Apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material

An apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material, comprising:

• a dispensing assembly configured to receive at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area;
• a memory configured to receive and store dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application;
• and
• circuitry configured to obtain the dispensing information from the memory and to control the dispensing assembly to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information, the dispensing assembly, further comprising:
• a cartridge gear, connected to a first end of the cartridge;
• a motor gear, rotatably connected to the cartridge gear;
• a motor, connected to the motor gear, wherein rotation of the motor drives rotation of the motor gear, the cartridge gear, and the first end of the cartridge;
• and
• an optical encoder, disposed adjacent to at least one of the set consisting of the cartridge gear and the motor gear;
• wherein the circuitry dispenses a quantity of cosmetic material from cartridge and into the receiving area, by detecting the position of at least one of the set consisting of the cartridge gear and the motor gear with the optical encoder, and controlling the direction and magnitude of rotation of the motor to rotate the first end of the cartridge.

A method, implemented by an apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material, the apparatus including a dispensing assembly configured to receive at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area, the method comprising:

• receiving and storing, at a memory, dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application;
• and
• obtaining, by circuitry of the apparatus, the dispensing information from the memory and controlling the dispensing assembly to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information,
• wherein the receiving area is configured to be part of a detachable portion of the apparatus, the detachable portion is configured to be an enclosed container that holds the dispensed cosmetic material, and the apparatus further includes:
• a manifold, having a plurality of manifold through holes, the manifold connected to and disposed on a nozzle of the cartridge, the receiving area being connected to and disposed above the manifold,
• wherein the method further comprises controlling, by the circuitry of the apparatus, the dispensing assembly to dispense a quantity of cosmetic material from the nozzle of the cartridge through one manifold through hole of the manifold, and into the receiving area.

An apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material, comprising:

• a dispensing means for receiving at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area;
• storage means for receiving and storing dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application;
• and
• controlling means for
• obtaining the dispensing information from the storage means and for controlling the dispensing means to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information, and
• controlling the dispensing means to dispense the determined amount of each of the one or more cosmetic materials from the plurality of cartridges,
• wherein the receiving area is configured to be part of a detachable portion of the apparatus, the detachable portion is configured to be an enclosed container that holds the dispensed cosmetic material, and the apparatus further comprises:
• a manifold, having a plurality of manifold through holes, the manifold connected to and disposed on a nozzle of the cartridge, the receiving area being connected to and disposed above the manifold,
• wherein the controlling means controls the dispensing assembly to dispense a quantity of cosmetic material from the nozzle of the cartridge through one manifold through hole of the manifold, and into the receiving area.

A method, implemented by an apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material, the apparatus including a dispensing assembly configured to receive at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area, the method comprising:

• receiving and storing, at a memory, dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application;
• and
• obtaining, by circuitry of the apparatus, the dispensing information from the memory and controlling the dispensing assembly to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information,
• wherein the dispensing assembly further includes:
• a cartridge gear, connected to a first end of the cartridge;
• a motor gear, rotatably connected to the cartridge gear;
• a motor, connected to the motor gear, wherein rotation of the motor drives rotation of the motor gear, the cartridge gear, and the first end of the cartridge;
• and
• an optical encoder, disposed adjacent to at least one of the set consisting of the cartridge gear and the motor gear;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises dispensing a quantity of cosmetic material from cartridge and into the receiving area, by detecting the position of at least one of the set consisting of the cartridge gear and the motor gear with the optical encoder, and controlling the direction and magnitude of rotation of the motor to rotate the first end of the cartridge.