Color dispensing system and method

• US 8,666,540 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kirsten Elizabeth Milhorn
• Original Assignee: Kirsten Elizabeth Milhorn
• Inventors: Milhorn, Kirsten Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/058,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 700/239, 700231-233, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/239
• 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing payment for the paint of the selected paint color at the paint dispensing system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically reading, at the paint dispensing system, 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:

receiving a signal indicating that the electronic color reader has been docked in the paint sampling system; and

requesting the color data from the electronic color reader.

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. An apparatus comprising:

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.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to process payment for the paint of the selected paint color at the paint dispensing system.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to automatically read, at the paint dispensing system, 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further includes a conveyor slide configured to convey the dispensed paint container from the storage area to the mixer of the paint dispensing system.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the 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.

13. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a paint dispensing system to:

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.