Hair colorant dispensing system

Abstract

There is disclosed a system for mixing a product including a high-precision scale for weighing product combinates added to the product, a series of computer-controlled flow control mechanisms for releasing product combinates as directed by a first computing device, a machine-readable label printer for printing a label including instructions to create the product from the product combinates at the direction of the first computing device, and a machine-readable language scanner for the label at the direction of the first computing device. The first computing device receives a request for the product, directs the machine-readable label printer to print the label including the instructions, directs the machine-readable language scanner to read the instructions; and operates the series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from the high-precision scale to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions to create the product.

1 . A system for mixing a cosmetic product comprising:
 a scale for weighing product combinates added to the product;   a series of computer-controlled flow control mechanisms for releasing product combinates as directed by a first computing device;   a label printer for printing a label including instructions to create the product from the product combinates at the direction of the first computing device; and   a scanner for reading the label at the direction of the first computing device; wherein   the first computing device, including a processor and memory,
 receives a request for the product, 
 directs the label printer to print the label including the instructions to create the product from the product combinates; 
 directs the scanner to read the instructions; and 
 operates the series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from the scale to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions to create the product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the scale is configured to confirm that each of the product combinates is added to the product in the amount indicated by the instruction. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an independent user interface device for:
 enabling a user to select a desired product; and   requesting instructions associated with the selected product from a remote server.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the label printer is further for:
 accessing the instructions for the selected product; and   outputting the instruction for the selected product on the label.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second remote system comprising:
 a communications interface for receiving reorder requests for the product; 
 a second scale for weighing product combinates added to the product; 
 a second series of computer-controlled flow control mechanisms for releasing product combinates as directed by a second computing device; 
 a second label printer for printing labels for reading on product containers; and 
 a second scanner for reading the labels at the direction of the second computing device; 
 the second computing device, including a second processor and a second memory, for
 receiving, through a communications interface, a reorder request over a network for the product, the reorder request including the instructions; 
 directing the second label printer to output a second label including the instructions; 
 directing the second scanner to read the instructions on the second label; and 
 operating the second series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from the second scale to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions printed on the second label to recreate the product. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the instructions for the product change for the second system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second system further comprises a second independent user interface device for:
 enabling a user to identify the product based upon a prior order; and   requesting the instructions associated with the prior order from the remote server.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is hair colorant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises the first computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a communications interface for receiving the instructions. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising non-volatile memory storing a program having directions which when executed by a processor will cause the processor to:
 generate a label including instructions for a cosmetic product;   apply the label to an exterior of a repository for the product;   read the label incorporating the instruction for the product; and   operate a series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from a scale accurately measuring an amount of each of a series of product combinates to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions printed on the label for the product.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the scale is configured to confirm that each of the product combinates is added to the product in the amount required by the instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the directions further cause the processor to:
 enable a user to select a desired product; and 
 request instructions associated with the selected product from a remote server. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the directions further cause the processor to:
 access the instructions for the selected product; and   output the instructions for the selected product on the label.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the processor; 
 the non-volatile memory; and 
 wherein the processor and the memory comprise circuits and software for performing the directions on the storage medium. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein further directions which when executed by a second processor will cause the second processor to:
 receive, through a communications interface, a reorder request over a network for the product, the reorder request including the instructions; 
 generate a second label including the instructions; 
 apply the second label to a repository for holding the product; 
 read the second label incorporating the instructions; 
 operate a second series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from a second scale accurately measuring an amount of each of the product combinates to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions printed on the second label to recreate the product. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions for the product change for the second machine-readable label printer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the further directions further cause the second processor to:
 enable a user to identify the product based upon a prior order; and   request the instructions associated with the prior order from a remote server.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising:
 the second processor; and 
 a second non-volatile memory; 
 wherein the second processor and the second memory comprise circuits and software for performing the further directions on the storage medium. 
 
     
     
         20 . A system for mixing a cosmetic product comprising:
 a series of computer-controlled flow control mechanisms for releasing product combinates as directed by a first computing device;   a printer for printing a label including instructions to create the product from the product combinates at the direction of the first computing device; and   a scanner for reading the label at the direction of the first computing device; wherein   the first computing device, including a processor and memory,
 receives a request for the product, 
 directs the printer to print the label including the instructions to create the product from the product combinates for application to a repository for the product; 
 directs the scanner to read the instructions from the exterior of the repository; and 
 operates the series of flow control mechanisms to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions to create the product.