JPH03196431A - Push button device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To limit the breakage to an operation unit and facilitate repair by bending a plate spring with a pressing section when a cap is pushed, and moving a magnet provided on the plate spring to a hole element to operate a switch unit. CONSTITUTION:When a cap 3 is pushed, it is rotated backward, and a plate spring 4 is pressed by a press section 3d and bent to be warped backward. When a magnet 5 is moved to a bole element 7a near the preset distance, a switch unit 7 is operated. A slant section 2b is formed on an opening section 2a, when the cap 3 is rotated and the bottom face 3e is brought into contact with the slant section 2b, the rotation is stopped. When a strong force is applied to the cap 3, the breakage is limited to an operation unit 1 because no mechanical connection exists between the operation unit 1 and the switch unit 7. When the breakage occurs, only the operation unit 1 is required to be replaced, and repair is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a push button device applied to vending machines for soft drinks, magazines, train tickets, etc.

(b) Prior art FIG. 3 shows a front view of a soft drink vending machine. On the front panel a of the vending machine, a push button b for product selection is provided.

The conventional pushbutton device is assembled into an integrated unit C together with a switch (not shown) operated by the pushbutton b, and is attached directly to the front panel a, and its lead wire d connects to the control inside the vending machine. connected to the circuit.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Push button devices in vending machines are often operated roughly and are easily damaged. For this reason, frequent maintenance inspections are performed and the pushbutton device is repaired if it is damaged. However, with the above pushbutton device, it is necessary to replace the entire unit C with a new one, and the lead wire d There was a problem in that it was time-consuming because the connection had to be made again.

The present invention was made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a push button device that is easy to maintain for a vending machine.

(d) Means and Function for Solving the Problems The configuration of the push button device of the present invention will be explained using FIG. 1 corresponding to one embodiment. , is pivoted so as to be rotatable back and forth, and its front portion 3
b is a cap 3 protruding forward from the switch cover opening 2a, and its base end 4a is the rear surface 2c of the switch cover.
a temporary spring 4 which is fixed to the rear part 3c of the cap 7 and bends and deforms backward when pressed by the rear part 3c of the cap; and a switch unit which is located apart from the rear surface of the switch cover and operates in response to the approach of the tip 4b of the leaf spring. 7.

In the push button device of the present invention, the switch unit 7 is not subjected to the mechanical operating force of the cap 3, and only the switch cover 2, cap 3, and leaf spring 4 are damaged. Therefore, when repairing, only the switch cover 2 needs to be replaced with a new one, making maintenance of the vending machine easy.

(E) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the push button device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the main part of the operation unit 1 of the actual flow-side push button device.

The operation unit 1 is formed by providing a switch cover 2 with a cap 3 and a plate spring 4, and is attached to a front panel 6 of the vending machine. The switch cover 2 has an opening 2a passing through it from front to back. The side surface of the cap 3 is formed into a substantially I7 shape, and a pair of bottles 3a, 3a protrude left and right from the upper part of the cap 3. This bottle 3a, 3
a is pivotally supported by pivot pieces 2d, 2d protruding from the rear surface 2C of the switch cover, and the cap 3 is attached to the bin 3a,
Rotates back and forth around 3a.

The front portion 3b of the cap 3 passes through the opening 2a and projects forward, that is, to the outside of the vending machine.

-4. A pressing portion 3d is formed at the rear portion 3C of the cap 3.

A pair of plate-shaped fixing pieces 2e, 2e are provided on the switch cover rear surface 2C at a position below the opening 2a. These fixed pieces 2e, 2e have fixed claws 2f, 2f, 2g, respectively.
, 2g are formed, and the base end 4a of the leaf spring bent into an L-shape is fixed.

The plate spring 4 is in contact with the cap pressing portion 3d. The leaf spring tip 4b is slightly bent forward, and a magnet 5 is fixed to the rear surface.

A sub-panel 8 is provided behind the front panel 6, that is, inside the vending machine, and a switch unit 7 is attached to this sub-panel 8.

A Hall element 7a is provided on the front surface of the switch unit 7. Note that the method of supporting the switch unit 7 is not limited to the sub-panel, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the embodiment pushbutton device will be explained.

In FIG. 1, the cap 3 is normally in the state shown by the solid line, and the distance between the magnet 5 and the Hall element 7a is, for example, about 10 degrees. When the front portion 3b of the cap is pressed, the cap 3 rotates backward, and the pressing portion 3d presses the leaf spring 4, bending it backward. Along with this, the magnet 5 approaches the Hall element 7a, and when it approaches a predetermined distance, the switch unit 7 is turned on (or off).

An inclined part 2b is formed in the opening part 2a, and when the cap 3 is rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the bottom surface 3
e hits the inclined portion 2b, and the cap 3 does not rotate backward any further.

When the finger is released from the front part 3b of the cap, the elastic force of the leaf spring 4 causes the cap 3 to return to its original state. Of course, the magnet 5 also returns to its original position away from the Hall element 7a.

Even if a strong force is applied to the cap 3, since there is no mechanical connection between the operating unit 1 and the switch unit 7, only the operating unit 1 will be damaged. Therefore, in the event of damage, only the operating unit 1 needs to be replaced, and there is no need to touch the switch unit 7 and its connections, making the repair easy. Alternatively, if the sub-panel 8 is fixed inside the vending machine and the operation unit I and the switch unit 7 are separated when the front panel 6 is opened, the front panel 6 and the inside of the vending machine can be connected. Since there are fewer lead wires, maintenance and inspection inside the vending machine becomes easier.

In the above embodiment, the switch unit 7 senses the approach of the magnet 5 using the Hall element 7a, but the switch unit 7 may be configured as a reed switch and the contacts may be opened and closed directly using the magnet. Can be changed.

In addition, the switch unit is a photoelectric type, and the tip of the leaf spring blocks light to activate the switch unit, and the switch unit is a high-frequency oscillation type, and the switch unit is activated by the change in frequency caused by the approach of the temporary spring tip. Configuration is also possible.

(f) As described in detail, the push button device of the present invention is pivotably supported on the switch cover and the rear surface of the switch cover so as to be rotatable back and forth, and the front part thereof is forward of the switch cover opening. a cap that protrudes from above, a plate spring whose base end is fixed to the rear surface of the switch cover and bends and deforms rearward when pressed by the rear part of the cap, and a plate spring that is located apart from the rear of the switch cover and approaches the tip of the plate spring. Since it is equipped with a switch unit that operates in response to
Even if the leaf spring is damaged, the switch unit will not be damaged. Therefore, only the switch cover side needs to be replaced, which has the advantage that maintenance of the vending machine is easy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a push button device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of an operating unit of the push button device, and FIG. Figure 4
The figure is a sectional view illustrating a conventional pushbutton device. 2: Switch cap - 3: Cap, 4: Plate spring, 5: Magnet, Anis inch unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) On the switch cover and the back of this switch cover,
A cap that is pivotably supported to be rotatable back and forth and whose front part projects forward from the switch cover opening, and whose base end is fixed to the rear surface of the switch cover and is bent and deformed rearward when pressed by the rear part of the cap. A push button device comprising: a leaf spring; and a switch unit that is located apart behind the switch cover and operates in response to the approach of the tip of the leaf spring.