Mechanical reproduction of information and heron’s aeolipile: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Mechanical reproduction of information — is used in — Jacquard loom. The loom reproduces a pattern recorded on punched cards as many times as needed.
2. Step 2. Jacquard loom — was inspired by — Automaton. Vaucanson, the maker of automata, built an automatic loom whose ideas Jacquard used.
3. Step 3. Automaton — has part — Spring. The mainspring stores the energy.
4. Step 4. Spring — is part of — Vending machine. A spring holds the dispenser.
5. Step 5. Vending machine — was inspired by — Heron’s aeolipile. Heron described both a holy-water dispenser and the aeolipile; the dispenser is the prototype of the vending machine.

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