Patent ID: 6920372

Claim:
An audit monitoring and product drop system for retrofit into an existing vending machine having a product selector mechanism, a credit display, a main control board for controlling operation of the vending machine, a plurality of product dispensing mechanisms, each of which is operable to dispense a particular product through a product drop area, and means for receiving funds and dispensing change, said audit monitoring and product drop system comprising a control unit including a microprocessor for receiving and transmitting electrical signals to and from said means for receiving funds and dispensing change which signals are indicative of the funds received, the change to be dispensed, the change available to be dispensed, and for enabling and disenabling the means for receiving funds and dispensing change, said microprocessor further receiving and transmitting electrical signals to and from said main control board which are indicative of the funds received, the change to be dispensed, and the status of the vending machines, a plurality of first sensors one of which is associated with each of said plurality of product dispensing mechanisms for sensing actuation of its associated product dispensing mechanisms and for sending a signal to said microprocessor, from said first sensor indicative of actuation of said associated product dispensing mechanism and indicative of which particular product is to be dispensed, a product drop sensor operative to send a signal to said microprocessor indicative of a product drop when a product to be dispensed drops through said product drop area, a memory for receiving and storing from said microprocessor transaction information including products dispensed, total amount vended and funds in the means for receiving funds and dispensing change, and wherein the first sensor senses actuation of a product dispensing mechanism to dispense a particular product and the first sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor to initiate a predetermined timing period during which the microprocessor senses the output of said product drop sensor to determine if a product to be dispensed passes through the drop area and effects storage of the transaction information in the memory only if a product drop is sensed by the product drop sensor within said predetermined timing period.