Plug-in counter with cost reduction

In a plug-in counter system for recording the use of an associated business machine by each of a plurality of authorized operators in accordance with usage related signals generated by the machine, the plug-in counter system comprising a plurality of separate plug-in counter units for the plurality of authorized operators respectively, each having a counter and a counter indexing mechanism adapted to be magnetically actuated for indexing the counter, and a plug-in counter receptacle unit having a receptacle for individually receiving the counter units at an operational position therein, the receptacle unit and each counter unit having respective coupling means for operatively coupling a said operationally positioned counter unit to said receptacle unit for activating a said associated business machine and for operatively coupling the receptacle unit to the counter unit for indexing the counter in accordance with the usage related signals generated by the associated business machine, the improvement wherein the coupling means of each counter unit comprises flux conductor means operable when magnetized for magnetically actuating the counter indexing mechanism for indexing the counter, and wherein the coupling means of the receptacle unit comprises an electromagnet having an operating coil adapted to be connected to be energized in accordance with the usage related signals generated by a said business machine, the electromagnet being opratively magnetically coupled to the flux conductor means of a said operationally positioned counter unit for magnetizing the flux conductor means of the counter with the electromaget for indexing the counter.