When you step into the break room to purchase your favorite snack, you probably don’t give the vending machine much thought. You deposit your money, punch in the product code, and take your chips or candy bar back to your desk. You might not realize it as you eagerly await your food, but a complex series of processes is happening inside the machine, and you can thank magnets for that. Different types of magnet technology are used depending on how you decide to pay — whether it’s with coins, cash, or credit card.
Paying with Coins: Eddy Currents, Lasers, and ElectromagnetsOnce your deposit your coins, the vending machine gets to work separating quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. To keep fake coins from entering circulation, some vending machines use an eddy current, which is a loop of electrical current that slows ferromagnetic objects that move within conductors. Because the fake coins are moving slower than the real coins, they’re diverted into a rejection chute and dispensed back to the customer.So, what about real coins? Well, after you slip your change into the slot, the coins roll down a ramp where they’re scanned by lasers (to verify size) and electromagnets (to check composition). Using this information, the vending machine determines the coin type and deposits each into a designated chute. In the case that a vending machine doesn’t use an eddy current to separate fake coins, lasers and electromagnets are also capable of rejecting false currency.Paying with Cash: Magic InkIn the United States, paper currency is equipped with a myriad of anti-counterfeit measures like microprinting, raised print, watermarks, and even color-shifting ink. But the ability to change color isn’t the only thing that makes the ink on a bill unique. It can also be ferromagnetic — a quality that’s hard to duplicate — and each denomination receives a unique blend of ink and iron. Vending machines are able to “read” or measure the amount of iron in the ink of each bill to determine its worth and validity.Paying with Credit Card: Tiny Magnets and ProcessorsMore modern vending machines accept credit cards, increasing the complexity of the process. The back of your card has a magnetic strip filled with unique magnetic particles (less than 20 millionths of an inch!). The strip contains all of your important payment information, including name, account number, and card expiration date. When you swipe your card, that data is sent to a small processor housed inside the vending machine. After reading your information, a computer sends the transaction to your bank for further processing. As long as your card is in good standing, you’ll be able to complete the transaction and get your snack.Apex Magnets in the OfficeVending machines aren’t the only place you’ll find magnets in the office! We offer PLENTY of magnetic tools to help the workday run smoother, including convenient clip magnets and hook magnets. Our associates are always available to help you decide what’s best for you at (1-304)-257-1193.
