AU9821798A - Method and apparatus for customising cosmetic products - Google Patents

Description

V

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT, TITLE OIF INVENTION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUSTOMISING COSMETIC PRODUCTS Name and Address of Applicant: UNILEVER PLC of Unilever House, Blackfriars London EC4P 48Q, England The following st~tement is a full description of this invention, including the best method -of perfobrm1ing. it know to me:- Wo 9SV40581 PCVTEP94I02672 METHOD AND-APPARATUS-FOR CUSTOMISING COSM4ETIC PRODUCTS BACKGROUND' OF. THE INVENTION~ Field -of -the Inventioni -The inventionl concerns a machine 'or customising a cosmetic -product at- the point of sale'to a customer.

.The RlatedAr Selection-of the optimal colour shade is often a customer':s chief 'zoncerni in: urchasing-a cosmetic facial product A. number' of companies in the industry have -ought to render easier the-selection process. -Clinique and -Clarion, have installed computers atsls counters for use" by-, -the. customer. -information on colour shade, oiliness and oth-.er properties-of a customer's-skin are Puiched into the computer-which then determines the.

company<s most closely matching product*.- Another :point of,- sale' technique has been that of custom blending. Two major companies, Prescriptives (division of Estee Lauder) and Visage (division of Rev ;lon) begin a sale by manually evaluating a subject's skin colour. :The salesperson then adjusts existing'-finished,."foundations so as to match the' evaluated skin colours ,,Unfortunately.

there are many disadvantageis i;nmahual blending. The most.

obvious of these is that "too much Lime is required for a matc> smetmes30-45minutes. On many occasions there is-a poor skin match, reproducibility is poor and extensive training is, required of the salesperson.

I UI~ :R I~ 1~*d YlsD IP WO 95105891 PCTIEPS4102672 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can custom blend ingredients fordelivery of a cosmetic -roduct in a reduced period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to obtain a cosmetic product that matches skin properties with a particular optimum reproducible formula.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to form a cosmetic:..*.

product wherein the machine is suitable for placement in department store and can readily be operated by a salesperson.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to:".

obtain a cosmetic product that is highly accurate in dispensing each of the ingredients. These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent through consideration of the following summary, drawing and detailed description which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A machine for custom blending of a colour cosmetic product is provided that includes: a mechanism for receiving operating instructions about a customer's optimal formula; "UI-'-I~QCIYB~LL~I~W ~~O~-~sCMgC WO 95/05891 PCTIEP94i02672 -3 (ii) a plurality of dispensers each containing a cosmetic composition of a different colour; (iii)a mechanism for activating dosing to a common dosing chamber of certain selected ones of the cosmetic compositions and at certain concentrations as determined by the operating instructions; and (iv) a mechanism for delivering the dosed formula into a container to the customer as a colour cosmetic product.

Advantageously, the machine may also include a mechanism for regulating temperature, in particular, to maintain uniform viscosity of any liquid cosmetic compositions; changes in viscosity would bring about different dosing speeds thereby altering the accuracy of any dosed formula.

Suitable for such p-rpose is a combination of at least one heater and at least one fan. Best results are achieved when temperature is controlled between 20 and 27 0 C preferably between 22 and 24 0

C.

The plurality of dispensers are preferably at least fivein number. There should be a separate dispenser for each of a set of monochromatic coloured cosmetic compositions which respectively are yellow, red and black coloured compositions. The fourth and fifth dispenser preferably contain identical compositions, each of which are white coloured. Additionally, there may be a sixth dispenser that will contain a talc composition. A further dispenser may include an additive such as a sunscreen, a moisturiser, an oil absorbent organic polymer or combinations of these additives. Suitable sunscreens include titanium dioxide, oxybenzone, Parsol 1789* and ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, as well as combinations thereof. Moisturisers may be selected from propylene WO 95105891 PCTIEP94102672 4glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerin, water, mineral oil and combinations thereof. Oil absorbent organic polymers are represented by acrylic polymers and PVP-Eicosene copolymers.

A series of pumps are necessary as a component of the mechanism for delivery of the dosed formula. These pumps assist in transporting the different cosmetic compositions from the dispenser to the common dosing chamber leading into a container for holding the customer's finished cosmetic product. Each dispenser will be associated with at least one pump. Advantageously, the first and second of the-white-coloured composition-containing dispensers will each be associated with a pump of a different pumping...

capacity. One of these pumps.will have a capacity ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.2 g/stroke while the second pump will have a capacity ranging from greater than 0.2 g/stroke. The smaller of the pumps is present to increase resolution and prevent a dosing error in the colour shades. The larger of the pumps speeds delivery of the dosed formula because white is normally the largest component of the colour mix.

The machine can also include an agitator for receiving the:.'container when full with the dosed formula and for vibrating the container to achieve uniform dispersion of all dosed cosmetic compositions. A preferred agitator is a unit powered by a motor whose shaft is fixed to a counterbalance weight torque arm. A cam is attached to the arm; atop the cam is a cradle for receiving the formula dosed container. Vibration is best performed at 3,000 to 4,000 rpm.

Advantageously, there will also be present a mechanism within the machine for diagnosing and reporting any failure to deliver proper amounts of the dosed cosmetic -a i i* WO 95/05891 PCT/EP94102672 compositions to the container. Among the types of failures diagnosed would be those resulting from a problemwith insufficient cosmetic composition being within any one of the dispensers, an electrical circuit malfunction or even a pump malfunction. A telemodem may be incorporated within the machine for transmitting the aforementioned diagnosis and report via a telephone linkage to a central monitoring station remote from the machine.

(As a further feature, the machine may include a labelling mechanism for applying a label to the container identifying the optimal formula dispensed therein. The label can be in the form of a bar code for identifying the particular optimal formula.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Features and advantages of the present invention will more fully be appreciated by reference to the drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a highly schematic perspective view of the machine according to the present invention; SFig. 2 is a highly schematic cross-sectional plan view of the machine taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a highly schematic cross-sectional view of the machine taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 illustrates the machine 1 of the present invention which is utilised for custom blending of a cosmetic product such as a facial foundation, rouge, nail polish or WO 95105891 PCTIE94102672 PCE94/0272 6relatedcnlourpr-oduct. he machine on a-front wali- thereof will have a window 4 allowing access to a dosing chamber 6. An operator can place an empty container 8, usually an empty clear glass bottle, through the window into the dosing chamber 6. Container 8 will be positioned to receive various cosmetic compositions from at least one, usually four or more, nozzles Upon completion of fill into container 8, the filled container is transferred to a blending chamber 12 which is accessed via window 14 within front wall 2 of the machine.

Within blending chamber 12 is an agitator 16 that receives the filled container and vibrates the contents to achieve uniform dispersion of all dosed cosmetic compositions.

1 5 A further useful aspect of the invention may be incorporation of a labelling device 18 for applying a label to the container thereby identifying the specific dosed formula. The label may be in the form of a bar code.

Dosing chamber 6 and blending chamber 12 need not be separate spacial areas. For the highest efficiency, it may be desirable to combine the dosing and blending operation within a single chamber. Under such arrangement, the agitator 16 will be positioned directly underneath the nozzles Fig. 2 illustrates a cut-away front segment of machine 1. A series of fixed pumps 20-25 are supported in an upper area of the machine. Each of the pumps are fluidly connected to a series of six respective reservoirs identified as dispensers 20'-25'. Reservoir 20' and 21' each hold identical white-coloured cosmetic chemical composition A and Dispensers 22', 23' and 241 each respectively contain a yellow, a red and a black-coloured WO 95/05891 PCTEP94/02672 -7cosmetic composition identified as B, C and D. Each reservoir is fluidly connected to each respective pump.

Pump 20 has a different pumping capacity than pump 21, each of which pumps are employed to transfer an identical white-coloured cosmetic composition. More particularly, the smaller pump 20 has a pumping capacity ranging from about 0.01 to 0.2 g/stroke, preferably from about 0.05 to 0.15 g/stroke. The larger pump 21 has a pumping capacity greater than about 0.2 to 0.5 g/stroke, preferably between 0.25 to 0.35 g/stroke.

A programmable logic controller 26 is positioned within machine 1 to receive operating instructions concerning the optimal formula to be dispensed. These operating instructions can be delivered electronically via a device that measures a customer's specific skin requirements or via mechanical input from a human expert assigning an optimal formula. The programmable logic controller 26 is electronically connected to a series of control relays 28 that activate movement of pumps 20-25.

Besides the coloured cosmetic compositions, there also is a talc composition E held within dispenser 25' comprising talc and a fluid carrier. Composition E is utilised as a facial coverage modifier and finish adjuster, i.e. matte or dewy finish, for foundation cosmetic products.

Particularly suitable as pumps are the ProMinent Gamma/4 pumps available from Dosiertechnik GmbH.

Each-of the dispensers 20'-25' has an associated liquid level monitor/switch device to identify the amount of cosmetic composition still remaining in the reservoir of the respective dispensers. Level indicator lights 30 connect to respective liquid level switches WO 95105891 PCTEP94102672 8 201,-25'. These level indicator lights 30 are arranged along front wall 2 of machine 1. Additionally, machine 1 will include a power switch 32 for electrically energizing the machine, a fill switch 34 for energising the dosing mechanism and a mixer switch for initiating rotation of spinner 16..

Fig. 3 best illustrates the temperature regulating system within the machine 1. This system consists of a cooling fan 38 and heater 40 which are regulated by a temperature controller 42 having a high and low controlling mechanism, respectively 43 and 44. Temperature must be maintained between 20 and 270C, preferably between 22 and 24 0 C to maintain uniform viscosity of the liquid cosmetic composi- tions; changes in viscosity would bring about different dosing speeds thereby altering the accuracy of the dosed formula. Within the housing of machine 1 is a mechanism 46 for diagnosing and reporting any failure to deliver proper amounts of the dosed compositions to the container. A telemodem 48 is also present within the housing for transmitting a failure diagnosis report generated by mechanism 46 via telephone linkage to a central monitoring:"." station remote 50 remote from machine 1. A further function of telemodem 48 is transmission of data concerning cosmetic composition usage, customer identification with a respective optimal formula and related data.

The foregoing description illustrates selected embodiments of the present invention and in light thereof variations and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the spirit and purview of this invention.

Claims (8)

1. A machine for custom blending of a colour cosmetic product comprising: a means for receiving operating instructions about a customer's formula; (ii) a plurality of dispensers each suitable for holding a cosmetic composition of a different colour; (iii)a means for activating dosing to a common dosing chamber of certain selected ones of the cosmetic compositions and at certain concentrations as determined by the operating instructions; and (iv) a means for delivering the dosed compositions into a container to the customer as a colour cosmetic product, characterized in that the machine comprises a means for regulating temperature within said machine to maintain the cosmetic compositions at a constant viscosity, and optionally further comprises an agitator for receiving said container and for vibrating said container to achieve uniform dispersion of the dosed compositions.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the means for delivering the dosed compositions includes a plurality of pumps, each pump being associated with one of said dispensers to deliver a respective cosmetic composition into said container. J6157 PCT

3. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of dispensers comprises at least four dispensers.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the plurality Sof dispensers contains 5 dispensers. A machine according to claim 4 wherein at least two of said dispensers are associated each with a pump of a different pumping capaci.ty. S6. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the agitator is located in the com~dn. dosing chamber. Is S7. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a means for diagnosing and reporting any failure to deliver proper amounts of"' dosed cosmetic composition to said container, and, optionally, a telemodem for transmitting said diagnosis and report via telephone linkage to a central monitoring station remote from said machine"

8. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a labelling means for applying a label to said container identifying the optimal formula dispensed therein, said label -preferably including a bar code for said identification.

9. A method of custom blending of a colour cosmetic product in whith a machine according to any one of the preceding claims is used and in which said plurality of dispensers each contain a cosmetic composition of a different colour. ,J6157 PCT -11- A method according to claim 9 in which the plurality of dispensers comprise four dispensers containing cosmetic compositions having respectively the colours white, yellow, red and black.

11. A method according to claim 10 in which a fifth dispenser contains a cosmetic composition that is identical to the cosmetic composition having the colour white, and the dispensers for the white- coloured cosmetic compositions are associated each with a pump of a different pumping capacity.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims S9 to 11 comprising at least one further dispenser containing a cosmetic composition that comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of talc, a sunscreen composition, a moisturizer, an oil absorbent organic polymer and combinations thereof. oDATED^ A9 Signed for and on behalf of UNILEVER PLC by Fvr Australia Limited B F. JON Secretary. ':4