Vending machine keys—and the locks they open—are essential for vending machine security. They prevent theft and ensure that the only people accessing the vending machine stock (pre-purchase, at least) are people authorized to do so. In this comprehensive article, we’ll provide an answer to the question “Are all vending machine keys the same? Is there even such a thing as a universal key that opens multiple machines?” and discuss everything you need to know about vending machine keys.
Are All Vending Machine Keys the Same?
Vending machine keys are not all the same although there are common vending machine keys. There are several types of vending machine lock-and-key combos, and even within a specific category, each key will have a unique pattern to ensure that it can only open a specific vending machine. It follows that there is no such thing as a universal key for all vending machines; if there were vending machine keys universal in design, no vending machine would be very secure.
What Locks Do Most Vending Machines Use?
The most common type of lock to encounter in vending machines is a tubular lock. Tubular lock falls into a category of incredibly secure vending machine locks because they require tubular keys and are much more difficult to pick than a traditional lock that you’d find on a house door. Tubular keys can also be used as master keys if the locks on multiple vending machines are similar enough, allowing vending machine owners the convenience of only carrying one vending machine key around while they maintain their route.
Many vending machines (especially older models like coin operated machines) are equipped with flat locks, similar to the ones you’d find on bicycle locks, car locks, or house locks. As locking mechanisms go, flat locks are less sophisticated than tubular locks or barrel locks (also known as pun tumbler locks). Since they are all keyed differently for security purposes, they also necessitate that a vending owner with multiple vending machines must carry multiple flat keys instead of one key (unless they all have the same lock), and this can be a hassle.
What Vending Machine Key Types Are There?
Just as there are multiple types of vending machine locks, there are a number of different types of vending machine keys to go along with those locks. The most common vending machine keys are tubular/barrel keys and flat keys.
Tubular locks
Tubular keys have a cylindrical shaft with grooves of varying length cut into the exterior surface at one end. These grooves cause matching pins to shift when the key is turned, allowing access to the vending machine. Since there can be a high number of grooves and pins in these lock-and-key pairs, it is very hard to replicate this action with lock-picking tools. This is the main reason they are such secure locks for vending machines.
Flat locks
Flat locks for vending machines look exactly like the ones you’d need for a house door, a bike lock, a locker, etc. They have teeth cut into one or both sides of the key, and these will match up to every pin inside of a flat lock. Machine locks that correspond to keys with double-sided teeth will offer extra security over single-sided versions.
Flat keys will be distinguished by different key codes. This makes it easier for vending owners to identify which key corresponds to which vending machine. These key codes will only be engraved on the original key, so anyone who is using a replacement key must remember to transfer this key code over in some other way. The same key code can be used for multiple keys out of convenience for a vending owner with many machines requiring their attention.
Barrel key
A third type of lock that may be found on a vending machine is called a screw lock. However screw locks aren't very common. Rather than a corresponding screw key, these locks are instead opened by a flathead screwdriver. Since anyone in the general public can gain access to the vending machine with their own screwdriver, this type of lock and key system is the most vulnerable to outside attack.
How to Differentiate Keys by Vending Machine Key Codes
Flat vending machine keys are fairly easy to differentiate by their key codes. One key code can look remarkably different from the next, and the pattern can be quite diverse as the code is composed of both numbers and letters.
It is important to note that the lock codes stamped onto the vending machine lock are not related to the key code itself, so this is not the best way to match a key to its lock. Instead, a vending machine owner needs to make a mental note of which key code matches each machine. Many individuals choose to install the exact same type of lock on each of their vending machines, so they don’t need to go through this process and only need to carry one key around.
Anyone who has lost their original key or did not receive one with a secondhand purchase will have to have a new lock installed in order to reliably gain access to their machine.
Only Vending Machine Master Key is Universal
Although there is no such thing as a truly universal vending machine key, a vending machine owner can mimic this effect with the use of a master key. A master key is a special type of key that is designed to be compatible with multiple locks. They can exist for tubular or flat locks and allow a vending owner to open all of their machines with the same key.
However, a master key will only be able to unlock a certain number of locks that it has been specifically designed for, ensuring security in the industry.
Learn More About How a Vending Machine Works
While keys and locks are pretty important aspects of how vending machine businesses function on a day-to-day basis, there is a lot more to how vending machines work than how they are secured and accessed.
Transport
The transport of a vending machine is something that almost every vending owner will have to go through at some point, unless they’ve purchased an existing location or route and never need to move it during their ownership period. Since vending machines are large, heavy, yet delicate objects carrying precious cargo, moving a vending machine is a trick process that requires multiple people, special equipment, and maybe even some professional movers.
Card Readers
Aside from the actual product dispensing a vending machine does on a regular payment, the most important aspect of its functionality is its ability to accept payments. Older machines will operate on coin/cash systems, but most modern machines will operate with card readers. This is a major convenience for consumers and vending owners alike.
A vending machine’s card reader will operate just like the card readers in other locations, so they will be intuitive for all vending customers. The business owner will need to take some steps to retrieve that money, though.
Troubleshooting
The final piece to discuss is troubleshooting. Things can go wrong at any time with a vending machine, and a vending owner needs to understand how to resolve them in a timely manner so their business is not interrupted for long.
The first aspect of this is lost keys. When keys get lost, stock cannot be managed, and eventually, this will result in vending machine lock relacement. There are multiple ways to gain access to a vending machine without a key: some models can be picked with a ballpoint pen or other method, vending machine companies can send over maintenance personnel with a key that fits, or a locksmith can be called to change the lock and provide a fresh set of keys.
Another common problem that arises with vending machines is stuck items. This is more common with snack machines than drink machines, but it can easily occur in both. There are a number of steps that can be taken to unstuck a vending machine. Sometimes another item can be purchased to knock the stuck item down, sometimes a well-placed kick is needed to dislodge a drink, and other times the machine will need to be unlocked and manually fixed.
One key skill that every vending machine owner should have is the ability to reset their machine. This can be necessary for a variety of reasons, including stuck items, temperature dysregulation, and more. For most standard vending machines, all that is required for a reset is to unplug the machine, wait a few minutes, and try again.
Final Thoughts
Vending machines can be found in almost any building type in today’s world: apartment buildings, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses and other industrial buildings; the list goes on. Since they are always located in publicly accessible locations (that’s how they make money, after all), the security and integrity of their locking systems are integral to the profitability of the business. Luckily, vending machine keys are up to the challenge.
