Distributed paint manufacturing system

• US 7,612,129 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hook, John William III, Lieser, Bernhard Helmut, Washel, Jerry William, Friel, John Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanders; Kriellion A
• Application Number:
  US10/950,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 106/436, 106/447, 523/351, 524/501
• US Class Current: 523/351
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/30 Mixing paints or paint ingredients, e.g. pigments, dyes, colours, lacquers or enamel
• 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: B01F 35/21 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2205 Controlling the mixing process from a remote server, e.g. by sending commands using radio, telephone, internet, local network, GPS or other means
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 2/002 Kits for drawing or painting
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/003 Methods or devices for colour determination, selection or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/08 for liquid or semi-liquid paints
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 17/008 Titanium dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/40 Additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/80 Processes for incorporating ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A paint manufacturing method includes receiving each of a group of fluid prepaints at different inputs of a fluid component mixing system, determining at a computer system a first fluid prepaint ratio, and mixing the fluid prepaints in accordance with the first ratio to form a base paint at an output of the mixing system. A paint manufacturing system includes a computer-controlled prepaint mixing system. The prepaint mixing system includes multiple fluid inputs providing for computer-controllable flow of prepaints into the mixing system. The computer system includes a memory storing software instructions that configured the computer system to receive user input selecting a base paint to be produced, determine a ratio of fluid prepaints needed to produce the base paint, and regulate each fluid flow control to establish, in the determined ratio, a flow of fluid prepaints entering the fluid mixing system. A paint manufacturing system includes multiple paint manufacturing sites that can each produce paint products. Each manufacturing site includes a site control computer to control a paint manufacturing process at the site and the system also includes a coordinating computer system that can exchange manufacturing operations data with each of the site control computers.

Claims

1. A method for producing user-selecter paint composition, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus for producing a paint composition;

prompting a user to select through the apparatus whether the paint to be produced will have characteristics of either interior or exterior paint;

prompting the user to select through the apparatus a paint sheen;

prompting the user to select through the apparatus a paint color type;

providing a mixing chamber;

automatically depositing at least two premixed aqueous compositions into the mixing chamber, wherein none of the at least two premixed aqueous compositions is paint prior to being deposited into the mixing chamber;

and mixing the at least two premixed aqueous compositions in the mixing chamber to produce the paint composition having the selected sheen, the selected color type and being well suited for either interior or exterior use as input by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber is a paint can and the mixing is accomplished by agitating the premixed aqueous compositions in the paint can.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two premixed aqueous compositions comprise at least one fluid prepaint including at least one white opacifying pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one flat polymeric binder, and at least one fluid prepaint including at least one gloss polymeric binder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least two premixed aqueous compositions comprise at least one fluid prepaint including at least one white opacifying pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one flat polymeric binder, and at least one fluid prepaint including at least one gloss polymeric binder,

further wherein, the at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment comprises two fluid prepaints of an exterior extender prepaint and an interior extender prepaint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically depositing at least two premixed aqueous compositions into the mixing chamber comprises determining an appropriate tint level for the selected color to produce the paint having the selected color type.