Abstract: The invention provides a display unit for displaying two or more consecutively changing images, the unit including a curved lenticular panel having front and rear faces; a displaceable, lightweight, image-carrying film spread out along the rear face; an electric drive coupled to the film for periodically displacing the film across the lenses of the panel, and guide means facilitating the smooth reciprocating movement of the film.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine having a front door with at least one opening. A translucent image carrier bears two or more images cut into information strips and arranged on the image carrier by an intercalation process. The image carrier is mounted behind an array of cylindrical lenses. At least one light source is disposed behind the image carrier. A relative, linearly reciprocating movement is produced between the array of lenses and the image carrier in a direction perpendicular to an axial extent of the lenses. In the course of the relative movement, the array of cylindrical lenses provides, in succession enlarged views of the images borne by the image carrier, thereby producing an animated effect.

Abstract: A computerized method for creating a multi-image print for use with a dynamic display based on the relative periodic displacement of the multi-image print relative to a lenticular screen includes inputting, into a computer, data relating to a dynamic display and at least two basic images. The digital data of the images is used to set size and resolution of the images, thereby creating basic documents. The visual requirements of the basic documents including resolution, exposure time within a display cycle, and graphic characteristics are then determined. Each of the basic documents is divided into information units and is interlaced into a single document. The single document is processed to satisfy the data requirements, and the complex document is printed on a sheet to produce a multi-image print so that basic images will be alternatively displayed when the print is displaced relative to a lenticular screen.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-powered timepiece including a housing; a lenticular panel mounted in the housing; a high-efficiency, battery-powered drive means having a cam; time-indicating means movable by the drive means, and a lightweight indicia carrier disposed inside the housing in close proximity to the panel, the carrier being displaceable by the cam in relation to the panel. The invention further provides a self-powered timepiece including a housing; a high-efficiency, battery-powered drive means; a lenticular panel coupled to the drive means; time-indicating means movable by the drive means, and a lightweight indicia carrier disposed inside the housing in close proximity to the panel, the panel being displaceable by the drive means in relation to the indicia carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-powered display unit for displaying at least two consecutively changing images to be viewed by a viewer, the unit comprising a housing, at least one wall portion of the housing being made of an array of linear lenses having a lenticular front face and a flat rear face; at least one displaceable, light-weight, substantially planar indicia carrier disposed inside the housing at a distance from the rear face at most equalling the focal length of the lenses, and a high efficiency, low energy consumption, battery-powered DC drive means for periodically displacing the indicia carrier for a distance at least equalling the distance between two adjacent lenses of the array.

Abstract: There is provided a self-powered display unit for displaying at least two consecutively changing images to be viewed by a viewer, the unit including a housing having at least one window-like opening; at least one lenticular panel mounted in the housing behind the window-like opening, the lenticular panel having front and rear faces, the focal length of the lenses being substantially equal to their width; at least one displaceable, lightweight, substantially planar indicia carrier in the form of a replaceable film or sheet disposed inside the housing; an edge of the indicia carrier at least indirectly freely abutting against a cam; a high-efficiency, low-energy consumption, battery-powered DC drive including a DC motor coupled to the cam for periodically displacing the indicia carrier for a distance at least equalling the distance between two adjacent lenses of the panel, and a guide facilitating smooth reciprocating movement of the indicia carrier in juxtaposition with the rear face of the lenticular panel, w