KBR-500 Mixed Value Counter FAQ
Downloadable Documents
If there are issues such as jamming, misfeeding, or tearing of bills it could be for the following reasons:
- Wrong bill loading, damaged or wrinkled bills. For proper use, please check the “Bill Loading Procedure” document.
- Improperly set feed gap. Please check the “Feed Gap Adjustment” document.
- Open the top cover of the unit and make sure the sensor block is properly closed. Please check the “Cleaning Procedure” document to locate the sensor block.
For optimal performance, it is advised to limit the counting to no more than 200 bills at a time.
All parts of the Kolibri KBR-500 need daily care and cleaning. Pay closer attention to the sensors, which are delicate components. If dust or other foreign matter adheres to the sensors, it may cause various problems during the operation of the machine. Dirty sensors can affect the Kolibri KBR-500’s performance and cause genuine bills to be rejected.
It is suggested that the user performs weekly maintenance on the unit to maintain top performance.
For best results, it is recommended to use an air duster and a soft bristle brush to remove any dust or debris from the interior of the unit. When not using the machine for an extended period, cover it with the provided dust cover to prevent dust from settling inside.
- To avoid malfunction caused by foreign objects, please clean your machine frequently.
- Clean Hopper and Stacker sensors with the provided soft bristle brush or a dry cloth frequently.
- Clean the detection sensors with the provided soft bristle brush or a dry cloth frequently.
- Rubber rollers may be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. You may use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to dampen the cloth and clean the rollers. Wait until the rollers are completely dry before turning on the machine.
Always power off the unit and disconnect from power source before cleaning.
Taking regular care of the Kolibri KBR-500 will significantly increase its lifetime.
Please download the cleaning procedure to perform a proper cleaning on KBR-500.
Kolibri suggests cleaning the unit at least once per week. For heavy use locations and operations, it is recommended to clean the unit daily to avoid heavy buildup that may cause improper operation. When the unit is not in use, Kolibri suggests covering the unit with a dust cover.
During transportation or the normal course of operation, the feed mechanism’s adjustments might become altered, potentially resulting in errors such as DOUBLE or CHAIN errors. These errors occur when the feed gap, which is the space within the bill feed path, is improperly set. Ideally, this gap should be equivalent to the thickness of a single bill. A feed gap that is too large can cause a significant increase in DOUBLE and CHAIN errors, as it allows multiple bills to be fed into the scanning path simultaneously. Conversely, a too narrow feed gap can prevent bills from entering the scanning path or may cause the mechanism to catch and tear the bills.
The following steps are the procedure for adjusting the feed gap:
1. Make sure the unit is powered off before proceeding.
2. Find the feed gap adjustment knob, which is located at the back of the unit.
3(a). If the unit is pulling in multiple bills at once, leading to DOUBLE or CHAIN errors, you should tighten the feed gap. This is done by turning the knob clockwise. Adjust by making a half-turn, then test the unit to check if the issue is resolved. Continue adjusting by half-turn increments and testing as needed until the problem is fixed.
3(b). If the unit is experiencing jams or if the bills are getting torn at the input, the feed gap needs to be loosened by turning the knob counterclockwise. Adjust it by a half-turn, then run a test to see if the issue has been resolved. Repeat the adjustment by half-turn increments and testing process as necessary until the unit operates smoothly.
Important Note:
Adjust the KBR-500 feed gap carefully, as it’s very sensitive. Make small adjustments to not exceed the ideal gap. Test with a stack of bills after each tweak to ensure the gap is correct. This careful process keeps the KBR-500 working well.
NOTE: The KBR-500, like all other discriminators on the market with integrated detection sensors, cannot guarantee a counted bill to be genuine or counterfeit.
During the operation of the machine, there can be abnormal states, which will be indicated by error codes displayed on the screen. Please refer to the table below for descriptions of the error codes and the corresponding methods for resolving them.
Code | Cause | Solution |
E1 | UV sensor error | Remove the bills and clean the UV sensor |
E2 | Double note error | If errors occur frequently, adjust the screw clockwise to decrease the feed gap |
E3 | Chain note error | |
E4 | Slanted note error | Adjust the bill guides equally from both the left and right sides |
E8 | Recognition timeout | Remove the bills then count again |
E11 | Wrong Denomination | The unit is in Sort mode with non-confirmed denomination. Please remove the top bill from the stacker |
E12 | Image error | Remove the top bill from the stacker. Clean the IR sensor or perform the calibration |
E13 | Orientation recognition error | |
E20 | MG error | Remove the top bill from the stacker. Clean the MG sensors |
E21 | MG error |
Yes, in MIX mode, KBR-500 counts a mixed batch of $10, $20, $50, $100 bills together, non-stop, quickly.
KBR-500 is designed to detect and flag any suspected counterfeit notes. This unit provides UV, MG, IR line anti-counterfeit feature detections.
There are 3 main counterfeit detection techniques used in most discriminators and detectors:
- MG (Magnetic Detection) – US currency uses specific magnetic ink at exact locations to provide a unique magnetic KBR-500 on each denomination note. By scanning each bill for the presence and location of these features, the KBR-500 is capable of detection the minute magnetic signals present on these bills and will flag any notes that do not have these features present, in the correct locations. Certain counterfeit notes do not have the same features and will be rejected by the KBR-500 as ‘SUSPECT’.
- UV (Ultraviolet Detection) – This feature checks for UV-sensitive marks on bills that are invisible under normal light. Genuine currency often contains UV-reactive elements that glow under UV light. Counterfeit bills may lack or have irregular UV features, helping to differentiate them.
- IR (Infrared Feature Detection) – Similar to UV, US currency contains hidden infrared features that can only be detected by infrared illumination and detection. The KBR-500 scans each bill for the presence and accuracy of these features and fails any bills not meeting these criteria as ‘SUSPECT’.
There are a few reasons that a detector may flag genuine currency as a suspect. If bills are taped, worn, bent, torn, or crumpled, the anti-counterfeit features needed to verify a bill as genuine may be compromised. For example, the magnetic ink on a note may wear over time or heavy use, reducing the magnetic response to below detection thresholds. If the KBR-500 cannot verify the correct features expected on a note, the unit will flag that currency as ‘SUSPECT’.
If sensors are dirty or damaged, the KBR-500 will not be able to detect the necessary anti-counterfeit features needed to verify currency as genuine.
Another possible reason is that the detection sensors may be incorrectly calibrated, lost reference, or be under operating conditions that cause false positives. To reduce these error types, it is advised to operate the unit out of direct sunlight and reduce interference that may cause sensor errors. If this occurs frequently under normal operation, please contact Kolibri Technical Support for troubleshooting or service.
One of the primary causes of miscounting arises from incorrect loading of the currency into the machine. Typically, when this occurs, the KBR-500 will detect the error and prompt the user to reload the currency.
Another significant factor contributing to inaccurate counting is inadequate maintenance of the unit. Each sensor must remain clean and clear of any debris to ensure proper functionality. Given the intricacy of the sensing mechanisms, the unit must accurately detect all features expected of genuine currency. Failure to maintain cleanliness may result in both ‘SUSPECT’ errors and incorrect denominations.
In rare instances, electromechanical issues within the unit can lead to incorrect sensing of all notes. If improper denomination errors persist consistently, please reach out to Kolibri Technical Support for repair assistance.
Depending on the mode the unit is set to, the number of rejects may vary greatly. For example, in sort mode of a highly mixed stack of notes, ALL notes which do not match the first bill passed through the unit will be rejected. Another example is FACE mode, where all notes with the same face up on the first note passing through the unit will be rejected.
If sensors are dirty or damaged, the KBR-500 will not be able to detect the necessary anti-counterfeit features needed to verify currency as genuine.
Another possible reason is that the detection sensors may be incorrectly calibrated, lost reference, or be under operating conditions that cause false positives. To reduce these error types, it is advised to operate the unit out of direct sunlight and reduce interference that may cause sensor errors. If this occurs frequently under normal operation, please contact Kolibri Technical Support for troubleshooting or service.
Yes, the Kolibri KBR-500 uses advanced sensing to determine the denomination of the notes being scanned and automatically counts the correct total of the currency being counted or sorted out notes as the user specifies. Depending on the mode, when an undesired note passes all sensors, the count stops, appropriate message displays on the TFT screen.
Yes, the Kolibri KBR-500 uses advanced sensing to determine the denomination of the notes being scanned.
The contact image sensor (CIS) within the unit is precisely calibrated at the factory. However, with regular use, the sensor’s sensitivity may alter, potentially causing False Errors. To address this, the unit can be recalibrated using the white calibration card provided with the product.
Please download the calibration procedure document and follow the steps to resolve this issue.
The warranty of this unit covers manufacturing defects, and unit related failures that occur during normal operation following the specific guideline set forth in the user manual. Kolibri is not responsible for errors or failures caused by improper use, mishandling, liquid spills on the unit, foreign object damage, units which have been opened/tampered with, or damage caused by improper maintenance, storage, or transportation.
Please contact Kolibri support through our webpage and provide a description of the failure.
When providing a support claim, please have the following information ready:
- Your contact information
- Product’s serial number – To find your serial number refer to the question (Where is the serial number for my unit? What does it look like?)
- The subject of your request
- A brief description of the failure that has been encountered.
- Proof of Purchase (screenshot of the order)
Contact Kolibri Support through our webpage and create a support ticket. The customer service representative assigned to your ticket will respond with troubleshooting techniques or arrange for an on-site repair at our facility.
For all the information you need to contact us at https://kolibriusa.com/contact/