EP0920039A2 - Clavier pour machine automatique, en particulier pour distributeur automatique pour boissons - Google Patents

Clavier pour machine automatique, en particulier pour distributeur automatique pour boissons Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0920039A2
EP0920039A2 EP98122029A EP98122029A EP0920039A2 EP 0920039 A2 EP0920039 A2 EP 0920039A2 EP 98122029 A EP98122029 A EP 98122029A EP 98122029 A EP98122029 A EP 98122029A EP 0920039 A2 EP0920039 A2 EP 0920039A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
push
button board
membrane
machine
led
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98122029A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0920039A3 (fr
Inventor
Francescopaolo Mandara
Claudio Gavazzoni
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bitron SpA
Original Assignee
Bitron SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bitron SpA filed Critical Bitron SpA
Publication of EP0920039A2 publication Critical patent/EP0920039A2/fr
Publication of EP0920039A3 publication Critical patent/EP0920039A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/068—Properties of the membrane
    • H01H2209/074—Properties of the membrane elastomeric
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/068—Properties of the membrane
    • H01H2209/082—Properties of the membrane transparent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/002—Casings sealed
    • H01H2223/003—Membrane embracing all keys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/006—Bank automat; Cash register; Vending machine

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to an impermeable control push-button board for an automatic machine, in particular for a drink vending machine.
  • a push-button board comprising a series of push-buttons for the selection of the available drinks and for the activation of other functions (as for instance "extra-sugar", etc.).
  • Each push-button is connected to at least one LED diode, positioned close to the push-button, said LED diode indicates whether a specific drink or function is currently available.
  • a membrane 15 made of an impermeable material is shaped so as to cover the outer side of a push-button board 11 positioned inside an outer container or body of the automatic machine.
  • the membrane covers the control push-buttons 12 which project from the outer surface of the body 10.
  • the membrane is perforated by the luminous LED's 14 which show through the openings 13 formed in the outer body 10.
  • the membrane has the task to avoid the access of water, dust and other polluting agents present in the air of the environment wherein the vending machine is placed, into the inner parts where the push-button electric contacts are positioned.
  • humidity and dust and soil deposits may, in the long run, jeopardise the working capacity of the push-button board.
  • the automatic machines of the above type are usually placed in passageways or in industrial environments where said polluting agents are present in a high quantity.
  • a purpose of the present invention is to realise a push-button board provided with a membrane of the improved type which will allow to overcome the disadvantages previously discussed.
  • a control push-button board for an automatic machine in particular for a drink vending machine of the type wherein the machine is provided with an outer container wherein a push-button board for controlling the machine is contained.
  • the push-button board comprises:
  • the membrane is opaque and break free and forms, by the LED's, a plurality of dome shaped portions which have a smaller thickness than the thickness of the remaining membrane portion, so as to let pass through to the outside the light emitted by the LED's.
  • numeral 10 indicates the outer container of an automatic drink vending machine; a push-button board, indicated by numeral 11, for controlling the vending machine is contained inside the container 10.
  • the push-button board comprises a plurality of push-buttons 12, which project from the proper openings 13 of the container 10 and which project slightly from the container surface in order to be pushed by the user; the push-buttons 12 are connected, in a known way, to a corresponding plurality of luminous LED diodes, indicated by numeral 14.
  • a membrane 15 made of an impermeable material, break free and opaque to the light, covers completely the portion of the push-button board directed towards the container 10, thus forming a break free sealing barrier which is positioned between the outside and the push-button board to seal in an airtight manner said board against water, wet air and other particles penetration which might potentially be harmful for the operations of the push-button board.
  • the membrane 15 forms, by the LED's 14, a plurality of dome shaped portions 16 which repeat the shape of the LED's; the dome shaped portions 16 have a smaller thickness than the thickness of the remaining membrane portion, so as to let the light emitted by the activated LED's pass through to the outside.
  • the remaining membrane portion on the other hand, has a bigger thickness, which makes it completely opaque to the light. Thanks to this configuration, the light which passes through the thin domes 16 is uniformly diffused and it is perceived by the observer as a well defined luminous circle which is clearly visible even in the case that the side of the vending machine, wherein the push-button board is positioned, is directed towards the incoming sun or artificial light from the outside.
  • the disadvantage of the traditional vending machines is therefore overcome, as discussed in the preamble of the present description.
  • the membrane 15 is of a dark or bright colour, which makes the membrane portion, surrounding the dome shaped portions which cover the LED's, completely opaque.
  • the most preferred materials, which are used for producing the membrane according to the present invention are the same as the traditional membrane materials, i.e. natural or synthetic rubber.
  • the LED diodes do not remain uncovered and therefore it is not necessary, on the one hand, to make the various parts which form the push-button board with dimensions suitable to satisfy the minimum requirement of 8 mm distance previously mentioned, and, on the other hand, the problem of touching a diode with a hand is avoided.

Landscapes

  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP98122029A 1997-11-28 1998-11-20 Clavier pour machine automatique, en particulier pour distributeur automatique pour boissons Withdrawn EP0920039A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO970231 IT236357Y1 (it) 1997-11-28 1997-11-28 Tastiera di controllo per una macchina automatica, in particolare unamacchina distributrice di bevande.
ITTO970231U 1997-11-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0920039A2 true EP0920039A2 (fr) 1999-06-02
EP0920039A3 EP0920039A3 (fr) 2000-05-10

Family

ID=11415563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98122029A Withdrawn EP0920039A3 (fr) 1997-11-28 1998-11-20 Clavier pour machine automatique, en particulier pour distributeur automatique pour boissons

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0920039A3 (fr)
IT (1) IT236357Y1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1701368A1 (fr) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 Delphi Technologies Inc. Natte de commutation pour un interrupteur électrique
US9339146B2 (en) 2011-04-14 2016-05-17 Prince Castle LLC Universal food holding cabinet with buttoned-in escutcheons

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH01174820U (fr) * 1988-05-30 1989-12-12
DE4129234A1 (de) * 1991-09-03 1993-03-04 Bizerba Werke Kraut Kg Wilh Tastatur
US5521342A (en) * 1994-12-27 1996-05-28 General Motors Corporation Switch having combined light pipe and printed circuit board
US5681515A (en) * 1996-04-12 1997-10-28 Motorola, Inc. Method of fabricating an elastomeric keypad

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1701368A1 (fr) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 Delphi Technologies Inc. Natte de commutation pour un interrupteur électrique
US9339146B2 (en) 2011-04-14 2016-05-17 Prince Castle LLC Universal food holding cabinet with buttoned-in escutcheons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO970231V0 (it) 1997-11-28
IT236357Y1 (it) 2000-08-08
EP0920039A3 (fr) 2000-05-10
ITTO970231U1 (it) 1999-05-28

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