JP3894527B2 - Push button device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push button device such as a product selection switch assembled in a vending machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a push button device in this type of vending machine, for example, the display portion of the push button is illuminated from the back side by light emitted from a light emitting diode (LED), for example, a state where it can be sold by a display such as “◯” mark Alternatively, a non-saleable state is displayed by displaying “sold out” or the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the pushbutton device in the conventional vending machine described above, light emitted from a light emitting diode (LED) provided facing the back side of the pushbutton is directly illuminated on the display unit. For this reason, if there is a distance between the push button and the light emitting diode, the light emitted from the light emitting diode is dispersed, so that the display portion of the push button cannot be illuminated efficiently and brightly. In addition, since the display unit applied to the push button has a configuration in which a display sheet on which characters, patterns, and the like are printed is attached, the number of parts increases and the cost increases.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can efficiently illuminate the display portion of the push button efficiently and can reduce the cost of the entire apparatus by reducing the number of components. An object of the present invention is to provide a push button device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a push button device of a vending machine in which a push button device is mounted in a panel hole opened in a decorative panel of a door that can be opened and closed on the front surface of a machine body, The push button device includes a cylindrical button case member inserted and supported in a watertight manner in the panel hole, a reflector assembled in the button case member, an inner peripheral portion of the button case member, and the reflector. A push button operation member of a translucent elastic body having an outer peripheral edge sandwiched in a watertight manner, and is formed in a central portion on the back side of the front top surface portion of the push button operation member and is inserted into a central insertion hole of the reflector. and the rod actuating member, and the translucent light-guiding member is formed in parallel columns on both sides of the rod-shaped actuating member on the back side of the front top wall respectively inserted into the left and right through holes of the reflector, the respective Respective display portions provided on the front top surface portion corresponding to the light guide member, and push buttons provided on the front top surface portion so as to cover these display portions and face the outside from the front opening portion of the button case member A cover, a housing member assembled to the button case member so as to be positioned behind the push button operation member, and a circuit board fixed in the housing member, the circuit board comprising the push button operation member A switching circuit that is actuated by the rod-like actuating member that is moved backward by a pushing operation of the push button cover that resists the elastic force, and a back surface that is formed on a non-convex surface of each of the light guide members inserted into the left and right insertion holes A light emitting member provided opposite to the rear is provided, and the front top surface portion of the push button operation member facing the front side of each light guide member is a convex curved surface Form, is any pushbutton device light lighted light emitting member is configured to display the display portion corresponding through corresponding light-guiding member by lighting of the light emitting member.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an entire configuration of a vending machine equipped with a push button device, and reference numeral 1 denotes an airframe.
[0015]
A coin insertion slot 4 into which coins or banknotes are inserted is provided at the upper part of the decorative panel 3 of the door 2 that can be opened and closed on the front surface (outer surface) of the machine body 1. A product outlet 6 is provided. In addition, on the inner side of the decorative panel 3 of the door 2, the sales sample products S are displayed in a plurality of stages, and a push button device 10 as a product selection switch is provided for each sample product S for each stage. It is installed in correspondence.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the decorative panel 3 of the door 2 is provided with a plurality of panel holes 7 arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction at each stage, and a push button device 10 is provided in each of these panel holes 7. It is installed.
[0017]
The push button device 10 has a cylindrical button case member 11 inserted corresponding to each panel hole 7, and on the opening end side of the front opening 11 a of each button case member 11, The flange member 12 is integrally formed as an overhang. The flange member 12 is composed of a belt-like plate 121 extending in series along each panel hole 7 of the decorative panel 3. On the back side of the belt-like plate 121, each button case member 11 is formed so as to protrude rearward. Each button case member 11 is formed integrally with the belt-like plate 121, and its The surface peripheral portion 121a of the belt-like plate 121 is chamfered in a tapered shape.
[0018]
Each of these button case members 11 is inserted into each panel hole 7 from the front of the decorative panel 3 of the airframe 1 through a seal member P in a watertight manner, and an annular grip is provided on the inner periphery of the front portion. A piece 13 is protruded, and a pair of upper and lower locking holes 14, 14 and 15, 15 are provided on the outer peripheral body portion thereof so as to open to the front and rear portions, respectively.
[0019]
A fitting member 16 is arranged in the button case member 11 by fitting it from the rear side of the decorative panel 3, and a pair of upper and lower check claws 17, 17 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the fitting member 16. The check claws 17, 17 are detachably locked in locking holes 14, 14 provided corresponding to the button case member 11, so that the fitting member 16 in the button case member 11 can be attached. Assembling is possible, and insertion holes 18, 19, and 19 are provided through the central portion and the left and right portions, respectively.
[0020]
The button case member 11 is provided with a push button operation member 20 in front of the fitting member 16. This push button operation member 20 has an elastic body 21 having a mountain-shaped cross section made of translucent elastic resin such as silicon rubber, and the elastic body 21 is movable in the front-rear direction by its elastic deformation. It is assembled.
[0021]
That is, the elastic body 21 forming the push button operation member 20 has a top surface portion 21a having a flat front surface, and a rod-like operation member 22 formed on the rear surface side so as to extend rearward toward the central portion. , a pair of parallel pillars shaped light guide member 23A which is formed by extending the right and left of the actuating member 22, and a 23B are integrally provided, respectively. Each of the pair of light guide members 23A and 23B has a flat back surface.
[0022]
The operating member 22 provided in the elastic body 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 18 in the center of the fitting member 16, while the light guide members 23 </ b> A and 23 </ b> B are arranged on the left and right sides of the fitting member 16. In particular, the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 19 and 19 are arranged around the light guide members 23A and 23B and the light guide members 23A and 23B, which will be described later. The periphery of the gap between the light emitting members 32A and 32B is covered in a cylindrical shape so that the light L of the light emitting members 32A and 32B to be described later can be used as a reflector so as to guide the light more efficiently. It is what has become.
[0023]
Further, the outer peripheral edge portion 21 b of the elastic body 21 is fitted from the holding piece 13 protruding from the inner peripheral portion on the front opening 11 a side of the button case member 11 and the rear opening 11 b side of the button case member 11. The fitting member 16 is tightly fixed and assembled so as to prevent rainwater and the like from entering the interior of the decorative panel 3 from the front opening 11a of the button case member 11 by holding the fitting member 16 in a watertight manner.
[0024]
Further, a push button cover 24 made of a transparent hard resin material having a cap shape is provided on the top surface portion 21a of the elastic body 21 forming the push button operation member 20, and the push button cover 24 is formed of a button case. By facing the outside from the front opening 11a of the member 11 and moving it backward against the elastic force of the elastic body 21 by the pressing operation, the actuating member 22 is moved toward the circuit board 30 described later. ing.
In this case, the push button cover 24 is omitted by coating the top surface portion 21a of the elastic body 21 forming the push button operation member 20 with a hard resin or molding the top surface portion 21a itself of the elastic body 21 with the hard resin. It is also possible to do.
[0025]
In the pushbutton device 20 of the present invention, the top surface portion 21a facing the light guide member 23 of the elastic body 21 is formed as a convex curved surface as shown in FIG. 42 can be easily seen from an oblique direction, and at the same time, the printability on the top surface portion 21a is improved.
[0026]
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral part of the button case member 11, a housing member 25 is inserted and fitted from the rear side of the decorative panel 3, and the rear side inner peripheral body part and the front side outer peripheral body part of the housing member 25 are arranged. A pair of upper and lower check claws 26, 26 and a check claw 27A are provided. The check claws 26 and 26 of the front outer peripheral body part are detachably engaged with the locking holes 15 and 15 provided in the rear outer peripheral body part of the button case member 11 so that the housing member 25 is fitted. It can be assembled to the button case member 11 with the joint member 16 in between and positioned behind the push button operation member 20.
[0027]
A fixing member 28 having a U-shaped cross section is fitted on the outer periphery of the housing member 25 from the rear side of the decorative panel 3, and a locking hole 29 is provided on the upper side of the fixing member 28. The locking hole 29 is detachably locked to a check claw 27 provided on the outer peripheral body of the front side of the housing member 25 so that the fixing member 28 is fitted to the button case member 11 through the panel hole 7. At the time of this assembly, the seal ring member P is sealed by being squeezed into the panel hole 7 so that the button case member 11 is closely attached from the front side of the decorative panel 3 It is supposed to be fixed.
[0028]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a locking portion 27B is provided in the housing member 25, and the circuit board 30 is fitted and fixed to the locking portion 27B. The circuit board 30 includes a switching circuit 31 in which an operation member 22 provided to extend to the back side of the elastic body 21 of the push button operation member 20 is located, and an elastic body 21 forming the push button operation member 20. Light-emitting members 32A and 32B made of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided in which the provided light guide members 23A and 23B pass through the insertion holes 19 and 19 of the fitting member 16 and correspond to each other.
[0029]
That is, the switching circuit 31 of the circuit board 30 has a conductive portion at the tip of the actuating member 22 that moves backward by pressing the push button cover 24 against the elastic force of the elastic body 21 of the push button operating member 20 (see FIG. Shimese not) is in contact, which makes closed switching circuit 31 is short-circuited, by the opening operation by releasing the pressing, by actuating member 22 is elastically restored to the front so as to be separated from the switching circuit 31, The switching circuit 31 is in an open state.
[0030]
In addition to the switching mechanism that turns on the switch by short-circuiting the switching circuit 31 formed on the circuit board 30 in this way, a mechanically opened / closed switch such as a tact switch is arranged on the circuit board 30. It may be provided and pressed by the operating member 22.
[0031]
Further, the switching circuit 31 and the light emitting members 32A and 32B of the circuit board 30 are connected to a controller (not shown) of the vending machine 1, and display printing indicated by “◯” described later by the controller. The light emitting member 32A corresponding to the display unit 41 of the layer 40 is turned on to display the state in which the product can be sold.
[0032]
On the other hand, the light emitting member 32B corresponding to the display part 42 of the display print layer 40 displayed as “sold out” is turned on to display the unsaleable state of the product. When the light emitting member 32A or 32B is turned on, it is guided toward the top surface portion 21a side of the elastic body 21 of the push button operation member 20 positioned forward through the light guide members 23A and 23B.
[0033]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, a display print layer 40 by, for example, print printing is applied to the top surface portion 21a of the elastic body 21 of the push button operation member 20, and this display print layer 40 is provided with one light guide member 23A. And a “sold out” display unit 42 corresponding to the other light guide member 23B. The display portions 41 and 42 are formed by, for example, printing out characters or patterns with black ink and then printing with solid ink with red ink. When one of the light emitting members 32A and 32B is turned on, “Sold out” is displayed in red to indicate whether it can be sold or cannot be sold.
[0034]
In this case, the display printing layer 40 can be printed on the back side of the push button cover 24, and the display unit 41 is printed in a different color such as green and the display unit 42 is red, or The light emitted from each light emitting member 32A, 32B can be color-coded into different emission colors such as green or red. In particular, when the colors of the light emitting members 32A and 32B are different, since the light guide members 23A and 23B are formed corresponding to each other, the light emission color is surely guided to the display units 41 and 42. The colors do not interfere with each other.
[0035]
In order to attach the push button device 10 according to the present invention to the decorative panel 3 of the machine body 1, first, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the push button cover 24 and the push button operation are placed in the button case member 11. After the member 20 and the fitting member 16 are assembled in order from the rear opening 11b side, the front assembly 100 is inserted into the panel hole 7 of the decorative panel 3 from the front through the seal ring member P and inserted.
[0036]
On the other hand, after the circuit board 30 is fitted and fixed in the housing member 25 and assembled by the fixing member 28, the rear assembly 200 is assembled from the rear side of the decorative panel 3 toward the panel hole 7. Then, by inserting and fitting the housing member 25 of the rear assembly 200 into the button case member 11 of the front assembly 100, the front and rear assemblies 100, 200 are assembled with the decorative panel 3 in between. It has a configuration that is integrally formed.
[0037]
In the embodiment of the push button device according to the present invention described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the elastic body 21 of the push button operation member 20 is formed in a cross-shaped mountain umbrella shape in which the top surface portion 21a is a flat surface. Although the light guide member 23 integrally formed extending rearward from the top surface portion 21a has a rod-like shape made of a thick body portion, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. The base portion 23a side is formed so as to taper toward the front side, and the light L from the light emitting member 32 is diffused forward at the root portion 23a of the light guide member 23, whereby the display portions 41 and 42 of the display print layer 40 are displayed. As a result, the irradiation area can be increased, and the moldability and strength can be improved.
[0039]
Furthermore, as another embodiment of the push button operation member 20, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear end surface 23b of the light guide member 23 is formed in a spherical shape, and the light emitting member 32 is covered with the recess 23b. Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting member 32 is efficiently collected, and the display portions 41 and 42 of the display print layer 40 can be illuminated more brightly.
[0040]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the invention according to claim 1 is a translucent elastic in which the button case member is inserted and supported in a watertight manner in a panel hole formed in the decorative panel and forms a button operation member. Since the body is watertightly assembled to the button case member, the translucent elastic body has both the function of the button operation member and the waterproof function. A button device can be achieved. The light emitted from each light emitting member is guided forward by the light guide members inserted into the left and right insertion holes toward the corresponding display unit, and the light emitted from the light emitting member at that time Combined with the effect that the diffused light is efficiently guided forward by the role of the reflector by the left and right insertion holes, thereby achieving a push button device that can clearly indicate the display part by light emission when an LED is adopted as the light emitting member It will be possible. Thus, by having both waterproofing and display illumination, it becomes suitable as a push button device of a vending machine exposed to wind and rain.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a vending machine equipped with a push-button device.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of the push button device in part A of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line II in FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part taken along the line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of the push button operation member.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of the push button operation member.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an example of the shape of the push button operation member.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of the push button operation member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pushbutton apparatus 11 Button case member 16 Fitting member (reflector)
19 Insertion hole 20 Push button operation member 21 Elastic body 21a Top surface portion 23A Light guide member 23B Light guide member 24 Push button cover 30 Circuit board 31 Switching circuit 32 Light emitting member 32A Light emitting member 32B Light emitting member L Light

Claims (1)

A push button device of a vending machine in which a push button device is attached to a panel hole established in a decorative panel of a door that can be opened and closed on the front surface of the machine body, the push button device being watertight in the panel hole A cylindrical button case member inserted and supported, a reflector assembled in the button case member, and a translucent light whose outer peripheral edge is sandwiched between the inner peripheral portion of the button case member and the reflector in a watertight manner A push-button operating member of the elastic elastic body, a rod-like actuating member that is formed in the central portion on the back side of the front top surface portion of the push button operating member and is inserted into the central insertion hole of the reflector , and on the back side of the front top surface portion. and the translucent light-guiding member that is inserted into the left and right insertion holes of opposite sides the reflectors are formed in parallel columns on the rod-shaped actuating member, in response to this each of the light guide member provided on the front top wall Each display unit, a push button cover provided on the front top surface so as to cover the display unit and face the outside from the front opening of the button case member, and to be positioned behind the push button operation member A housing member assembled to the button case member, and a circuit board fixed in the housing member. The circuit board is formed by pressing the push button cover against the elastic force of the push button operation member. A switching circuit that is operated by the rod-like operating member that moves backward, and a light-emitting member that is provided facing the back of the rear surface formed on the non-convex surface of each light guide member that is inserted into the left and right insertion holes. The front surface of the push button operation member facing the front side of the light guide member is formed in a convex curved surface, and any one of the light emitting members is turned on. Light lighted light emitting element Te is configured to display the display portion corresponding through corresponding light-guiding member pushbutton device.

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