Hi there. I've imported a Japanese vending machine for private use. It's a recent model from 2014 and was serviced just before shipping. While the manual is very informative for things such as scheduling power-save hours and changing prices, there is nothing I could find to "force a test vend" on a chute which the machine thinks is empty.
Here's a photo of a model very similar to mine. ( I own FUJI Model FA15C5L14Z )
https://i.imgur.com/zUwl3je.png
I've stocked all of the lanes. All of them function as expected, except one. It appears "sold out" from the front selection panel, and when I took some photos from underneath the lane, inside the vending exit area, I noticed there was an empty cavity where there SHOULD be a can. Above it, all of the cans are stocked and waiting as expected. There is not a can lodged sideways, etc.
I cannot find a way to force it to attempt a vend, it just errors and reminds me that this selection is "sold out." The test button works for all of the other selections, but will not vend a 'sold-out.'
In your experience, is there usually a software/button option to force a machine to check the motor to vend? Or should I remove the entire internal rack and dismantle it to dislodge the cans.
Applying pressure from the top of the lane, pressing down on the cans, internally inside the machine doesn't seem to encourage the cans to move down a slot.
Attempting to trigger the "in-stock sensor" from below does not appear to work, but I only used small items such as chopsticks and may not have tripped it.
I've tried to (gently) open the chute from below, but this did not work. These mechanisms appear to be decently strong.
Open to all ideas, suggestions and input. I'm in way over my head but enjoying learning from the manual so far. I can post some photos and videos but hopefully I've illustrated the problem.
Small update. Based on some googling in english and japanese, the conventional wisdom suggested this was a simple jam.
I used a large thin tool and poked around until I knocked it loose.
Once the cans came down, they landed on the bottom most ramp, as expected. However, I believe more than just one can came down, and now there's a lot of weight on the vend lever there.
To make matters worse, the sold-out light is still active on that selection. There might be a software method to clear it, but as far as I can tell those are strictly tied to the sensors. I will continue messing with the problem.
Here's a photo of the *new* jam
yikes. Maybe I'll take the entire tray/vend thing off and empty the cavity?
No idea how to force the vending ramp on the bottom to open up.
I'm really scared to force it open, because I don't want to break anything. here's a photo of the back-side of the spring area which keeps the ramp upright to hold the cans.
So I think if I can find a way to manually force a vend (a release of the vend-mechanism) then I'll be able to extract the bottom 2-3 cans which are jammed.
I will continue to work through the Japanese manual.
I've contacted several vending repair and appliance repair companies in Los Angeles to assist with removal of the serpentine can hopper, so far all of them will not service this machine or take a look at photos.
If you have any ideas of who I should call to help remove the lane or inspect the jam, please post a reply in this thread. It's very heavy to lift and I am afraid of bursting a can or dropping the rack if I attempt to remove on my own.