JPH1166400A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use selection buttons and a sum indicator on a front panel instead of a setting input device such as an operation box which is mounted inside a vending machine. SOLUTION: This machine is provided with a switching means which switches the function of selection buttons 3 to a function for item selection and to a function for various input setting and switches the function of a sum indicator to a sum display function and a setting item display function and a display board 5 which is attached to a lower part of an exhibit case 1 and has a fixing mechanism 7 to the case 1 and on which optional characters are written. A function switching means switches the function of the buttons 3 to a function for input setting, the function of the sum indicator to a setting item display function, releases the mechanism 7 of the board 5 and moves the board 5. With this, the optional characters which are written on the board 5 can be externally recognized through an acrylic plate 4, and also, the optional characters written on the board 5 are arranged to be located just under the respective buttons 3 so that the buttons 3 and the sum indicator can perform various setting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a desired product and a price display for displaying a price.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional vending machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, taking a cigarette vending machine as an example. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional cigarette vending machine. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tobacco vending machine with the door of the tobacco vending machine of FIG. 4 opened.

In FIG. 4, a cigarette vending machine 10 comprises:
The vending machine main body 11 is a box-shaped vending machine main body, in which goods are stored and one surface is opened, and a door 12 serving as a lid of an opening of the vending machine main body 11 is provided. On the front side of the door 12, a front panel 13 on which the product samples 2 are arranged, a cash slot 14 for inserting money, and an outlet 15 for taking out goods and returning change.
And an amount display unit 16 for displaying the input amount and the like.

The front panel 13 has a plurality of product samples 2 and these product samples 2
a display shelf 17 formed by bending a flat steel plate into a U-shape, and provided directly below each product sample 2 and a central vertical surface 17b of the display shelf 17 And a transparent acrylic plate 4 attached so as to cover the product sample 2.

In FIG. 5, behind a door 12 of a cigarette vending machine 10, a panel inner door 18 provided on a back side of a front panel 13, a cash identifying machine 19 for identifying and storing money, a cigarette vending machine A control device 20 for performing various controls of the entire machine, an operation box 21 for setting and changing a selling price of a product and the like are attached.

[0006]

As described above, a conventional vending machine requires a setting input device such as an operation box inside the vending machine.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the function of a selection button is switched between a function for selecting a product and a function for setting various inputs, and the function of a price indicator is a price display function and a setting item display function. Switching means, and a display plate attached to the lower part of the display shelf, having a fixing mechanism to the display shelf, and having a display plate on which arbitrary characters are written. By switching to the input setting function, switching the function of the amount display to the setting item display function, releasing the fixing mechanism of the display plate, and moving the display plate, any characters written on this display plate Is made to be recognizable from the outside through an acrylic plate, and any character written on the display plate is disposed immediately below each selection button, so that the selection button To provide an automatic vending machine and performs various settings in the amount display device.

[0008]

By switching the changeover switch, the function of the selection button is switched from the product selection function to various input setting functions, and the function of the price display is switched from the price display function to the setting item display function. Then, by removing the display plate attached to the lower part of the display shelf from the display shelf and fixing the display plate and the acrylic plate in parallel, any characters written on the display plate can be recognized through the acrylic plate. It can be so. Then, various settings of the vending machine are performed by using the selection buttons and the money amount display corresponding to arbitrary characters written on the display board.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are partial side sectional views of the vicinity of a selection button on a front panel according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front panel portion of the cigarette vending machine when the display panel is displayed on the front panel.

In FIG. 1, a display shelf 1 is formed by bending a steel plate into a U-shape. On the upper horizontal surface 1a of the display shelf 1, a product sample 2 is attached.
A hole (not shown) is provided in the central vertical surface 1b of the display shelf 1, and the selection button 3 is inserted and fixed in this hole.

An acrylic plate 4 provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) is attached to the central vertical surface 1b of the display shelf 1, and the selection button 3 is inserted into the hole of the acrylic plate 4. I have.

On the lower horizontal surface 1c of the display shelf 1, a plate-like display plate 5 is attached. One end of the display plate 5 and the end of the lower horizontal surface 1c of the display shelf 1 on the side of the acrylic plate 4 are connected by a coupling device 6, and the display plate 5 is , And become rotatable.

A fixing mechanism 7 is provided at one end of the display panel 5 so that the display panel 5 and the lower horizontal surface 1c of the display shelf 1 are fixed in parallel. The fixing mechanism 7 is provided with a protrusion 7a. The display plate 5 is attached to the lower horizontal surface 1c of the display shelf 1 so that the protrusion 7a is hooked on the lower horizontal surface 1c, and the display plate 5 does not move. It is fixed.

In FIG. 2, the projection 7a of the fixing mechanism 7 is raised, removed from the lower horizontal surface 1c of the display shelf 1, and the display panel 5 is made rotatable. Then, the display plate 5 is rotated so that the acrylic plate 4 and the display plate 5 are parallel to each other.

In FIG. 3, characters (setting item names, etc.) written on the display plate 5 from outside the vending machine can be recognized through the acrylic plate 4 by making the acrylic plate 4 and the display plate 5 parallel. To do. Each character written on the display board 5 corresponds to each selection button,
It is located directly below the select button.

By switching function switching means, for example, a changeover switch, the functions of a selection button and a money amount display programmed in the control device can be switched. In other words, the function of the selection button is switched from the function for selecting a product to the function for setting various inputs, and the function of the price display is switched from the function for displaying money to the function for displaying setting items.

Then, various settings (such as setting and changing the price of a product) of the vending machine are performed by using a selection button and an amount indicator corresponding to an arbitrary character written on the display board.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the cost can be reduced by using the selection buttons on the front panel and the price indicator instead of the conventional setting input device such as an operation box.

Further, since it is not necessary to hold the operation box in one hand as in the prior art, the operation can be performed easily.

[0020]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial side sectional view showing the vicinity of a selection button on a front panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view of the vicinity of a selection button on a front panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a front panel portion of the cigarette vending machine when a display panel is displayed on the front panel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional cigarette vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tobacco vending machine of FIG. 4 with a door opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 17 ... Display shelf 2 ... Product sample 3 ... Selection button 4 ... Acrylic board 5 ... Display board 6 ... Coupling device 7 ... Fixing mechanism 10 ... Tobacco vending machine 11 ... Vending machine main body 12 ... Door 13 ... Front panel 14 ... Money Input port 15 ... Removal port 16 ... Amount display 18 ... Inner door for panel 19 ... Money discriminator 20 ... Control device 21 ... Operation box

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine provided with a plurality of selection buttons for selecting a desired product and a price indicator for displaying a price, wherein the function of the selection button is a product selection function and various input setting functions. And a switching means for switching the function of the amount indicator between the amount display function and the setting item display function; and a mechanism attached to the lower part of the display shelf and having a fixing mechanism to the display shelf, in which arbitrary characters are written. A display plate, wherein the function switching means switches the function of the selection button to an input setting function, switches the function of the amount indicator to a setting item display function, releases the fixing mechanism of the display plate, By moving the display board, any characters written on the display board can be recognized from the outside through the acrylic board, and the display is displayed immediately below each selection button. A vending machine wherein various characters are written on a board, and various settings are made with the selection button and the amount indicator.