable print medium is unwound from a reserve roll (21), the other end of the strip already printed winding on a rewinding roller (22), the latter at least being driven in rotation by the associated motorized means (24).  4. Display device according to claim 3, characterized in that the strip (20) passes, between the reserve roller (21) and the rewinding roller (22), on a plurality of support rollers (23) whose axes are fixed.  5. Display device according to claim 3, characterized in that the strip (20) passes, between the reserve roller (21) and the rewinding roller (22), on a wandering roller (26) arranged to draw progressively of the reserve roller (21) a strip section in synchronization with the printing of this strip section, and on a plurality of support rollers (23) whose axes are fixed.  6. Display device according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the strip section pulled by the wandering roller (26) corresponds substantially to the dimensions of the window (12)  7. Display device according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the motorized means (24) produce a winding of the strip already printed in synchronization with the return of the wandering roller (26) to its initial position.  8. Display device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that at least some of the rollers (21, 22, 23) of fixed axis are coupled together, for example by an endless belt (25 , 25 ').  9. Display device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the strip (20) of printable print medium is produced in the form of a continuous strip passing over a plurality of support rollers ( 23) whose axes are fixed, and in that an erasing device (35) is housed inside the housing (10), being arranged to erase the impression of the strip (20) after the passage of the latter at the window (12), said erasing device also being remotely controllable.  10. Display device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the strip (20) of printable print medium passes over rollers (21, 22, 23) with a horizontal axis, and the apparatus d printing (30) is arranged in the lower part of the housing (10).