Importance

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Abstract

The pay phone apparatus of this invention includes a multiplicity of pay phones; a central switching board including a central switching device for each pay phone; and, a pair of telephone lines connecting each pay phone and its related switching device. Each pay phone has a coin mechanism to receive and hold nickels, dimes, and quarters deposited therein. The mechanism sends nickel, dime, and quarter coin signals to its related switching device each time a nickel, dime or quarter is deposited therein and operates to return coins held thereby to the user of the pay phone or to deliver them into a coin box in the pay phone in response to coin return and coin accept signals directed to it from the switching device. The invention next includes a counting device in each pay phone that receives coin signals from the mechanism, converts those signals into digital data, and stores in its memory the data relating to each denomination of coins deposited in and held by mechanism, the number of those coins last delivered by the mechanism into the coin box, and the total number of those coins that have been deposited in and accepted by the pay phone. The invention next includes a single monitoring station including a computer with a printer and connected with a related switching device on the central switching board. The computer is programmed to automatically sequentially call, connect, and disconnect with each pay phone.

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First Claim