JP2723623B2 - Vending machine product selection device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine product selection device using a photoelectric switch.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vending machines have been demanded to have various appearance designs and shapes in order to appeal to which product when viewed from the outside. However, in general, a product selection button is of a push button type, and from the viewpoint of external design, it cannot be said to be a preferable structure. Accordingly, the applicant has considered that a commonly used touch switch may be used in a vending machine. The structure is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Reference numeral 1 denotes a photoelectric switch;
Consisting of Reference numeral 4 denotes a display product, and reference numeral 5 denotes a back panel also serving as an advertising board. Reference numeral 6 denotes a transparent acrylic plate, which is arranged on the front surface of the photoelectric switch 1.

The operation of the product selection device for a vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

When buying a product, a finger or a hand is placed in front of the photoelectric switch 1 and the reflected product of the light emitting element 2 is applied to the light receiving element 3 to sell the selected product.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, there is a risk that the light of the light emitting element 2 is reflected on the acrylic plate 6 and a product is always selected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a product selection device that prevents light from a light emitting element of a photoelectric switch from reflecting and hitting a light receiving element.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a product selection device for a vending machine according to the present invention comprises an angle of one light emitting element, one light receiving element receiving light of the light emitting element, and a transparent plate. With a structure having

According to the present invention, even if the light of the light emitting element hits the transparent plate and is reflected by the above configuration, the light is reflected toward the position where the light receiving element is not located due to the refractive index of the plate.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a vending machine door, which is provided with a transparent acrylic plate 8 and a product outlet 9 on the front surface. Plate 8
The rear plate 10 is arranged at the rear of the rear panel with an effective size enough to accommodate the displayed product 4. Reference numeral 11 denotes a photoelectric switch, which is disposed below the exhibit 4 and includes a light emitting element 12 and a light receiving element.
13 is arranged so that the optical axis thereof is inclined with respect to the plate 8.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the configuration when an experiment was actually performed.
This is an example in which the light emitting element 12 and the light receiving element 13 are fixed to the plate 8 and the measurement is performed at an angle θ and a distance D. That is, when the angle becomes equal to or larger than a certain angle θ, the amount of received light becomes constant regardless of the distance between the plate 8 and the light emitting element 12 and the light receiving element 13. That is, the distance D
It was found that the angle θ not affected by the reflected light was 10 degrees or more between 10 and 30 mm.

The operation of the merchandise selection device for a vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, when coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot on the front of the vending machine, the vending machine enters a waiting state for a selection signal from the product selection device 7. Next, of the light emitted from the light emitting element 12 attached at the angle θ, the light reflected on the transparent acrylic plate is:
Although the light does not hit the light receiving element 13 and does not output a selection signal, light reflected on the finger or hand of the product purchaser hits the light receiving element 13 and operates to output a selection signal to sell the selected product.

Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, one light-emitting element and one light-receiving element are attached at an angle to the front transparent plate to reduce the influence of light reflected from the transparent plate. No malfunctions occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a machine equipped with a product selection device of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view near the product selection device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an arrangement relationship at the time of an experiment supporting the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between an amount of received light and an angle in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a product selection of a conventional vending machine. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a product selection device of a conventional vending machine. 12: Light-emitting element, 13: Light-receiving element, 4: Display product, 8
... Acrylic board, 10 ... Back board.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light-emitting element, a light-receiving element disposed adjacent to the light-emitting element for receiving reflected light of light emitted from the light-emitting element, and front surfaces of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element A product selection apparatus for a vending machine, wherein the relation between the transparent plate and the light emitting element is arranged so that light is obliquely incident.