JPS6119675A - Method for mixing colors by using computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out rapidly the mixing of colors with high accuracy, by making blending and correction on the basis of values actually weighed by an automatic metering device in a color mixing method (CCM) in which the color matching of paint is done by using a computer. CONSTITUTION:(i) A combination of the quantities of colors to be blended is calculated by measuring the reflectance of a color sample and an instruction for the quantity of each primary color to be blended is given to an automatic metering device (steps 61-67). (ii) The weighing of the primary colors is carried out by the automatic metering device, the blended quantities (actually weighed values) are recorded and a mixed color is prepared and compared with the color sample (steps 68-71). (iii) When the mixed color does not agree with the sample, the reflectance of the mixed color is measured and compared with that of the sample, quantities to which the preceding blended quanties are to be corrected are calculated and an instruction therefor is given to the automatic metering device (steps 72-77) and the operation is returned to the step 68. (iv) The steps 68-77 are repeated and when the mixed color agrees with the sample at the step 71, the color mixing is terminated (step 78).

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of Application The present invention is a CCM (Computer Coor Match) that performs color matching of paint using a computer.
ing) Regarding toning methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to match paint to a given color sample, it is necessary to determine the type and amount of primary colors required.

This largely relied on the years of experience and intuition of color mixing engineers, and was a major obstacle to improving productivity. The color toning method performed by visual inspection by a color toning engineer inevitably involves repeated trial and error many times, and the phenomenon of optical metamerism is added to this, making it difficult to obtain a desired toned color product.

That's why we came up with the CCM system.

A colorimeter (generally a spectrophotometer) that usually measures color.

It consists of three components: a computer that calculates color combinations based on the colorimetry results of color samples, and a terminal device that inputs the product name necessary for calculation by the computer or outputs the calculated color combinations. The reflectance of the coated plate was measured using a spectrophotometer, and the absorption coefficient (K
) and the scattering coefficient (S).

In calculating the amount of primary colors mixed, there are two methods: one uses a computer to find the amount to match the reflectance of one color sample, and the other method uses a computer to find the amount to match the tristimulus values X, Y, and Z of one color sample. There is.

U.S. Patent No. 33499 issued October 31, 1967
No. 62 discloses an automatic dispensing device for paint colorants that utilizes multiple metering pumps and a card reading mechanism. JP-A-52-137378 released on November 16, 1978
No. 4,046,287 (corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,287) discloses an automatic fluid metering and dispensing device that utilizes a plurality of metering pumps and a digital computer. A device similar to this is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-100852, ``Paint color adjustment method''.
JP-A-56-136400 ``Method for adjusting compounded ink in harmony with color sample'', JP-A-58-204066 ``Paint preparation method and apparatus'', US Pat. No. 4,314,653 issued February 9, 1982 Type Automatic Weighing Device” etc.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the automatic weighing machines in these conventional devices pump out the amount indicated by a computer or the like in a volumetric manner using a pump.

Therefore, the actual weight sampling results for the specified amount are not checked, so if, for example, the primary color contains bubbles, the specified result will not be obtained. Also, since it is not possible to record and store the weight sampling results, the sum of the original color combination and the corrected color combination (
It was not possible to establish a systematic color mixing system in which the actual color combinations were recorded and stored in preparation for the next time.

Conventional calculators only instruct the automatic weighing machine to give measured values, and do not have the function of feeding back the measured values to perform corrective calculations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a computerized color mixing method that allows checking the actual weight taken by an automatic weighing machine and correcting the formulation based on the result.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a systematic computer color mixing method in which the actual color combinations when a correctly colored product is obtained are recorded and stored as a combination history, and checked and detected during the next color mixing. be.

Means for solving the problems and their effects
This can be achieved by carrying out the method described below using a device such as that described in No. 87 "Measuring Method and Apparatus for Liquid Coloring Material" (see attached drawing, FIG. 1).

That is, in its first aspect, the computerized color mixing method according to the present invention is a computerized color mixing method for producing a color-adjusted product in which the blending amount of each primary color matches the color sample of an unknown paint, comprising: a) Measure the reflectance of the color sample, (b) Input the reflectance data of the color sample into a computer, and (
c) Calculates the blending amount of each primary color necessary to reproduce the color sample using a pre-programmed calculator for the input color sample; (d) Calculates the blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer using an automatic weighing machine. (e) Perform the primary color weighing operation using the automatic weighing machine.

(f) The automatic weighing machine records the weighing results, (g) compares the toned product and the color sample, and (h) if the color sample and the toned product do not match according to the above steps, the reflection of the toned product. (l) Enter the reflectance data of the toned product into a calculator, and (
j) Compare each reflectance data of the color sample and the mixed color product, and then program the corrected blending amount of each primary color in advance from the comparison with the already measured value of the mixed color product input into the automatic weighing machine in (f) above. Calculated using a computer.

(k) The corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine, and (l) The steps from (e) to (k) 1 are repeated until the color sample matches the mixed color product. It is characterized by continuing until (g).

In its second aspect, the computerized color mixing method according to the present invention is a computerized color mixing method for producing a color-adjusted product in which the blending amount of each primary color matches a known paint color sample.

(a) The amount of each primary color is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine, (b) the automatic weighing machine performs the primary color measurement operation, and (c) the automatic weighing machine records the weighing results.

(d) Compare the toned product and the color sample; (e) If the color sample and the toned product do not match according to the above procedure, measure the reflectance of the toned product.

(f) Input the reflectance data of the toned product into the computer, and (
g1 Compare the reflectance data of each color sample and the toned product, and then compare it with the already measured value of the toned product input into the automatic weighing machine in (C) above to program the corrected blending amount of each primary color in advance. (h) Transmit the corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer to an automatic weighing machine; (l) Repeat the steps (b) to (h) above to create color samples and mixed color products. It is characterized by continuing until step (d) where the

In a third aspect, the computer color mixing method according to the present invention is a computer color mixing method for producing a color match product that matches a paint color sample, comprising: (a) each of the color match products produced; Record and store primary color blending data using an automatic weighing machine.

(b) Input the stored data into a computer to create formulation history record data.

(C) Measure the reflectance of the color sample.

(d) Input the reflectance data of the color sample into a computer.

(e) Compare the blending history record data to detect the blending amount data of each primary color that is the same as or similar to the color sample, and use the data to determine the blending amount of each primary color, either as is or by processing the color blending. Calculate the compounding amount using a pre-programmed calculator.

(f) The amount of each primary color calculated by the computer is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine, (g) The automatic weighing machine performs the primary color measurement operation, (h) The automatic weighing machine records the weighing results, and (l) Compare the toned product and the color sample, and (j) If the color sample and the toned product do not match according to the above steps, measure the reflectance of the toned product.

(k) Input the reflectance data of the toned product into the computer, and (
'I) A calculator that is programmed in advance to calculate the corrected blending amount of each primary color by comparing the measured value of the mixed color product entered into the automatic weighing machine in (h) above with the color sample and each reflectance data of the mixed color product. (-Transmit the corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer to the automatic weighing machine (n) Repeat the steps from (g) to (m) above until the color sample and mixed color match. It is characterized by continuing at stage (l)i!

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, correction blending operations can be performed accurately and quickly by interlocking with a conventional CCM system dynamic weighing machine and mutually transmitting and receiving data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned actual color combinations are recorded and stored as a combination history, and as a result, a planned color mixing system based on data accumulation is realized.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an automatic measuring device for liquid coloring material described in the above-mentioned earlier application of the present inventors, and is shown as an example of a device for carrying out the computerized color toning method according to the present invention. In the figure, various liquid colorants (primary colors) to be collected and measured.
A large number of primary color containers 12 containing 10 are placed on a turntable 16 driven by a motor 14.

The predetermined primary color container instructed to be weighed is rotated to a predetermined position and placed on the container receiver 18. Next, motor 20
The threaded rod 2 is driven by the screw device 22 driven by the threaded rod 2
4 rises and rotates the container receiver 18. As a result, the primary color container 12 reaches the overturning position 26 shown in the figure.

A cam 30 driven by a pulse motor 28 is connected to a lever 3.
2, the valve member 34 opens and closes the valve. When the valve is opened, the liquid coloring material 10 in the primary color container falls into the collection container 36 disposed below. The collection container 36 is placed on an electronic balance 38, and the weight of the falling liquid coloring material is checked. After repeating the dropping operation of different types of liquid coloring materials, a desired mixed coloring material is created in the collecting container 36. Here, a turntable 42 driven by a motor 40 rotates to send the collected container 36 to the next process and guide the empty collection container to the collection position.

The automatic weighing device shown in Figure 1 has a drive motor of 14°20.28
．． 40 are connected to the computer 50 via drive circuits 45, 46, 47, and 48, respectively, and the electronic balance 38 is connected to the computer 50 via the measuring circuit 49, thereby performing various computer controls according to programs. can be made to increase.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned computer control, and from the perspective of an apparatus, it includes a measuring device 52 and a measuring circuit 53 for measuring the reflectance of a paint color sample 51 and a toned product 54.
, a central computer 55 for controlling the entire system, and a terminal device for handling it.

In the example of FIG. 1, a computer 50 that controls an automatic weighing machine
Although the main computer 55 and the central computer 55 that control the entire system are shown separately, it is also possible to replace the two □ computers with one large computer.

The computerized color toning method according to the first aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, operate the terminal device and call the color combination calculation program 1
Product name (e.g. Y71) and batch size (e.g. 500
′? ). Next, a color sample (for example, Munsell 3.
9Y 8.0/6.9) reflectance is measured using a spectrophotometer. However, the values of absorption coefficient (■) and scattering coefficient (S) of each primary color are stored in a computer. If you instruct the computer to calculate the color mixture based on these values, the calculator will calculate the combination of primary color mixture amounts, and the calculation result will be 1.
Outputs a combination group consisting of one or more combinations to the terminal.

This is because there are cases where multiple combinations are possible for one color sample, and the operator selects only one combination by taking into consideration the performance of the toned product or the stock amount and cost of the primary color, and Specify the composition. This color combination is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine as a weighing instruction value. For example, the contents are as follows.

A8 color combination measuring finger 4 reading product name Primary color identification number (pigment name in primary color)
f number Y71 2 Carbon black 1.205 Yellow iron oxide
66.556 Yellow lead
78.451 Titanium oxide
35'3.80 total 500.00 What is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine is the product name, primary color identification number, and ? It is a number. The automatic weighing machine performs the primary color weighing operation according to the above-mentioned weighing instruction value (see FIG. 1).

When the weighing is completed, the weighing instructions and actual weighing results are recorded and stored in the automatic weighing machine. Its contents are as follows.

B. Weighing result recorded value Product name Primary color identification number Number of grams Y71 2 1.205
6.6.54 6 78.47 1 353.83 Total 500.04
Next, the measured primary colors are mixed and a painted board is created for the toned product. Next, it is verified visually or with a meter whether the color of the toned product matches the color of the painted plate in the color sample. If they match, the operation ends, but generally they do not match the first time, so we move on to the color correction process.

Operate the terminal device again to call up the color correction calculation program and input the product name and batch size. The recorded values of the weighing results in the above-mentioned process are transmitted from the storage device to the computer. Next, the reflectance of the toned product is measured using a spectrophotometer. The K and S values for each primary color are stored in the computer. The calculator compares the measured value of the toned product and the reflectance of the toned product and the color sample, calculates the color correction blending amount, and outputs it to the terminal. The operator checks whether there are any problems with the formulation and inputs correction instructions into the automatic weighing machine. Its contents are as follows.

C1 color correction combination instruction value Product name Primary color identification number Gu number Y71 2, 0.375
1.17 1 6.63 Total 8.17
The automatic weighing machine performs the primary color weighing operation according to the correction instruction value, and when the measurement is completed, the measurement instruction value, the cumulative weight of the weighing result, and the number of corrections are input into the computer and stored in the storage device. Its contents are as follows.

D. Cumulative test results and number of revisions Y71 2 j 1.58 0
．． 385l 67.7Q 1.1
66 0 78.47 0.0 total
508.23 8.19 After mixing the measured primary colors again, create a coating plate for the toned product and verify whether the coating plate color of the toned product and the color sample match. If the colors do not match, repeat the color correction process described above until the colors match.

In the computerized color mixing method according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the blending amount of each primary color is known for the paint color sample,
The steps of measuring the reflectance of a color sample, inputting data, and calculating the blending amount of primary colors in the method of the first aspect described above are omitted.

According to the above-described method of the present invention, the weighing results from the automatic weighing machine are automatically input into the computer, so the input work is reduced compared to the conventional method, and the color matching work is made more efficient while at the same time, it is easy to avoid human mistakes. Input errors are reduced. In addition, since not only the measurement instruction value but also the actual measurement result is recorded and fed back to the computer, it is expected that the accuracy of color correction will be improved and the number of corrections will be reduced.

Next, a computerized color toning method according to a third aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Second
As can be seen from a comparison with the flowchart in FIG. 3, the flowchart in FIG. The steps other than 88.89101 correspond to each process in FIG.

In order to implement this method, a recipe history record must be created in advance. The blending history record is a list of the data of the sum of the color blending and color correction blending (actual blending) at the time when the colors match when the colors are actually mixed against the color sample, and is available on paper or Recorded and stored on computer storage media such as magnetic tape. The actual combination is the data of the result of color correction and actual color matching, so conventional CCM
This is more accurate than a color combination calculated by a computer based on the K and S values.

Assuming that the blending history list is prepared, first operate the terminal device to call up the color blending calculation program and enter the product name and batch size. Next, the reflectance of the color sample is measured using a spectrophotometer. The K and S values of each primary color are input into the computer in advance. The computer reads the reflectance data of the color sample among the data recorded on the storage medium and determines whether there is any data that is the same as or similar to the current color sample. If it is determined that the current color sample is the first color, step 86
．． After step 87, the color toning method from step 90 is performed, but since this is the same as from step 65 of the color toning method according to the first aspect described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

If it is determined that the current color sample is not good enough for the first time, the process proceeds to step 88, and the data of the actual combination regarding the same or similar color sample in the combination history book is output as is or after being processed. The operator decides on a combination of blending amounts, taking into account the stock amount and cost of the primary colors, and specifies the color blend on the terminal. This color combination is transmitted to the automatic weighing machine as a weighing instruction value, and the following steps 9 in Fig. 3 correspond to steps 68 and below in Fig. 2.
Perform the color matching operation by repeating steps 1 and below until the colors match. When the colors match, the actual combination data is recorded in the combination history book along with the color sample data, and the operation ends.

For example, if the paint used is an acrylic baking primary color (for example, Superlac E-70, manufactured by Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.) and the color sample is Munsell 2.3 Y 7.3 / 2.7, the product name is Y72. If batch size 2 '001i' is input from the terminal, 1, for example, the following formulation history data based on the actual formulations will be obtained. In this way, according to the method of the present invention, not only the reflectance of a color sample but also the name of one color, Munsell value,
It is also possible to search the formulation history data by inputting x, y, and z.

E. Color combination product name Y72 calculated from the combination history record The above data is expressed as a percentage of the cumulative number of eggs for each primary color for 5 lots. So, find the average value of these 5 times, and since the batch size is 2001, multiply it by 2 to determine the blending ratio. Find the number.

The result is as follows.

From the results actually carried out by the present inventors, it has been found that the formulation history list can be used extremely effectively. Examples thereof are described below.

Color sample is Munsell 3.3 P B 4.0/5.2
So, I decided to match the colors using acrylic printing primary colors. The compounding amount calculated by the calculator based on the reflectance of the color sample is as follows (a
) became like this. The blending amount calculated based on the actual blends in the blending history book was as shown in (b) below. When the colors were actually matched, the actual combination was as shown in (c).

fa) (b) (c) Bengara
0.34 0.60 0.6
7 yellow iron oxide 3.57 3,1
2 2.9I Watching Lead 1.2
8 '2,29 2.28 Indus Thread Blue 55.19 52.09 52.
411oo, 6o 100.00 100.00
From this result, it was found that color combinations based on actual combinations are more reliable and accurate in producing a predetermined color than color combinations calculated by a computer.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made thereto. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is only one example for carrying out the method of the invention. In the above explanation, the reflectance of the color sample was measured, but the tristimulus values x, y of the color sample.

It is also possible to measure Z at the same time as additional data. It should be understood that combinations of computer components, operating procedures, etc. can be freely selected as necessary, and these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, 1. According to the method of the present invention, the color matching procedure can be carried out accurately and quickly, and the excess amount, which is equivalent to improving the accuracy of the blending amount, is reduced, and the excess amount is reduced. You can reduce expenses. In addition, a systematic color mixing system has been established based on the accumulation of blending results, and its effects are extremely remarkable, such as further improvements in productivity.
′

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an example of an apparatus for carrying out the entire method of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a process diagram showing the method of the first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the third embodiment of the invention. It is a process chart showing a method. 10... Liquid coloring material 12... Primary color container 14.20
, 28. ．． 40・Φ・Motor 34...Valve 3
8...Electronic balance 45.46, 47.48@...Drive circuit 49.53...Measuring circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A computer color mixing method for manufacturing a color matching product in which the blending amount of each primary color matches a color sample of an unknown paint, comprising: (a) measuring the reflectance of the color sample; , (b) Input the reflectance data of the color sample into the computer, and (
c) Calculates the blending amount of each primary color necessary to reproduce the color sample using a pre-programmed calculator for the input color sample; (d) Calculates the blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer using an automatic weighing machine. (e) perform the primary color measurement operation with an automatic weighing machine, (f) the automatic weighing machine records the weighing results, (g) compare the toned product with the color sample, and (h) follow the above steps. Therefore, if the color sample and the toned product do not match, measure the reflectance of the toned product, (i) input the reflectance data of the toned product into a calculator, and (
j) Compare each reflectance data of the color sample and the mixed color product, and then program the corrected blending amount of each primary color in advance from the comparison with the already measured value of the mixed color product input into the automatic weighing machine in (f) above. (k) Transmit the corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer to the automatic weighing machine; (l) Repeat the steps (e) to (k) above to use the color sample and toning. A computerized color toning method characterized by continuing until step (g) when the color matches the color of the product. 2. A computerized color mixing method for producing a color-matched product in which the blending amount of each primary color matches a known paint color sample, which comprises: (a) transmitting the blending amount of each primary color to an automatic measuring machine; b) Perform the primary color measurement operation using the automatic weighing machine, (c) The automatic weighing machine records the measurement results, (d) Compare the toned product and the color sample, and (e) Compare the color sample and the color sample using the above steps. If the toned product does not match, measure the reflectance of the toned product, (f) Input the reflectance data of the toned product into the calculator, (
g) Compare the reflectance data of the color sample and the toned product, and then pre-program the corrected blending amount of each primary color from the comparison with the already measured value of the toned product input into the automatic weighing machine in (c) above. (h) Transmit the corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer to the automatic weighing machine; (i) Repeat the steps (b) to (h) above to use the color sample and toning. A computerized color toning method characterized in that the method continues until step (d) when the color matches the color of the product. 3. A computerized color mixing method for manufacturing a color-matched product that matches the paint color sample, which includes: (a) recording and storing data on the amount of each primary color of the manufactured color-matching product using an automatic measuring machine; b) inputting the stored data into a computer to create formulation history record data; (c) measuring the reflectance of the color sample; (d) inputting the reflectance data of the color sample into the computer; (
e) collating the blending history record data to detect the blending amount data of each primary color that is the same as or similar to the color sample, and determining the blending amount of each primary color from the data as it is or by processing the color blend;
(f) transmit the blending amount of each primary color calculated by the calculator to an automatic weighing machine; (g) perform a primary color measurement operation on the automatic weighing machine; (h) ) The automatic weighing machine records the weighing results, (i) compares the toned product and the color sample, and (j) compares the toned product and the color sample, and (j) if the color sample and the toned product do not match according to the above steps, the reflection of the toned product. (k) input the reflectance data of the toned product into a calculator, and (
l) Compare the measured value of the mixed color product entered into the automatic weighing machine in (h) above with the color sample and each reflectance data of the mixed color product, and calculate the corrected blending amount of each primary color using a pre-programmed calculator. (m) Transmit the corrected blending amount of each primary color calculated by the computer to the automatic weighing machine; (n) Repeat the steps (g) to (m) above until the color sample matches the mixed color product. A computerized color toning method, which continues until step (i).