JP5056477B2 - Pushbutton keyboard switch for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is directed to, for example, an electronic money settlement terminal (non-contact type multi-type reader / writer) mounted on a vending machine, and a push button type keyboard switch for selecting electronic money that can be used in the terminal. Specifically, the present invention relates to a push button assembly structure that is attached to a keyboard switch and arranged on the front surface of a unit case to display necessary information.

With the recent spread of electronic money, vending machines capable of cashless purchase of products using electronic money have already been developed in the market (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
Recently, development of a general-purpose reader / writer that supports a plurality of electronic payment services and that supports a plurality of electronic money and mobile credits has been promoted (see Non-Patent Document 2, for example).
Next, regarding the electronic money payment terminal installed in the vending machine, the schematic configuration of a multi-type reader / writer corresponding to a plurality of electronic money currently under development is shown in FIGS. First, FIG. 9 is a front view of a vending machine equipped with a payment terminal for electronic money. 1 is a cabinet of the vending machine, 2 is an outer door of the cabinet 1, 3 is a lighting room for displaying product samples, 4 Is a product outlet, 5 is a coin insertion slot, 6 is a bill insertion slot, and a multi-type reader / writer 7 for electronic money settlement is installed on the front surface of the outer door 2, and the outline of the configuration is shown in FIG. .
In FIG. 10, 8 is a unit case of the reader / writer 7, 8a is a keyboard switch cover that covers the front peripheral area of a keyboard switch to be described later, and 9 is a non-contact type corresponding to an IC card or a mobile phone having an electronic money function. The reader / writer antenna unit 10 is a push button for selecting the type of electronic money to be used. The push buttons 10 are connected to a keyboard switch incorporated in the unit case 8 and arranged on the front surface of the unit case 8 as will be described later. Information (such as the type of electronic money) is illuminated.

When a customer purchases a product using electronic money with the vending machine, after selecting the purchased product, the user selects a type of electronic money with the push button 10 of the reader / writer 7 and applies the corresponding push. Press button 10. As a result, the reader / writer receives the operation signal of the keyboard switch corresponding to the selected push button, and is ready to start data transmission / reception with the type of electronic money selected by the antenna unit 9. Subsequently, when electronic money (IC card or mobile phone with electronic money function) is placed over the touch area on the front surface of the antenna unit 9, electronic payment is performed in a non-contact manner with the antenna unit 9, and a vending machine is provided. Products selected by customers are sold.
“Introducing two new high-value-added vending machines of the next generation”, [online] August 19, 2004, Coca-Cola Japan, [Search February 20, 2008] Internet <URL: http: // www .cocacola.co.jp / corporate / release / pdf / 365.pdf> "General-purpose reader / writer that supports multiple electronic money", [online] September 28, 2006, Web BCN, [Search February 20, 2008], Internet <URL: http: //japan.cnet. com / news / ent / story / 0,2000056022,20251687,00.htm>

In the above-described vending machine (see FIG. 9) equipped with the multi-type reader / writer (see FIG. 10) for electronic money settlement, the push button 10 arranged on the front surface of the reader / writer 7 can be used in the vending machine. Characters and designs representing information related to electronic money (such as the type of electronic money) are illuminated. In this case, it is often the case that the user of the vending machine is responsible for specifying, adding, and changing the electronic money that can be used in the vending machine, and assigning information on the necessary items to be displayed on the push button 10 locally. Accordingly, it is desired that the information contents displayed on the electronic money selection push button can be easily allocated and changed.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to assign information on necessary information to be displayed on a push button of a keyboard switch provided in an electronic device for an electronic device such as a multi-type reader / writer for electronic payment installed in a vending machine. It is to provide a push button type keyboard switch that can be easily changed.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a push button type keyboard switch mounted on a unit case of an electronic device, and information on necessary items is illuminated on a cap-shaped push button connected to an operation portion of the switch. In the display, the push button is detachably fitted to the outer side of the inner cap connected to the operation portion of the switch assembly, and a flange-like flange is formed on the outer periphery of the inner cap. It is a double-structured cap with a translucent outer cap, and a sheet-like nameplate displaying information content and design between the inner cap and the outer cap, case cover arranged detachably a flange of the outer cap on the front of the electronics unit case together with the outer cap on the inner cap formed by snap-fit connection Retaining held comprising (claim 1).

Further, the push button type keyboard switch is a multi-settlement terminal (multi-type reader / writer) in which an electronic device supports a plurality of electronic money, and the push button provided on the keyboard switch is used as an electronic money selection button. The pushbutton is illuminated to display characters and design of information contents related to electronic money ( claim 2 ).

As described above, with respect to the push button type keyboard switch equipped in the electronic device intended for the electronic money payment terminal installed in the vending machine, the light transmitting property is obtained by connecting the push button to the operation part of the switch assembly. Of the inner cap and a translucent outer cap that is detachably fitted to the outer side of the inner cap and has a flange-shaped flange formed on the periphery thereof , and the inner cap and the outer cap. A sheet-like nameplate indicating information content and design is inserted and held between the outer cap and the outer cap by snap-fit coupling and the flange of the outer cap is attached to the electronic device unit case. by configuring such that the retaining holding a case cover arranged detachably on the front and information requirements to be displayed assigned to each push button Setting, can be carried out easily change.
In particular, in a vending machine equipped with an electronic money payment terminal, even when the payment terminal (reader / writer) is set or changed at the location site, the electronic money assigned to each push button is displayed and changed. It can be done easily and user serviceability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated example with respect to the keyboard switch of the electronic money settlement terminal (multi-type reader / writer) described in FIGS. 1 to 4 are configuration diagrams of the first embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6 are configuration diagrams of the second embodiment, FIGS. 7 and 8 are configuration diagrams of the third embodiment, and correspond to FIGS. 9 and 10. The same reference numerals are given to the members to be performed.

First, the structure of the 1st Example corresponding to Claims 1-3 of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are side sectional views of the main part assembled and disassembled, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic money payment terminal (multi-type reader / writer), and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3 showing an assembly procedure of the push button corresponding to FIG.
In FIG. 2, the unit case 8 of the multi-type reader / writer 7 comprises a case main body, a keyboard cover 8a disposed on the front surface of the case main body, and a rear cover 8b also serving as a mounting base. The antenna unit 9 includes a push button 10 for selecting electronic money that can be used in the vending machine, and a keyboard switch assembly 11 that is operated by the push button 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a fastening screw that is screwed from the back side of the unit case 8 to fix the keyboard cover 8a to the case body. Here, the antenna unit 9 is an assembly of a front cover 9a, an antenna holding member 9b, an antenna substrate 9c, and an LED substrate 9d on which an LED for displaying the position of electronic money is mounted.
Next, the push button 10 is a sheet that is sandwiched between the inner cap 10a and the outer cap 10b and is inserted and held between the inner cap 10a and the outer cap 10b. As shown below, the inner cap 10a is connected to the switch operating portion of the keyboard switch assembly 11 and arranged on the front surface of the unit case 8. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, an engagement protrusion 10a-1 is formed on the side surface of the inner cap 10a, and an engagement claw 10b-1 is formed on the rear end edge of the outer cap 10b so as to face the protrusion. Then, both caps are overlapped and snap-fit joined. The caps 10a and 10b are transparent resin molded products, and a flange-like flange is formed on the periphery of the rear end. Moreover, you may perform a light-shielding process to the surrounding surface area except a front end surface.

In addition, the nameplate 10c has a “logo type” (“Mode 1” in the illustrated example) indicating the type of electronic money that can be used in the vending machine as shown in FIG. 4 and a state in which this electronic money cannot be used. The “x” marks are displayed so as to be translucent to the top and bottom of the sheet, and the other surface areas are light-shielded.
On the other hand, the keyboard switch assembly 11 includes tact switches 11b (9 in the illustrated example) arranged in a grid pattern on the front surface of the printed circuit board 11a, and operation guides 11c corresponding to the tact switches 11b, An assembly base 11d, a packing member 11e that covers the front surface of the printed circuit board 11a and the operation guide 11c and is attached to the assembly base 11d, and a light emitting element (LED) mounted on the printed circuit board 11a in parallel with each tact switch 11b. 11f and 11g, and the assembled state is shown in FIG.
The operation guide 11c is a resin molded product that is divided into a light guide path for light emitted from the light emitting element 11f and a light guide path for the light emitting element 11g, and is defined inside a square cylindrical frame. A bearing portion for guiding and supporting an operation slider to be described later is formed. Further, the packing member 11e is a molded product made of a flexible material having translucency, such as silicone rubber, for example, and convex portions are formed on the front side thereof to which the operation guides 11c are individually fitted. Further, a rod-shaped operation slider 11e-1 that presses the stem of the tact switch 11b in conjunction with the operation of the push button 10 is integrally formed on the back surface side of the convex portion.

Next, an assembly procedure for connecting the push button 10 to the keyboard switch assembly 11 and mounting it on the unit case 8 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the inner cap 10a of the push button 10 is fitted into the convex portion of the packing member 11e with respect to the keyboard switch assembly 11, and is connected to the operation guide 11c of the tact switch 11b and then assembled into the unit case 8. In this state, the front end portion of the inner cap 10a protrudes forward through a square hole opened in the front surface of the unit case 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
Next, the name plate 10c and the outer cap 10b are overlapped on the end surface of the inner cap 10a from the front of the unit case 8, and the outer cap 10b is pushed in and snap-fitted to the inner cap 10a. Thereafter, the keyboard cover 8 a is put on the front surface of the unit case 8, and the fastening screws 12 are screwed from the back side of the unit case 8 to fix the keyboard cover 8 a to the unit case 8. In this assembled state, the front end surface of the outer cap 10b of the push button 10 protrudes forward from a square hole opened in the keyboard cover 8a (see FIG. 1A). Even if the outer cap 10b is intentionally pulled out from the outside in this assembled state, the hook-shaped flange formed on the peripheral edge of the outer cap 10b is caught on the back side of the keyboard cover 8a and cannot be removed. It is effective for.

In order to replace the nameplate 10c with another nameplate in accordance with the change of the setting of the reader / writer 7, the fastening screw 12 is loosened from the back side of the unit case 8 and the keyboard cover 8a is once removed, and then from the front. By removing the outer cap 10b, the nameplate 10c can be easily replaced or replaced.
The above-described replacement of the nameplate 10c can be performed according to the setting of the reader / writer 7 with the reader / writer 7 mounted on the outer door 2 of the vending machine as shown in FIG. In this case, after opening the outer door of the vending machine, loosening the fastening screw 12 from the back side of the door, and then opening the keyboard cover from the front of the door. By removing 8a, the reader / writer 7 can be easily attached to the outer door 2 without using a special tool.
When the reader / writer 7 mounted on the vending machine is actually used, nameplates 10c corresponding to various types of electronic money are allocated and displayed on the push buttons 10 arranged on the front surface of the unit case 8. Further, in the sales standby state of the vending machine, the upper light emitting element 11f among the light emitting elements 11f and 11g shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the push button 10 corresponding to the electronic money usable in the vending machine. Is turned on, and a “logo type” representing the type of electronic money written on the nameplate 10 c is illuminated and displayed on the front surface of the outer cap 10 b of the push button 10 by the light emitted from the light emitting element. On the other hand, in the pushbutton 10 corresponding to the electronic money that cannot be used at that time, the light emitting elements 11g arranged on the lower side are turned on, and the “X” on the nameplate 10c is illuminated on the front surface of the outer cap 10b. Thereby, the customer can visually determine whether or not his / her own electronic money can be used with this vending machine.

Next, a second embodiment according to claims 4 and 5 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. That is, in the first embodiment, the push button 10 has a double cap structure, and the nameplate 10c is sandwiched between the inner cap and the outer cap, whereas in this embodiment, the cap shape is formed as shown in the figure. A slit 10-1 that communicates with the back side of the front face of the cap is formed on the lower surface of the push button 10, and the name plate is inserted through the slit 10-1 in the assembled state in which the push button 10 is first connected to the keyboard switch assembly 11. 10c is inserted into the inside of the push button 10 from below as shown in the figure and held. Further, an engagement tab 10c-1 bent in an L shape is formed at the lower end of the sheet on the nameplate 10c of the illustrated example, and the engagement tab 10c-1 is pushed into a concave groove formed on the lower side surface of the push button 10. It is locked and held to prevent accidental dropout. The keyboard switch assembly 11 in the figure has the same structure as that of the first embodiment.
In the assembled state of the reader / writer in which the keyboard case 8a is attached to the front surface of the unit case 8 after the push button 10 is assembled to the unit case 8, the slit 10-1 formed in the push button 10 has the slit 10-1 formed therein. The nameplate 10c cannot be pulled out from the outside because it is hidden behind the keyboard cover 8a disposed on the front side. Further, since the slit 10-1 for inserting the sheet is opened on the lower surface of the push button 10, even if rainwater falls on the outdoor vending machine, there is a possibility that the droplets may enter the slit 10-1 and wet the nameplate 10c. Absent.

Next, a third embodiment according to claims 6 and 7 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the “logo type” (“Mode 1” in the illustrated example) corresponding to the type of electronic money and the electronic money cannot be used without using the nameplate 10c as in the first and second embodiments. Is formed on the push button itself for illumination display.
For this purpose, in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the push button 10 is divided into a cap-shaped base portion 10d and a display portion 10e that is detachably inserted and coupled to the front surface of the base portion 10d. In 10e, “logo type” of electronic money, characters of “×”, and design are displayed side by side. Further, rail-like support guides 10d-1 for inserting and holding the display portion 10e are formed on the left and right side edges of the base portion 10d, and insertion keys 10e-1 are formed along the left and right side edges on the display portion 10e. The insertion key 10e-1 is inserted into the support guide 10d-1 from above and locked. Although the display portion 10e is formed of a transparent resin molded product, the display portions of “logo type” and “×” displayed here are left in a translucent state, and the remaining surface area is subjected to non-translucent processing. In the same manner as the nameplate 10c of the first and second embodiments, the surface of the push button 10 may be illuminated by turning on the light emitting element.
In the above configuration, when changing the information of the electronic money displayed on the push button 10, the display unit 10e may be extracted and replaced with a display unit displaying another type of electronic money.

  The keyboard switches of the first, second, and third embodiments described above are intended for the multi-type reader / writer 7 that is an electronic money settlement terminal installed in a vending machine. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to a push button type keyboard switch equipped in an electronic device other than the reader / writer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an assembled structure diagram of a push button type keyboard switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and (a) and (b) are side sectional views showing an assembled state and an exploded state, respectively. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-type reader / writer for electronic money installed in a vending machine equipped with the push button type keyboard switch of FIG. External appearance perspective view of the principal part showing the assembly procedure of the pushbutton corresponding to FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main part. The external appearance perspective view of the principal part showing the assembly procedure which inserts and holds a nameplate in the pushbutton concerning Example 2 of this invention Side view of pushbutton and keyboard switch assembly corresponding to FIG. External appearance perspective view of the principal part showing the assembly procedure of the pushbutton concerning Example 3 of this invention Side view of FIG. As an application example of the present invention, a front view of a vending machine equipped with a multi-type reader / writer for electronic money settlement Schematic configuration diagram of the multi-type reader / writer shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine cabinet 7 Multi-type reader / writer for electronic money payment 8 Unit case 8a Keyboard cover of unit case 9 Reader / writer antenna 10 Push button 10a for selecting electronic money Inner cap 10b Outer cap 10c Name plate 10d Push button base portion 10d-1 Display insertion support guide 10e Push button display portion 10e-1 Insert key 11 Keyboard switch assembly 11b Tact switch 11c Operation guide 11d Packing members 11f, 11g Light emitting element (LED)
12 Keyboard cover fastening screw

Claims (2)

It is a push button type keyboard switch mounted on a unit case of an electronic device, and displays information on necessary items on a cap-shaped push button connected to the operation part of the switch.
The push button is a translucent inner cap that is connected to the operation portion of the switch assembly, and a translucent translucent member that is detachably fitted to the outside of the inner cap and that has a flange-like flange formed on the periphery thereof. It is a double-structured cap with an outer cap, and a sheet-like name plate displaying information content and design is inserted and held between the inner cap and the outer cap. A push button type keyboard switch for an electronic device, wherein the flange of the outer cap is detachably held by a case cover that is detachably disposed on the front surface of the electronic device unit case . 2. The keyboard switch according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device equipped with the keyboard switch is a multi-payment terminal corresponding to a plurality of electronic money, and the push button equipped on the keyboard switch is used as the electronic money selection button. A pushbutton type keyboard switch for electronic equipment, characterized in that characters and design of information content related to electronic money are illuminated on the button.

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