How It's Actually Made - Vending Machines

Summary

This video script offers a humorous take on vending machines' evolution from 1880s postcard dispensers to modern units stocking food, electronics, and more. It details the assembly process, including the installation of a motherboard with a 4.2 GHz processor and 32 GB RAM, LCD monitors for ads, and various coin and banknote acceptors. The script humorously notes the 'righty tighty lefty loosey' chant by workers and the safety features like steel springs that save lives by reducing impact if a machine tips over. It also touches on the testing of machines for counterfeit detection, which they fail, and ends with a comical note on a man regretting his purchase of overpriced green tea.

Takeaways

• 🏪 Vending machines have evolved from dispensing postcards in 1880s England to selling a variety of products including food, electronics, and consumer goods.
• 🔢 Modern vending machines are equipped with a keypad for entering product numbers and often have instructions in multiple languages, such as Thai.
• 💰 They accept various forms of payment, including coins and banknotes, and may also incorporate high-tech payment methods like bitcoin.
• 🛠️ The machines have a welded steel body with components like a refrigerator and an LCD monitor fastened to it.
• 💻 The inner motherboard of a vending machine is quite advanced, featuring a 4.2 GHz processor and 32 GB of RAM.
• 🔩 The assembly process involves securing the keypad, digital display, and motherboard to the frame, often with the mantra 'righty tighty, lefty loosey'.
• 🪙 The coin acceptor is a key component, and the script humorously mentions the installation of a banknote acceptor with an unknown function.
• 🔌 Data transfer cables connect the payment acceptors to the motherboard, and there's room for custom installations like liquid cooling or dual video card rigs.
• 🧊 Special coin safes are installed for handling unique payment methods, and the product trays are designed for specific types of items, from glass bottles to snack bags.
• 🔩 Motors with steel springs are installed for product dispensing and safety, reducing the impact if the machine tips over.
• ❄️ Temperature settings are adjustable, but 'strong cold' is rarely used, hinting at a humorous aspect of factory workers' preferences.

Q & A

What did the first modern vending machines in 1880s England dispense?

The first modern vending machines in 1880s England dispensed postcards.

What is the primary function of a vending machine's welded steel body?

The welded steel body serves as the frame to which all other components of the vending machine are fastened.

What components are integrated into a single piece on the vending machine?

The keypad and digital display are integrated into a single piece on the vending machine.

What does the motherboard in a vending machine typically contain in terms of processing power?

The motherboard in a vending machine typically contains a 4.2 gigahertz processor and 32 gigabytes of RAM.

How do factory workers ensure that the parts are fastened securely during assembly?

Factory workers often chant 'righty tighty lefty loosey' while screwing parts into the frame to ensure they're fastened securely.

What is the purpose of the coin acceptor and banknote acceptor in a vending machine?

The coin acceptor accepts coins, while the banknote acceptor is installed to accept banknotes as payment for the products.

Why are special coin safes installed at the bottom of the vending machine?

Special coin safes are installed at the bottom of the vending machine in case anyone wishes to pay with commemorative coins, bus tokens, or bitcoin.

What are the different types of trays installed onto the machine's refrigerator and what do they hold?

The thick heavy trays are designed for glass bottles, the smaller ones hold chips and snack bags, while the invisible ones hold air and other gases.

How do the motors on the back of the vending machine frame function?

The motors push the selected product forward to the customer, unlike older vending machines where customers had to shake the machine to release their product.

What safety feature do the motors have to prevent injury if the vending machine tips over?

Each motor is outfitted with a steel spring for safety reasons. If a vending machine tips over and falls, these springs reduce the initial impact force by about 70 percent and save roughly 12 lives per year.

Why is 'strong cold' almost never used as the temperature setting for products in the vending machine?

'Strong cold' is almost never used because most vending machine factory workers are described as cowards, suggesting it might be too extreme or unnecessary for their preferences.