FR3126702A1 - System for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container - Google Patents

Abstract

S ystem for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container A system for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container, comprising: a conveyor belt configured to transport the customer container along a fill line; a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each connected to a respective bulk container having a different bulk hair dye color, the plurality of dispensing mechanisms being disposed on a conveyor belt along the fill line; and circuitry configured to receive a plurality of formulas for filling a respective plurality of receiving containers with one or more bulk hair dye colors from among the plurality of bulk containers having the different bulk hair dye color, and controlling each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms for performing a dispensing operation to dispense a bulk amount of hair dye color or not performing a dispensing operation at a time when each of the receiving containers is transported to each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms along the fill line, in which the circuitry is configured to adjust a sequence of receiving containers to be filled in the fill line based on the formulas and a sequence that results in a minimum time to complete filling receiving containers in the filling line. Figure for abstract: 1

Description

System for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container

CONTEXT

A conventional hair dye kit includes a combination of a dye and a developer, each of which may be packaged in a bottle for commercial sale. In the conventional art, 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 be made available for customer purchase. However, the conventional system presents a problem in that it is difficult to provide and efficiently make available such a variety of hair dye formulations to be dispensed into hair dye bottles with the existing system in which the formulations of Hair dyes 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 is to be dispensed on a bottle-by-bottle basis.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a system for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container, comprising: a conveyor belt configured to transport the customer container along a fill line; a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each connected to a respective bulk container having a different bulk hair dye color, the plurality of dispensing mechanisms being disposed on a conveyor belt along the fill line; and circuitry configured to receive a plurality of formulas for filling a respective plurality of receiving containers with one or more bulk hair dye colors from among the plurality of bulk containers having the different bulk hair dye color, and controlling each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms for performing a dispensing operation to dispense a bulk amount of hair dye color or not performing a dispensing operation at a time when each of the receiving containers is transported to each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms along the fill line, in which the circuitry is configured to adjust a sequence of receiving containers to be filled in the fill line based on the formulas and a sequence that results in a minimum time to complete filling receiving containers in the filling line.

In one embodiment, the circuitry is configured to collect usage rate information on past dispensed amounts of different bulk hair dye colors and to output a recommendation on how to position the dispensing mechanisms matching bulk hair dye colors based on usage rate information.

In one embodiment, the circuitry is configured to perform self-calibration of at least one of the dispensing mechanisms by inserting a calibration receiving container into the fill line; dispensing a programmed predetermined amount of bulk hair dye color from the at least one of the dispensing mechanisms into the calibration receiving container; measuring an actual amount of the bulk hair dye dispensed into the calibration receiving container; determining that recalibration of the at least one dispensing mechanism is required when the actual measured amount of bulk hair dye dispensed is outside of a predetermined tolerance range.

In one embodiment, the circuitry is configured to perform calibration of a plurality of dispensing mechanisms using the same calibration receiving vessel.

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

There shows a connected production system according to one embodiment.

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

There illustrates a label 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 personalization process according to one embodiment.

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

[Fig. 6A-6E] Figures 6A-6E show a virtual tour of 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 regarding the bulk container strategy according to one embodiment.

There shows that there are two types of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) in one embodiment.

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

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

There shows IBC filling equipment used during production according to one embodiment.

There shows details of the 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 tint from different types of customers.

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

There shows a scenario in which a rearrangement of the bottle sequence is not optimized.

There shows a scenario in which a rearrangement of the bottle sequence has been optimized.

There shows a flowchart made by the system to optimize a sequence of bottles 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 (4)

System for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a container, comprising:
a conveyor belt configured to transport the customer container along a fill line;
a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each connected to a respective bulk container having a different bulk hair dye color, the plurality of dispensing mechanisms being disposed on a conveyor belt along the fill line; And
circuitry configured to
receiving a plurality of formulations for filling a respective plurality of receiving containers with one or more bulk hair dye colors from among the plurality of bulk containers having the different bulk hair dye color, and
controlling each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms to perform a dispensing operation to dispense a bulk amount of hair dye color or not to perform a dispensing operation at a time when each of the receiving containers is transported to each of the plurality of distribution mechanisms along the filling line,
wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust a sequence of the receiving containers to be filled in the fill line based on the formulas and a sequence that results in a minimum time to complete filling of the receiving containers in the fill line. A system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to collect usage rate information on past dispensed amounts of different bulk hair dye colors and to output a recommendation on how to position the mechanisms of distribution corresponding to bulk hair dye colors based on usage rate information. A system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform self-calibration of at least one of the dispensing mechanisms by
inserting a calibration receiving vessel into the fill line
dispensing a programmed predetermined amount of bulk hair dye color from the at least one of the dispensing mechanisms into the calibration receiving container;
measuring an actual amount of the bulk hair dye dispensed into the calibration receiving container
determining that recalibration of the at least one dispensing mechanism is required when the actual measured amount of bulk hair dye dispensed is outside of a predetermined tolerance range. A system according to claim 3, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform calibration of a plurality of the dispensing mechanisms using the same calibration receiving vessel