How does a coin operated popcorn vending machine work?

Popcorn vending machines that accept coins have come a long way from the snack machine of its humble beginnings. New machines are now available which pop fresh corn to serve in minutes in front of the customer, hot and good. But, what occurs once you place your coins and hit a button? Let's see how SUNZEE has developed their innovative popcorn vending machine, step by step.

Step 1: Payment and Flavor Selection

The customer operates the machine and communicates with the machine's human interface (usually a touch screen display terminal). The customer puts in coins, bills or pays with a digital payment device. The machine tests and turns on the internal systems.

Then the customer has a choice between the provided flavour and can choose which one he would like to purchase. For instance, the SUNZEE P30 comes in six different flavors such as classic butter, salted, cream and spicy chilli. This variety assures that the visitor can sample something he or she likes, and will come back again for new offerings.

After the selection of the machine, it also starts to pop! The SUNZEE P30 is something entirely new: different from the vending machines offering packaged snacks, it starts with the raw ingredients and delivers to you the freshness and taste you want.

Step 2: Fresh Kernel Dispensing and Air Popping

The raw popcorn kernels are fed from a temperature-insulated hopper to the popcorn popping chamber. If there is any kernel that drops away from the storage container, it will drop a proper amount, which makes it uniform, and wastage will be reduced.

Not based on oil frying technology, it is a popcorn machine with high temperature air popping technology. The hot air circulates around the kernels, helping to achieve a uniform temperature of the kernels in order to make fluffy popcorn. A healthier, cleaner and lighter substitute to the oil-popped foods. It's not stale popcorn in a warming bin, it's freshly made hot popcorn.

The whole procedure can be clearly seen in the transparent U-shaped tube from the fall of the kernels to the popping of the kernel. A visual transparency which makes the purchase of this interesting, because the consumer can see how his snack is being prepared step-by-step.

Step 3: Flavor Mixing and Customization

Once the popcorn pops it is inflated with air through a clear U-shaped tube and into another mixing chamber. The entertainingness is enhanced with this visible transience: A transparent tube is added so that it is an interactive type show.

The flavoring is mixed into the popcorn in the mixing chamber and is well mixed into the popcorn. The production of each batch is undertaken in a separate chamber which eliminates the risk of cross-contamination of flavors. Which also means, if one customer is served some spicy chilli popcorn, he isn't going to get any butter from the previous order. This design also makes it easier to have a maintenance process, each of the chambers is independent, and very easy to clean and maintain sanitary conditions.

Very quick and effective mixing so pieces would be coated with a selected flavour when delivered to the customer.

Step 4: Delivery and Enjoyment

After popcorn is mixed, the freshly-prepared popcorn is put in a cup or bag and taken to the customers through the delivery compartment. All payment to delivery is done automatically without the use of human hands.

The vending machine is hot popcorn and unlike pre-packaged vending, the customer is not waiting until after the order is taken for the popcorn to get hot. The novelty of the ingredients, flexibility of flavors and the aesthetics of the bubbles and stirring will create a wonderful experience to ensure repeat business and word of mouth marketing.

Automation and Maintenance Benefits

There are countless advantages to vending machine automation for business owners. The machine is on the go all the time, and does not need skilled workers and no labour cost. The use of fresh kernels ensures minimum ingredient waste as the product is made using fresh kernels.

Simple and hygienic design of the machine with separate mixing compartments, removable parts are easy to maintain. The transparency of operation and mixing procedure will not only entertain the customers but can also provide an easy access to the customer to know the operation of the machine, which might have some issues to be addressed.

SUNZEE is a National High-Tech Enterprise, and an expert in the innovation of intelligent self-service food and beverage kiosks. Six flavours, fresh corn kernels are all controlled with a coin or digital payment system; Full view of popping and mixing is controlled. For more information on our automatic popcorn dispensers, please contact SUNZEE.