Blending station apparatus and method for using the same

A blending method for preparing a blended mixture, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of receptacles that organize and store blending dye containers, wherein each receptacle has an indicator associated with the control system, the blending dye containers containing blending materials;
• accessing a control system having at least a processor, a computer-readable memory, and a display, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for preparing a blended mixture using one or more blending materials and amounts for the blended mixture, the memory further storing one or more of customer information and history of the customer's mixture;
• accessing management software stored in the computer-readable memory and executed by the control system, the management software in communication with the control system to exchange information on customers and formulas for blended mixtures associated with the customers;
• employing a scale electrically connected to the control system that provides feedback to the control system on how much of a given blending material was added to the mixture batch;
• receiving input from a user input device, wherein the user input device enables one or more of input of a customer name, selection of a customer name, input of other customer identifying characteristic, or selection of other customer identifying characteristics into the control system;
• receiving input from a user input device selecting one or more of a previously stored finished mixture from the customer history, a previously stored dye color from the customer history, a finished mixture from an available list of known mixtures, or a new formula;
• sending instructions to the user via an associated display in response to the user selection, wherein the instructions include prompting the user for a desired batch size of the blended mixture;
• activating an electronic locking mechanism in communication with the control system, wherein during the creation of the blended mixture, the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to unlock and open one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein to create the blended mixture;
• initiating a pumping system that automatically pumps blending materials into a mixing bowl via pumping channels, wherein the pumping system is automatically controlled by the control system, wherein the control system automatically dispenses the multiple blending materials using the pumping system and the dispensing is performed gravimetrically using the scale and feedback provided by the scale;
• activating an electronic locking mechanism in communication with the control system, wherein during the creation of the blended mixture, the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to close and lock the one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein;
• and
• monitoring a weight on the scale as blending materials are added to a mixing bowl on the scale, wherein a desired batch size of the blended mixture is prepared and added to the mixing bowl on the scale.

A blending system for preparing a blended mixture, the system comprising:

• a control system having at least a processor, and a computer-readable memory, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for preparing a blended mixture using one or more blending materials and amounts for producing a batch size of the blended mixture on a scale;
• a plurality of receptacles to organize and store blending dye containers, wherein each receptacle has an indicator associated with the control system, the blending dye containers containing blending materials;
• a user input device that receives input regarding the preparation of the blended mixture;
• a scale electrically connected to the control system that provides feedback to the control system on how much of a given blending material was added to the mixture batch;
• and
• a pumping system that automatically pumps blending materials into a mixing bowl, wherein the pumping system is automatically controlled by the control system, wherein the control system automatically dispenses the multiple blending materials using the pumping system and the dispensing is performed gravimetrically using the scale and feedback provided by the scale;
• an electronic locking mechanism in communication with the control system, wherein during the creation of the blended mixture, the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to unlock one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein to create the blended mixture, and the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to lock the one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein;
• wherein the control system sends instructions to the user via an associated display in response to the user selection, wherein the instructions include prompting the user for a desired batch size of the blended mixture;
• wherein the control system monitors a weight on the scale as blending materials are added to a mixing bowl on the scale, wherein a desired batch size of the blended mixture is prepared and added to the mixing bowl on the scale;
• wherein the control system calculates and provides feedback on how much of each ingredient in the blending materials has actually been added to the batch when the desired base size is prepared;
• and
• wherein the control system calculates a material cost for each batch using the calculation of each ingredient in the blending materials has actually been added to the batch when the desired base size is prepared.

A blending method for preparing a blended mixture, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of receptacles that organize and store blending dye containers, wherein each receptacle has an indicator associated with the control system, the blending dye containers containing blending materials;
• accessing a control system having at least a processor, a computer-readable memory, and a display, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for preparing a blended mixture using one or more blending materials and amounts for the blended mixture, the memory further storing one or more of customer information and history of the customer's mixture;
• accessing management software stored in the computer-readable memory and executed by the control system, the management software in communication with the control system to exchange information on customers and formulas for blended mixtures associated with the customers;
• receiving input from a user input device input regarding preparation of the blended mixture;
• sending instructions to the user via an associated display in response to the user selection, wherein the instructions include prompting the user for a desired batch size of the blended mixture;
• activating an electronic locking mechanism in communication with the control system, wherein during the creation of the blended mixture, the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to unlock one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein to create the blended mixture;
• initiating a pumping system that automatically pumps blending materials into a mixing bowl via pumping channels, wherein the pumping system is automatically controlled by the control system, wherein the control system automatically dispenses the multiple blending materials using the pumping system and the dispensing is performed gravimetrically using the scale and feedback provided by the scale;
• activating an electronic locking mechanism in communication with the control system, wherein during the creation of the blended mixture, the control system sends one or more signals to the electronic locking mechanism to lock the one or more receptacles relative to the blending dye containers being held therein;
• and
• monitoring a weight on the scale as blending materials are added to a mixing bowl on the scale, wherein a desired batch size of the blended mixture is prepared and added to the mixing bowl on the scale;
• wherein the control system calculates and provides feedback on how much of each ingredient in the blending materials has actually been added to the batch when the desired base size is prepared.