Known telemetrically managed vending machines comprise of a coin entry chute, a coin validation mechanism, a coin store and a coin exit chute. In such systems the vending machine hardware communicates, via a Vending Machine Controller (VMC), with a remote host to report machine critical data, for example, product levels, power usage and machine malfunctions.

The advantage of such telemetrically managed vending machines lies in their ability to proactively monitor or manage, for example, stock levels, staff utilisation and machine servicing to thereby

maximise profitability through increasing sales and efficiency.

The ability of a vending machine to report system malfunctions, such as coin jams, is obviously important in terms of reducing machine down time. It is particularly important from a staff management perspective to be able to determine the cause and/or severity of a coin jam. For example, if it can be established that the jam is of a relatively simple nature and can be easily resolved by a non- specialist employee, significant time and cost savings can be made.

Existing vending machines suffer from a limited ability to provide qualitative information in relation to coin jams and therefore insufficient information is available to ascertain the severity of a coin jam and whether or not a non-specialist employee could resolve the problem without incurring the additional costs of a specialist.

For example, coin jams are commonly recognised as a consequence of the absence of a coin reaching the coin validation mechanism. In such circumstances, the severity, exact location or cause of the coin jam is not known.

For example, if a coin jam occurs in a certain location within a vending machine, a specialist employee may be required to access the problem area and/or to repair or replace malfunctioning parts.

However, if a coin jam occurs in other more accessible areas of the vending machine and/or there is no malfunction of machine parts, a mere clearing of the jammed coins may be sufficient. This would be more cost effective if carried out by a non- specialist employee.

According the present invention there is provided apparatus for detecting a coin jam comprising a coin validation mechanism positioned downstream of a coin entry chute and upstream of a coin exit chute wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one sensor which reports information to a diagnostic device which, when a coin jam occurs, generates an error code indicative of the severity and/or location of the coin jam.

Preferably, the error code is communicated telemetrically to a remote host.

Alternatively, the error code is displayed on the vending machine.

Alternatively, the qualitative information is both communicated telemetrically to a remote host and displayed on the vending machine.

Preferably, the coin validation mechanism operates under the Multi Drop Bus (MDB) standard.

Preferably, a plurality of sensors are positioned

within one or more of the coin entry chute, the coin validation mechanism and the coin exit chute.

Preferably, the one or more sensors are proximity sensors using inductive and/or capacitive proximity field sensing.

Alternatively, a combination of proximity sensors, using inductive and/or capacitive proximity field sensing, and optical sensors are employed.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Fig. 1 shows a coin sensing system comprising the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 1 shows a coin sensing system associated with a coin operated vending machine which comprises a coin entry chute 10 leading to a coin validation mechanism 12 which in turn leads to a coin exit chute 14. The coin validation mechanism operates under the Multi Drop Bus (MDB) standard.

Proximity Sensors 16 and 18 are provided on the coin entry chute 10 and a further proximity sensor 20 is provided on the coin exit chute 14.

Sensors 16,18 and 20 interface with a diagnostic device 22 which in turn communicates with a remote Telemetric Interface Unit (TIU) 26. The diagnostic

device 22 also interfaces with the coin validation mechanism 12.

The diagnostic device is further connected to the Vending Machine Controller (VMC) 24.

In use, a coin is inserted into the coin entry chute 10 and creates an actuating signal as it passes sensors 16 and 18. The progress of a coin passing through the entry chute 10, and subsequently through the coin validation mechanism and coin exit chute, can therefore be positively confirmed as actuating signals are reported to the diagnostic device 22.

A coin jam occurring in the entry chute 10 between the first sensor 16 and the second sensor 18 can be confirmed by the diagnostic device 22 interpreting the information received from the sensors 16 and 18.

For example, the absence of an actuating signal from sensor 18 within the expected time delay window from the actuating signal received from sensor 16 would allow the diagnostic device 22 to positively locate where the jam has occurred.

Similarly, a coin jam occurring in other locations would be located using the same principle.

Obviously, the greater the number of sensors provided within the system, the more detailed and useful the information fed back to the diagnostic device 22 can be.

When information is received by the diagnostic device 22 which corresponds to a coin jam, an error code is generated and communicated telemetrically to a remote host via the vending machine controller 24 and/or the telemetry interface unit 26. The error code may instead, or in addition, be displayed on the vending machine itself in order to assist the specialist or non-specialist in identifying the cause and/or location and/or severity of the coin jam.

Inductive or capacitive proximity sensors 16,18 and 20 are suitable for use in non-metallic entry and exit chutes 10 and 14. If the chutes are made of a metallic material the sensors may be replaced with optical sensors such as retro-reflective sensors.

A particular advantage of proximity sensors over optical sensors is that their actuating signals can either be simply ON/OFF signals or, alternatively generate an output which is indicative of the amount of metallic material within their sensing fields.

Therefore, such sensors can report to the diagnostic device the number of coins involved in a jam, i. e. the severity of the coin jam.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.