GB2289155A

GB2289155A - Picture changing signboards

Info

Publication number: GB2289155A
Application number: GB9501835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ari Wennstrom
Original assignee: ARIAB AB
Current assignee: ARIAB AB
Priority date: 1994-02-07
Filing date: 1995-01-31
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Also published as: SE9400425D0; GB9501835D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an installation for arranging poster material on elongate elements (12) for picture-changing signboards. According to the invention, the elongate elements (12) are placed side by side on a movable carrier 10 corresponding to their intended positioning in the signboard, whereupon the elements (12) are treated to loosen adhesive of the old poster material in a bath 24. The old poster material is removed by means of scraping devices 28, and the carrier 10 and the elements (12) are transferred to a station II with a magazine 30 for poster sheets which are fed from the magazine and applied over the elements (12) and fixed thereon. Finally, the applied poster material is cut open between the individual elements (12) by means of a reciprocating cutting device 36. In an alternative arrangement, the carrier may be fixed and the various treatment stations movable. Some of the stations may be omitted e.g. 24 and 28, when the elements (12) are new or have been cleaned elsewhere. <IMAGE>

Description

Method and installation for arranging roster material on elongate elements for picture-chanqinc signboards The present invention relates to a method of arranging poster material on elongate elements which are together to form a poster-application surface for a signboard, such as a so-called picture-changing signboard or a static poster panel, which elements bear previously applied poster material.

Application of new poster material on elongate signboard elements, so-called slats or solid crosssectionally triangular bars, for picture-changing signboards has previously been associated with much heavy manual work. A common conventional way of carrying out this work has been first to lay the elements dismantled from the signboard freely in a bath in order therein to dissolve the adhesive situated between each element and the old poster material and subsequently to pick up the elements and by hand scrape them clean one by one. The scraped-clean elements were subsequently placed side by side in a rigid stand or holder corresponding to their positioning in the signboard, whereupon poster sheets were pasted over the application surfaces of the elements and then, after drying, the poster strips were cut away in the space between the adjacent elements. This method is inefficient and time-consuming and results in low productivity.

One purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the known method and propose a new method which makes possible more rapid, efficient and productive mechanized handling of signboard elements in order to remove old and apply new poster material.

For this purpose, the method mentioned in the introduction is characterized in that the elongate elements are first placed side by side on a movable carrier corresponding to their intended positioning in the signboard, in that the elements are subsequently treated to loosen adhesive between the old poster material and the poster-application surface of the elements, in that the old poster material is removed from the elements, in that the carrier together with the elongate elements is transferred to a station with a magazine for poster sheets, in that one or more poster sheets are fed from the magazine and applied over the poster-application surface of the elements and are fixed thereon, in addition to which the applied poster material is cut open between the individual elongate elements.

Alternatively, it is possible, instead of transferring the carrier with the elements carried thereon to a station with a magazine for poster sheets, to transfer the magazine to a position next to the carrier which is kept stationary.

In a preferred embodiment, it is expedient, for loosening the adhesive of the old poster material, to lower the carrier and the elements together into a treatment bath and subsequently to raise the carrier with the elements and to scrape the old poster material from these together by making a suitable scraping device pass over the carrier with the elements, or alternatively making the carrier pass below a stationary scraping device during its transfer to a station for application of new poster material to the elements. Before application of the new poster material, the elements can together be coated with an adhesive or other medium which activates an adhesive on the poster material. Preferably, the new poster material is applied during the transfer of the carrier below a poster feeder on its way to a finishing station where the applied poster material is smoothed out and cut open between the elongate elements.

The carrier with the ready-applied poster material can subsequently be taken away from the treatment path, for example lifted over onto a roller table and transported to a place where the elements are number-marked and placed in a cassette'for storage and/or transport to a signboard on which the elements are to be set up.

The invention also relates to an installation for implementing said method, which installation comprises on the one hand a transportable carrier in order simultaneously to carry the elongate elements side by side corresponding to their intended position in the signboard, which carrier is transferrable to a station, in which a magazine for poster sheets is arranged to feed, apply and fix poster sheets on the posterapplication surface of the elements, and on the other hand a cutting unit, arranged preferably simultaneously to cut open the fixed poster material between the individual elongate elements.

The present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carrier with eight elongate signboard elements carried thereon; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a module unit of four of the carriers in Fig. 1, where each unit carries two elongate lamellar signboard elements; Fig. 3 is a side view of a first, preferred embodiment of an installation for removal of old poster material from and application of new poster material on the signboard elements; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the installation in Fig.

3; Figs 5a and 5b are side views of an alternative embodiment of the installation according to the invention; Figs 6a and 6b are side views of another embodiment of the installation according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a side view of a further embodiment of the installation according to the invention, and Fig. 8 is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a table module unit for carrying two signboard bars which are solid in cross-section.

In Fig. 1, a holder or carrier 10 is shown diagrammatically, on which eight elongate signboard elements 12 are mounted, called slats below, for a so-called picture-changing signboard. The carrier 10 is constructed from a number of table modules 14, in the case shown four modules, which each carry two slats 12.

Within the framework of the invention, it is of course possible to vary the number of table modules 14 and the number of signboard elements 12 carried thereon. As is shown in Fig. 2, each table module 14 is designed as a hollow profile with ledges 16 and side support edges 18 on its one, upwardly facing side, against which support ribs 20, 22 on the underside of the slats 12 bear in order to keep the slats at a given mutual spacing which corresponds to their mutual spacing on the signboard.

The other, in Fig. 2 downwardly facing side of the table module 14 can be plane or have the same or similar profiling as the upwardly facing side in order to be able to constitute a bearing surface for the same or another type of signboard element, for example rectangular plate elements for static poster panels. The carrier 10 can therefore be turnable.

As is shown in Fig. 3, the installation according to the invention for application of posters to signboard slats 12 comprises a station I with a container 24 containing a liquid bath, into which the carrier 10 with the slats 12 carried thereon can be lowered together in order to break up and loosen the adhesive of the previously applied poster material situated on the slats 12.

The station I is preferably arranged in line with a processing path, containing a scraping-off and gluing station II, a poster-application station III and a smoothing and cutting-open station IV.

The scraping-off and gluing station II is in the form of a table 26, onto which the carrier 10 with the slats 12 can be pushed from the station I. In the station II, the carrier 10 with the slats 12 is kept stationary, while a scraping device 28 bridging the slats 12 is brought to be displaced over the slats 12 in order thus to scrape the poster material, loosened in the bath, cleanly from the slats.

After scraping clean and, if appropriate, drying of the application surface of the slats 12, the carrier 10 can be displaced linearly along the table 26 to the station III, in which a poster sheet magazine 30 is placed above the movement path of the carrier 10 and the prepared slats 12 thereon. On their way to the station III, the slats 12 can be coated with a glue or paste with the aid of a stationary application unit 32 for the adhesive. Alternatively, this unit 32 can be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the table 26 in order to apply the adhesive before the carrier 10 with the slats 12 is transferred from the scraping-clean station II to the poster-application station III. Instead of an adhesive such as glue or paste, water or another adhesiveactivating medium can also be applied to the scrapedclean slats 12, in which case the poster material, which is to be applied, is itself pre-pasted.

The poster sheet magazine 30 has a number of compartments (not shown), from which poster sheets can be fed in the intended order down a ramp 34 and applied to the scraped-clean surfaces of the slats 12, which are, if appropriate, coated with adhesive or water, during the movement of the carrier 10 towards the smoothing and cutting-open station IV.

After application of the poster sheets has been completed, any unevenness of these can be smoothed out with the aid of a smoothing device which, if appropriate, can be integrated with a cutting device 36 which can be moved to and fro along the table in the station IV in order preferably simultaneously to cut open the applied and fixed poster material in the slits between the adjacent slats 12.

The carrier 10 with the slats 12 with poster applied can subsequently be moved over onto a roller table (not shown) and transported to a place where the slats, after having been provided with suitable number markings, can be sorted into a cassette for onward transport to a store or to the signboard which is to be provided with the slats 12 with new poster applied.

The embodiment of the installation shown in connection with Figs 3 and 4 can be modified in many ways within the framework of the present invention.

In Figs 5a and 5b, an alternative embodiment of the installation according to the invention is shown, in which the work station IV has been integrated into the station III, Fig. 5a showing the starting position before processing of the slats in the stations II and III, as a result of which a more compact installation is obtained.

After the transfer of the carrier 10 with the slats to the station II, the scraping-off device 28 carries out a working movement above the stationary slats, whereupon the gluing device 32 can coat the slats with a glue or corresponding. The carrier 10 can then be displaced towards the right along the table 26 to the station III.

The poster sheet magazine 30 can then be displaced towards the left (Fig. 5b) during simultaneous lowering of the poster sheets onto the prepared slats which are stationary in the station III. Alternatively, the poster sheet magazine 30 can first be displaced towards the left to the position in Fig. 5b, whereupon the poster sheets are fed during the transfer of the slats towards the right to the station III. Finally, the cutting device 36 carries out a reciprocating working movement over the applied poster material, as in the embodiment according to Figs 3 and 4.

According to the embodiment in Figs 6a and 6b, it is possible to make the installation even more compact in order to be able to set it up in premises with limited space. This is achieved by integrating the smoothing and cutting-open station IV and the poster-application station III in the scraping-off and gluing station II, in which the carrier 10 with the slats 12 carried thereon can be kept stationary during all the processing phases, namely scraping off the old poster material, preparing the slats 12, that is to say applying adhesive or covering with water, applying new poster material, smoothing and cutting open of the applied poster material. This can be done by arranging the working units 28, 32, 30, 36 movably in turn to and fro over the stationary carrier with the slats in the station II. In Figs 6a and 6b, moreover, the gluing device 32 and the cutting device 36 are shown integrated in the same unit. The working station I, that is to say the bath for loosening the adhesive of the old poster material, can be integrated with the station II by placing it under the table 26 in this station. As a result of this, the installation requires a very limited erection surface in comparison with the embodiment described first in Figs 3 and 4, but at the expense of the capacity of the installation since only one set of slats can be treated at the same time.

In Fig. 7, an embodiment is shown, in which, in contrast with the embodiment in Figs 6a and 6b, the gluing device 32 is integrated with the poster sheet magazine 30, the poster sheets being covered with adhesive or adhesive-activating medium during feeding from the magazine. Moreover, the scraping-off device 28 can be arranged in a stationary manner at the upstream end of the table 26 in the station II. The poster sheet magazine 30 is movable to and fro over the station II on application of the poster material.

In the event that the installation is only to be used for application of poster material to slats which are completely new or have been scraped clean elsewhere, the working station I and the working unit 28 can be omitted.

In Fig. 8, an alternative embodiment of a table module 14a is shown, which, in contrast with that in Fig.

2, is intended to carry two cross-sectionally triangular solid signboard bars 38, where each side 12a of the bars forms a poster-application surface similar to the lamellar slats 12 in the preceding embodiment. Each module unit 14a has two V-shaped pockets or troughs which are formed by support elements 40 oriented in a Vformation and in which the bars 38 rest with two of their sides 12a so that the bars 38 are kept at a mutual centre distance which corresponds to that in the signboard.

After scraping clean of one of the sides 12a of the bars 38, all the bars 38 are lifted up and rotated by 120 , whereupon the bars 38 are again lowered into the troughs 40 for scraping clean of the next side 12a. The procedure is subsequently repeated for scraping clean of the third side 12a of the bars 38. After application and cutting open of the poster material on the first side 12a of the bars 38, all bars are again lifted up and rotated by 120 , whereupon they are again lowered into the troughs 40. Subsequently, poster sheets are applied to the next side of the bars 38 and cut open. For this purpose, the carrier 10 with the bars 38 carried thereon can either be pushed backwards and covered with the poster material on transfer under the poster sheet magazine 30, which is stationary, or the magazine 30 can feed poster sheets and lower these onto the bars 38 during transfer of the magazine 30 over the bars 38 which are kept stationary.

Poster-application to the third and last side 12a of the bars 30 takes place by the preceding procedure being repeated.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Method of arranging poster material on elongate elements (12; 38) which are together to form a posterapplication surface for a signboard, such as a so-called picture-changing signboard or a static poster panel, which elements (12; 38) bear previously applied poster material, characterized in that a) the elongate elements (12, 38) are placed side by side on a movable carrier (10) corresponding to their intended positioning in the signboard, b) the elements (12; 38) are treated to loosen adhesive between the old poster material and the poster-application surface of the elements, c) the old poster material is removed from the elements (12; 38), d) the carrier (10) together with the elongate elements is transferred to a station (III) with a magazine (30) for poster sheets, e) one or more poster sheets are fed from the magazine (30) and applied over the poster application surface of the elements (12; 38) and are fixed thereon, and f) a cutting device (36) is brought to cut open the applied poster material between the individual elongate elements (12; 38).

2. Method of arranging poster material on elongate elements (12; 38) which are together to form a posterapplication surface for a signboard, such as a so-called picture-changing signboard or a static poster panel, which elements (12; 38) bear previously applied poster material, characterized in that a) the elongate elements (12, 38) are placed side by side on a carrier (10) corresponding to their intended positioning in the signboard, b) the elements (12; 38) are treated to loosen adhesive between the old poster material and the poster-application surface of the elements, c) the old poster material is removed from the elements (12; 38), d) a poster sheet magazine (30) is transferred to a position (II) close to the carrier (10) which is kept stationary, e) one or more poster sheets are fed from the magazine (30) and applied over the poster application surface of the elements (12; 38) and are fixed thereon, and f) a cutting device (36) is brought to cut open the applied poster material between the individual elongate elements (12; 38).

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (10) and the elements (12; 38) are together dipped into a treatment bath (24) for loosening the adhesive.

4. Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the old poster material is removed by preferably simultaneous scraping-off of a number of or all the elements (12; 38).

5. Method according to any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that an adhesive is applied to the elongate elements (12; 38) after the removal of the old poster material.

6. Method according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the applied poster material is cut open simultaneously between the individual elongate elements (12; 38).

7. Method according to any one of Claims 1, 3-6, characterized in that the carrier (10) with the elongate elements (12; 38) is transferred linearly from the place (I) for loosening of the adhesive to the place (II; III) for application of the new poster material.

8. Method according to any one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the applied poster material is smoothed in association with the cutting open of the same.

9. Method of arranging poster material on elongate elements (12; 38) which are together to form a posterapplication surface for a signboard, such as a so-called picture-changing signboard or a static poster panel, characterized in that a) the elongate elements (12, 38) are placed side by side on a movable carrier (10) corresponding to their intended positioning in the signboard, b) the carrier (10) together with the elongate elements (12; 38) is transferred to a station (II; III) with a magazine (30) for poster sheets, c) one or more poster sheets are fed from the magazine (30) and applied over the poster application surface of the elements (12; 38) and are fixed thereon, and d) the applied poster material is cut open between the individual elongate elements (12; 38).

10. Installation for arranging poster material on elongate elements (12; 38) which are together to form a poster-application surface for a signboard, such as a socalled picture-changing signboard or a static poster panel, characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a transportable carrier (10) in order simultaneously to carry the elongate elements (12; 38) side by side corresponding to their intended position in the signboard, which carrier (10) is transferrable to a station (II; III), in which a magazine (30) for poster sheets is arranged to feed, apply and fix poster sheets on the poster-application surface of the elements (12; 38), and on the other hand a cutting unit (36), arranged preferably simultaneously to cut open the fixed poster material between the individual elongate elements (12; 38).

11. Installation according to Claim 10, characterized in that the carrier (10) is in the form of a table (14; 14a) with two opposite sides, at least one side having a profiling (16, 18; 40) for mutual fixing of the elements (12; 38) laterally to the desired centre distance between the elements.

12. Installation according to Claim 11, characterized in that the table is constructed from a number of modules (14; 14a) which can be joined together and each carry at least one elongate element (12; 38).

13. Installation according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the profiling (40) in the table (14a) has a V-shape for carrying solid, elongate elements (38) with triangular cross-section.

14. Installation according to any one of Claims 1113, characterized in that the table is turnable and has a profiling on both its opposite sides, which profiling makes possible correct fixing of signboard elements of the same or different type on both sides of the table.

15. Installation according to any one of Claims 1014, characterized in that it comprises a bath (24), into which the carrier (10) and the elongate elements (12; 38) carried thereon can be dipped together for loosening adhesive of old poster material on the elements.

16. Installation according to Claim 15, characterized in that it comprises devices (28) for scraping off the old poster material.

17. Installation according to Claim 16, characterized in that the devices (28) for scraping off old poster material, the magazine (30) for feeding, applying and fixing poster material, and the unit (36) for cutting open new poster material are arranged one after the other in a linear processing path.

18. A method of. arranging poster material on elongate elements substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Installation for arranging poster material on elongate elements substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.