Sixth Grade
Worksheets
How Does a Vending Machine Work?
Vending machines, like many other kinds of machines, have changed greatly since the beginning of the electronic age. At one time, vending machines were simple mechanical devices that operated without electricity or computerized controls. These strictly mechanical vending machines, such as gumball machines, have been around for a long time. More recently, machines such as soda machines and coffee machines have been introduced.
Gumball machines are operated when the correct coin is placed in a slot. The coin presses down a small lever that allows the crank to be turned. When the customer turns the crank, gears and an axle turn inside the machine. This rotates a disk at the top of the gumball container. The disk has a hole just large enough to let one gumball pass through. The gumball slides down a tube to a metal door which prevents the gumball from shooting out of the machine. The customer just has to open the door and take his gumball.
Other vending machines similar to a gumball machine include the ones that dispense a handful of unwrapped candy and the ones that dispense small toys.
