JP2006260003A - Display device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vending machine that is small and simple in arrangement and capable of reducing the revision work such as for indicating whether commodities are hot or cold and for indicating prices. <P>SOLUTION: Light from a light source 32 is converted into light having one axis of polarization, and signs or the like are created by means of other polarization plates 36, 37 having polarization axes that are parallel and perpendicular to the polarization axis. The other polarization plates 36, 37 selectively display the signs or the like that are created by either of the polarization plates 36, 37 according to application of voltage to a liquid-crystal panel 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a vending machine, and more particularly, to a display device for a vending machine that has a small and simple configuration and can reduce revision work such as cold temperature display and price display.

  Conventionally, the cold temperature display in vending machines for beverage products etc. is expressed in white on the film printed in image color, such as “HOT”, “COLD”, “warm”, “clawed”, etc. Uses external light reflection and is recognized at night using fluorescent light from the back. The price display in the vending machine is expressed in black characters on a white background and is basically recognized by external light.

  On the other hand, there is an electric lighting device that displays an advertisement of a product for sale on the main door of a vending machine so as to promote the sale of the product (for example, see Patent Document 1).

The conventional lighting panel device of the vending machine is a combination of a multi-directional polarizing plate with partially different polarization directions and a unidirectional polarizing plate that is rotated by a motor. And the illumination lamp behind the inside of the lighting board can enhance the visual effect of the display advertisement.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-19303 (Fig. 1)

  However, according to the conventional display method, when the cold temperature display of the vending machine is switched, the displayed film must be replaced by an operator. In addition, in order to reduce the types of film, the displayed film is prepared for each stage (table on which the sample can can be placed), and is used only for hot (HOT), cold (COLD), and hot / cold (HOT / COLD). Become a seed. This places restrictions on the placement of sample cans. Furthermore, when the product price is revised, an operation of pasting the revised price sticker on the price before revision is accompanied. In this way, when switching the cold / hot display of the vending machine or revising the price, the operator needs to replace the film or attach the price sticker, and if such a rework is done incorrectly, the vending machine's There is a risk that the internal setting contents and display contents may be different. Moreover, when the worker's work contents increase, there is a problem that the time during which the door of the vending machine is opened becomes longer, and the time during which a pedestrian or the like is blocked becomes longer. On the other hand, according to the lighting plate device of the vending machine described in Patent Document 1, since the unidirectional polarizing plate is rotated by a motor, not only the structure becomes complicated, but also the device itself becomes large. Application to a machine display device is extremely difficult.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vending machine that has a small and simple configuration and can reduce revision work such as cold temperature display and price display.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light source that emits illumination light, a polarizing plate that uses the illumination light as polarized light having a polarization axis in a first direction, and the polarization axis of the polarized light as the first. A transmissive liquid crystal panel that is switchable in a second direction different from the direction of the transmissive liquid crystal panel and an optical axis on the output side of the transmissive liquid crystal panel, and transmits polarized light having a polarization axis in the first direction. A first transparent plate on which a first polarization pattern is formed; and a second transparent plate on which a second polarization pattern that transmits polarized light having a polarization axis in the second direction is formed. A display device for a vending machine is provided.

  The first polarization pattern transmits light having a polarization direction different from that of the first polarization direction as it is, and light having a predetermined color for light having the same polarization direction as the first polarization direction. A first color polarization pattern that transmits only the light, and the second polarization pattern transmits light having a polarization direction different from that of the second polarization direction as it is, and the polarization direction is the second polarization direction. For the same light, a second color polarization pattern that transmits only light of a predetermined color may be used.

  The illumination light is preferably white light in order to extract light having a predetermined wavelength.

  The light source may be composed of an LED or a combination of an LED and a phosphor. Thereby, white light can be taken out by various methods.

  The first and second polarization patterns may be composed of a combination of two of a plurality of display patterns made up of characters, symbols, figures, etc. indicating money, HOT, COLD, sold out, newly released, etc.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the change work such as the cold temperature display and the price display without complicating the structure of the display device and without enlarging the device itself.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine 1 sells hot products and cold products, and includes a substantially box-shaped vending machine body 2 and a main door 3 provided on the front surface of the vending machine body 2.

  The main door 3 includes a transparent panel 4, an exhibition space 5 formed inside the transparent panel 4, a cash insertion unit 9 for inserting banknotes and coins, a change return port 10 for returning change, an advertisement, etc. Is provided with a product sales outlet 12 for taking out the product.

  The exhibition space 5 includes a plurality of product samples 6 and a display device 7 that displays information related to each product corresponding to each product sample 6, and a product corresponding to each product sample 6 on the front surface of the transparent panel 4. A selection button 8 for selecting is provided.

  2, 3, and 4 show the display device 7, FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view of the main part, FIG. 2 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the main part as seen from AA in FIG. 2 (a), FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the product sample 6 and the display device 7, and FIG. 4 is a front view in which components in front of the diffusion sheet 33 in FIG. 2B are removed.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the display device 7 includes a casing 21 that supports the product sample 6 on the upper surface, and a price / sold-out display unit 22 indicating “¥ 120” and “sold out”; , “COLD”, “HOT” indicating the cold temperature display unit 23. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the display device 7 is a reflector that gives directivity to the light from the light source 32 corresponding to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cold / hot display unit 23. 31, a light source 32 that emits light, a diffusion sheet 33, a plain first polarizing plate 34 without display, a liquid crystal panel 35 that controls the light transmission direction, “sold out”, “HOT” A second polarizing plate 36 that performs display, a third polarizing plate 37 that displays “¥ 120” and “COLD”, and an antireflection sheet 38 that suppresses a decrease in visibility due to external light are provided. Therefore, the display device 7 performs price / sold-out display and cold / hot display on one product sample 6 by the corresponding light sources 32a and 32b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 32 includes an upper light source 32A and a lower light source 32B corresponding to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cold / hot display unit 23, and a red LED 41R, a blue LED 41B, and a green LED 41G, respectively. For example, the red LED 41R is arranged at the center of the upper part, the blue LED 41B is arranged on the right side of the lower part center, and the green LED 41G is arranged on the left side of the lower part center.

  The diffusion sheet 33 has a function of diffusing light from the light source 32, and uses a translucent plate or a transflective reflection sheet having diffusion characteristics. The diffusion sheet 33 has an upper diffusion sheet portion 33A and a lower diffusion sheet portion 33B corresponding to the price / sold out display portion 22 and the cold / hot display portion 23.

  The first polarizing plate 34 is, for example, a so-called smoke polarizing plate, and transmits an upper polarizing unit 34A that transmits light with a polarization axis of incident light in a vertical direction, and transmits light with a polarization axis of incident light in a horizontal direction. And a lower polarizing portion 34B. The upper polarizing unit 34A and the lower polarizing unit 34B correspond to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cool / warm display unit 23.

  The liquid crystal panel 35 uses a TN type nematic liquid crystal and emits the incident light with its polarization axis twisted by 90 degrees when no voltage is applied (OFF), and without changing the polarization axis of the incident light when voltage is applied (ON). The light is emitted from the shaft. The liquid crystal panel 35 includes an upper liquid crystal panel unit and a lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B. The upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A transmits light having a vertical polarization axis when a voltage is applied, and the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B. Transmits light having a horizontal polarization axis when a voltage is applied. The upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A and the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B correspond to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cold / hot display unit 23.

  The second polarizing plate 36 is, for example, a so-called smoke polarizing plate, and a “sold out” pattern 51b that transmits light with a polarization axis of incident light in the vertical direction and portions other than the pattern 51b transmit incident light as they are. The upper polarizing section 36A to be transmitted; the “HOT” pattern 52b that transmits the incident light as it is; and the lower polarizing section 36B that transmits light having a vertical polarization axis in a portion other than the pattern 52b. The upper polarizing unit 36A and the lower polarizing unit 36B correspond to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cool / warm display unit 23.

  The third polarizing plate 37 is, for example, a so-called smoke polarizing plate, and the “¥ 120” pattern 51a that transmits the incident light having the polarization axis in the horizontal direction and the portions other than the pattern 51a transmit the incident light as they are. An upper polarizing section 37A to be transmitted; a “COLD” pattern 52a that transmits incident light as it is; and a lower polarizing section 37B that transmits light having a horizontal polarization axis in a portion other than the pattern 52a. The upper polarizing unit 37A and the lower polarizing unit 37B correspond to the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cool / warm display unit 23.

(Revision work)
Next, revision work such as changing the price display of a product in the vending machine will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the price / sold out display unit 22 and the cool / warm display unit 23, (a) at the time of sale, (b) when a sold-out product occurs, (c) after switching the cool / warm. FIG. The price display revision operation is performed by controlling the voltage application to the liquid crystal panel according to the sales situation by a control unit (not shown).

  First, a change from the sales state of the “¥ 120” display 53a of the price / sold out display unit 22 in FIG. 5A to the “sold out” display 53b in FIG. 5B is provided in a product storage (not shown). Based on the sensor, the control unit controls the voltage application to the upper liquid crystal panel 35A of the liquid crystal panel 35 from the ON state to the OFF state.

  Next, the change from the “sold out” display 53b in FIG. 5B to the sales state in FIG. 5C is performed by switching the upper liquid crystal panel 35A of the liquid crystal panel 35 from the OFF state to the ON state by the control unit as described above. This is done by controlling the state.

  The change between the “COLD” display 54a in FIG. 5B and the “HOT” display 54b in FIG. 5C is performed by the control unit in conjunction with a cooling / heating changeover switch provided in the cooling / heating unit (not shown). This is performed by switching the cooling / heating of the product storage for a predetermined product. The “COLD” display 54a is displayed by controlling the lower liquid crystal panel portion 35B of the liquid crystal panel 35 to the OFF state by the control unit during cooling, and the “HOT” display 54b is displayed by the control unit by the control unit during heating. Is displayed by controlling the lower liquid crystal panel portion 35B to the ON state.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the display device according to the first embodiment excluding the housing. Here, the polarization axes of the second and third polarizing plates 36 and 37 are the same as those of the second and third polarizing plates 36 and 37 in the display device shown in FIG. In addition, “◯” pattern 61 and “sold out” pattern 51b, “Δ” pattern 62 and “¥ 120” pattern 51a, “□” pattern 63 and “HOT” pattern 52b, and “×” pattern 64 and “COLD”. The pattern 52a corresponds to each.

(Display of “¥ 120”)
First, the case where the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is “¥ 120” will be described. When a voltage is applied to the light source 32 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown), for example, white light is emitted from the upper light source 32A. The light emitted from the upper light source 32A is reflected directly from the upper light source 32A and by the reflector 31 corresponding to the upper light source 32A, is diffused by the upper diffusion sheet portion 33A, and reaches the upper polarizing portion 34A of the first polarizing plate 34. To do.

  Only the light having the vertical polarization axis is transmitted through the light that has reached the upper polarizing portion 34A, and is incident on the upper liquid crystal panel portion 35A of the liquid crystal panel 35. The light incident on the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A is emitted without changing the polarization axis when voltage is applied (ON) to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A. The emitted light reaches the upper polarizing portion 36A of the second polarizing plate 36, but the “◯” pattern 61 displayed on the upper polarizing portion 36A transmits light having a vertical polarization axis, and “O”. Since the periphery of the pattern 61 transmits light, the light reaching the upper polarizing section 36A is transmitted without being attenuated.

  The light transmitted through the upper polarizing portion 36A of the second polarizing plate 36 reaches the upper polarizing portion 37A of the third polarizing plate 37, but attenuates because the periphery of the “Δ” pattern 63 is light transmissive. Without transmitting light. However, the “Δ” pattern 63 transmits light having a horizontal polarization axis and does not transmit light having a vertical polarization axis. Therefore, the portion of “Δ” pattern 63 becomes dark. The light transmitted through the third polarizing plate 37 is emitted to the outside through the upper antireflection sheet portion 38A of the antireflection sheet 38. Therefore, “Δ” can be recognized from the outside. That is, “¥ 120” can be recognized as shown in FIG.

(Display of “sold out”)
Next, the case where the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is “sold out” will be described. In this case, up to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A, the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is the same as the case of “¥ 120”. Light having a vertical polarization axis incident on the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A is converted into light having a horizontal polarization axis by twisting the 90 ° polarization axis when no voltage is applied to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A. Is emitted to the upper polarizing portion 36A of the second polarizing plate 36.

  The light emitted to the upper polarizing portion 36A of the second polarizing plate 36 transmits light because the periphery of the “◯” pattern 61 is light transmissive, but the “◯” pattern 61 has a vertical polarization axis. Since light is transmitted, light having a horizontal polarization axis is not transmitted. Therefore, the portion of the “◯” pattern 61 becomes dark. The light emitted from the upper polarizing portion 36A of the second polarizing plate 36 is emitted to the upper polarizing portion 37A of the third polarizing plate 37.

  Since the light emitted to the upper polarizing portion 37A of the third polarizing plate 37 is light having a horizontal polarization axis, the “Δ” pattern 63 that transmits the light of the horizontal polarizing axis of the upper polarizing portion 37A and its The light passes through without being attenuated, and is emitted to the outside through the upper antireflection sheet portion 38A of the antireflection sheet 38. Therefore, “◯” can be recognized from the outside. That is, “sold out” can be recognized as shown in FIG.

(Display of “HOT”)
Next, the case where the display of the cold / hot display 23 is “HOT” will be described. When a voltage is applied to the light source 32 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown), for example, white light is emitted from the light source 32. The light emitted from the light source 32 is reflected directly from the light source 32 and by the reflector 31, is diffused by the diffusion sheet 33, and reaches the lower polarizing portion 34 </ b> B of the first polarizing plate 34.

  Only the light having the horizontal polarization axis is transmitted through the light that has reached the lower polarizing section 34B, and is incident on the lower liquid crystal panel section 35B of the liquid crystal panel 35. The light incident on the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is emitted without changing the polarization axis when voltage is applied (ON) to the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B. The emitted light reaches the lower polarizing portion 36B of the second polarizing plate 36, but the “□” pattern 62 displayed on the lower polarizing portion 36B transmits all the light, and its periphery is horizontal. Since the light having the polarization axis of λ is transmitted and the other light is not transmitted, only the light of the “□” pattern 62 is transmitted and emitted to the lower polarizing portion 37 </ b> B of the third polarizing plate 37.

  Since the light that has reached the lower polarizing portion 37B of the third polarizing plate 37 is light having a horizontal polarization axis, it passes through the “x” pattern 64 and its surroundings without being attenuated. The light is emitted to the outside through the lower antireflection sheet portion 38B. Therefore, “□” can be recognized from the outside. That is, “HOT” can be recognized as shown in FIG.

(Display of “COLD”)
Next, the case where the display of the cold / hot display 23 is “COLD” will be described. In this case, the display of the cold temperature display 23 is the same as the case of “HOT” until the lower liquid crystal panel portion 35B is reached. Light having a horizontal polarization axis incident on the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is light having a vertical polarization axis that is twisted by 90 degrees when the voltage to the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is not applied. The light is converted into the light and emitted to the lower polarizing portion 36B of the second polarizing plate 36.

  As for the light emitted to the lower polarizing section 36B of the second polarizing plate 36, the “□” pattern 62 is light-transmitting, and the periphery of the “□” pattern 62 transmits light having a vertical polarization axis. Then, the light passes through without being attenuated and is emitted to the lower polarizing portion 37B of the third polarizing plate 37.

  Since the light emitted to the lower polarizing portion 37B of the third polarizing plate 37 is light having a vertical polarization axis, it passes through the “x” pattern 64 of the lower polarizing portion 37B, but its periphery is vertical. Therefore, the light that passes through only the “x” pattern 64 is emitted to the outside through the lower antireflection sheet portion 38B of the antireflection sheet 38. Therefore, “x” can be recognized from the outside. That is, “COLD” can be recognized as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows a simplified display example obtained with the configuration according to FIG. The combination of the upper and lower polarizing portions 36A and 37A and the lower polarizing portions 36B and 37B of the second and third polarizing plates 36 and 37 allows a “◯” display 71a, an “×” display 73b, a “◯” display 71a and “□”. ”Display 71b,“ Δ ”display 73a and“ × ”display 73b, and“ Δ ”display 73a and“ □ ”display 71b are shown. That is, four combinations of “sold out” and “COLD”, “sold out” and “HOT”, “¥ 120” and “COLD”, and “¥ 120” and “HOT” are displayed. Table 1 shows a summary of the four combinations.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(A) Since a display unit having a predetermined area can be expressed by a plurality of patterns, the display space can be minimized without reducing the display of each display pattern.
(B) An image of display content can be expressed according to the emission color.
(C) Visibility can be improved by providing an antireflection member in the display portion.
(D) Display content switching can be synchronized with the internal settings of the vending machine, and remote control is possible, so it is not necessary to change the display content on the display device side.
(E) Since the display contents can be switched regardless of the arrangement of the product sample, a cold drink and a hot drink can be arranged next to each other in the same drink.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 shows an exploded perspective view of a product sample and display device of a vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This display device 80 uses smoke polarizing plates for the second polarizing plate 36 and the third polarizing plate 37 in the display device 7 of the vending machine according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. On the other hand, the first color polarizing plate 81 and the second color polarizing plate 82 are used.

  The first color polarizing plate 81 has a polarization axis formed in a vertical direction, and among incident light, when the polarization axis is the same direction, only the red light is transmitted, and when the polarization axis is orthogonal, the incident light is transmitted. The “sold out” pattern 65 is a polarizing part, and has a function of transmitting as it is, and the upper color polarizing part 81A that is light transmissive except for the pattern 65, and the polarization axis is formed in the vertical direction, When the polarization axes are in the same direction, only red light is transmitted, and when the polarization axes are orthogonal, it has a function of transmitting incident light as it is. The “HOT” pattern 66 is light-transmitting, and other than the pattern 66. And the lower color polarizing part 81B, which is a polarizing part.

  The second color polarizing plate 82 has a polarization axis formed in a horizontal direction, and transmits incident light as it is when the polarization axis is the same direction, and only green light when the polarization axes are orthogonal. The portion of the “¥ 120” pattern 67 is a polarizing portion, and the portion other than the pattern 67 is a light transmitting upper color polarizing portion 82A and the polarization axis is formed in the horizontal direction and is incident. Of the light, when the polarization axis is in the same direction, it has a polarization part that transmits light as it is, and when the polarization axis is orthogonal, it transmits only blue light. There is a lower color polarizing portion 82B where the portion other than the pattern 68 is a polarizing portion.

(Operation of Second Embodiment)
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are front views showing display examples of the price / sold out display unit and the cold / hot display unit, FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of the operation of the price / sold out display unit, and FIG. 12 is an operation of the cold / hot display unit. It is a conceptual diagram.

(Display of “sold out”)
First, the case where the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is “sold out” will be described. When a voltage is applied to the light source 32 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown), for example, white light is emitted from the upper light source 32A. The light emitted from the upper light source 32A is reflected directly from the upper light source 32A and by the reflector 31, is diffused by the upper diffusion sheet portion 33A, and reaches the upper polarizing portion 34A of the first polarizing plate 34.

  Only the white light having the vertical polarization axis is transmitted through the light reaching the upper polarizing part 34A, and reaches the upper liquid crystal panel part 35A of the liquid crystal panel 35. The white light reaching the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A is emitted without changing the polarization axis when voltage is applied (ON) to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A. This emitted light reaches the upper color polarizing portion 81A of the first color polarizing plate 81, but has reached the polarization axis of the “sold out” pattern 65 displayed on the upper color polarizing portion 81A and the upper color polarizing portion 81A. Since the direction of the polarization axis of the light is the same, the characters of the “sold out” pattern 65 are transmitted as red light, and the white light having the vertical polarization axis is transmitted as it is around the “sold out” pattern 65. And the upper color polarizing portion 82A of the second color polarizing plate 82, respectively.

  Since the polarization axis of the light reaching the upper color polarization portion 83A of the second color polarizing plate 82 is orthogonal to the polarization axis of the light transmitted through the “¥ 120” pattern 67, the upper antireflection sheet portion 38A is not attenuated as it is. The light is emitted to the outside via Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a red “sold out” can be recognized on a white background.

(Display of “¥ 120”)
Next, the case where the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is “¥ 120” will be described. In this case, up to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A, the display of the price / sold out display unit 22 is the same as the case of “sold out”. The light emitted from the upper light source 32A is diffused by the upper diffusion sheet portion 33A and reaches the upper polarizing portion 34A of the first polarizing plate 34.

  Only the white light having the vertical polarization axis is transmitted through the light reaching the upper polarizing part 34A, and reaches the upper liquid crystal panel part 35A of the liquid crystal panel 35. The white light reaching the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A is emitted by twisting the polarization axis by 90 degrees when no voltage is applied to the upper liquid crystal panel unit 35A. The part 81A is reached. Since the polarization axis of the light reaching the upper color polarization unit 81A is orthogonal to the polarization axis of the “sold out” pattern 65 displayed on the upper color polarization unit 81A, the light reaching the upper color polarization unit 81A is attenuated. Without being transmitted, and reaches the upper color polarizing portion 82A of the second color polarizing plate 82.

  Since the polarization axis of the light reaching the upper color polarization portion 82A is the same as the polarization axis of the light transmitted through the “¥ 120” pattern 67, the light transmitted through the “¥ 120” pattern 67 is green light. The light passes through the “¥ 120” pattern 67 without being attenuated, and passes through the upper antireflection sheet portion 38A. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to recognize green “¥ 120” on a white background.

(Display of “COLD”)
Next, the case where the display of the cold / hot display 23 is “COLD” will be described. When a voltage is applied to the light source 32 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown), for example, white light is emitted from the lower light source 32B. The light emitted from the lower light source 32B is reflected from the lower light source 32B directly and by the reflector 31, is diffused by the lower diffusion sheet portion 33B, and reaches the lower polarizing portion 34B of the first polarizing plate 34.

  Only the white light having the horizontal polarization axis is transmitted through the light that has reached the lower polarizing section 34B, and reaches the lower liquid crystal panel section 35B of the liquid crystal panel 35. The white light reaching the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is emitted without changing the polarization axis when voltage is applied (ON) to the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B. The emitted light reaches the lower color polarizing portion 81B of the first color polarizing plate 81, but is applied to the polarization axis of the “HOT” pattern 66 displayed on the lower color polarizing portion 81B and the lower color polarizing portion 81B. Since the directions of the polarization axes of the reached light are orthogonal, the white light is transmitted as it is, and is emitted to the lower color polarizing portion 82B of the second color polarizing plate 82.

  Since the polarization axis of the light reaching the lower color polarization unit 82B is the same as the polarization axis of the light transmitted through the “COLD” pattern 68, the light transmitted around the “COLD” pattern 68 is blue light. The “COLD” pattern 68 transmits white light. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, blue “COLD” can be recognized on a white background.

(Display of “HOT”)
Next, the case where the display of the cold / hot display 23 is “HOT” will be described. In this case, until the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is reached, the display on the cold / warm display unit 23 is the same as the case of “COLD”. The light emitted from the lower light source 32B is diffused by the lower diffusion sheet portion 33B and reaches the lower polarizing portion 34B of the first polarizing plate 34.

  Only the white light having the horizontal polarization axis is transmitted through the light that has reached the lower polarizing section 34B, and reaches the lower liquid crystal panel section 35B of the liquid crystal panel 35. The white light reaching the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B is emitted with the polarization axis twisted by 90 degrees when no voltage is applied to the lower liquid crystal panel unit 35B. It reaches the color polarization part 81B. The light that has reached the lower color polarizing portion 81B of the first color polarizing plate 81 is the polarization axis of the “HOT” pattern 66 displayed on the lower color polarizing portion 81B and the light that has reached the lower color polarizing portion 81B. Since the directions of the polarization axes are the same, white light passing through the “HOT” pattern 66 is converted into red light and transmitted, and the white light is transmitted around the “HOT” pattern 66 without being attenuated. It reaches the lower color polarizing portion 82B of the polarizing plate 82.

  Since the polarization axis of the light reaching the lower color polarization unit 82B is orthogonal to the polarization axis of the light transmitted through the “COLD” pattern 68, the light transmitted around the “COLD” pattern 68 is transmitted without being attenuated. To do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, red “HOT” can be recognized on a white background.

  As in the first embodiment, the price display changing operation is performed by controlling the voltage application to the liquid crystal panel according to the sales situation by a control unit (not shown).

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(A) Since a display unit having a predetermined area can be expressed by a plurality of patterns, the display space can be minimized without reducing the display of each display pattern.
(B) An image of display content can be expressed according to the emission color.
(C) Since it is possible to combine image expression by light emission color and information transmission by characters or the like, it is possible to produce an advertising effect as well as an eye catching effect.
(D) Visibility can be improved by providing an antireflection member on the display unit.
(E) Display content switching can be synchronized with the internal settings of the vending machine, and remote control is possible, so it is not necessary to change the display content on the display device side.
(F) Since the display contents can be switched regardless of the arrangement of the product sample, a cold drink and a hot drink can be arranged next to each other in the same drink.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 13 shows a display device of a vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and shows a front view in which components in front of the diffusion sheet 33 in FIG. 2B are removed. In this embodiment, in the display device 7 according to the first embodiment, the green LED 41G, the red LED 41R, and the blue LED 41B of the upper light source 32A are each three, and the lower light source 32B is also the green LED 41G, Each of the red LED 41R and the blue LED 41B is made into three, and these three LEDs having different colors are combined into one combination, and three sets are respectively arranged in a row in the upper light source 32A and the lower light source 32B. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  According to the third embodiment, the number of LEDs of each color is increased from one to three, so that the front surface of the display pattern can have uniform brightness. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 14 shows a display device of a vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and shows a front view in which components in front of the diffusion sheet 33 in FIG. 2B are removed. In the present embodiment, in the display device 7 according to the first embodiment, the green LED 41G, the red LED 41R, and the blue LED 41B of the upper light source 32A are selectively selected from three colors of green, red, and blue using one LED chip. In addition, the green LED 41G, the red LED 41R, and the blue LED 41B of the lower light source 32B are replaced with the RGB LEDs 91, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. is there.

  According to the fourth embodiment, since three single-color LEDs can be substituted with one RGB LED, the installation space for three LEDs can be reduced to one, and the number of LEDs used can be reduced and saved. Space can be achieved. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the combination of the components between the embodiments can be arbitrarily performed.

  For example, the white light source may be a combination of a yellow LED and a blue LED, or a combination of a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED. A combination of a blue LED and a phosphor that converts blue light into yellow light may also be used. Moreover, what combined ultraviolet LED and red, green, and blue fluorescent substance may be used. Here, the phosphor may be added to the translucent resin member that seals the LED, or may be added to a covering member that covers the outside of the translucent resin member that seals the LED. It may be added to the glass tube.

  As the light source, an LED lamp in which a single LED element is resin-molded, or an LED lamp in which a plurality of LED elements that emit different colors such as R, G, and B are resin-molded can be used.

  The present invention is not limited to vending machines, and may be applied to other devices such as game machines. For example, a plurality of patterns can be selectively displayed on the display unit of a button used in a game machine such as a slot by changing the polarization directions of the plurality of lights.

1 is an external perspective view showing a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The display device which concerns on 1st Embodiment is shown, (a) is a principal part perspective view, (b) is principal part sectional drawing seen from AA of (a). It is a disassembled perspective view of a product sample and a display device. 1 is a front view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which components in front of a diffusion sheet are removed. (A)-(b) is a front view which shows the example of a display in a display apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view except the housing | casing of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the example of a display in the display apparatus corresponding to FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the product sample and display apparatus of the vending machine which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the example of a display by a display apparatus. It is a front view which shows the example of a display by a display apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram operation | movement figure of operation | movement of a price / sold-out display part. It is a conceptual diagram operation | movement figure of operation | movement of a cold / warm display part. It is a display apparatus of the vending machine which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and is the front view which removed the front component from the diffusion sheet of FIG.2 (b). FIG. 9 is a display device of a vending machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view in which a front component is removed from the diffusion sheet of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Vending machine main body 3 Main door 4 Transparent panel 5 Display space 6 Product sample 7 Display device 8 Selection button 9 Cash input part 10 Change return port 11 Electric light board 12 Product sales port 21 Case 22 Display part 23 Cold temperature display unit 31 Reflector 32 Light source 32A Upper light source 32B Lower light source 33 Diffusion sheet 33A Upper diffusion sheet unit 33B Lower diffusion sheet unit 34 First polarizing plate 34A Upper polarizing unit 34B Lower polarizing unit 35 Liquid crystal panel 35A Upper liquid crystal panel Part 35B lower liquid crystal panel part 36 second polarizing plate 36A upper polarizing part 36B lower polarizing part 37 third polarizing plate 37A upper polarizing part 37B lower polarizing part 38 antireflection sheet 38A upper antireflection sheet part 38B lower side Anti-reflective sheet portion 51b “Sold out” pattern 51a “¥ 120” pattern 52b “HOT” pattern 52a “CO D ”pattern 53a“ ¥ 120 ”display 53b“ sold out ”display 54a“ COLD ”display 54b“ HOT ”display 61“ ◯ ”pattern 62“ △ ”pattern 63“ □ ”pattern 64“ × ”pattern 65“ sold out ” Pattern 66 “HOT” pattern 67 “¥ 120” pattern 68 “COLD” pattern 71a “◯” display 71b “□” display 73b “×” display 73a “△” display 80 Display device 81 First color polarizing plate 81A Upper color Polarizing unit 81B Lower color polarizing unit 82 Second color polarizing plate 82A Upper color polarizing unit 82B Lower color polarizing unit 91 RBGLED

Claims (5)

A light source that emits illumination light;
A polarizing plate having the illumination light as polarized light having a polarization axis in a first direction;
A transmissive liquid crystal panel capable of switching a polarization axis of the polarized light to a second direction different from the first direction;
A first transparent plate provided on the optical axis on the output side of the transmissive liquid crystal panel and formed with a first polarization pattern that transmits polarized light having a polarization axis in the first direction; and And a second transparent plate on which a second polarization pattern that transmits polarized light having a polarization axis in the direction is formed. The first polarization pattern transmits light having a polarization direction different from that of the first polarization direction as it is, and light having a predetermined color for light having the same polarization direction as the first polarization direction. Is the first color polarization pattern that only transmits
The second polarization pattern transmits light having a polarization direction different from that of the second polarization direction as it is, and light having a predetermined color for light having the same polarization direction as the second polarization direction. 2. The vending machine display device according to claim 1, wherein the second color polarization pattern transmits only the light.   The vending machine display device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light is white light.   4. The display device for a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the light source comprises an LED or a combination of an LED and a phosphor. The first and second polarization patterns are composed of a combination of two of a plurality of display patterns composed of characters, symbols, figures, etc. indicating money amount, HOT, COLD, sold out, newly released, etc. The display device for a vending machine according to claim 1.