Chapter I

The Problem and its Background

Introduction

The study covers the areas of Electronics and Automation since the study deals

with an automated device that will requires a specific item in order to exchange for an

item, and most specifically Electro-mechanical engineering as the machine functions

with electronic internal communication that can be found in vending machines.

The first known used of a vending machine was by the work of Hero of

Alexandria, an engineer and mathematician in first-century Roman Egypt. He invented

a machine that accepts a coin that then dispenses holy water. Since then many iterations

of the machine has been invented. One is a coin-operated machine that dispenses tobacco

in the taverns of England during the earlier years of the 16th century. During the early

onset of the 1880s, the first modern coin-operated vending machines were introduced in

London, England. In 1883, Percival Everitt invented a machine that soon became a

feature in railway stations and post offices. His invention is a dispenser for envelopes,

postcards, and even a notepaper.

As of today, there are many changes done from the first known use of vending

machine. This includes change machine, food and snack vending machine, newspaper

vending machine, photo booth, ticket machines, and so more. Vending machines had

been a widespread used by all since it is easy to manage and offers a lot of comfort

because it can be placed in many locations and does not require a 24/7 attention.
 ELECTRONICS/
AUTOMATION
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

VENDING MACHINE THAT

PROVIDES AN ITEM

A DEVICE THAT DISPENSES

AN ITEM IN EXCHANGE
FOR AN ITEM

Figure 1-1 Hierarchy of Topics

Background of the Study

When it comes to providing a better means of comfort and accessibility of

acquiring the necessity, people usually tend to rely on machines that provide the same

kind of service but hopes to get it easier and faster and less hassle. This study will ease

up the process of instead going into a store to acquire an item by providing a machine

that offers the same kind of service but instead of requiring money in exchange, it only

asks for a recyclable item. The study also deals with different Electronic and

Communications Engineering matters that the researchers should practice. The research
tackles with topics like design making, fabrication of device, wiring of circuits, and

programming.

The machine can be referenced from the current style of vending machines.

Vending machine is an automatic machine that offers food or drink or other items. The

machines usually work, when some money is put in a slot. After the money is inserted,

a button or a lever is pushed or pulled in order to chose the item that is being purchased.

Older vending machines were all mechanical, but nowadays the machines being used

are partly automated and electronic this includes acceptance of debit or credit cards in

addition to cash. The basis of this machine is the TOMRA T-53 Recycling (Reverse

Vending) Machine, where the machine requires plastic bottles in exchange for money.

The limitation of this machine is that it can only give money and not items. The second

basis of the machine are those known stores in some parts of the country that offers the

same service of a shop but without a store clerk that tests the truthfulness and humanity

of a customer. The limitation of this kind of service is that some people will of course

not pay up and will just take away an item. The researchers would like to change that

instead of receiving an amount of money, a household item will be exchanged such as

rice or any other. The researchers would like also to include the promotion of the

awareness of conservation of the environment since the device requires recyclable item

in order to acquire the desired item.

Objectives of the Study

General Objectives: To fabricate a device that exchanges something for a

household item.

Specific Objectives:

1. To design a device that will allow the user to choose whether to input a

money or a recyclable item

2. To fabricate the automated device that can be used in the reverse vending

3. To program a code that will be used in the machine

4. To be able to test the machine successfully.

5. To design a device that can promote conservation of environment and

recycling

Significance of the Study

The study is conducted to provide a vending machine that instead of requiring

only money in exchange for an item, the user has an option to input in the form of

monetary or a recyclable item. The researchers will be using motors that will be

programmed using a microcontroller. With this device, people that need a household

item will just access the machine that can be installed on different parts that most store

cannot. It will make the process of shopping easier, more comfortable, and more

accessible. It will also be beneficial to the environment since garbage disposal and

recycling will be observed. It will also be beneficial for the researchers because it will

test the knowledge and improve their skills in the field of Electronics and

Communications Engineering.
Scope and Limitations of the Study

Scope

This project is a simple and modern vending machine, capable of exchanging

recyclable items for an item. The project can be used and in a variety of applications.

The machine’s design is compact and will not take too much space as big as at least 3ft

x 5ft box. The machine’s capacity to hold bottle will be up to 20 at minimum and can

hold at least half a sack of rice. There will also be an option to chose whether if user

wants to pay in form of monetary or exchange bottle for the rice. The software available

for the project are easy to learn. And in case of power outage, there is a battery source

can be used. The people who will benefit on this study are those people that frequently

buy rice from stores.

Limitations

The machine has only a maximum capacity to hold for both recyclable material

and rice and since it has only a maximum capacity and that capacity is not that high, the

need to replenish the amount of rice and to empty the collected bottles are more often

that is expected. And in case of power outage and the battery power source is depleted,

just in any kind of electronic, the machine will not function.

Definition of Terms

Automation - or automatic control, is the use of various control systems for

operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, boilers and heat-treating

ovens, switching on telephone networks, steering and stabilization of ships, aircraft, and

other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention.

Electronics - is the science of controlling electrical energy electrically, in which

the electrons have a fundamental role. Electronics deals with electrical circuits that

involve active electrical components.

Microcontroller - A microcontroller is a self-contained system with peripherals,

memory and a processor that can be used as an embedded system.

Vending machine - is an automated machine that provides items such as snacks,

beverages, cigarettes and lottery tickets to consumers after money, a credit card, or

specially designed card is inserted into the machine.

Reverse vending - is a device that accepts used (empty) beverage containers and

returns money to the user. The machines are popular in places that have mandatory

recycling laws or container deposit legislation.