METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A LIQUID PRODUCT DISPENSING MACHINE

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for controlling a dispensing machine configured to dispense liquid products within a receptacle (118) and comprising a plurality of container units (111), each containing a respective liquid product, one or more storage zones (128) for the container units (111), and a dispensing zone (115) in which at least a subset of container units (111) containing the liquid products to be dispensed in a dispensing cycle is provided for the temporary and selective placement of such units, by making use of a computing device (161) comprising at least a processor (164), data storage means (162) with a formulation database, an input device (163), and a display device (159).wherein the control method comprises determining the arrangement of the plurality of container units (111) in the dispensing zone (115) and in the storage zone(s) (128), receiving, through the input device, a user-selected target formulation, and identifying, through the processor, from the formulation database, an associated plurality of liquid products contained in the respective container units (111) of the subset, each of which will be dispensed according to a predetermined quantity to obtain said target formulation. The computer-implemented control method also comprises displaying a graphical representation of the dispensing machine arrangement with the dispensing zone (15) and the storage zone(s) (28).which respectively reflects the arrangement of the subset of container units (111) arranged in the dispensing zone (115) and in the storage zone(s) (128), and graphically highlighting, in the graphic representation, at least the subset of container units (11) from which the selected target formulation is to be produced by means of signaling to facilitate its identification by the user and thus provide a guide to the user for the movement of one or more container units (111) from the storage zone(s) (128) to the dispensing zone (115), or vice versa, if necessary for the production of the target formulation.

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A LIQUID PRODUCT DISPENSING MACHINE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a dispensing machine configured to distribute liquid products. In particular, the method according to the present invention allows the dispensing machine to be managed efficiently to prepare user-defined formulations, such as paint formulations, particularly in the field of refinishing or repair applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Preparing a complex formulation from various readily available fluid ingredients according to a user-defined recipe is found in many different fields. For example, in auto body shops, a custom paint formulation must be prepared that precisely matches the color of the car being repaired, as slight variations between the original paint on undamaged parts of the car and the paint used for the repair will already be visible to an observer. Therefore, different machines have been developed that dispense liquid coloring products configured to administer a plurality of such products into a receptacle according to a predetermined administration sequence to provide a desired formulation to an operator. In this sector, we find fully automatic dispensing machines or semi-automatic dispensing machines, in which operator intervention is required to manage the different dosing cycles. Generally, automatic machines can be more cumbersome and less flexible. In contrast, semi-automatic machines, besides often being smaller than automatic ones, offer more flexible operation, which adapts better to the different needs of users. Typically, in semi-automatic dispensing machines, the operator takes one or more containers of the liquid colorants required for the formulation to be dispensed and places them in a dispensing area. The liquid colorants are then dispensed from their respective containers, one after the other, into a receptacle. To ensure the dispensing machine can accurately and reliably dispense the desired formulation, dosing means are provided to measure the quantity of liquid product dispensed, such as a scale to measure the weight of the dispensed product, or suitable means to measure the volume of the dispensed product. One disadvantage of semi-automatic dispensing machines is that their proper functioning depends on the correct management of the fluid colorant product containers by the operator, who therefore has to operate skillfully and precisely. Another disadvantage of these dispensing machines is that, between dispensing cycles, a certain amount of machine "setup" time is required. During this time, the containers of the already dispensed liquid product are removed from the dispensing area, and the containers of liquid colorants are placed in this area, which is necessary for dispensing the next product formulation. This "setup" time requires lengthy operator interventions, the duration of which increases in case of errors or unforeseen events, such as if the liquid colorant runs out during a dispensing cycle. One purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the operation of a liquid dispensing machine for preparing user-selected formulations that can mitigate or overcome one or more, such as one, some, or all, of the disadvantages of the prior art. Therefore, the control method according to the present invention should allow for obtaining a wide variety of color formulations, such as those found in automotive refinishing applications, from a plurality of liquid products in predetermined proportions in a reliable, fast, safe, and economical manner. This allows for the precise dispensing of target formulations with high production volumes, without requiring lengthy and laborious operator intervention. The applicant has devised, tested, and implemented the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to achieve these and other purposes and advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other features of the invention or variants of the main inventive idea. In accordance with the foregoing purposes, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a dispensing machine configured to dispense liquid products and comprising a plurality of container units, each containing a respective liquid product. The machine is provided with one or more storage areas for the container units and a dispensing area in which a subset of the container units containing the liquid products to be dispensed in a dispensing cycle is selectively and temporarily placed. The computer-implemented method utilizes a computing device comprising at least one processor. It may also utilize storage media with a formulation database, and typically an input device and a display device.The input device and the display device can also be combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. The control method may involve determining the arrangement of multiple container units in the dispensing area and in the storage area(s). It may further involve receiving, for example, a user-selected target formulation via the input device and identifying, through the processor, from the formulation database, a specific number of liquid products contained in the respective container units of the subset, each to be dispensed in a predetermined quantity to obtain the target formulation.The control method according to the invention may also comprise displaying a graphical representation of the dispensing machine design with the dispensing zone and the storage zone(s), reflecting, respectively, the arrangement of the plurality of container units in the dispensing zone and in the storage zone(s). It may further comprise graphically highlighting, in the graphical representation, at least the subset of container units by means of signaling to facilitate their identification by the user and thus guide the user in moving one or more container units from the storage zone(s) to the dispensing zone, or vice versa, if necessary for the production of the target formulation.The method may further involve the user moving one or more container units from the storage area(s) to the dispensing area, or vice versa, as necessary. The target formulation can then be prepared from the subset of container units that hold the liquid products to be administered in a dispensing cycle. The present invention also relates to a computer-controlled dispensing machine implemented according to the described method. Such a dispensing machine is configured to supply liquid products into a receptacle and comprises a plurality of container units, each containing a respective liquid product, one or more storage areas for the container units, and a distribution area provided for the temporary and selective placement of a subset of container units containing the liquid products to be dispensed in a dispensing cycle. It may further comprise a slide on which a scale is disposed, provided with a support surface for the receptacle and movable on linear guides to slide parallel to a longitudinal direction so that the slide, together with the scale and the receptacle, can move beneath the subset of container units.The dispensing machine may also include a programmable processor or a control unit configured to implement the control method as described above. The dispensing machine may further include a display, for example, a touchscreen, which defines interface means by which the operator can control the operation of the dispensing machine and display its graphical representation. Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium containing executable program code for configuring a programmable processor or control unit comprising or operatively linked to a dispensing machine, such as a previously established dispensing machine, to carry out the computer-implemented method according to the present invention. The dispensing machine and its control method according to the present invention enable the reliably, safely, and economically dispensing of a desired formulation from a plurality of liquid products according to a user-defined recipe, with high precision and speed. It assists the operator in efficiently managing the liquid product containers provided in the machine, making it user-friendly and ensuring that the operations the operator performs on the containers are quick and highly reliable, thus reducing the risk of errors. Therefore, a characteristic advantage of the method according to the invention, which can be obtained thanks to said means for visually highlighting the container units, is to help the user place the different container units required for the production of a certain target formulation from the storage area(s) in the dispensing area. This advantageously allows for a significant reduction in the time required for the user to remove the container units from the storage areas and place them in the dispensing area, or vice versa, also significantly reducing the risk of errors. In fact, errors in removing a container unit lengthen dispensing cycle times because it will obviously be necessary to replace the incorrectly positioned container unit with the correct one, which contains the liquid product in the desired formulation. Experiments and trials have demonstrated that, thanks to the method for controlling the operation of a dispensing machine according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce, by up to thirty percent compared to known semi-automatic dispensing machines in the prior art, the time required by the user to identify the container units that must be moved from one area to another. Another characteristic advantage of the present invention is that the control method allows for flexible and intuitive management of the dispensing machine. According to some versions of the control method described herein, the signaling means for graphically highlighting certain container units arranged in the storage and / or dispensing area allow the user to selectively provide useful information about the status of the unit itself, such as the volume of liquid product contained therein, or the time elapsed since the last use of that unit. The liquid products used according to the present invention may include, or in particular be, liquid coloring products. Consequently, the present invention is particularly useful for preparing color formulations. It can be used, for example, to provide user-defined paint formulations, particularly for repainting or repair purposes, for example, in a body shop for painting a vehicle body. These and other aspects, features, and optional advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings, and accompanying claims. The drawings, which are integrated into and form part of the present description, show some non-limiting embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, are intended to illustrate the principles of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the attached drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one modality of a dispensing machine for administering liquid products according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of a portion of the dispensing machine in Figure 1, where some elements have been removed for clarity; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container unit associated with means for supporting the dispensing machine of Figure 1; Figures 4A and 4B are schematic, front elevation views showing a representation of two different versions of the container unit of Figure 3, visible to a user on the interface media operationally associated with the dispensing machine; Figures 5 and Figures 7 to 12 are schematic front elevation views showing operational representations of the dispensing machine of Figure 1 correlated with the corresponding functions or steps of the control method according to the present invention, said operational representations being visible to a user on the interface means operatively associated with the dispensing machine itself; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an enlarged detail of an operational representation of the dispensing machine of Figures 5 and 7-12; Figure 13A is a schematic view of the means for carrying out the computer-implemented control method; Figure 13B represents a schematic block diagram illustrating the method for controlling a dispensing machine according to the present invention; and Figure 14 is a schematic representation of different operational functions that may be present in the method of controlling a dispensing machine according to the present invention, using diagram blocks. To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that the elements and features of one modality may be conveniently incorporated into other modalities without further explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a method for controlling a dispensing machine according to the foregoing. As also illustrated in Figure 13B, the control method according to the invention may comprise a step of determining the arrangement of the plurality of container units in the dispensing zone and in the storage zone or zones of the machine. It may further comprise receiving, for example, via the input device or by means of the display device, a target formulation selected by the user, and identifying, via the processor, from a database of formulations, an associated plurality of liquid products contained in a respective subset of the container units, each of which will be dispensed according to a predetermined quantity to obtain said target formulation.The method may further comprise displaying a graphical representation of the dispensing machine layout with said dispensing zone and said storage zone(s), reflecting respectively the determined arrangement of said plurality of container units in said dispensing zone and in said storage zone(s). The method may further comprise graphically highlighting, through the processor, in said graphical representation, at least said subset of container units from which the selected target formulation is to be produced, by means of signaling to facilitate their identification by the user and thus provide guidance to the user for moving one or more container units from the storage zone(s) to the dispensing zone, or vice versa, if required for the production of the target formulation. The signaling means in the graphic representation may, for example, but not limited to, include graphic lines or symbols, such as arrows or exclamation marks. The graphic lines or symbols may consist of dashed and / or colored and / or flashing dots, which may be arranged above or around the container units included in the subset of container units from which the selected target formulation is to be produced, in the dispensing area and / or in the storage area(s). The method may further include displaying, on the display device, a list of codes, for example, numeric or alphanumeric, each uniquely associated with a respective liquid product contained in the subset of container units, optionally combined with the graphic representation of the design of the dispensing area.This step of graphical highlighting may involve highlighting one or more lines of the code list with a particular color, possibly flashing intermittently, and / or graphically highlighting, via the processor, the corresponding container unit for the liquid product highlighted in the list, also in the graphical representation of the dispensing area layout using such signaling means. The graphical highlighting of one or more rows of the code list, and of the corresponding container units, may indicate the presence or absence of the container unit containing the liquid product in the dispensing area or that the quantity of liquid product present in the container unit is insufficient to complete the dispensing cycle to obtain the selected target formulation.In one example, the method described herein may involve scanning, before the dispensing cycle begins, the container units located in the dispensing area, in particular using suitable optical detection means to read a code, for example a barcode, associated with each of these container units to verify which container units are located in the dispensing area and then displaying the scan results on the display device. In one possible version, the display of the scan results involves associating an indicator with the lines of this code list with information about the presence or absence of the corresponding container unit in the dispensing area and / or optionally associating lines or graphic symbols with the corresponding container unit whose presence has been verified, in the graphic representation of the dispensing area layout.Optionally, the method may further comprise maintaining a record of the amount of residual liquid product contained within a container of known nominal capacity comprising each container unit. This may involve calculating, via the processor, the amount of residual liquid product contained in a container within the container unit as the difference between the amount contained in the container before the dispensing cycle and the amount dispensed during that dispensing cycle. The method may also comprise displaying, on the display device, in the graphical representation of the machine layout, particularly schematically, the amount of residual liquid product within the respective container, at least for each of the container units comprising that subassembly.The method according to the present invention may further provide for the establishment, via the input device, of a lower threshold value for the amount of residual liquid product contained in the container. In such case, the method may optionally include graphically highlighting, in the graphical representation of the dispensing machine layout, particularly in the graphical representations of the dispensing area and / or storage area(s), the container units in which there is an amount of residual liquid product that is less than the threshold value. The method may also optionally include, before each dispensing cycle, allowing the user to select a dispensing mode via the input device.The dispensing mode can be selected, for example, in a way that can provide sequential dispensing of the liquid products, according to the order provided in the list of products stored in the target formulation, or according to the order in which the container units of that subset are placed in the dispensing zone, or according to a mode that provides for dispensing, first or respectively last, the liquid product or products to be dispensed contained in the container unit or units in which there is a quantity of residual liquid product that is less than the lower threshold limit value mentioned above.In the method according to the present invention, the position of the container units in the representation of the design of the storage zone(s) and / or dispensing zone of the dispensing machine can be implemented to be modifiable by selecting, one at a time, the container units to be moved and dragging them to position a. The control method described herein may further provide that, in the representation of the arrangement of the storage zone(s) and / or dispensing zone of the dispensing machine, means are provided, such as a dialog box, to manually modify the quantity of liquid product residue contained within the container unit, via the input device, to establish a new updated value, in particular expressed in volume, of the quantity of liquid product residue.For example, the user can obtain this new updated value using a scale provided in the dispensing machine and weighing one container unit at a time; taking into account the known tare weight of the container unit and the specific weight of the liquid product contained therein.According to some versions, the method also comprises storing, for example, in the storage media, for each container unit, the last date of use in a dispensing cycle, comparing, through the processor, the time elapsed since the last date of use with a pre-established time threshold, in particular expressed in days or weeks, and subjecting the container unit(s) for which the comparison reveals that the time elapsed since the date of last use is greater than said predetermined time threshold to an internal recirculation operation of the liquid product contained therein, when said container unit is placed in the dispensing area, before the next dispensing cycle in which the liquid product contained therein is to be distributed.The method may further comprise highlighting, by means of such signaling devices, in the graphic representation of the dispensing machine design, particularly in the graphic representations of the dispensing area and / or the storage area(s), the container units that have been identified as units to be recirculated. In some exemplary versions, the method further comprises informing the user, possibly positioned at a distance from the dispensing machine, about the status of the machine's dispensing cycle by means of visual signaling devices, for example, configured as one or more LED lights, such as LED light strips, associated with said dispensing area. IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / ^O suitable for assuming different colors for the different operating steps of the dispensing machine. In addition, the method may optionally include sending, through the processor, a warning signal to the user to inform them of a problem or malfunction of the dispensing machine, for example, by means of a text message or email on an electronic device provided to the user or an alert on a smartwatch worn by the user.According to some possible versions, the control method also includes checking, through the processor, before each dispensing cycle, by means of a presence sensor in communication with the computing device, whether the receptacle is present and correctly mounted in the dispensing machine and preventing, in the event that the presence sensor detects that the receptacle is absent or incorrectly mounted, the dispensing cycle from starting and sending an alarm signal informing the user that the receptacle is missing or incorrectly mounted.According to some examples, the method comprises adjusting, through the input device, the operating parameters of the dispensing machine that control the dispensing cycle, in particular the dispensing speed of the liquid product by means of a pumping unit that guides the flow of the liquid product and / or the speed of movement of a slider on which a scale is arranged, provided with a support plane for said receptacle and / or the maximum dispensing tolerance that is acceptable, possibly individually for each liquid product contained in the respective container units. The various functionalities mentioned above that can be implemented in the control method of the present invention can be made use of or imparted by the respective computer-executable instructions or program code. Such computer-executable instructions or program code may comprise, for example, program code, instructions, and data that, when executed on one or more processors or a programmable control unit, cause the dispensing machine and / or a computer system operatively linked to it to perform a certain function or group of functions of the control method according to the present invention, as described above and in more detail herein. The computer-executable instructions may be, for example, binary instructions, intermediate-format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.In the practice of the present invention, physical media and other computer-readable media may be used to transport or store such computer-executable instructions and / or data structures. Such computer-readable media may be any available medium accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computing system. Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions and / or data structures are computer storage media. Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions and / or data structures are transmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not as a limitation, the invention may make use of at least two distinctly different types of computer-readable media: computer storage media and transmission media. Computer storage media are physical storage media that store executable computer instructions and / or data structures. IVIA / a / ZUZ1 / lHO / 4ü Physical storage includes computer hardware, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, solid-state drives (“SSD”), flash memory, phase-change memory (“PCM”), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other hardware storage device(s) that can be used to store program code in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures, which can be accessed and executed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system to implement the disclosed functionalities of the invention. Transmission media can include a network and / or data links that can be used to transport program code in the form of instructions or data structures executable by a computer, and which can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system. A “network” is defined as one or more data links that allow the transport of electronic data between computer systems and / or modules and / or other electronic devices. When information is transferred or provided through a network or other communications connection (whether wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless) to a computer system, the computer system may view the connection as a transmission medium. Furthermore, upon reaching various components of the computer system, program code in the form of executable computer instructions or data structures can be automatically transferred from the transmission media to the computing storage media (or vice versa). For example, executable computer instructions or data structures received via a network or data link can be stored in RAM within a network interface module (e.g., a NIC) and ultimately transferred to the computer system's RAM and / or a less volatile computing storage medium within the computer system. Therefore, it should be understood that computing storage media can be included within computer system components that also (or even primarily) utilize transmission media. Implementing the control method according to the present invention generally involves the use of a computing device, also referred to herein as a computing system. The computing system may comprise or utilize a special-purpose or general-purpose computing system that includes computer hardware, such as one or more processors and system memory. The computing system is generally operatively connected (for example, by a wired or wireless connection or a combination thereof) to the dispensing machine. For example, the computing system may comprise or be operatively connected to an electronic control unit of the dispensing machine. The computing device may be integrated into the dispensing machine, for example, arranged within the cabinet that houses the dispensing area and / or a cabinet that houses one or more storage areas.Alternatively, the computing device or system may be or comprise external / remote media or components that are not physically associated with the dispensing machine as such. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can therefore be practiced in networked computing environments with many types of computing system configurations, including personal computers, desktop computers, laptops, and message processors. IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / ^O portable devices, multiprocessor systems, programmable or microprocessor-based consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframes, mobile phones, PDAs, tablets, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The invention can also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computing systems, linked (either by wired data links, wireless data links, or a combination of wired and wireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks. As such, in a distributed system environment, a computing system may include a plurality of constituent computing systems. In a distributed system environment, program modules may be located on both local and remote memory storage devices.For example, in the practice of the invention, the formulation database used in the method according to the present invention can be stored on remote storage media, for example, on a server on a network or in a cloud environment, where it can be accessed and data retrieved from it by a client (such as a user-accessible local or mobile computing device) via a suitable data transmission link. The control method of the present invention further involves the use of an input device, a display device, or a combination thereof to interact with a user, such as to receive user input, for example, a selection of a particular target formulation to be produced by the dispensing machine, or to present information, for example, a graphical representation of the dispensing machine design with specific information and / or graphic highlighting on certain container units as described above, to the user. These devices can be operationally connected to the computer system by any suitable means, for example, by a wired connection or a wireless link, or a combination thereof as described above.Useful input devices include any device capable of providing user input to a computer system, such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, mouse, scroll wheel, touchpad, or any other touch-sensitive input device. Display devices that can be used according to the present invention include any type of display and screen known in the art, such as, but not limited to, cathode ray tube monitors, LCD screens, or plasma or LED displays. The display device may be mounted on the dispensing machine, for example, on the front of the main cabinet comprising the dispensing area, or it may be a remote device not physically connected to the dispensing machine.The display device may preferably comprise a touchscreen-type display, in which case it combines input and display capabilities in a single device. The display device used in the method of the present invention may therefore comprise, for example, but not limited to, a touchscreen associated with the dispensing machine, or a user-accessible remote electronic device operatively associated with, but independent of, the dispensing machine, such as, for example, a tablet, laptop computer, or smartphone. With reference to the drawings, we will now describe a liquid product dispensing machine and a corresponding control method according to the present invention. IVIA / a / ZUZ1 / lHO / 4ü To better understand the control method according to the present invention, with special reference to Figures 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a dispensing machine suitable for being controlled by said method is first described. For example, a dispensing machine suitable for control by the method according to the present invention is described in Italian patent application number IT 102018000006154, in the name of the same applicants, incorporated herein by reference. The dispensing machine controlled by the control method of the present invention, shown in Figure 1, is referred to collectively by the reference number (100). The dispensing machine and its components, as well as the steps or sub-steps of the control method shown in the accompanying drawings, are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a limitation. For example, features shown or described as part of one embodiment may be adopted in other embodiments or in combination with them to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include such modifications and variations. The dispensing machine (100) comprises a plurality of units for containing the liquid product, each of which is indicated by the reference number (111). The dispensing machine (100) comprises support members (112) that act as support means for supporting the container units (111), by means of suitable fastening devices, known in the state of the art, configured to receive and temporarily hold, in a liberable manner, a coupling portion comprised in the container units (111). The support members (112) can be sized and configured to support, in an orderly manner, for example, according to a configuration with overlapping rows, any desired number and type of container units (111). In the dispensing machine (100), a dispensing zone (115) is defined, indicated by a dashed line in Figure 2, where an enlarged portion of the dispensing machine (100) is visible. In the dispensing zone (115), the support elements (112) are arranged to support, as described above, up to thirteen container units (111). The support members (112) are oblong and, in particular, may have a linear extension in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction (X). The oblong support members are generally arranged such that the longitudinal direction (X) is substantially parallel to the ground where the machine is installed. In the example shown, the dispensing machine (100) comprises a scale (116) (Figure 2), as a non-restrictive example of a measuring means suitable for measuring a quantity of liquid product that has been dispensed. For example, the scale (116) can be a digital scale, of a type known in the state of the art, having a sensitivity of 0.01 grams or better. The scale (116) may comprise a support surface (117) on which a receptacle (118) can be arranged, into which the various liquid products are dispensed to obtain the desired formulation. The receptacle (118) may be a can or other container, open at the top, with a IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / AO substantially cylindrical or truncated cone shape, and having an adequate capacity to contain the expected quantity of the desired formulation. The scale (116) can be arranged on a movable slider (120) (Figure 2) on linear guides (not shown) and operatively associated with a drive motor (not shown), which controls its displacement. The slider (120) can then slide parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) in a bidirectional manner. In this way, the slider (120), and with it the scale (116) and the receptacle (118), can move under all the container units (111) arranged in the dispensing zone (115). The dispensing machine (100) may optionally comprise an extraction position (124), in which the operator can remove the receptacle (118). For example, the extraction position (124) can be arranged in an intermediate position of the dispensing zone (115), approximately halfway (for example, 50% ± 10%) with respect to the size of the oblong support media in the longitudinal direction (X). In the operation of the machine, for example, the slider (120) can be moved to the extraction position (124) at the end of the dispensing of the liquid product, so that the operator can remove the receptacle (118) that has been filled with the desired formulation and / or add additional ingredients manually. According to the example shown, the dispensing machine (100) may also comprise protective elements (126) that front-protect that part of the dispensing zone (115) where the slider (120) slides to ensure the safe operation of the machine. The protective elements (126) can be transparent. This is advantageous as it allows users to see the slider (120) during its linear movement while the dispensing machine is operating, which is useful, for example, for demonstration purposes, as well as for visually detecting a possible malfunction. The protective elements (126) optionally comprise a door (127) that the operator can selectively open to access the extraction zone (124). For example, the door (127) can be configured to slide and retract into one of the protective elements (126) adjacent to it. The dispensing machine (100) may comprise one or more storage zones (128) configured to store a plurality of container units (111), from which those to be placed in the dispensing zone (115) may be selected. A storage area (128) can be arranged, for example, above and / or below the dispensing area (115). The storage zone(s) (128) may comprise respective support members, for example, similar to the support members (112) described above in the context of the dispensing zone (115), to support and hold the docking portions of the container units (111). In a storage area (128), the container units (111) can be arranged IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / ^O adjacent to each other, to define a kind of support shelf, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction (X). In other words, in a storage zone (128) the container units (111) can be stored in a row, which is parallel and arranged above or below the row of container units (111) arranged in the dispensing zone (115). The storage area or areas (128) may optionally comprise an auxiliary compartment (129) configured to receive one or more accessory elements (130) useful for completing the formulations. For example, accessory items may comprise flasks or bottles (130) containing additives or substances that the operator may wish to add manually inside the receptacle (118), for example, after it has been filled, at the end of the dispensing of the liquid products. The dispensing machine (100) can be formed from a plurality of adjacent modular elements (134), (135), (136), which can be joined together. A first modular element (134), or main module, is shown enlarged in Figure 2 and comprises the dispensing zone (115) and a storage zone (128), configured to support a row of container units (111) arranged parallel to and above the container units (111) arranged in the dispensing zone (115). If the auxiliary compartment (129) is present, it is arranged in the first modular element (134). The first modular element (134) can have, for example, a length of approximately 2 meters in the longitudinal X direction, a height of approximately 1 to 1.5 meters and a depth of approximately 0.5 meters. A second and a third modular element, indicated respectively by reference numbers (135) and (136) in Figure 1, comprise additional storage areas (128) for the container units (111) which, if necessary, can be removed by the operator and placed in the dispensing area (115). In this way, the dispensing machine (100) can store a large number of container units (111), for example, up to eighty container units (111) (in addition to those arranged in the dispensing area (115)). The first modular element (134) can be located, for example, above the second modular element (135), while the third modular element (136) can be on the left or right side of the other modular elements (134), (135), for example, arranged perpendicularly to it (as shown in Figure 1) or aligned with them to provide an extension along the longitudinal axis (X). Normally, the second modular element (135) has approximately the same length and depth as the first modular element (134) placed on top of it, but it can have a height of less than 1 meter, for example, approximately 800 mm. In one particular version, in the second modular element (135) the container units (111) are arranged in two overlapping rows, each configured to hold up to fifteen container units (111), whereas in the third modular element (136), the container units (111) are arranged in multiple overlapping rows, for example six, of shorter length, each of them being suitable, for example, to hold up to six container units (111). Both the second modular element (135) and the third modular element (136) may comprise suitable support members, for example, similar to the support members (112) described above, capable of freely supporting and temporarily holding the container units (111). Each of the modular elements (134), (135), (136) may comprise a substantially parallelepiped-shaped frame (138), which is open at the front, so that the operator can easily remove the container units (111) contained therein. With particular reference to Figure 3, the liquid product container unit (111) is now described in more detail. The container unit (111) generally comprises a container (142) for the liquid product, for example, a liquid coloring product. The container (142) can have, for example, a volume in the range of 100 mL up to 5 liters, such as 0.5 liters, 1 liter or 2 liters. The container unit (111) may comprise a front wall (143), overlapping a front portion of the container (142), and configured to receive an identification label for the liquid product contained in the container. By way of example, the identification label may comprise a numeric or alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a corresponding liquid product. The container unit (111) may also comprise a body (144) to which the container (142) is detachably connected, for example, by means of a threaded connection. Normally, the container (142) is arranged upside down, with its opening facing downwards, i.e., towards the body (144), and its lower portion facing upwards. The container unit (111) may also include dispensing means for dispensing a quantity of the liquid product contained therein. For example, it may include a pumping unit (145) of a type known in the prior art, which for this reason will not be described in detail here. The pumping unit (145) may be, for example, a bellows pump with a reciprocating motion of the pumping element. The pumping unit (145) can be driven, for example, by a motor (not shown) that can be mounted on the slider (120) and is movable along with it. It should be noted that this advantageously allows each container unit (111) to be motor-free. In fact, when the liquid product is dispensed from a particular container unit (111), the slider (120) carrying the motor is positioned in alignment with it. In this way, the same motor is operationally associated, on each occasion, with the pumping unit (145) located within the container unit (111) from which the liquid product is to be dispensed. The body (144) contains a set of conduits (not shown) that define a path for the liquid products along which the pumping unit (145) is arranged and configured to connect the container (142) to an outlet of the container unit (111), corresponding to which the liquid product is dispensed into the receptacle (118). The body (144) may also be provided with a plurality of valves (not shown) configured to regulate and control the flow of the liquid products. The conduit assembly includes a liquid recirculation conduit which, when the valves are appropriately positioned in a respective recirculation setting, allows the liquid product to be recirculated within the container unit (111), so that the liquid product exiting the container (142), after passing through the conduit assembly, returns to the container itself without being dispensed. The container unit (111) may also comprise a handle (158), which allows the operator to easily grasp the container unit (111). The machine (100) may also comprise a display device (159), for example, of the “touch” type, which defines interface means by which the operator can control the operation of the machine (100) and display the graphical representation thereof, in accordance with the control method of the present invention, as described above and in detail below. The display device (159) can be supported, for example, by a mechanical arm (160) articulated to the frame (138) of the first of the second modular element (134), (135). The machine (100) may also comprise a programmable control unit, or processor (164), of a type known in the prior art, suitable for implementing the control method according to the present invention. The control unit or processor may be part of, or operatively linked to, a computing system, such as any computing system described above. It may comprise computer-executable instructions or program code for carrying out the various possible functions of the control method described above and in more detail below. The discussed control method comprises a plurality of operational functions that are provided to control the dispensing machine in a very efficient and flexible manner, and which will be described in detail in the following paragraphs. The control method will be described later with particular reference to Figures 5-12, which show examples of operational representations of the dispensing machine (100), or of the dispensing zone (115), which can be shown to the user, for example, on the display device (159) associated with the dispensing machine as shown in Figure 1. In other versions, these operational representations can be displayed, in addition to or instead of the display device (159), on remote electronic devices, operationally associated with the dispensing machine (100), but independent of it, such as tablets, laptops, or smartphones used by the user. In the following description, reference will be made to the elements of the operational representations referred to in Figures 5-12 with reference numbers corresponding to the analogous reference numbers used to indicate the respective components of the dispensing machine (100). Figures 4A and 4B show a representation of two versions of container units, as displayed on the display device (159), which is given the reference number (11). In particular, Figure 4A shows a container unit (11) with a container (42) having a capacity volume equal to, for example, 0.5 liters or 1 liter, while Figure 4B shows a container unit (11) with a container (42) having a larger capacity volume, for example, equal to 1 liter or 2 liters, respectively. The various operational functions provided for in the control method according to the present invention are described in detail below, divided into paragraphs for clarity. Some of the operational functions described below are also represented schematically in Figures 13B and 14. MACHINE CONFIGURATION The method may include an initial configuration step, which may involve loading a list of all container units (11) received in the storage area(s) (28) of the dispensing machine into the control unit or processor, each identified by a respective code. The list of container units may, for example, be provided by a user, e.g., via the input device, generated by the computer system, or retrieved from a database accessible to the control unit or processor via a suitable data transmission link. In Exemplary Figures 5 to 12, the code associated with the container units is a three- or four-digit numeric code, where the first digit is always the number “4”. Furthermore, this step also involves loading the complete list of formulations, or recipes, that can be dispensed by the dispensing machine into the control unit or processor (164), combining—according to precise relative proportions—the liquid products contained in different container units (11). The list of formulations or recipes can be retrieved from a formulation database accessible to the control unit or processor via a suitable data transmission link. The formulation database can be stored on local or remote storage media, for example, on a network data server. In Figure 13A, the data loading is schematically represented by the arrow (F1), which connects an external computing system (161), equipped with data storage media (162), to a processor (164), possibly integrated into the dispensing machine (100).In this figure, the computing system (161) is schematically represented, which may be located away from the dispensing machine (100) (as shown) or alternatively integrated within it. The computing system (161) may comprise or be operationally linked to the processor (164), data storage media (162) with a formulation database, an input device (163), for example, configured as a keyboard, and a display device (159), which may be mounted directly on the dispensing machine (100) (as shown) or alternatively remote from it but operationally connected to it. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 13A and provides for several other computing systems and hardware configurations as described above.Each of the computer system (161), the data storage media (162), the input device (163), and the display device (159) can be of the type described above. IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / ^O The user can then select a target formulation from the list of possible formulations that the dispensing machine can dispense. Consequently, an associated plurality of liquid products contained in the respective container units can be identified, forming a subset of the total available container units, each of which will be dispensed according to a predetermined quantity to obtain the target formulation (see block (171) in Figure 13B). According to one version provided here, data loading into the control unit can occur automatically because the control unit is configured to interact with the color management software developed by the supplier of the liquid coloring products. For example, the control and management unit can be properly interfaced with the color formulation management software called PAINTMANAGER® XI developed by PPG INDUSTRIES. In this way, the data is transferred to the dispensing machine's control unit automatically, quickly, and free of possible errors that may occur during data loading. In another version, data can be loaded manually. In this case, an operator can load all the data related to the list of container units and the liquid products contained within them. In an alternative mode of the configuration step, the data is not loaded into the control unit (164) but instead a protected communication protocol is provided between the control unit (164) and a remote data storage medium (162) containing the formulation database. The control method setup step may involve communicating to the control unit the exact expected positions of the container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100), i.e., in the dispensing zone (115) and in the storage zone(s) (128) (see block (170) in Figure 13B). In this way, the method informs the user of the predetermined initial positions of all the container units (111). For example, the positions of the container units are displayed to the user on the display device (159) so that, at this initial stage, the user can prepare the dispensing machine (100) by placing each container unit in its respective expected position. DISPENSING MACHINE VIEW The control method then provides a graphical representation on the display device (159) of the dispensing machine layout (see block (172) in Figure 13B), showing all the container units (11) located in their respective positions within the storage zone(s) (28), as shown in Figure 5. In this drawing, the dispensing zone (15) is represented by a dotted line, showing the thirteen positions on the support members (12) free, i.e., without the container units (11). Also visible in the dispensing zone (15) is the receptacle (18), resting on the support plane (17) and integrated into the scale (16), which is mounted on the slider (20) that slides on the linear guides described above.Figure 5 also shows the representation of the protective elements (26) and the slide door (27), which allows or prevents the operator's access to the extraction position (24). The arrangement of the container units (11) in this drawing reflects the actual location of the container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100). In the representation shown as an example in Figure 5, the container units (11) are arranged to form a row in the first modular element (34), above the dispensing zone (15), two rows in the second modular element (35), below the dispensing zone (15), and a plurality of shorter rows in the third modular element (36). In one version, the control method provides making available to the user, for example, on the display device (159), a representation of the dispensing machine design, such as the one shown in Figure 5. After this, the method allows the user to visually verify that the arrangement of the container units (11) in the display (159) actually corresponds to the actual position of the respective container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100). If the user detects discrepancies between the representation of the machine layout on the display (159), they can either move the container units (111) in the machine to the position shown on the display (159), or manually modify the arrangement of the container units (11) in the display (159).In the latter case, the method according to the present invention can implement a "drag and drop" function known in the prior art with a touch-type screen, according to which the user can hold down the finger for a few seconds on the container unit (11) to be moved, drag it to the new position (corresponding to the actual one in the machine) and release it, as shown by way of example in Figure 6. In an alternative version, the control method may provide a hardware-implemented function to verify that the machine representation is consistent with the actual layout of the dispensing machine (100). This verification function allows the detection, via one or more optical detection devices, for example, one or more cameras of the type known in the prior art and commonly used in controls for industrial applications, of the position of the container units (111) in the storage areas (128), and the communication of this information to the control unit. For example, the optical detection devices may be attached to the frame (138) of the dispensing machine (100) in positions suitable so that their field of view includes the storage area(s) (128). If there are discrepancies between what is detected by the optical detection devices and the representation of the machine layout on the display device (159), the control unit updates the arrangement of the container units (11) according to what has been detected. In this version, the verification function can be activated by the user, for example, by pressing a special key on the display device (159), particularly before the dispensing machine (100) starts operating. For example, the user can perform this verification function at the beginning of each workday to verify that the machine display shows a layout that reflects the actual arrangement of the container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100). Furthermore, in the control method according to the present invention, a step can be provided to optimize the arrangement of the container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100). This step can be activated by the user, for example, by pressing a respective key on an input device or a respective icon in a graphical user interface, for example, comprising a graphical representation of the machine layout displayed on the display device (159). The optimization step can calculate the consumption of the liquid products contained in all the container units (111) received by the dispensing machine (100) over a given period of time, ordering them in descending order from highest to lowest. The optimization step can also involve dividing the different storage zones (28) into two or more areas intended for receiving liquid products that have substantially the same consumption rate. For example, a first area can be defined by the storage zone (28) of the first modular element (34), a second area can be defined by the storage zone (28) of the second modular element (35), and a third area can be defined by the storage zone (28) of the third modular element (36).The optimization step can highlight the most frequently used products on the display device (159), showing a representation of the dispensing machine layout (100). For example, as in Figure 5, the most frequently used products can be moved to the first zone, which is more convenient for the user. This is because the container units can be removed or stored in this area without bending or moving, as it is located directly above the dispensing zone. Similarly, the optimization step can highlight the products with intermediate consumption (those consumed less frequently than the most frequently used products) so that they are all moved to the second zone, and also highlight the products with low consumption (i.e., those consumed only in small quantities) so that they are all moved to the third zone. The optimization step allows the container units (111) to be advantageously arranged in the dispensing machine (100) based on the frequency of use and respective consumption, so that the most used units are all arranged in the most convenient positions accessible to the operator, so that the time required to place the container units (111) in the dispensing area (115) is further reduced, as well as the time required to remove them from the latter. DISPENSING AREA MANAGEMENT When the user selects a particular formulation for dispensing (see block (171) in Figure 13B), the control method according to the present invention highlights the container units (11) required to obtain this formulation in the dispensing machine design representation shown to the user on the display device (159) (see block (173) in Figure 13B). These container units (11) can then be removed from their current position in the storage area(s) (28) and placed in the dispensing area (15) for the production of the target formulation. In an example version shown in Figure 7, the container units (11) to be removed are surrounded by a rectangle, which may, for example, be colored or flashing. In this drawing, the container units (11) identified by the codes “(405)”, “(429)”, “(414)”, and “(475)” are highlighted as a non-restrictive example. Thanks to this, the user is guided, immediately and intuitively, by the representation on the screen to move the respective container units (11) in the actual dispensing machine, so that their movement is quick and easy to perform. According to the present invention, light signaling means can be optionally provided, for example, comprising one or more LEDs associated with each position of the storage zone(s) (128). In this variant, while the display device (159) shows representations of the container units (11) to be removed, simultaneously, in the dispensing machine (100), the LEDs associated with the positions where the container units (111) to be removed are illuminated. Subsequently, the control method according to the present invention can provide a visual representation of the dispensing zone (15) on the display device (159), and possibly the list of container units (11) involved in the selected formulation. Figures 8 and 9 show examples of such displays, listing the four container units (11) identified by the codes listed above. In the control method according to the present invention, the control unit can memorize, for example, by keeping a history, the position of the container units (11) in the support members (12) of the dispensing zone (15). This means that the control method makes the dispensing machine (100) very flexible for users to use. In the first mode of use, at the end of each dispensing cycle, the user can remove the container units (11) from the dispensing zone (15) and return them to their respective positions in the storage zones (28). In this case, the dispensing zone (15) is normally free of container units (11), as shown in Figures 5 and 7. According to the control method of the present invention, it is possible to provide for the representation of the dispensing machine arrangement, in particular using a different graphical mode, to show the original position of the container units (11) that are temporarily arranged in the support members (12) of the dispensing zone (15). In the example shown in Figure 10, the container units (11) temporarily located in the dispensing zone (15) are also shown, for example, transparently, in their original position within the storage zones (28). This variant clearly simplifies the process of removing the container units (11) from the dispensing area (15) for the user, as it guides them in returning each container unit (11) to its designated position. This variant is particularly advantageous when the dispensing machine (100) is used according to the first operating mode described above, as it simultaneously keeps the dispensing area (15) clear and maintains an orderly arrangement of the container units (11) in the storage areas (28), ensuring that each unit is in its intended position. In a second mode of use, the container units (11) are not systematically removed from the dispensing area (15) at the end of each dispensing cycle. In this mode, after selecting a new formulation to be dispensed, the user removes only some of the container units (11) to place the units (11) involved in the new formulation in the dispensing area (15). This method of use is particularly convenient when the most frequently dispensed formulations involve a number of liquid products, such as base products, that are common to the most common formulations. In this way, the user avoids having to remove all the container units (11) from the dispensing area (15) because some of them can remain there since they are present in different formulations. This second mode of use is reflected in the representations shown in Figures 8 and 9. In these drawings, above the list of liquid products required for the selected formulation, the containers (42) contained within the respective container units (11), arranged on the support member (12) of the dispensing zone (15), are shown schematically. The position of the containers, numbered “1” to “13” from left to right, reflects the actual position of the container units (111) in the dispensing zone (115) of the dispensing machine (100). As mentioned above, according to the control method according to the present invention, the control unit can memorize, for example, by keeping a history, the container units arranged in the dispensing area (15). The control method then allows verification of whether one or more of the liquid products on the list are contained in a container unit (11) already present in the dispensing area (15), for example, left there at the end of previous dispensing cycles. At the end of this verification, the container units (11) that are already in position are expected to be graphically displayed on the display device (159). In the example shown, the container units (11) identified by the codes “(475)” and “(405)” are already arranged in the dispensing area (15). The container units (11) arranged in the dispensing area (15) can be highlighted graphically, for example, by greasing the outline of the container (42), in particular with a colored or dashed line, and / or by associating a padlock, which is indicative of the fact that these container units (11) are already in position and do not need to be removed to free up locations for the other liquid products included in the following list. In one version, the liquid products on the list are graphically highlighted, and a lock icon can be associated with them, along with text informing the user that they are already in place. In another version, the lines on the list corresponding to the liquid products that remain to be placed in the dispensing area (15) can be graphically highlighted, for example, with a particular color, possibly along with text informing the user that these products are still to be positioned. IVIA / a / ZUZ l / UI 0 / 40 In the example shown, the user must therefore replace two container units (11) present in the dispensing area (15) with the two container units (11) that contain the liquid products identified by the codes “(414)” and “(429)”. The control method according to the present invention provides an optional step to verify the presence of all the container units (11) necessary to obtain the selected formulation, before starting the dispensing cycle. The user can initiate the verification step, for example, by pressing the “Scan” icon on the display device (159), indicated by the reference number (61) in Figures 8 and 9. If the verification or scanning step is successful, the dispensing cycle can begin to obtain the selected formulation. Thanks to the verification step, the dispensing cycle can be carried out efficiently and quickly, without interruptions due to a lack of one of the necessary ingredients to complete the selected formulation. Figure 9 shows an example of a graphical user interface visible on the display device (159) if the verification step has a negative result. In this case, the control method detects the presence of only three liquid products, compared to the four required, specifically the products identified by the codes “(429)”, “(475)” and “(405)”, while the product with the code “(414)” is not present. The method can provide a way to graphically highlight this condition to the user on the display device (159). By way of non-restrictive example, it can provide a way to highlight the liquid products present, for example, by thickening the outline of the respective containers (42) and / or highlighting the corresponding lines of the list with a certain color, and also to highlight the missing product, for example, by coloring the corresponding line of the list with a bright color, along with a warning message to inform the user that this product was not found. The verification or scanning step can be performed, for example, by means of an optical reader, e.g., a barcode reader known in the prior art, which is arranged on the slider (120) and configured to detect an identification code (e.g., a barcode) that is uniquely associated with each container unit (111). In one version, the verification or scanning step provides that the slider (120) carrying the optical reader slides along its guides to traverse, parallel to the longitudinal direction (X), the entire dispensing area (115), e.g., starting from left to right, to detect the code associated with each container unit (111) arranged in the thirteen available positions on the support members (112). It should be noted that the representation of the dispensing zone (15) shown in Figures 8 and 9 also includes a “Cancel” icon to stop ongoing operations, indicated by the reference number (62), in case, for any reason, the selected formulation should no longer be dispensed. Furthermore, the representation of the dispensing zone (15) shown in Figures 8 and 9 also includes the selection of the dispensing strategy or mode, which will be described in more detail in the following paragraph, and which can be configured as a “drop-down” menu, indicated by the reference number (63). Finally, the representation of the dispensing zone (15) shown in Figures 8 and 9 also includes an icon, indicated by the reference number (64), by means of which the user can return to the representation of the general arrangement of the dispensing machine, for example, as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 10-12. DISPENSING STEP MANAGEMENT The dispensing machine control method (100) is capable of managing, for example, the dispensing of a quantity of a target formulation prepared from, for example, five or more different liquid products, as typically required for automotive finishing applications, in less than five minutes and with an accuracy of ± 0.01 g per ingredient. Depending on the number of liquid products involved in the target formulation, the dispensing cycle can vary from three to ten minutes, while maintaining the desired high dispensing accuracy, for example, up to ± 0.05 g per ingredient. The control method according to the present invention can provide for keeping memorized, for example, by maintaining a history, the quantities of liquid product contained within each container unit (111). In one version, this quantity can be calculated by knowing the specific weight of each individual liquid product. This allows subtracting the weight of the liquid product dispensed from the nominal volume contained in the container (142), converting weight to volume using the known specific weight. According to some versions of the control method described herein, it is expected to visualize, at least schematically, the degree of filling of the containers (42) included in the container units (11) arranged in the dispensing area (15), as shown in the representations shown as an example in Figures 8 and 9. The control method according to the present invention allows for predicting when the quantity of a given liquid product to be administered is less than the quantity of the same product contained within the respective container unit (111). In fact, since the control unit knows the quantity of product contained in the tank (142) of the container unit (111), and also knows the quantity of that same product that must be dispensed to obtain the selected target formulation, calculating the difference between these two quantities makes it possible to predict when the available quantity is insufficient. In this case, the control method according to the present invention advantageously allows the user to select the preferred dispensing strategy from several different dispensing modes available, for example, by means of a drop-down menu (63) mentioned above as shown in Figures 8 and 9. A possible first dispensing mode according to the method of the present invention involves following the formulation sequence, dispensing the different liquid products according to the order of the ingredient list of the respective target formulation. This is the proposed "standard" mode, which is set as the default, but the user can still choose to modify it using the drop-down menu. A second dispensing mode allows liquid products to be dispensed in the order in which the container units are arranged on the shelf. In other words, this mode allows the sequence of container units to be followed, one after the other, from one end of the dispensing area to the other (for example, from the left to the right, or vice versa) during the dispensing cycle. In some cases, this mode is advantageous because it minimizes the overall travel of the slider (120) that carries the receptacle (118), thus reducing the total dispensing cycle time. A third and a fourth dispensing mode respectively provide the dispensing of the first and last liquid product(s) for which the control method according to the present invention has verified that the available quantity is insufficient to complete the target formulation. In this case, these dispensing modes are advantageous because they do not require the user to remain at the dispensing machine (100) for the entire duration of the dispensing cycle, thus preventing the cycle from being interrupted due to the liquid product running out, as might occur after the first or second dispensing mode. In fact, after the first or second dispensing mode, when the dispensing cycle begins dispensing the liquid product present in an insufficient quantity, the cycle is interrupted until the user returns, at which point they must replace the empty tank (142) with a new, full tank (142) in the container unit (111) for the empty liquid product. This is clearly a disadvantage because it significantly increases dispensing times, as the cycle may remain interrupted for an extended period while the user is absent. Thanks to the flexibility of the control method according to the present invention, to overcome this disadvantage, when the control unit indicates on the display device (159) that one of the liquid products present in the dispensing zone is insufficient to complete the selected target formulation, the user can select the third or fourth dispensing mode. In the first case, the depleted liquid product is dispensed first, and the user, knowing this, can remain to monitor the dispensing machine (100) to replace the empty container unit (111) with a new one containing the same liquid product. After this, the dispensing cycle continues automatically, without requiring the user's presence, who can return after a few minutes to remove the receptacle (118) containing the selected target formulation.In the second case, on the other hand, the depleted fluid is dispensed last, and then the user, as soon as the dispensing cycle has begun, can walk away from the dispensing machine (100). When they return, the target formulation has been substantially dispensed, with the exception of the remaining amount of the insufficient liquid product. Thus, as soon as the user returns to the dispensing machine (100), they replace the empty container unit (111) with a new one containing the same liquid product, and the dispensing cycle can be completed immediately afterward. In a version described herein, the control method according to the present invention is also capable of managing, integrally with the automatic dispensing cycle, the manual addition of one or more liquid products, typically at the end of the dispensing cycle when the receptacle (118) is still resting on the support surface (117) and the slider (120) has moved to the extraction position (124). Such products may be, for example, additives or other similar substances contained in bottles or flasks housed in the auxiliary compartment (129). If the selected target formulation requires the manual addition of one or more products, these products may be included in the list of products included in the dispensing zone representation (15), possibly accompanied by a warning message informing the user that this product must be administered manually and should not be placed on the support members (112) of the dispensing zone (115). According to this version, the control method can monitor, on the display device (159) and / or on a display associated with the scale (116), the amount of product added manually, as the user gradually pours it into the receptacle (118). This monitoring is based on the detection by the scale (116), on which the receptacle remains resting even during the possible manual addition of one or more products. In another version of the control method according to the present invention, the dispensing of a liquid product is broken down if the quantity to be dispensed exceeds the capacity of the scale (116), i.e., the maximum value that can be measured by this measuring instrument. For example, the capacity of the scale (116) may be 2.2 kg. Since in the versions described herein by way of example the maximum capacity of the tank (142) is 2 liters, certain liquid products with a high specific gravity may weigh even more than the capacity of the scale. Consequently, some formulations may require a quantity of a particular liquid product, for example, 3 kg of product, which exceeds the capacity of the measuring instrument. According to this version of the control method, it is first verified whether each quantity of liquid product to be dispensed exceeds the capacity of the scale (116). If the verification is successful, the control unit activates the dispensing unit (111) containing that particular liquid product, dispensing it in two successive doses. In each dose, for example, half of the total quantity to be dispensed is dispensed. In the example described above, the liquid product is then dispensed in two successive doses of 1.5 kg each. Furthermore, according to the control method of the present invention, a preliminary step to verify the presence of the receptacle (118) on the support surface (117) can be performed before each dispensing cycle. This step is carried out using a presence sensor of the type known in the prior art, integrated into the slider (120) and associated with the scale (116), which detects the presence, or absence / incorrect assembly, of the receptacle (118). If the presence sensor detects that the receptacle (118) is missing, the control method prevents the dispensing cycle from starting and simultaneously sends an alarm signal informing the user that the receptacle (118) is missing or incorrectly assembled.This preliminary verification step is advantageous as it prevents the dispensing machine (100) from becoming dirty from dispensing liquid coloring products, in the event that the receptacle (118) is accidentally missing or incorrectly mounted. The control method can also verify that the receptacle (118) is suitable for the quantity dispensed by the selected target formulation. In this variant, the control unit is provided with the weight and volume of various receptacles (118) that can be used to receive the liquid products dispensed by the dispensing machine (100). Thus, while the sensor detects the presence of the receptacle (118), the scale (116) measures its weight to determine if it has a suitable volume for the selected target formulation. Furthermore, the control method according to the present invention may comprise, before each dispensing cycle, a preliminary step in which it is verified whether the door (127) providing access to the extraction zone (124) is properly closed to prevent the dispensing cycle from starting if the door (127) is still open or not properly closed. This improves the safety of the dispensing machine, which cannot operate if the door (127) is not closed, thus preventing potential accidental hand injuries to the operator. According to the control method according to the present invention, means can also be provided to adjust the operating parameters of the dispensing machine (100) that control the dispensing cycle, such as, for example, the dispensing speed of the liquid product by the pumping unit (145) and / or the translation speed of the slider (120) that carries the scales (116) and the receptacle (118) and / or the maximum acceptable dispensing tolerance, possibly individually for each liquid product contained in the respective container units (111). Adjusting the parameters makes the dispensing machine (100) highly flexible, allowing it to operate more or less quickly, and consequently more or less accurately, depending on the requirements. For example, if the dispensing machine is used for test dispensing cycles of formulations intended for testing purposes, the machine's operating parameters can be varied to increase speed, at the expense of dispensing accuracy. Specifically, a wider acceptable tolerance for the dispensed quantity allows for faster dispensing steps to reach the required amount, reduces the waiting time for the scale reading to stabilize, and enables faster movement of the slider (120). For instance, if the scale sensitivity (116) is set to 0.05 grams, instead of 0.05 grams, the machine's operating parameters can be adjusted.0.01 grams as described above, dispensing times can be reduced by approximately 10%, correspondingly increasing the speed of movement of the slider (120). The control method allows for the adjustment of operating parameters via the display device (159), using an easy-to-use and intuitive interface, but with protected access, for example, by a password. This prevents the user from accidentally and inadvertently changing the machine's operating parameters. According to the control method of the present invention, visual signaling means, for example, configured as one or more LED light strips, may be optionally associated with the dispensing area (115) to inform the user, possibly located some distance from the dispensing machine, about the status of the dispensing cycle. In one exemplary embodiment, the control unit may command the LED light strip(s) to turn blue when the dispensing machine is performing a dispensing cycle, green when the cycle ends and the machine is ready to execute a new cycle, and red if the cycle is interrupted due to a detected problem or malfunction. For example, the LED light strip(s) may turn red when the product contained in at least one of the container units runs out during dispensing, without reaching the expected dispensed quantity. In this version of the method, the control unit can also be configured to send a warning signal of the problem or malfunction to the user, for example, by means of a text message or email on an electronic device supplied to the user, such as a mobile phone or laptop, or an alert on a smartwatch worn by the user. INVENTORY MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT With reference to Figure 11, we will now describe an optional function of the control method according to the present invention that allows visualization of the container units (11), located both in the storage areas (28) and also in the dispensing area (15), which have not been used for some time. For example, the time elapsed since last use can be configured by the user among the settings that allow configuration of the dispensing machine's control method. Alternatively, the control method according to the present invention may comprise storing, for each container unit, the last date of use in a dispensing cycle and calculating the time elapsed since that last date of use. For example, the time could be one week, two weeks, one month, or more. The time elapsed since the last use is then compared with a predetermined time threshold. According to this version, the control method involves graphically highlighting the container units (11) that have not been used for longer than the time specified by the user in the dispensing machine design representation. For example, as shown in Figure 11, these container units (11) can be highlighted with an exclamation mark, combined with a closed ring containing one or more arrows. The graphic highlighting of the container units (11) not used for a time longer than the established time can be optionally requested by the user, by means of a special icon provided on the display device (159). Thanks to this function, the control method allows the user to intuitively and quickly visualize all the container units (11) that need to be recirculated to homogeneously mix the liquid product which, without having been used for some time, can dry out and at least partially obstruct the duct assembly contained in the container unit (111). The dispensing machine (100) allows for recirculation cycles of the liquid product contained in the container (142) by appropriately arranging the valves within the container unit (111). The fluid recirculation flow is achieved by the pumping unit (145), driven by the corresponding motor located on the slide (120). Consequently, the liquid product can be recirculated, if necessary, within the dispensing area (115). According to the method of the present invention, once the container units (11) that need to be recirculated are highlighted graphically, the user can alternatively proceed in the following two modes. In one mode, the recirculation of only the liquid products contained in the container units (11) comprising the target formulation to be administered can be provided. In the example in Figure 11, the dispensing zone (15) comprises three container units (11) that need to be recirculated, specifically the container units identified by the codes “(429)”, “(403)”, and “(423)”. If the target formulation to be administered comprises one or more of these liquid products, before carrying out the dispensing cycle, the slider (120) is aligned with the container unit (111) to be recirculated, and the liquid product is recirculated as described above. Alternatively, if circumstances permit, the user may choose to periodically recirculate all the container units (11) that require it, i.e., for example, all those shown graphically in Figure 11. To do this, the control method according to the present invention provides that the user places, in the support member (112) of the dispensing zone (115), in the thirteen available positions, an equal number of container units (111) that are to be recirculated. In this way, it is possible to start one or more exclusive recirculation cycles, in which the slider (120) is arranged in correspondence with each container unit (111) arranged on the support member (112), to recirculate them all, one after the other, in groups of thirteen at a time. This variant is advantageous because it allows shortening the duration of dispensing cycles, which do not include the recirculation step of the products contained in one or more container units (111), if the recirculation operation is performed periodically at regular time intervals, as described above. According to the control method described herein, it can also be foreseen that the user can select a particular container unit (11) from the display device (159), for example, by pressing and holding the corresponding graphic symbol for a few seconds. In the example shown in Figure 12, after the user has selected the container unit identified by the code “(421)”, a dialog box opens, indicated by the number (65) in the drawing, which includes a field that can be modified by the user, indicated by the number (66), relating to the quantity of liquid product present in the container unit (111). This allows the user to verify that the quantity of liquid product indicated on the display device (159) is indeed the quantity contained in the container unit, and to adjust it in field (66) to match the actual amount. To perform this verification, the user can remove the container unit (111) to be checked and place it on the scale (116) integrated into the dispensing machine (100). Since the machine's control unit knows both the tare weight of the container units (111) and the specific gravity of the liquid product they contain, thanks to the value read on the scale (116), it is possible to directly calculate the volume of fluid present within the container unit (111) in question. Consequently, if this value does not match the one displayed in field (66), the user will adjust it according to the reading on the scale (116). Thanks to this function, the control method is particularly flexible since it allows verification, for example, by sampling, whether the liquid product contained in the container unit (111) is the one indicated on the display device (159) and / or manually adjusting this quantity. If, for example, the user has extracted a certain amount of liquid product from one of the container units (111) for dispensing outside the machine, the control unit naturally cannot take this manual dispensing into account. Therefore, thanks to the flexibility of the method, it is possible to manually set the remaining amount of liquid product, also following a manual dispensing procedure outside the machine. Furthermore, the ability to manually adjust the amount of liquid product contained in a container unit (111) makes the dispensing machine (100) highly flexible, as the user can also choose to prematurely replace the container (142) containing a minimal residual amount of liquid product with a new container (142) completely filled with the liquid product. This way, the user avoids having to refill during the first dispensing cycle involving that particular liquid product, when the remaining amount of product will most likely not be sufficient to dispense the required quantity. According to one variant, not shown, the control method described herein also provides a function for managing the pre-replacement of container units (111) that have nearly empty containers (142). In this variant, by pressing a dedicated button on the display device (159), the user can obtain a graphical display—within the context of the machine layout—of all container units (11) containing a quantity of liquid product less than a preset threshold value. For example, this variant can graphically highlight all container units (11) with a residual quantity of liquid product of less than 0.1 cc. In one embodiment, the container units can be graphically highlighted by dashed and / or colored and / or flashing graphic lines or symbols, which can be arranged above or around the container units (11) to be highlighted.Thanks to the above-described replacement function, the user can replace the containers (142) of the container units (111) shown on the screen, with new respective containers, completely filled with the same liquid product. Subsequently, the user will manually set, via dialog box (65), the correct quantity of liquid product contained in the container units where the container has been replaced. Specifically, the user will select, one by one, from the dispensing machine layout, the container units (11) where the empty container has been replaced with a new one, and enter the quantity of liquid product present in field (66), equal to the nominal amount, i.e., for example, 0.5 liters, 1 liter, or 2 liters, depending on the capacity. IVIA / a / ZUZ1 / lHO / 4ü nominal of the replaced container. Furthermore, according to the control method described herein, a function can be provided to add a container unit to the dispensing machine (100). This function is particularly useful when the formulations that the machine can handle contain a new color released by the manufacturer of the fluid coloring products. In this case, it is possible to instruct the control unit about the presence of the new product, for which a specific position in the storage zones (128) of the dispensing machine (100) can be suggested. Updating the color management software will thus enable the integration of the new formulations that comprise this new product among the selectable target formulations. It is understood that, in the various versions described above, the graphic highlighting of one or more container units may involve both the representation of the dispensing machine layout, such as that shown in Figures 11 and 12, and the schematic representation of the dispensing area, such as that shown in Figures 8 and 9. It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts and components, or steps or sub-steps, can be made to the dispensing machine and its control method as described so far, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of machine or method for preparing a user-defined target formulation from a plurality of liquid products, having the characteristics set forth in the claims, and all of which therefore fall within the scope of protection defined therein.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a dispensing machine configured to dispense liquid products within a receptacle (118) and comprising a plurality of container units (111), each containing a respective liquid product, one or more storage zones (128) for said container units (111), and a dispensing zone (115) provided for the temporary and selective placement of a subset of said container units (111) containing the liquid products to be dispensed in a dispensing cycle, making use of a computing device (161) comprising at least one processor (164), data storage means (162) having a formulation database, an input device (163), and a display device (159),wherein the control method comprises: determining the arrangement of the plurality of container units (111) in said dispensing zone (115) and in said storage zone(s) (128), receiving, through the input device (163) or through the display device (159), a user-selected target formulation, and identifying, through the processor (164), from the formulation database, an associated plurality of liquid products contained in the respective container units (111) of said subset, each of which will be dispensed according to a predetermined quantity to obtain said target formulation; and displaying, on the display device (159), a graphical representation of the dispensing machine arrangement with said dispensing zone (15) and said storage zone(s) (28),which respectively reflects the determined arrangement of said plurality of container units (111) in said dispensing zone (115) and in said storage zone(s) (128), graphically highlighting, through the processor (164), in said graphic representation, at least said subset of container units (11) from which the selected target formulation is to be produced by means of signaling to facilitate its identification by the user and thus provide guidance to the user for the movement of one or more container units (111) from the storage zone(s) (128) to the dispensing zone (115), or vice versa, if necessary for the production of the target formulation.

2. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 1, wherein said signaling means comprise lines or graphic symbols, such as arrows or exclamation marks, said arrows or exclamation marks formed by colored and / or flashing dashes and / or dots, which may be arranged above or around the container units (11) comprising said subset of container units (11) from which the selected target formulation is to be produced arranged in said dispensing zone (15) and / or in said storage zone(s) (28).

3. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising displaying, on the display device (159), a list of codes (E), for example numeric or alphanumeric, each uniquely associated with a respective IVIA / a / ZUZl / UlO / ^O liquid product contained in said subset of said container units, optionally combined with the graphical representation of the layout of said dispensing zone (15), and wherein said graphical highlighting comprises highlighting, via the processor (164), one or more lines of said list of codes (E) with a particular coloring, possibly intermittently intermittent, and / or graphically highlighting, via the processor (164), the corresponding container unit (11), corresponding to the liquid product shown in the list, also in the graphical representation of the layout of said dispensing zone (15) by means of said signaling means;The graphic highlighting of said one or more rows and of said container unit (11) indicates the presence or absence of the container unit (111) comprising said liquid product in said dispensing zone (115) or the fact that the quantity of liquid product present in said container unit (11) is not sufficient to complete the dispensing cycle to obtain the selected target formulation.

4. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising scanning, prior to initiating the dispensing cycle, the container units (111) located in said dispensing zone (115), in particular by means of optical detection suitable for reading a code, for example a barcode, associated with each of said container units (111) to verify which container units (111) are located in said dispensing zone (115), and wherein the method comprises displaying the results of the scan on the display device (159).

5. The computer-implemented control method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the visualization of the scan results provides associating an indicator with the lines of said code list with information on the presence or absence of the corresponding container unit (11) in the dispensing zone (15) and / or optionally associating lines or graphic symbols to the corresponding container unit (11) whose presence has been verified, in the graphic representation of the arrangement of said dispensing zone (15).

6. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising maintaining a record of the amount of residual liquid product contained within a container (142) of known nominal capacity comprising each container unit (111), calculating, through the processor (164), the amount of residual liquid product contained in a container (142) comprising in said container unit (111) as the difference between the amount contained in the container (142) before the dispensing cycle, and the amount dispensed in said dispensing cycle.

7. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying, on the display device, in the graphic representation of the dispensing machine arrangement in a schematic manner, the amount of residual liquid product within the respective container (42), at least for each of the container units (11) included in said subassembly.

8. The computer-implemented control method according to any of claims 6 or 7, further comprising establishing, via the input device (163), a lower limit threshold value for the amount of residual liquid product contained in said container (142), and optionally highlighting graphically in said graphical representation of the dispensing machine arrangement, in particular in the graphical representations of said dispensing zone (15) and / or said storage zone(s) (28), the container units (11) in which there is an amount of residual liquid product that is less than said lower limit threshold value.

9. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 8, further comprising, prior to each dispensing cycle, selecting, via the input device (163), a dispensing mode by the user, wherein the dispensing mode can be selected in a manner that provides for sequential dispensing of the liquid products, according to the order provided in the list of products stored in the target formulation, or according to the order in which the container units (11) of said subassembly are placed in said dispensing zone, or a mode that provides for dispensing first or last the liquid product or products to be dispensed contained in the container unit or units (11) in which there is a quantity of residual liquid product that is less than said lower limit threshold value.

10. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the container units (11) in the design representation of the storage zone(s) (28) and / or the dispensing zone (15) of said dispensing machine is modifiable by selecting, one at a time, the container unit (11) to be moved and dragging it to a new position.

11. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 7, wherein the representation of the arrangement of the storage zones (28) and / or the dispensing zone (15) of said dispensing machine comprises means, such as a dialog window, for manually modifying the amount of residual liquid product contained within the container (142) comprising the container unit (111), via the input device (163), to establish a new updated value, in particular expressed in volume, of the amount of residual liquid product.

12. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 11, wherein said new updated value is obtained by the user using a scale (116) provided in said dispensing machine (100) and weighing a container unit (11) on it at a time; taking into account the known tare weight of said container unit and the specific weight of the liquid product contained therein.

13. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising storing for each container unit (111) the date of last use in a dispensing cycle, comparing, through the processor (164), the time that has elapsed since said date of last use with a predetermined time threshold, in particular expressed in days or weeks, and subjecting the container unit or units (111) for which the comparison reveals that the time elapsed since the date of last use is greater than said predetermined time threshold to an internal recirculation operation of the liquid product contained therein, when said container unit or units (111) are disposed in said dispensing zone (115), prior to the next dispensing cycle in which the liquid product contained therein is to be dispensed.

14. The computer-implemented control method according to claim 13, further comprising graphically highlighting, by means of said signaling means, in said graphic representation of the dispensing machine arrangement, in particular in the graphic representations of said dispensing zone (15) and / or said storage zone(s) (28), the container units (11) that have been identified as units to be recirculated.

15. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (159) is a touch screen associated with said dispensing machine, or a user-accessible remote electronic device operatively associated with, but independent of, the dispensing machine (100), such as a tablet, laptop, or smartphone.

16. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising informing the user, possibly positioned at a distance from the dispensing machine, about the status of the dispensing cycle of the machine by means of visual signaling means, for example configured as one or more LED lights associated with said dispensing zone (15) and suitable to assume different colors for the different operating stages of the dispensing machine.

17. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising sending, through the processor (164), a warning signal to the user to inform him of a problem or malfunction of the dispensing machine, for example, by means of a text message or email on an electronic device provided to the user or an alert on a smartwatch worn by the user.

18. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising verifying, through the processor (164), before each dispensing cycle, by means of a presence sensor in communication with the computer device, whether the receptacle (118) is present and correctly mounted in the dispensing machine and preventing, in the event that the presence sensor detects that the receptacle (118) is absent or incorrectly mounted, the dispensing cycle from starting and sending an alarm signal informing the user that said receptacle (118) is not present or is incorrectly mounted.

19. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising adjusting, via the input device (163), one or more operating parameters of the dispensing machine (100) that control the dispensing cycle, in particular the dispensing speed of the liquid product by means of a pumping unit (145) that drives the flow of liquid product and / or the translation speed of a slider (120) on which a scale (116) is disposed, provided with a support plane (117) for said receptacle (118) and / or the maximum acceptable dispensing tolerance, possibly individually for each liquid product contained in the respective container units (111).

20. The computer-implemented control method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a step for optimizing the arrangement of the container units (111) in the dispensing machine (100), comprising calculating, through the processor (164), the consumption of the liquid products contained in all the container units (111) received in the dispensing machine (100), in a given period of time, ordering them in descending order from highest to lowest to suggest to the user, through the display device, an optimized arrangement of the container units (111) in which the highest consumption units are arranged in areas of the storage zone(s) (128) adjacent to or near said dispensing zone (115), while the lowest consumption units are arranged in areas of the storage zone(s) (128) further away from said dispensing zone (115).

21. A dispensing machine configured to dispense liquid products within a receptacle (118) and comprising a plurality of container units (111), each containing a respective liquid product, one or more storage zones (128) for said container units (111), a dispensing zone (115) in which a subset of said container units (111) containing the liquid products to be dispensed in a dispensing cycle is temporarily and selectively located, and a slider (120) on which a scale (116) is disposed, provided with a support surface (117) for said receptacle (118) and movable on linear guides to slide parallel to a longitudinal direction (X) so that said slider (120), together with said scales (116) and said receptacle (118), can move beneath said subset of container units,wherein the dispensing machine also comprises a programmable control unit configured to implement a control method as in any of the preceding claims, and a display (159), for example, a touch screen, defining interface means by which the operator can control the operation of the dispensing machine (100) and display a graphical representation thereof.

22. A computer-readable medium containing executable program code for configuring a programmable processor or control unit (164) comprising or operatively linked to a dispensing machine (100), such as a dispensing machine according to claim 21, to carry out the computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

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