Color Chip Dispenser
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a card shuffler device configured to receive a plurality of color chips, each color chip including a sample area displaying a color and an optical code area displaying a machine-readable optical code associated with the color;
an optical code reader configured to read machine-readable optical codes;
a robotic arm configured to receive and grip color chips;
a display area having a plurality of display windows and a plurality of light sources, each display window of the plurality of display windows being associated with a different light source of the plurality of light sources; and
a controller in communication with the optical code reader, the card shuffler device, and the robotic arm, the controller being configured to(i) receive a selected coating color,(ii) search the plurality of color chips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader to identify a particular color chip from the plurality of color chips that matches the selected coating color based on the machine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area of the particular color chip,(iii) receive a light source selection, and(iv) control the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display window of the plurality of display windows that has an associated light source that corresponds to the received light source selection.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided and include a card shuffler device, an optical code reader, a robotic arm, a display area having display windows and light sources, and a controller. The controller receives a selected coating color, searches color chips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader to identify a particular color chip that matches the selected coating color based on a machine-readable optical code displayed in an optical code area of the particular color chip, receives a light source selection, and controls the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display window that has an associated light source that corresponds to the received light source selection.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a card shuffler device configured to receive a plurality of color chips, each color chip including a sample area displaying a color and an optical code area displaying a machine-readable optical code associated with the color; an optical code reader configured to read machine-readable optical codes; a robotic arm configured to receive and grip color chips; a display area having a plurality of display windows and a plurality of light sources, each display window of the plurality of display windows being associated with a different light source of the plurality of light sources; and a controller in communication with the optical code reader, the card shuffler device, and the robotic arm, the controller being configured to (i) receive a selected coating color, (ii) search the plurality of color chips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader to identify a particular color chip from the plurality of color chips that matches the selected coating color based on the machine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area of the particular color chip, (iii) receive a light source selection, and (iv) control the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display window of the plurality of display windows that has an associated light source that corresponds to the received light source selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving, with a card shuffler device of a color chip display apparatus, a plurality of color chips, each color chip including a sample area displaying a color and an optical code area displaying a machine-readable optical code associated with the color, the color chip display apparatus having an optical code reader configured to read machine-readable optical codes, a robotic arm configured to receive and grip color chips, and a display area having a plurality of display windows and a plurality of light sources, each display window of the plurality of display windows being associated with a different light source of the plurality of light sources; receiving, with a controller, a selected coating color, the controller being in communication with the optical code reader, the card shuffler device, and the robotic arm; searching, with the controller, the plurality of color chips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader to identify a particular color chip from the plurality of color chips that matches the selected coating color based on the machine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area of the particular color chip; receiving, with the controller, a light source selection; and controlling, with the controller, the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display window of the plurality of display windows that has an associated light source that corresponds to the received light source selection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification