For beginners who have just stepped into the operation field of Zhigou vending machines, doing a good job in equipment maintenance is of vital importance. It not only concerns the service life of the machines but also directly affects daily operation and revenue. Here are some practical methods for beginners to maintain Zhigou vending machines.

I. Daily Cleaning and Maintenance

1. External Cleaning

Vending machines are prone to accumulate dust, stains and so on when placed in different locations. Therefore, it is necessary to wipe the exterior of the machines regularly. You can prepare a soft and clean damp cloth and gently wipe the surface of the machine body to remove dust, fingerprints and other marks. Be careful to avoid using rough rags or cleaners containing corrosive ingredients to prevent scratching the machine shell or damaging the paint surface. For example, vending machines on campus may get stained with various substances due to the frequent comings and goings of students. It is advisable to conduct a comprehensive external cleaning at least once a week to keep the appearance clean and tidy, which can also leave a good impression on customers and attract more people to buy goods.

2. Internal Cleaning

Open the door of the vending machine and focus on cleaning the item channels, delivery outlets and internal shelves. There may be debris from goods, wrapping papers and other sundries left on the item channels. If not cleaned in time, it is easy to cause jams and affect the shopping experience of customers. You can use a small cleaning brush to sweep out the sundries in the gaps of the item channels and then use a vacuum cleaner to suck away the dust. Make sure that the delivery outlets are unobstructed to prevent foreign objects from blocking the normal delivery of goods. It is recommended to conduct a detailed internal cleaning every half a month to ensure a good internal environment and smooth operation of the machine.

II. Regular Component Inspection

1. Payment System Inspection

Zhigou vending machines support multiple payment methods, such as QR code scanning payment and card swiping payment. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly check whether the equipment components related to payment are working properly. You can try several simulated payment operations by yourself to see whether the barcode scanner can accurately recognize the QR code and whether the card swiping area is sensitive. If you find that the payment is unsuccessful or the response is slow, you should promptly check whether the connecting wires of the payment module are loose or contact the after-sales staff of the manufacturer to troubleshoot whether the problem lies in the software or hardware, so as to avoid losing customers due to payment failures.

2. Item Channel and Delivery System Inspection

The springs, conveyor belts and other components that push the goods in the item channels need to be paid special attention to. Check whether they are deformed, damaged or loose. You can manually push the goods on the item channels to test whether the pushing force is uniform and smooth. If you feel a relatively large resistance, it is very likely that there is a potential failure in the item channels. You should adjust or repair it in time. Meanwhile, check whether the gates, motors and other components at the delivery outlets are operating normally to ensure that the goods can be accurately delivered to the delivery outlets every time a customer places an order. It is appropriate to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the item channels and delivery system once a month.

3. Refrigeration/Heating System Inspection (if applicable)

Some Zhigou vending machines have functions such as refrigerating to preserve beverages and food or heating to provide hot drinks. For the refrigeration system, check whether the refrigeration compressor is operating normally and whether the refrigeration temperature can be maintained within the set reasonable range to avoid high temperatures that may cause the deterioration of goods or low temperatures that may waste energy and affect the service life of the machine. If there is a heating function, check the heating elements, thermostats and other components to ensure that the heating function is stable and can provide customers with hot drinks at an appropriate temperature. Especially when seasons change, it is more important to focus on the inspection and debugging of these temperature control systems. Generally, it is recommended to conduct an inspection at least once a quarter.

4. Circuit and Wire Inspection

Carefully check the wire connection inside the vending machine to see whether there are problems such as damaged or aged wire sheaths and loose plugs. Damaged wires are prone to cause short circuits and other safety hazards, and loose plugs may lead to the malfunction of some functions of the machine. Follow the direction of the wires and check each connection point one by one. If any problems are found with the wires, replace them or re-fix the plugs in time to ensure the electrical safety of the machine and its normal power supply. It is recommended to conduct this inspection every two months.

III. Learning to Deal with Common Failures

1. Handling Jammed Goods

Jammed goods is one of the relatively common failures of vending machines. When this happens, don't panic. First, open the machine and check which item channel has the problem. If the jam is caused by the irregular placement of goods, rearrange the goods neatly. If the components of the item channel are stuck, try gently moving the relevant springs, conveyor belts, etc. to make them smooth again. If necessary, refer to the equipment manual or consult the manufacturer for specific adjustment methods to restore the normal delivery function of the item channel.

2. Handling Payment Failures

When encountering unsuccessful payment, first check whether the network connection is normal. If the vending machine transmits payment data through the network, unstable network may lead to payment failures. In addition, check whether there is any error message on the payment device, such as an error code displayed on the barcode scanner. Troubleshoot the problem according to the corresponding prompts. The common reasons may be that the payment software needs to be updated or there is an abnormality in the binding of the payment account. Solve these problems in time to ensure that the payment channels are smooth.

3. Handling Other Failures

For failures such as the display screen not lighting up or the buttons not working, first check whether the power supply of the machine is properly connected, and then check the relevant wire connections and whether the control motherboard is damaged. For some simple problems like loose wires, you can fix them by yourself. However, if it involves more complex hardware failures such as problems with the motherboard, you should contact the professional after-sales maintenance personnel of Zhigou vending machines in time, describe the failure symptoms clearly, and let them conduct professional repair and treatment. Do not disassemble the machine blindly to avoid causing more serious damage.

IV. Establishing a Maintenance Record File

When beginners conduct equipment maintenance, it is best to establish a maintenance record file and record the time, content and results of each cleaning, inspection and failure handling in detail. In this way, it will be convenient for you to master the maintenance cycle and the overall operation status of the machine, and it can also provide a reference basis for dealing with similar problems in the future, helping you to judge the causes of failures more quickly and accurately and take effective solutions.

In conclusion, beginners need to be patient and careful when maintaining Zhigou vending machines. By following these methods and key points and conducting maintenance regularly and conscientiously, vending machines can always maintain a good operating state, which will safeguard your entrepreneurial journey and contribute to achieving stable revenue.