Snack Dome
February 4, 2011 3:30 PM
What is the purpose of the dome on this vending machine?
Here is a snack vending machine that has a solid dome on the top of the housing. I don't recall having seen such a thing on other vending machines, but perhaps this is due to other vending machines being taller than I am.
I assume it has a functional purpose, as it would surely be cheaper to design and build a unitary housing. I believe I see what might be a foam gasket between the dome and the housing top. This leads me to wonder if it might be an air filter or vent.
I've searched Google images and Flickr for photographs of vending machines and/or domes, but most photographs only show the front. I searched online vending machine parts catalogs for "dome" and "vent" but nothing came up.
Could it be an antennae housing?
For what it's worth, the machine is located in Seattle.
Here is a snack vending machine that has a solid dome on the top of the housing. I don't recall having seen such a thing on other vending machines, but perhaps this is due to other vending machines being taller than I am.
I assume it has a functional purpose, as it would surely be cheaper to design and build a unitary housing. I believe I see what might be a foam gasket between the dome and the housing top. This leads me to wonder if it might be an air filter or vent.
I've searched Google images and Flickr for photographs of vending machines and/or domes, but most photographs only show the front. I searched online vending machine parts catalogs for "dome" and "vent" but nothing came up.
Could it be an antennae housing?
For what it's worth, the machine is located in Seattle.
Seems like it could be an antenna that would otherwise experience interference when inside the metal housing.
posted by msbutah at 3:35 PM on February 4, 2011
posted by msbutah at 3:35 PM on February 4, 2011
Google Images search for Vending Machine Antenna turns up similar black domes.
posted by msbutah at 3:36 PM on February 4, 2011
posted by msbutah at 3:36 PM on February 4, 2011
In fact this one "Seed" by Cantaloupe Systems appears to match it exactly.
posted by msbutah at 3:38 PM on February 4, 2011
posted by msbutah at 3:38 PM on February 4, 2011
Wow, thanks! I came close by the search terms I used, but missed that combination.
posted by Tube at 3:59 PM on February 4, 2011
posted by Tube at 3:59 PM on February 4, 2011
« Older My car is far away, uphill, in the snow. How can I... | Preferably without electrocuting myself... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by charmcityblues at 3:32 PM on February 4, 2011