COIN-OPERATED COFFEE VENDING MACHINE

A Project Proposal

By:

Pinili, Ellen Gold B.

Ponce, Mary Rosechelle S.

Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering

Negros Oriental State University

 Negros Oriental State University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
Dumaguete City, 6200 Philippines

ADVISER’S APPROVAL

This is to certify that I have perused and evaluated the project study

proposal entitled Coin-Operated Coffee Vending Machine. I have thoroughly

discussed with them this project study and believe it is relevant and satisfactorily

attained the standards set forth at the Policies and Guidelines of the Integrated

Project Study with regards to substance and format.

I hereby recommend it for presentation of project proposal.

ENGR. NARCISA TUBALLA Date: _____________

Project Study Adviser
 Table of Contents

1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 1

2. Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………………………….. 2

3. General Objectives ………………………………………………………………….. 2

4. Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………………………….. 3

5. Significance of the Study ………………………………………………………………….. 5

6. Feasibility of the Study ………………………………………………………………….. 5

7. Scope and Limitations ………………………………………………………………….. 6

8. Review of Related Literature ………………………………………………………………….. 6

9. Methodology ………………………………………………………………….. 8

10. Schedule of Activities ………………………………………………………………….. 10

11. References ………………………………………………………………….. 11

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1. Introduction

Nowadays, automated machines are in demand for they make numerous activities not

only easier but also more efficient. These machines require minimal human intervention to do its

job. Vending machine is one of these automated machines which made people’s lives more

convenient.

These vending machines have taken its mark in the market world. From sanitary supplies

to beverages, vending machines have gained its throne as one of the sales strategies in the

business world. Starting its operation using conventional mechanical controls, vending machines

have employed electronic components to add more functional features to it and to increase the

accuracy of its system operation.

This study focuses on the design and implementation of a Coin-Operated Coffee Vending

Machine that can dispense different mixtures of hot coffee through dropping a specified number

of five-peso coins in a coin slot. These mixtures are categorized as black coffee, sweetened black

coffee and sweetened coffee with creamer, each of which comes in different prices. The machine

accepts five-peso coins and will not accept any other type of coins. Once the coin/coins have been

dropped, the machine automatically dispenses the right mixture.

The Coin-Operated Coffee Vending Machine will cater the needs of the customers with

no further human intervention required. The machine is user-friendly and is very simple to

operate. The customers will only have to deal with the number of five-peso coins to be dropped to

the machine which will correspond to the mixture of hot coffee to be dispensed. With this, labor

cost will be minimized and it will also give entrepreneurs the opportunity to attract more

customers with this innovation.

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2. Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the purpose of making a coin-operated coffee vending machine?

2. What are the benefits that the consumer can get out of this machine?

3. What appropriate design will make the machine work in conjunction with a coin-slot

machine?

4. What components should be used in the machine to provide simple and inexpensive means

to accurately and positively control the amount of liquid to be dispensed?

5. What appropriate temperature controller circuitry must be used in order to keep the coffee

at a predetermined temperature but with the least evaporation to occur?

6. How acceptable is the project, in terms of convenience and efficiency, for the consumers?

7. What price consumers are willing to pay for the commodity?

3. General Objectives

The researchers proposed this study with the following objectives:

1. To design and make a Coin-Operated Coffee Vending Machine that will dispense different

mixtures of hot coffee.

2. To provide a coffee vending machine which requires minimum space utilization while

having large storage capacity.

3. To determine what appropriate design will make the dispensing machine work in

conjunction with a coin-slot machine.

4. To determine the acceptability of the study in terms of convenience and efficiency.

5. To determine the acceptable price per cup of the coffee to the consumer.

6. To be able to make an income gerating project for the community.

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4. Theoretical Framework

Figure 1

The study is anchored on the relevant laws and theories to provide better understanding

on the principles which made the particular innovation possible.

As all of us know, matter is made up of atoms and molecules (groupings of atoms) and

energy causes the atoms and molecules to always be in motion - either bumping into each other or

vibrating back and forth. The motion of atoms and molecules creates a form of energy called heat

or thermal energy which is present in all matter. Even in the coldest voids of space, matter still

has a very small but still measurable amount of heat energy. Energy can take on many forms and

can change from one form to another. Many different types of energy can be converted into heat

energy. Light, electrical, mechanical, chemical, nuclear, sound and thermal energy itself can each

cause a substance to heat up by increasing the speed of its molecules. So, put energy into a

system and it heats up, take energy away and it cools. For example, when we are cold, we can

jump up and down to get warmer. Electrical energy is converted into thermal energy or heat when

you use objects such as heating pads, electrical stove elements, toasters, hair dryers, or light

bulbs.
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The temperature controller can be best represented by the principle of the operation of a

thermistor. A thermistor is a temperature sensing device or a resistor whose resistance varies with

temperature. This differs from resistance temperature detectors (RTD) in that the material used in

the thermistor is generally a ceramic or polymer, while RTDs use pure metals. Ceramic and

polymers are semiconductors whose resistances decrease dramatically as temperature increases.

The coin slot uses photoresistor in its operation. Photoresistors or cadmium sulfide cell

have similar principle with a thermistor. It is also a resistor whose resistance decreases with

increasing light intensity. Photoresistor is made of a high resistance semiconductor. If light falling

on the device is of high enough frequency, photons absorbed by the semiconductor give bound

electrons enough energy to jump into the conduction band. The resulting free electron (and its

hole partner) conduct electricity, thereby lowering resistance. A photoelectric device can be either

intrinsic or extrinsic. An intrinsic semiconductor has its own charge carriers and is not an

efficient semiconductor, e.g. silicon. In intrinsic devices the only available electrons are in the

valence band, and hence the photon must have enough energy to excite the electron across the

entire bandgap. Extrinsic devices have impurities, also called dopants, added whose ground state

energy is closer to the conduction band; since the electrons do not have as far to jump, lower

energy photons (i.e., longer wavelengths and lower frequencies) are sufficient to trigger the

device. If a sample of silicon has some of its atoms replaced by phosphorus atoms (impurities),

there will be extra electrons available for conduction. This is an example of an extrinsic

semiconductor.

The pump in the machine uses suction or pressure to raise or move the coffee to the

container. The pump uses negative pressure in its operation.

All these laws, theories and principles contribute to the possibility of the construction of a

coffee vending machine.

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5. Significance of the Study

This study will surely benefit coffee addicts who want to take a sip of their favorite drink

right at where they are. This machine can be made available in hospitals, parks, offices, train

stations, ports and to a lot of places where people tend to stay for a longer period of time. They

will be provided with their hot coffee without dealing with messy sachets and thermos brought by

manual mixing of its ingredients.

This will also benefit entrepreneurs engaging in coffee businesses. They would not have

to hire labor personnel to look out of the product they are selling thus minimizing the labor costs.

Furthermore, this machine might increase their sales for they will also be given the opportunity to

attract more customers with this innovation.

Lastly, this study can also help other Electronics and Communications Engineering

students who will be conducting a similar study by providing them with base knowledge about

vending machine technologies.

6. Feasibility of the Study

The study is feasible since there are a lot of studies undertaken which are similar to this

study. The components that will be used are common electronic components which are most

likely available in the market. The machine will be operated using a five-peso coin following

almost the same procedure as that in videoke machines and other gaming devices.

With the help of our adviser, Engr. Narcisa Tuballa, a licensed Electronics and

Communications Engineer and an instructor of the College of Engineering and Architecture, this

project study will be made possible since she possesses the technical skills and knowledge

necessary for the completion of this study.

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7. Scope and Limitations

This study will delve into simple rather than complex controller circuitries that are

commonly used in vending machines. The researchers will be dealing with the four major parts of

the system and their respective functions and roles on the operation of the entire machine. These

major parts are the heaters, the temperature controller circuit, the water pumps and the coin slot.

Relays and frequently used ICs, rather than intricate Programmable Integrated Circuits (PIC), will

be used to control the functions of each part.

8. Review of Related Literature

The present study bears some relationship to the previous studies conducted. These studies

are given as follows:

Ushikubo (1986) invented automatic vending machines which are operated exclusively

by key cards. In these machines, a magnetic card or other type of key card is employed for

inducing a sale. In some types of such machines, even a payment can be made using such a card.

Methods of payment for purchases from automatic vending machine using a card system fall into

two types; payment in advance and credit type payment. In accordance with the payment in

advance method, a user purchases a card in advance for cash, which card stores data by means of

a magnetizable configuration, corresponding to a given purchase price. Every time the card is

used in the machine, the recorded information is appropriately changed so as to indicate the

remaining credit amount. In accordance with the credit type payment method, a card holder

utilizes a vending machine for a purchase using a card which has been issued to him. The amount

of each purchase is stored in the machine, and the amounts debited against each card are

accumulated over a predetermined period of time and are then billed to each card user at the end
of that period. Its only difference is that the present study uses a coin to operate the machine7 | P a g e

rather than a card like the study mentioned.

Another invention of Hart (1983), a coin-operated purified water dispensing device that

accurately measures and dispenses a given amount of water by hydraulic action. A pair of

vertically stacked transparent pill tubes is mounted in a cabinet in visually exposed relation of a

consumer operating the machine. A water dispensing nozzle is associated with each pile tube and

is protected by a shroud that is specifically configured to engage the upper portion of a container

to aid the consumer in properly positioning the container to be filled. The consumer activates the

machine by placing the required coins in a coin chute. Acceptance of the coins effects rotation of

a rotatably mounted cam that is fixedly secured to an axial alignment with a four-way valve that

in turn controls the flow of water into and out of the machine. The fill tubes are capped by end

plug members having specific sealing and piston is slidably mounted for reciprocating movement

within each fill tube to effect vending of a precise volume of purified water. The previous study

and the present study being undertaken are closely related since both studies show the use of a

coin but they differ on the method of dispensing and on the type of fluid being dispensed since

the present study vends hot coffee mixtures.

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9. Methodology

NO

YES

NO

YES

Figure 2
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The research methodology will start with the data gathering procedure. On this

stage, the acceptability of the project, in terms of convenience and efficiency, on the

consumers’ point of view and the price consumers are willing to pay for the commodity

will be examined.

We will be providing survey questionnaires to twenty randomly-selected people.

The questionnaire will bear the necessary questions sufficient to answer the aforementioned

questions regarding the variables being examined.

Since this machine will be having four major parts namely; heaters, temperature

controller circuit, water pumps and coin slot, we will be designing circuits which will

enable all these four to work in conjunction with one another. The temperature controller

will be designed in such a way where it can maintain the predetermined temperature of the

coffee but will minimize its evaporation. The water pumps will be controlled by a time

controller circuit to discharge the accurate amount of coffee to be dispensed. And lastly, the

coin slot will be designed in such a way where it can determine how much five-peso coins

have been dropped therefore activating the circuit that corresponds to the coffee mixture

being selected.

Once the circuit design has been completed, the components and the materials to be

used in the construction of it will be procured. The availability of the electronic

components used in the circuit will also be checked. If the components are available, we

will proceed to the machine construction, but if it’s the otherwise, we will design a new

circuit which offers the same function as the previous.

After collecting and purchasing all the materials needed, the construction of the

machine will follow. The machine will be constructed in a way where minimum space is

utilized, while having large storage capacity. Once the machine had been constructed, it

will be tested for workability. At this stage, the results of the study will be realized, whether

it is a success or a failure.
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10. Schedule of Activities

The series of activities which we will be undertaking are programmed on the schedule

hereunder specified.

ACTIVITIES Septembe
August October November December January February
r

Preparation of
Project Proposal
Documents

Data gathering

Circuit Design

Checking the
availability of
materials

Procurement of
materials

Machine/Circuit
Construction

Machine
Workability Test

Documentation

Submission of
the project
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11. References

Hart, J. (1983). Purified Water Dispensing Machine. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from

http://www.google.com.ph/patents?

id=PnZuAAAAEBAJ&printsec=description&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ushikibo, K. (1986). Automatic Vending Machine. Retrieved August 5, 2010, from

http://www.google.com.ph/patents?

hl=tl&lr=&vid=USPAT4815633&id=3qwrAAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&dq=coffee+vending+

machine&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false