1. What is the difference between a bill counter and a currency discriminator?
A standard bill counter is a "piece counter"—it tells you how many pieces of paper went through. A currency discriminator is a "value counter"—it uses digital eyes (CIS) to look at the bill, identify if it’s a $20 or a $100, and give you a total monetary value.
2. Is a currency discriminator better at catching fakes than a cheap counter?
Yes. Standard counters usually only check for magnetic ink or UV glow. Discriminators use Image Recognition, meaning they compare the actual artwork and security features of the bill against a high-resolution database. This is the only reliable way to catch "supernotes" or bleached bills (e.g., a $1 bill reprinted to look like a $100).
3. What does "1+1 Pocket" or "2-Pocket" mean?
This is one of the most searched terms.
- A 1-Pocket machine stops and beeps every time it finds a suspect or "unfit" bill.
- A 2-Pocket (1+1) machine has a separate Reject Pocket. It sends suspect bills to the top pocket while the main count continues without stopping. This is essential for high-volume environments.
4. Can currency discriminators count international money?
Most modern discriminators come with "Multi-Currency" modes. Because they rely on image scanning, they can be programmed to recognize the distinct designs of Euros, Canadian Dollars, British Pounds, and Mexican Pesos, often handling them all in the same stack.
5. Why is my discriminator giving a "CIS Error"?
This is usually a sign that the "eyes" of the machine are dirty. Cash is incredibly dusty; we recommend using cleaning cards or a microfiber cloth weekly to wipe the sensors. If the sensors are blocked by dust, the machine can't "see" the bill to identify it.
