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Automated customized cosmetic dispenser

  • US 7,624,769 B2
  • Filed: 11/07/2005
  • Issued: 12/01/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for dispensing a custom formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising the steps of:

  • providing at a retail store a point-of-sale custom formulation dispensing apparatus, including a plurality of ingredients, contained in ingredient containers that are carried on a common carrier, and a plurality of packages for filling, wherein the carrier is fixedly attached to a housing;

    transferring the ingredients into alignment with the package, such that a robot arm moves to the carrier and withdraws ingredients or ingredient containers therefrom and dispenses the ingredients into the package;

    dispensing a plurality of customer selected custom formulations with the apparatus;

    robotically installing a cap onto the packages;

    periodically causing the ingredient containers and packages of the apparatus to be refilled;

    operating the robot arm in at least three axes including at least two rotational axes for retrieving ingredients from their position on the carrier; and

    wherein the apparatus includes a computer, an automated dispensing apparatus for dispensing ingredients from the ingredient containers using the robot arm, a user interface for enabling a customer to select a custom formulation; and

    the housing that contains at least two components of the computer, the automated dispensing apparatus, the ingredients containers, and the packages for filling.

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