Building a vending machine

[avcom]

Hi,friends!

I want to build a simple electronic machine:

1.The user inserts a coin.

2.He chooses from the screen menu some options.

3.After the user had chosen,he gets a ticket from the machine.

That's all!

The machine includes PC,coin acceptor(NRI G18), from a vending machine,printer.

So my question is:

How to connect the coin acceptor with the PC and the software of the machine,so the machine starts only after the user inserts a coin?May be I need a PCB/controller/?

Thank you,Stan,Bulgaria.

 

 

[orsd]

hello, and welcome.

now, there are many ways to do this, i will list them from easiest to hardest

Also, if you can give me more information on what you are going to vend, i can better help you.

method 1:

print out the papers

cut them up

use a sticker machine like this to vend them http://beavervending.com/flatpak.asp

this method can only accept one type of coin and will not accept bills, and wont give change.

 

method 2:

set up something like this http://www.instructables.com/id/Open-Bitcoin-ATM/

 

method 3

step one: get a cheap pc

step two: get an arduino http://www.arduino.cc/

step 3: use a coin mech like this http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10_57&products_id=948&zenid=b9tvclhabs6stgrdhamnj1c496

step 4; get a bill validator: http://pyramidacceptors.com/trilogy-series/ they have one for the leva, get the 12 volt pulse one.

step 5; wire it up and progam it, this may help with the wiring http://www.instructables.com/id/Open-Bitcoin-ATM/

tip; set up the bill vaidator like this: if coin is one pulse, then the bill as multiple pulses equivalent to the values of the coins, for example in the usa a 4 quarters equals one dollar, so the quarter would be one pulse and a dollar equals 4 pulse

step 6: hook up a printer

 

optional: instead of steps 2-5, get this http://www.waferstar.com/en/PULSE-PC.html

 

this method doesn't give change

 

 

method 4:

get a pc

get an MDB bill validator like the pyramid tech one and MDB coin mech,

get this:http://www.waferstar.com/en/MDB-PC.html

then program it

this enables change giving

hook up printer

[avcom]

Thanks, dude!