JPH08235420A - Illuminator for operation push button mounted on electric light panel of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the illuminator for operation push button with which operation push buttons mounted on an electric light panel can be illuminated in various colors by classifying the kinds with simple assembly structure. CONSTITUTION: Concerning operation push buttons 9 for merchandise selection or coin return mounted on an electric light panel 2, a color ring 10 colored by classifying the kinds of push buttons (such as in 'red' for hot beverage or in 'blue' for cold beverage) and a cylindrical light transmitting member 11 overlapped on the back of color ring are fastened by a pawl 9a provided at the main body of push button on the rear face of the electric light panel while being fitted to the outer periphery of that push button. Then, the light of a fluorescent lamp 12 (the illumination lamp of electric light panel) is transmitted through the light transmitting member to the color ring and its projection pattern P is projected in the shape of ring at the outer periphery of push button on the electric light panel.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illumination device for an operation push button for selecting a product or returning a coin, which is mounted on an illumination plate of a cup type beverage vending machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, FIG. 3 shows a front view of an automatic vending machine to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a front door of a vending machine, 2 is an illumination plate made of a translucent resin plate, 3 is a product outlet, and for example, a black color is provided on the plate surface of the illumination plate 2. In the background, sold products are displayed in bright hues, such as patterns and letters, and further, a product selection push button 4, a coin slot 5, a coin return push button 6 and the like are provided on the plate surface. Further, 7 is a bill insertion slot, and 8 is a coin return slot. Then, an illumination lamp (fluorescent lamp) is incorporated behind the lighting plate 2, and the illumination light is applied to the lighting plate 2 to brightly illuminate the pattern and the characters of the sale product drawn on the plate surface. I'm trying to put it out.

The pushbuttons 4 and 6 have their main bodies made of a resin molded product, and have pushbutton switches integrally incorporated therein. It is directly inserted and fixed.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional vending machine having the above-mentioned structure, special illumination is provided for operation push buttons such as the commodity selection push button 4 and the coin return push button 6 mounted on the illumination plate 2. Only the letters stamped on the coin return push button are illuminated with the light from the illumination plate for the lighting board from behind. Therefore, if the color of the push button has a color similar to or close to the background (black color) of the illumination plate, the position of the push button becomes difficult to see in a dark environment such as at night.

On the other hand, in the beverage vending machine, a common vending machine that sells beverages such as coffee as cold beverages and hot beverages is generally used. In contrast to the operation pushbuttons, pushbuttons corresponding to cold beverages are "Blue", push button corresponding to hot beverages is "red", push button for coin return is colored or illuminated so that it can be identified by different colors, and if vending machine users mistakenly select the desired product by push button operation. It is convenient to do without.

As a measure against this point, for example, it is conceivable that the operation push button is colored in advance with a different color depending on the type of product and the function, but in this case, there are many types of parts in terms of manufacturing, and Parts management is troublesome. Therefore, it is desirable that the pushbuttons can be color-illuminated in different colors according to the types of the pushbuttons used in the vending machine, while using the same parts for all operation pushbuttons.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an illuminating device for an operation push button, which has a simple assembly structure and is configured to illuminate the operation push buttons provided on the illumination plate by color. Especially.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an operation push button for product selection or coin return mounted on an illumination plate is fitted on the outer periphery thereof. The back of the lighting board is colored according to the type of push button, and the light guide member that overlaps behind the coloring is fastened together, and the light from the lighting board lighting is colored through the light guide member. It is configured such that the light is guided to and the projected pattern is projected on the outer periphery of the push button on the illumination plate.

Further, in the above structure, the light guide member is a cylindrical body made of a molded product of transparent resin, and the light incident surface at the rear end facing the illumination plate lighting and the front end overlapping with the coloring. It is better to make the light emitting surface of the surface smooth and the other outside surface of the cylinder rough. Furthermore, the coloring and light guide members are placed between the illumination plate and the claws that project laterally from the rear of the push button. Can be clamped and tightened together.

[0010]

When the illuminating lamp (fluorescent lamp) of the lighting board is turned on with the above-mentioned structure, a part of the light of the illuminating lamp is incident from the rear end surface of the cylindrical light guide member, and the rough surface of the inside surface of the cylindrical light guide member. While repeating reflection, the light reaches the front end face and is guided to the coloring ring that is superposed on the front end face. As a result, a ring-shaped color pattern corresponding to the coloring of the color ring is projected on the plate surface of the illumination plate by the light transmitted through the color ring with high brightness so as to surround the outer circumference of the push button. Therefore, the position of the operation push button can be clearly confirmed visually even in dark surroundings such as at night.

Here, if the coloring color of the coloring is individually selected in advance corresponding to the types of cold beverage, hot beverage and beverage, the customer of the vending machine can look at the illumination color of the push button and select the desired product. , It is convenient that you can select hot beverage and cold beverage without mistake.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the drawings of the embodiments, the same members corresponding to FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. In the figure, an operation push button 9 corresponding to the product selection push button 4 and the coin return push button 6 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a claw 9a that laterally extends from the rear part of its main body (resin molded product). After inserting from the front into the mounting hole 2a formed in the plate 2, from the back side of the illumination plate 2, the color ring 10 made of a translucent resin plate with the colored push button main body and a molded product of transparent resin are made. The tubular light guide member 11 is inserted and fixed by the claws 9a so as to be fastened together. In addition, 12 is a fluorescent lamp as an illuminating lamp installed behind the lighting board 2.

Here, the coloring 10 is, for example, "red" for a product selection push button corresponding to a hot beverage, "blue" for a product selection push button corresponding to a cold beverage, and different for a coin return push button. It is colored in various colors. On the other hand, the cylindrical light guide member 11 has a rear end surface facing the fluorescent lamp 12 as a light incident surface and a front end surface overlapping with the color ring 10 as a light emitting surface, and the rear end surface and the front end surface are finished as smooth surfaces. The outer surface of the inside of the cylinder is roughened like the frosted glass.

With the above structure, when the fluorescent lamp 12 is turned on,
A part of the illumination light enters from the rear end surface of the light guide member 11, propagates inside the light guide member 11, and is guided to the color ring 10. As a result, the ring-shaped color pattern corresponding to the coloring of the coloring ring is formed on the plate surface of the illumination plate by the light passing through the coloring ring, as shown by the dotted pattern P in the drawing of FIG. 1B. Is projected with high brightness so as to surround the outer circumference of the push button 9. Therefore, the position of the operation push button can be clearly confirmed visually even in dark surroundings such as at night. Furthermore, if the coloring of the coloring 10 is selected according to cold beverage, hot beverage, and type of beverage as described above, the customer of the vending machine can see the illumination color of the push button and select the desired product, For example, you can select the hot beverage or cold beverage without mistake.

[0015]

As described above, according to the structure of the lighting device of the present invention, various operation push buttons for product selection or coin return mounted on the lighting board are assembled by the lighting board with a simple assembly structure. It is possible to color-code by using different types of illumination lights according to the type, which makes it possible for users of the vending machine to clearly confirm the visual confirmation of the operation pushbuttons, and to make product mistakes by pressing the pushbuttons. The serviceability for users can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of an illumination device for an operation push button according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a side sectional view and FIG. 1B is a front view.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a cup type beverage vending machine to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Lighting board 9 Operation push button 9a Claw 10 Coloring 11 Light guide member 12 Fluorescent lamp (illumination lamp of lighting board) P Coloring projection pattern

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A color ring in which an operation push button for product selection or coin return mounted on an illumination plate is fitted to the outer periphery thereof and colored on the back surface of the illumination plate according to the type of the push button. Tighten together the light guide member that overlaps behind the coloring, and guide the light of the illumination plate illumination light to the coloring through the light guide member, and the projected pattern on the illumination plate on the outer circumference of the push button. An illumination device for an operation push button equipped on a lighting board of a vending machine, which is characterized by being projected. 2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is a tubular body made of a molded product of transparent resin, and has a light incident surface at a rear end facing the lighting board illumination lamp and a coloring. An illumination device for an operation push button provided on a lighting board of a vending machine, characterized in that the overlapping light emitting surfaces at the front ends are made smooth and the other outside surfaces of the cylinder are made rough. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the color ring and the light guide member are clamped together by being sandwiched between an illumination plate and a claw protruding laterally from a rear portion of the push button. Illumination device for operation pushbuttons equipped on the lighting board of the characteristic vending machine.