Patents by Inventor Gregory J. Billington

Gregory J. Billington has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7014554
    Abstract: A coin mechanism has one or more coin tubes for storing, respectively, coins of one or more denominations, a dispenser for controlling the dispensing of coins from the coin tubes, and a coin mechanism controller suitable for connection to a controller in an automatic transaction system so as to receive change dispense signals from the automatic transaction system controller indicating the form of dispensing change to a customer. The coin mechanism controller, when connected to the automatic transaction system controller, serves as an interface between the automatic transaction system controller and the dispenser, and is programmed to re-determine the form of paying out the change, for example, by taking into account the distribution and denominations of the coins in the coin tubes. The arrangement of coin tubes in a coin tube cassette for use with the coin mechanism can be identified by entering a code on a keypad associated with the coin mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul R. Fletcher, Craig A. Lewis, Gregory J. Billington
  • Publication number: 20040035672
    Abstract: A coin mechanism has one or more coin tubes for storing, respectively, coins of one or more denominations, a dispenser for controlling the dispensing of coins from the coin tubes, and a coin mechanism controller suitable for connection to a controller in an automatic transaction system so as to receive change dispense signals from the automatic transaction system controller indicating the form of dispensing change to a customer. The coin mechanism controller, when connected to the automatic transaction system controller, serves as an interface between the automatic transaction system controller and the dispenser, and is programmed to re-determine the form of paying out the change, for example, by taking into account the distribution and denominations of the coins in the coin tubes. The arrangement of coin tubes in a coin tube cassette for use with the coin mechanism can be identified by entering a code on a keypad associated with the coin mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Mars Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Fletcher, Gregory J. Billington, Craig A. Lewis