STATION FOR DISPENSING LIQUID COLORANT FOR WET CONCRETE

• US 20080011775A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Inventors: Arisman, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/12 Supplying or proportioning liquid ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/08 for liquid or semi-liquid paints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Systems and methods for the advanced batching of liquid colorant for dispensing into loads of wet concrete are described. A color station makes the batches of liquid colorant at the direction of a central authority. The color station includes numerous different liquid colorants that are combined to form a specific color of liquid colorant. The color station is in contact with the central authority and receives and transmits information and data to and from the central authority. Proximity detection is used to initiate the processing of the batches of liquid colorant.

Claims

1. A method for providing a batch of liquid colorant, comprising:

providing a color station that makes batches of liquid colorant;

placing an order for a batch of liquid colorant;

detecting a customer;

processing the batch of the liquid colorant at the color station; and

delivering the batch of liquid colorant to the customer at the color station.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order is placed by a customer, a customer dispatcher, or by a central authority that operates the color station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order for a batch of liquid colorant is stored by the color station in a pending orders database.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing is initiated by proximity detection.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the proximity detection is passive or active.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the passive proximity detection uses a global positioning system, a long range one-way transponder device, a data modem transceiver, or a metropolitan area network communication device, and the active proximity detection uses web-based dispatch or cellular telephone dispatch.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a concrete truck is remotely sensed via a proximity detection process of the color station before the concrete truck arrives at the color station.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the color station detects an approaching concrete truck, and the color station begins to process the order of the batch of liquid colorant for the truck such that the color batch will ready for the concrete truck or nearly ready for the concrete truck when the concrete truck arrives at the color station.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order is placed with a central authority and the order is communicated to the color station.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order is placed with the central authority, the order is logged into a central server queue, the order is transferred to the color station, and a proximity detection process or a manual entering of an order number begins the batch processing.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the central authority provides the customer with an order number, the customer contacts the central authority and enters the order number, and the order number is matched to an identification number in a database of the color station.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein order information is used to determine product shortage in advance.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the color station is remotely controlled by a central authority.

14. A method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant, comprising:

contacting a central authority system that operates a color station;

inputting order information for a batch of liquid colorant with the central authority system;

placing the order information into a central database as a pending order;

providing the customer with an order number corresponding to the order information;

communicating the order to a local database at the color station; and

contacting the central authority to initiating processing of the batch of liquid colorant.

15. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the contacting the central authority system that operates a color station includes the customer logging into the central authority'"'"'s website.

16. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the inputting order information for a batch of liquid colorant includes inputting customer identification, the desired color station to utilize, the desired color for the colorant batch, the cement content of the load of wet concrete, the size in yards of the load of wet concrete, and the date and time the order is to be fulfilled.

17. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the central authority system provides the customer with an order number corresponding to the order placed via a web entry form after checking to determine if there is sufficient product available for the customer at the color station.

18. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the central authority communicates the order to the local database at the color station, and the order is maintained in a pending status in the database at the central authority system and in the local database at the color station until the order is confirmed or cancelled by the customer.

19. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the central authority place the order into a job stack residing at the local color station.

20. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 19, wherein the job stack includes a listing of all pending orders, and each order has a date and time to be fulfilled and a confirmation number associated with it.

21. The method for ordering and delivering a batch of liquid colorant according to claim 14, wherein the customers pending arrival at the color station is confirmed via proximity detection, the central authority system contacts the local color station, the color station again checks the availability of the product and begins the processing of the color batch.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the color station is remotely controlled by the central authority.

23. A method for providing a batch of liquid colorant, comprising:

providing a color station operated by a central authority, wherein the color station prepares batches of liquid colorant;

placing an order for a batch of liquid colorant;

processing the batch of the liquid colorant;

maintaining a database of customer order information and liquid colorant supply information; and

delivering the batch of liquid colorant to a customer at the color station.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the customer has zero or more orders affiliated with the customer and the customer has at least one plant where the concrete is received.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein a concrete plant is assigned to a color station in nearby proximity.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the color station has a status type of operational or inoperational.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein each order is associated with only one plant and each order has at least one status.

28. A color station, comprising:

a weigh chamber;

at least one tote containing a liquid colorant in fluidic communication with the weigh chamber;

one or more pumps to transfer the liquid colorant from the tote to the weigh chamber and to transfer the batch of liquid colorant from the weigh chamber to deliver the batch of liquid colorant;

an internal control panel for operating the one or more pumps;

a control processor for the station, the control processor in communication with a central authority.

29. The color station according to claim 28, wherein the color station includes at least two weigh chambers to simultaneously prepare and dispense at least two batches of liquid colorant.

30. The color station according to claim 28, wherein the color station includes a boom that directs a hose to a height necessary for a concrete truck.

31. The color station according to claim 28, wherein the color station is built on a trailer that may be moved from one location to another location.

32. A central authority in communication with one or more color stations according to claim 28, wherein the one or more color stations are remotely deployed by the central authority.

33. A computerized system for providing a batch of liquid colorant to a truck at a color station, the system comprising:

a processor configured to execute a batching application comprising;

a scheduling component configured retrieve a batch order from a local queue, the batch order defining a desired batch of liquid colorant for a customer and defining scheduling data, the scheduling data identifying and expected arrival time of the truck at the remote color station;

a generating component configured to generate a batch request for the truck at a predetermined period before the expected arrival time;

a preprocessing component configured to receive the batch request and initiate preprocessing of the particular batch order; and

a dispensing component configured to generate a dispensing signal for dispensing the desired batch of liquid colorant at the color station.

34. The computerized system of claim 33 further comprising:

a detection system configured to generate a detection signal when the truck is detected within a specified proximity of the color station, and wherein the generating component is further configured to receive the detection signal and generate the batch request for the truck in response to the received detection signal.