Patent ID: 7874478

Claim:
A coin exchange system comprising: a first coin counting apparatus positioned in a first publicly accessible area, wherein the first coin counting apparatus includes: a first coin counting mechanism that receives and counts a first plurality of coins; a first voucher dispenser that dispenses a first redeemable voucher in exchange for at least a portion of the first plurality of coins; a first coin receptacle that holds a first quantity of coins including the first plurality of coins; and a first communication device; at least a second coin counting apparatus positioned in a second publicly accessible area different than the first publicly accessible area, wherein the second coin counting apparatus includes: a second coin counting mechanism that receives and counts a second plurality of coins; a second voucher dispenser that dispenses a second redeemable voucher in exchange for at least a portion of the second plurality of coins; a second coin receptacle that holds a second quantity of coins including the second plurality of coins; and a second communication device; and a central computer operably connectable to the first and second communication devices and located remotely from the first and second coin counting apparatuses, the central computer having a communications facility configured to exchange information with the first communication device relating to the first quantity of coins and with the second communication device relating to the second quantity of coins.