Color dispensing system and method
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a paint dispensing system, a selection of a paint color through an input device of the paint dispensing system;
determining, by the paint dispensing system, a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;
identifying, by the paint dispensing system, a paint container based on the determined type of base paint, wherein the identifying the paint container includes identifying a container storing the determined type of base paint;
automatically dispensing, by the paint dispensing system, the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing system to a mixer of the paint dispensing system, the mixer including one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer, wherein the one or more grooves are configured to support an upper portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer when the paint container is delivered into a recessed holding portion of the mixer, and wherein dispensing the identified paint container to the mixer includes delivering the identified paint container to the recessed holding portion of the mixer;
determining, at the paint dispensing system, at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;
rotating an injector assembly to align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container, wherein the injector assembly is included in the paint dispensing system and comprises a plurality of nozzles; and
injecting, by the paint dispensing system, the determined at least one tint into the paint container.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a paint dispensing system, a selection of a paint color through an input device of the paint dispensing system; determining, by the paint dispensing system, a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color; identifying, by the paint dispensing system, a paint container based on the determined type of base paint, wherein the identifying the paint container includes identifying a container storing the determined type of base paint; automatically dispensing, by the paint dispensing system, the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing system to a mixer of the paint dispensing system, the mixer including one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer, wherein the one or more grooves are configured to support an upper portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer when the paint container is delivered into a recessed holding portion of the mixer, and wherein dispensing the identified paint container to the mixer includes delivering the identified paint container to the recessed holding portion of the mixer; determining, at the paint dispensing system, at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color; rotating an injector assembly to align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container, wherein the injector assembly is included in the paint dispensing system and comprises a plurality of nozzles; and injecting, by the paint dispensing system, the determined at least one tint into the paint container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; and memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to; receive, at a paint dispensing system, a selection of a paint color through an input device of the apparatus; determine, by the paint dispensing system, a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color; identify, at the paint dispensing system, a paint container based on the determined type of base paint, wherein the identifying the paint container includes identifying a container storing the determined type of base paint; automatically dispense the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing system to a mixer of the paint dispensing system, the mixer including one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer, wherein the one or more grooves are configured to support an upper portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer when the paint container is delivered into a recessed holding portion of the mixer and wherein dispensing the identified paint container to the mixer includes delivering the identified paint container to the recessed holding portion of the mixer; determine, at the paint dispensing system, at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color; rotate an injector assembly to align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container, wherein the injector assembly is included in the paint dispensing system and comprises a plurality of nozzles; and inject, at the paint dispensing system, the determined at least one tint into the paint container. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a paint dispensing system to:
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receive a selection of a paint color through an input device of the paint dispensing system; determine a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color; identify a paint container based on the determined type of base paint, wherein the identifying the paint container includes identifying a container storing the determined type of base paint; automatically dispense the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing system to a mixer of the paint dispensing system, the mixer including one or more grooves in a lip of the mixer, wherein the one or more grooves are configured to support an upper portion of the paint container in a tilted position relative to a vertical axis of the mixer when the paint container is delivered into a recessed holding portion of the mixer, and wherein dispensing the identified paint container to the mixer includes delivering the identified paint container to the recessed holding portion of the mixer; determine at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color; rotate an injector assembly to align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container, wherein the injector assembly is included in the paint dispensing system and comprises a plurality of nozzles; and inject the determined at least one tint into the paint container.
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Specification