# US 7,612,129 B2 · Distributed paint manufacturing system

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- Number: US 7,612,129 B2
- Document ID: US7612129B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/950,867
- Filed: 2004-09-27
- Published: 2005-02-17
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2000-02-18
- Assignees: Rohm and Haas Company
- Inventors: John Michael Friel; John William Hook, III; Jerry William Washel; Bernhard Helmut Lieser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612129B2

## CPC

- B44D 3/08: for liquid or semi-liquid paints
- B01F 33/84: Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
- 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}
- B01F 35/21: Measuring
- B01F 35/2205: {Controlling the mixing process from a remote server, e.g. by sending commands using radio, telephone, internet, local network, GPS or other means}
- B44D 2/002: {Kits for drawing or painting}
- B44D 3/003: {Methods or devices for colour determination, selection or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables}
- C09D 7/40: Additives
- C09D 7/80: Processes for incorporating ingredients
- C09D 17/008: {Titanium dioxide}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0872: {using inventory planning}
- G06Q 10/0874: {Inventory fulfillment (shipping G06Q10/083)}
- B01F 2101/30: Mixing paints or paint ingredients, e.g. pigments, dyes, colours, lacquers or enamel
- B44D: PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES (surface treatment in general, see the relevant places, e.g. applying liquids or other fluent materials B05)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A paint manufacturing method includes receiving each of a group of fluid prepaints at different inputs of a fluid component mixing system, determining at a computer system a first fluid prepaint ratio, and mixing the fluid prepaints in accordance with the first ratio to form a base paint at an output of the mixing system. A paint manufacturing system includes a computer-controlled prepaint mixing system. The prepaint mixing system includes multiple fluid inputs providing for computer-controllable flow of prepaints into the mixing system. The computer system includes a memory storing software instructions that configured the computer system to receive user input selecting a base paint to be produced, determine a ratio of fluid prepaints needed to produce the base paint, and regulate each fluid flow control to establish, in the determined ratio, a flow of fluid prepaints entering the fluid mixing system. A paint manufacturing system includes multiple paint manufacturing sites that can each produce paint products. Each manufacturing site includes a site control computer to control a paint manufacturing process at the site and the system also includes a coordinating computer system that can exchange manufacturing operations data with each of the site control computers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing user-selecter paint composition, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus for producing a paint composition;
prompting a user to select through the apparatus whether the paint to be produced will have characteristics of either interior or exterior paint;
prompting the user to select through the apparatus a paint sheen;
prompting the user to select through the apparatus a paint color type;
providing a mixing chamber;
automatically depositing at least two premixed aqueous compositions into the mixing chamber, wherein none of the at least two premixed aqueous compositions is paint prior to being deposited into the mixing chamber;
and mixing the at least two premixed aqueous compositions in the mixing chamber to produce the paint composition having the selected sheen, the selected color type and being well suited for either interior or exterior use as input by the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber is a paint can and the mixing is accomplished by agitating the premixed aqueous compositions in the paint can.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two premixed aqueous compositions comprise at least one fluid prepaint including at least one white opacifying pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one flat polymeric binder, and at least one fluid prepaint including at least one gloss polymeric binder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the at least two premixed aqueous compositions comprise at least one fluid prepaint including at least one white opacifying pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment, at least one fluid prepaint including at least one flat polymeric binder, and at least one fluid prepaint including at least one gloss polymeric binder,
further wherein, the at least one fluid prepaint including at least one extender pigment comprises two fluid prepaints of an exterior extender prepaint and an interior extender prepaint.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically depositing at least two premixed aqueous compositions into the mixing chamber comprises determining an appropriate tint level for the selected color to produce the paint having the selected color type.