The familiar clink of a coin is the start of the toy crane machine adventure. This sound triggers a sophisticated coin-operated mechanism designed for reliability and fair play. When you insert a coin, it first passes through a coin validator. This device uses sensors—often optical or magnetic—to check the coin's size, thickness, and metallic composition against a preset standard, rejecting slugs or foreign tokens.

Once validated, the coin drops into a secure cash box. Simultaneously, the validator sends an electrical signal to the machine's main credit system, typically a printed circuit board (PCB). This board acts as the machine's brain, registering one "play" or credit. The updated credit count is immediately shown on the digital display.

With a credit now active, the control buttons or joystick are enabled. Pressing the start button sends a signal from the PCB to the power relay controlling the crane's main functions. This completes the critical chain: your payment authorizes the temporary release of power to the motors that move the crane laterally, longitudinally, and, crucially, that operate the claw's descent and grip. The mechanism ensures one credited play per coin, maintaining the game's commercial function. After the play cycle ends—whether successful or not—the system resets, awaiting the next coin to initiate the entire process again, blending simple physics with precise electronic control.