AU2004202786A1 - A system and method for colour matching and paint application - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): FAST FLUID MANAGEMENT Invention Title: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLOUR MATCHING AND PAINT

APPLICATION

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLOUR MATCHING AND PAINT

APPLICATION

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for colour matching and paint application and, particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a system and method for colour matching and paint application which may be used to re-touch faded, obscured, worn or damaged painted surfaces.

Background of the Invention Painted surfaces, whether outdoors or indoors, are in constant need of re-touching or repainting because of natural wear and tear or damage. Damage through vandalism, such as graffiti, is a particular problem which is very costly and difficult to address.

Conventionally, painted surfaces are treated in two ways: 1. The entire surface is repainted either with the same or a similar colour or a different colour. A problem with this approach is that it is expensive.

2. The worn or damaged portion of the surface is "re-touched" by applying paint which is of as close as possible a colour to the colour of the original paint.

This is cheaper than approach but it is very difficult to achieve a correct colour match. A conventional approach is for an operator to use their judgement to determine what the appropriate colour is, obtain what they think is the appropriate colour paint from a paint store, and use this paint to re-touch. In the majority of cases, a good colour match is not achieved by this approach, so the painted surface is of inferior appearance. Another disadvantage is that even re-touching is time consuming and therefore expensive, as the operator must first of all assess the colour for a colour match then travel to a paint store or depot to obtain the 3 appropriate paint before returning to the job. Further, as paint is only provided in set quantities an operator will usually have to purchase more paint than they require to actually re-touch the painted surface, which leads to more expense.

Another approach to deal with re-touching is to store paint which is the same colour as the paint of the original painted surface. Unfortunately, over time the paint on a painted surface may fade, so that application of the stored paint will still not result in good colour match.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a system for colour matching and paint application, comprising a mobile apparatus including a colour determining means arranged to measure a colour of a painted surface, a paint formula determining means ,arranged to determine a paint formula for a paint colour corresponding to the measured colour, and a paint preparation means, arranged to enable preparation of paint in accordance with the paint formula.

The mobile apparatus preferably includes a vehicle which mounts the colour determining means, paint formula determining means and paint preparation means.

The colour determining means is preferably a spectrophotometer, preferably a hand held spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer can be directed at the painted surface which is to be treated, to determine the colour of the painted surface so that an appropriate paint colour can be prepared for application to the painted surface.

The paint formula determining means may include a computing apparatus programmed with appropriate software to determine a paint formula from a colour measurement value preferably provided by the colour determining means.

Preferably, the computing apparatus is programmed with 4 predictive software for predicting a paint formula for a paint mix which closely matches the colour determined by the colouring determining means.

The paint preparation means preferably includes tinting apparatus and paint mixing apparatus, for tinting base paint of appropriate colour and for mixing the paint.

The mobile apparatus may also mount storage means for the base paint and colourants.

The system has the advantage that an operator can attend at any locality where a painted surface requires treatment, can determine a colour match for the colour of the painted surface and prepare paint which matches or closely matches the colour of the painted surface, for application to treat the painted surface. The operator does not have to "guess" a correct colour match. Nor when they have determined the colour match do they need attend at a remote store to obtain paint. Because the system is mobile, colour matching and paint preparation can all be done at the same time and at the same locality. This allows for paint treatment to produce a painted surface with a good colour match, in a reasonable time, providing a more effective result in a more cost effective manner.

Preferably, a facility is provided to enable mixing of any amount of paint which may be required to complete a job. Paint waste is therefore minimised.

In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of colour matching and paint application, comprising the step of utilising a system in accordance with a first aspect of the invention to attend at a location of a painted surface requiring treatment, to colour match and to provide paint for application to the surface to be treated.

An operator can thus engage in a business of treating worn or damaged painted surfaces in any locality, using the system including the mobile apparatus of the present invention.

In accordance with a third aspect, the present 5 invention provides a vehicle adapted to transport paint preparation means for preparing paint in accordance with a paint formula.

Preferably, the paint preparation means includes paint tinting equipment and paint mixing equipment. The paint mixing and tinting equipment is ready for operation at any site that it is transported to in the vehicle.

In accordance with a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle mounting paint tinting equipment arranged for operation on site and arranged to mix a plurality of colours for application to painted surfaces.

Preferably the vehicle also mounts paint mixing equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a side view of a vehicle which may be employed in an embodiment of the present invention: Figure lb is a rear view of the vehicle of Figure la; Figure 2 is a plan view of a rear storage compartment of the vehicle of Figure la showing the layout of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an interior compartment of the vehicle of Figure la, showing components of the system of this embodiment; and Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view from the other side of the interior compartment of the vehicle, illustrating other components of the system.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment The figures illustrate an embodiment of the system for colour matching and paint application "on site". By "on site" is meant that the system may attend at the 6 locality or "site" of a painted surface which requires treatment.

In this embodiment, the system is a mobile apparatus which includes all the equipment necessary for determining a colour match to a painted surface and preparing paint of the appropriate colour for application to the surface, so that the surface may be re-touched.

In this embodiment, the apparatus is mobile by virtue of being mounted in an appropriately arranged vehicle, being in this example a short wheelbase van as illustrated in Figures la and lb. The short wheelbase van has a rear internal compartment 6, entry to which may be obtained via a sliding side door 2 or opening rear doors 3, 4.

Features of the internal compartment, in particular arrangement of equipment within the compartment, are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

A colour determining means (not shown), in this embodiment being a colour spectrophotometer, is stored in a portable trolley 5 mounted within the rear compartment 6 of the vehicle i. In this embodiment the spectrophotometer is a hand held spectrophotometer of known type. The spectrophotometer may be a Spectrocam

TM

manufactured by Spectrostar BV.

A paint formula determining means is also provided, in this embodiment being an appropriately programmed laptop computer, which during transit, may also be stored in the portable trolley 5. In use, a fold up workbench 7 is provided in the rear compartment 6 on which the laptop 8 may be supported for use.

Paint preparation means is also mounted in the rear compartment 6. In this embodiment, the paint preparation means comprises tinting apparatus 9 and mixing machine 11.

The tinting apparatus 9 in this embodiment comprises a number of MinitintTM machines or Blendorama machines

TM

The Minitint TM machines are shown in Figure 4 positioned along a shelf 10 arranged at one side of the rear compartment 6. These Minitint T M machines can be operated by hand for the production of small quantities of paint.

The mixing machine 11 is hand operated.

The arrangement of tinting apparatus 9 and mixing machine 11 is such that small quantities of paint can be prepared on site.

Storage means in the form of shelves 12 is provided in the compartment 6 for storing base paint 13 and colourants 14.

Surface preparation equipment and paint application equipment (not shown) may also be stored in the compartment 6.

An operator thus has all the means necessary for treatment of a damaged or worn painted surface at the locality of the painted surface without having to return to a depot to obtain paint, and is also provided with the ability to accurately colour match by virtue of the spectrophotometer and paint formula software.

In use, where an operator is called upon to treat a painted surface (for example a surface which has been damaged by graffiti), they will attend at the scene in the vehicle. They will use the spectrophotometer to obtain a colour measurement value from the existing painted surface. The colour measurement value will be a value for the painted surface as it exists, so if the paint that was originally applied has faded this will automatically be taken into account by the spectrophotometer readout.

The operator then enters the colour measurement value into the paint formula predictive software in laptop 8 and this outputs information giving details of the paint formula to use to prepare paint which when applied will match the colour of the original paint as it exists on the painted surface.

An appropriate quantity of paint in accordance with the formula is then prepared from the base paint 13 and colourants 14, using the tinting apparatus 9 and mixing apparatus 11. The paint may then be applied to treat the painted surface.

8 In an improvement, rather than the hand operated mixing machine 11, a mixing machine may be provided which runs off a 12 volt battery (so that it may be connected up to the vehicle battery). The laptop computer 8 may run on battery or take its power from the vehicle battery. The spectrophotometer may also run from the 12 volt vehicle battery power supply. The spectrophotometer may also run from the laptop battery.

A particular positional arrangement of the equipment within the compartment 6 is shown in this embodiment. It will be appreciated that other and positioning of equipment may be made and the invention is not limited to the arrangement shown in the Figures. This is merely one convenient arrangement.

It will also be appreciated that other appropriate vehicles may be used for mobility and the invention is not limited to a short wheelbase van as illustrated in Figures la and lb.

The tinting machines 9 shown in this embodiment are hand operated. It will be appreciated that appropriately adapted electrically operated tinting machines may also be utilised, eg stirrers may be operated electrically.

Formula prediction software running on laptop is used to determine the paint formula from the colour measurement value, in this embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, the software and computer 8 may be dispensed with and a formula handbook provided. The operator will then look up the appropriate formula from the formula handbook on the basis of the colour measurement value. This will require a more skilled operator, however, than if formula prediction software is provided.

The portable trolley 5 may be used to transport the computer and the spectrophotometer. Note that a palmtop computer could be used instead of a laptop computer.

The system and method of the present invention may have application in the area of graffiti cover-up. The apparatus can attend at any location to colour match and 9 treat the painted surface by painting over the graffiti with an appropriate colour.

The system and method of the present invention may also have application in colour matching and paint application for existing painted surfaces (domestic and commercial) which may be worn, or which may otherwise require re-painting.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A system for colour matching and paint application, comprising a mobile apparatus including a colour determining means arranged to measure a colour of a painted surface, a paint formula determining means arranged to determine a paint formula for a paint colour corresponding to the measured colour, and a paint preparation means, arranged to enable preparation of paint in accordance with the paint formula.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the colour determining means comprises a spectrophotometer.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the spectrophotometer is a hand-held spectrophotometer.

4. A system in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the paint formula determining means comprises an appropriately programmed computing apparatus.

A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the paint preparation means comprising tinting apparatus arranged for tinting base paint with colourant.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the tinting apparatus comprise manually operable tinters.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6, the paint preparation means further comprising a paint mixing machine.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the paint mixing machine is hand operable.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the paint mixing machine is electrically operable and is arranged to obtain its power source from a vehicle battery.

A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile apparatus is a vehicle.

11. A method of colour matching and paint application, comprising the step of utilising a system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, to attend at a location of a painted surface requiring treatment, to 11 colour match and to provide paint for application to the surface to be treated.

12. A vehicle adapted to transport paint preparation means for preparing paint in accordance with a paint formula.

13. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12, wherein the paint preparation means includes paint tinting equipment and paint mixing equipment.

14. A vehicle mounting paint tinting equipment arranged for operation on site and arranged to mix a plurality of colours for application to painted surface. A painted surface treated by the system of any one of claims 1 to Dated this 23rd day of June 2004 FAST FLUID MANAGEMENT By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK