Color Dispensing System and Method

• US 20140174595A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirsten E. Milhorn
• Original Assignee: Kirsten E. Milhorn
• Inventors: Milhorn, Kirsten E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,399,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/9
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 29/62 without bars, i.e. without mixing elements; characterised by the shape or cross section of the receptacle, e.g. of Y-, Z-, S- or X- shape; with cylindrical receptacles rotating about an axis at an angle to their longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8442 using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/003 Methods or devices for colour determination, selection or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A paint creation and dispensing system includes a variety of components for creating paint of a selected color and paint type and for processing payment for the paint. The system may be configured to receive a color selection in a variety of ways including through customer selection and via an electronic color reader (portable or stationary). The paint system may allow a customer to obtain an amount (e.g., a sample or a full gallon) of paint without help from a store employee or other personnel. In one or more arrangements, the paint system may be networked so that a customer may pre-order paint, upload color selections, make a payment, and or order additional supplies of paint or other products based on the color chosen for final painting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a paint dispensing device, a selection of a paint color;

determining, by the paint dispensing device, a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;

identifying, by the paint dispensing device, a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;

automatically dispensing, by the paint dispensing device, the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing device to a mixer of the paint dispensing device;

determining, by the paint dispensing device, at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;

aligning, by the paint dispensing device, a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container; and

injecting, by the paint dispensing device, the determined at least one tint into the paint container.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing payment for the paint of the selected paint color by the paint dispensing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically reading, at the paint dispensing device, a color of an object, wherein the selection of the paint color is based on the automatic reading, the paint color corresponding to the color of the object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the paint color includes receiving the selection over a network connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the paint color includes receiving color data from an electronic color reader.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting that the electronic color reader is connected to the paint dispensing device; and

requesting the color data from the electronic color reader in response to detecting that the electronic color reader is connected to the paint dispensing device.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein processing payment for the created paint of the selected color is performed overlapping performance of at least one of:

injecting the determined at least one tint into the paint container and determining at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create the paint of the selected paint color.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the paint container to the mixer includes dispensing the paint container to the mixer in a manner such that one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer support a portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer.

9. A paint dispensing apparatus comprising:

a paint container storage area;

a mixer;

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the paint dispensing apparatus to;

receive a selection of a paint color;

determine a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;

identify a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;

automatically dispense the identified paint container from the paint container storage area to the mixer;

determine at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;

align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container; and

inject the determined at least one tint into the paint container.

10. The paint dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the paint dispensing apparatus to process payment for the paint of the selected paint color.

11. The paint dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the paint dispensing apparatus to automatically read a color of an object, wherein the selection of the paint color is based on the automatic reading, the paint color corresponding to the color of the object.

12. The paint dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further includes a conveyor slide configured to convey the dispensed paint container from the paint container storage area to the mixer.

13. The paint dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mixer further includes one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer, wherein the paint dispensing apparatus is configured to dispense the paint container into the mixer in a manner such that the one or more grooves are support a portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer.

14. The paint dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the paint container storage area is configured to store a plurality of paint containers including at least a first container storing a first type of base paint and at least a second container storing a second type of base paint.

15. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a paint dispensing apparatus to:

receive a selection of a paint color;

determine a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;

identify a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;

automatically dispense the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing apparatus to the mixer;

determine at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;

align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container; and

inject the determined at least one tint into the paint container.

16. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15, wherein computer readable instructions, when executed, cause the paint dispensing apparatus to dispense the identified paint container to the mixer in a manner such that the paint container is supported by one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein aligning the nozzle includes rotating a nozzle assembly comprising a plurality of nozzles.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15, wherein receiving the selection of the paint color includes receiving the selection over a network connection.