WO2008045418A1

WO2008045418A1 - Electronic consumer color selection and display with automated ordering and paint mixing system

Info

Publication number: WO2008045418A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/021547
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael C. Spangler
Original assignee: Evonik Degussa Corporation
Priority date: 2006-10-06
Filing date: 2007-10-04
Publication date: 2008-04-17

Abstract

A computer-based color selection and display system and method allow a user to choose from numerous color selections and color schemes to be printed on a substrate by a paint-jet system using colors that accurately depict the colors of the finished, dry paint. The computer-based color selection and display system and method operate a predetermined computer program allowing the user to perform a step-by-step process for selecting an architectural surface coating, or paint, color from a predetermined color system, and providing the user with various options to create a color scheme based on the individual selected color. The scheme colors or individual color or an image colored in a chosen color scheme can then be printed, with the selected paint colors reproduced with great accuracy using a paint-jet printer system that is supplied with up to sixteen different colored liquid inks, each of which are formulated with the same type pigments as the corresponding paint pigment dispersions used to custom tint the finished architectural surface coating.

Description

ELECTRONIC CONSUMER COLOR SELECTION AND DISPLAY WITH AUTOMATED ORDERING AND PAINT MIXING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a consumer-oriented system for the electronic selection and identification of architectural surface coatings and paints, their associated formulations, the printing of accurate representations of paint colors on a substrate, and to methods for the electronic ordering, payment and custom-mixing of one or more containers of paint of a color or colors selected from a palette of available colors.

Background of the Invention

It has become acceptable and even desirable in various retail and commercial sales facilities involving the sales of end products of various colors to provide color visualizers to permit the perspective purchaser to undertake color sampling independently of a sales representative. The important goal of achieving customer satisfaction with the color of the end product based upon a selection made utilizing an electronic means such as a computer monitor or larger scale touch screen display is the accuracy of the color portrayal.

In order to attract and assist prospective purchases of custom-mixed architectural coatings and other paints, interactive computer-based programs have been developed. These electronic systems are offered in place of, or to supplement the long-established practice of providing a rack containing an organized display of relatively small color cards, each of which typically contains two or more color chips. Prospective customers can take the color cards home to assist in their final selection of the custom-mixed color(s). It is the current practice to manufacture these color cards and chips by applying a paint mixture directly to the paper substrate. The manufacture, original stocking and subsequent restocking of display racks and providing other types of printed merchandising aids such as color albums, brochures and the like, is an expense that is associated with the retail sale of paint.

As noted above, it has been, and remains the custom in the trade to display sample paint color cards, sometimes referred to as color chips, at the point of sale, and to make these color cards available to the prospective customer. The traditional color cards typically take the form of strips of paper on which are coated stripes of color. These color cards have heretofore been prepared using a mixture formulated as paint which is then deposited onto a large substrate in the form of a moving web. The substrates are dried and then cut into the desired size of color card, which are eventually selected by the user with no direct application to an architectural image or model.

Color cards are also produced to correspond to the types of paint available in the system. As used herein, references to types of paint means flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, gloss and other similar terms corresponding to the surface reflectivity of the finished dried paint. Traditionally, the art has accepted color cards that are, at most, a few inches wide, with paint stripes or "chips" that are much smaller. The advantages of offering larger color sample displays is apparent from a practical and marketing standpoint.

Advanced electronic systems allow a prospective purchaser to browse through an electronic color chart or other display containing colors representative of those that can be custom-mixed using a predetermined number of pigment dispersions or colorants, that are available at the retail point of sale. These systems employ a typical workstation that includes a color monitor, a keyboard and/or mouse, and a programmable central processing unit (CPU) in which the custom-designed interactive program has been downloaded. The workstation can take the form of a kiosk in which a large flat panel or flat screen display device has been installed. Such advanced systems include both audio and visual instructions, prompts, inquiries, and informational messages to assist a user of average intelligence in working through the color selection process.

It is also known to provide typical interior room layouts and building exteriors for display and on which various color schemes can be laid out to assist the customer in visualizing the colors of interest. Systems have been commercialized in which the customer scans or electronically downloads a photograph or other image of an interior room or exterior facade that is to be painted. Systems have been developed for commercial use that will differentiate between such features as window and door openings, shutters, trim elements, walls, ceilings and floors, and even furnishings. The user of the system is then able to selectively apply a chosen color to each element to develop a color scheme. Systems have also been developed in which the user selects an initial color for application to a particular architectural feature or element and then instructs the system to provide a color scheme based upon predetermined criteria that are selected by the program, with or without further input by the user.

The features and operations of these various identification and selection systems are based upon programs and routines that are within the range of technical knowledge of those with ordinary skill in the art.

In order to provide more than a transitory image on a monitor or other electronic display, printed displays have been developed in various formats to permit the user to retain a more or less permanent representation of the color or color scheme selected. The form of the printed display can be as simple as one or more fields of color on a paper substrate, each with an associated name and/or other identifying code that will permit the retailer to mix the required amount of paint for sale to the customer. Other display formats include the printed version of the interior room or exterior facade with the multi-color scheme finally selected by the user. The printers used in producing these color cards, or printed merchandising aides, are standard four-color inkjet printers. These will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of color reproduction in the field of architectural coatings to represent an approximation of the full range of colors obtainable by custom-mixing paints using ten or more standard colorants. The accurate representation or replication of colors on a printable substrate that are intended to correspond to those of an architectural surface coating when applied to a wall or other architectural element is, at best, problematical. This is particularly true when a color system having in excess of 2,500 separate tints and shades is being offered by the paint retailer.

Thus, a system using a four-color printer to produce color cards to support the sales of custom-tinted paints is necessarily limited. Customer satisfaction, and therefore prospective brand loyalty, depends to a great extent upon the customer's determination that the color field portrayed on the color card is an accurate representation of the color of the finished architectural coating when applied to a wall or other element.

Therefore, the ability to customize and preview a selection of paint colors to be applied to the walls, trim and other features of a house, interior room or other architectural structure has been limited, resulting in unsatisfactory choices and increased expense to apply a color scheme with which the user is ultimately not pleased.

In the United States, colorant systems for tinting architectural coatings have been developed that are based on twelve (12) pigment dispersions. Automated mechanical systems are provided with twelve (12) canisters in which the twelve (12) pigment dispersions are stored for automated dispensing into, for example, quart and gallon containers of paint base. In Europe and other regions of the world, custom-tinting systems have been developed that are based upon up to sixteen (16) colors. Again, appropriate automated dispensing apparatus provide canisters and computer-control led precision pumps and valves to accurately dispense one or a number of predetermined colorants into the container of paint base in order to produce the color selected by the customer.

Some improvement in reproducibility and the delineation of subtle differences between shades and tints of varying colors in a large palette can be expected by increasing the number of jets used for printing. Six-color and eight-color inkjet printers have been developed for various commercial applications, principally the production of large volume products, such as outdoor billboards and other display items printed on flexible fabric-like substrates. However, in all of these various systems of the prior art, the colors to be reproduced are applied to the substrate in the form of inks. With the exception of black and yellow inks, the materials used to produced colored inks are different from, and unrelated to those used to produce pigment dispersions or colorants that are used to custom-tint paint bases.

A need exists to customize and preview color selections of paint colors against an architectural image prior to application to the structure and to more accurately reproduce the entire range of available colors on printed merchandising aids and displays for the prospective purchasers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved printing system, apparatus and colored inks to provide accurate representations of finished architectural coatings and paints on flexible substrates of paper or the like.

The ability to accurately customize and reproduce color selections would greatty improve the value of on-demand printing of samples for use by prospective purchasers. A need also exists to provide retailers with further economies in conjunction with retail sales of custom-mixed paints to the do-it-yourself consumer and to painting contractors.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate and expedite the completion of the retail transaction for consumers once they have selected the desired color(s) and are ready to make the purchase of one or more containers of custom-mixed paint and, concomitantly, to minimize the retailer's sales staff in connection with each customer and sales transactions.

Summary of the Invention The above objects and other advantages are achieved by an electronic color selection , display and printing system for customizing the selection and previewing of paint colors, a novel set of colored ink formulations for use in inkjet printers, and for controlling the printing of accurate representations of decorative architectural coatings, or paint colors, on demand using a "paint-jet" system. In one aspect, the invention broadly comprehends providing specially formulated pigment dispersion for producing inks, which pigment dispersions are based on pigments used in existing custom tinting systems that are in commercial use.

The present invention also broadly comprehends a computer-based custom paint mixing and color selection system for personalizing selection of one or more paint colors by a user. The computer-based color selection and display system and method allow a user to make numerous colors selections and to assemble color schemes that are reproduced on a printing substrate by a "paint-jet" system. As used herein, the terms "paint-jet" system and "paint-jet" printer refer to the use of pigment dispersions, or colorants, to formulate inks that contain the same pigments as the commercial colorants that are commonly used to custom tint architectural coatings that are commonly referred to as interior and exterior house paint. These specially formulated inks, prepared in accordance with the invention, are used in a print head, nozzles and a corresponding control system that is analogous to inkjet printers. These paint-jet compositions replace and supplement the conventional ink formulations used in inkjet printers. The invention also comprehends the mixing of two, three or four colored ink compositions before the mixture contacts the printing substrate. In one application, a plurality of jets each deliver an individual ink droplet that coalesces with the other droplet(s) between the jet nozzle and the printing substrate. Alternatively, the two or more measured quantities are mixed in the delivery tube prior to being discharged from the nozzle. The inkjet apparatus can be arranged with a single reservoir for each colorant or a plurality of reservoirs for the same colorant, where in the latter the case the inks are drawn from the second reservoir for blending with one or more other colored inks to produce the desired color on the substrate.

As used herein, the terms architectural coatings, architectural finishes and paint are used interchangeably. These terms refer to compositions prepared by mixing a pigment dispersion, (or colorant dispersion, or simply colorant) in a paint base, which base can be clear or contain predetermined concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiCh) in order to produce a desired color.

As used herein the term "pigment" means an inorganic mineral compound or organic compound of a given color that is processed, e.g., as by grinding, and mixed with one or more liquid additives to produce a pigment dispersion, or colorant, of a specified color. In the context of the present invention, a set of paint pigment dispersions consisting of from as few as four (4) and up to sixteen (16) different colors that are used to produce a palette of over 2600 different architectural surface coating (paint) colors includes a corresponding set of inks prepared from specially formulated ink pigment dispersions, each of which employs the same type of pigment as the corresponding color of paint pigment dispersion. In the interests of clarity and to facilitate the description of the invention, the terms "ink pigment dispersion(s)" or "ink colorant(s)" will be used with reference to the novel inks for use in inkjet printers, and "paint pigment dispersion(s)" or "paint colorants" will be used with reference to the prior art products used in tinting architectural surface coatings, or wall paint, in accordance with a given formula, or recipe, to achieve a predetermined color for the applied paint.

As used herein, the term "color ink set" means a plurality of predetermined inks of different colors that are produced using the same pigments as a corresponding set of paint colorants. The set of pigment dispersions and resulting ink formulations for use in the paint-jet system can comprise as few as four specially formulated inks, and is preferably based on eight to ten inks, more preferably on twelve inks and most preferably on sixteen inks of different color, or color intensity.

The computer-based color selection and display system and method operate a predetermined interactive computer program allowing the user to perform a step-by-step process for selecting a paint color from a predetermined color system, and allowing the user various options to create a color scheme based around a selected color. The combination of colors making up the color scheme or individual color, or an image reproduced in a chosen color scheme is then printed using the specialized paint-jet colors through the paint-jet printer and its driver.

The paint-jet driver is updated in response to the program by which the corresponding colorant-based inks are dispensed onto the substrate that correspond to the one or more colors selected by the user at the POS kiosk/workstation, or from some other remote location. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, multiple workstations can be connected to a single paint-jet printer with appropriate identifying indicia corresponding to the identity of the user at each workstation. This would permit one paint-jet printer to produce printed color cards based on selections from a number of users at different workstations/kiosks, since much of the time spent by the user is in perfecting the final selection and the printing takes a comparatively short period of time. Printing jobs can be stored in an associated memory for sequential printing.

The kiosks can be placed in retail paint specialty stores, in the paint department and in other locations of a large department store or home center store. For example, the user may be interested in purchasing furniture, draperies, slip covers, bedding or the like, that is compatible with a particular color or color scheme, and will use one or more kiosks located in that department.

User kiosks can also be linked to a network, e.g., the Internet from locations remote from the printer and/or paint retailer. Do-it-yourself consumers, architects, contract painters and others, can make their color selections online and request custom printed merchandising aids for subsequent pickup or delivery. In another preferred embodiment, the user's final selection is stored in a memory device and associated with the user's name or other unique identifier. The selection information can be accessed by the retailer's personnel for the purpose of preparing the desired custom-tinted paints in response to a telephone or e-mail message from the user confirming satisfaction and approval of the colors selected and printed on the color card once the user has had an opportunity to confer with others or view the color card in the location to be painted.

In a further preferred embodiment, the system is further automated to permit the user to initiate the mixing of the custom-colored paint using a pre-authorized payment mode, such as a credit or debit card, or a store-sponsored charge account card, a unique access code to the color selection information stored in the system's memory device, and the generation of labels or other means for identifying the finished paint containers for pick-up by the purchaser or delivery by the retailer to the job site are also included in the automated computer-based system. Similar systems have been developed for the routine ordering of custom grocery lists and the like via the internet from retailers who complete the order, charge the purchaser's account and arrange for its delivery to the purchaser's home or other specified location. Because of the existing automated systems for receiving computer- directed instructions for custom-mixing various quantities of paint, the interface connection and control system is well within the ordinary skill of the art. The paint mixing apparatus is preferably connected to the retailer intranet through an appropriate network controller that checks for payment confirmation, stored formulation information, customer identification and the like.

In another preferred embodiment, the system is programmed to replicate standard color cards in the same format as those used to restock a paint retailer's display rack. As previously noted, commercially available colorant systems can include over 2,600 different colors and the display rack is originally stocked with color cards containing, e.g., 4-6 different colored stripes which are visible to the consumer. As would be expected, certain colors and shades are preferred over others so that the inventory of each card set will be depleted at a different rate, and therefore require replacement more frequently than others. Maintenance by the retailer of the card rack requires the special ordering of color cards and/or keeping a substantial inventory on hand of what are expected to be removed more frequently by consumers. In this embodiment of the invention, the on-demand printing can be done by the retailer who has an on-site printer or by a third party supplier

Use of the present invention allows a retailer to print on demand the number of color cards required to replace inventory. The paper supplied to the printer for this purpose is preferably specially prepared to facilitate the generation of color cards in a ready-to-use format For example, sheets of paper are provided with slit perforations and dye-cut corners to facilitate their easy separation after printing. Alternatively, individual pre-cut color cards are releasably attached to a substrate or carrier sheet that is passed through the printer and then manually removed following printing from the carrier substrate for placement in the rack. The paper used for printing the retail color cards for restocking of display racks can be the same or of a different weight and/or grade than that supplied for the custom color selection by consumers on the same machine. Printers with multiple paper storage and feed systems are well known in the art and readily adapted to facilitate proper paper identification and selection by the user via displays and touch screen devices.

Colorant Printing Formulations

As previously noted, a limited number of printing inks employ the same pigments that are utilized in formulating pigment dispersions or colorants for architectural surface coatings. These include black, based upon carbon black, magenta and yellow. The cyan blue pigments traditionally used in formulating inks for conventional inkjet printers are different than the pigment(s) used to produce colorant dispersions for tinting paints.

It has been found that using the same pigments that are used to produce the colorants for paints to produce the pigment dispersions for use in the manufacture of inks for use in an inkjet printer results in a greater ability to more accurately and reliably reproduce a given paint color on a printed merchandising aid.

It will be understood from the above description and discussion of the prior art, the system of the present invention will correspond in the number of individual colorants for the printing of merchandising aids to the number of colorant dispersions employed in the paint ^" tinting system. Thus, for use with existing sixteen (16) pigment dispersion dispensing systems for custom mixing of paints, the paint-jet printer will have sixteen (16) dispensing jet nozzles. In the practical application of the system of the invention a printer with twelve (12) inkjets would meet the needs of the industry. In most applications, the number of inkjets can be reduced by relying on the white background of the paper printing substrate to eliminate the need for a white colorant Shades of gray can also be achieved by using lower levels of black ink pigment dispersion in accordance with known program/controller methods.

Commercially acceptable printed merchandising aids can be produced using the paint- jet printing system of the invention that incorporates ten (10) different colored inks. InkJet printers with ten-color capability are commercially available.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the printing colorants are stored in refϊllable and interchangeable plastic reservoirs and connected by flexible plastic feed tubes to the inlet ports of a paint-jet printer. The size of the respective reservoirs is determined with reference to the particular colorant, the extent to which it is used in custom color formulations and the size of the printed samples typically requested by system users and other factors that will be determined based on experiential factors. Interchangeable reservoirs provide the advantage of changing the capacity based on current demand.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings where the same numbers are used to refer to the same or similar elements, and where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of one preferred embodiment of the computer-based system and method Ln accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is one illustrative flowchart of the general operation of the present invention; FIGS. 3-28 illustrate a plurality of screen displays providing the user with options to selectively use a predetermined computer program of the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a front plan view of a sample color selection layout; FIG. 30 illustrates a rear plan view of the sample color selection layout of FIG.

29; and

FIG. 31 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the invention utilizing a network by which a purchaser completes the payment electronically and the custom mixing proceeds in an automated system.

Detailed Description of the Invention

As shown in FIGS. 1-28, a computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32 are described. The system allows a user to make numerous color selections and develop color schemes through a plurality of screen displays of the type shown in FIGS. 3-28 for customizing paint colors to be created by a paint-jet system such as a "COLORTREND- E" paint-jet printer 29. The printer preferably has ten jets, and most preferably twelve printing jets. The disclosed color selection and display system 10 and method 32 are capable of generating color printouts of the customized paint color, for example, in a sample as shown in FIGS. 29-30 that can be provided to users at the end of the selection process. As used herein, the term "paint-jet printer" refers to an ink jet printer that has been modified to store and dispense a predetermined number of colorants that are used to accurately reproduce a wide range of paint colors on a paper or other suitable substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the colorants used in the paint-jet printer correspond in number and color to the pigment dispersions, or colorants, used to custom tint the paint bases that are sold in retail establishments to customers based on the color selections made using the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. I₅ the system 10 includes a computer 12 connected to a "COLORTREND-E"™ point-of-sale (POS) kiosk/workstation H₅ which can include an input device 14 for receiving the user selections to control the step-by-step process shown in FIGS. 3-28, and a color monitor 16 for displaying the plurality of screen displays shown in FIGS. 3- 28.

^• The input device can include a keyboard and a mouse. Voice recognition software can also be utilized along with appropriate audible and/or visual prompts to assist the user and maximize the accuracy of the voice recognition analysis to advance the color selection process. The computer 12 includes a processor and other known devices for executing the program, such as the "COLORTREND-E" software 18 including a memory 20, a network interface 22, a predetermined color selection program 24, and an operating system 26 for interfacing with the components provided. These components include the "COLORTREND- E" POS kiosk/workstation 11, such as the input device 14, the color monitor 16, and other devices such as an optional "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29, described above. The operating system 26 can also communicate via the Internet 28 or other network devices using the network interface 22, for example, to connect to a "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29. The Internet 28 link can be used if the "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29 is not directly connected to the computer 12, for example where the user is accessing the system from a residential terminal or an office, as in the case of an architect, interior decorator or other personnel.

The paint-jet printer 29 is connected to a plurality of colorant jets 30. For example, containers of colorants of predetermined colors, such as titanium white, organic yellow, lamp black, yellow oxide, phthalo green, phthalo blue, red oxide, brown oxide, raw umber, organic red, medium yellow and magenta are connected via feedlines to the printer. The "COLORTREND-E" jet colorants 30 are provided for mixture and application in the "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer to generate one or more customized paint colors corresponding to the user-inputted selections of paint color. The paint-jet printer 29 is also connected to a source of "COLORTREND-E" jet paper 31 upon which the customized paint color is applied.

Color printouts of the customized paint color, for example, as shown in FIGS. 29-30 can be provided to users at the end of the selection process at no cost or for some predetermined charge, depending upon the number and type of displays printed. In one preferred embodiment, a substrate is printed with a relatively large field of a single selected color, e.g., in a 5" x 7" format, or even an 8" x 10" format, to facilitate visualization in the user's home environment.

Accordingly, as described herein, finalized color selections can be saved in the memory 20, or output to the "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29 directly from the "COLORTREND-E" software 18, or output indirectly to a separate "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29 not connected to the "COLORTREND-E" software 18 but connected to the Internet 28, for example, with the paint-jet printer located in a separate paint facility accessible through the Internet 28.

In one preferred embodiment, the computer 12 is a personal computer having a 2 GHz microprocessor, the "COLORTREND-E" software 18, and the "MICROSOFT"

"WINDOWS" operating system 26, such as the "WINDOWS XP" operating system. The memory 20 can include at least 512 MB of RAM, and the color monitor 16 can be a 24 bit CRT color monitor.

The input device 14 of the "COLORTREND-E" POS kiosk/workstation 11 can include a keyboard and a mouse for use in conjunction with the color monitor 16 and the "WINDOWS XP" operating system as a graphic user interface (GUI). In addition, for installation of the predetermined color selection program 24 into the computer 12, the input device 14 can also include a CD-ROM drive for reading and accessing the predetermined color selection program 24 and any installation programs stored on compact disk (CD) media, such as a CD-ROM disk.

The predetermined color selection program 24 described herein can include and/or interact in conjunction with a plurality of proprietary software programs and systems commercially available from "AUTECH", such as a "COMPUTER. PAINt" program as well as an "ECOLORCARD" program providing an interactive color wheel, information on color psychology and theory, and a color scheming engine using a set of 2,760 colors of the "FOLIO" color system available from Degussa Corporation, of Parsippany, New Jersey.

The computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32 operate the predetermined computer program 24 allowing the user to perform a step-by-step process for selecting a paint color from a predetermined color system, and providing the user with various options to create a color scheme based around one selected color. The scheme colors or an individual color, or an image colored in a chosen color scheme can then be printed utilizing the paint colorants as selected and applied by the paint-jet printer 29.

One mode of operation of the computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32 is shown in FIG.2, in which the computer 12 executes the predetermined color selection program 24 in step 34, receives user selections in step 36 from the input device 14, and displays and modifies images as shown in FIGS. 3-28 based on the selections of the user in step 38.

The method 32 then determines if there are any further user inputs in step 40. If so, the method 32 continues steps 36-40 to continually receive and process user selections until the user has completed all user inputs in step 40. The method 32 then finalizes the user selections in step 42, for example, by saving the various selected colors and color schemes in the memory 20. The method 32 then outputs the finalized user selections in step 44, which can include sending the finalized user selection or selections over an intranet or the Internet 28 in step 46 for processing by a custom-tinting facility to produce the desired quantity of paint in the color selected , and which can also include sending the finalized user selection or selections to the "COLORTREKD-E" paint-jet printer 29 in step 48 either directly from the computer 12 or indirectly in step 46 over the Internet 28 to the "COLORTREND-E" paint-jet printer 29 at a paint facility in order to generate paint customized to the interactive selections of colors and color schemes by the user. Referring again to FIGS. 3-28, the step-by-step operation of the computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32, and in particular steps 36-38 of FIG. 2. is set forth below.

As shown in FIG. 3, an initial screen 50 is displayed by the color monitor 16 of the POS kiosk/workstation 11 and instructs the user to, e.g., "Click screen to start your color experience". If instead, the user clicks an icon in the lower right, the user is presented with a first time user's tutorial, such as a video movie, explaining how to use the computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32.

When the user clicks the screen 50 shown in FIG. 3, the user is presented with the screen 52 in FIG. 4 presenting two options: "Help me select my main wall color" or "Help inspire me", and so the user is offered the option of selecting a main color from the full color system offering, e.g., up to 2,760 colors, or from a range of inspirational palettes. In choosing the first option, the user is then presented with the screens 54-82 shown in FIGS. 5- 19, respectively. If the second option is chosen, the user is presented with screens 84-92 shown in FIGS. 20-23. Upon choosing the first option, screen 54 in FIG. 5 is displayed, and the full range of colors is offered in subsets of the color families which constitute the full offering. In the embodiment illustrated, the user can select from 15 color families, and upon selecting one color family, the corresponding range of colors is displayed on the screen 56 in FIG. 6. The user is then given four options in screen 58 of FIG. 7; create a four-color scheme using screens 60-72 in FIGS. 8-14 respectively; fine-tune a single color using screen 74 in FIG. 15, print the color using screen 76 in FIG. 16, or scheme an existing color using screens 78-82 in FIGS. 17-19, respectively.

To create the four-color scheme, the user is presented with six options in the screen 60 displayed in FIG. 8: create a tonal scheme using screen 62 in FIG. 9, create a harmonious scheme using screen 64 in FIG. 10, create a contrasting scheme using screen 66 in FIG. 11, save the current scheme using screen 68 in FIG. 12, load a saved scheme using screen 70 in FIG. 13, or print the currently displayed scheme using screen 72 in FlG. 14.

To scheme an existing color, screen 78 in FIG. 17 offers the user with three image category options, each with individual libraries of images: an interior image, scheme an existing color, or an exterior image. Upon the user selecting any of the three options, the user selects an images using screen 80 in FIG. 18, and selects a scheme using screen 82 in FIG. 19, with each image offering four different schemes based on a main color. The user then completes selecting the wall color and proceeds to view the completed scheme in screen 92 displayed in FIG. 24.

Referring back to the second option, i.e., to have the method "Help inspire me", once the user selects the second option on screen 52 in FIG. 4, the user is presented with nine designer palettes on screen 84 in FIG. 20: two exterior palettes for a historic palette and a modern palette; and seven interior palettes for a romantic scheme, a refined scheme, a vogue scheme, a masculine scheme, a natural scheme, a classics palette, and a modern palette. The user selects one of the nine options to view screen 86 in FIG. 21 with the selected palette. The user then chooses a color from the palette by clicking the "Choose Colors" icon shown on screen 86 in FIG.21, and selects the color of the palette generated on screen 88 in FIG. 22. The user then selects a scheme from the four schemes shown on screen 90 in FIG. 23.

The user is then presented with the completed scheme on screen 92 in FIG. 24. The user is presented with four icons to access four options: fine tune the completed scheme as displayed on screen 94 in FIG. 25, load a saved scheme as displayed on screen 96 in FIG. 26, save the current scheme as displayed on screen 98 in FIG. 27, or print the current scheme as displayed on screen 100 in FIG. 28.

FIGS. 29-30 illustrate front and rear plan views, respectively, of a sample color selection layout 102 that can be provided to users as a sample at the end of the selection process, which is preferably printed by the paint-jet printer 29. As shown in FIG. 29, the front side 104 of the selection layout 102 has a printed color scheme 106 corresponding to the user inputs, with a legend 108 describing each selected color in the scheme 106 by name and/or by color code, such as "Al 26" for the color with the name "Golden Midas". Accordingly, the user can see the exact color scheme 106 and its component colors in the legend 108 for approval and finalization prior to ordering the selected paint colors.

Referring to FIG. 29, the front side 104 of the selection layout 102 can also contain indicia 110 providing the name, address, telephone number, E-mail address, website address, etc. of a vendor providing the "COLORTREND-E" brand of colorants shown in the color scheme 106. The indicia 110 can be pre-printed on the paper upon which the selection layout 102 is printed by the paint-jet printer 29; for example, if the paint-jet printer 29 is located in the facilities of the vendor. Alternatively, the indicia 110 of the vendor can be printed on the paper at a printing facility having an advertising affiliation with the vendor, and so disclosed system 10 and method 32 can be programmed to automatically print the corresponding indicia 110 of a predetermined vendor, with the vendor's identifying information stored in the memory 20.

The paint-jet printer 29 can also print on the front side 104 of the selection layout 102 a removable coupon 112 for a discount for purchases with the vendor indicated in the indicia 110. The paint-jet printer 29 can also print on the front side 104 one or more bar codes 114 that encodes a corresponding color shown in the scheme 106 and/or listed in the legend 108. The name of the color in the scheme 106 can also be printed adjacent to the corresponding bar codes 114, and the color and its bar code can be removable from the selection layout 102 to act as swatches. Using the bar codes 114 on the selection layout 102, the vendor can scan the bar codes 114 with a bar code scanner of the type known in the art to digitally identify the color in the scheme 106 for accurate generation of paint colors for the user. This digital information can be input into a conventional computer-directed custom-color mixing apparatus. FIG. 30 illustrates a rear side 116 of the selection layout which can be left blank or which can also be printed for alternative color schemes corresponding to additional user inputs. In one preferred embodiment, the rear side 116 illustrates an identifying mark or indicia 118, such as a logo and/or trademarks including, e.g., the text "COLORTREND"™, as well as quality-indicative text such as "GENUINE PAPER". In connection with the logo or other trademarks, such quality-indicative text, for example, "COLORTREND™ GENUINE PAPER" constitutes a representation to the user of the quality of the paper associated with the company having the logo or trademarks.

The identifying mark or indicia 118 can be printed by the paint-jet printer 29 or can be pre-printed at the time of manufacture of the paper used for the selection layout 102. Alternatively, the identifying mark or indicia 118 can be a watermark or other type of indicia known in the art which is visible when the rear side 116 of the selection layout 102 is viewed at an angle.

As described herein, the computer-based color selection and display system 10 and method 32 is interactive and responsive to the user's input. The system accesses the various internal and external components to display and reproduce custom colors and color schemes to tihe satisfaction of the user before the user directs the printer to initiate the printing of the colors. Accordingly, user satisfaction in the final results increases, and the creation of paint based on the final customized selections of the user minimizes waste of paint.

Referring now to the flowchart of FIG. 31, the user at workstation 11 employs input device 14 in step 300 to activate credit/debit card interface device 200. The user swipes credit card 202 and the appropriate account information is transmitted in step 302 via the internet 28 for the account verification step 304 at the financial services company server 220. Assuming the account verification step 222 is successful, the appropriate signal is returned to interface device 200 at step 306. The successful verification is then transmitted at step 308 to the workstation 11 with an appropriate screen message on monitor 16 instructing the user to proceed with the color selection process as was previously described with references to FIGS. 1-30.

The user completes the color selection process and makes the appropriate data entry 310 to proceed with paint selection confirmation and entry of a purchase order at step 311. Thereafter, data is transmitted in step 312 via the internet or other communication means and entered into the user's account database 224 via step 314. Assuming that the account charge is accepted, a signal 316 is transmitted to the interface device 200 which in turn sends a signal at step 318 to the workstation monitor 16 confirming that the order is proceeding. A signal with the customer order information is transmitted from workstation 11 at step 320 to the paint dispensing and mixing apparatus 250 to prepare the container(s) and print and apply labels to the finished product 325.

As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the particular stepwise processing and transmission of data between the various electronic components depicted in the schematic illustration of FIG. 31 can be varied. Other forms of telecommunication can be employed in conjunction with, or in place of the internet 28. Dedicated telephone and/or cable networks customarily used to access and communicate with credit card accounts can be beneficially employed where they exist in large retail establishments. Wireless communications can also be employed at any stage of data transmission to take advantage of currently developing advances in credit/debit card transactions using short range radio communication technology, bluetooth, and the like.

As was discussed above, a retail store intranet can also be employed to connect a plurality of user workstations 11 located in various departments to the paint dispensing and mixing apparatus 250 located in the paint department. It is also to be understood that the user workstation can be the user's own personal home or office computer terminal and the information required to proceed with the color selection process and eventual ordering of the desired custom-mixed paint can be completed without the purchaser physically visiting the retail store where paint mixing and dispensing apparatus 250 is located. In this latter circumstance, the customer will not be able to take advantage of obtaining printed merchandising aids, e.g., color chips and the like as described above. However, all other aspects of the transaction can be completed via the internet or other telecommunication means including credit/debit card changes using existing protocols so that the purchaser can then simply visit a customer service area that can be conveniently located in a drive-thru or convenient parking area to pick up the containers for paint. This convenient form of securing quantities of custom-mixed paints will be of particular interest to painting professionals and contractors who can thereby avoid the time currently allocated to such purchasing transactions in the typical retail establishment.

In addition to using a kiosk or similar customized work station for the interactive selection by the prospective purchaser, a large format touch screen display can also be employed. For example, consumers who have little familiarity with computer keyboards and the functioning of the mouse for use in moving a cursor and making appropriate selections could foreseeable be much more likely to work with a large format touch screen display. Similarly, a touch screen display would minimize or eliminate the difficulties encountered by a customer having limited manual dexterity due to arthritis or other physical disability. Touch screen displays with associated displays of written instructions and/or audible directions for utilizing the computer-based software system for selecting colors and color combinations can thus advantageously be used in the practice of the method and apparatus of the invention.

Paint-jet printers have been developed based on the modification of conventional inkjet technology for accurately printing decorative architectural paint colors on demand, thus improving the ability over traditional offset printing and inkjet technology to accurately reproduce customized paint colors on a printed substrate for prospective purchasers. The user can also be provided with the option of printing a single paint color to cover all or a predetermined portion of the paper substrate. A supplemental charge can be displayed for this special output format and the user given the option of selecting it or not.

The present invention further contemplates providing the consumer with the option of selecting a "custom" color that lies between two "standard" formulations depicted on the printed or electronically displayed color chart. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a given color can be considered to vary "spacially" in one of four directions, so that, in one preferred embodiment, the consumer is presented with a graphic display and the choice of moving to the right, left, up or down towards an adjacent "standard" color on the chart. This option greatly expands the number of custom colors that can be mixed and will have marketing appeal to system users, such as architects, interior designers, contractors and home owners who wish to use a "unique" color. In an alternative embodiment of the color selection system, the printed sample color card requested by the user is subjected to analysis by a spectrophotometer and the values are recorded in the system memory in association with a unique sample identifying code provided to the user during the selection process. If the user prints more than one color sample, each printed sample is similarly analyzed and encoded. As will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the spectrophotometer operates on the principle of reflected light and measures individual wavelengths and calculates L, a, b or L*, a*, b* values from this information. From this data, the formula or recipe for preparing the corresponding custom- mixed color for the architectural coating is derived using known methods. This embodiment has the specific advantage of assuring a precise match between the printed sample and that of the custom-mixed color. This method also has the advantage of eliminating any possible issues of color matching between the printed sample that might arise, e.g., as a result of defective ink or a printer malfunction. If the consumer is satisfied with the printed sample, whether or not it is a match for that of a color in the formulation guide, the custom mixed paint will correspond to the printed sample. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the spectrophotometer includes means for applying a bar code corresponding to the unique color formula directly to the printed sample of the color card. The custom -mixing apparatus for paint has a bar code reader for identification of the formula that is resident in its memory.

In a further preferred embodiment, the system is accessed by using an identification card or other similar means provided by the retail vendor for initiating the programmed operation of the kiosk or other form of workstation. The prospective user can be asked to provide contact information, such as a mailing or e-mail address, which information can be stored by the vendor to provide a mailing list for future advertising, notices of sales, and the like. Other information can also be requested at this time, including that which can be utilized for a broader market analysis. The user can be encouraged to provide additional information through offers of money-saving coupons that will be printed at the time the color selection card is printed, or by gifts of other related merchandise, such as painter's hats, drop cloths, masking tape, and the like.

The use of an electronic access device can also be used to prevent children from activating the program, thereby denying prospective purchasers the opportunity to use the machine. An access card or other device can also be used to establish a "first come, first served" system for controlling access to users, for example, where one or more kiosks are located in a retail outlet that periodically experiences high volume, e.g., on weekends. Rather than forming a queue of users, cards can be issued and a numerical display and/or audible paging system can be established so that prospective users can continue shopping while awaiting their turn.

The paper selected for use in the method of printing of the invention will produce a printed texture and finish that is comparable to that of the finished tinted architectural coating as applied to a typical wall surface. Traditional wall paints range from flat to semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The paint-jet printer is provided with sheets or rolls of paper having different finishes that when printed will have a dry appearance corresponding to the type of paint base selected, e.g., flat, eggshell, low lustre, semi-gloss, etc. At some point in the selection process before printing, the user will be asked to identify the type of paint that is desired, and when entered by the user, this information will be stored in the memory associated with the program. In a preferred embodiment, the user will be presented with a final display screen that includes the paint finish for verification or modification prior to printing. The technology for selecting and feeding the printing paper substrate from one of a plurality of storage trays in the printer is well established in the photocopy machine arts.

In another preferred embodiment, the paper on which the consumer prints a final color selection or color scheme, includes a releasable adhesive material that allows the sheet to be placed on a wall where it will adhere temporarily to permit the consumer to stand back and view the color panel. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the printed sheet is divided by perforations along the lines between multiple color fields, and each portion is provided with an adhesive backing covered by a removable protective strip, or the like. Once the consumer returns home, the larger printed sample sheet can be separated into smaller portions containing the color fields of the color scheme selected, e.g., two or three separate sections. In this example, a narrow strip can be applied to a door frame or window trim and the larger colored portion adhered to an adjacent wall. This use of a separable printing substrate, preferably with a reusable adhesive backing, will enhance the consumer's use of the system and samples.

Preparation of Colorant Printing Formulations

As will be apparent from the above description, the first step in the preparation of the pigment dispersions for formulating the colorant printing inks is to identify the pigments used in the manufacture of the pigment dispersions used to tint the paint bases. The pigments, whether they be derived organically or from natural-occurring mineral compounds, must be ground to a fineness that provides a particle size that will pass through the inkjet nozzle without clogging. Particle sizes in the range of from about 200 microns or less can be used.

It has been found that many of the additives required in the formulation of pigment dispersions for tinting paint are not needed in the ink colorants and, in fact, produce deleterious effects. Useful pigment dispersions for the inks of the invention include from about 20% to 35% of pigment by weight in "water. Small amounts of a water soluble resin or resins, a humectant and one or more surfactants complete the pigment dispersion formulation.

Minor variations in the preferred formula for the various pigment dispersions may be required to account for the presence of "surface treatment" additives that are applied by pigment suppliers. Different suppliers of the same color and type of pigment use different surface treatment additives, the presence of which can affect certain properties of the pigment dispersion for the ink. Any such modifications as may be required are minor and are well within the ordinary skill in the art. The final formulation of the pigment dispersion into an ink composition for use in an inkjet printer is dependent, to some extent, on the characteristics of the printer. These requirements are apparent from the great number of different cartridges and inks that are available as supplies for the numerous manufacturers of printers and the even greater number of models produced by any given manufacturer. The modifications, if any, required to adapt the novel formulations to a particular printer are with ordinary skill in the art.

Program Development

The development of the program for use in controlling the printer is comparable to that applied by the prior art. A twelve (12) head printer is provided with a cartridge or other reservoir means containing inks formulated with pigment dispersions that utilize the same pigments as the corresponding colorants used to tint base paints. Formulations are selected and programmed based upon the experience and expectations of the color technician. The formulations are chosen to cover the broad spectrum of colors and corresponding to printed merchandising aids of an existing system or a novel color palate that has been developed especially for the new electronic display system of the invention. Each formulation is provided with a unique identifying code that is also entered in the program.

The printer is activated and the colors are printed as fields, preferably with their identifying unique code, on a paper or other substrate of the type that will be used in the commercial application. These color calibration fields are then subjected to analysis by a photospectrometer and the corresponding data recorded in association with the unique color identifier. Assuming that the underlying color palate includes 2,760 different colors, from several hundred up to one thousand calibration color fields will be prepared and analyzed. This methodology is described in the art as printer profiling. The formulations for the remaining colors can be obtained using appropriate and well known algorithms to vary the colors and their relative proportions.

In a further aspect, the invention broadly contemplates the use of a plurality of pigment-based printing inks prepared from liquid colorants that are formulated using the same pigments that are employed in the manufacture of end products other than architectural coatings and paints. The plurality of liquid colorants can be supplied to the printer via conventional cartridges, but preferably via feed tubes connected to larger reservoirs for the production of printed color cards or other merchandising aids of the type customarily used in connection with the sale of particular end products.

The number of liquid colorants utilized in the printing of the color cards or other printed materials will depend, to some extent, upon the range of colors of the end products. For example, vinyl siding for commercial and residential use typically has a limited palette or number of colors in which it is commercially available so that the number of pigmented liquid colorants required to reproduce these colors need not be as extensive as those required for architectural paints. In contrast, architectural surface coating systems that include up to 2760 individual colors can advantageously employ from eight to sixteen liquid ink pigment dispersions that are formulated into inks for use in the printer. Each of the colorants employs the pigments utilized in formulating pigment dispersion compositions of the type that are actually used in tinting the bases used in the architectural surface coatings, or paint. Historically, coloring systems employed in the U.S. typically have up to twelve colorant cartridges while tinting apparatus used in Europe and elsewhere have up to sixteen colorant cartridges.

Other end products to which the method of the invention is applicable include floor tiles produced from various tinted polymers and copolymers; vinyl siding for residential and commercial use; roofing materials; construction tiles fabricated from tinted plastics; bricks, pavers and other concrete products that are tinted.

The appropriate range of colors, tints and shades that can be selected will vary for each type of product. Product performance specifications and quality control concerns must be taken into account in designing the software for a specific product or product category. For example, the quality of products such as vinyl siding can be adversely effected if J:oo much colorant is added to the polymer or polymer blend. However, within predetermined ranges, purchasers can be given the choice of custom tinting the product from the point of sale, whether the point of sale is a retail store or the purchaser's own computer terminal at home or at work. The method and apparatus of the invention also provides manufacturers of end products with the opportunity to permit prospective purchasers, including architects, designers, contractors and even retail purchasers to select a custom color for use in the eventual production of the end product by using the same pigments in the paint-jet printing system that are used to tint the end products. In the practice of this embodiment of the invention, the computer is provided with a program that allows the user to select a color or colors for the product that is within an acceptable manufacturing range for quality, durability and other specific characteristics. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the addition of colorants and related additives cannot exceed predetermined limits without adversely effecting the quality of the particular end product. Offering purchasers this option also permits the manufacturer to establish a price not only to reflect the additional time and labor charges, but also colorant charges.

While the various preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous other variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the invention herein as described above. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWE CLAIM:

1. A computer-based custom paint mixing and color selection system for personalized selection of one or more paint colors being custom-mixed according to a formulation using one or more pigment dispersions selected from a predetermined number of paint pigment dispersions, the system comprising: a. a computer system that includes a color monitor; an input device for receiving user identification inputs and color selection inputs by the user; a memory device for storing user identification and color selection inputs; a processor operating a predetermined color selection program for interactively displaying colors and color schemes in response to color selection inputs by the user to generate a customized final color selection on the color monitor; and b. an inkjet printer and controller responsive to the color selection program for producing custom-printed color sample cards using inks formulated from ink pigment dispersions containing the same pigments as the corresponding paint pigment dispersions; and c. An automated custom tinting and paint mixing apparatus operatively connected to the computer system for producing a container of custom-mixed paint corresponding to a final color selection input in response to a signal transmitted by a user.

2. The color selection system of claim I₅ wherein the input device includes a mouse.

3. The color selection system of claim 1, further comprising: a point-of-sale station including the input device.

4. The color selection system of claim 1, further comprising: a kiosk including the input device.

5. The color selection system of claim 1, further comprising: a workstation including the input device.

6. The color selection system of claim 1, further comprising: a network interface for transmitting the customized final color selection over the Internet to an external device.

7. The color selection system of claim 6, wherein the external device is an inkjet printer for dispensing inks corresponding to the customized final color selection.

8. The color selection system of claim 1, further comprising: an inkjet printer operatively connected to the computer for reproducing one or more paint colors utilizing liquid inks dispensed from nozzles onto a substrate positioned below the printer, the one or more colors corresponding to the user's final color selection.

9. The color selection system of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of reservoirs containing colored inks in fluid communication with the inkjet printer for reproducing the paint colors based on the user's final color selection.

10. The color selection system of claim 8, further comprising: printing paper supplied to the inkjet printer having a printing surface characteristic selected from the group consisting of gloss, semi-gloss and flat that corresponds to the finish of the customized final color selection.

11. The color selection system of claim 10, which includes a plurality of trays containing printing paper sheets having different surface characteristics and means for selectively delivering one sheet of paper from one of the plurality of trays in response to a selection by the user of a type of paint.

12. The color selection system of claim 11 , wherein the printing papers correspond to a flat and semi-gloss surface finishes.

13. The color selection system of claim 11, which includes electronic actuation means that is responsive to a card bearing a magnetically encoded strip or a bar code to thereby permit user access.

14. The color selection system of claim 13, wherein the electronic actuation means is responsive to a personalized customer identification device selected from the group consisting of credit cards, debit cards and customer transactional cards issued by a retail merchant.

15. The color selection system of claim 14, which includes means for storing and processing financial account information provided by the user upon the user's authorization during use of the system.

16. The color selection system of claim 10, wherein the selection layout includes indicia providing a discount coupon for use with a vendor.

17. The color selection system of claim 10, wherein the selection layout includes indicia providing a unique bar code corresponding to a color in the customized final color selection.

18. The color selection system of claim 10, which includes an electronic link to a computer-directed custom color paint mixing apparatus and associated memory device, whereby at least one final color selection product identifier is transmitted for storage in the associated memory device.

19. The color selection system of claim 18, wherein the number of liquid inks supplied to the inkjet printer corresponds to the number of paint colorants contained in the paint custom color mixing apparatus.

20. The color selection system of claim 19, wherein the colors of the liquid inks supplied to the inkjet printer correspond, at least in part, to the paint colorants.

21. The apparatus of claim 10 which includes a label printer, whereby information associated with a user is printed on a label for application for a container.