Patent Application
20190209984
The present invention relates to color solution and more specifically to color solution mixtures. In particular, a method and apparatus are disclosed for enabling mixture of color solutions for use in coloring hair.
Hair care is a booming industry, with international sales that generate billions of dollars in sales. One very popular form of hair care is hair coloring, namely a process of changing the color of a person's hair. Hair coloring is done for a multitude of cosmetic reasons, including covering greying hair, changing hair color, or modifying hair color after chemical damage. Some estimates place the number of American women that color their hair at 75 percent.
Hair coloring can be done at home, typically with solutions that are purchased through retail outlets. Many consumers, however, prefer to have hair coloring done professionally, in a salon, and by a licensed individual that not only has experience but access to professional equipment and supplies. Salons thus stock an assortment of hair coloring dyes, in numerous colors, shades and strengths. A hair stylist will typically mix dyes of various colors or shades in order to obtain a hair dye solution mixture that will produce a desired hair color shade. Depending upon the type of chemicals being used, a developer or oxidizing agent may be added to the hair dye mixture before the mixture is applied to a person's hair (in order to activate the color properties).
Hair coloring typically falls into one of the following categories: permanent, demi-permanent, semi-permanent and temporary color. Permanent hair color usually includes ammonia and is mixed with developer or oxidizing agent. Demi-permanent hair color includes an agent other than ammonia and is also used with developer, although the developer may be different than the developer used with Permanent hair color. Semipermanent hair color include little to no developer, peroxide or ammonia. Temporary hair color does not penetrate hair's cuticle layer, and thus can be removed with a single washing.
After entering a salon (and determining the desired color and formula for that person's unique hair type), a hair stylist will mix various hair dye solutions in a bowl, add developer or oxidizing agent if necessary, mix the contents of the bowl, and apply the hair dye solution mixture to a customer's hair. After an appropriate processing time (typically 30-45 minutes) the hair dye solution mixture is washed off of the person's hair, and the hair will subsequently dry (either with or without hot air being blown onto the dyed hair).
A method of creating color solution, comprises the steps of: receiving color shade solution values corresponding to respective color shade solutions and color shade quantity values corresponding to respective amounts of said respective color shade solutions; mapping each of said received color shade solution values to respective locations where said respective color shade solutions are stored; and releasing into a mixing container said respective color shade solutions in said respective amounts. An apparatus is capable of performing the above steps.
As previously explained, a hair stylist adds various hair color dyes into a bowl, adds developer or oxidizer if needed, and then mixes the contents of the bowl. The mixed contents of the bowl are then applied to a person's hair. While this process produces professional level results, there are problems with this method and there are ways for the method to be improved:
1) When a hair stylist is mixing hair color solution, he/she selects various containers (e.g. tubes) of various hair color solutions, and enters the solutions into a bowl. While a hair stylist tries to be precise with regard to the quantity of solution being dispensed from each container, the hair stylist is dispensing the solution manually. Therefore, it may be difficult to dispense a precise quantity of hair color. As a result, the final hair color mixture may be “off” and not produce the expected hair color change.
2) As hair grows, undyed hair roots are exposed. Thus, after a period of time, many people will return to a salon to have their hair dyed again. As previously explained, the various solutions are dispensed manually by a hair stylist. If the solutions are not dispensed in the identical amounts that they were dispensed the last time a customer had their hair dyed, the resulting color will be different than the previous color. As many people desire their hair to have a consistent, natural, color, a change in color after each visit to the hair salon can be extremely undesirable.
3) Hair stylists dispense hair dye solutions into a mixing bowl and may not consider how much solution is desirable in order to properly dye a person's hair. Excess solution in a mixing bowl (i.e. that is not used to dye a person's hair) must be discarded. This results in waste and unnecessary expense.
4) A salon is required to stock a large variety of hair color dyes in order to color a customer's hair in any shade that they wish. If a particular hair dye shade is not available (because, for example, it has been completely used, and either not reordered or the reorder has not yet arrived at the salon), then certain hair shades cannot be created at that salon (or can created, but with difficulty).
5) Because hair dye solutions are dispensed manually by a hair stylist, it is difficult to know exactly how much hair dye solution is used each day, each week, each month, etc. This makes it difficult to track product usage, identify hair stylists that are creating waste, and to reorder depleted stock in a timely manner.
6) There is a plethora of hair dye solutions—they are available in a wide variety of shades—and each shade is stored in a respectively different container. Thus, it may be time consuming and challenging to find a specific container (e.g. tube) of color solution that a hair stylist desires to use.
7) There is an unknown nature regarding how much hair color solution may be used by a salon in future weeks, months, etc. So if a salon routinely orders a restock of hair color solution for next week at the end of this week, there are no solid metrics to base how much should be ordered. A salon may place an order for restock (or a reorder) based on what is presumed to be “enough”. This practice may cause over or under ordering.
A method and apparatus are thus described for providing hair dye solutions.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, hair dye solutions are mixed after information is entered into a computing device. An exemplary graphic user interface (GUI) for entering data into a computing device is illustrated in
The user interface is the link between the human element and the functionality of the machine. It is intended for use on a touch screen device such as an iPad for intuitive control. The interface may preserve the human artistry of hair color allowing the stylist to input their formulas with ease and familiarity.
Each user is enrolled by the salon administrator account which will ensure that each salon maintains control of who has access to the apparatus that dispenses and possibly mixes a plurality of hair dye solutions. During the enrollment process, the administrator will determine what level of access that user will be granted, from whether that user has the ability to view salon-wide usage and financial reports, to the authority to unlock the front access door of the machine that dispenses hair dye solutions to remove and insert color canisters from the interface. These are merely examples of the various types of access that can be granted to each user. Other levels of access may be available as well. One exemplary aspect of the system is its ability to monitor the usage, predict when more of a specific color will be needed, as well as automatically ordering hair color and developers. The orders would be initiated by the system and would be sent to a distributor in order for the hair color dye order to be processed and shipped. This aspect of the invention could optionally be working in tandem with scheduling software to recognize returning clients and new clients to be able to better predict usage (for color and developer). Since all the clients may have profiles in the system, it is known how much and what shade these clients have historically needed (or desired). Using this data, it is possible to predict with more certainty and accuracy each order cycle for reordering hair color solution and/or developer (machine learning). Also, payment processing for the color order could be done through the software that is performing the reordering.
Every interaction with the exemplary graphic user interface may begin with a login screen. A successful login will be the result of one of the following entry methods; Username and password, a scan of biometric credentials (such as fingerprint scan, facial recognition, etc.), or the use of a readable identification card through the use of a bar code or chip.
The purpose of an access control step such as this will be two fold, each being vital to the overall functionality of creating a cohesive unit between human and machine. Firstly, it would act to ensure a high level of security in order to prevent unauthorized access both to the interface as well as the machine. Secondly, the act of logging in would enable the system to recognize the current user allowing for a plurality of features including the ability to track all aspects of an individual's utilization of the machine including color usage, as well as the ability to automatically populate a user s saved preferences, data, and authorizations.
Following a successful login, a stylist would be presented with four options on the main menu/hub page. The four options are currently named Mixing Bowl, Client Book, Reports, and Settings. Each selection would direct the user to a different page. The design is minimalistic and simplistic to allow the interface to almost fade into the background and allow the stylist to intuitively know how to interact with it in order to accomplish their task seamlessly. This is the central hub of the interface; every subsequent page has the option to return directly to this menu/hub page by tapping on the either the logo or the Color Room wording.
The “Mixing Bowl” menu option 201 directs the users to the mixing page. This is the most unique, creative, and propriety page within the interface. It attempts, successfully, to take the heuristics of the current manual technique of hair color formulation, and replicates it for a digital interface. By mimicking the manual mixing technique that stylists are both familiar with as well as have been trained on it will facilitate an easily surmountable learning curve. The intuitive nature of this page stems from the illustration of a graduated cylinder which acts as both a way to select the desired amount while also simultaneously displaying all of the already mixed colors in easy to understand format.
1) The stylist would choose an amount of hair color or developer by either dragging their finger up to the desired amount on the cylinder, and, if desired, tapping the cylinder which would allow for a numerical quantity to be entered via a keypad that would appear.
2) The stylist would select what hair color that they wanted on the left side where it is categorized by hair color level. Every hair color brand uses various color levels to name and distinguish the dozens upon dozens of different colors they have in a single code, such as 6NN. Hair levels range from 1 to 11+, these values indicate how dark or light a color is or will be. Level one is the darkest black to level eleven (or higher) which is the lightest blonde. Under each level there are many hair colors that have varying underlying shades.
These two steps can also be done in reverse by selecting the hair color first, then selecting an amount of hair dye solution with the selected hair color. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is no proper first and second step, it can go in any order.
Developer is added to every hair color formula (depending upon the type of hair color being mixed) as it activates the chemicals in the hair color to allow it penetrate the hair shaft. There is a variety of different developers; there is usually 10 volume, 20 volume, 30 volume, and 40 volume; however other volumes may be available as wells. It is almost entirely combined in a 1:1 ratio with the total hair color mixed. In one embodiment, the stylist is given the option of simply selecting a 1:1 ratio as the amount of whatever developer they select. In another embodiment, the stylist is given another ratio, or is given the option to select another ratio. In another embodiment, the hair stylist is given the option to select a specific amount of developer. As the different hair colors are combined and the developer is added it will display in the virtual cylinder. When the stylist is finished mixing she he would tap the “dispense” button which would initiate the machine to begin dispensing the actual hair color formula for use. If the formula is not already assigned to a saved client then as soon as the “dispense” button is pressed the user will be prompted to choose from three options to; 1) save the formula as a new client, 2) save the formula under an existing client, or 3) not save the formula for future use.
The “Client Book” menu option 203,
The information found on all clients in the “client book” menu option 203 may also be used in an algorithm in order to predict the amount of each color as well as developer that is going to be used. Also, it may be able to access the dates each customer is scheduled for hair coloring services in a salon in order to predict the salon cycle of this client and compile it with all other clients. In another exemplary embodiment, this information is coupled with scheduling software to provide information so as to make predictions on future color and developer usage and desirably reorder hair color solution and developer.
The “Reports” menu option 202 would bring the stylist to a page that displays their personal color usage over a defined period of time. The stylist has the option of generating reports based on various exemplary data values, such as (for example) color usage, quantity used, number of clients served, cost accrued through color usage, etc. With authorization from the administrator, a user may generate more detailed reports that also show data on other individual stylists as well as salon-wide reporting. All reporting is in real-time.
The Administrator reporting gives the most highly detailed view of the salon's color inventory, usage, and ordering. From the admin reporting you can narrow down data to a single stylist, a group of stylists, or salon wide. Order reports can be viewed from here as well.
The “settings” menu option 204 is used to change any of the default settings or preferences such as what unit of measure they prefer. This is merely an example and other types of settings may also be modifiable.
Thus, in an exemplary salon, for example, a plurality of hair stylists each have access to a computing system. The computing system may include security features for only allowing authorized stylists access to the computing system. In addition, each stylist using the computing system is desirably required to “logon” so that their respective usage of the computer system can be tracked. As illustrated in
Selecting mixing bowl menu option 201 brings the stylist to mixing page 300. Mixing page 300 allows a stylist to obtain a customized hair color solution mixture and will be described in greater detail below.
Selecting reports menu option 202 allows reports to be generated, indicating for example the amounts of each hair color that has been used in a specific time period. Reports tile 202 is described in greater detail below.
Selecting client book menu option 203 allows a stylist to retrieve and/or enter hair dye solution ingredients for the stylists clients. Client book tile 203 is described in greater detail below.
Selecting settings menu option 204 adjusts various settings relating to use of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and will be described in greater detail below.
Each manufacturer uses various designations to indicate the color that is achieved by their hair color solutions. As an example, one popular hair dye solution that is available to professionals is Matrix SoColor. Each (or some) of the tiles 1-11 that appear in level selection 302 may correspond to a respective group of hair dye solutions that are available in the Matrix SoColor line. Additional tiles on separate screens enable a stylist to indicate which hair dye solution is desired after the group of hair dye solutions is designated with level selection tiles 302. Below is a list of exemplary hair dye solutions that that are in the Matrix SoColor line. This list is merely provided as an example. There are multitude of other manufacturers and product lines for hair dye solution that may be used with, or in combination with, the present invention:
1N Black
2N Natural Black
3N Darkest Brown
11P Extra Light Blonde
Thus, in one exemplary embodiment, Level Selection 302 may have more or less than 11 tiles depending on the total number of hair color solutions that are available to the stylist. In another exemplary embodiment, a tile is selected from the choices available in level selection 302, and after that tile is selected, a further tile is selected from sublevel selection 306 in order to choose the actual hair color solution that will be used.
To provide a further example, the stylist selects the tile corresponding to the hair color solution that is desired and then presses an amount on virtual cylinder 301 that corresponds to the amount of selected solution that will be dispensed. If, for example, the stylist desires to prepare a hair dye mixture that comprises 40 ml of 7A Black and 20 ml of 7N Darkest Brown, the stylist would select the following in the following exemplary order:
Tile 7
Tile 7A
40 ml
Tile 7
Tile 7N
20 ml
The exemplary order provided above is merely exemplary. Alternatively, and as an example, volume is selected before each hair dye solution is selected.
After the components of the hair dye mixture have been selected, the stylist can optionally include developer by selecting the Developer tile 303 followed by the amount of developer to be included with the hair dye mixture by selecting the desired amount of developer in virtual cylinder 301. The developer can be added by specifying a particular amount, or specifying a ratio. For example, if the amount of hair dye solutions that are being combined equals 45 mm and a 1:1 ratio of developer is specified, than 45 mm of developer will be added. As previously explained, developer can include peroxide, ammonia, a combination thereof, or some other chemical that causes the hair dye mixture to dye hair.
After the hair dye solutions and developer (if not optional) are selected and stored, dispense color tile 304 is selected and the hair dye mixture is dispensed. The combination of several hair dye solutions that have been dispensed may be referred to as a hair dye solution mixture. Unit selection 305 optionally allows a stylist to indicate the units of measurement with which hair dye solution is selected.
During the process of selecting various hair dye solutions, and amounts, data is stored corresponding to each selection. Each hair dye solution may be represented by a corresponding data value. In the process of selecting hair dye solutions the various data values corresponding to the selected hair dye solutions are stored. This information is retrieved later in order to dispense the desired hair dye solutions and to create the desired hair dye solution mixture.
Each hair dye solution is stored in its own respective container.
The canister function is twofold; one is to act as a storage device for the hair color and allow it to be dispensed evenly and second is to monitor the amount of color in the canister at any time. The storage and dispensing functions will be accomplished through a combination of pressurized air and check valves.
The physical construction of the canister is based around a thin metal shell which could withstand pressurized contents. The inside of the canister will have a thin plastic piston which will be at the bottom of the canister when it is full while allowing a tiny gap of air in the bottom for expanding gas. Running along the entire length of the inside of the canister will be a tube for adding pressurized air to the chamber at the bottom of the canister. The tube will have a valve to allow the intake of pressurized air in the front of the canister and the piston will have a hole in it to accompany the tube. At the front of the canister where the hair color would come out, there is a check valve which lets fluid flow in only one direction and it is angled so the flow would be directed downward into the mixing bowl. The inside of the directing check valve may be coated with a non-stick coating (e.g. Liquiglide) to avoid clogging and oxidation of lingering drops.
Hair color solution may be dispensed from canister 110 in a variety of different ways.
To extract the hair color liquid out of the canister, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an assembly utilizes an actuator that includes an electromagnet to force a hose from a small air compressor to connect to a valve located on the top front of a canister forcing the hair color to flow out. This action starts with a solenoid made of thin copper magnet wire wrapped a couple hundred times around a thin iron rod to increase the strength of the magnet. The solenoid and iron will be wrapped in a heat resistant composite. Securely fastened to the solenoid assembly will be the compressor hose. The solenoid will be anchored into a 3D printed ABS base with plastic set screws. The base is designed to have two thin members sticking out of the sides of it which are normal to the axis of the iron core of the solenoid. The two members protruding out of the magnet's base are going to be positioned to stick through two springs. These two springs will be perpendicular to the protruding members and parallel to the magnet. When the magnet is not applying a force from the hose to the canister, these two springs will provide a counter force in the opposite direction of the canister to keep the magnet out of the way but will compress enough and with a low enough spring constant that it doesn't impede the function of the magnet.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention a small air compressor, running continuously and generating compressed air on demand which is less than 15 psi is included. Due to the small value of psi utilized and the very small volume of compressed air needed the compressor will be extremely small and quiet.
Two exemplary embodiments are now presented. In one embodiment, the hair color solution is stored in the canister under pressure (in one example, with a propellant), so that upon opening a valve, the internal pressure in the canister causes the hair color solution to flow out of the canister. For this purpose exemplary dispensing control 114 is illustrated. In another embodiment pressurized gas is coupled to a gas inlet, such as gas inlet 117, and pressurized gas is applied to the hair color solution within canister 110. In this exemplary embodiment, a low pressure valve (not shown) may be included within dispenser 113. The lower pressure valve may be designed so that it is normally in a closed position, but it transitions to an open position upon the application of pressurized fluid (e.g. at or above 0.3 psi), These are merely two examples of how hair color solution is permitted to be dispensed from canister 110. Other methodologies for enabling a solution to leave a canister may be used as well.
To initiate the process of getting the hair color out of the canister and into the bowl, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the actuator would move to the desired canister of color and the electromagnet with the compressor hose would activate to connect the hose to the air intake valve. Pressurized air would flow into the tube which feeds into the air reservoir in the bottom of the canister. When enough pressure is built up against the piston, the check valve will release and allow the color to flow out and direct it into the mixing bowl below. Again, this process is merely exemplary as other methods for enabling hair color dye to be dispensed from canisters may be used.
Generally speaking, each hair dye solution is stored in a respective canister. What s next explained is an exemplary method and/or apparatus for obtaining hair dye solution from certain ones of the canisters in order to obtain a hair dye solution mixture that will dye hair to a desired shade (color).
For the purpose of keeping track of how much color is currently in each canister and allowing certain canisters to be stored in a rack from which the hair dye solutions are dispensed, a smart chip may be embedded into the latching mechanism that locks the canister into the rack. On the mount for each canister inside the rack there will be contacts to read the chip when the locking mechanism is fully engaged and the canister is in place. The mechanism that holds the canister in place may be for example, a plastic set of rails with a female rail on the canister and the male on the rack in the machine. The chip would be on the underside of the canister tucked up above the rails. To insert a canister into the rack, the user would depress a small tab on the front underside of the canister then slide the female rail into the male rail until the canister cannot be inserted any further and the user would then release the tab.
As previously explained, to obtain a hair dye solution mixture that produces a particular shade (color) after being applied to hair (for example), a stylist needs to prepare a mixture of certain hair dye solutions, each in certain amounts. Thus, a method and apparatus are described for dispensing desired hair dye solutions into a common container. After the hair dye solutions (and optionally developer) have been dispensed into the common container, the contents of the container can be mixed before being applied to a person's hair. Note, however, that mixing of the contents of the common container may occur at various times from the moment that the desired hair dye solutions are first indicated until the moment that the hair dye solutions are applied to a person's hair.
In order to prepare the desired hair dye solution mixture, it is desirable for a common container to be near the canisters from which hair dye solution is dispensed. In one exemplary embodiment, the canisters of hair dye solution remain in fixed locations and the common container is brought into the vicinity of those canisters from which hair dye solution is to be dispensed into the common container. In another exemplary embodiment, the common container remains in a fixed location and the canisters of hair dye solution are brought into the vicinity of the common container so that the contents of the desired canisters can be dispensed. In a further exemplary embodiment, both the canisters of hair dye solution and the common container move so that desired canisters are in the vicinity of the common container for dispensing of the desired hair dye solutions. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the canisters of hair dye solution and the common container remain stationary. In this exemplary embodiment, conduits are provided between the canisters of hair dye solution and the common carrier. Hair dye solution is released from selected ones of the canisters so that desired quantities of certain hair dye solutions enter the common container.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
When the color is extracted out of the canister it falls into the mixing bowl. The mixing bowl may be, for example, a stainless steel paraboloid shaped bowl coated in a nonstick coating (such as Liquiglide). Optionally attached to the side of the bowl is a member with a small electric motor mounted on it. The motor is to rotate the mixing paddle which is also mounted to the member and allowed to rotate via a ball bearing for smooth motion. To turn the mixing paddle, the motor will have a 90 degree angled gear to allow for the translation of motion between perpendicular axes. On the paddle there will be the accompanying 90 degree gear to mesh with the one on the motor. The paddle's geometry is similar to one you would find on a kitchen mixer, with the main difference being the lack of flat surfaces which have a normal parallel to gravity. This trait is to ensure that in the transfer of liquid from the mixing bowl to the final container there is no chance of any color being caught on the flat surfaces of the mixing paddle. In one exemplary embodiment, the paddle may be made out of stiff silicone rubber to keep the surface of the mixing bowl undamaged. The mixing may occur anytime that there is hair color in the bowl, but not when hair color is flowing into the mixing bowl from a canister 110.
For the horizontal motion of mixing bowl 130, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a stepper motor is attached to a lead screw. The lead screw has a correspondingly threaded nut which allows for smooth linear motion when the motor is actuated. The lead screw may be anchored on the side without the motor by a ball bearing apparatus to ensure smooth, even rotation. The turning of the lead screw by the motor causes the nut to move linearly corresponding to the direction of the lead screw's threading. The nut is anchored to the cart allowing the cart to move along the rail's axis when the motor is actuated. A very similar setup is used for the vertical motion but instead of having a single lead screw, two lead screws are preferred with one lead screw mounted on each side of the horizontal rails/lead screws. On the end of both of these vertical lead screws are stepper motors to control and actuate the motion. The vertical stepper motors desirably work in sync with each other and actuate at the same time and for the same duration
In a further exemplary embodiment, the mixing apparatus and bowl are mounted onto a cart which transports the bowl everywhere in the plane of the canister nozzles so it has the ability to collect hair color and developer from every canister. The cart is given its mobility through a tracked apparatus in which two rails are running horizontally across the front of the machine and the end of each of these rails is attached to another rail which runs vertically on the front of the machine. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal motion may be powered by a small electric motor on the end of each set of rails, the motor will turn a spool winding a narrow cable which is anchored to the bottom of the side of the cart that the motor is on. For the cart to move from the left side of the machine to the right, the right side motor would actuate to reel in the cable and therefore the left motor would reel out the cable in an equal amount to what the right motor reeled in. For the vertical motion, a similar system is in place but instead of or in addition to a motor for both sides and for both directions along an axis, gravity may act as the motor to move the horizontal track assembly down. To move the horizontal motion apparatus to the top of the machine from the bottom, both motors mounted on the top of the machine would actuate and reel in the cable to the spool equally on both sides to keep the cart and horizontal rails level as they translate up. Then to move back down, the motors would actuate in the opposite direction and gravity would pull the cart and horizontal rails downward but the motors would unspool the cable at an even pace to control the descent.
To allow the cart to glide smoothly along the rails with very minimal friction, there are linear bearings mounted to the bottom of the cart on each side. The same setup is used for the vertical motion but the end of each horizontal rail is inserted into a milled hole in a linear bearing which is on the vertical rails.
In one exemplary embodiment, the contents of mixing bowl 130 are provided to the stylist (in one example, the stylist simply takes possession of mixing bowl 130, in another example the contents of mixing bowl 130 are poured into another bowl, and the stylist takes possession of that other bowl). The stylist then adds developer (45 ml from a container of developer), mixes everything together, and applies the mixture to a client's hair.
In another exemplary embodiment, mixing bowl 130 is moved to canister 110 of developer shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the contents of mixing bowl 130 are mechanically mixed before the stylist takes possession of the contents of mixing bowl 130 (either by taking possession of mixing bowl 130 itself or taking possession of another bowl into which the contents of mixing bowl 130 are poured).
In one exemplary embodiment, the contents of mixing bowl 130 are provided to the stylist by enabling a stylist to be able to retrieve mixing bowl 130. In other embodiments, it may be preferable to transfer the contents of mixing bowl 130 into another bowl. Then, that other bowl is retrieved by the stylist. In order to enable the contents of mixing bowl 130 to be transferred to another bowl, and exemplary mechanism is included via mix bowl pivot 140 which includes pivot horizontal gear 141 and pivot perpendicular gear 142. A motor (not shown) may be actuated to cause rotation of pivot perpendicular gear 142. This in turn will cause rotation of pivot horizontal gear 141. This in turn will cause mixing bowl 130 to rotate, thus causing the contents of mixing bowl 130 to be poured into another bowl. That other bowl is then retrieved by the stylist.
The entire mechanism that handles the transfer of mixed liquid from the bowl to the final container that the stylist will apply the color from is located on the cart that moves along the horizontal track. The mixing bowl is mounted into a thin flat circular plate which has a circular cutout for insertion of the mixing bowl. Attachment from the bowl to the plate will be made semi-permanent via shallow screws. On the outside of the plate closest to the sides of the machine are protruding cylinders to mount a gear on each side via set screws. Meshed with each of these gears will be a corresponding worm gear which will control the dumping motion of the mixing bowl. Controlling each worm gear will be a single small electric motor mounted to the cart with the shaft of the motor supported by a small structure with an imbedded ball bearing for friction reduction. The dumping mechanism works by the electric motor actuating which is connected to the worm gear and the motion of the worm gear switches the axis of rotation and allows the gear attached to the plate and ultimately the bowl to rotate toward the front dumping the mixture into a different container. When all the color is extracted with the rotation of the bowl toward the front of the machine, the motor would turn in the opposite direction which would cause the bowl to rotate back to its upright position.
In a further exemplary embodiment, each canister 110 (or one or more canisters 110) includes some form of identification which may be used to determine whether canister 110 may be used as a source of hair dye solution. Thus, each canister is given some type of “tag.” The tag may take various forms including RFID, or an optical forms such as a barcode. Alternatively, the tag can be in a mechanical form, such that the mechanical shape needs to be a certain shape for canister 110 to be considered a permissible source of hair dye solution. In the embodiment shown, for example, in
In addition to determining whether a tag (again, physical, optical, electrical, etc.) indicates that use of canister 110 is permissible, the tag may also be used to indicate the contents of canister 110. In this matter, if it is desired to obtain hair dye solution of a specific color/shade from canister, the tag enables identification of where such a canister may be located.
Actuator 600 is comprised of motor 620 that rotates threaded shaft 610. Nut 630 is prevented from rotating within cylinder 625 (this is accomplished in various manners, including a ridge within piston 625 that engages a notch within nut 630. Thus, as motor 620 rotates, threaded shaft 610 rotates and nut 630 moves along shaft 610. Nut 630 is coupled to piston 635, thus causing piston 635 to move in and out within cylinder 625. Piston 635 is coupled to axle 640. Thus, energizing motor 620 causes roller 640 to move along tube 650, thus flattening tube 650 and causing its contents to be forced out of its open nozzle.
Optional valve 655 is located at the nozzle of tube 650. Optional valve 655 may be further opened or closed in order to provide further control of hair color dye being squeezed out of tube 650. Valve 655 may be supported by a stationary member in order to help keep tube 650 in place.
The table shown in
The table shown in
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, reordering of hair dye solution is automated, based at least in part on scheduling of customers within a salon. Thus, for example, a salon may have scheduling software that includes information (i.e. appointment dates) regarding future appointments of customers for the purpose of hair coloring. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the information regarding customers that will be coming into the salon is evaluated in combination with known existing stock of hair dye solution (and also, possibly, hair dye solution that has been ordered and is expected to arrive at the salon at a time in the future). In particular, if the combination (and quantity) of hair dye solutions that will be needed for customers is known (i.e. previously stored in a database as described above), it is then possible to determine whether the salon has sufficient stock of hair dye solution for those customers. Furthermore, if it is determined that the stock of hair dye solution in the salon is insufficient for the customers that are expected in the future, a distributor can be signaled to provide (i.e. ship) hair dye solution to the salon, so that the salon has sufficient stock when customers arrive for their appointments in the future.
In the above exemplary embodiment, the location of canisters 110 can be dynamic.
In other words, by simply inserting a canister into location, the contents of the canister are identified, when a stylist desires the dispensing of hair dye solution in a desired shade, mixing bowl 130 can be moved into position for dispensing of that shade based on the identification information included in the canister's tag. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the location of various canisters 110 may be fixed. Thus, it may be required that canisters be inserted into various locations based on predefined information. For example, the location of canisters that contain specific hair dyes may need to be entered manually, and then canisters placed in those locations based on the previous manual entering of that information.
In an alternative embodiment, a scanner scans each canister 110 before insertion into rack 110. The location of the scanned canister 110 may then be entered manually, for example (such as on a keyboard—a dedicated keyboard, a keyboard on a smartphone or tablet, etc.)
In an alternative embodiment, information on the outside of canister 110 is manually entered, and the location of canister 110 within rack 191 is manually entered. Validation may thus occur based on the manually entered information.
As color apparatus 105 is operating in a salon, all the color formulations created using color apparatus 105 may be tracked and turned into empirical data which can be used to analyze the usage of the various shades of hair color and developer. Since all of the clients of a particular salon will be entered into the “client book” section of the user interface, all the data regarding their color usage history may be available including, but not limited to, the color shades and quantities of color shades, type and amount of developer, dates and frequency of visitation to the salon. Color apparatus 105 desirably analyzes all of the data from all of the clients entered into color apparatus 105. Also, historical data from busier times of the year, seasons, weather, geographic location, holidays, among others can be taken in account during the process of automatically reordering color shade solution. From this data, predictions can be made for the future usage of color shades and developers. This predictive system can also be coupled with scheduling software. Color apparatus 105 may be able to recognize names and dates from the client appointments and since the usage data for these clients is already in color apparatus 105, usage predictions can be calculated. When color apparatus 105 recognizes that the available salon inventory of certain color shades and developers is depleted or will be depleted in the future to a certain point of resupply, the distributor is notified of the color shades and developers and the quantities needed. Payment for the resupply may be made possible through color apparatus 105 as well. These quantities will be calculated based on the predicted usage data. During every resupply period for each color shade, analysis is done by color apparatus 105 on the accuracy of the usage predictions against the actual usage. The data generated by these analyses will allow for more accurate future usage predictions for the lifetime of the system.
The flowchart diagram illustrated in
To put it another way, a salon very much wants to avoid the situation where a customer walks in, wants their hair to be died a certain shade, and the salon is unable to accommodate customer because one of the hair dye solutions that is needed to create the desired color is not in stock with in the hair salon. This may be the result, for example, of having “run out” of a certain hair dye solution prior to a customer entering the hair salon. If a certain shade of hair dye solution is unavailable to the salon, and the salon cannot give the customer the hair color that the customer desires, it is very possible for the hair salon to lose the sale.
The use of the various motors and actuators described above provides a technical solution to this problem. This technical solution provide significant advantages over the prior art by trying to provide sufficient quantities of various color shade solutions (i.e. color shade solutions in various colors). As previously described, a user interface allows various color shade solutions to be selected, and the various motors and actuators described above cause the requested color dye solutions to be automatically dispensed. The combination of these features in conjunction with various rules and algorithms can help a salon to try to stock appropriate inventory.
One of the aspects of this exemplary embodiment of the present invention is that many customers are repeat customers. Also, repeat customers may come to a salon for hair color treatment at regular time intervals. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, this information is used in combination with the various quantities of hair dye solution that are dispensed in order to ensure adequate stock of hair dye solution.
At step 505, color apparatus 105 continuously tracks current amount of shade and developer in the salon based on usage.
At step 510, color apparatus 105 calculates amount of each shade and developer that are used each week.
In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various dates are used to determine how much color shade solution and/or developer should be reordered. For example, at step 515, color shade solution is reordered based on average amounts of each color shade solution used in previous weeks. Alternatively, or in addition, amounts of color shade solution to be reordered are calculated based on maximum amounts of color shade solution used in various time periods (such as weekly, monthly, etc.). Alternatively, step 525 reordering of color shade solution and/or developer is calculated using a weighted average, a maximum amount of previous time period, etc.
At step 530, color apparatus 105 calculates amount of each color shade solution (and/or developer) needed (or expected to be used) in one or more future time periods. This calculation may be based on the amounts of color dye solutions that customer have used in previous appointments, average amounts of color dye solution used over one or more time intervals, maximum amounts of color dye solutions used over one or more time intervals, weighted maximums, other factors as previously described such as time of year, holidays, etc.
At step 535, color apparatus 105 performs a comparison between the amount of color dye solution calculated at step 530 and the amount of color dye solution actually in stock in the salon. This step is performed in order to determine if sufficient amounts of color shade solution are stored (based, for example, on what has been previously stored, use that has been tracked, and the previous calculation.
At step 540, processing proceeds to either step 505 or step 545 based on the results of the comparison in step 535.
At step 545, color dye solution is ordered to satisfy the amount needed. In this manner, physical amounts of color shade solution are acquired. Once received by the salon, the amount received is updated within color apparatus 105. Processing then proceeds to step 505.
Returning to
At step 410, information for all clients allows color apparatus 105 to access type and quantity of color shade solution, the frequency of visits by each customer, and the amount of developer used.
At step 415, available data is used to predict future usage of various color shade solutions.
At step 420, the client book data in combination with scheduling software enables color apparatus 105 to recognize who is making an appointment and when.
At step 425, data stored for each client is evaluated in combination with client schedules to calculate usage of color shade solutions over future time periods for various color shade solutions and for various developers.
At step 430, color apparatus 105 continuously compares the rate of usage of each color shade solution and developer with the amount of each used to the current inventory of the salon.
At step 435, based on future usage predictions and the rate at which the current inventory is being depleted, an optimal point of reorder is calculated and the quantities are based on the future usage predictions.
At step 440, color apparatus 105 automatically notifies a distributor through electronic means that a resupply is needed. In one exemplary embodiment, this communication can occur over the Internet.
At step 445, a distributor receives the order for various quantities of color shade solutions and/or developers and ships these products to the hair salon.
At step 450, color apparatus 105 is notified when shipped color shade solution and/or developer has been received. This information is updated in color apparatus 105 for that color apparatus 105 again has an accurate indication of the amounts of color shade solution and/or developer that are actually available and in stock within the hair salon. At step 455, usage of color shade solutions and/or developer that are in stock are further analyzed and compared with previous usage based on past orders and usage data.
At step 460, discrepancies between what was expected for usage in what actually was used will be adjusted for creating better predictions for future resupply's of respective color shade solutions and developers. In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, color apparatus 105 may include weightings that are used to adjust amounts of color shade solutions that are ordered in view of historical trends such as, for example, time of the year, weather, seasons, salon location, holidays, etc.
An example may be illustrative. In previous weeks use of color shade solution 7NN has been at the following quantities:
It is calculated that on average 180 ml of 7NN are used per week. At the beginning of Week 5, a salon has 210 ml of 7NN in stock. In one exemplary embodiment, the calculation is performed to make sure in Week 6, the average is available, plus an error factor (assume 50 ml). Therefore the algorithm wants to have the average plus 50 ml available in Week 6. The algorithm subtracts 180 ml (the average) from 210 ml (current amount in stock) and estimates 30 ml will be left by the end of the week. The algorithm wants for Week 6 there to be the average (180 ml) plus the error factor (50 ml) for a total of 230 ml. Since 30 ml is estimated to be left at the end of Week 5, the algorithm computes that 200 ml will be needed to achieve the 230 ml total that is desired. The algorithm therefore automatically orders enough containers of 7NN so that the 230 ml total can be obtained. The order is placed over the Internet (for example) and when the 7NN arrives at the salon, the actual amount that has arrived is entered. The algorithm can then perform calculations for subsequent weeks, and order appropriate amounts, based on the actual amount of 7NN that has arrived at the salon.
The above description is merely an example. In an alternative embodiment, the algorithm evaluates the database records of each person who is scheduled to have their hair dyed in Week 6. For example, the algorithm can evaluate how much 7NN will be used by all of the people having their hair dyed in Week 6 (based on their history that has been previously stored). Assume for example that the algorithm computes that the customers scheduled for Week 6 on average use 300 ml of 7NN. Although the average computed above was 180 ml, the algorithm has determined that 180 ml will not be enough (based on the people that actually have appointments), and will increase the order for delivery of more 7NN so that more than 300 ml of 7NN is present in the salon at the beginning of Week 6.
Or assume that Week 6 is the week before Christmas when business is much greater than other times of the year. The algorithm can apply a multiplier (assume 1.5×) to that week and determine that 270 ml (180 ml average×1.5 multiplier) plus any error factor needs to be present in the salon. The 7NN reorder can thus be based on the average and multiplier (rather than just the average).
These are merely examples of how the algorithm can determine how much hair color solution to reorder. Part of the reason why this algorithm is so useful is because of the automated manner in which hair color solution is dispensed by color apparatus 105. Each time hair color solution is dispensed, the amount that has been dispensed is saved so that the exemplary calculations described above can be performed. For example, it is possible to determine how much hair color solution has been dispensed based on the amount of time hair color solution is permitted to exit from canister 110 (or the amount of actuation of actuator 600 in
A further example may be illustrative. “Nancy” visits the salon and gets 100 mL of 7NN mixed with 100 mL of 20 vol developer. Since this information is saved it can be referenced. If Nancy returns to the salon, for example, in three weeks and gets the same formula, a frequency of visitation can be extrapolated. Thus, for Nancy, every three weeks (or any other span of time) her usage is 100 mL of both 7NN and 20 vol. Combining Nancy's typical usage over a certain future period with other clients who also use 7NN and 20 vol will give a total usage prediction over that period of time.
If the reorder period was deemed to be a one week span (other increments are also possible), then the week that Nancy comes in there is desirably at least 100 mL of 7NN and 20 vol developer along with a determined reserve amount. In this case, 50 mL of 7NN. These usages will be additive for all clients. The typical cyclic nature of the clients' visits will be determined based on the frequency extrapolation. Additionally, a scheduling software link will create more accuracy in determining when Nancy will be coming in for color again.
In normal day to day operation there will be the predicted usages calculated and the reorder date/time will be known due to the usage predictions against the current inventory.
For example, there will be 750 mL of 7NN used over the next four days on scheduled clients, and there is 800 mL of 7NN in inventory, then there needs to be a resupply of a determined amount of color based on future scheduled clients before that fourth day. Also, the reorder day can be set, for example on a Friday every week, and the usage for that period can be determined and resupplied based on actual usage.
Additionally, whenever a client gets hair color solution, color apparatus is recalculating the inventory, usage of that color/developer, and possible reorder date/amount against what was predicted. For example, if Nancy comes in a day early for her typical three week cycle, then 100 mL of 7NN will be subtracted from the inventory, added to the usage, and the reorder date will be moved up to accommodate for the change while allowing adequate supply of 7NN for the clients in the near future based on the predictions.
When color apparatus 105 automatically notifies the distributor and receives a resupply, in this case 1000 mL, the system will be notified that it has arrived and will be added to the available inventory. The new added inventory real time usage will again be analyzed compared to the expected usage patterns. Any discrepancies between what usage was expected and what was experienced due to possible unscheduled clients, new clients, weather, seasons, salon location, holidays, among others will be noted. These discrepancies will allow calculations to be made for accounting and correcting for them for future ordering cycles. For example method of calculating, if there are on average three unscheduled clients every two weeks using an average of 50 mL of 7NN. Then an amount greater than 150 mL of 7NN will be added to the future orders to accompany the potential maximum amount of unscheduled clients and volumes that are being used on them. If a jump in usage appears during a holiday period, then for an example calculation, a multiplier may be used to determine future usage. This multiplier may be based on past holiday period usage experience. If usage increased 50% compared to the normal usage for the time period then if the usage for the time period would have been 500 mL then the prediction would increase to 750 mL.
Over time, if there is a pervasive over or under prediction of color usage, due to any number of reasons, certain mathematical calculations will be applied to correct for these inaccuracies. For example, if there is a surplus of 100 mL over what was originally the reorder period, then the system will recognize that there needs to be a mathematical adjustment and may employ a function such as the following to reduce the surplus. The pervading surplus may be diminished by 20% every reorder cycle where it is deemed to be above the acceptable amount of surplus. So in this case, in the reorder cycle following the 100 mL surplus cycle, the order may be reduced by 20 mL. Then in the following cycle the surplus was determined to be 60 mL. The following order may be reduced by 12 mL. This will continue until an acceptable amount (percent or otherwise) of the order is a surplus or deficit and there is minimal amount of surplus or deficit variation cycle to cycle.
As previously explained, reordering of color dye solution may take place over the internet. For internet connectivity, Wi-Fi adapter 184 of
One exemplary function that may use this internet connectivity is the communication of orders of the various color shades and developers, to various distributors. Another exemplary function may include interconnectivity of all the usage data from a plurality of color apparatus 105 to a system administrator. The usage data may be communicated over the internet to create data on usage based on common geographic locations, weather, times of the year, etc. A third exemplary function is to communicate to a central administrator maintenance status or usability of the machine and the system components. A fourth exemplary function is for the authorization of a canister (i.e. a canister of hair color solution can be sold to a sold and then “activated” after it is installed in color apparatus 105. The authorizing code or protocol are desirably changed on color apparatus 105 remotely. Allowing the authorization process to be dynamic prevents imposter canisters from being used. A fifth exemplary function is app connectivity between the system and an outside device which has the specified app installed on it. Additionally, the outside personal device can be connected to the system via Bluetooth instead of a Wi-Fi connection. The Bluetooth connection is also supported by the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and other devices like it.
One aspect of the present invention relates to chemicals for changing the color of hair. In this regard, several phrases may be used to describe these chemicals. Exemplary phrases include, but are not limited to: hair color, hair coloring, hair dye, color solution, hair color solution, dye solution, hair dye solution, shade solution, color shade solution, etc. Furthermore, while the explanation above has been with regard to mixing chemicals for changing the color of hair, it is understood that the present invention may be applicable to other chemical mixing as well,
While the present invention has been described herein with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art with an access to the teachings herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the invention would be useful.
Embodiments of the invention also may be directed to computer program products comprising software stored on any computer useable medium. Such software, when executed in one or more data processing device, causes a data processing device(s) to operate as described herein. Embodiments of the invention employ any computer useable or readable medium. Examples of computer useable mediums include, but are not limited to, primary storage devices (e.g., any type of random access memory), secondary storage devices (e.g., hard drives, floppy disks, CD ROMS, ZIP disks, tapes, magnetic storage devices, and optical storage devices, MEMS, nano-technological storage device, etc.).
The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.
The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.
The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
The present application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/US2017/041037 filed on Jul. 7, 2017, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/359,935, filed on Jul. 8, 2016, the contents of which are both incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62359935 | Jul 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2017/041037 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 16242408 | US |
