COIN ESCROW APPARATUS FOR PAY TELEPHONES

摘要

A coin escrow apparatus for use with a pay telephone includes a housing defining a coin hopper, a coin acceptance chute, and a coin return chute. The apparatus also includes a door mounted within the housing for selective movement between an escrow position for supporting coins in the hopper, an acceptance position for releasing coins from the hopper to the coin acceptance chute, and a return position for releasing coins from the hopper to the coin return chute. The door includes first and second ends and an underside portion. The apparatus also includes structures for selectively moving the door between its escrow, acceptance, and return positions, including: (a) guide elements for guiding the door for pivotal movement in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; (b) a pivotal support element positioned below the door and having an upper portion engaging the underside of the door intermediate the first and second ends of the door, the pivotal support element pivoting about a pivot axis below the door; and (c) an actuator for pivoting the pivotal support element.