How Do Vending Machines Know What Bill You Put in?
Vending machines today accept all sorts of cashless payment methods, but cash payments are still very popular. Inserting a bill into a machine and then getting the exact change seems to be a simple process. But when you think about it, how is it that the vending machines know exactly how much money you put in? Even more interestingly, how are they able to give you the precise amount of change?
It sounds quite baffling, but reading money is one of the basic functions of vending machines. Even early machines were able to distinguish different kinds of coins based on size, weight, and a number of other features. The same principle is still in use today in the bill acceptors of modern automats.
How Do Bill Acceptors Work?
Although the idea is pretty much the same, the methods of money recognition are a lot more modern. The use of a bill acceptor is one of the most common of these methods. In some parts of the world, vending companies refer to them as bill validators. This electronic device takes the money as soon as you touch it to the slot. Inside, it has cameras and sensors that are pre-programmed to identify distinguishing features on bills. These features may include bill size, visual markings, distinct lines, and so on.
Some vending machines also come with technology that makes use of UV light to differentiate between bills. Paper money typically has secret markers on them that are indiscernible to the naked eye. UV light reveals these marks, allowing the vending machine to correctly identify bills.
Once the machine gets all the relevant details about a particular bill, it will check these data against a database. If the bill is valid, the machine will accept it and process the correct amount of change. If the bill doesn’t pass the check, the machine will reject it.
Why Do Vending Machines Reject Bills?
In some instances, a vending machine might eject a bill that a buyer is trying to insert. There are several possible reasons for this. One is that it could be fake. The verification process of vending machines can easily identify counterfeit money. Criminals thinking they could fool a vending machine with these fake bills better think again.
Another possible reason is that the bill is too crumpled or soiled. Damages and stains on the surface of the bill might prevent the vending machine from properly identifying it. In this case, the machine will simply eject the money.
It is also possible that the machine does not recognize the currency. Many vending machines, like those you can get from Vending-Machines.ie, are now able to accept multiple currencies. However, the database of vending machines is not that exhaustive. Because of this, the list of valid money is still usually restricted to just the local currency and a few other major world currencies.
If you want to learn more about how vending machines work, feel free to call us and we will schedule you for a free consultation.
