Abstract:
The method disclosed is one wherein n pumps and n relative solenoid valves operated by a single microprocessor-controlled stepping motor dispense one or more of n colouring agents into a paint/varnish medium. The quantity dispensed is either a proper or improper fraction of an integer of 1/m of the volumetric unit of measure (fluid oz) and is defined p, a nominal value reflecting the number of half-steps indexed by the motor which is corrected proportionally by comparison of the effective and the nominal weight of a droplet downstream of the pump and upstream of the solenoid valve in order to produce an effective number of half-steps x. A similar correction is made to the number R of half steps which correspond to the delay occasioned by operation of the solenoid valve, comparing the effective and nominal weights of the droplet downstream of the valve; the speed of the motor is corrected to compensate for system resistances. The machine comprises a single motor ( 26 ) operating the n pumps ( 25 ) which dispense colouring agent from n relative containers ( 16 ) by way of n nozzles ( 8 ) located above a vertically-mobile platform ( 4 ) on which the container ( 2/3 ) with the medium is placed, its position controlled by a photocell ( 15 ). All of these components are housed in a cabinet comprising a basic framework ( 1 ) the top surface of which accommodates a computer ( 22, 23, 24 ) with circuit boards controlling operation of the machine according to the method as disclosed; data is displayed by video and documented by a printer.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/227,822 filed Aug. 25, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many personal care products such as body wash, facial cleansing gel, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, face lotion and other personal care products that are currently available are provided as prepared formulations. A drawback of such products is that the user cannot alter the formulation to accommodate their particular skin and hair characteristics, personal preferences, or to provide specialized treatment. A further drawback is the uncertainty of the age and freshness of the prepared formulation which may have been prepared many months or years before the product is sold.  
           [0003]    Multiple-part product kits that contain separate components of e.g. a hair shampoo, hair conditioner, cosmetics, or other personal care products are available from many professional salons and some retail personal care outlets. However, the user is still unable to customize the individual formulations in light of the consumer&#39;s unique personal care preferences and requirements.  
           [0004]    Therefore, one aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus that enables a user to formulate a variety of personal care product compositions to best suit the needs of the consumer. Another aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is easy to use such that the user may be a lay-person who is able formulate a customized personal care product. Another aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus with a plurality of customizing agent dispensing stations, and a plurality of personal care product base dispensing stations designed to efficiently prepare stable personal care product which are freshly blended while the consumer waits. Another aspect of the invention is to mix the typically viscous blends of personal care products in an efficient manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An apparatus is provided for preparing a customized, personal care product for a consumer typically at a location remote from a second location in which a personal care product base composition is prepared. The apparatus comprises a plurality of personal care base compositions each contained in dispensing station and variants from two or more classes of customizing agents each contained in a dispensing station. The consumer is allowed to select, in any sequence, one personal care base composition and at least two variants from separate classes of customizing agents, such as a fragrance and a benefit agent. The user doses, in any sequence, the consumer selected personal care base composition, customizing agents, and, if necessary, sufficient liquid vehicle into a container, mixes the contents until uniform, and labels the container using the inventive dispensing apparatus.  
           [0006]    A sufficient quantity of a blank composition having substantially the same vehicle composition as that of the customizing agent may be dosed in the container if an insufficient number of customizing agents are selected by the consumer. This allows for maintaining the optimum concentration of product ingredients while providing many choices for the consumer in customizing the product.  
           [0007]    The inventive dispensing apparatus is preferably used with personal care product base compositions including cleansing and conditioning product bases useful for formulating body wash, body lotion, body mist spray, hydroalcoholic toner, facial cleansing gel, waterless cleanser, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, face lotion and the like. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the inventive dispensing system having two dispensing devices positioned opposite each other.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded diagrams of the storage container of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with its adapter and pump head.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1C is a perspective representation of the storage bottle depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B with its outlet-positioning fixture.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the inventive dispensing system having a plurality of dispensing devices and storage bottles in a carousal type, over and under arrangement.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top planar representation of the same embodiment of the inventive dispensing system illustrated in FIG. 2. Also illustrated is the labeling device and external-mixing device.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4A is a perspective representation of the consumer storage bottle positioned in a consumer bottle holder in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4B and 4C are perspective representations of consumer bottle holder from above and below respectively which is depicted in FIG. 4A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective representations of the outlet positioning fixture from above and below respectively which used in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective representations of outlet guide from above and below respectively which used in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6C is a perspective representation of the outlet guide depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B engaged in the outlet positioning fixture depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 7A, 7B and  7 C are perspective representations of one embodiment of a useful bottle holder for a mixing device for the inventive dispensing system. FIG. 7A is a perspective representation of bottles contained in a bottle holder. FIG. 7B is an exploded diagram of the bottle holder being received into a bottle holder container. FIG. 7C depicts the bottle holder and its container illustrated in FIG. 7B assembled.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7D is a perspective representation of a consumer bottle in an adaptor sized to fit into the bottle holder depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and  7 C. Also depicted is a perspective representation of the adapter without the bottle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, dispensing station  10  is depicted having dispensing device  12 , which contains measuring device  14 , pump  16  and pump head  18 . Storage bottle  24  is adapted to fit dispensing device  12  by way of adapter  22 . Storage bottle  24  contains customizing agent  21 , which is dispensing via outlet tube  28  supported by outlet guide  26 . Outlet guide  26  is removably attached to pump head  18  and is also supported by outlet positioning fixture  20  via outlet positioning fixture arms  64 . Outlet positioning fixture  20  is supported at its opposite end by dispenser supporting member  44 . Dispensing supporting member  44  also supports storage bottle  24  by both a direct and biasing arrangement via storage bottle holder  34 , which is slidably connected to dispenser supporting member  44  via slidable mount  46 . In operation, dispensing device  12  causes customizing agent  21  to be dispensed from storage bottle  24  through outlet tube  28  into consumer bottle  30  via consumer bottle neck  32 . Consumer bottle  30 , having consumer bottle neck  32  is supported in a fixed position relative to outlet  28  via consumer bottle holder  33  which is removably attached to one end of consumer bottle holder supporting member  36 . Consumer bottle holder supporting member  36  is connected via its other end to supporting member locking ring  38 . Dispenser supporting member  44  is rotatably attached to shaft  45  by way of bearing  42  and supporting ring  43 . Supporting member-locking ring  38  is fixably attached to shaft  45 . Detent mechanism  40  allows dispensing station  10  to be rotated reproducibly into at least one predetermined position.  
         [0021]    Now referring to FIG. 1A, the bottom end of adapter  22  is positioned on storage bottle  24  with the aid of o-ring  23  to help seal the adapter  22  connection to the storage bottle  24 . Pump head  18  is positioned on the top end of adapter  22 . Now referring to FIG. 1B, as in FIG. 1A, adapter  22  is positioned onto storage bottle  24  using o-ring  23  to help seal the adapter  22  connection to the storage bottle  24 . Pump head  18  is positioned onto the top end of adapter  22  and outlet guide  26  is positioned onto and supported by pump head  18 . Now referring to FIG. 1C, adapter  22  is shown positioned on storage bottle  24 , pump head  18  is positioned onto adapter  22  and outlet positioning fixture  20  is positioned onto pump head  18 .  
         [0022]    Now referring to FIG. 2, four dispensing stations are illustrated, arranged in a carousel like arrangement in two layers. Four consumer bottles  30  are shown positioned in four consumer bottle holders  33  ready to accept customizing agents  21 . Also shown are two product base dispensing stations  70  each consisting of product base measuring device  72  and product base pump  74 . In operation, product base pump  74  draws product base from product base storage system  80  and dispenses it through product base outlet  76  into consumer bottle  30 . In this embodiment, product base  85  is typically dispensed into consumer bottle  30  before customizing agents  21  are dispensed into the same container, although this procedure may be altered as desired. Product base storage system  80  comprises product base storage tank  82  containing product base  85 . Product base  85  flows through product base storage tank outlet  84 , through product base storage tank adapter  86  and into one end of product base storage tank hose  88 , which is connected at its other end to product base dispensing station  70  via product base adapter  78 .  
         [0023]    Now referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of dispensing stations  10  are shown positioned on a carousel type platform. Also shown, are a plurality of consumer bottles  33  each positioned at one end of a corresponding plurality of consumer bottle holding supporting members  36 . Also shown in close proximity to dispensing station  10  are a plurality of product base dispensing stations  70 , external mixing device  180 , and labeling device  200 .  
         [0024]    Now referring to FIG. 4A, consumer bottle  30  is shown positioned in consumer bottle holder  33 . Now referring to FIGS. 4B and 4C, consumer bottle holder  33  is illustrated from above and below respectively. Also depicted in FIG. 4C, is consumer bottle holder locating channel  35  situated on the bottom of consumer bottle holder  33 . Also shown in FIG. 4B is consumer bottle holder aperture  37 , which receives consumer bottle  30 .  
         [0025]    Now referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, outlet positioning fixture  20  is shown from above and below respectively having outlet positioning fixture body  62  and outlet positioning fixture arms  64 . In FIG. 5A, outlet positioning fixture fastener aperture  60  is shown. In FIG. 5B, outlet positioning fixture locating channel  66  is illustrated, which slidably engages both pump head  18  and outlet guide  26  preventing outlet guide  26  from rotating so that it remains in alignment with consumer bottle  30  when positioned in consumer bottle holder  33 .  
         [0026]    Now referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, outlet guide  26  is shown, from above and below respectively, having outlet guide positioning members  23  which engage complementary apertures (not shown) in pump head  18  so that outlet guide  26  is properly aligned with pump head  18 . Outlet guide flanges  25  are fixedly attached to outlet guide  26 . Now referring to FIG. 6C, outlet guide  26  is removably engaged in outlet positioning fixture  20 , and in pressing engagement with outlet positioning fixture arms  64  which are biased to hold outlet guide flanges  25 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7A illustrates consumer bottle mixer holder  126  containing at least one consumer bottle  30 , having consumer bottle cap  31 , positioned in consumer bottle mixer sleeve  110 . The combination of consumer bottle  30  and consumer bottle mixer sleeve  110  is illustrated as consumer bottle and sleeve assemby  140 . Depending on the size of consumer bottle  30 , the bottle may be positioned in consumer bottle mixer holder  126  without an adapter  110 , or it can be positioned with the adapter  110  if the bottle  30  is too small to fit into the consumer mixer bottle seat  127 , sized to contain consumer bottle mixer sleeve  110 .  
         [0028]    Now referring to FIG. 7B, consumer bottle mixer holder  126  is shown being received in consumer bottle mixer assembly holder  130 . Also shown is consumer bottle mixer assembly cover  122 , positioned onto consumer bottle mixer assembly shaft  124  being received into consumer bottle mixer holder  126  via consumer bottle mixer holder channel  134 , and secured by consumer bottle mixer assembly shaft retaining ring  128  and threaded fasteners  132 .  
         [0029]    Now referring to FIG. 7C, consumer bottle mixer assembly  120  is illustrated in an assembled positioned with consumer bottle mixer holder  126 , containing 5 consumer bottle and sleeve assembly units  140 . Now referring to FIG. 7D, consumer bottle  30  is shown in pressing engagement with consumer bottle mixer sleeve  110  sized to fit into consumer bottle mixer holder  126  depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and  7 C. Also depicted is consumer bottle mixer sleeve  110  without the bottle.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    In one aspect of the invention is an apparatus for providing a customized, personal care product to a consumer at a location remote from a second location in which a personal care product base is prepared, comprising:  
         [0031]    a. a plurality of measuring devices for determining amounts of at least one of said product base and a plurality of customizing agents to be blended into a container;  
         [0032]    b. a plurality of dispensing devices, each fluidly communicating with one of said measuring devices, for dispensing said amounts of at least one of said product base and a plurality of customizing agents into said container;  
         [0033]    c. an external mixing device for blending said product base and customizing agents after being dispensed into said container by agitating said container; and  
         [0034]    d. a labeling device for labeling said container with only the ingredients contained in the custom blended product.  
         [0035]    In another aspect of the invention is a kit for providing a customized, personal care product to a consumer at a location remote from a second location in which a personal care product base is prepared, comprising:  
         [0036]    a. a plurality of measuring devices for determining amounts of at least one of said product base and a plurality of customizing agents to be blended into a container;  
         [0037]    b. a plurality of dispensing devices, each fluidly communicating with one of said measuring devices, for dispensing said amounts of at least one of said product base and a plurality of customizing agents into said container;  
         [0038]    c. an external mixing device for blending said product base and customizing agents after being dispensed into said container by agitating said container; and  
         [0039]    d. an external-labeling device for labeling said container with only the ingredients contained in the custom blended product.  
         [0040]    Preferably, the plurality of dispensing devices are situated in a carousel arrangement having at least two layers of devices oriented in an over and under relationship defined by an arc. Preferably, the dispensing devices are each supported by a holding device and an outlet positioning fixture. Preferably, the holding device and the outlet positioning fixture are attached to a dispenser supporting member on a first end; and the supporting member, on its second end, is rotatably coupled to a shaft positioned at the center of the arc, and the shaft is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the arc. Preferably the holding device or container holder is slidably attached to said dispenser supporting member for adjusting the outlet&#39;s vertical position in relation to the consumer bottle. More preferably, the dispensing and measuring devices are removable as a single unit, thus facilitating the replacement and replenishment of performance and customizing agents, and the prevention of contamination.  
         [0041]    Preferably the apparatus or kit has a plurality of dispensing devices with at least one storage container for containing product; at least one measuring device for measuring product to be dispensed; at least one adaptor for removably coupling said measuring device to said container; and at least one pump fluidly communicating with the measuring device for dispensing measured product. Especially preferred is the arrangement where the final product volume may be pre-selected and does not vary for any number of customizing agent variants for a single product form, preferably not in excess of three variants.  
         [0042]    Preferably the measuring device has at least one outlet for dispensing product; at least one inlet for admitting air to replace dispensed product.  
         [0043]    Preferably the outlet is oriented in a fixed direction with an outlet-locating fixture along a radius of the arc. More preferably, the outlet positioning fixture is a yoke assembly slidably attached to the dispenser supporting member to position said outlet along the radius of said arc.  
         [0044]    Preferably, the apparatus or kit has a container holder and a container supporting member having a first end and a second end; whereby the container holder is positioned so that said container may be placed in said holder and reproducibly positioned to receive the product dispensed through said outlet. Preferably the container holder is attached to the first end of the container-supporting member; and the container-supporting member is attached on the second end to the shaft. More preferably, the dispenser supporting member is rigidly attached to a bearing collar rotatably coupled to said shaft; and the bearing collar has a detent device for reproducibly positioning one or more dispensing device outlets at a predetermined position along its arc of motion.  
         [0045]    Preferably, the inventive apparatus or kit has a holding device which has a biasing member that releasably holds the storage container; and the holding device is slidably attached to the dispenser supporting member so as to adjust the position of the storage container and the outlet along the major axis of the supporting shaft. The holding device may be optionally removable for disassembly and cleaning.  
         [0046]    Preferably the inventive dispensing apparatus has a plurality of user stations to allow the simultaneous preparation of customized personal care products.  
         [0047]    The mixing motion providing agitation and mixing of product base and customizing agents may be generated by internal or external mixers providing a simple oscillatory or vibrating motion wherein the consumer container with the blended personal product is simply shaken rapidly back and forth through a short distance. Preferably, more advanced mixers are used which provide a gyroscopic motion wherein a container is moved, usually rotated, about one axis while simultaneously being moved, usually spun, about a second axis perpendicular to the first such as is done by the Red Devil twin axis orbital Speed Demon Mixer® available from the Red Devil Equipment Co. (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), or the like. Especially preferred are mixing devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,652 issued to Brunn, et. al. on May 12, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,163 issued to Brunn, et. al. on Jan. 17, 1995; both here incorporated by reference. Preferably a circular mixing motion having a relatively large diametric (and radial) displacement at a relatively slow speed to mix a viscous fluid, preferably a personal care product, in a short period of time without producing foaming or air entrapment in the fluid. Preferably the displacement and speed is sufficiently large and slow to maintain any air pocket within the container substantially intact and cause it to move within the container along a path which includes both vertical and horizontal components. Accordingly, one aspect of the preferred mixing method of the present invention takes advantage of the air pocket found in the consumer product bottle after filling. However, the mixing advantages of the preferred mixing method can be achieved without an air pocket. Thus, in contrast to mixers that try to achieve mixing by using high-speed oscillatory or vibratory motion over short distances, the preferred mixing apparatus of the present invention accomplishes mixing by using relatively slow speeds and large displacements. This substantially reduces wear and tear on the mixing device and significantly reduces the entrapment of air bubbles in the blended personal care product.  
         [0048]    Preferably the internal or external mixer has a container holder that can accommodate a plurality of consumer containers of the same or different volumes, thus increasing productivity.  
         [0049]    Preferably, the consumer container has a neck for facilitating the dispensing of a flowable or extrudable personal product. Especially preferred is a threaded or flanged neck for use with a cap (with or without an integrated orifice), or a pump dispenser, which is designed to securely fit on the neck, or the like. Preferably, the consumer bottle is filled with the selected base product, and the selected customizing agents, to a level below the bottle neck, a plug sized to fill at least 50% of the volume of the bottle neck is inserted inside the neck, the bottle is inserted into the mixer holder in a substantially inverted position, and the inverted bottle is agitated until the contents have been uniformly blended. This is done in part to improve mixing efficiency when the container&#39;s contents are blended by an external-mixing device. Preferably the container is situated in the mixer in a position at an angle of greater than 10 degrees, more preferably greater than 30 degrees, from its major axis vertical orientation, and most preferably in a position substantially inverted from its filling position. If the bottle is smaller than the mixer holder, the bottle may be slid into a bottle sleeve adapted to fit both the mixer holder and the bottle.  
         [0050]    In another aspect of the invention, an internal or external labeling device applies a customized label to the container identifying only the components of the base formula and dosed customizing agents actually contained in the container. The labeling device may produce the label by any suitable means, preferably by a computer interfaced with a printer which allows for the user to input the consumer&#39;s custom product selections and accesses a database of ingredients contained in the available product bases and customizing agent compositions to produce a customized label. In another embodiment, the dispensing device may be electronically linked with an internal labeling device by art recognized techniques, so that a signal is sent to the labeling device when such dispenser is activated identifying the component dispensed, and preferably the volume dispensed, so that a custom label is provided identifying only the components actually dispensed into the container.  
         [0051]    The same or a different computer printer combination may also be used to insert a code on the label, e.g. a machine readable bar code or the like, capable of tracking the identity of both the product and the consumer for later reference. In this way, the consumer can easily reorder the custom product from the same location the product was purchased or from a remote location. The consumer may also return to the store or kiosk and allow the previous label to be scanned thus facilitating the purchase of additional product.  
         [0052]    In another aspect, the inventive apparatus or kit produces custom products of convenient volume to facilitate consumer use. Preferably, the apparatus is designed to accommodate a consumer container for the final product having a volume under about 1 liter, preferably under about 220 m/s.  
         [0053]    The foregoing description and examples illustrate selected embodiments of the present invention. In light thereof variations and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the scope and spirit of this invention.