Counting cans in a USI_CD-6 satellite machine with "serpentine" storage

[Pops]

Any suggestions for how to count remaining stock in a USI CD-6 machine with serpentine style storage arrangement?

 

For some rows, I can't tell if I have 3 or 10 cans remaining when I open it up to restock.  I'm not able to keep accurate track of how many cans are being sold as I don't always top them off on every service visit. 

 

Appreciate any comments and suggestions, except that I don't need to hear anymore about how bad combo machine are.

 

Thanks

 

 

[mission vending]

I put some indicator marks with a marker on mine to let me know if it needs a half or full case. They hold approx1 1/2 cases per selection with the lower rows holding 1 more than the upper.

This combo is old and cannot track sales by selection electronically like newer machines can.

[AZVendor]

Yes, you will need to empty one selection of each different capacity, remembering that any selections that load one above the other hold more in the selections with an upper opening.  Then after you have loaded 12 cans make a mark on the rack, or at whatever number you wish to mark it at.  Then work your way counting and marking where needed up the rack.  As far as wanting to count the cans you can't see, you are not going to be able to do it, so don't worry about it, just make sure you aren't purposely leaving a selection that low.  If you are a stickler for detail, then use a reference point for the cans you can see.  It's just the nature of the beast.

 

I always used 24 ct cases on my routes with ringed 6 packs and instructed my drivers to work in 12 ct increments - we never worked at the 6 pack level.  We also filled most of our machines to the top and the guys got very good at viewing the height of cans and estimating how many full or 1/2 cases they needed to fill the column.  While filling, if the column required only a few more than a 12 ct increment, we would leave it a little short.  If we had a few cans left after filling to a 12 ct increment, we put them backwards on another column or stored them next to the delivery chute.  Now it's harder to work in 12 ct increments if you're using 32 ct cases from Sam's or Costco and I don't think 24 ct cases are available now, except from the bottlers or a vending wholesaler.  At least the refrigerator packs are 12 ct, so if you use those then you have consistent case counts to work with even though the boxes are a pain in the golpher to fill a machine from.