Vending Machine Working Process – Step by Step [2024]

Hi everyone, in this blog post, we are going to talk about Vending Machine Working Process. We will discuss the working and functionality of different types of vending machines.

Vending machines are dispatching not just food items but happiness over the years. They have been used widely for centuries. Yes, you heard it right, centuries. You might have heard about this term a few years back but it has a long history. This history is rich and worth noticing.

Vending machines have historical roots in ancient Greece. The first-ever vending machine was designed by the Greek engineer and mathematician hero of Alexandria around 215 BC. They were situated in Egyptian temples and dispensed holy water in exchange for coins. 

This continued until the early 1880s when the first commercial vending machines were launched. These machines dispensed postcards, envelopes, books, and much more. Numerous vending machines came into the picture such as, 

  • Soda Machines & Soft Drink Machines
  • Snack Machines
  • Cigarette Machines
  • Coffee Machine
  • Books Machine
  • Gold Vending Machines

 

Today, we live in an era that has all these varieties of vending machines. The vending machines that we use today are much more tech-savvy and advanced but their years of history can’t be denied.

“When it comes to the variety of vending machines, the difference not only lies in the kinds of stuff that they dispense but also in what they take in exchange for what they dispatch.”

 

So far, we have seen major three types of vending machines,

  • Coin vending machines
  • Cash vending machines
  • Smart vending machines

 

These three types of vending machines will give you a great insight into the functioning or working of the vending machines and how this functioning has changed over the decades. So, let’s have a look!

 

Coin Vending Machine working process

As the name suggested, coin vending machines are all about coins. They are the first kind of vending machines that are used by people. All you need to do is to put the coin in the machine and get the desired product out of it. 

These machines initially face some trouble such as, coins that used to get stuck in the machine or the product doesn’t come out but with time these issues were resolved. 

 

Cash Vending Machine working process

With the evolution of money, vending machines updated themselves. Now, these machines have started accepting cash as well. You need to put in the currency note and in exchange for that, you will get the product that is stocked in the vending machine. This upgrade made the vending machines more advanced and popular. This made snacks and beverages more accessible. 

 

Smart Vending Machine working process

With the advancement in technology, vending machines have become tech-savvy. The vending machines that we use today are all smart vending machines. These smart machines enable their customers to do contactless payments. 

You can use debit/credit cards, UPI, or do payment by scanning the QR code displayed on the vending machines’ screen. This has made the use of vending machines more convenient and safer. 

 

How does the vending machine work?

After gathering all the information about the history and types of vending machines, you must be curious to know about how these vending machines work. What all it takes to operate them?

Congrats! You have landed on the right spot. We will be discussing the working of a vending machine. So, without any further delay, let’s get started!

Different vending machines work differently. It widely depends on the product stocked in it. Let us give you two major ways in which you can use vending machines.

  • Add Traditional Vending Machine working (Cash & Coin)
  • Add Smart Vending Machine working (Digital, IoT-based vending machine)

 

Based on Product dispensing modes:

 

Springs Coils-based Vending Machines working process

Vending machines have coils that carry all the snacks and packed meals. These coils vary in size depending on the stuff that they have to carry. The customers mention their choice through the keypad or touch-screen on the snack vending machine. Further, the machine saves his choice and orders the machine to dispatch the snack. 

The customer then can pay through a credit/debit card or UPI. If you use the cash then the amount will be deducted and the balance will be back to you through another tray. The possibility of any error is minimal to zero. 

 

Sensor-Based Vending Machine working process

Thanks to advanced technology, there have been astronomical upgrades in vending machines. One such upgrade is the sensors. These sensors have made vending machines more powerful. They have allowed these machines to serve their customers better. 

These sensors help in managing temperatures, movement, and weight. These sensors help in stocking the stuff efficiently. Let’s have a look at these sensors. 

 

Temperature Sensor Vending Machine working process

To keep the products that are stocked in the vending machine in the best of their condition, maintaining temperature is a must. As different food items require different temperatures, sensors are used to keep these products edible. Sensors fitted in the vending machines ensure hygiene and food safety standards. These sensors are compact, durable, and efficient with a quick response time and long life expectancy.

 

Weight Sensor Vending Machine working process

There are sensors that measure the weight of food products. This helps the buyers, especially when they buy fruits and vegetables. They can be sure that they are getting the exact weight that they are paying for. This transparency makes vending machines more valuable and popular among the masses. 

 

Elevator-based vending machine working process

Elevator vending machines have belt trays and elevators that help in stocking products in vending machines in an organized manner. These machines have specific slots for specific products to make sure that each product is kept at its required temperature. 

This feature makes the vending machine more efficient as a single vending machine can stock a profusion of products from vegetables to dairy products and from soups to desserts. 

Moreover, these machines have smart lift doors with LED light indication. All these things have made vending machines a demanding entity over the years.   

 

App-based vending machines – smart vending machines working process

We live in a world that lives around various apps. From exercise routines settings to water intake reminders, from morning alarms to office meeting reminders, from entertainment to interactions, everything happens at our fingertips, thanks to the apps. 

Then how vending machines can let go of such an important aspect of their customer’s life? These machines not only allow customers to pay through their app and mobile wallets but also eye-catching graphics with exciting, new products and intriguing videos, and stereo sound to draw customers in. 

 

Payment through Credit/Debit card

While making payment through the card, follow the below-mentioned steps

  • Place your card in the slots made for the cards
  • Your card will be scanned
  • Mention details and allow payment

 

Proximity type of reading is also being used which is making the payment process more convenient and faster. A payment method like this is a need of the hour when life is running at the speed of light. 

 

Summary 

Vending machines have been serving the mankind for decades and have been improving themselves to serve their customers better. These machines are being placed at numerous potential places to help people get their desired food and beverages conveniently. 

They are placed in public areas like schools, colleges, airports, gas stations, malls, and parks. Hence, the buyers can get any product from any of those above-mentioned places. 

These vending machines have served millions of people across the globe during the pandemic and brought smiles to their lives by allowing them to kill their boredom by indulging in their favorite snacks and beverages. These machines have become a household name now and will continue to enjoy this incredible demand. 

We hope, now you have an idea about vending machine working process. In case of any query, you can ask your questions in the comment section. 

 

Read more:

Top 4 Ways to Earn Money from Vending Machines [2023]

What is a Smart Vending Machine? Features & Cost [2023]

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