Custom cosmetic blending machine

• US 8,593,634 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: Larry Y. Igarashi
• Inventors: Igarashi, Larry Y
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nur, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US13/896,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 356402-425, 700/233
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/21 Mixing of ingredients for cosmetic or perfume compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/60 with a vibrating receptacle B01F31/10, B01F31/20, B01F31/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/844 with means for customizing the mixture on the point of sale, e.g. by sensing, receiving or analysing information about the characteristics of the mixture to be made
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/717611 Peristaltic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00

Abstract

A spectrophotometer 300, webcam 302 or other instrument measures the color composition and texture of a person'"'"'s face 400 or other body part. A computer system 301 includes a processor 501 and a non-transitory, non-signal computer readable medium 500 containing machine readable instructions that accept data from a spectrophotometer 300 or like instrument and uses a main executable program 502 and a subroutine 504 for color analysis to derive a mix of color to create a cosmetic product matching or enhancing the color composition and/or texture of the person'"'"'s face or other body part. The computer system 301 and subroutine for color analysis create machine readable instructions 505 for the firmware of a cosmetic blending and dispensing machine 508. In order to properly mix and dispense high viscosity and air bubble riddled cosmetic material, a medical grade peristaltic pump 354 is used with triangle needle nozzles 374.

Claims

1. A system for producing custom color mixed cosmetics from a custom formula obtained from a spectrometer reading of a consumer'"'"'s skin, the system comprising:

a) non-transitory non-signal computer readable medium containing machine readable instructions;

b) a processor;

c) a main executable program in communication with the processor, the main executable program in communication with a first subroutine for color analysis, the first subroutine in communication with a general spectrophotometer device;

d) a set of machine readable instructions in communication with firmware located upon a custom cosmetic blending machine, the set of machine readable instructions transmitted from the first color analysis subroutine, the machine readable instructions creating custom color mixing instructions based upon a skin color measurement obtained from the general spectrophotometer device, and the custom color mixing instructions controlling a plurality of peristaltic pumps,

e) the peristaltic pumps connected to flexible tubing and canisters connected to the flexible tubing;

f) a bent needle nozzle attached to each of the peristaltic pumps such that the bent needle nozzles direct fluid to a center section of a consumer container;

g) the canisters attached to canister caps, and the canisters having strainers to prevent foreign material from entering the bent needle nozzles;

h) a sanitary elevator and tub, the tub storing alcohol and the sanitary elevator raising the tub to contain the bent nozzle needles when the bent nozzle needles are not in use, the sanitary elevator including a sensor measuring the height of the tub to position the tub at a correct elevation to store the bent nozzle needles within the alcohol; and

i) a heater and fan attached to a thermal sensor, the heater and fan preventing the machine from reaching a temperature below 67 F degrees.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the canisters do not include pouches.

3. The system of claim 1 including a vibrator an shaker machine having a holding carriage and holding strap and the vibrator and shaker machine moves the holding carriage in the x, y and z directions.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each needle nozzle is triangular in shape.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the general spectrophotometer device contains color composition data from two or more areas of human skin.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the general spectrophotometer device obtains color composition data from one measured area of human skin only.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a webcam electronically in communication with the processor.

8. A method for producing custom color mixed cosmetics based upon a custom formula obtained from a spectrometer reading of a consumer'"'"'s skin the method comprising:

a) using non-transitory non-signal computer readable medium containing machine readable instructions;

b) using a processor to execute the machine readable instructions;

c) using a main executable program in communication with the processor, the main executable program in communication with a first subroutine for color analysis, the first subroutine in communication with a general spectrophotometer device;

d) using a set of machine readable instructions in communication with firmware located upon a custom cosmetic blending machine, the set of machine readable instructions transmitted from the first color analysis subroutine, the machine readable instructions creating custom color mixing instructions based upon a skin color measurement obtained from the general spectrophotometer device, and the custom color mixing instructions controlling a plurality of peristaltic pumps,

e) using the peristaltic pumps connected to flexible tubing and canisters connected to the flexible tubing;

f) using a bent needle nozzle attached to each of the peristaltic pumps such that the bent needle nozzles direct fluid to a center section of a consumer container;

g) using the canisters attached to canister caps and using strainers within the canisters to prevent foreign material from entering the bent needle nozzles;

h) using a sanitary elevator and tub, the tub storing alcohol and the sanitary elevator raising the tub to contain the bent nozzle needles when the bent nozzle needles are not in use, the sanitary elevator including a sensor measuring the height of the tub to position the tub at a correct elevation to store the bent nozzle needles within the alcohol; and

i) using a heater, fan and thermal sensor to prevent the machine from reaching a temperature below 67 F degrees.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein pouches are not used as canisters.

10. The method of claim 8 using a vibrator and shaker machine having a holding carriage and holding strap and the vibrator and shaker machine moving holding carriage in the x, y and z directions.

11. The method of claim 8 using a computer system within the custom cosmetic blending machine, the computer system in communication with the firmware located upon the custom cosmetic blending machine.

12. The method of claim 8 using needle nozzles triangular in shape.

13. The method of claim 8 using the general spectrophotometer device containing color composition data from two or more areas of human skin.

14. The method of claim 8 using the general spectrophotometer device to obtain color composition data from only one area of human skin.

15. The method of claim 8 using a webcam electronically connected to the electronic network and using the webcam to communicate with consumers.

16. The method of claim 8 using views obtained from the spectrometer device as a basis of obtaining skin texture information.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein an amount of moisturizer material is dispensed to match the skin texture information.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein an amount of thinner material is dispensed to match the skin texture information.