JP2870087B2 - Push button device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a push button device used as a vending machine for soft drinks, magazines, tickets, and the like.

(B) Prior art FIG. 4 shows a front view of a general soft drink vending machine. A push button b for selecting a product is provided on a front panel a of the vending machine. The conventional push button device is integrated with a switch (not shown) operated by the push button b as an integral unit c, which is directly attached to the front panel a, and its lead wire d is used for controlling the inside of the vending machine. It was connected to a circuit (see FIG. 5).

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Pushbutton devices of vending machines are often operated roughly and are easily damaged. For this reason, frequent maintenance inspections are performed and the push button device is repaired if it is damaged. However, in the above push button device, it is necessary to replace the entire unit c with a new one, and the lead wire d Since the connection has to be redone, there is a problem that it takes time and effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a push button device that facilitates maintenance of a vending machine.

(D) Means and Action for Solving the Problems The configuration of the push button device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponding to one embodiment.
A push button 3 provided on the base 2 so as to be able to advance and retreat and having a reflection surface 33 and a pressing portion 34; an elastic body 5 for urging the push button 3 forward; and a base end 61 supported by the base 2 When the other end 63 covers the reflection surface 33 and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the push button pressing portion 34, the other end 63 is separated from the reflection surface 33 to expose the reflection surface 33. Spring 6
And a photoelectric sensor 8 that is located behind the base 2 and that detects the exposed reflection surface 33.

In the push button device of the present invention, if the push button 3 is pressed,
The leaf spring 6 is elastically deformed to expose the reflection surface 33, and the photoelectric sensor 8 is turned on. By turning on the photoelectric sensor 8, the control circuit of the vending machine can know that the push button 3 has been pressed. When the hand is released from push button 3, push button 3
Is returned to the original position by the elastic body 5, the leaf spring 6 also returns to the original state, that is, the state of covering the reflection surface 33 due to its elasticity, and the photoelectric sensor 8 is turned off. The photoelectric sensor 8 and the push button 3 are completely separated mechanically, and the operating force of the push button 3 does not reach the photoelectric sensor 8. Therefore, even when the vending machine is roughly operated, only the part on the base 2 side needs to be replaced with a new one at the time of repair, and maintenance of the vending machine becomes easy.

(E) Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the pushbutton device of the embodiment in an off state and an on state, respectively, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pushbutton device of the embodiment in an off state.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a resin base.
Is attached to the front panel 1 of the vending machine (first
FIG. 3 and FIG. 3). An insertion hole 21 is formed in the base 2, and a cylindrical portion 22 projecting rearward (to the right in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) is formed on the rear surface so as to surround the insertion hole 21. Numeral 24 denotes a nut into which an assembly screw (not shown) is screwed.

The push button 3 and the camp 4 are attached to the base 2. The push button 3 is attached to the base 2 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and when the peripheral portion 31 contacts the contact portion 41 of the cap 4, the push button 3 is moved forward (first
(See FIG. 3, FIG. 3, left direction). The rear protruding portion 32 of the push button 3 passes through the insertion hole 21 and is located inside the cylindrical portion 22. On the rear surface of the protruding portion 32, a high-luminance / retroreflective sheet is adhered to form a reflection surface 33.

A rubber 5 is provided between the push button 3 and the base 2. A peripheral portion 51 of the rubber 5 is fixed on the base 2 by a rubber pressing portion 42 of the cap 4. Rubber 5
Contacts the back surface of the push button 3 and urges the push button 3 forward.

The base end 61 of the leaf spring 6 is attached to the leaf spring fixing portion 23 of the base 2.
Are fixed by appropriate means such as heat staking. The leaf spring 6 is bent at the bent portion 62, penetrates the insertion hole 21 along the rear projecting portion 32, and projects into the cylindrical portion 22. This bend
The pressing step portion 34 of the rear projecting portion 32 contacts the 62.

The rear end 63 of the leaf spring 6 is bent in an L-shape to cover the reflection surface 33.

The switch unit 7 is located behind the base 2. The switch unit 7 includes, for example, a front panel 6
It is fixed on a sub-panel (not shown) provided along the inside of the. The switch unit 7 includes a base 71, a circuit board 72, a cover 73 made of transparent smoke resin, and the like.

On the circuit board 72, a light emitting element (for example, LED) 81 and a light receiving element (for example, photodiode) 82 constituting the microphotosensor 8 are provided. Light-emitting element 81, light-receiving element 82
Faces the reflection surface 33 in front of the cover opening 74.

Another light emitting element 9 is provided on the circuit board 72 (see FIG. 3). The light-emitting element 9 is for displaying, for example, a sold-out state. Light from the light-emitting element 9 passes through the cover 73, and furthermore, a window of the front panel 1.
It can be confirmed from outside the vending machine through 11. Reference numeral 91 denotes a holder for the light emitting element 9. A connector 75 is used for connection with a control circuit of a vending machine.

In the pushbutton device of this embodiment, when no operating force is applied to the pushbutton 3, the reflecting surface 33 is
, The light receiving level of the light receiving element 82 is low and the light receiving element 82 is in the off state.

When the push button 3 is pushed backward, the pressing step 34 is bent.
The leaf springs 6, 6 are elastically deformed so as to open, the rear end 63 is separated from the reflection surface 33, and the reflection surface 33 is exposed rearward (see FIG. 2). The light from the light emitting element 81
, And is incident on the light receiving element 82. Then, the light receiving level of the light receiving element 82 increases, and the micro photo sensor 8 is turned on.

The cylindrical portion 22 and the inner wall of the cover opening 74 block disturbance light and prevent the microphotosensor 8 from malfunctioning.

When the hand is released from the push button 3, the elasticity of the rubber 5 causes the push button 3 to return forward. With the return of the push button 3, the leaf springs 6, 6 also return to their original state due to their elasticity, and the rear ends 63, 63 again cover the reflection surface 33 (see FIG. 1).

Even if a strong force is applied to the push button 3, the push button 3 and the switch unit 7 are mechanically separated, so that damage occurs only on the base 2 side. Therefore, when damage occurs, only the base 2 side needs to be replaced, and there is no need to touch the switch unit 7 and its connection, and repair is easy.

Also, if the sub-panel to which the switch unit 7 is attached is fixed inside the vending machine, and the front panel 1 is opened, the base 2 and the switch unit 7 are separated from each other. Since the number of lead wires connected to the inside of the vending machine is reduced, maintenance and inspection inside the vending machine becomes easy.

(F) Effects of the Invention As described above, the push button device of the present invention includes a base, a push button provided on the base so as to be able to advance and retreat, and having a reflective surface and a pressing portion; The biasing elastic body, the base end of which is supported by the base, the other end of which covers the reflective surface and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the push button pressing portion, the other end is separated from the reflective surface And a leaf spring that exposes the reflective surface, and a photoelectric sensor that is located behind the base and that detects the exposed reflective surface, so that a strong force is applied to the push button. However, this force does not damage the photoelectric sensor. Therefore, only the other parts need to be replaced, and maintenance of the vending machine becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view of an off state of a push button device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an on state of the push button device, and FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a general vending machine, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining a conventional push button device. 2: Base, 3: Push button, 33: Reflective surface, 34: Pressing step, 5: Rubber, 6: Leaf spring, 61: Leaf spring base end, 63: Leaf spring rear end, 8: Micro photo sensor .

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base, a push button provided on the base so as to be able to advance and retreat, having a reflection surface and a pressing portion, an elastic body for urging the push button forward, and a base end supported by the base. When the other end covers the reflective surface and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the push button pressing portion, the other end is separated from the reflective surface, and a leaf spring that exposes the reflective surface; and A push button device, comprising: a photoelectric sensor that is positioned rearward and that detects the exposed reflective surface.