Electronic machine used to disperse a product to a consumer after a certain amount of money has been put into the machine. Vending machines are commonly used to disperse beverages and snack items, but in recent years companies have introduced vending machines that disperse other items, even including electronic items such as digital cameras or iPods.

Often the focus of profitable business ventures, ice cream vending machines can be found in supermarkets and many commercial venues such as shopping malls and train stations. There are several different kinds which can be fitted with various functional and decorative components. Some store only ice cream, but others sometimes contain other frozen foods as well. Other machines are capable of making ice cream from ingredients which are stored separately, depending on desired flavour, and based on recipes contained in computer memory.

Many ice cream vending machines include pre-packaged ice cream snacks. These typically have a temperature control system in addition to mechanisms that handle dollar bills and coins. Coin changers are usually integrated as well, so a customer can receive change once he or she purchases a product. There are also ice cream vending machines that can store the ingredients to various recipes separately. These sometimes have a robotic arm that can accurately pick from the ingredients inside the machine; some robotics include suction devices to hold items.

More sophisticated ice cream vending machines include robotic systems with high accuracy and which can move in different directions with the aid of motors. Some machines have freezers that can keep temperatures cold enough so that the products inside will remain cold for long periods of time, even if the power is cut. Extras that are sometimes included are touch screens, internal cut-off switches in case temperatures become unsafe, as well