Vending machine facts for kids
A Vending machine is an automatic machine that sells food such as canned soups and packaged sandwiches, snacks such as potato chips, chocolate bars, and candy); hot drinks (coffee, tea, and hot chocolate); cold drinks (juice, bottled water, soft drinks, and in some cases, milk or chocolate milk); or other items such as newspapers or cigarettes. Vending machines in bathrooms sometimes sell mouthwash, or toothpaste and toothbrushes.
How do vending machines work?
The machines usually work, when some money (usually coins or paper money) is put in a slot. Then, a button needs to be pushed, or a lever pulled. If there is enough money, the selected item will be dropped to a tray, where it can be taken out by the person making the purchase. Ticket vending machines will print the ticket. Older vending machines were all mechanical, but most newer ones are partly electronic. Many modern vending machines can accept debit or credit cards in addition to cash.
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Vending machine selling train tickets in Ghent.
Images for kids
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Hero of Alexandria, engineer from Antiquity, who invented an early vending machine
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Stamp vending machine in the London Heathrow Airport
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A fresh-squeezed orange juice vending machine in Haikou, Hainan, China. This machine promises to squeeze 5 oranges for 10 RMB (about $1.60 USD in 2015)
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Indian Vending Machine, first this making in Indian State of Gujarat
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Pushbutton and touch screen ticket machines in Germany
See also
In Spanish: Máquina expendedora para niños