Device, system and method for dispensing a fluid product on demand, in particular a cosmetic product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product (P) on demand, in particular a cosmetic product, the device being configured to allow mixing of at least two products (20a, 20b, 20c), referred to as base products, in proportions selected from information originating from a user, in order to form the product on demand, the device comprising a mixer (26) configured to mix the base products (20a, 20b, 20c), the device being configured to supply the mixer (26) separately with the base products (20a, 20b, 20c) in said proportions and to dispense the product (P) on demand at the outlet of the mixer (26), the mixer (26) being single-use.

Description

Device, system and method for dispensing a fluid product on demand, in particular a cosmetic product

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for dispensing a fluid product on demand, in particular a cosmetic product. It may in particular be a lip product such as a lip oil. It also relates to a dispensing system comprising such a device.

[0002] On-demand cosmetic dispensing devices allow a user to have a product that meets their current needs rather than relying on a limited selection of products from a predefined range. Such devices allow for the collection of given proportions of base products from reservoirs which, after mixing, form the product that meets the user's needs.

[0003] In some known devices, the basic products are dispensed separately and it is up to the user to mix them. This has disadvantages because the user does not always have the appropriate equipment to perform the mixing. Furthermore, while such devices may be suitable for dispensing small quantity samples of products, they are less suitable for dispensing larger doses. They therefore require the user to quickly repeat the operation to obtain a new dose of products.

[0004] Dispensing devices are also known that include a circuit for mixing the various basic products used to formulate the product to be dispensed. In addition to the advantage for the user of avoiding having to mix the basic products themselves, such devices make it possible to obtain larger doses.

[0005] However, they present a difficulty linked to the need to ensure that the distribution of a dose is not contaminated by residues from the previous dose which would remain in the part of the circuit allowing the mixing of basic products.

[0006] An aim of the invention is to propose a distribution device which at least partially overcomes the above drawbacks.

[0007] The invention relates in this sense to a device for dispensing a fluid product on demand, in particular a cosmetic product, said device being configured to allow a mixture of at least two products, called base products, according to proportions chosen from information coming from a user to form said product on demand, said device comprising a mixer, configured to ensure a mixture of said base products, said device being configured to supply said mixer separately with said base products, according to said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand at the outlet of said mixer, said mixer being for single use.

[0008] By "single use" is meant that the mixer 26 is intended to be changed for each new use, that is to say, for each dispensing of a new dose of product on demand P, each of said doses being constituted by the mixing of the basic products according to quantities corresponding to said chosen proportions. By "separately", is meant that the device is configured so that there is no mixing of the basic products upstream of the mixer, even if they can enter said mixer simultaneously.

[0009] By using a fully interchangeable mixer, upstream of which no mixing of basic products takes place, the device according to the invention ensures that there are no remaining portions of the circuit in which residues from the previous dose, already mixed, may be present. This ensures that each new dose contains only the desired proportions of basic products, while not returning to a separate distribution of said basic products. In addition, it avoids having to clean the circuit between each use.

[0010] According to additional characteristics, which may be implemented independently of one another or in any technically possible combination and which form as many embodiments of the invention: - the mixer is a static mixer; - the mixer comprises a worm screw; - said device further comprises an injector, configured to supply the mixer with said basic products; - the injector comprises an inlet and outlet orifice for each of said basic products; - the inlet and outlet orifices of the injector are respectively connected by conduits for circulation of the basic products; - the conduits have a reduction in section between the inlet and the outlet; - said injector has an outlet interface and said mixer has a connection interface, intended to cooperate to be connected to each other;- said outlet interface has at least two pins, one of said pins having at least one of the injector outlets and the other or another of said pins having at least the other or another of the injector outlets;- said connection interface has at least two cavities, each of the cavities being configured to respectively accommodate one of said pins so that said basic products open, in particular axially, into said cavities;- said injector and said mixer are configured to allow quick connection to each other;- the device comprises a plurality of cartridges each containing one of said basic products;- the cartridges remain open to the open air in use;- said device comprises a plurality of pumps, for withdrawing said basic products from the cartridges and for supplying said mixer with said basic products, according to said proportions;- the pumps are of the peristaltic type;- said device comprises a circuit connecting the cartridges to the mixer through the pumps;- said circuit comprises a hose;- said device comprises a housing having a dispensing chamber, allowing the installation of a bottle intended to receive said product on demand at the outlet of the mixer;- said chamber opens to the outside;- said chamber accommodates said mixer so that said mixer can be installed and removed at said chamber;- said injector is flush with said chamber so that said mixer can be installed and removed from said injector;- said device comprises an electronic control unit;- said control unit is configured to use data from scales to control dispensing of the product on demand;- said control unit is configured to control the pumps;- said device comprises first scales for weighing the contents of each cartridge respectively;- said device comprises a second scale for weighing the contents of the bottle;- said control unit is configured to use data from the first scales and the second scale to control the pumps until said product is delivered on demand after sampling said basic products according to said proportions;- said control unit is configured so that the circuit is filled with basic products after each dispensing of a dose of product on demand- said basic products advantageously comprise a plurality of monochromatic products accompanied by a texturizing basic product and a basic product, called neutral.;

[0011] The invention also relates to a distribution system comprising a device as described above and a user interface for determining the proportions of basic products to be taken to obtain the product on demand.

[0012] Said user interface comprises, for example, a smartphone and / or a tablet or a screen equipped with an application allowing a choice of color for said product on demand from a predefined color palette corresponding to given proportions of basic product.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for dispensing a fluid product on demand, in particular a cosmetic product, said method comprising a step of mixing at least two products, called base products, according to proportions chosen from information coming from a user to form said product on demand, said mixing step being carried out using a mixer by feeding said mixer separately with said base products, according to said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand at the outlet of said mixer, said method comprising a step of installing a new mixer for each new use.

[0014] According to additional characteristics, which may be implemented independently of one another or in any technically possible combination and which form as many embodiments of the invention:- said method comprises a first step of weighing the basic products taken to form said product on demand;- said method comprises a second step of weighing the distributed product on demand;- said first and second weighing steps are carried out simultaneously;- said method comprises an initial step of filling a mixer supply circuit.

[0015] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, among which:is a perspective view of an example of a dispensing device according to the invention,is a schematic view of an example of a dispensing device according to the invention,is a schematic view of an injector and a mixer of an example of a dispensing device according to the invention,is a perspective view of the injector of the,is a top view of the injector of the,is a bottom view of the injector of the,is a schematic view of an example of a user interface of a dispensing system according to the invention,is a perspective view of an upper part of the mixer of the,is a top view of the mixer of the.

[0016] As illustrated in the, the invention relates to a device 1 for dispensing a fluid product on demand P, in particular a cosmetic product.

[0017] It allows the dispensing of the on-demand product P, in particular, in a bottle 2 intended to receive said on-demand product P. For example, the bottle 2 is placed in the dispenser by the user, or an operator acting on his behalf, before the dispensing of the on-demand product P. Once the on-demand product P has been dispensed and the bottle 2 filled, it is taken by the user, or the operator, and it can be taken away by the user who thus has the on-demand product P of his choice in the bottle 2.

[0018] Said device comprises, for example, a distributor in the form of a cabinet or a large housing 4. Said housing comprises a distribution chamber 6, preferably freely accessible from the outside. For this purpose, said chamber 6 here has a face 8 open to the outside at one 10 of the walls of the housing 4, in particular a facade of said housing. In other words, said distribution chamber 6 opens to the outside.

[0019] Said dispensing chamber 6 is intended to accommodate said bottle 2. In this sense, it comprises a support 12, configured to accommodate the bottle 2 during the dispensing of the product on demand P.

[0020] As illustrated in, according to the invention, said device is configured to allow a mixture of at least two products 20a, 20b, 20c, called basic products, according to proportions chosen from information coming from the user to form said product on demand P.

[0021] Said base products may be any type of fluid and / or powdery product. These are, for example, products intended to be included in the composition of a cosmetic product. More specifically, these are, among other things, monochromatic products, namely, a mixture of a fluid base and a colored pigment.

[0022] Here, only three basic products are illustrated but the dispensing device according to the invention may indifferently allow the mixing of numerous basic products, in particular several monochromatic products of different colors, one or more basic products allowing the product to be perfumed on demand, using one or more fragrances, and / or one or more texturizing basic products, allowing it to be given a particular appearance, in particular glittery. Said monochromatic products are, for example, eight in number. They preferably contain an identical base from one monochromatic to another.

[0023] To combine a choice of color and the presence or absence of a texturizing effect, said base products advantageously comprise a plurality of monochromatic products accompanied by a texturizing base product and a so-called neutral base product. Said texturizing base product comprises a fluid base, possibly identical to that of the monochromatic products, and a texturizing component, for example glitter. Said neutral base product comprises only said fluid base. Furthermore, said device is configured so that each new dose of on-demand product P comprises either a proportion of texturizing base product, if the on-demand product P must contain a texturizing component according to the user's choices, or the same proportion of neutral base product if the on-demand product P must not contain a texturizing component according to the user's choices.Such a configuration makes it possible to maintain the same overall proportion of monochromatic materials in each dose and therefore to better control the rendering in terms of the color of the on-demand product P from one dose to another, whether or not the user wishes the dose of said on-demand product P distributed to include a texturizing component.

[0024] Said device further comprises, for example, a plurality of reservoirs or cartridges 22 intended to each contain one of said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c. Said cartridges 22 are arranged, for example, in the lower part of the housing 4 without such a location being limiting.

[0025] Said cartridges 22 are, in particular, open to the open air, in use. Alternatively, they may be cartridges comprising an air intake so as to be able to remain closed in use. As a further variant, they may comprise a deformable receptacle containing the basic products so as to allow the basic products to be withdrawn without air intake, the receptacle deforming as the basic products are withdrawn.

[0026] Said device further comprises a plurality of pumps 24a, 24b, 24c for withdrawing said basic products from the cartridges 22, according to said proportions. In other words, each of said cartridges 22 is associated with one of said pumps 24a, 24b, 24c so that one and only one of said pumps 24a, 24b, 24c is used for withdrawing one and only one of said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c. They are, for example, of the peristaltic type which makes it possible to avoid the basic products being in contact with moving parts.

[0027] According to the invention, said device comprises a mixer 26, configured to ensure mixing of said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c. Said device is further configured to supply said mixer 26 separately with said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c, according to said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand P at the outlet of said mixer 26. Said mixer 26 is preferably for single use.

[0028] By "single use", it is meant that the mixer 26 is intended to be changed with each new use, that is to say, with each dispensing of a new dose of product on demand P. By "separately", it is meant that the device is configured so that there is no mixing of the base products 20a, 20b, 20c upstream of the mixer 26, even if they can enter said mixer 26 simultaneously, from a temporal point of view.

[0029] Thanks to the invention, said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c are therefore not mixed upstream of the mixer 26 and the latter can be completely changed for each new use. This makes it possible to avoid the presence of residues from a previous dose when dispensing the next dose, which could harm the appearance and / or the correct quantity of product on demand P dispensed.

[0030] Said device comprises, for example, a circuit 28 connecting the cartridges 22 to the mixer 26 through the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c. Said circuit 28 comprises, in particular, hoses, each of said hoses comprising a first part 30 connecting the cartridges 22 and the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c and a second part 32 connecting the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c and the mixer 26. Said first and second parts 30, 32 are in continuity with each other so that said hoses pass through said pumps 24a, 24b, 24c respectively. As will have been understood, said circuit 28 is subdivided into as many branches as there are basic products, said branches separately supplying said mixer 26.

[0031] Said device further comprises an electronic control unit 34 for controlling the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c. Said pumps 24a, 24b, 24c thus supply said mixer 26 with said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c, according to said proportions allowing the distribution of the desired product on demand P.

[0032] Said control unit 34 comprises, for example, a memory unit, a processor and / or a communication interface. Said memory unit comprises a database making it possible to associate information relating to a product on demand P to be dispensed with the respective proportions and / or quantities of basic products to be mixed to obtain said product on demand P. Said communication interface is configured to receive said information relating to the product on demand P to be dispensed. Said processor is configured to receive and use said information relating to the product on demand P to be dispensed, this to determine with the aid of said database the respective proportions and / or quantities of basic products to be mixed to obtain said product on demand P.Said processor is further configured to actuate the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c correlatively so that said respective proportions and / or quantities of base products 20a, 20b, 20c to be mixed to obtain said product on demand P are taken from the cartridges 22.

[0033] To control the sampling of said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c, said device advantageously comprises first scales 36 allowing the contents of each cartridge 22 to be weighed respectively. Said first scales 36 make it possible to ensure the sampling of the respective proportions and / or quantities of basic products to be mixed to obtain said product on demand P.

[0034] Said device further comprises a second scale 38 for weighing the contents of the bottle 2. It makes it possible to ensure that the expected dose is fully dispensed while preventing too large a quantity of product on demand P from being introduced into said bottle 2 and causing an overflow of product.

[0035] Said control unit 34 is configured to use data from the first scales 36 and the second scale 38 to control the pumps 24a, 24b, 24c until said product on demand P is delivered, after sampling said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c according to said proportions. Advantageously, said control unit 34 is configured so that the circuit 28 is filled with basic products in each of the branches of the circuit 28, up to the mixer 26, after each delivery of a dose of product on demand, this to avoid any dead volume which could distort the dosage.

[0036] As illustrated in the, the mixer 26 is preferably a static mixer. It thus has the advantage of allowing mixing of the basic products without using moving parts, which would be difficult to reconcile and economically irrelevant with the use of a mixer interchangeable for each use. The mixer 26 comprises, for example, a connection interface 40 and a mixing body 42. Said mixing body 42 is, in particular, tubular. Here it comprises an endless screw 43 promoting mixing. Said tubular body 42 has at its outlet a light 44 through which said on-demand product P is intended to be dispensed into the bottle 2.

[0037] Said mixer 26 is, for example, cleanable so that it can be used again, after washing. It is however well understood that such cleaning does not take place at the level of said device but at the level of independent cleaning installations so that, even if cleanable, it must be changed after each use. Conversely, said mixer 26 may be disposable.

[0038] Preferably, said device further comprises an injector 46, configured to supply the mixer 26 with said basic products 20a, 20b, 20c.

[0039] As is more clearly seen from Figures 4 to 6, the injector 46 comprises an inlet orifice 48 and an outlet orifice 50 for each of said basic products 22a, 22b, 22c. Here, the injector 46 has been shown with eight inlet orifices and eight outlet orifices and corresponds to an injector of a distribution device using eight basic products and having as many branches in its circuit 28.

[0040] The inlet orifices 48 and outlet orifices 50 of the injector 46 are respectively connected by conduits for circulating the basic products, said conduits not being visible because they are located internally in said injector 46. The conduits advantageously have a reduction in section between the inlet and the outlet. For example, a diameter of said inlet orifices 48 is of the order of a millimeter while a diameter of said outlet orifices 50 is smaller and of the order of a few tenths of a millimeter. As will be developed below, this makes it possible to group said outlet orifices 50. Said inlet orifices 48 are located, for example, at an upper surface of the injector. They are here distributed in two rows.

[0041] Said injector 46 has an output interface 52 intended to cooperate with said connection interface 40 of the mixer 26 to be connected to each other.

[0042] Said output interface 52 has at least two pins 54, 56, one 54 of said pins having at least one of the outputs 50 of the injector 46 and the other 56 or another of said pins having at least the other or another of the outputs 50 of the injector 46. Here, the pins are two in number and each group together four output orifices 50, in particular distributed at the top of a square.

[0043] As described in Figures 8 and 9, said connection interface 40 has at least two cavities 72, 74. Each of the cavities 72, 74 is configured to accommodate respectively one of said pins 54, 56, so that said basic products open, here axially, into said cavities. A jacket 76 forming a contour of each of said cavities 72, 74 is intended to laterally match said pins 54, 56 from the outside to form a sealed contact. Said cavities 72, 74 are in communication with the mixing body 42. In this way, said basic products flow from the injector 46 towards the mixing body 42 where they mix with each other before exiting through the port 44.

[0044] Preferably, said injector 46 and said mixer 26 are configured to allow a quick connection to each other, for example of the bayonet type. For this, said connection interface 40 here has a fixing skirt 58 and an internal part 78, housed in said skirt 58. Said internal part 78 has said jackets laterally matching said pins 54, 56. Said internal part 78 is movable in rotation in said skirt 58 around a common longitudinal axis Z. Said skirt 58 and said outlet interface 52 have complementary shapes for guiding and fixing the mixer 26 on the injector 46.

[0045] Said complementary shapes comprise shoulders 60 extending angularly at the periphery of the outlet interface 52 and stops 66 extending angularly at a free edge 68 of the skirt 58. Said shoulders 60 are angularly spaced from one another so as to leave an axial passage for said stops 66, in a first positioning of the mixer 26 relative to the injector 46. In a second positioning of the mixer 26 relative to the injector 46, after axial passage of the stops 66 between the shoulders 60 and rotation of one of them relative to the other about their common longitudinal axis Z, the stops 66 are axially engaged on the shoulders 60.

[0046] A lug 70, located at the free edge 68, makes it possible to angularly orient the mixer 26 relative to the injector 46 by cooperating with a slot provided in one of said shoulders 60 to allow the user to determine said first positioning.

[0047] When said mixer 26 is connected to the injector 46, the mixer 26 is brought into contact with said injector 46 in an axial translational movement, thanks to mutual guidance of said complementary shapes 60, 66. This translational movement causes the pins 54, 56 of the injector 46 to be inserted into the corresponding sleeves 76 of the mixer 26. In a second phase, said mixer 26 is rotated, for example by a quarter turn, around said common longitudinal axis Z, thanks to mutual guidance, this time in rotation, of said complementary shapes 60, 66. During this second phase of the movement, said internal part rotates relative to the skirt 58, the latter being actuated by the user and the internal part being immobilized by the introduction of the pins 54, 56 into the cavities 72, 74. At the end of this rotational movement, the mixer 26 is in place in the injector 46 and ready for use.After use, it is removed in a reverse movement, so that a new mixer can be installed for dispensing the next dose.

[0048] The invention also relates to a distribution system comprising a device 1 as described above.

[0049] As illustrated in the, said system further comprises a user interface 62, in relation to the control unit 34 and making it possible to determine the proportions of basic products to be taken to obtain the product on demand P.

[0050] Said user interface 62 comprises, for example, a mobile digital medium such as a smartphone and / or a tablet, equipped with an application allowing a choice of color for said product on demand P. Said application here allows for this purpose a display of a palette 64 of predefined colors corresponding to given proportions of basic product.

[0051] According to a first embodiment, after selection of the color desired by the user, information relating to the chosen color is transmitted to the control unit 34, which, as already seen above, is configured to associate said information with given proportions of basic products thanks to the database that said control unit 34 contains. Alternatively, said database is included in said mobile digital medium. It is then directly the information relating to the proportions of each of the basic products to be used which is transmitted by the mobile digital medium to said control unit 34.

[0052] Said mobile digital medium is equipped with remote communication means, in particular by wireless communication protocols such as those known as Wifi and / or Bluetooth, to transmit information on the product on demand P to be distributed to the connection interface of the control unit 34.

[0053] If we refer again to the, we see that said distribution chamber 6 allows the bottle 2 to be placed at the outlet of the mixer 26, for example at the level of the second scale 38. Preferably, said chamber 6 accommodates said mixer 26 so that said mixer 26 can be placed in place and removed at the level of said chamber 6. It is thus easily accessible and can be changed, at each dose, without having to access a closed part of the housing 4. Even more preferably, said injector 46 is flush with the level of said chamber 6 so that said mixer 26 can be placed in place and removed from said injector 46 at the level of said chamber 6 and without having to access a closed part of the housing 4.

[0054] Said injector 46 may be an interchangeable part although at a frequency much lower than that of the mixer 26, this for maintenance reasons. To access said injector 26 for the purpose of its replacement, it may be necessary to have access to a closed part of said housing 4.

[0055] The invention also relates to a method for dispensing a fluid product on demand P, in particular a cosmetic product. Said method may be implemented using the device and / or system described above.

[0056] Said method comprising the step of mixing at least two products 20a, 20b, 20c, called basic products, according to proportions chosen from information coming from a user to form said product on demand P.

[0057] According to the invention, said mixing step is carried out using a mixer 46 by feeding said mixer 26 separately with said base product 20a, 20b, 20c, according to said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand P at the outlet of said mixer 26. Furthermore, said method comprises a step of installing a new mixer 26 for each new use, that is to say for each new order from a user and / or for each new dose dispensed.

[0058] Advantageously, said method comprises an initial step of filling a supply circuit 28 of the mixer 26.

[0059] Still advantageously, said method comprises a first step of weighing the base products 20a, 20b, 20c taken to form said fluid on demand. Said device comprises a second step of weighing the fluid on demand P dispensed into the bottle 2. Said first and second weighing steps are carried out simultaneously and throughout the dispensing to serve to control the dose of product on demand P dispensed.

Claims

A device for dispensing a fluid product on demand (P), in particular a cosmetic product, said device being configured to allow mixing of at least two products (20a, 20b, 20c), referred to as base products, in proportions chosen from information from a user to form said product on demand, said device comprising a mixer (26), configured to ensure mixing of said base products (20a, 20b, 20c), said device being configured to supply said mixer (26) separately with said base products (20a, 20b, 20c), in said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand (P) at the outlet of said mixer (26), said mixer (26) being for single use. Device according to the preceding claim in which the mixer (26) is a static mixer. Device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an injector (46), configured to supply the mixer (26) with said basic products (20a, 20b, 20c). Device according to the preceding claim in which the injector (46) comprises an inlet orifice (48) and outlet orifice (50) for each of said basic products (20a, 20b, 20c), said inlet orifices (48) and outlet orifices (50) being respectively connected by basic product circulation conduits (20a, 20b, 20c), the conduits having a decrease in cross-section between the inlet and the outlet. Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4 wherein said injector (46) and said mixer (26) are configured to permit quick connection to each other. Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a housing (4) having a distribution chamber (6) allowing a bottle (2) intended to receive said product on demand (P) to be placed at the outlet of the mixer (26), said chamber (6) opening to the outside, said chamber (6) accommodating said mixer (26) so that said mixer (26) can be placed and removed at the level of said chamber (6). Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an electronic control unit (34), said control unit (34) being configured to use data from scales (36, 38) to order a distribution of the product on demand (P). Distribution system comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a user interface (62) enabling the determination of the proportions of basic products (20a, 20b, 20c) to be taken to obtain said product on demand (P). A method for dispensing a fluid product on demand (P), in particular a cosmetic product, said method comprising a step of mixing at least two products (20a, 20b, 20c), referred to as base products, in proportions chosen from information from a user to form said product on demand (P), said mixing step being carried out using a mixer (26) by feeding said mixer (26) separately with said base products (20a, 20b, 20c), in said proportions, and to deliver the product on demand (P) from the outlet of said mixer (26), said method comprising a step of setting up a new mixer (26) for each new use. Method according to the preceding claim comprising an initial step of filling a feed circuit of the mixer (26).

Images