JPH0331987A - Goods selecting button device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute a miniaturization and, simultaneously, to execute a clear display by opening the switch contact of a print circuit substrate at the time of pressing and operating a push button and always illuminating the light transmitting part of the push button through the opening hole of the print circuit substrate. CONSTITUTION:For a button fitting frame body 7, many openings 11 are provided on a front surface opposedly to respective through holes 6, and a push button 12 supported in projecting a front part from the opening 11 forward is internally provided. Along with it, opening holes 13 are opened in parts corresponding to respective through holes 6, respectively, at the rear side of the push button 12, and a print circuit substrate 15 composed by arranging the switch contacts to be closed based on the pressing operation of the push button 12 in the vicinities of both sides of respective holes 13, respectively, is housed. A light transmitting part 18 to transmit a light in an exposed part is provided on the front surface of the push button 12, and an illuminating device 21 to illuminate the light transmitting part 18 of the push button 12 through the opening hole 13 of the print circuit substrate 15 is provided. Thus, the miniaturization can be executed, and simultaneously, the push button 12 can be clearly displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a product selection button device for a vending machine.

(b) Conventional technology An exhibition room is formed on the front of the main body with a transparent panel on the front, product samples are displayed in the exhibition room, and product selection buttons are arranged on the front corresponding to the product samples. In recent years, emphasis has been placed on display displays in vending machines, and as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-229597, there is a tendency to increase the area of the display room in front of the vending machine. For this reason, the product selection button device in this type of vending machine is required to be miniaturized. The circuit board is housed and attached to the vending machine by a frame body including a structure, and a frame member 11 attached to the frame body via a movable member.
A structure is known that includes a pushbutton member that operates an open/close switch by the movement of this movable member, and has a structure in which these are housed integrally.

Recently, there has also been an exhibition device in which a product sample is formed into a hollow shape using a light-transmitting material, and the product sample is illuminated from inside so that the product sample itself emits bright light. It is disclosed in the publication No.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Although the product selection button device according to the prior art can be made smaller, the push button part becomes smaller, making it difficult to distinguish the push button, especially at night. In some cases, the display of the product selection button becomes unclear, causing problems such as confusion and inconvenience to customers.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a product selection button device for a vending machine that can be configured as a small product selection button device and can be clearly displayed.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention involves attaching a button mounting frame body with pushbuttons arranged side by side to a transparent panel, and attaching a printed circuit board with switches arranged side by side corresponding to each pushbutton behind the pushbuttons. In the vending machine, the switch is movable by pressing the push button, and the push button is provided with a light transmitting portion capable of transmitting light at least in a portion exposed on the front side, and An opening hole is provided in the printed circuit board at a portion corresponding to the rear of the part, and an illumination device is provided for illuminating the light transmitting part of the push button through the opening hole, and a switch contact is provided on the printed circuit board near the opening hole. A conductor is disposed in front of and opposite the contact and closes the switch contact by pressing the push button.

(E) Effects According to the present invention having such a configuration, when a push button is pressed, a conductor comes into contact with a switch contact disposed on a printed circuit board, and the switch contact can be electrically connected and closed. Further, the light transmitting portion of the push button is always dimly illuminated by illumination from an illumination device that passes through an opening in the printed circuit board, and is displayed brightly on the front.

(F) Embodiment The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the product selection button device part, Fig. 2 is a similar cross-sectional plan view, and Fig. 3 is a similar front view. 4 is a front view of the printed circuit board, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vending machine.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a vending machine body, in which an exhibition room 3 whose front surface is covered with a transparent panel 2 is provided at the front, and an input port 4 for inserting coins, etc., and a product takeout port 5, etc. are provided at the bottom. are doing.

A large number of oblong through holes 6 are arranged in a row in the left and right direction at two predetermined positions on the top and bottom of the transparent panel 2. , the button attachment frame 7 is screwed and fixed with screws 8 from the back side of the transparent panel 2. Further, a base 10 for displaying and supporting product samples 9 is fixed in the exhibition room 3 on the back side of the transparent panel 2 corresponding to the button attachment frame 7.

The button mounting frame 7 is provided with a large number of horizontally elongated elliptical openings 11 facing each through hole 6 and opening on the front surface 1i'),
A push button 12 whose front part protrudes forward from the opening II and is supported so as to be movable back and forth is provided inside, and the push button 12
At the rear, horizontally elongated opening holes 13 are provided in portions corresponding to the respective through holes 6, and each frontage hole 13 is provided with a horizontally long opening hole 13.
A printed circuit board 15 having switch contacts 14 which are closed when the push button 12 is pressed is housed near both sides of the switch.

Furthermore, a sealing member 16 made of a transparent and waterproof elastic body is provided between the push button 12 and the printed circuit board 5.
is arranged, and under normal conditions, push button 1 is pressed due to its elasticity.
2 is biased forward and moved backward when the push button 12 is pressed, and when the push button 12 is released, the push button 12 is returned to the front position. This is to prevent rainwater and the like from entering the printed circuit board 15. Further, the seal member 16 is
A conductor 17 made of a conductive material is provided that protrudes opposite to the switch contact 14, and when the push button 12 is pressed, the conductor 17 comes into contact with the switch contact 14 and is in a closed state. It is designed to form a

The pushbutton 12 is the r! J4r: It has an oblong elliptical shape corresponding to the shape of J11, and is made of transparent or green colored transparent acrylic resin material or the like approximately in the center of the part exposed to the front from the button mounting frame 7. A light transmitting section 18 capable of transmitting light is provided, and when the rear end surface is irradiated with light, the front end surface of the light transmitting section 18 is displayed brightly.

Note that the light transmitting portion 18 of the push button 12 may be provided on the entire portion exposed on the front side, or the entire push button 12 may be formed of a member that transmits light, and at least the portion exposed on the front side may be provided. The light transmitting portion 18 is arranged in the area where the light transmitting portion 18 is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the printed circuit board 15 is provided with a printed circuit that connects each switch contact 14 arranged on both sides of each opening hole 13 to a connector 19. It can be connected to the side control circuit.

On the other hand, the base 10 is provided with an opening 10A on the upper surface thereof corresponding to each of the push buttons 12, and for mounting the product sample 9 thereon.
and an opening 0 communicating with each through hole 6 of the transparent panel 2 on the front surface.
10B, and a light-transmissive display section 20 with indications such as "warm" and "cold J" is provided on the top surface that slopes continuously downward to the front. It forms a box shape extending in the left and right direction.

Inside this base 10, there is a fluorescent lamp 2 as a lighting device.
1 is disposed, and the fluorescent lamp 21 illuminates the product sample 9 from inside through each opening 10A and illuminates the display section 20, and also illuminates the opening 10B of the base 10, the through hole 6 of the transparent panel 2, The light transmitting portion 18 of the push button 12 is illuminated through the opening hole 13 of the printed circuit board 15 and through the sealing member 16.

Further, the harness 22 on the main body side, which is detachably connected to one of the connectors, is attached to the lower part of the inner front part of the base 10, as shown in FIG. It is located in

(g) Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is constructed as described above, even when the product selection button device is made thin and small, it is possible to display the push buttons very clearly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the product selection button device, FIG. 2 is a similar cross-sectional plan view, FIG. 3 is a similar front view, and FIG. 4 is a similar cross-sectional side view. 5 is a front view of the printed circuit board, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vending machine. 2...Transparent panel, 7...Button mounting frame, 12.
. . . Push button, 13 . . . Opening hole, 14 . . . Switch contact, 15 .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Attach a button mounting frame body with pushbuttons arranged side by side to a transparent panel, and install a printed circuit board with switches arranged side by side corresponding to each pushbutton behind the pushbuttons, and press the pushbuttons to activate the switch. In the vending machine, the push button is provided with a light transmitting part capable of transmitting light at least in a portion exposed on the front side, and an opening is provided in the printed circuit board in a part corresponding to the rear of the light transmitting part. An illumination device is provided for illuminating the light transmitting portion of the pushbutton through the aperture, and a switch contact is provided on the printed circuit board near the aperture, and a switch contact is provided in front of and opposite to the pushbutton. A product selection button device for a vending machine, characterized by being provided with a conductor that closes a switch contact when the button is pressed.