Coating material related information provision device, coating material related information provision system, coating material related information provision method, and program

Abstract

To provide a coating material related information provision device, a coating material related information provision system, a coating material related information provision method and a program which can appropriately present information about affinity of both to a user when two or more kinds of coating materials are additionally coated or mixed.SOLUTION: A cloud server 1 comprises: a paint information acquisition unit 111 which acquires object paint information; a double-coating permission determining unit 114 which determines whether or not the other paint can be double-coated on either of two kinds of paints, on the basis of the type of a solvent included in each of two kinds of paints indicated by the object paint information; a thinner identification unit 113 which identifies a thinner which can be mixed with each of two kinds of paints, on the basis of a solubility parameter of each of two kinds of paints indicated by the object paint information; and a paint related information notification unit 115 which generates paint related information including double-coating permission information indicating double-coating permission, and thinner information indicating the identified thinner to transmit the information to a terminal device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating material-related information providing device, a coating material-related information providing system, a coating material-related information providing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There has been proposed a method for presenting a coating specification having steps of providing a server system accessible from a user terminal provided to a customer, the server system acquiring finish data of a desired design layer and base data of a material and a deterioration state of a base layer from the user terminal, the server system selecting a design paint for forming a design layer based on the finish data, and determining whether a directly underlying layer to which the design paint can adhere is the same as the base layer, and when they are the same, the server system showing a film structure composed of the design layer and the base layer and its coating specification (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when applying different paints on top of each other or mixing a paint and a solvent, it is required to appropriately present the affinity between the two to the user to suppress the occurrence of defects in the paint after coating.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coating material-related information providing device, a coating material-related information providing system, a coating material-related information providing method, and a program that can appropriately present information regarding the affinity between two or more types of coating materials when they are applied on top of each other or mixed to a user.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] To achieve the above object, a coating material-related information providing apparatus according to the present invention includes a coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; an overcoating determination unit that determines whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, and the types of resins included in each of the first coating material and the second coating material; a coating material specifying unit that specifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; a coating material-related information notification unit that generates coating material-related information including overcoating permission information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the coating material-related information to a terminal device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the overcoating determination unit determines whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, and the types of resins included in each of the first coating material and the second coating material. Further, the coating material specifying unit specifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material. Then, the coating material-related information notification unit generates coating material-related information including overcoating permission information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information, and transmits the coating material-related information to a terminal device. Thereby, information regarding the affinity between two types of coating materials when overcoating or mixing a plurality of types of coating materials can be appropriately presented to the user via the coating material-related information including the overcoating permission information and the third coating material information transmitted to the terminal device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a coating material-related information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The coating material-related information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a coating material information acquisition unit, a topcoat determination unit, a coating material identification unit, and a coating material-related information notification unit. The coating material information acquisition unit acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials designated by a user are topcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be topcoated on the first coating material. The topcoat determination unit determines whether it is possible to topcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, and the types of resins contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material. The coating material identification unit identifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material. The coating material-related information notification unit generates coating material-related information including topcoatability information indicating whether topcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the information to the terminal device.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the paint-related information providing system according to the present embodiment includes a terminal device 3 held by a painter and a cloud server 1, and is a coating material-related information providing system in which the terminal device 3 and the cloud server 1 can communicate with each other via a network NW1. Here, the network NW1 is, for example, the Internet.

[0011] The terminal device 3 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a CPU 301, a main memory unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, a display unit 304, an input unit 305, a communication unit 306, and a bus 309 that connects these to each other. The main memory unit 302 has a volatile memory such as a RAM and is used as a working area for the CPU 301. Further, the main memory unit 302 has a dedicated image memory (not shown) that temporarily stores image information to be displayed on the display unit 304. The auxiliary storage unit 303 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 301 to execute various processes. The display unit 304 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 305 is, for example, a transparent touch pad disposed over the display unit 304. The communication unit 306 is connected to the network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 301 to the cloud server 1 via the network NW1, or transfers various information acquired from the cloud server 1 via the network NW1 to the CPU 301.

[0012] The CPU 301 functions as a reception unit 311, a paint information notification unit 312, a paint-related information acquisition unit 313, and a display control unit 314, as shown in FIG. 3, by reading out and executing the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 in the main memory unit 302. The reception unit 311 receives the operation content performed by the painting contractor who owns the terminal device 3 on the input unit 305, and generates operation information corresponding to the received operation content and notifies the paint information notification unit 312. Specifically, when the reception unit 311 performs a target paint information input operation in which the painting contractor inputs the paint name of the paint to be used in the lower layer of two types of paints to be overpainted on the input unit 305 and the paint name of the paint to be used in the upper layer above the lower layer, the reception unit 311 receives the target paint information input operation, generates operation information corresponding to the operation, and notifies the paint information notification unit 312.

[0013] When the paint information notification unit 312 is notified of the operation information corresponding to the above-described target paint information input operation from the reception unit 311, in response thereto, it generates target paint information including paint information indicating each of the two types of paints and use layer identification information for identifying the layers to which each of the two types of paints is to be used, and transmits the information to the cloud server 1.

[0014] When the paint-related information acquisition unit 313 acquires the paint-related information transmitted from the cloud server 1, it extracts overcoating availability information indicating overcoating availability, which will be described later, and thinner information indicating the thinner that can be used for each of the two types of paints included in the acquired paint-related information, and notifies the display control unit 314 of the extracted overcoating availability information and thinner information.

[0015] Based on the overcoating availability information and thinner information notified from the paint-related information acquisition unit 313, the display control unit 314 forms a paint-related information notification image including information regarding overcoating availability and information indicating the names of thinners applicable to the two types of paints specified by the user, and causes the display unit 304 to display the image.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the cloud server 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary storage unit 103, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 that interconnects these components, and functions as a coating material-related information providing device that provides information related to coating materials including paints to painters. The CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 102 has a volatile memory and is used as a working area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is composed of a large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the cloud server 1. The communication unit 106 is connected to the network NW1.

[0017] The CPU 101 functions as a paint information acquisition unit 111, a solubility parameter calculation unit 112, a thinner identification unit 113, a recoatability determination unit 114, and a paint-related information notification unit 115, as shown in FIG. 3, by reading out and executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 has a solubility information storage unit 131, a thinner information storage unit 132, a paint information storage unit 133, and a determination criterion storage unit 134. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the solubility information storage unit 131 stores solubility parameter information indicating the solubility parameters of a plurality of preset substances in association with the substance information indicating the corresponding substances. Examples of the plurality of substances include organic substances contained in paints, water, pigments, resin curing agents, and the like. Here, the solubility parameter is a thermodynamic parameter proposed by J.H. Hildebrand in 1950, defined for a plurality of substances, and is an index used to predict the solubility of each substance in other substances. Then, C.M. Hansen represented the solubility parameter proposed by Hildebrand as a three-dimensional parameter including a dispersion force component reflecting the energy due to the intermolecular dispersion force, a polar component reflecting the energy due to the intermolecular dipole interaction, and a hydrogen bond component reflecting the energy due to the intermolecular hydrogen bond, which is the HANSEN solubility parameter (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as the "HSP value"). Currently, this HSP value is widely used in the evaluation of compatibility between polymers and solvents, between polymers, etc., and in the manufacturing processes of paints, thinners, etc., for selecting the optimal solvent, selecting the optimal combination of mixed solvents, and the like. In FIG. 4A, Dd represents the dispersion force component, Dp represents the polar component, and Dh represents the hydrogen bond component. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the solubility parameters of organic solvents such as methanol and ethanol, and the solubility parameters of resins such as polyethyl methacrylate and epoxy resin are stored.

[0018] For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the thinner information storage unit 132 stores the solubility parameters of a plurality of preset types of thinners, each associated with thinner information indicating the corresponding thinner. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, it stores solubility parameter information such as "Thinner A" containing methanol, etc., and "Thinner B" containing ethanol, etc.

[0019] For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the paint information storage unit 133 stores inclusion information indicating the inclusions contained in each of a plurality of preset types of paints, inclusion rate information indicating the inclusion rate of each inclusion, solvent type information indicating the type of solvent used in the paint, hard form information indicating the hard form of the paint, and resin type information indicating the type of resin, each associated with paint information indicating the corresponding paint. "Hard form" indicates the method when the paint is dried and cured, and examples include "catalytic crosslinking drying", "volatile drying", "oxidative polymerization drying", "two-component crosslinking drying", "thermal crosslinking drying", "photo crosslinking", "electron beam crosslinking", etc. Examples of "type of resin" include "phenolic resin", "alkyd resin", "melamine urea resin", "epoxy resin", "polyurethane resin", "silicone resin", "chlorinated rubber type", "vinyl acetate resin", "acrylic resin", "vinyl chloride resin", "fluororesin", "cellulose", "polyester resin", etc. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, "Paint A" contains 5% "toluene" and 4% "xylene", indicating that the type of solvent used is "strong solvent type". Note that the type of solvent may be determined based on, for example, the solubility parameters described later.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 3, the determination criterion storage unit 134 stores reference distance information indicating a reference distance with respect to the distance between the coordinates corresponding to the paint and the coordinates corresponding to the thinner in the three-dimensional space of the solubility parameter, which is used for specifying the thinner described later. Here, as the "thinner", for example, a dedicated thinner for the paint recommended by the paint manufacturer can be adopted. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B for example, the determination criterion storage unit 134 stores overcoating permission information indicating the permissibility of overcoating for each combination of the type of solvent of the paint used in the upper layer, the hard form of the paint, and the type of resin and the type of solvent of the lower layer, the hard form of the paint, and the type of resin when two types of paints are overcoated, in association with information indicating a combination of solvent type information indicating the type of solvent, hard form information indicating the hard form of the paint, and resin type information indicating the type of resin. The solvent type information includes information indicating the type of solvent such as a strong solvent form which is a solvent having a high proportion of molecules with a strong dissolving power, a weak solvent form which is a solvent having a high proportion of molecules with a relatively weak dissolving power, and an aqueous solvent which has a weak dissolving power and a high proportion of contained water. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, when the hard form of the paint and the type of resin are the same, if both the type of solvent of the paint used in the upper layer and the type of solvent of the paint used in the lower layer are in the strong solvent form, it indicates "overcoating permitted". The overcoating permission information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 is set to be "overcoating permitted" when the types of solvents contained in the lower and upper layer paints are the same, "overcoating permitted" when the type of solvent contained in the lower layer paint is "strong solvent form" and the type of solvent contained in the upper layer paint is "weak solvent form" or "aqueous", and "overcoating permitted" when the type of solvent contained in the lower layer paint is "weak solvent form" and the type of solvent contained in the upper layer paint is "aqueous". On the other hand, the overcoating permission information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 is set to be "overcoating not permitted" when the type of solvent contained in the lower layer paint is "weak solvent form" and the type of solvent contained in the upper layer paint is "strong solvent form", and "overcoating not permitted" when the type of solvent contained in the lower layer paint is "aqueous" and the type of solvent contained in the upper layer paint is "weak solvent form" or "strong solvent form".In addition, the overcoating permission information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 is set to be "permissible for overcoating" when the type of solvent contained in the lower-layer paint is "aqueous two-component type" and the type of solvent contained in the upper-layer paint is "weak solvent type" or "strong solvent type". Note that as the type of solvent, for the "strong solvent type", it may be further subdivided into "strong solvent type: one-component type (moisture effect type), two-component type (reaction curing type), etc.", and for the "weak solvent type", it may be "one-component type", "two-component type", and for the "aqueous type", it may be "one-component type", "two-component type", etc.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 3, when the paint information acquisition unit 111 acquires the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3, it extracts the paint information indicating each of the two types of paints included in the acquired target paint information and the use layer identification information corresponding to each of the two types of paints. Then, the paint information acquisition unit 111 notifies the extracted paint information to the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the overcoating permission determination unit 114, and notifies the extracted use layer identification information to the overcoating permission determination unit 114.

[0022] When the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 is notified of the paint information from the paint information acquisition unit 111, it specifies the inclusion information corresponding to the notified paint information and the corresponding content rate information from among the inclusion information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 and the corresponding content rate information. Further, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 specifies the solubility parameter information corresponding to the inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information from among the solubility parameter information stored in the solubility information storage unit 131. Then, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 calculates the solubility parameter based on the content rate of each of at least one type of inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information and content rate information and the solubility parameter indicated by the specified solubility parameter information. Here, when the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 adopts, for example, the HSP (Hansen solubility parameter) value as the solubility parameter, it calculates the solubility parameters Dd, Dp, and Dh using the relational expressions of the following formulas (1) to (3).

[0023]

Number

Number

Number

[0024] Here, i (a positive integer) indicates an index for identifying each of the inclusions contained in the paint, and I indicates the number of types of inclusions. Also, φ[i] indicates the volume fraction of each inclusion in the paint. Further, D[i]d indicates the solubility parameter showing the dispersive force component of the inclusion identified by the index "i", D[i]p indicates the solubility parameter showing the polar component of the inclusion identified by the index "i", and D[i]h indicates the solubility parameter showing the hydrogen bond component of the inclusion identified by the index "i". Then, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 notifies the thinner identification unit 113 of solubility parameter information indicating the calculated solubility parameter.

[0025] When the thinner specifying unit 113 is notified of the solubility parameter information from the solubility parameter calculation unit 112, in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, the thinner having a solubility parameter corresponding to the coordinates within the distance from the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameters of the two types of paints specified by the user indicated by the solubility parameter information being equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the reference criterion storage unit 134 is specified. Here, the thinner specifying unit 113 calculates the distance between the coordinates corresponding to each of the plurality of types of preset thinners stored in the thinner information storage unit 132 and the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter indicated by the notified solubility parameter information, and specifies the thinner whose calculated distance is equal to or less than the aforementioned reference distance. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the coordinates corresponding to the paint specified by the user are (Dd1, Dp1, Dh1), if the distance DI12 between the thinner corresponding to the coordinates (Dd2, Dp2, Dh2) is shorter than the reference distance RD, the thinner is specified. On the other hand, when the distance DI13 between the thinner corresponding to the coordinates (Dd3, Dp3, Dh3) is longer than the reference distance RD, the thinner is not specified. Returning to FIG. 3, and then, the thinner specifying unit 113 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the thinner information indicating the specified thinner.

[0026] When the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 is notified of the paint information and the use layer identification information from the paint information acquisition unit 111, it refers to the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 to specify the solvent type information corresponding to the notified paint information. Further, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 specifies the combination of the upper layer and lower layer solvent types for the two types of paints to be overcoated based on the specified solvent type information and the use layer identification information. Then, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 refers to the overcoating possibility information stored in the reference criterion storage unit 134 to specify the overcoating possibility information corresponding to the specified combination of the upper layer and lower layer solvent types. Further, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the specified overcoating possibility information.

[0027] The paint-related information notification unit 115 generates paint-related information including the thinner information notified from the thinner identification unit 113 and the overcoating feasibility information notified from the overcoating feasibility determination unit 114, and transmits it to the terminal device 3.

[0028] Next, the operation of the paint-related information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. First, as shown in FIG. 7, when a painter performs the above-described target paint information input operation on the input unit 305 of the terminal device 3, the target paint information input operation is received, and paint information indicating each of the two types of paints to be overcoated specified by the user and use layer identification information for identifying the layers to which the two types of paints are to be applied are generated (step S1). Here, the terminal device 3 forms and displays on the display unit 304 an overcoating determination target paint input screen image GA1 including input fields B11 and B12 for inputting the paint names of the two types of paints to be overcoated, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. Then, the user performs an operation of inputting the paint name into each of the input fields B11 and B12 via the input unit 305 in the target paint information input operation. Returning to FIG. 7, next, the generated target paint information is transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S2).

[0029] On the other hand, when the cloud server 1 acquires the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3, it extracts the paint information indicating each of the two types of paints included in the acquired target paint information and the use layer identification information corresponding to each of the two types of paints. Then, the cloud server 1 specifies the inclusion information corresponding to the extracted paint information and the corresponding content ratio information from the inclusion information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 and the corresponding content ratio information. The cloud server 1 also specifies the solubility parameter information corresponding to the inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information from the solubility parameter information stored in the solubility information storage unit 131. Then, the cloud server 1 calculates the solubility parameter based on the content ratio of each of at least one type of inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information and content ratio information and the solubility parameter indicated by the specified solubility parameter information (step S3).

[0030] Subsequently, in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, the cloud server 1 identifies a thinner having a solubility parameter corresponding to a coordinate whose distance from the coordinate corresponding to the calculated solubility parameter is equal to or less than the aforementioned reference distance (step S4). Thereafter, the cloud server 1 refers to the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133, identifies the solvent type information corresponding to the extracted paint information, and based on the identified solvent type information and the extracted usage layer identification information, identifies the combination of the upper and lower layer solvent types for the two types of paints to be overcoated. Then, the cloud server 1 refers to the overcoating permission information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 and identifies the overcoating permission information corresponding to the identified combination of the upper and lower layer solvent types (step S5).

[0031] Next, the cloud server 1 generates paint-related information including the thinner information indicating the identified thinner and the overcoating permission information indicating the identified overcoating permission (step S6), and the generated paint-related information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 3 (step S7).

[0032] On the other hand, when the terminal device 3 acquires the paint-related information transmitted from the cloud server 1, it extracts the overcoating permission information indicating the overcoating permission, which will be described later, and the thinner information indicating the thinner that can be used for each of the two types of paints, included in the acquired paint-related information. Then, based on the extracted overcoating permission information and thinner information, the terminal device 3 forms a paint-related information notification image including information regarding the overcoating permission and information indicating the names of the thinners applicable to the two types of paints designated by the user, and displays it on the display unit 304 (step S8). Here, the terminal device 3 causes the display unit 304 to display a paint-related information notification image GA2 as shown in, for example, FIG. 8B. Here, the paint-related information notification image GA2 includes message images M21 and M22 indicating the paint names of the two types of paints to be overcoated designated by the user, a message image M23 indicating the overcoating permission, and message images M24 and M25 indicating the names of the thinners applicable to the paints designated by the user.

[0033] Next, the paint-related information providing process executed by the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. Note that this paint-related information providing process is started when a program for executing the paint-related information providing process in the cloud server 1 is activated. First, the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not it has acquired the above-described target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3 (step S101). Here, as long as the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines that it has not acquired the target paint information (step S101: No), the process of step S101 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines that it has acquired the target paint information (step S101: Yes), it extracts the paint information indicating each of the two types of paints included in the acquired target paint information and the use layer identification information corresponding to each of the two types of paints. Then, the paint information acquisition unit 111 notifies the extracted paint information to the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the overcoating possibility determination unit 114, and notifies the extracted use layer identification information to the overcoating possibility determination unit 114.

[0034] Next, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 specifies the inclusion information corresponding to the notified paint information and the inclusion rate information corresponding thereto from among the inclusion information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 and the corresponding inclusion rate information. The solubility parameter calculation unit 112 also specifies the solubility parameter information corresponding to the inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information from among the solubility parameter information stored in the solubility information storage unit 131. Then, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 calculates the solubility parameter based on the inclusion rate of each of at least one type of inclusion indicated by the specified inclusion information and inclusion rate information and the solubility parameter indicated by the specified solubility parameter information (step S102).

[0035] Subsequently, when the thinner specifying unit 113 is notified of the solubility parameter information from the solubility parameter calculating unit 112, in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, the thinner having a solubility parameter corresponding to the coordinates within a distance from the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameters of the two types of paints specified by the user indicated by the solubility parameter information that is equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the reference criterion storage unit 134 is specified (step S103). Here, the thinner specifying unit 113 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the thinner information indicating the specified thinner.

[0036] Thereafter, when the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 is notified of the paint information and the usage layer identification information from the paint information acquisition unit 111, the solvent type information corresponding to the notified paint information is specified by referring to the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133. Further, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 specifies the combination of the solvent types of the upper layer and the lower layer for the two types of paints to be overcoated based on the specified solvent type information and the usage layer identification information. Then, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 specifies the overcoating possibility information corresponding to the specified combination of the solvent types of the upper layer and the lower layer by referring to the overcoating possibility information stored in the reference criterion storage unit 134 (step S104). Here, the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the specified overcoating possibility information.

[0037] Next, the paint-related information notification unit 115 generates paint-related information including the thinner information notified from the thinner specifying unit 113 and the overcoating possibility information notified from the overcoating possibility determination unit 114 and transmits it to the terminal device 3 (step S105). Subsequently, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0038] As described above, according to the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, the overcoating determination unit 114 determines whether or not the two types of paints that the user intends to overcoat can be overcoated based on at least one of the hard form of the paint and the type of resin included in each of the two types of paints that the user intends to overcoat. Further, the thinner identification unit 113 identifies a thinner that can be mixed with these paints based on the solubility parameters of each of the two types of paints specified by the user. Then, the paint-related information notification unit 115 generates paint-related information including overcoating permission information indicating whether or not overcoating is possible and thinner information indicating the identified thinner, and transmits the information to the terminal device 3. Thereby, information regarding the affinity between the two types of paints when applying the two types of paints in layers or mixing a thinner with the paint can be appropriately presented to the user via the paint-related information including the overcoating permission information and the thinner information transmitted to the terminal device 3.

[0039] By the way, when a painter uses paint, the painter usually thins the paint using a thinner specified by the manufacturer of the paint. However, when the thinner specified by the manufacturer is not available, it is required to efficiently use the painting materials by substituting a thinner not specified by the manufacturer. On the other hand, the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment selects a thinner that can be substituted for the thinner specified by the manufacturer based on the solubility parameter of the substance contained in the paint and the solubility parameter of the thinner, and transmits the paint-related information including the thinner information to the terminal device 3. Thereby, the painter can effectively utilize the in-stock thinner by referring to the thinner information included in the paint-related information displayed on the display unit 304 of the terminal device 3, so that it is possible to reduce the inventory of the painter and promote the reuse of the thinner.

[0040] (Embodiment 2) In the present embodiment, it is different from the first embodiment in that the cloud server has only a function of identifying a thinner that can be mixed with the paint specified by the user. That is, in the present embodiment, the cloud server determines whether or not the paint specified by the user and the thinner to be mixed with the paint can be mixed.

[0041] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 3003 according to the present embodiment includes a reception unit 311, a paint information notification unit 3312, a paint-related information acquisition unit 3313, and a display control unit 314. In FIG. 10, components having the same configuration as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3. Here, when the painting contractor performs a target paint information input operation of inputting the paint name and the thinner name of the paint to be mixed to the input unit 305, the reception unit 311 receives the target paint information input operation, generates operation information corresponding to the operation, and notifies the paint information notification unit 3312. When the paint information notification unit 3312 is notified of the operation information corresponding to the target paint information input operation from the reception unit 311, in response thereto, the paint information notification unit 3312 generates target paint information including paint information indicating the paint to be mixed and thinner information, and the thinner information, and transmits the target paint information to the cloud server 3001.

[0042] Further, the cloud server 3001 includes a paint information acquisition unit 3111, a solubility parameter calculation unit 112, a mixing permission determination unit 3116, and a paint-related information notification unit 3115. When the paint information acquisition unit 3111 acquires the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 extracts the paint information and the thinner information included in the acquired target paint information. Then, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 notifies the extracted paint information to the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and notifies the extracted thinner information to the mixing permission determination unit 3116.

[0043] When the thinner information is notified from the paint information acquisition unit 3111, the mixing feasibility determination unit 3116 identifies the coordinates corresponding to the thinner indicated by the notified thinner information from among the coordinates corresponding to each of a plurality of preset thinners stored in the thinner information storage unit 132. Then, in a three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, the mixing feasibility determination unit 3116 determines whether the distance between the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter of the paint indicated by the solubility parameter information notified from the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the coordinates corresponding to the identified thinner is equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the reference distance storage unit 134. Then, the mixing feasibility determination unit 3116 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 3115 of the determination result information indicating the determination result. The paint-related information notification unit 3115 generates paint-related information including the determination result information notified from the mixing feasibility determination unit 3116 and transmits it to the terminal device 3003.

[0044] Next, the processing executed by the paint-related information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 are assigned to the processing similar to that in the first embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 11, when a painting contractor performs the above-described target paint information input operation on the input unit 305 of the terminal device 3, the target paint information input operation is received, and target paint information including paint information indicating the paint to be mixed and thinner, and thinner information specified by the user is generated (step S3001). Here, the terminal device 3 forms a mixing determination target input screen image GA3001 including object images OB3011 indicating a plurality of paints and object images OB3012 indicating a plurality of thinners, as shown in FIG. 12A, for example, and displays it on the display unit 304. The object image OB3011 includes a message image M3111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M3112 indicating the specifications of the paint, and the object image OB3012 includes a message image M3121 indicating the name of the thinner and a message image M3122 indicating the specifications of the thinner. Then, in the target paint information input operation, the user selects the object images OB3001 and OB3002 corresponding to either the paint or the thinner to be mixed via the input unit 305, and performs an operation of dragging with the finger F so as to overlap the selected one on the other, as shown by the arrow AR3001 in FIG. 12B, for example, to specify the paint and the thinner to be mixed. Returning to FIG. 11, next, the generated target paint information is transmitted from the terminal device 3003 to the cloud server 3001 (step S3002).

[0045] On the other hand, when the cloud server 3001 acquires the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3003, it extracts the paint information and thinner information included in the acquired target paint information. Then, the cloud server 3001 calculates the solubility parameter based on the content rate of each at least one type of inclusion indicated by the inclusion information and the content rate information corresponding to the extracted paint information, and the solubility parameter indicated by the specified solubility parameter information (step S3).

[0046] Subsequently, the cloud server 3001 identifies the solubility parameter corresponding to the thinner indicated by the extracted thinner information from among the coordinates corresponding to each of a plurality of preset types of thinners stored in the thinner information storage unit 132 (step S3003). Then, the cloud server 3001 executes a mixing feasibility determination to determine whether the distance between the coordinate corresponding to the calculated solubility parameter and the coordinate corresponding to the identified thinner in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter is less than or equal to the aforementioned reference distance (step S3004). Thereafter, the cloud server 3001 generates paint-related information including determination result information indicating the determination result (step S3005), and the generated paint-related information is transmitted from the cloud server 3001 to the terminal device 3003 (step S7).

[0047] On the other hand, when the terminal device 3003 acquires the paint-related information transmitted from the cloud server 3001, it extracts the determination result information included in the acquired paint-related information. Then, based on the extracted determination result information, the terminal device 3003 forms a paint-related information notification image including information indicating whether the paint and thinner specified by the user can be mixed and displays it on the display unit 304 (step S3006). Here, the terminal device 3003 causes a paint-related information notification image GA3002 as shown in FIG. 13, for example, to be displayed on the display unit 304. Here, the paint-related information notification image GA3002 includes paint name of the paint specified by the user, message images M3021 and M3022 indicating the name of the thinner, and a message image M3023 indicating whether mixing is possible.

[0048] Next, the paint-related information providing process executed by the cloud server 3001 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14. In FIG. 14, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 9. First, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3 (step S3101). Here, when the paint information acquisition unit 3111 determines that it has acquired the target paint information (step S3101: Yes), it extracts the paint information and thinner information included in the acquired target paint information. Then, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 notifies the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 of the extracted paint information and notifies the mixing possibility determination unit 3116 of the extracted thinner information.

[0049] Next, after the process of step S102 is executed, the mixing possibility determination unit 3116 specifies the solubility parameter corresponding to the thinner indicated by the notified thinner information from among the coordinates corresponding to each of a plurality of types of thinners preset and stored in the thinner information storage unit 132 (step S3102). Then, in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, the mixing possibility determination unit 3116 determines whether the distance between the coordinate corresponding to the solubility parameter of the paint indicated by the solubility parameter information notified from the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the coordinate corresponding to the solubility parameter of the specified thinner is equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the reference distance storage unit 134. A mixing possibility determination is executed (step 3103).

[0050] Thereafter, the paint-related information notification unit 3115 generates paint-related information including the determination result information notified from the mixing possibility determination unit 3116 and transmits it to the terminal device 3003 (step S3104). Subsequently, the process of step S3101 is executed again.

[0051] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to quickly grasp whether the paint and the thinner specified by the user can be mixed, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

[0052] As described above, each embodiment of the present invention has been explained, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in Embodiment 1, the terminal device 3 may form and display on the display unit 304 a multi-layer painting determination target paint input screen image GA2001 including object images OB2011 and OB2012 each indicating a plurality of paints as shown in, for example, FIG. 15A. The object images OB2011 and 2012 include message images M2111 and 2121 indicating the names of the paints and message images M2112 and 2122 indicating the specifications of the paints. Then, in the target paint information input operation, the user selects the object image OB2012 corresponding to the upper-layer paint among the two types of paints to be multi-layer painted via the input unit 305, and drags it with a finger F so as to overlap the object image OB2011 corresponding to the lower-layer paint as shown by the arrow AR2001 in FIG. 15B, thereby specifying the upper-layer and lower-layer paints to be multi-layer painted.

[0053] According to this configuration, it becomes easier for the user to visually grasp the upper and lower layers of the two types of paints to be multi-layer painted, so that the convenience for the user can be improved. For example, when the user multi-layer paints a plurality of types of paints that the user owns, there is an advantage that it becomes easier to confirm the compatibility of the paints to be multi-layer painted when there is a concern about the compatibility of the paints.

[0054] Also, in Embodiment 1, the terminal device 3 may form a mixing feasibility determination target input screen image including object images each indicating a plurality of paints or thinners, display the image on the display unit 304, and when the user selects one of the plurality of object images, change the display mode of the object image corresponding to the selected object image and the object image corresponding to the paint or thinner that can be mixed with the paint or thinner corresponding to the selected object image according to the mixing feasibility. For example, in the initial state, each object image is displayed with the color inside a rectangular frame image being white. When one object image is selected by the user, the color inside the object image changes to another color (for example, green), and the colors of the object images corresponding to the paint or thinner that can be mixed with the paint or thinner corresponding to the selected object image are changed to different colors according to their mixing feasibility. For example, when they can be mixed, the inner color may be displayed in light blue, when they cannot be mixed, the inner color may be displayed in light red, and when it is unknown, the inner color may be displayed in light yellow.

[0055] In Embodiment 1, an example in which the cloud server 1 identifies thinners that can be mixed with each of two types of paints specified by the user has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cloud server may identify paints that can be mixed with the thinner specified by the user.

[0056] In Embodiment 1, an example in which the cloud server 1 determines whether two types of paints specified by the user can be overpainted has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the cloud server specifies one type of paint for the upper layer or the lower layer when the user overpaints two types of paints, the paint information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 and the determination criterion information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 are referred to, and the paint that can be overpainted on the specified lower layer paint, or the paint that can be adopted as the lower layer paint for the specified upper layer paint, may be identified.

[0057] In Embodiment 1, the thinner specifying unit 113 specifies a thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer for the paint selected by the user, and specifies the solubility parameter of the specified thinner from the information on the solubility parameters stored in the thinner information storage unit 132. Then, the thinner specifying unit 113 may specify thinner information of a thinner whose difference from the solubility parameter of the thinner recommended by the specified manufacturer is within a preset reference range from among the thinner information stored in the thinner information storage unit 132. Here, the reference range can be set, for example, within ±5% of the solubility parameter recommended by the manufacturer.

[0058] Alternatively, the thinner specifying unit 113 may select one rank from a plurality of preset ranks regarding the validity of adopting a thinner based on the types of solvents contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer and the content of various solvents. For example, if the candidate thinner to be selected is the same as the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer, it is ranked as A; if the difference between the content rate of the solvent of the same type as the solvent most contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer and the content rate of the said solvent contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer is within ±20%, it is ranked as B; if the difference between the content rate of the solvent of the same type as the solvent most contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer and the content rate of the said solvent contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer exceeds ±20%, it may be selected as rank C. Or, if the solvent with the highest content rate and the solvent with the second highest content rate in the candidate thinner to be selected and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer match, and the total of these content rates is 60% or more, it is ranked as A; if the solvent with the highest content rate and the solvent with the second highest content rate in the candidate thinner to be selected and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer match, and the total of these content rates is less than 60%, it is ranked as B; if the solvent with the highest content rate and the solvent with the second highest content rate in the candidate thinner to be selected and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are different from each other but of the same type, and the total of these content rates is 60% or more, it is ranked as C; if the solvent with the highest content rate and the solvent with the second highest content rate in the candidate thinner to be selected and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are different from each other but of the same type, and the total of these content rates is less than 60%, it may be selected as rank D. Here, the types of thinners may be classified, for example, into hydrocarbons, alcohols, acetate esters, ketones, cellosolves, glycol ethers, ethers, chlorinated hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing compounds, etc. Alternatively, the types of thinners may be classified based on whether they are strong solvents, weak solvents or aqueous.

[0059] In the first embodiment, an example was described in which three HSPs indicating the dispersion force component Dd, the polar component Dp, and the hydrogen bond component Dh were adopted as solubility parameters. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the distance derived from the three solubility parameters of the paint and the thinner, that is, the SP value of Hildebrand, may be adopted as the solubility parameter.

[0060] In the first embodiment, the cloud server 1 may further include a determination criterion update unit that updates the determination criterion information based on the performance information indicating the actual performance of the paint actually used in the upper and lower layers. Alternatively, when the paint information indicating the paint specified by the user is input, the cloud server 1 uses a painting material estimation model that outputs information indicating at least one of a paint that can be overpainted with the paint indicated by the paint information and a thinner that can be mixed with the paint, and may include a painting material estimation unit that estimates at least one of a paint that can be overpainted with the paint specified by the user and a thinner that can be mixed with the paint. In this case, the cloud server 1 may include a painting material estimation model update unit that trains the painting material estimation model using the solubility parameters of the paint and thinner indicated by the paint information and thinner information included in the above-described performance information as teacher data.

[0061] Further, in the first embodiment, the cloud server 1 may further include a reference distance information update unit that updates the reference distance information based on the performance information indicating the actual performance of the thinner actually used, with respect to the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the reference distance storage unit 134.

[0062] In the embodiment, an example of determining only whether overcoating is possible has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the overcoating determination unit may select one rank from a plurality of types of ranks preset for the validity of overcoating. Specifically, when the combination of two types of paints is the same as the specification defined by the paint manufacturer, the overcoating determination unit makes an "A determination"; when the combination of the resin type (paint) of the upper-layer paint and the resin type (paint) of the lower-layer paint is appropriate, a "B determination" is made; when the paint type and the resin type (paint) are the same as those approved by the paint manufacturer, a "C determination" is made; and when overcoating is not possible, a "D determination" rank may be selected. Here, as the resin type (paint), "two-component epoxy resin", "one-component epoxy resin", "one-component urethane resin", "two-component urethane resin", etc. may be adopted.

[0063] In the embodiment, the solubility parameter calculation unit may directly calculate the solubility parameter from the physical property values of the substances contained in the paint or thinner. In this case, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameter by a method obtained from the latent heat of evaporation, a method based on the Hildebrand-Rule, a method based on the surface tension, a method obtained from the refractive index, or the like. Alternatively, the solubility parameter calculation unit may directly calculate the solubility parameter from the molecular structure of the substances contained in the paint or thinner. In this case, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameter by the calculation method of Small, the calculation method of Rheineck and Lin, the calculation method of Krevelen and Hoftyzer, the calculation method of Fedors, the calculation method of Hansen, the calculation method of Hoy, the Stefanis & Panayiotou method, or the like.

[0064] In the embodiment, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameters of the paint and the thinner based on the solvent composition of the paint or the thinner obtained using gas chromatography. Specifically, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 acquires information indicating the solvent composition of the paint or thinner identified by analysis using gas chromatography, and based on the acquired information, calculates the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner from the solubility parameter of the identified solvent, which is stored in the solubility information storage unit 131, and the volume fraction of each solvent contained in the paint or thinner. By the way, in the case of paint, although it contains resin, pigment, etc., it is difficult to extract these as gases that are the analysis targets of gas chromatography. However, the resin contained in the paint is basically often designed to dissolve well in the solvent. Therefore, the solubility parameter calculation unit calculates the solubility parameter of the paint assuming that the value of the solubility parameter of the resin in the paint is approximately the same as the value of the solubility parameter of the solvent in the paint. That is, the solubility parameter calculation unit calculates the HSP value of the paint assuming that the HSP value of the solvent in the paint is approximately equal to the HSP value of the resin in the paint. Also, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the HSP value calculated for a dedicated thinner specified for use with the paint as the HSP value of the paint. Furthermore, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner from the solvent composition of the paint or thinner identified by analysis using a gas chromatograph and the solubility parameters of each solvent calculated by methods such as the method for obtaining from the aforementioned latent heat of vaporization, the method according to Hildebrand-Rule, the method according to surface tension, and the method for obtaining from the refractive index.

[0065] In Embodiment 2, for a thinner not in the inventory held by a painter, when a terminal device having an imaging function is used to take a photo of the label of its container, the thinner information including the product name, manufacturer name, etc. contained in the photo of the label is read by image recognition technology, and based on the read thinner information, the thinner corresponding to the thinner information is identified, and it may be determined whether the identified thinner can be mixed with the paint held by the painter.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 16, for example, the terminal device 4003 according to this modification includes an imaging unit 307 and an image recognition unit 4315 that performs image analysis processing using the image information obtained by the imaging unit 307 and recognizes the product name, manufacturer name, etc. included in the image information. In FIG. 16, components similar to those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 10. The image recognition unit 4315 notifies the reception unit 4311 of information indicating the recognized product name, manufacturer name, etc. Here, after a painting contractor performs a target paint information input operation of inputting the paint name of the paint they possess to the input unit 305, and then performs an operation of imaging the label of an empty container in which thinner is stored by the imaging unit 307. In this case, after the reception unit 4311 receives the target paint information input operation and generates information indicating the paint name, when information indicating the product name and manufacturer name of the thinner recognized by the image recognition unit 4315 is notified, the reception unit 4311 generates operation information including the information indicating the paint name and the information indicating the product name, etc. of the thinner and notifies the paint information notification unit 3312. Then, when the paint information notification unit 3312 is notified of the operation information from the reception unit 4311, in response, the paint information notification unit 3312 generates target paint information including paint information including information indicating the paint name possessed by the painting contractor included in the operation information and thinner information including the notified product name of the thinner, and transmits it to the cloud server 3001. In addition, when a painting contractor performs an operation of imaging the label of an empty container in which paint is stored by the imaging unit 307, the image recognition unit 4315 may recognize the product name and manufacturer name of the paint recognized by the image analysis processing and notify the reception unit 4311. Further, the image recognition unit 4315 may recognize the product name, manufacturer name, etc. from, for example, an image of a container of the imaged thinner, paint, etc., an image of a two-dimensional code printed on the container, or an image of a one-dimensional barcode.

[0067] According to this configuration, by simply imaging the label attached to the thinner container, the paint that can be mixed with the thinner can be specified. Alternatively, by simply photographing the label attached to the paint container, the thinner that can be mixed with the paint can be specified. Therefore, the convenience of the painting contractor can be improved.

[0068] In Embodiment 2, for a thinner not in the inventory held by a painter, when a terminal device having an imaging function is used to take a photo of the label of the container thereof, thinner information including the product name, manufacturer name, etc. included in the photo of the label is read by image recognition technology, and based on the read thinner information, the thinner corresponding to the thinner information is specified, and it may have a function of selecting a thinner having a solubility parameter close to that of the specified thinner from among the thinners held by the painter.

[0069] In each embodiment, the terminal device 3 may be configured to display a paint-related information notification image GA4001, such as that shown in FIG. 17A, on the display unit 304. Here, on the left side of the paint-related information notification image GA4001, an object image OB4011 of the paint held by the painter is arranged, and object images OB4012 of a plurality of thinners each serving as a candidate for mixing with the paint held on the left side are arranged. The object image OB4011 includes a message image M4111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M4112 indicating the specifications of the paint. The object image OB4012 includes a message image M4111 indicating the name of the thinner and a message image M4112 representing the manufacturer name of the thinner. Note that the message image M4112 is not limited to representing the manufacturer name, and may represent the distance between coordinates represented by the solubility parameters of the paint and the thinner, respectively, or a rank regarding the compatibility with the paint. Alternatively, the message image M4112 may include the location where the thinner is stored, etc. Here, the object images OB4012 are arranged in order of proximity of solubility parameters, that is, in order of proximity of the distance between coordinates represented by the three aforementioned solubility parameters of the paint and the thinner, in order of availability of the required amount of the paint, in order of higher rank regarding the compatibility with the thinner to be mixed, etc. Here, as the search destination of the paint, not only the painter's own inventory but also an EC site where the paint is listed, a shared inventory of another company, etc. may be used.

[0070] In each embodiment, the terminal device 3 may be configured to display an inventory list image including a list of object images of paints or thinners held by, for example, a painter. When the painter selects any one of the object images with the inventory list image being displayed on the display unit 304, the terminal device 3 may be provided with a function of displaying the selected object image in a display mode in which the color of its peripheral part or the entire inner part is changed. At this time, when an object image representing a paint or a thinner is selected by the terminal device 3, for an object image representing a solvent that can be mixed with the paint or thinner represented by the selected object image, the color of its peripheral part or the entire inner part may be changed and displayed, or the arrangement of the object image in the inventory list image may be changed and displayed. Further, when an object image representing a paint is selected by the terminal device 3, for an object image representing a paint that can be overpainted with the paint represented by the selected object image, that is, a paint that can be used as a paint for overcoating or undercoating the paint, the color of its peripheral part or the entire inner part may be changed and displayed, or the arrangement of the object image in the inventory list image may be changed and displayed.

[0071] Also, when an object image representing paint or thinner is selected by the terminal device 3, if a solvent that can be mixed with the paint or thinner represented by the selected object image does not exist in the stock solvents represented by the stock list image, an inventory list image of a storage location different from the storage location corresponding to the site image of the EC site that sells the mixable solvent or the stock list image may be displayed. Then, the terminal device 3 may display the object image representing the mixable solvent included in the site image or another stock list image in a display mode in which the color of its periphery or the entire inner color is changed, or may change the arrangement of the object image in the site image or the stock list image and display it. Also, when an object image representing paint is selected by the terminal device 3, if a paint that can be overpainted with the paint represented by the selected object image does not exist in the stock paints represented by the stock list image, an inventory list image of a storage location different from the storage location corresponding to the site image of the EC site that sells the overpaiintable paint or the stock list image may be displayed. Then, the terminal device 3 may display the object image representing the overpaiintable paint included in the site image or another stock list image in a display mode in which the color of its periphery or the entire inner color is changed, or may change the arrangement of the object image in the stock list image and display it.

[0072] Alternatively, the terminal device 3 may cause the display unit 304 to display a paint-related information notification image GA5001 as shown in, for example, FIG. 17B. Here, on the left side of the paint-related information notification image GA5001, there is arranged an object image OB5011 of the paint held by the painter, and object images OB5012 of a plurality of paints each of which is a candidate for overcoating with the paint held on the left side are arranged. Here, the "overcoating" is not limited to the case where the candidate paint is overcoated on the paint corresponding to the object image OB5011, but also includes the case where the paint corresponding to the object image OB5011 is overcoated on the candidate paint. The object image OB5011 includes a message image M5111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M5112 indicating the specifications of the paint. The object image OB5012 includes a message image M5111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M5112 representing the name of the paint manufacturer. Note that the message image M5112 is not limited to representing the name of the manufacturer, and may represent the distance between coordinates represented by the solubility parameters of each of the overcoated paints, or may represent a rank related to the compatibility of the overcoating of the paints. Alternatively, the message image M5112 may include the location where the paint is stored, etc. Here, the object images OB5012 are arranged in the order of increasing solubility parameters, that is, in the order of decreasing distance between coordinates represented by the above-described three solubility parameters of each paint, in the order where the required amounts of the paints are aligned, in the order of increasing rank related to the compatibility of the overcoating, etc.

[0073] In an embodiment, it may be determined whether the solvent of the paint is a strong solvent type, a weak solvent type, or an aqueous type based on the content and solubility parameter of the substances contained in the paint. In this case, the solubility parameter (HSP value) of each target paint may be calculated, and the type of the solvent may be determined based on the calculated solubility parameter. Further, in the embodiment, the solubility parameter (HSP value) of the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer for the paint may be calculated, and the type of the solvent of the paint corresponding to the thinner may be determined based on the calculated solubility parameter. For example, for each of a plurality of types of thinners that can be recommended for the paint, the types of strong solvent type, weak solvent type, and aqueous type may be registered based on the calculated solubility parameter, and at the stage of obtaining the paint, the type of the solvent of the paint may be discriminated based on the registered information.

[0074] In an embodiment, the overcoating possibility determination unit may determine the possibility of overcoating based on the solubility parameters of two types of paints to be overcoated. Further, when the solubility parameters of two types of paints to be overcoated are input, the overcoating possibility determination unit may estimate the possibility of overcoating of the two types of paints using an overcoating possibility estimation model that outputs information indicating the possibility of overcoating of the two types of paints. In this case, the cloud server 1 may include an overcoating possibility estimation model update unit that causes the overcoating possibility estimation model to learn using the performance information on the possibility of overcoating of two types of paints as teacher data.

[0075] In an embodiment, it may further include a storage location storage unit (not shown) that stores storage location information indicating the storage location of paint or thinner in association with the paint information and thinner information of the paint and thinner. Then, the thinner identification unit 113 may select a thinner that can be mixed with the paint to be determined from among the thinners stored in a storage location close to the location where the paint to be determined is stored. Also, when the thinner that can be mixed with the paint to be determined is a thinner produced by mixing a plurality of types of thinners, it may have a function of selecting a plurality of types of thinners and calculating the mixing ratio of each of the plurality of types of thinners. In this case, for example, the range of the solubility parameter of the thinner that can be mixed with the paint to be determined is specified, and based on the predetermined solubility parameters of each of the plurality of types of thinners, the mixing ratios of the plurality of types of thinners that fall within the specified range of the solubility parameter are calculated. Then, based on the calculated mixing ratios, the required amount of each of the plurality of types of thinners is calculated, and the required amounts of the plurality of types of thinners, together with the thinner information of each of the plurality of types of thinners that can be mixed with the paint to be determined, may be recommended to the painter.

[0076] In Embodiment 1, it may further include a determination criterion update unit that updates the overcoating permission information indicating the permissibility of overcoating corresponding to each combination of the type of solvent of the paint used for the upper layer, the hard form of the paint, and the type of resin, and the type of solvent of the lower layer, the hard form of the paint, and the type of resin when two types of paints stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 are overcoated, based on the performance information indicating the performance of overcoating. For example, when the lower layer paint is water-based and two-component, it may be possible to apply a weak solvent or a strong solvent to the upper layer. In such a case, the determination criterion update unit updates the overcoating permission information by newly adding this combination. Note that as the aforementioned "type of solvent", for the "strong solvent type", further subdivisions such as "strong solvent type: one-component (moisture effect type), two-component (reaction curing type), etc.", and for the "weak solvent type", "one-component", "two-component", and for "water-based", "one-component", "two-component", etc. may be adopted. The determination criterion update unit updates the combination in each paint based on the performance information indicating the performance such as when it was determined as "not permissible" based on the determination criterion information as shown in FIG. 5B but was actually "permissible", or when it was determined as "permissible" but was actually "not permissible".

[0077] Further, the determination criterion update unit may update the determination criterion based on a determination criterion setting model that sets the determination criterion based on the contents of the corresponding paints. In this case, the determination criterion update unit may optimize the determination criterion setting model by machine learning based on the past performance information indicating "permissible" and "not permissible" and the contents of the corresponding paints. Additionally, it may further include a solubility parameter update unit that optimizes the solubility parameter of the paint and thinner based on the actual solubility of the paint and thinner.

[0078] In Embodiment 1, an example in which the paint information storage unit 133 stores in advance the solvent types of various paints has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a solvent type determination unit that determines whether the solvent type is a weak solvent, a strong solvent, or water-based based on the numerical range to which the solubility parameters of various paints belong may be provided. For example, when adopting the SP value of Hildebrand as the solubility parameter, the solvent type determination unit may determine that it is a weak solvent if the SP value of the paint to be overcoated is 14 MPa0.5 or more and less than 18 MPa0.5, and a strong solvent if it is 18 Mpa0.5 or more and less than 24 MPa. Further, when adopting the aforementioned HSP value as the solubility parameter, the solvent type determination unit may determine a weak solvent and a strong solvent based on the HSP values of the three components of the paint to be overcoated.

[0079] In Embodiment 1, the overcoating permission determination unit 114 may determine whether the two paints to be overcoated can be overcoated based on the difference in the values of the solubility parameters of each of the two paints to be overcoated.

[0080] In each embodiment, for a paint or thinner, a solubility parameter estimation unit that estimates the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner based on the thinner specified by the manufacturer of the paint or thinner or the solvent type of the paint that can be mixed may be provided. For example, the solubility parameter estimation unit estimates and registers approximate solubility parameters from the name of the paint or thinner (for example, modified epoxy resin paint), safety data sheet, etc. Thereafter, when the composition of the thinner dedicated to the paint or the paint that can be mixed with the thinner is found, the solubility parameter estimation unit calculates and registers the solubility parameter again based on the composition. Further, the solubility parameters of the paint and thinner may be corrected based on the degree of mixing when mixed with a solvent or paint whose solubility parameter is known.

[0081] In addition, the various functions of the cloud servers 1 and 3001 and the terminal devices 3 and 3003 according to the present invention can be realized using a normal computer system, rather than a dedicated system. For example, a program for executing the above operations is stored in a non-transitory recording medium (such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)) readable by a computer system and distributed to a computer connected to a network, and the cloud servers 1 and 3001 and the terminal devices 3 and 3003 that execute the above-described processing may be configured by installing the program in the computer system.

[0082] Also, the method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board (BBS (Bulletin Board System)) on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. Then, the computer starts this program and executes it in the same manner as other applications under the control of the OS (Operating System). As a result, the computer functions as the cloud servers 1 and 3001 and the terminal devices 3, 3003, and 4003 that execute the above-described processing.

[0083] As described above, each embodiment and modification of the present invention have been explained, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention includes those in which the embodiments and modifications are appropriately combined and those in which appropriate changes are made thereto.

[0084] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-135074 filed on August 22, 2023 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-026223 filed on February 26, 2024. The entire specifications, claims, and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-135074 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-026223 are incorporated herein by reference.

Industrial Applicability

[0085] The present invention is suitable as a system used when a painter performs paint mixing work.

Explanation of Signs

[0086] 1,3001: Cloud server, 3,3003,4003: Terminal device, 101,301: CPU, 102,302: Main memory unit, 103,303: Auxiliary storage unit, 106,306: Communication unit, 109,309: Bus, 111: Paint information acquisition unit, 112: Solubility parameter calculation unit, 113: Thinner identification unit, 114: Overcoating determination unit, 115,3115: Paint-related information notification unit, 131: Dissolution information storage unit, 132: Thinner information storage unit, 133: Paint information storage unit, 134: Judgment criterion storage unit, 304: Display unit, 305: Input unit, 311: Reception unit, 312,3312: Paint information notification unit, 313: Paint-related information acquisition unit, 314: Display control unit, 407: Imaging unit, 3116: Mixing determination unit, B11,B12: Input field, GA1: Overcoating determination target paint input screen image, GA2,GA3002,GA4002,GA5002: Paint-related information notification image, GA3001: Mixing determination target paint input screen image, M21,M22,M23,M24,M25,M2111,M2112,M2121,M2122,M3111,M3112,M3121,M3122: Message information, NW1: Network, OB2011,OB2012,OB3011,OB3012,OB4011,OB4012,OB5011,OB5012: Object image

Claims

1. A coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material overcoated on the first coating material; An overcoating determination unit that determines whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, the type of resin, and the solubility parameter included in each of the first coating material and the second coating material; A coating material specifying unit that specifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; A coating material related information notification unit that generates coating material related information including overcoating possibility information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the coating material related information to a terminal device; A coating material related information providing device.

2. When the hard form of the paint and the type of resin are the same, and when the type of solvent included in the first coating material is the same as the type of solvent included in the second coating material, the overcoating determination unit determines that overcoating is possible. When the type of solvent included in the first coating material is a strong solvent form and the type of solvent included in the second coating material is a weak solvent form or aqueous, the overcoating determination unit determines that overcoating is possible. When the type of solvent included in the first coating material is a weak solvent form and the type of solvent included in the second coating material is aqueous, the overcoating determination unit determines that overcoating is possible. When the type of solvent included in the first coating material is an aqueous two-component form and the type of solvent included in the second coating material is aqueous, a strong solvent form, or a weak solvent form, the overcoating determination unit determines that overcoating is possible. The coating material related information providing device according to Claim 1.

3. When the combination of the first coating material and the second coating material is the same as the specifications determined by at least one of the manufacturers of the first coating material and the second coating material, when the combination of the resin system types of the first coating material and the second coating material is appropriate, and when the types of resin systems recognized by at least one of the manufacturers of the first coating material and the second coating material are the same, the overcoating possibility determination unit selects different ranks for the case where overcoating is not possible. The coating material related information providing device according to Claim 1.

4. The solubility parameter is a three-dimensional Hansen parameter including a dispersion force component, a polar component, and a hydrogen bond component, The coating material specifying unit specifies the third coating material having a solubility parameter corresponding to coordinates within a preset reference distance or less from the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material in a three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameter, The coating material-related information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The coating material-related information providing device further includes a solubility parameter calculation unit that calculates the solubility parameter based on the content ratio of each of at least one type of inclusion contained in at least one of them. The coating material-related information providing device according to claim 4.

6. A terminal device, A coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials designated by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material overcoated on the first coating material, An overcoating determination unit that determines whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, the type of resin, and the solubility parameter contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material, A coating material specifying unit that specifies a third coating material mixable with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material, A coating material-related information notification unit that generates coating material-related information including overcoating permission information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the information to the terminal device, A coating material-related information providing system.

7. A step of acquiring target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials designated by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material overcoated on the first coating material, A step of determining whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, the type of resin, and the solubility parameter contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material, A step of specifying a third coating material that is mixable with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; A step of generating coating material-related information including overcoating possibility information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmitting the information to a terminal device; A method for providing coating material-related information.

8. A computer, A coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when overcoating two types of coating materials specified by a user and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; An overcoating determination unit that determines whether it is possible to overcoat the second coating material on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents, the hard form of the paint, the types of resins, and the solubility parameter contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material; A coating material specifying unit that specifies a third coating material that is mixable with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; A coating material-related information notification unit that generates coating material-related information including overcoating possibility information indicating whether overcoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the information to a terminal device; A program for causing the computer to function as such.

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