Crane Merchandising Systems 480 Section 5: SureVend

December 2004 41 4800006

Section 5: SureVend™

The SureVend™ product detection system consists of several infrared light emitters and

infrared light detectors that scan the product delivery area with a pattern of cr isscrossed light

beams. While the machine is idle, the SureVend™ system is constantly calibrating itself for

optimum performance in all temperature, humidity, dust, and alignment conditions. The

SureVend™ detection system is used by the cont r oller to assure that the selected product is

delivered.

• When a customer makes a selection, the controller checks that the SureVend™

detection system is ready and tells it to begin scanning for the product. Different

scanning patterns are used depending upon the size and shape of the product.

• The vending machine controller then starts the delivery motor and constantly

checks the SureVend™ system for detection of the delivered product.

• If no product delivery is detected, the controller continu es to run the deliv ery moto r

for up to three revolutions, pausing momentarily at the home position of each

revolution of the motor.

• If no product is detected after the third revolution, the selection is marked as

empty and the customer's credit is optionally restored to make another selection

or is automatically returned.

• If product delivery is detected before the delivery motor has come to the home

position for the first time, the delivery motor continues running to its home

position.

• If the delivery motor has already passed the first home position, the motor will stop

immediately upon product detection to avoid the possibility of vending a second

product.

NOTE:

A fatal malfunction in the SureVend™ detection system during the

vend is treated the same as a product delivery. It is assumed

that the malfunction is due to tampering or vandalism.

Anti-Jackpot provides protection against unforeseeable cheating of the SureVend™ system.

If a certain number of SureVend™ empty conditions occur, SureVend™ will disable itself for

a few minutes. A SureVend™ empty condition occurs when product delivery is not detected

and the customer's money is restored or returned. Both the number of SureVend™ empty

conditions required to disable SureVend™, and the number of minutes it remains disabled,

are both configurable by the operator (see "Set SureVend Up the SureVend Anti-Jackpo t

Feature" on page 66).

Once Anti-Jackpot is triggered, the SureVend™ system will be turned off for a certain

number of minutes so that money can no longer be refunded because of vend failure and

thus discourage a thief from remaining. While SureVend™ is disabled, machine will either

revert to home switch operation or go out of service, depending on other selected options

(see "Set Up Basic SureVend™ Options" on page 66).

Once the Anti-jackpot time has elapsed, SureVend™ is re-enabled. The total number of

SureVend™ empty selections, the number of anti-jackpot occurrences, and the date and

time of the most recent occurrence are recorded.