JP2512313Y2 - Product selection switch device for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a product selection switch device suitable for use in an automatic money changer, an automatic vending machine, or the like.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a merchandise selection switch device such as an automatic vending machine, what is generally called a push button type switch device is known. This has a light source such as a neon light bulb or a light emitting diode inside the case body of the device, and when a coin is inserted from the insertion slot of a vending machine etc., these light sources are turned on and reflected in front of the light source. Sold by displaying the characters sold out, stopped, on sale, in exchange, etc., or figures (including symbols) displayed on the display board arranged at a predetermined interval via a mirror, on the surface of the movable push button When the customer is in the middle or exchanging money, the push-button is pressed to turn on the built-in switch so that the intended product is sold or the money is exchanged.

On the other hand, as a product selection switch device, a device using a light reflection type liquid crystal display device as a display means is known.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Among the above-described conventional product selection switch devices, the one described above has a predetermined space between the light source in the case body and the display plate via a reflecting mirror. Since it is indispensable, there is a limit to making the entire device thin, and in order to prevent the internal structure from being seen from the outside via the push button,
Since a semi-transparent thin plate having a dark red color is stacked on the back side of the push button, there is a problem that the display color is limited to this dark red color. Further, this product requires a light source for each product selection switch device and for each display mode, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost, complexity, and a problem that a failure is likely to occur.

The one using the light reflection type liquid crystal display device described later is
Even at night or daytime, if the place where the vending machine is installed is dark or the lighting is not well distributed, there is a problem that it is difficult to see the display indicating that the product is sold out or is on sale. .

The purpose of this invention is to make it extremely thin, and to display various characters, sentences, figures, etc. in various colors using the light source for lighting the displayed product sample. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product selection switch device such as a vending machine, which is configured so that a display such as sold out or being sold can be easily identified even if the place where the vending machine is installed is not sufficiently bright.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a light source for display product sample illumination provided inside an automatic vending machine and the like, and a light source arranged in front of this light source. The liquid crystal display device is a matrix-type liquid crystal display device that transmits light to perform display, and transparent switch means provided in front of the liquid crystal display device.

In this case, the present invention can be configured such that the transparent switch means is a touch switch or a push button type movable switch made of a transparent material.

(Function) When coins are inserted into the vending machine, depending on the presence or absence of the product, the matrix type liquid crystal display device will be displayed with sentences such as "sold out", "on sale", "exchange", etc. A figure or the like is displayed, which is clearly displayed to the outside by a transmitted light from a light source arranged behind the liquid crystal display device, and the transparent switch means arranged in front of the liquid crystal display device is touched or pressed. By doing so, it is possible to purchase a desired product by turning it on and off and exchange money according to the required denomination. Also, color display of various colors can be performed by means such as using a color liquid crystal as a liquid crystal, or using a color filter or a color plate.

(Embodiment) The drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which, under the product sample display window 2 provided on the door 1a of the vending machine 1 in FIG. 1, each displayed product sample 2a, 2a ... Corresponding to, a plurality of product selection switch devices 3, 3 ... According to the present invention are installed. 2 to 3 show a part of the product selection switch devices 3, 3 ..., 4 is, for example, a display product sample 2a,
It is a light source using a fluorescent lamp for illumination for 2a .... The light source 4 is installed above the product sample display window 2 so as not to be seen from the outside, and is provided just behind the product selection switch devices 3, 3. Incidentally, 5 is a mounting metal plate, and 6 is a surface plate.

The device main body 7 of the product selection switch device 3 is provided with a plurality of recesses 9 in a horizontal direction on a mounting plate 8 made of a transparent material that is long and doubles as a polarizer. A touch switch consisting of a transparent sheet switch, which is an example of the switch means 11, and a transparent glass polarizer 13 to which a transparent glass shatterproof film 12 is attached are stacked and housed, and the periphery thereof is attached to a mounting plate 14 The mounting plate 8 provided with a plurality of recesses 9 and the mounting plate 14 constitute a case body, which has a total thickness of about 5 to 6 mm.

In the embodiment, the device main body 7 has a structure in which the liquid crystal display device 10, the transparent switch means 11 and the like are incorporated in the plurality of recesses 9 provided in the mounting plate 8, but the mounting plate having one recess is provided. Alternatively, the liquid crystal cells and the like may be incorporated one by one in a case body configured by a mounting plate that covers the upper surface thereof.

The mounting metal plate 5 and the surface plate 6 are provided with rectangular through holes 5a and 6a, respectively, which substantially match the size of the liquid crystal display device 10 so as not to block light rays from the light source 4.

The liquid crystal display device 10 is of a matrix type and a light transmission type, and has a structure as shown in FIG. That is, on the facing surfaces of the pair of glass substrates 16 and 17 facing each other,
Transparent matrix electrodes 18 and 19 are provided, one matrix electrode 18 being a scanning electrode and the other matrix electrode.
19 constitutes a signal electrode. Each matrix electrode 18,19
Is further provided with molecular alignment films 20 and 21 on the opposite surfaces thereof, and a nematic liquid crystal 23, for example, is enclosed in a small gap surrounded by the matrix electrodes 18 and 19 and the yoke materials 22 and 22. There is. In this embodiment, the nematic liquid crystal 23 has a twist (TN) arrangement in which the long axes of liquid crystal molecules are continuously twisted by 90 ° between the molecular alignment films 20 and 21.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when coins are inserted from the coin slot 1b of the vending machine 1, when the displayed product samples 2a, 2b ... A voltage is applied to each of the matrix electrodes 18 and 19 of the liquid crystal display device 10 provided corresponding to the display product sample 2a, 2a ..., and the nematic liquid crystal 23 becomes, for example, a figure of an arrow and a character shape of "On sale". It becomes transparent, and when there is no stock, it becomes transparent in the same way as the arrow and "Discontinued" or "Sold out", so the light from the light source 4 is transmitted to this transparent part. , Which is displayed in front. Then, when the transparent switch means 11 corresponding to the desired displayed product sample displayed as being on sale is touched with a fingertip, the desired product is delivered to the product delivery port of the vending machine.

At this time, if a color filter 24 is provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display device 10 as shown in FIG. 5, color display of the used color can be performed. This color display may be performed by using a color liquid crystal or by using a light-transmitting color plate instead of the color filter.

Although the matrix electrodes are used in the above embodiments, they may be constituted by segment electrodes or fixed pattern electrodes. In this case, the display form is significantly limited.

As for the display system, the above-mentioned embodiment is the TN type, but it is optional to use the GH type, ECB type, DC type, and DS type.

Next, the transparent switch means 11 of the above embodiment is a touch switch using a transparent sheet switch, but the transparent switch means 11 has a convex cross-section as shown in FIG. A push button 30 made of transparent material and this push button
Allows automatic return of 30 back and forth, e.g. spring 3
1,31 and conductive sheets 33,3 attached to both ends of the push button 30
The movable switch 35 configured by 3 and the conductive sheets 34, 34 provided on the mounting substrate 32 may be used.

Also, if circumstances permit, a push button 30 made of transparent material
A movable switch composed of a tact switch or a diaphragm switch that is mechanically turned on and off via a switch may be used.

(Effect of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, various forms and types of displays can be performed, the display form can be easily changed on the way, and the light source can display products. Since the lighting means for the sample is used, this makes it possible to make the entire body of the device thinner, in combination with the thin liquid crystal display device. Alternatively, the internal volume of the vending machine can be increased. Further, since a special light source as a product selection switch device is not required, the number of failures is small and the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly.

Further, by providing a color filter, a color liquid crystal or a color plate in the front part of the liquid crystal display device, it is possible to perform color display of various colors.

Furthermore, since a light-transmissive liquid crystal is used, even if the vending machine is placed in the dark, the liquid crystal display device from the light source,
By the light emitted forward through the transparent switch means, it is possible to easily confirm the sold or sold display and the position of the transparent switch to be pressed, and there is no mistake.

When the transparent switch means is a touch switch, it is only necessary to touch it with a fingertip, and when it is a movable switch, the product selection switch can be turned on by pressing it with a fingertip. . In any case, since the transparent switch means is located ahead of the liquid crystal display device, it is compact as a whole and can greatly contribute to downsizing and thinning of the product selection switch device.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine in which the present invention is implemented, FIG. 2 is a front view of a product selection switch device according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing a liquid crystal cell portion, FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view showing another embodiment of the product selection switch, and FIG. 6 is another transparent switch means. It is a plane sectional view showing an example. 1 …… Vending machine 2a …… Display product sample 4 …… Light source 10 …… Liquid crystal display device 11 …… Transparent switch means (touch switch) 18,19 …… Matrix electrode 23 …… Nematic liquid crystal 24 …… Color filter 30 ...... Push button 35 …… Movable switch

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H01H 36/00 H01H 36/00 E

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A light source 4 provided inside a vending machine or the like for illuminating a displayed sample product, and a matrix type light transmitting element arranged in front of the light source 4 for transmitting light from the light source 4 for display. 1. A product selection switch device for a vending machine or the like, characterized by comprising a liquid crystal display device 10 of a mold and a transparent switch means 11 provided in front of the liquid crystal display device 10. 2. A utility model registration claim, characterized in that the transparent switch means 11 comprises a touch switch.
Item selection switch device such as the vending machine according to the item. 3. A commodity selection switch device for a vending machine or the like according to claim 1, wherein the transparent switch means 11 comprises a movable switch 35 made of a transparent material.