FR3123637A1 - FLEXIBLE IN-FACTORY COSMETICS PRODUCTION - Google Patents

Abstract

Flexible production of cosmetics in the factory A system for dispensing a cosmetic container, comprising: a conveyor belt configured to transport a receiving container along a filling line; a robotic arm arranged at an entry position of the filling line; a sensor arranged at an outlet position of the filling line; circuitry configured to receive a command having a type of container; control the robotic arm to obtain a container corresponding to the type of container and place it at a predetermined position on the conveyor belt at an entry point of the filling line; passing information from an order position of the container and the type of container to the sensor; check that the correct container is in the order position at the exit of the filling line after the container has been filled with a cosmetic product. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

FLEXIBLE IN-FACTORY COSMETICS PRODUCTION

Context

A typical hair dye kit has a combination of a dye and a developer, each of which can be packaged in a bottle for commercial sale. In the classic technique, a color formulation to be dispensed into a dye bottle comes from a source plant, and more specifically from a large volume container.

There is a need to provide a greater variety of color formulations, and even customizable color formulations, to make them available for purchase by customers. However, the conventional system has a problem in that it is difficult to effectively predict and make available such a wide variety of hair dye formulations for dispensing into a hair dye bottle with the existing system in which formulations of hair dye are produced and distributed using large volume containers.

Additionally, greater flexibility must be provided to allow optimization of the dispensing process and the type of packaging that can be used based on the specific formula that needs to be dispensed bottle by bottle.

Summary

In one embodiment, a system is provided for dispensing a cosmetic container, comprising: a conveyor belt configured to transport a receiving container along a fill line; a robotic arm arranged at an entry position of the filling line; a sensor disposed at an output position of the filling line; circuitry configured to receive a command having a type of container; control the robotic arm to obtain a container corresponding to the type of container and place it at a predetermined position on the conveyor belt at an entry point of the filling line; passing information from an order position of the container and the type of container to the sensor; check that the correct container is in the order position at the exit of the filling line after the container has been filled with a cosmetic product.

In one embodiment, the sensor disposed at the exit position is a vision sensor.

In one embodiment, the container obtained by the robotic arm has an integrated radio frequency tag that stores information regarding the type of container, and the sensor disposed at the exit position is configured to read the stored information from the tag radio frequency.

In one embodiment, the robotic arm has access to a plurality of container types.

In one embodiment, the plurality of container types correspond to different stock keeping units (SKUs).

In one embodiment, the plurality of container types include a glass bottle and a plastic bottle.

A fuller appreciation of the disclosure and many of its associated advantages and features may be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

There shows an online production system according to one embodiment.

There shows a dye run flow process according to one embodiment.

There represents a marking that can be applied to a bottle of a custom dye formulation produced by the system according to one embodiment.

There shows an overview of the fill line and a personalization process according to one embodiment.

There shows an overview and statistics of a custom fill line according to one embodiment.

Figures 6A-6E show a detailed guide to various aspects of the fill line according to one embodiment.

There shows an overview of filling station technology according to one embodiment.

There shows a bulk container strategy according to one embodiment.

There shows more details related to the bulk container strategy according to one embodiment.

There shows that there are two types of semi-bulk containers (IBCs) in one embodiment.

There shows details of the bag-in-box IBC according to one embodiment.

There shows details of the heavy duty IBC according to one embodiment.

There shows IBC filling equipment used during production in one embodiment.

There shows details related to containers in one embodiment.

There shows an overview of a process and system for receiving an order for a custom dye according to one embodiment.

There shows an overview of a process and system for receiving an order for a custom dye from different types of customers.

There shows a plurality of vials to be filled based on orders received from various customers.

There shows a scenario where a rearrangement of vial order is not optimized.

There shows a scenario where a vial order rearrangement has been optimized.

There shows a flowchart made by the system to optimize an order of vials in the filling line.

There shows a self-calibration process performed by the system.

There shows a system that enables the flexible production of cosmetics in one system.

There shows a process carried out by the system of the .

Claims (5)

System for dispensing a cosmetic container, comprising:
a conveyor belt configured to transport a receiving container along a fill line;
a robotic arm arranged at an entry position of the filling line;
a sensor arranged at an outlet position of the filling line;
circuitry configured for:

• receiving an order having a container type;
• controlling the robotic arm to obtain a container corresponding to the type of container and placing it at a predetermined position on the conveyor belt at an entry point of the filling line;
• passing information of an order position of the container and the type of container to the sensor;
• checking that the correct container is at the order position at the exit of the filling line after the container has been filled with a cosmetic product.

A system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor disposed at the exit position is a vision sensor. A system according to claim 1, wherein the container obtained by the robotic arm has an integrated radio frequency tag that stores information regarding the type of container, and the sensor disposed at the exit position is configured to read the stored information from the radio frequency tag. A system according to claim 1, wherein the robotic arm has access to a plurality of container types. A system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of container types include a glass bottle and a plastic bottle.