JP2838916B2 - Selection button support structure for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a selection button support structure for a vending machine which supports a plurality of selection buttons for selecting products for sale, which are provided on the front of the machine in the left-right direction and is arranged on the front of the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine that sells various kinds of products generally has a front surface which is a door that has an open front surface and covers a front opening of a case in which a product to be sold or a raw material of the product to be sold is stored. It is configured. On this door, there is formed an exhibition room in which an advertisement is displayed with the sale product facing the front, and in this exhibition room, product information for each product to be sold, such as product name, price, on sale, and sold out, is attached. In addition to displaying the product samples displayed on the left and right, the selection buttons for selecting each product are arranged side by side to make it convenient for customers to select products according to this product sample or product information. Is usually provided on the front surface of the camera. The door has an opening on the front side, which has a slot for coins such as coins and bills, an operation unit equipped with a return lever for returning the inserted coins, and an outlet for taking out purchased products. Have been. On the other hand, recently, vending machines with particularly high customer attraction have been demanded.The exhibition room has been widened up and down to brighten the entire front part of the door, and the show room has a wide view window that can be seen from a wide angle in front of the exhibition room. Vending machines with various appearance designs that have a three-dimensional appearance and attract attention are increasing. With an increase in the size of the exhibition room due to the diversification of the design, the arrangement space for the selection buttons is squeezed, and the large selection buttons that are easy to press tend to be smaller. Since the selection button, which has become smaller due to this miniaturization, is too small to firmly fix it alone on the front part of the door, the selection buttons arranged on the left and right toward the front are There is a case where it is supported on the front part of the door via a horizontally long band-shaped body that is embedded and held and screwed and fastened to the front part of the door. In such a case, since the band is generally formed of a synthetic resin, in a vending machine which is installed outdoors or the like and the front surface of which is exposed to direct sunlight or the like and easily becomes high in temperature, the band formed when the temperature becomes high. The internal stress generated in the band due to the difference in thermal expansion between the body itself and the front part of the door to which the band is fastened may cause deformation or breakage. For this reason, a belt-like body is generally configured by connecting a plurality of members like a track just connecting rails, but a conventional example of a product selection button support structure of this kind of vending machine is illustrated. 4 to 6.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the front upper right, and FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the structure of a selection button support structure of a conventional vending machine. Is the front side, and FIG. 6 is an exploded front view of FIG.

In FIGS. 4 and 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a case having a front opening. The front opening of the case 1 is covered with a door 2, and the door 2 and the case 1 constitute a body 3. . On the front surface of the door 2, an advertisement (not shown) for displaying the contents of the product for sale, a product sample 4 and the like are displayed and displayed, and the front surface is covered with a transparent cover 5 made of acrylic resin or the like. Are placed vertically above and below an operation unit 10 provided with input ports 7, 8 for inserting coins and bills, respectively, and a return lever 9 for returning the inserted coins.
One compartment is formed. Product sample 4 in the upper exhibition room 6
Are arranged in two rows in the upper and lower rows and are arranged in parallel on the left and right. Below each row, product information such as the product name, price, on sale, and sold out corresponding to each product sample 4 in this row. Are horizontally arranged side by side, and are held by a pair of holding members 12 arranged on both right and left sides of the display plate 11. The holder 12 is supported by a steel plate support 13 fixed to a steel plate portion in the exhibition room 6, and the support 13 is made to correspond to each product information described on each display plate 11. A horizontally long band-like band 15 formed of a synthetic resin and embedded with a plurality of selection buttons 14 for sale product selection, which is arranged right and left under the leverage display panel 11 toward the front, is a front part of the vending machine. The cover 5 is fastened to the front side of the cover 5 with screws 16 across the cover 5. Further, the band-like body 15 includes a plurality of members 17 divided in the left-right direction,
18, 19, and these members 17, 18, 1
Holes 20 are formed in each of the members 17, 18, and 19, each having a semicircular inner diameter when viewed from the front-rear direction. The right and left ends of a connecting piece 21 made of a polycarbonate resin having left and right ends formed in an outer shape fitted into the hole 20 are respectively fitted into the holes 20 to form members 17, 1.
8, 19 are connected to each other. When the members 17, 18, 19 and the connecting piece 21 constituting the belt-shaped body 15 are covered with the screws 16 on the support 13 and fastened by screws across the support 5, the rear end is so small that the rear end surface does not come into contact with the support 13. A portion is formed on the nut 22 fixedly protruding rearward from the rear end surface of the belt-like body 15 and embedded in the cover 5 and the support 13.
Screw hole 23 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of nut 22
The belt-like body 15 is fixed to the support 13 constituting the body 3 from the front-rear direction by screwing a screw 16 passed through the body 3. As a result, the selection button 14 is supported on the front of the body 3 via the belt-like body 15, and the lower display room 6 on the front of the door 2 is provided.
Below, are provided an outlet 24 for taking out purchased goods, a return opening 25 for returning change, and the like.

[0004] The vending machine constructed as described above operates in such a manner that the customer looks at the product information on the product sample 4 or the display panel 11 and selects a product, and selects the product sample 4 or the display plate of the selected product. When a selection button 14 arranged in accordance with the position of the product information described in 11 is pressed, the customer who is stored inside the vending machine or manufactured inside from the raw material according to the sales command signal is issued. Are sent to the outlet 24.

[0005]

By the way, such a conventional selection button support structure of a vending machine is composed of members 17 and 1.
A hole 20 having a semicircular inner diameter when viewed from the front-rear direction is formed in each of the divided side end surfaces 8 and 19, and both right and left ends of the connecting piece 21 fitted into the hole 20 are also formed with holes. It is formed in a semicircular shape in accordance with the inner diameter shape of 20.
Therefore, when each connecting piece 21 is screwed to the support 13 with the screw 16 at the time of assembly, the rotation of the members 17, 18, and 19 around the screw 16 is prevented from rotating.
Only the contact resistance with 7, 18, 19 becomes
When the positions of 8, 19 are easily displaced during assembly, and the right and left sizes of the selection button 14 are adjusted appropriately to make a sufficient contact surface between the connecting piece 21 and each of the members 17, 18, 19, the band 15 However, there is a problem that is increased in the left-right direction. In addition, polycarbonate resin causes stress destruction or discoloration due to residual stress generated during molding, residual stress generated by screw tightening, internal stress generated by alkaline detergent, etc. The connecting piece 21 made of polycarbonate resin has an inner diameter of the screw hole 23 larger than an outer diameter of the nut 22, and the connecting piece 21 is screwed to the support 13 with the screw 16 through the nut 22. The fastening force of the screw 16 acts on a portion of the connecting piece 21 that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole 20, and there is a possibility that internal stress generated in the connecting piece 21 may cause a stress breakdown. Further, the belt-like body 15 is composed of a plurality of divided members 17, 18, and 19 and a plurality of connecting pieces 21 for connecting these members to each other, so that the number of parts is large, and a large cost is required for parts production and parts management. In short, there is a problem that a selection button support structure for an expensive vending machine is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and inexpensive selection button support structure for a vending machine in which a strip is not displaced or a connecting piece is not broken by its internal stress.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a horizontally long belt-like shape for holding a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a product for sale, which are provided in the front of the body in a lateral arrangement. A belt-like body is provided, and the belt-like body is constituted by a plurality of members divided in the left-right direction, and the left and right ends of each of the connecting pieces are fitted into holes that are opened on the respective divided side end faces adjacent to each other. The left and right ends are fitted into the holes, respectively, and the members are connected to each other. The left and right ends of the connecting piece and the band are screwed and fastened to the fuselage from the front-rear direction with screws. In the selection button support structure of a vending machine that supports the selection button on the front surface of the machine body, the inside diameter of the hole is a square or a polygon when viewed from the front-back direction.

In addition, in addition to the above, the band is fastened to the body with screws via nuts respectively fixed to the ends of the connecting piece and the band, and a longitudinal screw for passing the screw formed on the body is provided. The inner diameter of the hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut.

Further, in addition to the above, one of the left and right substantially half halves of the connecting piece for integrally connecting the other to one of the adjacent ends of the adjacent members may be integrally formed. I do.

Further, in addition to the above, a connecting portion, which is one of the right and left halves of a connecting piece, for connecting a member adjacent to this member to a divided side end of a member constituting left and right end portions of the band-shaped body. Are integrally formed.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a plurality of members formed by dividing a horizontally long belt-like body holding a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a product for sale provided on the front of the body in the left-right direction and adjacent to each other are adjacent to each other. Since the inside diameter of the hole opening on each of the divided side end faces is square or polygonal when viewed from the front-back direction, if the connection piece is sufficiently fastened to the body with screws from the front-back direction, the connection The connecting piece does not rotate, and a member whose left and right ends fitted into the hole fit into the hole does not rotate about the screw, thereby causing no displacement.

In addition to the above, the band is fastened to the body with screws via nuts respectively fixed to ends of the connecting piece and the band, and a longitudinal screw for passing the screw formed on the body is provided. Since the inner diameter of the hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut, the nut can be configured to abut the fuselage when the belt is screwed to the fuselage, and the fastening force of the screw is set between the nut and the fuselage. By acting, the tightening force acting on the portion of the connecting piece that comes into contact with the strip can be made appropriate.

Furthermore, in addition to the above, a connecting portion for connecting the other to one of the adjacent ends of the members adjacent to each other, which is substantially one of the right and left halves of the connecting piece, is integrally formed. It is possible to reduce the number of parts constituting the strip.

Furthermore, in addition to the above, a connecting portion, which is one of the right and left halves of a connecting piece, for connecting a member adjacent to this member to a divided side end of a member forming left and right end portions of the band-shaped body. Are integrally formed, so that the number of parts constituting the belt-shaped body can be reduced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a main part of a structure of a selection button support structure of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The upper side of the figure is a front side, FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view (A), a right side view (B), and a cross-sectional view (C) of a main part of a selection button support structure of a vending machine according to a different embodiment of the present invention. , (B) is a front side on the left side of the figure, and (C) is a front side on the upper side of the figure. FIG. is there. 5 and 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 showing one embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 1 designates a case having a front opening, and the front opening of the case 1 is covered with a door 2; And the case 1 constitute the body 3. On the front surface of the door 2, an exhibition room 6 in which a product sample 4 and the like are displayed and displayed and the front surface is covered with a cover 5 is provided.
Two sections are formed vertically above and below the operation section 10 provided with the same. The product samples 4 in the upper exhibition room 6 are arranged in two rows vertically and horizontally on the left and right, and the product name of each product corresponding to each product sample 4 in this row is provided below each row. A display board 11 on which product information such as the amount of money, during sale, sold out, and the like is horizontally written is held by a pair of holders 12 arranged on both left and right sides of the display board 11. The holder 12 is supported by a steel plate support 13 fixed to a steel plate portion in the exhibition room 6.
A plurality of selection buttons 14 for selecting a product for sale are embedded in the left and right sides below each display plate 11 toward the front corresponding to the product information described in. The body 26 is fastened to the front side of the cover 5 which is the front part of the vending machine with screws 16 across the cover 5. Further, the band 26 is composed of a plurality of members 27, 28, and 29 divided in the left-right direction.
This member 27, 28, 2 adjacent to each other of 7, 28, 29
9 are formed in the respective members 27, 28, and 29, each of which has an opening on each of the divided side end faces and a rectangular inner diameter when viewed from the front-back direction. A member 27 is formed by fitting the left and right ends of the connecting piece 31 made of, for example, an acrylic resin into the hole 30 and fitting into the hole 30. , 28, 29 are connected to each other. The rear end face of the strip 26 is so arranged that when the members 27 and 29 constituting the right and left ends of the connecting piece 31 and the left and right ends of the strip 26 are screwed to the support 13 with the screws 16, the rear end face contacts the support 13 last. Formed on the cover 5 on the nut 22 embedded and fixed by projecting the rear end rearward from
Screw hole 2 with inner diameter larger than outer diameter of nut 22
3 and a screw 16 passed through a screw hole 32 formed on the support 13 and having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the nut 22, and screwed into the support 13 constituting the body 3 from the front-back direction. Is fixed. Thereby, the selection button 14
Is supported on the front surface of the body 3 via a band 26, and at the front of the door 2, below the lower exhibition room 6, there is an outlet 24 for taking out purchased goods, a return port for returning change. 25 and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show different embodiments of the present invention, only the differences from the above-described embodiment of the present invention will be described. Each display board 11
On the lower side, a plurality of selection buttons 14 for selecting a product for sale, which are arranged right and left toward the front corresponding to the product information described on the display board 11 and are formed from a synthetic resin, have a horizontally long band shape. The body 33 is fastened to the support 13 with screws 16 on the front side of the cover 5 which is the front part of the vending machine with the cover 5 interposed therebetween. The belt-shaped body 33 is constituted by a plurality of members 34, 28, and 35 divided in the left-right direction. Is formed.
Further, a member 28 is formed by fitting the left and right ends of a connection piece 31 made of, for example, an acrylic resin, into which the left and right ends are formed in the outer shape fitted into the hole 30 and hardly causing stress destruction. Are connected to each other and the member 3
The connecting portions 36 and 37 having the same outer shape as one of the left and right halves of the connecting piece 31 are formed in the right and left protruding portions 4 and 35 from the end surfaces on the divided side. The members 34 and 35 are connected to the member 28 by fitting into the part 30. Connecting piece 31, connecting parts 36, 3
7 and the members 3 forming the left and right ends of the band 33
When the screws 4 and 35 are screwed to the support 13 with the screws 16, the rear end portion of the belt 33 protrudes rearward from the rear end surface so that the rear end surface finally comes into contact with the support 13, and the nut 22 is embedded and fixed. A screw hole 23 formed in the cover 5 and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the nut 22;
The screw 16 passed through a screw hole 32 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the nut 22 is screwed to fix the band 33 to the support 13 constituting the body 3 from the front-rear direction. The button 14 is supported on the front surface of the body 3 via a band 33.

In the above-described configuration, the vending machine operates in the same manner as the conventional example, but the selection button supporting structure of the vending machine according to the present invention includes the divided side end faces of the members 27, 28 and 29, respectively. A hole 30 having a square inner diameter when viewed from the front and rear is formed at the left and right ends of the connecting piece 31 fitted into the hole 30 and the connecting portion 3.
6 and 37 are formed in a square shape in accordance with the inner diameter shape of the hole 30. Therefore, each connecting piece 31 and connecting parts 36, 3
When the screw 7 is screwed to the support 13 with the screw 16 at the time of assembling, the connecting piece 31 and the connecting portions 36 and 37 are engaged with the hole 30 and the hole 30 is formed in a square shape. 28, 29 and connecting portions 36, 37
The contact surface between the hole 30 and the member 28 can be sufficiently taken even if the left and right length of the hole 30 is smaller than the case where the inner diameter of the hole 30 is semicircular.
The function of restricting the rotation of the 4, 28, 35 with the screw 16 as an axis and serving as a detent function is achieved, and the length of the strips 26, 33 in the left-right direction can be reduced even if the left and right widths of the selection button 14 are the same.
Further, the connecting piece 31 is made of an acrylic resin which is hard to cause a stress breakage or a discoloration due to a residual stress generated during molding, an internal stress generated by screw tightening or the like, or an internal stress generated by an alkaline detergent or the like. Together with
The inner diameter of the screw hole 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut 22.
When the screw 37 is tightened, the rear end face of the nut 22
3 and the connecting piece 31 and the connecting portion 3
The maximum fastening force of the screw 16 when the screws 6 and 37 are screwed to the support 13 with the screw 16 does not act on the connecting piece 31 and the portions of the connecting portions 36 and 37 that are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole 30. However, the fastening force of the screw 16 acting on this portion is properly maintained, and there is no possibility that the connecting piece 31 is broken by internal stress. Further, the band 33 divided into a plurality of members 34, 28, 35 forms connecting portions 36, 37 on the members 34, 35, and the members 34, 35 are connected to the member 28 by the connecting portions 36, 37. Since the connecting pieces 31 can be used,
And the member 28 need not be connected to each other, and the number of parts constituting the strip 33 can be reduced.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a plurality of members formed by dividing a horizontally long belt-like body holding a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a product for sale provided on the front surface of the body in a lateral direction and divided in the left-right direction. The inner diameter of the hole opening at each of the divided side end faces adjacent to each other is rectangular or polygonal when viewed from the front-rear direction, so if the connecting piece is sufficiently fastened to the body with screws from the front-rear direction, The member does not rotate around the screw and no displacement occurs.

Further, in addition to the above, the band is fastened to the body with screws via nuts respectively fixed to ends of the connecting piece and the band, and a longitudinal screw for passing the screw formed on the body is provided. Since the inner diameter of the hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut, the nut can be configured to abut the fuselage when the belt is screwed to the fuselage, and the fastening force of the screw is set between the nut and the fuselage. By acting, the tightening force acting on the portion of the connecting piece that comes into contact with the strip can be made appropriate.

Further, in addition to the above, a connecting portion which is one of the right and left half of the connecting piece for connecting the other to one of the adjacent ends of the adjacent members is integrally formed. It is possible to reduce the number of parts constituting the strip.

Still further, in addition to the above, a connecting portion which connects one of the left and right sides of the connecting piece to connect the adjacent member to the divided side end of the member forming the left and right end portions of the strip. Are integrally formed, so that the number of parts constituting the belt-shaped body can be reduced.

As a result, the assembling member is prevented from rotating and being displaced, and the connecting piece and the connecting portion are not broken by its internal stress. Even if the selection button is the same size, it is small and inexpensive. The effect of being able to provide a selection button support structure for a vending machine is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a configuration of a selection button support structure of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view (A), a right side view (B), and a cross-sectional view (C) of a main part of a selection button supporting structure of a vending machine according to a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the front upper right corner.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a configuration of a selection button support structure of a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 6 is an exploded front view of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Door 3 Body 4 Product sample 5 Cover 6 Exhibition room 7 Input port 8 Input port 9 Return lever 10 Operation part 11 Display panel 12 Holder 13 Support body 14 Selection button 15 Strip 16 Screw 17 Member 18 Member 19 Member 20 Hole 21 Connecting piece 22 Nut 23 Screw hole 24 Outlet 25 Return port 26 Band 27 Member 28 Member 29 Member 30 Hole 31 Connection piece 32 Screw hole 33 Band 34 Member 35 Member 36 Connection portion 37 Connection portion

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of members which are provided on a front surface of a machine body and which are arranged in a horizontal direction and which hold a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a product for sale, and which are formed by dividing the band into a horizontal direction. The left and right ends of the connecting piece, into which the left and right ends are fitted, are respectively fitted into the holes, which are opened on the divided side end faces adjacent to each other. Selection of a vending machine that connects the connecting piece and the left and right ends of the band-shaped body to the machine body with screws from the front-rear direction with screws and supports the selection button on the front surface of the machine body via the band-shaped body. A selection button support structure for a vending machine, characterized in that in the button support structure, the inner diameter of the hole is a square or a polygon when viewed from the front-back direction. 2. The selection button support structure for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said band is fastened to the body with screws via nuts fixed to ends of the connecting piece and the band, respectively. A selection button support structure for a vending machine, wherein an inner diameter of a screw hole in a front-rear direction through which the screw is formed is smaller than an outer diameter of the nut. 3. A selection button supporting structure for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the mutually adjacent ends of the mutually adjacent members is connected to the other, and the left and right sides of the connecting piece are substantially connected to each other. A selection button support structure for a vending machine, wherein one of the connection portions is formed integrally. 4. A connecting button supporting structure for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a member adjacent to this member is connected to a divided side end of a member forming left and right ends of the band. A selection button support structure for a vending machine, characterized in that a connecting portion, which is one of the right and left halves of a piece, is integrally formed.