JP2542908B2 - Vending machine product selection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a product selection device for a vending machine.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, a product selection device in a vending machine is provided with an operation panel on the front surface of the vending machine body, and a large number of button windows are opened in the operation panel, and selection buttons are movably provided in the button windows. By moving the selection button from the front, the selection switch provided at the rear of the selection button is pressed to operate the selection switch, which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-195886. ing.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such conventional technology, since the button window for the selection button is opened on the operation panel provided on the front surface of the main body of the vending machine, rainwater or the like flows into the main body from the button window. There was a problem that it would invade and adversely affect electrical equipment such as selection switches. Further, in recent years, the vending machine tends to have a larger product exhibition room installed on the front surface of the main body in order to improve customer attraction, but due to the existence of an operation panel for arranging selection buttons, the product exhibition room The size and position of the product are limited, and the display position of the product sample in the product display room is also limited to the position corresponding to the selection button arranged on the operation panel, resulting in uniform layout and display. There was a problem.

According to the present invention, therefore, the selection switch can be operated without opening the button window to prevent rainwater and the like from entering the main body, and the selection switch can be arranged relatively freely. A product selection device for a vending machine is provided.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is an automatic vending machine provided with a product display room on the front surface of the main body and a product selection switch for designating a purchased product corresponding to a product sample in the product display room. , A light-transmitting panel is provided on the front surface of the main body, and the product selection switch including a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion is provided in the vicinity of the back surface of the light-transmitting panel so as to face and face the light-transmitting panel. The merchandise selection switch is made operable by bringing the detected object closer to the part corresponding to the merchandise selection switch from the front side.

(E) Action The present invention having such a configuration detects the detection of a finger or the like on the product selection switch section including the light-emitting section and the light-receiving section, which are located from the front surface of the transmissive panel provided on the front surface of the main body to the rear surface of the transmissive panel. When the body is brought close to the product selection switch, the light reflected from the light-emitting section through the transmissive panel to the object to be detected enters the light-receiving section through the transmissive panel and outputs a selection signal.

(F) Embodiments Each drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which (1) is a vending machine body provided with a front door (2) that can be opened and closed, and the front surface of the door (2) is lighted. A product display room (4) whose front surface is covered with a transparent panel (3) that transmits light is provided, and a coin slot (5) and a return lever (6) are provided in the front of a substantially central portion of the product display room (4). ), Etc., and the product exhibition room (4)
A merchandise outlet (7) is provided below.

Reference numeral (8) is a plurality of product selection units arranged in the product exhibition room (4), and a fixing portion (detachably fixed to a mounting portion (10) provided on the back wall (9) of the product exhibition room (4) ( 11) and
An exhibition part (13) that extends forward from the fixed part (11) and displays the product sample (12), and a price display, a sold-out display, and sale of the product provided in front of the display part (13) A display device (14) for displaying a display, a light-emitting portion (15A) and a light-receiving portion (15B) which are located in close proximity to the back surface of the transmissive panel (3) and are located in front of the transmissive panel (3). ) And a terminal part (16) connected to the product selection switch (15) and the display device (14), and attached to and detached from the back wall (9) of the product exhibition room (4). It is arranged as possible.

That is, the fixing part (11) is provided with a hook-shaped locking piece (11A) on the upper and lower sides, respectively, and the locking piece (11A) is attached to the mounting part (10).
As a result, the product selection switch (15) is selected so that the product selection switch (15) is positioned close to and opposite to the rear surface of the transparent panel (3) by detachably locking the locking hole (10A) opening in the back wall (9). The unit (8) can be installed. Then, after this mounting, by connecting the connector (18) extending from the sales control device (17) to the terminal portion (16),
The product selection switch (15) and the display device (14) can be connected to the sales control device (17). Further, the display section (13) was provided on the front surface of the mounting section (13A) for mounting the bottom portion of the product sample (12) and the fixing section (11) so as to sandwich the body section of the product sample (12). It is composed of a support member (13B) so that the product sample (12) can be detachably displayed. Therefore, the product selection unit (8)
Since it can be detachably mounted to the mounting part (10) arbitrarily arranged on the back wall (9) of the product exhibition room (4) and can be connected to the sales control device (17), the mounting part (10) By increasing / decreasing and changing the layout, it is possible to easily increase / decrease and change the layout of the product selection unit (8).

In such a configuration, when a predetermined amount of money is inserted into the coin insertion slot (5), the sales control device (17) displays a panel on the product selection switch (15) of each product selection unit (8) corresponding to a product that can be sold. Outputs a signal and causes the light emitting section (15A) to emit light from the panel. Then, at the time of this light emission, if the object to be detected (B) such as fingers is positioned in front of the product selection switch (15) corresponding to the desired product on the front surface of the transparent panel (3), the light from the light emitting part (15A) is emitted. The light is reflected by the object to be detected through the transmissive panel (3) and is again input to the light receiving section (15B) through the transmissive panel (3). By the input to the light receiving unit (15B), the sales control device (17) determines whether or not the pulsed light output from the light emitting unit (15A) and the light input to the light receiving unit (15B) are in synchronization, and the synchronization is performed. When it is determined that the product selection switch (15) is properly selected, the corresponding product delivery device is operated to deliver the product to the product outlet (7).

(G) Effect of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, a conventional operation panel for arranging a large number of product selection buttons is not required and a button window for installing selection buttons is not required. It becomes unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to form a large product exhibition room and prevent rainwater and the like from entering. Further, the product selection switch is not restricted to the position of the selection button on the operation panel as in the prior art, and has an effect that it can be arranged with a relatively large degree of freedom.

[Brief description of drawings]

Each drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a product selection unit. It is a figure. (1) …… Vending machine body, (3) …… Transparent panel,
(4) …… Product display room, (12) …… Product sample, (1
5) …… Product selection switch, (15A) …… Light emitting part, (15A)
B) …… Light receiving part.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine having a product display room on the front of the main body and a product selection switch for designating a purchased product corresponding to a product sample in the product display room, wherein light is transmitted to the front of the main body. In addition to providing the transparent panel, the product selection switch including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided in a position facing the back surface of the transparent panel and facing the back surface of the transparent panel, and a portion corresponding to the product selection switch from the front surface of the transparent panel. A product selection device for a vending machine, characterized in that a product selection switch can be operated by bringing a detected object close to the product.