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Whether it is a park or office, mall or school, gas station or apartment building, you can see vending machines everywhere. We have used these machines multiple times in our lives but have you ever thought that how these machines work?
We are here to answer this question. Even if you are an entrepreneur who wants to know more about vending solutions as it can be a potential investment area, we can provide you with everything that you need to know. Read this blog till the end to get familiar with the functioning of a vending machine.
Whether it is a coffee, food, or soda vending machine, the interface of the machine looks extremely convenient. But it has complex components inside.
4 Important Parts of Vending Machine with function
1. The brain of the vending machine
The keypad is where the central computer is located and it actually acts as the brain of the machine. It acts as an input device for taking command of your product. Then it directs the computer of the machine to take action right away. For example, once you feed the code in the keypad, multiple directions are circulated from the computer inside the vending machine. This includes ensuring if the payment process is successfully completed or not, preparing elevator belts to dispatch the product, etc.
2. The money collecting process
For cash payment, you have two options- either notes or coins. If you insert a currency note, a treadmill-like structure collects the note and the scanner or camera determines the value and authenticity of the note. This scanning and authenticity process takes place by the programming fed in the minicomputer of the machine.
On the other hand, if you are inserting coins into the machine, a complex set of electromagnets comes into play. The electromagnets check the size, thickness, and type of metal to determine the value of the inserted coin.
The process becomes much easier in the case of cashless transactions. All you have to do is scan the QR code or swipe your card to feed the data.
3. Dispensing items
Most of the time, the items are arranged in columns and rows of loops or spirals. When the computer ensures that the product code is inserted and the money is collected, it sends the command to the monitor that is connected to the metal spirals. It unlocks the spiral loop or coil and the item gets dropped into the dispensing box.
In soda vending machines, the soda is kept inside the plastic containers.
4. The dropbox mechanism
Drop-box is the place from where you collect your chosen item. A laser beam mechanism is used to ensure that item is successfully dropped in the box as the item breaks the path of the beams. Then the sensors activate and give signals to the computer that the item has dropped. After that, the shutter of the dropbox opens and allows you to take your item.
If the item is not dropped no signal is received by the computer and it activates the next chain of command for processing the refund of money.
