Color Dispensing System and Method
OwnerKirsten E. Milhorninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a paint dispensing device, a selection of a paint color;
- determining, by the paint dispensing device, a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;
- identifying, by the paint dispensing device, a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;
- automatically dispensing, by the paint dispensing device, the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing device to a mixer of the paint dispensing device;
- determining, by the paint dispensing device, at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;
- aligning, by the paint dispensing device, a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container;
- and
- injecting, by the paint dispensing device, the determined at least one tint into the paint container.
A paint dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a paint container storage area;
- a mixer;
- at least one processor;
- and
- memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the paint dispensing apparatus to:
- receive a selection of a paint color;
- determine a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;
- identify a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;
- automatically dispense the identified paint container from the paint container storage area to the mixer;
- determine at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;
- align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container;
- and
- inject the determined at least one tint into the paint container.
One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a paint dispensing apparatus to:
- receive a selection of a paint color;
- determine a type of base paint based on at least the selected paint color;
- identify a paint container storing the determined type of base paint;
- automatically dispense the identified paint container from a storage area of the paint dispensing apparatus to the mixer;
- determine at least one tint to inject into the paint container to create paint of the selected paint color;
- align a nozzle corresponding to the determined at least one tint with the paint container;
- and
- inject the determined at least one tint into the paint container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.