Abstract: A split flap display is provided. The display includes a wall frame mounted on a wall. The wall frame includes a plurality of panel guides extending outwardly therefrom, a breakout board mounted thereon, and a plurality of cantilevered snap locks extending outwardly therefrom. An array of carousel modules is mounted in a cabinet. The array includes a single row and a plurality of columns. The cabinet includes a locking slot adapted to releasably receive a free end of one of the plurality of cantilevered snap locks and a slide lock configured for longitudinal translation engagement with the free end of one of the plurality of cantilevered snap locks, such that translation of the slide lock displaces the free end of the cantilevered snap lock out of engagement with the locking slot. When the free end of the cantilevered snap lock is out of engagement with the locking slot, the array can be removed from the wall frame.

Abstract: A timepiece display mechanism for a watch includes a roller pivoting about a main axis and including flaps, each pivoting about a secondary axis parallel to the main axis and having two faces, a first driver for pivoting the roller about the main axis, and a second driver for pivoting a flap about its secondary axis, in a determined position of this secondary axis relative to the main axis, and which include, at each flap, a drive pinion cooperating with a controller to modify, in sequence or continuously, the position of the successive flaps of the same roller or to modify, on demand, the position of a specific flap.

Abstract: A display system having a housing, a plurality of panels rotatably mounted in the housing and configured to present first and second display faces, each panel having first and second opposing faces that meet at opposing longitudinal first and second edges, the plurality of panels including a first panel having a portion of a first character removed from the first edge of the first panel, a second panel having a remaining portion of the first character removed from the second edge of the second panel, the first and second panels cooperating so that when the first and second panels are rotated with the respective first and second edges adjacent each other, the portion of the first character on the first panel and the remaining portion of the first character on the second panel cooperate to form a visual display of the complete first character, and a mechanism coupled to the plurality of panels and configured to cause the plurality of panels to rotate in unison in the housing and change the display face.

Abstract: A display system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable columns carried by the frame. Each of the plurality of rotatable columns may include a column connection member, at least one display engagement member carried by the column connection member, and a plurality of display members carried by the at least one display engagement member. The display system may also include a respective plurality of display guide members carried by the frame to engage each of the plurality of rotatable columns. Each of the respective plurality of display guide members may include an arcuate shaped guide. Each display guide member may have four imaginary quadrants and a portion of the arcuate shaped guide extends through each of the four imaginary quadrants. Each portion of the arcuate shaped guide extending through each of the imaginary quadrant preferably has a different shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a set of identification plates (10) with inscribable identification plates (16) lying in a plane. According to the invention, a central carrier (12) is provided and has at least one elongated side carrier (14) integrally formed on it with one of its narrow sides respectively on two sides facing away from each other, wherein at least one of the side carriers (14) carries at least one identification plate (16) on at least one of its longitudinal sides.

Abstract: A motorized photo display having a base; a frame including a bottom portion mounted on the base, a wall portion including first and second wall portions mounted on the bottom portion, at least one opening having a retaining tab; a drive element having a drive shaft rotatable about a vertically-oriented drive axis and a drive mechanism; a spool mechanism mounted on the drive mechanism and having a spindle with a longitudinal axis colinear with the drive axis, opposing upper and lower pivot rings extending outwardly from upper and lower extremities of the spool mechanism and having vertically-aligned pairs of orifices; centering plates fixedly securing the upper and lower pivot rings about the spindle; a plurality of photo holders having pivot hinges mounted to corresponding pairs of the vertically-aligned orifices of the upper and lower pivot rings; and a power source.

Abstract: A motorized photo display having a base; a frame including a bottom portion mounted on the base, a wall portion including first and second wall portions mounted on the bottom portion, at least one opening having a retaining tab; a drive element having a drive shaft rotatable about a vertically-oriented drive axis and a drive mechanism; a spool mechanism mounted on the drive mechanism and having a spindle with a longitudinal axis colinear with the drive axis, opposing upper and lower pivot rings extending outwardly from upper and lower extremities of the spool mechanism and having vertically-aligned pairs of orifices; centering plates fixedly securing the upper and lower pivot rings about the spindle; a plurality of photo holders having pivot hinges mounted to corresponding pairs of the vertically-aligned orifices of the upper and lower pivot rings; and a power source.

Abstract: An automatic induction device for turning pages includes a plurality of inner pages, a plurality of conductive rubber pieces, a flexible printed circuit board, and an electronic unit. The inner pages connect with each other on one side and each has a groove on the connected side. The conductive rubber pieces are inserted in the grooves respectively and one end of each conductive rubber piece extends out of the corresponding groove. The flexible printed circuit board has a plurality of connecting finger conductive portions and a connecting end, the connecting finger conductive portions are inserted in the grooves and contact with the conductive rubber pieces, respectively. The electronic unit electrically connects with the connecting end of the flexible printed circuit board. Based on the above assemblies, the automatic induction device for turning pages, electronic audio books and photo albums has more reliable performance, a simple structure and a low cost.

Abstract: A split flap display device for displaying changing information of all kinds, where a substantially tool-free, rapid removal of the complete set of flaps is made possible. For this purpose, the rotor unit includes a rotor shaft, two receiving rollers and split flaps. This entire rotor unit is repetitively connectable and disconnectable with a housing of the display device to allow changes in the information displayed.

Abstract: An electronic book apparatus that comprises multiple pages with printed information, visual signal means for identifying the printed information in a sequentially organized manner, synchronized audio signal means for describing or further identifying the information concurrently with the visual signal means, and electromechanical or photo-sensitive means for electronically controlling the generation and transmission of these signals when each particular page is opened for viewing. Each page of the electronic book includes a laminated sheet, on which the printed material is arranged, and an electronic backdrop containing the visual signal means for display through the laminated sheet. Separate intelligent electronic means in the spine and top portion of the book, coupled to the electrical or photo-sensitive means, activate the illuminating circuitry and a voice synthesizer that are synchronized and sequenced to produce a concurrent visual and audio enhancement of the printed matter being viewed on the page.

Abstract: A compact disc program display mechanism in which album covers are displayed on pages similar to a book presentation; each album having a selection indicia visually associated therewith for selection by the customer. The several pages are turned in response to energization of an electrical drive motor and gear train, controlled manually by customer accessible push button switches or automatically by a programmed microprocessor. Each energization of the motor serves to pivotally turn a pair of pages in one direction with the indexing movements of the pages being controlled by an opto-switch and the microprocessor for deenergizing the drive motor at predetermined page movement. Reverse movement of the pages is also conditioned by the opto-switch which signals the micro-processor to reverse the rotational direction of the drive motor. Each page displays album covers on both its front and back sides for customer viewing.

Abstract: A title display system for an automatic phonograph in which two sets of large panels, each side of which is adapted to carry three CD jackets, are arranged side by side in a recess in the front of the machine cabinet for concomitant pivotal movement of the panels inwardly or outwardly. A panel moving control system may be set in a first mode in which the panels are moved periodically to attract attention or in a second mode in which the panels are returned to positions at which predetermined pages are in view in the quiescent condition of the phonograph.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine, or a slot machine, has a display plate provided at the rear wall of a sample room which is covered by a transparent window panel fitted in a front door of the machine. A plurality of vertically elongate display strips arranged side by side at desired intervals adjacent to the display plate to be rotatable about their own axes. The front or rear faces of these display strips can cooperate with each other to produce associated composite figures, which fully covers the display plate when the display strips rotate together at the same time whereby either the front or rear faces of the display strips take their positions substantially parallel to the display plate. Consequently, the composite display figures formed by the front and rear faces of the display strips can be seen from the front of the machine.

Abstract: A passbook page turning mechanism includes independently movable and spaced upper rollers and independently movable and spaced lower rollers which are vertically movable and which grip the passbook and move the passbook from a printing station to a page turning station. A pair of upper and lower longitudinally movable rollers serve as apparatus to turn the pages of the passbook. At the page turning station, a lower roller of the pair of rollers is raised to flex the passbook and an upper roller of the pair of rollers is rotated to turn the page and to complete the page turning operation after which the passbook is moved to the printing station. The lower roller of the pair of rollers is also displaceable in the longitudinal direction from the upper roller of the pair of rollers. The mechanism also provides for turning one or more pages in the opposite direction from the direction of a normal page turning operation.

Abstract: The uppermost page of an opened volume is rubbed toward the volume's spine to buckle the uppermost page and permit air to enter a space between the buckled page and the next page. The buckled page is then released to fall back toward its initial position and form an air layer between the uppermost page and the next page. The uppermost page is attracted upward by applying a suction force and a plate is moved along a path crossing the attracted uppermost page to turn it.

Abstract: A slot machine has a wheel mechanism including a plurality of motors, a plurality of rotary shafts rotated about their respective axes by the driving forces of the motors, and symbol carrying members each having a relatively small radius of gyration and carrying a symbol on its visible surface. The symbol carrying members are spaced apart at equal interals in at least three horizontal rows and at least three vertical columns. Accordingly, the depth of the casing frame of the slot machine can be reduced to a remarkable extent, and a player can immediately identify the winning line visually.

Abstract: A rotary flap display system has a large number of indicia bearing flaps mounted on a motor driven hub within a housing. The housing has a lug along the upper edge of an opening through which the flaps may be seen for restraining the flap to flip forward one at a time. The lug includes a hole through which a jet of air emerges to assist flipping of each flap as it passes the lug.

Abstract: An automatic page turning device of the type comprising a movable element controlled by a motor of which the operation is controlled by a control member to be actuated by the user. It is characterized in that it comprises a suction tube to lift a page as well as a movable element comprised of a double acting pusher. The double acting pusher is situated directly above a document and is movably mounted in linear translation in the two opposite directions transverse to the side of the pages of a document and along which they are bound together. The suction tube and the double acting pusher are also movably mounted perpendicularly to the plane of a support structure.

Abstract: An automatic page turning apparatus for use with a passbook or like document wherein drive rollers advance the passbook to a page turning station, pressing means moves the passbook into position for a page turning roller to engage with and to turn up the page to a bowed condition. Page turning detecting means is coupled to sequence control means and to retry control means for ensuring that the page is turned to the partially turned position for subsequent turning of the page.

Abstract: A device for turning over book leaves is disclosed, which comprises a book holder for supporting a book in an open state, a movable unit disposed above the book holder and capable of vertical and horizontal movement, and a turn-over roller and a pinch member both mounted in said movable unit. The turn-over roller is brought into contact with the page of the book to be turned over with the movement of the movable unit. Then it is rotated toward the book seam to cause a plurality of book leaves including a leaf to be turned over to be turned up in between it and the pinch member. Then it is rotated in the opposite direction to release the turned-up leaves other than the leaf to be turned over. The remaining leaf to be turned over is moved with the movement of the movable unit toward the book seam to effect the turn-over.

Abstract: An arrangement for turning the pages of a booklet within a copier. A air knife fluffer, the pages and a wheel is translated against the page to be turned and creates a buckle in the previously separated page. The vacuum wheel is then lifted bringing the page with it and rotated to flip the page. Afterwards, translation of the vacuum wheel without rotation continues in order to flatten the now flipped sheet. The vacuum is then returned to its home position.

Abstract: A page turner device for an open book comprises a support for the book, and a power driven disc configured to rest on the top of the pages of such open book. When the power drive is energized, the disc will start to rotate while in contact with the open pages. The disc has a finger portion which protrudes outwardly from adjacent portions of the disc, and a page curler drive is used for creating a curl or arch in the center portions of an open page, so that when the finger rotates to the proper position, it will go into the recess under the curl, and as it continues to rotate, the finger will pull the page with it. When the disc comes to a rest position, the finger will have completely opened the subsequent page. At the rest position a cam operates a switch to disable the power drive until such time as the person reading again initiates a manual switch to commence the page turning sequence.

Abstract: An automatic page turning apparatus associated with a closed passbook and the like includes feed means for positioning and holding one edge of a passbook at a station located along a guide chute, and a drive member movable in a direction perpendicular to the guide chute for engaging and moving the passbook to a bowed configuration where a rotating drive roller engages the cover member or the top page member of the bowed passbook for moving the member to a partially open position. Control means operates the feed means to move the passbook in a direction enabling the drive roller to move the partially open member to a fully open position. Circuit means varies the power applied to the drive member enabling the drive member to apply more pressure to the passbook where the cover member is to be turned.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for storing a plurality of signs and automatically displaying them at timed intervals of the type that has a pair of discs, each disc affixed to opposite ends of an elongated shaft, a plurality of panels, each panel has a copy placed on each side, pivotally mounted off center at each end, around periphery of the discs so they can be displayed when they reach a front display area in a rectangular box-like housing is provided. The improvement consists of a pair of damping devices and a plurality of elongated pins. Each damping device is mounted within the housing adjacent one disc. Each pin is placed on each side of each panel. When the discs turn, each pin will engage one damping device as each panel falls over to prevent each panel from bouncing up.

Abstract: An item input device for a data processing system wherein plurality of flexible page sheets with input information provided thereon overlap the circumference of a rotating shaft in the device main unit and the fixed ends of the sheets are separated by a constant space. The desired page sheets are selected through rotation of the rotating shaft in the winding direction and the reverse direction of the page sheets, thereby guiding the page sheets to the display location. The page sheets overlap each other such that the page sheet unit has the page sheet ends bound thereto separated by a constant space thus the page sheet unit is formed separately from the rotating shaft. The page sheet unit is taken up to the rotating shaft in the page selection ready condition by rotation in the winding direction, and the page sheet unit taken up is released from the rotating shaft by rotation in the reverse direction. Moreover, a clamping member for holding the winding condition of the page sheets is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing a plurality of different signs and automatically displaying the different signs at timed intervals.

Abstract: A teleindicator for information boards is described. The main characteristic of the teleindicator consists in comprising first means for the registration of input signals relating to an indication which has to be presented by the said teleindicator, second means adapted to process the signals from the said first means and to control third means which actuate, in a mechanical way, the display of the said indication by means of indicator elements.

Abstract: An item selection signal input system comprising a keyboard panel including a plurality of matrix aligned, transparent touch sensitive switches. An item list setting mechanism is provided for placing a desired item list below the keyboard panel in order to mark each of the touch sensitive switches. The item list setting mechanism comprises an item list carrying drum to which one end of a plurality of item lists are fixed. The desired item list is selected while the item list carrying drum is driven to rotate.

Abstract: A rotary type index in which a multiplicity of information containing cards are arranged around a cylindrical drum and the drum is rotated to display information-containing surfaces of the cards in a viewing window is provided with a mechanism for causing a plurality of the information cards to be brought into position with a single selection key. This is as distinguished from the conventional drum type machine in which the number of selection switches equals the number of information cards.

Abstract: A toy television set with a musical box whereby words, television scenes on a plurality of leaves can be seen in succession through a transparent screen with the accompaniment of music played by the musical box. The device has a case modeled after the cabinet of a real TV set, a transparent screen on the front side of the case, a horizontal shaft disposed in the case in alignment with a line extending across the center of the screen, a musical box, a prime mover for driving the shaft and musical box, a pair of discs disposed at both ends of the horizontal shaft, each of the discs having a plurality of apertures along the periphery thereof, and a plurality of leaves on which pictures, words, etc., are drawn, each of said leaves having extending from both sides of the lower end of each leaf insert elements inserted into corresponding apertures in said discs.

Abstract: A toy television set whereby the pictures, characters, words, etc., drawn on a plurality of leaves can be seen in succession through a transparent screen as the leaves are turned over successively. The device comprises a case modeled after the cabinet of a real TV set, a transparent screen provided on the front side of the case, a horizontal shaft provided across the center of the screen in the inside of the case, a prime mover adapted to give the rotative power to said shaft, a pair of discs provided at both ends of said horizontal shaft, each of said discs having formed therein a plurality of holes along the periphery thereof, and a plurality of leaves on which pictures, words, etc., are drawn, each of said leaves having extending from both sides of its lower end the insert pieces fitting in the corresponding holes in said discs.

Abstract: An advertisement display pillar for door usage having a rectangular stand in which a plurality of units are mounted vertically and in parallel. Each unit has a plurality of frames comprising parts of a total poster display surface facing the viewer. The frames permit being turned like the leaves of a book according to desired programs. By so turning the frames several complete posters can be sequentially displayed.