Automated customized cosmetic dispenser
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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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the creation and dispensing of a custom formulation within a package at a retail point of sale. In one aspect, the invention includes an automated dispensing apparatus including at least a two-axis robot arm. In another aspect, the invention includes an automated mixer adapted to mix the dispensed custom formulation within the package.
244 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing a custom formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification