JP3871887B2 - Server apparatus, terminal apparatus, and paint and paint information providing method using communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paint sales system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Normally, paints are created by mixing multiple pigments and primary color paints (pigments dissolved in a solvent), and are prepared to obtain the desired color, and are applied to painting objects in paint factories, paint shops, etc. Is done. The blending information indicating what kind of pigment combination the paint should be prepared is managed by the paint maker. Therefore, if you want to reproduce a paint that has been applied in the past, for example, if you want to apply a paint to a damaged part of an automobile and repair it, a paint shop or the like should apply the desired paint with reference to the materials distributed by the paint manufacturer. Had been prepared.
[0003]
However, even when a paint is prepared based on such blending information, it is often impossible to obtain a desired paint color, for example, the same paint color as that around a damaged part of an automobile. This is for the following reason, for example.
[0004]
First, with the method of distributing materials, it was difficult to distribute the latest blending information quickly and reliably to all paint shops. In addition, the coating film may change from the original coating color due to changes over time. Therefore, even if the blending information is accurate and the paint color is reproducible, the desired paint color may not be reproduced with the blending information. This was particularly noticeable in red paints that are easily affected by ultraviolet rays.
[0005]
In addition, when there is no change over time of the coating film, for example, when a new car immediately after purchase is damaged, even if it is prepared according to the above blending information, the same paint color as that around the damaged part may not be obtained. there were. This is because the prepared pigments and primary color paints themselves do not necessarily have the same coating color.
[0006]
The first reason for this is that the pigment and the primary color paint itself change over time depending on the storage conditions after production. The second reason for this is that not all the pigments produced are uniform. The fact that they are not always uniform means, for example, that the coating color is slightly different depending on the production lot of the pigment. For this reason, the paint color of the generated paint also depends on the production lot, and the paint color is slightly different for each lot.
[0007]
In addition, for example, even when the paints are exactly the same in color, the paint color may differ depending on the paint characteristics of the painter. For example, depending on the coating pressure, the coating speed, the film pressure, etc., the color development method may differ.
[0008]
As described above, there are cases where it is difficult to obtain a paint having a desired paint color simply by following the combination information for combining pigments. For this reason, conventionally, at a paint shop or the like, a coating plate for evaluation coated with a paint prepared according to the blending information was created, and the evaluation and preparation of the coating color were repeated to obtain a desired paint. And in a paint shop etc., in order to obtain a customer's desired paint color, manpower was spent on the pigment preparation work. For this reason, the painting cost was high.
[0009]
In addition, the paints and the applied coatings prepared in the respective paint shops are affected by the preparation characteristics and the paint characteristics in the paint shops. For this reason, it has been difficult for all paint shops to provide a uniform and uniform painting service.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the conventional technology. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a paint by preparing a paint that reproduces a customer-desired paint color, and reducing variations in coating film quality due to the characteristics of the paint itself and the characteristics of the paint shop / painter. .
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
[0012]
The present invention is a server device that provides the terminal device with blending information of the raw paint that generates the product paint,
A recording unit that records in a predetermined format the paint color information of the product paint generated by blending the raw paint and the blending information blending the original paint at that time;
A communication unit connected to the network;
A control unit,
This control unit receives paint color information of a user-desired product paint from a terminal device connected to a network, estimates blending information of a raw paint that reproduces the paint color information, and sends the estimated blend information to the terminal device It is to provide.
[0013]
Preferably, the control unit receives information on the painting characteristics of a painter who performs painting with product paint from a terminal device on the network, information on the painting characteristics of a painting apparatus used for painting, and storage state of the original paint The user characteristic information including at least one of the information related to the above or the information related to the temporal change of the raw paint may be received, and the blending information may be corrected based on the user characteristic information.
[0014]
Preferably, the recording unit records information relating to coating color variation between manufacturing lots at the time of manufacturing the raw paint,
The control unit may correct the blending information based on the information related to the coating color variation.
[0015]
Preferably, the control unit further receives, from a terminal device on the network, information related to a machine difference of a measuring device that measures a paint color to be painted, and based on the information related to the machine difference, the color of the product paint Information may be corrected.
[0016]
Preferably, the coating color information is information indicating a reflectance measured by a spectrocolorimetric device on a sample coated with a user-desired product paint.
In the above predetermined format, the paint color information is described by optical density,
The control unit may convert the received paint color information of the product paint desired by the user into an optical density and estimate the blending information.
[0017]
Here, the spectral colorimetric device refers to, for example, a so-called multi-angle spectral colorimetric device or variable angle spectral colorimetric device, and the incident angle of light from the light source to the coating plate or the light reflected from the coating plate to the measuring instrument. An apparatus that can measure the reflectance of paint on a coated plate by setting a plurality of light receiving angles.
[0018]
Further, the present invention is a terminal device that provides product paint formulation information,
A communication unit that receives color matching data including a combination of paint color information of the product paint generated by blending the raw paint and blending information at that time via a network;
A recording unit for recording color matching data in a predetermined format;
An input unit for inputting paint color information of a user-desired product paint;
A control unit that estimates composition information of the raw paint that reproduces the input paint color information,
It may provide estimated blending information.
[0019]
The present invention is a server device connected to a network,
A recording unit for recording product paint identification information generated by blending the raw paint and blending information for specifying the blend of the raw paint for the product paint;
A communication unit connected to the network;
A control unit,
This control unit receives the identification information for identifying the product paint from the terminal device connected to the network, searches for the blend information of the product paint identified by the identification information, and provides the retrieved blend information to the terminal device You may do it.
[0020]
The present invention is a terminal device connected to a network,
An input unit for inputting identification information for identifying a product paint produced by blending the raw paint;
A communication unit that transmits the identification information to the server device, and receives the blending information for blending the product paint identified by the identification information from the server device;
And a display unit for displaying the received combination information.
[0021]
Here, the identification information is information for identifying a specific product paint, and is, for example, a product paint code or a product type to which the product paint is applied and a part to be applied.
[0022]
Further, the present invention is a method for providing a commercial paint,
Measuring the paint color information of the user desired product paint;
A step of referring to a database having paint color information of a product paint generated by blending a raw paint and a blending information of blending the original paint for a plurality of product paints;
The method may include a step of estimating composition information of a raw paint that reproduces user-desired paint color information.
[0023]
Further, the present invention is a method for providing a commercial paint,
A step of inputting identification information of a user-desired product paint color;
Referencing user characteristics including painter characteristics of a painter who paints with commercial paint or characteristics of a coating device used for painting;
Referring to the properties of the raw paint that produces the product paint;
Preparing one or more raw paints to produce a commercial paint, referring to blending information of such commercial paint using the identification information as a key;
Correcting formulation information based on at least the user characteristics or the characteristics of the raw paint;
It may comprise a step of providing the blending information.
[0024]
Further, the present invention may be a program that causes a computer to realize any of the functions described above.
[0025]
As described above, the present invention obtains the blending information by measuring the sample to which the user-desired product paint is applied, so that the reproducibility of the coating color can be improved even when the coating film changes with time. .
[0026]
Moreover, since the present invention corrects the machine difference of the measuring instrument that measures such a paint color, the reproducibility of the paint color can be improved.
[0027]
In addition, the present invention provides information relating to the painting characteristics of a painter who performs painting with a commercial paint, information relating to the painting characteristics of a coating apparatus used for painting, information relating to the storage state of the original paint, or changes over time of the original paint. Since the blending information is corrected based on the user characteristic information including at least one of the related information, the reproducibility of the paint color can be improved.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
[0029]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the paint color combination information providing system of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram of user characteristic information shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a machine difference calibration procedure of the measuring machine 13, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a blending estimation process of the blending station 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are modifications of the coating color blending information providing system. It is a system configuration diagram showing an example.
[0030]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a paint color combination information providing system. This system is installed in a paint shop 3 to estimate the composition of the object to be coated, a measuring device 13 for measuring the paint color of the object to be painted and inputting the paint color information to the composition station 1, and the composition station 1 Is composed of a coating machine 14 for applying a paint blended in accordance with the blending information estimated and a central server 2 connected to the blending station 1 via a network.
[0031]
This blending information providing system is further connected to the host computer of the customer support center 4, the host host computer of the paint delivery center 5, and the quality control server 6 of the factory to constitute a paint sales service system.
[0032]
The blending station 1 receives the paint color information of the object to be painted measured by the measuring device 13, executes a color matching program, and estimates the blend of the pigment that develops the paint color. As shown in FIG. 1, the blending station 1 has a blending information tank 12.
[0033]
The blending information tank 12 stores color matching data. This color matching data includes basic data and performance data. Here, the basic data is optical density data obtained from the spectral reflectance with respect to each pigment whose pigment density is changed by a brightening agent. The actual data is optical density data obtained from the spectral reflectance when such a plurality of pigments are actually mixed.
[0034]
The color matching program estimates the blending information of the pigment that generates the paint color from the input paint color information and color matching data. The estimated blending information is provided to the paint shop 3 to support the blending of the paint.
[0035]
Further, the blending station 1 stores user characteristic information including a measuring machine state management record, a paint storage state record, and a coating characteristic record in the user characteristic information recording unit 11. Then, the blending station 1 transfers this user characteristic information to the central server 2 at a predetermined time.
[0036]
The blending station 1 receives color matching data used for blending estimation and correction information for blending estimation from the central server 2 at a predetermined time. The correction information includes a spectral reflectance measurement value correction vector, an optical density mixing rule correction value, paint color basic data correction, lot-to-lot correction data, and the like.
[0037]
The measuring device 13 is a handy type so-called multi-angle spectrocolorimetric device. The measuring device 13 is installed on the coating plate, and in that state, white light is incident on the coating plate and measures the spectral reflectance of the coating material on the coating plate for a plurality of wavelengths at several kinds of light receiving angles.
[0038]
The reason why the spectral reflectance is measured at two or more light receiving angles is to measure the spectral reflectance of the paint containing the glittering material. In a paint film containing a bright material, the color, that is, the spectral reflectance varies depending on the light receiving angle. For this reason, in order to estimate the composition of the paint containing the glittering material, spectral reflectances at a plurality of light receiving angles are required.
[0039]
However, instead of measuring at a plurality of light receiving angles, the spectral reflectance may be measured by fixing the light receiving angle at one point and changing the incident angle. As a result, a measurement result similar to or equivalent to the spectral reflectance measured at a plurality of light receiving angles can be obtained.
[0040]
The measuring machine 13 periodically executes a self-diagnosis program and reports it to the blending station 1. This self-diagnosis includes information on the environment such as temperature and humidity, and spectral characteristics obtained by spectroscopically analyzing white light from the white light source of the measuring device 13 itself.
[0041]
Further, the operator periodically inserts a standard coated plate (hereinafter referred to as a machine difference correction test plate) into the measuring device 13 and measures the multi-angle spectral reflectance for the coating color. The measurement result is transferred to the blending station 1.
[0042]
The coating machine 14 applies the input paint to the object to be painted. At that time, the painter selects and uses a desired one from a plurality of nozzle shapes. In addition, the painter designates the paint application pressure and the application amount per unit time to the coating machine 14.
[0043]
The painter inputs a daily painting work record into the blending station 1. The blending station 1 accumulates user characteristic information based on this painting work record. In addition, the blending station 1 checks the daily paint storage state. The paint storage state is, for example, the temperature of the paint, the number of days elapsed after delivery, and the like.
[0044]
The central server 2 receives and holds the paint lot information from the quality management server 6 installed in the factory. This paint lot information is distributed to the blending station when updated. The central server 2 creates correction data (painting color basic data correction value, correction data between lots, etc.) at the time of formulation estimation based on the paint lot information.
[0045]
The central server 2 receives user characteristic information from the blending station 1 at a predetermined time. The predetermined time is set, for example, at 5 am every day, at 5 am every Monday, at 5 am on the first day of every month, or at 5 am on a predetermined day every year. However, it may be received at the time when there is a transmission request from a specific blending station 1.
[0046]
Further, the central server 2 may request the specific blending station 1 to transmit the current user characteristic information. When the central server 2 recognizes the abnormality of the paint stored in the paint store 3 from the user characteristic information, the central server 2 issues an alarm to the blending station 1 installed in the paint store 3 to notify the user.
[0047]
The customer support center 4 periodically contacts the paint store 3 to check the paint storage state, the storage amount, whether there is an order received, etc. of each paint store 3. Further, the customer support center 4 receives the paint replenishment confirmation instruction and the alarm response instruction from the central server 2 and takes a predetermined response.
[0048]
For example, when receiving a paint replenishment confirmation instruction from the central server 2, the customer support center 4 contacts the designated paint shop 3 and confirms whether or not to refill the paint. When the paint needs to be replenished, the customer support center 4 instructs the paint delivery center 5 to deliver the paint.
[0049]
When the alarm support instruction is received from the central server 2, the customer support center 4 contacts the designated paint shop 3 and confirms the storage state of the paint.
[0050]
The paint delivery center 5 delivers the paint to a designated store according to an instruction from the customer support center 4.
[0051]
When the quality control server 6 installed in the factory receives a request for paint lot information from the host computer of the central server 2, the customer support center 4 and the paint delivery center 5, it returns the requested paint lot information. Further, when the paint lot information is updated, the quality management server 6 transmits the updated information to the central server 2, the customer support center 4, and the paint delivery center 5 host computers.
[0052]
<Data flow in paint sales and painting services>
Hereinafter, the data flow in paint sales and painting services will be described with reference to FIG. Here, we consider a painting service for repairing automobile sheet metal. Now, assume that a customer visits a paint shop 3 with a damaged car.
[0053]
The paint shop 3 collects a coating film from around the damaged part of the automobile and measures the multi-angle spectral reflectance using the measuring device 13. The measured multi-angle spectral reflectance is input to the blending station 1 online or offline.
[0054]
The blending station 1 executes a color matching program and obtains blending information from the multi-angle spectral reflectance. The color matching program converts the multi-angle spectral reflectance into an optical density, and calculates a combination of pigments (corresponding to the original paint) that matches the optical density.
[0055]
As described above, the blending information tank 12 holds color matching data. The color matching data is composed of blending information obtained by combining one or more pigments with respect to a large number of pigments (which are referred to as blending vectors because they are represented by blending ratios of the pigments) and the optical density of the paint in the blending.
[0056]
The optical density can be calculated linearly in the pigment formulation. Therefore, the color matching program executes blending information search processing (hereinafter referred to as blend estimation) in a blend vector space that is a multidimensional space so as to match the target optical density. This blending estimation is described in detail in JP-A-10-227696, JP-A-10-48611, and the like.
[0057]
The feature of the present invention resides in that various corrections are made in the formulation estimation by such a color matching program. For example, correction of machine difference with respect to a standard machine of the measuring device 13, correction of lots of manufactured pigment, correction of changes with time depending on the storage state of sold pigments, or of a painter and a coating apparatus that perform coating For example, correction of characteristics.
[0058]
By such correction, accurate blending information is estimated and presented to the painter at the paint shop 3. In accordance with this blending information, the painter blends pigments to generate a paint having a desired paint color. Then, the painter applies the paint generated using the coating machine 14 to the object to be painted.
<Data structure>
FIG. 2 shows the data structure of the user characteristic information. FIG. 2 shows the data items and data examples together. The user characteristic information includes a work number, a date, a worker, a record of the paint used, a coating machine, and a painting method.
[0059]
The work number is a unique character string that distinguishes each painting work. The date is the date on which the painting operation was performed. The operator is a character string that identifies the painter who performed the painting operation.
[0060]
The used paint is information indicating the type and amount of paint used in the work. In the present embodiment, a paint used in combination of a paint code, a lot number, and a usage amount is described. However, when a plurality of types of paints are used, the above combinations are listed for the number of types.
[0061]
The paint code is a unique character string that identifies the type of paint. The lot number is the number of the lot where the paint is manufactured. The amount used is the amount of paint used in the work.
[0062]
The painting machine is a code indicating the type of painting machine used in the painting work. The painting method is a record showing the working state during painting. For example, the paint application pressure (Output pressure), the application amount (Flow speed) per unit time, the injection pattern shape (Nozzle shape), the application time (Working time), etc. are recorded.
[0063]
<Machine difference correction processing of measuring machine 13>
FIG. 3 shows a machine difference correction procedure in the multi-angle spectral reflectance measurement of the measuring machine 13. The spectral reflectance is a ratio at each wavelength between the intensity of reflected light that reflects the measurement target coating plate and the intensity of reflected light that reflects the reference coating plate. The multi-angle spectral reflectance is a result of measuring such spectral reflectance by changing the incident angle or the light receiving angle of light with respect to the sample.
[0064]
In the present embodiment, the paint color of the object is defined by such multi-angle spectral reflectance. However, there is generally a machine difference in the measuring machine 13 (multi-angle spectral colorimetry device) that measures such multi-angle spectral reflectance. Therefore, there is a machine difference between the measuring machine used for creating color matching data (data distributed from the central server 2) for color matching and the measuring machine 13 used for measuring the target sample for blend estimation. If there is, accurate blending information cannot be obtained.
[0065]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for correcting such a machine difference. The blending station 1 has a spectral reflectance (referred to as a standard machine reflectance) of a measuring machine (hereinafter referred to as a standard machine) that measures color matching data of the central server 2. The standard machine reflectance is a result of the multi-angle spectral reflectance measured by the standard machine for a plurality of machine difference correction test plates. The standard machine reflectance is transmitted from the central server 2 to the blending station 1 in advance. The standard machine reflectance may be stored in a removable medium such as a CD-R and distributed to each paint shop 3 offline.
[0066]
In addition, the same mechanical difference correction test plate as that used when measuring the reflectance of the standard machine is prepared in advance in the paint store. In the paint shop 3, the multi-angle spectral reflectance is measured periodically, for example, every morning using a machine difference correction test plate. Thereby, the error state of the measuring machine 13 for each day is recorded. Also, a machine difference calibration curve 100 is created from the relationship between the spectral reflectance of the measuring machine 13 and the standard machine reflectance. The blending station 1 may correct the measurement result of the measuring machine 13 with the machine difference calibration curve 100. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the spectral reflectance curve 101 measured by the measuring instrument 13 is calibrated like the spectral reflectance curve 102 after calibration.
[0067]
<Formulation estimation and correction of paints containing glitter materials>
When the paint to be coated includes a bright material, the spectral reflectance varies depending on the angle of the light beam reflected from the portion to be coated, that is, the angle received by the measuring device 13. Therefore, for the paint containing the glitter material, the spectral reflectance is measured at a plurality of light receiving angles, and the correction described above is repeated for each angle.
[0068]
In addition, in the composition estimation for the glitter material, the solution (composition information) by the composition estimation may be different for each angle. In such a case, one solution (composition information) is selected according to a predetermined criterion. The predetermined reference is, for example, whether or not the error falls within a predetermined value at all light receiving angles.
[0069]
<Other corrections>
Other corrections can be considered in the same manner as the calibration of the machine difference of the measuring machine 13 described above. For example, the correction between lots corrects the difference in paint for each lot in the same type of paint. This is done by measuring the multi-angle spectral reflectance with a standard machine in advance for the sample paint extracted for each lot. This is measured, for example, as a curve 101 in FIG. 3 at a specific light receiving angle. Such measurements are taken for each color pigment at multiple angles.
[0070]
The lot number of the pigment stored in the paint shop 3 is known in the central server 2. Therefore, the multi-angle spectral reflectance in the lot sample at the time of manufacturing the pigment stored in the paint shop 3 is known.
[0071]
On the other hand, it is assumed that the multi-angle spectral reflectance (referred to as standard reflectance) of the color matching data used for color matching is measured as a curve 102 in FIG. 3, for example. Then, error vectors (ΔE1, ΔE2,... ΔEn) between lots at each angle and each wavelength can be obtained. Here, ΔEi is the difference in the optical density space between the standard reflectance at the wavelength λi and the reflectance of the sample paint. The inter-lot error vector may be held in the blending station 1 and the blending information may be corrected based on the inter-lot error vector.
[0072]
The same applies to changes over time. Each paint shop 3 or customer support center 4 may create a coated plate periodically using the paint stored in each paint shop 3 and measure the multi-angle spectral reflectance in the same manner as the correction between lots. The difference between the measurement result and the standard reflectance in the optical density space can be obtained as a time-varying error vector (ΔE1, ΔE2,... ΔEn). Accordingly, miscalculation due to changes in the pigment over time can be corrected in the same manner as the error between lots as a difference from the standard reflectance.
[0073]
Errors due to the characteristics of the painter and the characteristics of the coating machine can be corrected in the same way. For example, a painter and a coater that have applied a coated plate whose multi-angle spectral reflectance of color matching data used for color matching, that is, a standard reflectance is measured are defined as a standard painter and a standard coater.
[0074]
Then, color matching for each painter may be executed periodically, for example, once a year for each painter. First, a coated plate is prepared by a standard painter and a standard coating machine, and the multi-angle spectral reflectance is measured. The paint produced in the same lot as the paint used at this time is distributed to the customer support center 4 or each paint shop 3.
[0075]
Next, a coated plate is prepared using the same lot of paint, and the multi-angle spectral reflectance is measured. The difference in optical density space between the multi-angle spectral reflectance of the coated plate by the standard painter and the standard painting machine and the multi-angle spectral reflectance of the coated plate by the painter and the painting machine 14 in each coating store 3 is expressed as a coating characteristic error vector. And correct the result of formulation estimation.
[0076]
Such an error vector may be measured by changing the paint application pressure of the coating machine 14, the application amount per unit time, the spray pattern shape, the application time, and the like. For example, the dependency of the error vector on the paint coating pressure of the coating machine 14 may be obtained and corrected. If the difference from the standard reflectance based on such a working method is measured, it is not necessary to measure the color matching, that is, the paint characteristic error vector for all the painters.
<Formulation estimation process>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the blending estimation process of the blending station 1. Here, an example is shown in which formulation estimation is performed with reference to the basic database 20, the results database 21, the lot management database 22, and the like as color matching data. Data such as the basic database 20, the results database 21, and the lot management database 22 are distributed in advance from the central server 2 to the blending station 1 online or offline. Based on these data, the blending station 1 executes the color matching program and executes the process of FIG.
[0077]
The basic database 20 records the optical density for each primary color pigment and for each predetermined pigment density. This pigment is a paint synthesized in order to produce a paint having a desired paint color. The optical density is determined from the multi-angle spectral reflectance obtained by measuring the coated plate applied by the standard coater with the standard coater using the standard machine.
[0078]
The pigment concentration is adjusted according to the amount of brightening agent contained in each pigment. That is, the pigment concentration is defined by the following (Formula 1).
[0079]
Pigment concentration = pigment mass / (pigment mass + luminous material mass) (Formula 1)
The basic database 20 holds results obtained by obtaining such optical densities in advance for pigments that develop a number of primary colors.
[0080]
The actual result database 21 has actual data obtained by calculating a multi-angle spectral reflectance from a coated plate coated with a paint containing one or more pigments at different pigment concentrations and converting it to an optical density. In order to perform color matching accurately, it is desirable to have as much such result data as possible.
[0081]
The lot management database 22 is sample data of paint color information obtained from pigments for each past production lot. A lot-to-lot error vector is calculated from the difference in optical density depending on the corresponding pigment type and pigment concentration in the lot management database 22 and the basic database 20 or the result database 21. Note that an error vector between lots may be created in advance by the central server 2 and distributed to the blending station 1.
[0082]
The machine difference configuration database holds the machine difference calibration curve 100 shown in FIG. In addition, the time-change database holds the latest spectral reflectance data of the pigments stored in the paint store 3. The blending station 1 calculates a aging error vector from the difference between the latest spectral reflectance data of the pigment being stored and the standard reflectance. However, the central server 2 may collect the data of the time-change database, calculate the time-change error vector, and distribute it to the blending station 1.
[0083]
The painting characteristic database includes spectral reflectance data at the time of the latest color matching by a painter who uses the painting machine 14 of the painting shop 3. As described with reference to FIG. 3, color matching is performed by periodically measuring the multi-angle spectral reflectance of the coating plate created for each coating machine for each painter in the paint shop 3, and by the standard painter and the standard coating machine. It is a process to compare with things.
[0084]
The blending station 1 calculates a paint characteristic error vector from the comparison result. However, the central server 2 may collect the data of the painting characteristic database, calculate the painting characteristic error vector, and distribute it to the blending station 1.
[0085]
In the combination estimation process, first, the spectral reflectance of the target color is input from the measuring device 13. The blending station 1 corrects the instrumental difference of the spectral reflectance by the instrumental difference calibration curve 100. Further, the blending station 1 converts the spectral reflectance corrected for machine differences into an optical density.
[0086]
Next, the blending station 1 executes a color matching program and obtains a pigment blend that matches the target optical density. At this time, the time-varying error vector and the painter characteristic error vector are referred to by the time-varying database and the painting characteristic database, and each error is corrected. Further, the lot management database 22 is referred to, and an error between lots is corrected.
[0087]
In the combination estimation, a plurality of types of combination information close to the target optical density are specified. Such a composition close to the target optical density is called an approximate color group. The blending station 1 corrects the pigment density dependency of the optical density within the obtained approximate color group.
[0088]
Theoretically, it is desirable to be linear with respect to the addition of the optical density of each pigment or raw paint. However, the optical density depends not only on the formulation, that is, the ratio of each pigment, but also on the density of the pigment itself. That is, when a plurality of pigments and raw paints are mixed, the optical density of the mixed paints is actually nonlinear.
[0089]
Therefore, the change in the optical density with respect to the change in the pigment density is changed in a minute range where the change can be regarded as linear. Correct sex.
[0090]
Next, the blending station 1 estimates the blending of the pigment, outputs the result, and supports the blending.
[0091]
As described above, the blending station 1 receives the multi-angle spectral reflectance of the coating film at the place to be painted, performs blending estimation by color matching, and supports blending in the paint shop 3. For this reason, even if there is a change over time in the coating film around the portion to be coated, it can be applied in accordance with the current coating color.
[0092]
At that time, the blending station 1 executes machine difference correction of the measuring machine 13, correction between lots of paint and pigment, correction for change with time of the pigment, correction of the characteristics of the painter, and correction of the characteristics of the coating machine 14. For this reason, the paint color of a damaged part can be reproduced with high accuracy.
[0093]
Further, color matching data used in these color matchings, for example, basic data, performance data, lot management data, and the like are centrally managed by the central server 2 and are regularly distributed to the blending station 1. For this reason, even if different paint shops 3 and different painters perform painting work, it is possible to form a coating film with little fluctuation in quality uniformly throughout the country and provide a painting service.
[0094]
<Modifications using computer graphics images>
In the above embodiment, the composition estimation is performed based on the multi-angle spectral reflectance measured by the measuring device 13. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the spectral reflectance may be obtained from computer graphics image data. Such a procedure for obtaining the spectral reflectance from the computer graphics image data is described in detail in JP-A-10-222653. FIG. 5 shows a system in which the dyeing design terminal 30 for obtaining the spectral reflectance from such computer graphics image data is connected to the blending station 1 and the coating machine 14 of the blending station 1 through a network.
[0095]
The operator of the dyeing design terminal 30 applies a paint to the object to be painted and displays it on a screen (not shown). The customer confirms the paint color on the screen of the dyeing design terminal 30.
[0096]
From the dyeing design terminal 30 to the blending station 1, paint color characteristic values such as multi-angle spectral reflectance and BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) are transmitted. The blending station 1 converts these paint color characteristic values into optical densities and performs blending estimation. The estimated blending information is returned to the paint color design terminal 30.
[0097]
Further, this blending information may be transmitted to the painting station and provided as coating plate creation support information. The coating machine 14 at the coating station may synthesize the paint from the pigment according to the provided blending information and apply it.
[0098]
In this case, a telephone line, a CATV network, a wireless LAN, a LAN, or the like can be used as a network connecting the design terminal 30 and the blending station 1. The communication protocol at that time may be TCP / IP file transfer or electronic mail.
[0099]
<Modification by paint number>
In the said embodiment, the coating film of the coating object location periphery was made into the sample, the spectral reflectance was calculated | required with the multi-angle spectral colorimetry apparatus, and the mixture estimation was performed. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
[0100]
For example, for paints sold by paint manufacturers, a number that specifies the composition of the paint (hereinafter referred to as paint number, which corresponds to the identification number) is defined, and based on the paint number, the blending information at the time of original paint manufacture is obtained. be able to. Therefore, if the paint number of the paint is known, it can be said that it is not necessary to estimate the formulation by color matching.
[0101]
For example, in the case of a paint for automobiles, the paint number of the paint used is managed if the model and model year are known. Therefore, it is convenient if the paint can be specified by such a model, year, and painting site via the network.
[0102]
However, as described in the above embodiment, due to the error between lots, changes over time, the characteristics of the painter, and the characteristics of the coating machine, it is not possible to obtain a desired coating color simply by coating based on the paint number. There is also.
[0103]
In such a case, the blending with respect to the original standard pigment may be corrected by the above-described error vector between lots of the pigment and the error vector at the time of change.
[0104]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a coating color combination information providing system that estimates and corrects such combination information. The system of FIG. 6 is configured by connecting the blending station 1 of the paint shop 3, the central server 2, and the quality control server 6 through a network.
[0105]
The quality management server 6 manages blending information for all types of paints. The central server 2 manages the distribution of blending information to each blending station 1. The blending station 1 of the paint shop 3 requests the central server 2 to update the blending information periodically or batchwise.
[0106]
Then, the central server 2 further requests the quality management server 6 for the latest formulation information. On the other hand, the quality management server 6 returns the latest formulation information. The central server 2 returns the latest blending information obtained in this way to the blending station 1.
[0107]
The blending station 1 has a lot number of a stored pigment, an error vector between lots, an error vector over time, and a coating characteristic error vector. The blending station 1 may correct the blending information transmitted from the central server 2 based on these error vectors and output blending information that supports the creation of the coated plate.
[0108]
Furthermore, when the lot number of the original paint to be painted is known, the lot number may be used as a key to search the error vector between lots and correct the blending information. For this purpose, for example, in an automobile, the paint number and lot number of the paint used for painting may be recorded together with the manufacturer, model and year.
[0109]
Further, for example, the quality management server 6 may hold the paint composition information in which the error between lots is corrected for each lot. In that case, the blending station 1 only has to correct the pigment stored in the blending information given from the quality control server 6 via the central server 2.
[0110]
FIG. 7 is an example of a paint color blending information providing system including the blending terminal 32 and the blending information server 33 of the paint shop 3. In this system, the blending terminal 32 inquires of the blending information server 33 by specifying the paint number, the type of paint color, the lot number, the lot number of the currently stored pigment, and the like.
[0111]
Then, the blending information server 33 replies to the blending terminal 32 with corresponding blending information, paint creation caution information, and the like. Further, at this time, the blending information server 33 may generate a lot-to-lot correction vector from the designated lot number and return the blending information subjected to the lot-to-lot correction. Further, the blending information server 33 may perform correction using a time-dependent change error vector and a paint characteristic error vector, as in the above embodiment.
[0112]
Further, the blending information server 33 may manage the lot number of the pigment being stored in each paint shop 3 instead of the lottery terminal 32 specifying the lot number.
[0113]
When inquiring formulation information from the formulation terminal 32 to the formulation information server 33, instead of designating the paint number or the like as described above, the product to be painted, its part, the type of color, etc. may be designated. For example, you may make an inquiry such as “Automobile manufacturer A company, vehicle type B, XX year model vehicle, white vehicle type door portion”. In response to such designation, the blending information server 33 may search and return blending information based on information such as manufacturer, vehicle type, year, color, and part.
[0114]
<Deformation of measuring machine 13>
In the above embodiment, a so-called multi-angle spectrocolorimetric device is used as the measuring device 13. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a so-called variable angle spectrocolorimeter may be used as the measuring instrument 13.
[0115]
The variable angle spectrocolorimeter projects illumination light on a sample and measures the reflectance of the sample surface from the reflected light. The illumination light is white and includes a number of visible wavelengths. The variable angle spectrocolorimeter rotates the sample, and measures the reflectance of the sample surface at a plurality of incident angles (and the target light receiving angles with respect to the normal of the sample surface).
[0116]
That is, the variable angle spectrocolorimeter measures the spectral reflectance of the sample surface at a plurality of light receiving angles at a plurality of wavelengths. The method for measuring the angle change spectral reflectance of the sample (coating film) using the angle change spectrocolorimeter is described in detail, for example, in JP-A-10-227696.
[0117]
<Other variations>
In the above embodiment, the calibration with respect to the measuring machine 13 was performed at the blending station 1. However, such calibration may be performed in the blending station 1. A CPU (not shown) of the blending station 1 may execute a calibration program for performing a calibration process using the machine difference calibration curve 100 shown in FIG.
[0118]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the composition estimation result or the composition information search result is corrected based on an error between lots, a change with time, a painter characteristic, and a paint machine characteristic. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a procedure. For example, in consideration of required accuracy and cost, a system may be constructed in which only the combination information search is executed and the correction is not executed. Further, a system may be constructed in which only the estimation of the blending information is executed and the correction is not executed. With such a system, it is possible to centrally manage paint composition information through a network and provide it to paint shops and the like. 0 In the above embodiment, an example of blending estimation in the case of blending a paint from a pigment has been shown. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a procedure. For example, the present invention can be implemented even when the paint is blended from a primary color paint in which the pigment is dissolved in a solvent instead of the pigment. However, when the composition is estimated from the primary color paint, the ratio of the pigment contained in the solvent, that is, the pigment concentration is restricted, so that the color gamut that can be developed is limited.
[0119]
In the above embodiment, the central server 2 generates correction data such as various error vectors and distributes it to the blending station 1. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration and procedure. For example, the paint lot information including the spectral reflectance of the paint for each lot or the optical density may be distributed to the blending station 1, and correction data between lots may be generated in the blending station 1. Further, the correction information may be generated from the user characteristic information in the blending station 1.
[0120]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reproduce a paint color desired by a customer and provide a uniform paint service regardless of the characteristics of the paint shop / painter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a coating color combination information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Figure 2] Data structure of user characteristic information
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a machine difference calibration procedure of the measuring machine 13
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the blending estimation process of the blending station 1
FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of a paint color combination information providing system according to a modification (1).
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a paint color combination information providing system according to a modification (2).
FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of a paint color combination information providing system according to a modification (3).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Compounding station
2 Central server
3 Paint shop
4 Customer Support Center
5 Paint delivery center
6 Quality management server
11 User characteristic information recording part
12 Compounding information tank
13 Measuring machine
14 Coating machine
15 Storage paint
20 Basic database
21 Achievement database
22 Lot management database

Claims (2)

It is a terminal device linked to a spectrocolorimetric device and a coating machine,
A color consisting of a combination of paint color information describing the paint color of the product paint produced by blending the raw paint in the form of optical density that allows linear calculation of the blend ratio and blend information including the blend ratio at that time A communication unit that receives matching data from a server device via a network;
The color matching data is recorded, and at least the information related to the painter who performs painting with the product paint and the painting characteristics of the painting apparatus, the information related to the storage state of the original paint, and the information related to the temporal change of the original paint A recording unit that records at least one of such user characteristic information including one, and information relating to a difference in spectrocolorimetry device that measures the coating color of the coating target and outputs the coating color information;
An input unit for inputting paint color information indicating reflectance obtained by measuring a sample coated with a user-desired product paint with a spectrocolorimeter;
A control unit,
The control unit converts a paint color information of a user-desired product paint input from the input unit into an optical density, and includes a combination ratio including a plurality of original paints for obtaining the converted optical density While searching for information from the color matching data recorded in the recording unit,
Receives information related to paint color variation between production lots during production of the raw paint from the server device on the network through the communication unit,
The information on the paint color variation between the production lots is the lot sample specified by the spectral reflectance and lot number of the original paint defined as the standard reflectance for each wavelength (λ1, λ2, ... λn) . Described as the first error vector (ΔE1, ΔE2,... ΔEn) in the optical density space with the spectral reflectance of the original paint,
Information on the painting characteristics of the painter who performs painting with the product paint and the painting machine is the spectral reflection in the optical density space between the predetermined standard sample and the painting sample painted by each painter on the painting machine. Described as a second error vector of rate,
Information relating to the storage state of the original paint and information relating to the aging of the original paint are created by regularly measuring a predetermined standard sample and the original paint of each storage destination relating to the coating machine. Is described as a third error vector of spectral reflectance in the optical density space with the sample,
Information related to the machine difference of the spectral colorimetry device that measures the coating color of the coating object is based on the correspondence between the spectral reflectance by the spectral colorimetry device prescribed as a standard machine and the spectral reflectance by the spectral colorimetry device, respectively. It is described as information on the machine difference calibration curve that calibrates the measurement results of
The control unit corrects an error obtained by an error vector of each wavelength of the searched combination information using at least one of the first to third error vectors , and a measurement result by the spectral colorimetry device a terminal apparatus for performing any one or more of the calibration of the searched blending information due to information thus calibration of the said calibration curve recorded spectral reflectance of a standard machine for the spectral colorimetric apparatus. In cooperation with spectrocolorimetry equipment and coating machines,
A color consisting of a combination of paint color information describing the paint color of the product paint produced by blending the raw paint in the form of optical density that allows linear calculation of the blend ratio and blend information including the blend ratio at that time A communication unit that receives matching data from a server device via a network;
The color matching data is recorded, and at least the information related to the painter who performs painting with the product paint and the painting characteristics of the painting apparatus, the information related to the storage state of the original paint, and the information related to the temporal change of the original paint A recording unit that records at least one of such user characteristic information including one, and information relating to a difference in spectrocolorimetry device that measures the coating color of the coating target and outputs the coating color information;
An input unit for inputting paint color information indicating reflectance obtained by measuring a sample coated with a user-desired product paint with a spectrocolorimeter;
A computer comprising a control unit is a blending calculation method to be executed,
The control unit converts a paint color information of a user-desired product paint input from the input unit into an optical density, and includes a combination ratio including a plurality of original paints for obtaining the converted optical density While searching for information from the color matching data recorded in the recording unit,
Receives information related to paint color variation between production lots during production of the raw paint from the server device on the network through the communication unit,
The information on the paint color variation between the production lots is the lot sample specified by the spectral reflectance and lot number of the original paint defined as the standard reflectance for each wavelength (λ1, λ2, ... λn) . Described as the first error vector (ΔE1, ΔE2,... ΔEn) in the optical density space with the spectral reflectance of the original paint,
Information on the painting characteristics of the painter who performs painting with the product paint and the painting machine is the spectral reflection in the optical density space between the predetermined standard sample and the painting sample painted by each painter on the painting machine. Described as a second error vector of rate,
Information relating to the storage state of the original paint and information relating to the aging of the original paint are created by regularly measuring a predetermined standard sample and the original paint of each storage destination relating to the coating machine. Is described as a third error vector of spectral reflectance in the optical density space with the sample,
Information related to the machine difference of the spectral colorimetry device that measures the coating color of the coating object is based on the correspondence between the spectral reflectance by the spectral colorimetry device prescribed as a standard machine and the spectral reflectance by the spectral colorimetry device, respectively. It is described as information on the machine difference calibration curve that calibrates the measurement results of
The control unit corrects an error obtained by an error vector of each wavelength of the searched combination information using at least one of the first to third error vectors , and a measurement result by the spectral colorimetry device and the searched formulated calculation method of performing any one or more of the calibration of the blending information due to information thus calibration of the said calibration curve recorded spectral reflectance of a standard machine for the spectral colorimetric apparatus.

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