Coating-material-related-information-providing device, coating-material-related-information-providing system, coating-material-related-information-providing method, and program

Abstract

A cloud server (1) comprises: a coating information acquisition unit (111) that acquires target coating information; an overcoating possibility determination unit (114) that, on the basis of the types of solvents included in each of two coatings indicated by the target coating information, determines whether one of the two coatings could be overcoated on the other; a thinner identification unit (113) that, on the basis of solubility parameters pertaining to each of the two coatings indicated by the target coating information, identifies a thinner that can be mixed with each of the two coatings; and a coating-related-information-reporting unit (115) that generates coating-related information, including overcoating possibility information indicating the possibility of overcoating and thinner information indicating identified thinner, and transmits the coating-related information to a terminal device (3).

Description

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

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

[0002] A method for presenting painting specifications has been proposed, which includes the steps of providing a server system accessible from a user terminal provided at the customer, and the server system acquiring from the user terminal the finishing data for the customer's desired design layer and the base data on the material and deterioration state of the base layer, the server system selecting a design paint to form the design layer based on the finishing data, and determining whether the design paint and the layer immediately below it that can be attached are the same as the base layer, and if they are the same, the server system displaying the film structure formed by the design layer and the base layer and the painting specifications (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-317006

[0004] However, when different paints are applied on top of each other or when a paint is mixed with a solvent, there is a need to appropriately inform users of the affinity between the two, thereby preventing problems with the paint after application.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned reasons, and aims to provide a coating material related information providing device, a coating material related information providing system, a coating material related information providing method, and a program that can appropriately present to users information regarding the affinity between multiple types of coating materials when they are applied in layers or mixed together.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the coating material related information providing device of the present invention comprises: a coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating the first coating material on the base when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating the second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; a recoating determination unit that determines whether the second coating material can be overcoated on top of the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material, the hardening form of the paint, and the type of resin; a coating material identification unit that identifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; and a coating material related information notification unit that generates coating material related information including recoating feasibility information indicating whether the recoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the generated information to a terminal device.

[0007] According to the present invention, the recoating determination unit determines whether the second coating material can be recoated on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvents contained in the first coating material and the second coating material, the hardening form of the paint, and the type of resin. The coating material identification unit identifies a third coating material that is miscible with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first and second coating materials. The coating material-related information notification unit generates coating material-related information including recoating feasibility information indicating whether recoating is possible and third coating material information, and transmits this information to the terminal device. This allows the user to appropriately receive information regarding the compatibility of multiple coating materials when they are applied in layers or mixed together via the coating material-related information including the recoating feasibility information and the third coating material information transmitted to the terminal device.

[0008] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a paint-related information provision system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a terminal device and a cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device and the cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a solubility parameter storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a thinner information storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a paint information storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a judgment criterion storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the processing content of a thinner identification unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing performed by the paint-related information provision system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen image for a paint to be subjected to repainting judgment, displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a paint-related information notification image, displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of paint-related information provision processing performed by the cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a terminal device and a cloud server according to a second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing performed by the paint-related information provision system according to the second embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an object image is dragged on a mixed determination target paint input screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a paint-related information notification image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a paint-related information provision process executed by a cloud server according to embodiment 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an overpainting determination target paint input screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which an object image is dragged on a mixed determination target paint input screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a terminal device and a cloud server according to a modified example. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a paint-related information notification image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example.FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a paint-related information notification image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) A coating material-related information providing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The coating material-related information providing device according to this embodiment includes a coating material information acquisition unit, a recoating determination unit, a coating material identification unit, and a coating material-related information notification unit. The coating material information acquisition unit acquires target coating material information, including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material. The recoating determination unit determines whether the second coating material can be overcoated on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in the first coating material and the second coating material, the hardening form of the paint, and the type of resin. The coating material identification unit identifies a third coating material that is miscible with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material. The coating material related information notification unit generates coating material related information including recoating possibility information indicating whether recoating is possible and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the generated information to the terminal device.

[0010] 1, the paint-related information providing system according to this embodiment is a coating material-related information providing system that includes a terminal device 3 owned by a coating contractor and a cloud server 1, and the terminal device 3 and the cloud server 1 are capable of communicating with each other via a network NW1. Here, the network NW1 is, for example, the Internet.

[0011] The terminal device 3 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 2 , includes a CPU 301, a main memory unit 302, an auxiliary memory unit 303, a display unit 304, an input unit 305, a communication unit 306, and a bus 309 connecting these units to one another. The main memory unit 302 has a volatile memory such as RAM and is used as a work area for the CPU 301. The main memory unit 302 also has an image-only memory (not shown) that temporarily stores image information to be displayed on the display unit 304. The auxiliary memory unit 303 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs used by the CPU 301 to execute various processes. The display unit 304 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The input unit 305 is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display unit 304. The communication unit 306 is connected to the network NW1 and transmits information transferred from the CPU 301 to the cloud server 1 via the network NW1, and transfers various information obtained from the cloud server 1 via the network NW1 to the CPU 301.

[0012] 3 , by loading the program stored in the auxiliary memory unit 303 into the main memory unit 302 and executing it, the CPU 301 functions as a reception unit 311, a paint information notification unit 312, a paint-related information acquisition unit 313, and a display control unit 314. The reception unit 311 receives operations performed on the input unit 305 by the painting contractor who owns the terminal device 3, generates operation information corresponding to the received operation, and notifies the paint information notification unit 312. Specifically, when the painting contractor performs a target paint information input operation on the input unit 305 to input the paint name of the paint to be used for the lower layer of two types of paint to be applied over the lower layer and the paint name of the paint to be used for the upper layer above the lower layer, the reception unit 311 receives the target paint information input operation, generates operation information corresponding to the operation, and notifies the paint information notification unit 312.

[0013] When the paint information notification unit 312 receives operation information from the reception unit 311 in response to the aforementioned target paint information input operation, it generates target paint information including paint information indicating each of the two types of paint and usage layer identification information identifying the layer on which each of the two types of paint is to be used, and transmits this information to the cloud server 1.

[0014] When the paint-related information acquisition unit 313 acquires the paint-related information sent from the cloud server 1, it extracts the recoating possibility information, which indicates whether or not recoating is possible (described below), and the thinner information, which indicates the thinners that can be used for each of the two types of paint, contained in the acquired paint-related information, and notifies the display control unit 314 of the extracted recoating possibility information and thinner information.

[0015] Based on the recoating possibility information and thinner information notified by the paint-related information acquisition unit 313, the display control unit 314 forms a paint-related information notification image including information regarding whether recoating is possible and information indicating the names of thinners that can be applied to the two types of paint specified by the user, and displays the image on the display unit 304.

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

[0017] The CPU 101 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary memory unit 103 into the main memory unit 102 and executes them, thereby functioning as a paint information acquisition unit 111, a solubility parameter calculation unit 112, a thinner identification unit 113, a recoating possibility determination unit 114, and a paint-related information notification unit 115, as shown in FIG. 3 . The auxiliary memory unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a solubility information storage unit 131, a thinner information storage unit 132, a paint information storage unit 133, and a determination criterion storage unit 134, as shown in FIG. 4A . For example, as shown in FIG. 4A , the solubility information storage unit 131 stores solubility parameter information indicating the solubility parameters of a plurality of pre-defined substances in association with substance information indicating the corresponding substances. Examples of the plurality of substances include organic substances contained in paint, water, pigments, resin hardeners, etc. Here, the solubility parameter is determined based on the formula proposed by J. H. The HSP is a thermodynamic parameter proposed by Hildebrand. It is defined for multiple types of substances and is an index used to predict the solubility of each substance in other substances. The HSP (hereinafter referred to as "HSP value") is a three-dimensional parameter representation of the solubility parameter proposed by Hildebrand, including a dispersion force component reflecting the energy due to intermolecular dispersion forces, a polar component reflecting the energy due to intermolecular dipole interactions, and a hydrogen bond component reflecting the energy due to intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Currently, the HSP value is widely used for evaluating the compatibility between polymers and solvents, between polymers, etc., for selecting optimal solvents and optimal combinations of mixed solvents in the manufacturing process of paints, thinners, etc. In Figure 4A, Dd represents the dispersion force component, Dp represents the polar component, and Dh represents the hydrogen bond component. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the solubility parameters of organic solvents such as methanol and ethanol, and the solubility parameters of resins such as polyethyl methacrylate and epoxy resin are stored.

[0018] 4B, the thinner information storage unit 132 stores the solubility parameters of each of a plurality of types of thinners set in advance in association with thinner information indicating the corresponding thinner. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the thinner information storage unit 132 stores solubility parameter information for "thinner A" containing methanol, etc., "thinner B" containing ethanol, etc.

[0019] For example, as shown in FIG. 5A , the paint information storage unit 133 stores, in association with paint information indicating the ingredients contained in each of a plurality of preset paint types, content rate information indicating the content rate of each ingredient, solvent type information indicating the type of solvent used in the paint, hardening type information indicating the hardening type of the paint, and resin type information indicating the type of resin. The "hardening type" indicates the method used to dry and harden the paint, and examples of such methods include "catalytic crosslinking drying," "volatilization drying," "oxidative polymerization drying," "two-component crosslinking drying," "thermal crosslinking drying," "photocrosslinking," and "electron beam crosslinking." Examples of "resin types" include "phenolic resin," "alkyd resin," "melamine urea resin," "epoxy resin," "polyurethane resin," "silicone resin," "chlorinated rubber," "vinyl acetate resin," "acrylic resin," "vinyl chloride resin," "fluororesin," "cellulose," and "polyester resin." In the example shown in FIG. 5A , "Paint A" contains 5% "toluene" and 4% "xylene," indicating that the type of solvent used is a "strong solvent type." The type of solvent may be determined based on, for example, the solubility parameter described below.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 3 , the determination criterion storage unit 134 stores reference distance information indicating a reference distance between coordinates corresponding to a paint and coordinates corresponding to a thinner in the three-dimensional space of solubility parameters, which is used to identify thinners as described below. Here, the "thinner" may refer to, for example, a thinner specifically recommended by the paint manufacturer for that paint. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5B , the determination criterion storage unit 134 stores recoating feasibility information indicating whether recoating is possible for each combination of the type of paint solvent used in the upper layer when two types of paint are applied over each other, the type of hard form and resin of the paint, and the type of solvent for the lower layer, in association with information indicating the combination of solvent type information indicating the type of solvent, hard form information indicating the hard form of the paint, and resin type information indicating the type of resin. The solvent type information includes information indicating the type of solvent, such as a strong solvent type, which is a solvent with a high proportion of molecules with strong dissolving power, a weak solvent type, which is a solvent with a high proportion of molecules with relatively weak dissolving power, or an aqueous solvent with weak dissolving power and a high water content. 5B shows that "recoating is possible" when the hardness and resin type of the paint are the same, and the type of solvent in the paint used in the upper layer and the type of solvent in the paint used in the lower layer are both strong solvent types. The recoating possibility information stored in the judgment criteria storage unit 134 is set to "recoating is possible" when the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer are the same, "recoating is possible" when the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer is "strong solvent type" and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer is "weak solvent type" or "water-based," and "recoating is possible" when the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer is "weak solvent type" and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer is "water-based." On the other hand, the information on whether or not recoating is possible stored in the judgment criteria memory unit 134 is set so that if the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer is "weak solvent type" and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer is "strong solvent type", it is "not possible to recoat", and if the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer is "water-based" and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer is "weak solvent type" or "strong solvent type", it is "not possible to recoat".Furthermore, the recoating possibility information stored in the determination criteria storage unit 134 is set to indicate "recoating possible" when the type of solvent contained in the paint of the lower layer is "water-based two-component" and the type of solvent contained in the paint of the upper layer is "weak solvent" or "strong solvent." Note that, as for the type of solvent, "strong solvent" may be further subdivided into "strong solvent: one-component (humidity-curing type), two-component (reaction-hardening type)," etc., for "weak solvent," "one-component" or "two-component," and for "water-based," "one-component" or "two-component" may be used.

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

[0022] When the paint information is notified from the paint information acquisition unit 111, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 identifies the ingredient information and the corresponding content rate information corresponding to the notified paint information from the ingredient information and the corresponding content rate information stored in the paint information storage unit 133. The solubility parameter calculation unit 112 also identifies the solubility parameter information corresponding to the ingredient indicated by the identified ingredient information from the solubility parameter information stored in the solubility information storage unit 131. The solubility parameter calculation unit 112 then calculates the solubility parameter based on the content rate of at least one ingredient indicated by the identified ingredient information and content rate information and the solubility parameter indicated by the identified solubility parameter information. Here, when using Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) values ​​as the solubility parameters, for example, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 calculates the solubility parameters Dd, Dp, and Dh using the following relational expressions (1) to (3).

[0023]

[0024] Here, i (a positive integer) represents an index that identifies each ingredient contained in the paint, and I represents the number of ingredients. φ[i] represents the volume fraction of each ingredient in the paint. Furthermore, D[i]d represents a solubility parameter that indicates the dispersion component of the ingredient identified by index "i," D[i]p represents a solubility parameter that indicates the polar component of the ingredient identified by index "i," and D[i]h represents a solubility parameter that indicates the hydrogen bond component of the ingredient identified by index "i." The solubility parameter calculation unit 112 then notifies the thinner identification unit 113 of the solubility parameter information that indicates the calculated solubility parameters.

[0025] When the thinner identification unit 113 receives the solubility parameter information from the solubility parameter calculation unit 112, the thinner identification unit 113 identifies a thinner having a solubility parameter corresponding to a coordinate whose distance from the coordinate corresponding to the solubility parameters of each of the two types of paints specified by the user, as indicated by the solubility parameter information, is less than or equal to the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134. The thinner identification unit 113 calculates the distance between the coordinate corresponding to each of the plurality of types of thinners stored in the thinner information storage unit 132 and the coordinate corresponding to the solubility parameter indicated by the notified solubility parameter information, and identifies a thinner whose calculated distance is less than or equal to the reference distance. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , when the coordinates corresponding to the paint specified by the user are (Dd1, Dp1, Dh1), the thinner identification unit 113 identifies the thinner if the distance DI12 between the paint and the thinner corresponding to the coordinates (Dd2, Dp2, Dh2) is shorter than the reference distance RD. On the other hand, if the distance DI13 to the thinner corresponding to the coordinates (Dd3, Dp3, Dh3) is longer than the reference distance RD, the thinner identification unit 113 does not identify the thinner. Returning to Figure 3, the thinner identification unit 113 then notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of thinner information indicating the identified thinner.

[0026] When the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 receives paint information and used layer identification information from the paint information acquisition unit 111, it references the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 to identify the solvent type information corresponding to the notified paint information. Furthermore, the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 identifies the combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers of the two types of paint to be recoated based on the identified solvent type information and used layer identification information. Then, the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 references the recoating feasibility information stored in the determination criteria storage unit 134 to identify the recoating feasibility information corresponding to the identified combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers. Furthermore, the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the identified recoating feasibility information.

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

[0028] Next, the operation of the paint-related information providing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. First, as shown in FIG. 7, when a painting contractor performs the aforementioned target paint information input operation on the input unit 305 of the terminal device 3, the terminal device 3 accepts the target paint information input operation and generates target paint information including paint information indicating each of the two types of paint to be overcoated designated by the user and application layer identification information identifying the layer on which each of the two types of paint is to be used (step S1). Here, the terminal device 3 generates a recoating determination target paint input screen image GA1, including input fields B11 and B12 for inputting the names of the two types of paint to be overcoated, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, and displays it on the display unit 304. Then, in the target paint information input operation, the user inputs the paint names into each input field B11 and B12 via the input unit 305. Returning to FIG. 7, the generated target paint information is then transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S2).

[0029] Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3, it extracts paint information indicating each of the two types of paint included in the acquired target paint information and the use layer identification information corresponding to each of the two types of paint. The cloud server 1 then identifies the ingredient information and the corresponding content rate information corresponding to the extracted paint information from the ingredient information and the corresponding content rate information stored in the paint information storage unit 133. The cloud server 1 also identifies the solubility parameter information corresponding to the ingredient indicated by the identified ingredient information from the solubility parameter information stored in the solubility information storage unit 131. The cloud server 1 then calculates the solubility parameter based on the content rate of each of the at least one ingredient indicated in the identified ingredient information and content rate information and the solubility parameter indicated by the identified solubility parameter information (step S3).

[0030] Next, the cloud server 1 identifies thinners having solubility parameters corresponding to coordinates whose distance from the coordinates corresponding to the calculated solubility parameters in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameters is equal to or less than the aforementioned reference distance (step S4). The cloud server 1 then references the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 to identify solvent type information corresponding to the extracted paint information, and identifies a combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers of the two types of paint to be overcoated based on the identified solvent type information and the extracted used layer identification information. The cloud server 1 then references the overcoating feasibility information stored in the judgment criterion storage unit 134 to identify overcoating feasibility information corresponding to the identified combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers (step S5).

[0031] Next, the cloud server 1 generates paint-related information including thinner information indicating the identified thinner and the identified information on whether or not recoating is possible (step S6), and the generated paint-related information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 3 (step S7).

[0032] Meanwhile, upon receiving the paint-related information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the terminal device 3 extracts, from the received paint-related information, recoating capability information indicating whether or not the paints can be recoated (described below) and thinner information indicating the thinners that can be used with each of the two paints. Based on the extracted recoating capability information and thinner information, the terminal device 3 then forms a paint-related information notification image including information on whether or not the paints can be recoated and information indicating the names of thinners that can be used with the two paints specified by the user, and displays the image on the display unit 304 (step S8). The terminal device 3 then displays, for example, a paint-related information notification image GA2, as shown in FIG. 8B , on the display unit 304. The paint-related information notification image GA2 includes message images M21 and M22 indicating the names of the two paints to be recoated that the user specified, a message image M23 indicating whether or not the paints can be recoated, and message images M24 and M25 indicating the names of thinners that can be used with the paints specified by the user.

[0033] Next, the paint-related information provision process executed by the cloud server 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 . This paint-related information provision process is initiated when a program for executing the paint-related information provision process is launched on the cloud server 1. First, the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines whether the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3 has been acquired (step S101). Here, as long as the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines that the target paint information has not been acquired (step S101: No), the process of step S101 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if the paint information acquisition unit 111 determines that the target paint information has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the paint information acquisition unit 111 extracts paint information indicating each of the two types of paint included in the acquired target paint information and the use layer identification information corresponding to each of the two types of paint. The paint information acquisition unit 111 then notifies the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 of the extracted paint information, and also notifies the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 of the extracted use layer identification information.

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

[0035] Next, when the thinner identification unit 113 is notified of the solubility parameter information from the solubility parameter calculation unit 112, it identifies a thinner having a solubility parameter corresponding to coordinates whose distance from the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameters of each of the two types of paint designated by the user, as indicated by the solubility parameter information, is equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the determination criterion storage unit 134 (step S103). Here, the thinner identification unit 113 notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the thinner information indicating the identified thinner.

[0036] Thereafter, upon receiving the paint information and used layer identification information from the paint information acquisition unit 111, the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 references the solvent type information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 to identify the solvent type information corresponding to the notified paint information. Furthermore, based on the identified solvent type information and used layer identification information, the recoating feasibility determination unit 114 identifies the combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers of the two types of paint to be recoated. The recoating feasibility determination unit 114 then references the recoating feasibility information stored in the determination criteria storage unit 134 to identify the recoating feasibility information corresponding to the identified combination of solvent types for the upper and lower layers (step S104). The recoating feasibility determination unit 114 then notifies the paint-related information notification unit 115 of the identified recoating feasibility information.

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

[0038] As described above, according to the cloud server 1 of the present embodiment, the recoating determination unit 114 determines whether two types of paint can be recoated based on at least one of the hardness of the paint and the type of resin contained in each of the two types of paint to be recoated, as specified by the user. The thinner identification unit 113 identifies a thinner that can be mixed with the two types of paint based on the solubility parameters of the two types of paint specified by the user. The paint-related information notification unit 115 then generates paint-related information including recoating feasibility information indicating whether recoating is possible and thinner information indicating the identified thinner, and transmits this information to the terminal device 3. This allows the user to appropriately receive information regarding the affinity between two types of paint when applying them together or mixing thinner into paint, via the paint-related information including the recoating feasibility information and thinner information transmitted to the terminal device 3.

[0039] When using paint, painting contractors typically dilute the paint with thinners specified by the paint manufacturer. However, if the manufacturer-specified thinner is not available, there is a demand for efficient use of painting materials by substituting thinners not specified by the manufacturer. In response to this demand, the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment selects a thinner that can be substituted for the manufacturer-specified thinner based on the solubility parameters of the substances contained in the paint and the solubility parameters of the thinner, and transmits paint-related information including the selected thinner information to the terminal device 3. This allows the painting contractor to effectively utilize the thinners in stock by referring to the thinner information included in the paint-related information displayed on the display unit 304 of the terminal device 3, thereby reducing the painting contractor's inventory and promoting thinner reuse.

[0040] (Embodiment 2) This embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that the cloud server only has a function of identifying a thinner that can be mixed with a paint specified by a user. That is, in this embodiment, the cloud server determines whether or not the paint specified by a user and the thinner to be mixed with the paint are mixable.

[0041] 10 , for example, the terminal device 3003 according to this embodiment includes a reception unit 311, a paint information notification unit 3312, a paint-related information acquisition unit 3313, and a display control unit 314. Note that in FIG. 10 , components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 . Here, when a painting contractor performs a target paint information input operation by inputting the paint names and thinner names of the paints to be mixed into the input unit 305, the reception unit 311 receives the target paint information input operation, generates operation information corresponding to the operation, and notifies the paint information notification unit 3312. When the paint information notification unit 3312 is notified of the operation information corresponding to the target paint information input operation from the reception unit 311, the paint information notification unit 3312 generates target paint information including paint information indicating the paints and thinners to be mixed and thinner information, and transmits the generated information to the cloud server 3001.

[0042] The cloud server 3001 also has a paint information acquisition unit 3111, a solubility parameter calculation unit 112, a mixability determination unit 3116, and a paint-related information notification unit 3115. When the paint information acquisition unit 3111 acquires target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3, it extracts paint information and thinner information included in the acquired target paint information. Then, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 notifies the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 of the extracted paint information, and notifies the mixability determination unit 3116 of the extracted thinner information.

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

[0044] Next, the processing executed by the paint-related information providing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. Note that in FIG. 11, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7. First, as shown in FIG. 11, when a painting contractor performs the aforementioned target paint information input operation on the input unit 305 of the terminal device 3, the terminal device 3 accepts the target paint information input operation and generates target paint information including paint information and thinner information indicating the paints and thinners to be mixed specified by the user (step S3001). Here, the terminal device 3 generates a mixing judgment target input screen image GA3001 including object images OB3011 representing each of the plurality of paints and object images OB3012 representing each of the plurality of thinners, as shown in FIG. 12A, for example, and displays the mixed paint judgment target input screen image GA3001 on the display unit 304. The mixed paint judgment target input screen image GA3001 includes object images OB3011 representing each of the plurality of paints and object images OB3012 representing each of the plurality of thinners. The object image OB3011 includes a message image M3111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M3112 indicating the paint's specifications, and the object image OB3012 includes a message image M3121 indicating the name of the thinner and a message image M3122 indicating the thinner's specifications. In the target paint information input operation, the user selects, via the input unit 305, object images OB3001 and OB3002 corresponding to either the paint or thinner to be mixed, and then, as indicated by the arrow AR3001 in FIG. 12B , drags the selected object image OB3001 or OB3002 with the finger F to overlap the other, thereby specifying the paint and thinner to be mixed. Returning to FIG. 11 , the generated target paint information is then transmitted from the terminal device 3003 to the cloud server 3001 (step S3002).

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

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

[0047] Meanwhile, when the terminal device 3003 acquires the paint-related information transmitted from the cloud server 3001, it extracts the judgment result information included in the acquired paint-related information. Then, based on the extracted judgment result information, the terminal device 3003 forms a paint-related information notification image including information indicating whether the paint and thinner specified by the user can be mixed, and displays the image on the display unit 304 (step S3006). Here, the terminal device 3003 displays a paint-related information notification image GA3002, such as that shown in FIG. 13 , on the display unit 304. Here, the paint-related information notification image GA3002 includes message images M3021 and M3022 indicating the paint name and thinner name specified by the user, and a message image M3023 indicating whether the paint and thinner can be mixed.

[0048] Next, the paint-related information provision process executed by the cloud server 3001 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14 . Note that in FIG. 14 , processes similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 . First, the paint information acquisition unit 3111 determines whether or not the target paint information transmitted from the terminal device 3 has been acquired (step S3101). If the paint information acquisition unit 3111 determines that the target paint information has been acquired (step S3101: Yes), the paint information acquisition unit 3111 extracts paint information and thinner information included in the acquired target paint information. The paint information acquisition unit 3111 then notifies the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 of the extracted paint information and notifies the mixability determination unit 3116 of the extracted thinner information.

[0049] Next, after the processing of step S102 is executed, the mixability determination unit 3116 identifies the solubility parameter corresponding to the thinner indicated by the notified thinner information from among the coordinates corresponding to each of a plurality of preset types of thinners stored in the thinner information storage unit 132 (step S3102).The mixability determination unit 3116 then executes a mixability determination to determine whether or not the distance between the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter of the paint indicated by the solubility parameter information notified by the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 and the coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter of the identified thinner in the three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameters is equal to or less than the reference distance indicated by the reference distance information stored in the determination reference storage unit 134 (step 3103).

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

[0051] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to quickly ascertain whether or not the paint and thinner specified by the user can be mixed, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0052] Although the above describes each embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the first embodiment, the terminal device 3 may generate a paint input screen image GA2001 for determining whether to overpaint, including object images OB2011 and OB2012 representing each of a plurality of paints, as shown in FIG. 15A , and display the image on the display unit 304. The object images OB2011 and 2012 include message images M2111 and 2121 indicating the names of the paints and message images M2112 and 2122 indicating the specifications of the paints. In the target paint information input operation, the user selects, via the input unit 305, the object image OB2012 corresponding to the upper paint of two paints to be overpainted, and then, as shown by the arrow AR2001 in FIG. 15B , drags the object image OB2012 with a finger F so that it overlaps with the object image OB2011 corresponding to the lower paint, thereby specifying the upper and lower paints to be overpainted.

[0053] This configuration allows the user to easily visually grasp the upper and lower layers of two types of paint to be applied over each other, thereby improving user convenience. For example, when a user applies multiple types of paint over each other, if the user has concerns about the compatibility of the paints to be applied over each other, the user can easily check their compatibility.

[0054] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the terminal device 3 may form a mixability determination input screen image including object images representing a plurality of paints or thinners and display the image on the display unit 304. When a user selects one of the object images, the display mode of the object images corresponding to the paints or thinners that can be mixed with the selected object image may change depending on the mixability. For example, in the initial state, each object image may be displayed with a rectangular frame image whose interior color is white. When a user selects an object image, the interior color of the object image may change to another color (e.g., green), and the colors of the object images corresponding to the paints or thinners that can be mixed with the paint or thinner corresponding to the selected object image may change depending on the mixability. For example, the interior color may be displayed in light blue if the paints or thinners are mixable, light red if the paints or thinners are not mixable, and light yellow if the mixability is unknown.

[0055] In embodiment 1, an example was described in which the cloud server 1 identifies thinners that can be mixed with each of two types of paint specified by the user, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the cloud server may identify paints that can be mixed with thinners specified by the user.

[0056] In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the cloud server 1 determines whether two types of paint specified by a user can be overcoated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a user specifies one type of paint to be used as an upper or lower layer when overcoating two types of paint, the cloud server may refer to the paint information stored in the paint information storage unit 133 and the judgment criterion information stored in the judgment criterion storage unit 134 to identify a paint that can be overcoated on top of the specified lower-layer paint or a paint that can be used as a lower-layer paint for the specified upper-layer paint.

[0057] In the first embodiment, the thinner identification unit 113 identifies a thinner recommended by the manufacturer of a paint selected by a user, and identifies the solubility parameter of the identified thinner from the solubility parameter information stored in the thinner information storage unit 132. The thinner identification unit 113 may then identify thinner information of a thinner whose difference from the solubility parameter of the identified thinner recommended by the manufacturer falls within a predetermined reference range from the thinner information stored in the thinner information storage unit 132. Here, the reference range can be set, for example, within ±5% of the solubility parameter recommended by the manufacturer.

[0058] Alternatively, the thinner identification unit 113 may select one rank from a plurality of preset ranks regarding the appropriateness of adopting a thinner based on the type of solvent contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer and the amount of each solvent contained therein. For example, the thinner may be selected as Rank A if the candidate thinner is the same as the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer, as Rank B if the content of the same type of solvent contained most abundantly in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer differs from the content of the same solvent contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer by within ±20%, or as Rank C if the content of the same type of solvent contained most abundantly in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer differs from the content of the same solvent contained in the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer by more than ±20%. Alternatively, if the solvent with the highest content and the solvent with the second highest content in the candidate thinner and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are the same and the sum of their contents is 60% or more, the thinner may be ranked A; if the solvent with the highest content and the solvent with the second highest content in the candidate thinner and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are the same and the sum of their contents is less than 60%, the thinner may be ranked B; if the solvent with the highest content and the solvent with the second highest content in the candidate thinner and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are different but the same type and the sum of their contents is 60% or more, the thinner may be ranked C; and if the solvent with the highest content and the solvent with the second highest content in the candidate thinner and the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer are different but the same type and the sum of their contents is less than 60%, the thinner may be ranked D. Here, the type of thinner may be classified, for example, by hydrocarbons, alcohols, acetates, ketones, cellosolves, glycol ethers, ethers, chlorinated hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing thinners, etc. Alternatively, the type of thinner may be classified based on whether it is a strong solvent, a weak solvent, or aqueous.

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

[0060] In the first embodiment, the cloud server 1 may further include a criterion update unit that updates the criterion information based on performance information indicating the performance of the paints actually used for the upper and lower layers. Alternatively, the cloud server 1 may include a coating material estimation unit that, when paint information indicating a paint specified by a user is input, estimates at least one of the paint and the overcoatable paint and the mixable thinner using a coating material estimation model that outputs information indicating at least one of the paint indicated by the paint information and the overcoatable paint and the mixable thinner. In this case, the cloud server 1 may include a coating material estimation model update unit that trains the coating material estimation model using the paint information included in the performance information and the solubility parameters of the paint and the thinner indicated by the thinner information as training data.

[0061] In addition, in embodiment 1, the cloud server 1 may further include a reference distance information update unit that updates the reference distance information indicated by the reference distance information stored in the judgment criteria memory unit 134 based on performance information indicating the actual performance of the thinner used.

[0062] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which only the possibility of recoating is determined. However, this is not limiting. For example, the recoating possibility determination unit may select one rank from a plurality of preset ranks for the appropriateness of recoating. Specifically, the recoating possibility determination unit may select a rank of "A" if the combination of two types of paint is the same as the specifications defined by the paint manufacturer, "B" if the combination of the resin system (paint) type of the upper layer paint and the resin system (paint) type of the lower layer paint is appropriate, "C" if the paint and the resin system (paint) type approved by the paint manufacturer are the same, or "D" if recoating is not possible. Here, the resin system (paint) type may be "two-component epoxy resin," "one-component epoxy resin," "one-component urethane resin," "two-component urethane resin," etc.

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

[0064] In an embodiment, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner based on the solvent composition of the paint or thinner determined using gas chromatography. Specifically, the solubility parameter calculation unit 112 acquires information indicating the solvent composition of the paint or thinner identified by gas chromatography analysis, and calculates the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner based on the acquired information from the solubility parameter of the identified solvent stored in the solubility information storage unit 131 and the volume fraction of various solvents contained in the paint or thinner. Paints contain resins, pigments, etc., but it is difficult to extract these as gases to be analyzed by gas chromatography. However, resins contained in paints are often designed to be highly soluble in solvents. Therefore, the solubility parameter calculation unit calculates the solubility parameter of the paint by considering the solubility parameter value of the resin in the paint to be approximately the same as the solubility parameter value of the solvent in the paint. That is, the solubility parameter calculation unit calculates the HSP value of the paint assuming that the HSP value of the solvent in the paint is approximately equal to the HSP value of the resin in the paint. The solubility parameter calculation unit may also calculate the HSP value of the paint from the HSP value calculated for a dedicated thinner designated for use with the paint. Furthermore, the solubility parameter calculation unit may calculate the solubility parameter of the paint or thinner from the solvent composition of the paint or thinner identified by analysis using a gas chromatograph and the solubility parameters of each solvent calculated by the aforementioned method of determining the solubility parameter from the latent heat of vaporization, the Hildebrand Rule, the surface tension, the refractive index, or the like.

[0065] In the second embodiment, when a paint contractor takes a photograph of the label of a container of thinner that is not in stock using a terminal device with an imaging function, the thinner information contained in the photograph of the label, including the product name, manufacturer name, etc., is read using image recognition technology, and based on the read thinner information, the thinner corresponding to the thinner information is identified, and it is determined whether the identified thinner can be mixed with paint that the paint contractor has.

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

[0067] According to this configuration, simply by taking an image of the label attached to a thinner container, it is possible to identify paints that can be mixed with that thinner. Alternatively, simply by taking an image of the label attached to a paint container, it is possible to identify thinners that can be mixed with that paint. Therefore, it is possible to improve convenience for painting contractors.

[0068] In the second embodiment, when a photo of the label of a container of a thinner that is not in stock held by a painting contractor is taken using a terminal device having an imaging function, thinner information contained in the photo of the label, including the product name, manufacturer name, etc., is read using image recognition technology, and based on the read thinner information, a thinner corresponding to the thinner information is identified, and a thinner having a solubility parameter close to that of the identified thinner is selected from the thinners held by the painting contractor.

[0069] In each embodiment, the terminal device 3 may display a paint-related information notification image GA4001 on the display unit 304, as shown in FIG. 17A . Here, an object image OB4011 of a paint owned by the painting contractor is arranged on the left side of the paint-related information notification image GA4001, and object images OB4012 of multiple thinners that are candidates for mixing with the owned paint are arranged on the left side. The object image OB4011 includes a message image M4111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M4112 indicating the paint's specifications. The object image OB4012 includes a message image M4111 indicating the name of the thinner and a message image M4112 indicating the thinner's manufacturer name. Note that the message image M4112 is not limited to indicating the manufacturer name, but may also represent the distance between the coordinates represented by the solubility parameters of the paint and thinner, or a ranking of compatibility with the paint. Alternatively, the message image M4112 may include the location where the thinner is stored, etc. Here, the object images OB4012 are arranged in order of proximity of solubility parameters, i.e., in order of proximity of the distance between the coordinates represented by the above-mentioned three solubility parameters of the paint and thinner, in order of whether the required amount of paint is available, in order of high rank regarding compatibility with the thinner to be mixed, etc. Here, the source of the search for paint may not only be the painting contractor's own inventory, but also an e-commerce site where paint is listed, shared inventory of other companies, etc.

[0070] In each embodiment, the terminal device 3 may display an inventory list image including a list of object images of paints or thinners held by a painting contractor, and when the paint contractor operates the terminal device 3 to select one of the object images while the inventory list image is displayed on the display unit 304, the terminal device 3 may display the selected object image in a display mode in which the color of its periphery or the entire interior color is changed. In this case, when an object image representing paint or thinner is selected, the terminal device 3 may display an object image representing a solvent that can be mixed with the paint or thinner represented by the selected object image in a display mode in which the color of its periphery or the entire interior color is changed, or may change the position of the object image in the inventory list image. Furthermore, when an object image representing paint is selected, the terminal device 3 may display an object image representing a paint that can be overcoated with the paint represented by the selected object image, i.e., a paint that can be used as a topcoat or primer for the paint, in a display mode in which the color of its periphery or the entire interior color is changed, or may change the position of the object image in the inventory list image.

[0071] Furthermore, when an object image representing paint or thinner is selected on the terminal device 3, if a solvent that can be mixed with the paint or thinner represented by the selected object image is not included in the inventory solvents represented by the inventory list image, the terminal device 3 may display an inventory list image for a storage location different from the storage location corresponding to the site image or inventory list image of an e-commerce site that sells the miscible solvent.The terminal device 3 may then display an object image representing the miscible solvent included in the site image or another inventory list image in a display mode that changes the color of its periphery or the entire interior color, or may change the position of the object image in the site image or inventory list image.Furthermore, when an object image representing paint is selected on the terminal device 3, if a paint that can be overcoated with the paint represented by the selected object image is not included in the inventory paint represented by the inventory list image, the terminal device 3 may display an inventory list image for a storage location different from the storage location corresponding to the site image or inventory list image of an e-commerce site that sells the overcoatable paint. The terminal device 3 may then display an object image representing paint that can be applied over other paints included in the site image or another inventory list image in a display mode that changes the color of the periphery or the color of the entire inside, or may change the position of the object image in the inventory list image and display it.

[0072] The terminal device 3 may also display a paint-related information notification image GA5001 on the display unit 304, as shown in FIG. 17B . Here, an object image OB5011 of a paint owned by the painting contractor is arranged on the left side of the paint-related information notification image GA5001, and object images OB5012 of multiple paints that are candidates for overpainting the owned paint are arranged on the left side. Here, "overpainting" is not limited to overpainting a candidate paint on top of the paint corresponding to the object image OB5011, but also includes overpainting a candidate paint on top of the paint corresponding to the object image OB5011. The object image OB5011 includes a message image M5111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M5112 indicating the paint's specifications. The object image OB5012 includes a message image M5111 indicating the name of the paint and a message image M5112 indicating the paint manufacturer's name. The message image M5112 is not limited to one that represents the manufacturer's name, but may also represent the distance between coordinates represented by the solubility parameters of each paint to be applied overlays, or a rank of the paint's compatibility for overlaying. Alternatively, the message image M5112 may include the location where the paint is stored, etc. Here, the object images OB5012 are arranged in descending order of solubility parameters, i.e., in descending order of the distance between coordinates represented by the aforementioned three solubility parameters of each paint, in descending order of whether the required amount of paint is available, in descending order of the rank of the paint's compatibility for overlaying, etc.

[0073] In an embodiment, the type of solvent in a paint, i.e., whether it is strong solvent, weak solvent, or water-based, may be determined based on the content and solubility parameter of the substance contained in the paint. In this case, the solubility parameter (HSP value) of each paint may be calculated, and the type of solvent may be determined based on the calculated solubility parameter. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the solubility parameter (HSP value) of a thinner recommended by a paint manufacturer for the paint may be calculated, and the type of solvent in the paint corresponding to that thinner may be determined based on the calculated solubility parameter. For example, for each of multiple types of thinners that may be recommended for a paint, the type (strong solvent, weak solvent, or water-based) may be registered based on the calculated solubility parameter, and the type of solvent in the paint may be determined based on the registered information when the paint is obtained.

[0074] In an embodiment, the recoating feasibility determination unit may determine whether or not the two types of paint can be recoated based on the solubility parameters of each of the two types of paint to be recoated. Alternatively, the recoating feasibility determination unit may estimate whether or not the two types of paint can be recoated using a recoating feasibility estimation model that, when the solubility parameters of each of the two types of paint to be recoated are input, outputs information indicating whether or not the two types of paint can be recoated. In this case, the cloud server 1 may include a recoating feasibility estimation model update unit that trains the recoating feasibility estimation model using actual information on whether or not the two types of paint can be recoated as training data.

[0075] In an embodiment, the system may further include a storage location memory unit (not shown) that stores storage location information indicating the storage location of a paint or thinner, in association with paint information and thinner information for the paint or thinner. The thinner identification unit 113 may then select a thinner that can be mixed with the paint to be evaluated from among thinners stored in a storage location close to the location where the paint to be evaluated is stored. Furthermore, if the thinner that can be mixed with the paint to be evaluated is a thinner created by mixing multiple types of thinners, the system may also have a function to select multiple types of thinners and calculate the mixing ratio of each of the multiple types of thinners. In this case, for example, the system may specify the range of solubility parameters of thinners that can be mixed with the paint to be evaluated, and calculate the mixing ratio of each of the multiple types of thinners that falls within the specified solubility parameter range based on the predetermined solubility parameters of each of the multiple types of thinners. The system may then calculate the required amount of each of the multiple types of thinners based on the calculated mixing ratio, and recommend the required amount of each of the multiple types of thinners to the painting contractor along with thinner information for each of the multiple types of thinners that can be mixed with the paint to be evaluated.

[0076] In the first embodiment, the system may further include a criterion update unit that updates the recoating feasibility information, which indicates whether recoating is possible for each combination of the type of solvent, hardening form, and resin type of the upper layer paint used when two types of paint are overcoated, stored in the criterion storage unit 134, and the type of solvent, hardening form, and resin type of the lower layer paint, based on performance information indicating the performance of overcoating. For example, if the lower layer paint is water-based and two-component, it may be possible to apply a weak solvent or a strong solvent to the upper layer. In such a case, the criterion update unit updates the recoating feasibility information by adding this combination. Note that the aforementioned "solvent type" may be further subdivided into "strong solvent: one-component (humidity-curing type), two-component (reaction-curing type)," "one-component," "two-component," etc. for "strong solvent type." Also, "water-based" may be further subdivided into "one-component," "two-component," etc. for "strong solvent type." The judgment criteria update unit updates the combinations for each paint based on performance information that indicates actual results, such as when a paint was judged to be "not acceptable" based on the judgment criteria information as shown in Figure 5B but was actually judged to be "acceptable," or when a paint was judged to be "acceptable" but was actually judged to be "not acceptable."

[0077] The judgment criterion update unit may also update the judgment criteria based on a judgment criterion setting model that sets the judgment criteria based on the ingredients of each corresponding paint. In this case, the judgment criterion update unit may optimize the judgment criterion setting model by machine learning based on the past performance information indicating the above-mentioned "pass" or "fail" and the ingredients of each corresponding paint. The system may also further include a solubility parameter update unit that optimizes the solubility parameters of paints and thinners based on the actual solubilities of the paints and thinners.

[0078] In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the paint information storage unit 133 stores the solvent types of various paints in advance. However, this is not limited to this, and the system may also include a solvent type determination unit that determines whether the solvent type is weak, strong, or water-based based on the numerical range to which the solubility parameter of each paint belongs. For example, when the Hildebrand SP value is used as the solubility parameter, the solvent type determination unit may determine that the paint to be overcoated has an SP value of 14 MPa or more and less than 18 MPa as a weak solvent, or 18 MPa or more and less than 24 MPa as a strong solvent. Furthermore, when the aforementioned HSP value is used as the solubility parameter, the solvent type determination unit may determine whether the paint is a weak solvent or a strong solvent based on the HSP values ​​of the three components of the paint to be overcoated.

[0079] In the first embodiment, the recoating possibility determination unit 114 may determine whether the two paints to be recoated can be recoated based on the difference between the solubility parameter values ​​of the two paints to be recoated.

[0080] In each embodiment, a solubility parameter estimation unit may be provided that estimates the solubility parameter of a paint or thinner based on the thinner specified by the paint or thinner manufacturer or the solvent type of a paint that is compatible with the paint or thinner. For example, the solubility parameter estimation unit estimates and registers an approximate solubility parameter based on the name of the paint or thinner (e.g., modified epoxy resin paint), a safety data sheet, etc. Thereafter, when the composition of a paint thinner or a paint that can be mixed with the thinner is determined, the solubility parameter estimation unit recalculates and registers the solubility parameter based on the composition. Furthermore, the solubility parameter of a paint or thinner may be corrected based on the degree of mixing when mixed with a solvent or paint with a known solubility parameter.

[0081] Furthermore, the various functions of the cloud server 1, 3001 and the terminal device 3, 3003 according to the present invention can be realized using a normal computer system, rather than a dedicated system. For example, a program for executing the above operations may be stored on a non-transitory recording medium (such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)) that can be read by the computer system and distributed to a computer connected to a network, and the program may be installed in the computer system to configure the cloud server 1, 3001 and the terminal device 3, 3003 that executes the above-described processes.

[0082] The method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. The computer then launches the program and executes it under the control of an operating system (OS) in the same way as other applications. This allows the computer to function as the cloud server 1, 3001 and the terminal device 3, 3003, 4003 that execute the above-mentioned processes.

[0083] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention includes any combination of the embodiments and modifications, and any combination to which appropriate modifications have been made.

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

[0085] The present invention is suitable as a system used by painting contractors when mixing paint.

[0086] 1, 3001: cloud server, 3, 3003, 4003: terminal device, 101, 301: CPU, 102, 302: main memory unit, 103, 303: auxiliary memory unit, 106, 306: communication unit, 109, 309: bus, 111: paint information acquisition unit, 112: solubility parameter calculation unit, 113: thinner identification unit, 114: recoating possibility determination unit, 115, 3115: paint related information notification unit, 131: solubility information storage unit, 132: thinner information storage unit, 133: paint information storage unit, 134: judgment criterion storage unit, 304: display unit, 305: input unit, 311: reception unit, 312, 3312: paint information notification unit, 313: paint related information acquisition unit, 3 14: Display control unit, 407: Imaging unit, 3116: Mixing possibility determination unit, B11, B12: Input field, GA1: Paint input screen image to be used for determining whether or not repainting is possible, GA2, GA3002, GA4002, GA5002: Paint-related information notification image, GA3001: Paint input screen image to be used for determining whether or not mixing is possible, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M2111, M2112, M2121, M2122, M3111, M3112, M3121, M3122: Message information, NW1: Network, OB2011, OB2012, OB3011, OB3012, OB4011, OB4012, OB5011, OB5012: Object images

Claims

1. A coating material related information providing device comprising: a coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; an overcoating determination unit that determines whether or not the second coating material can be overcoated on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material, the hardening form of the paint, the type of resin, and a solubility parameter; a coating material identification unit that identifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; and a coating material related information notification unit that generates coating material related information including overcoating feasibility information indicating whether or not the overcoating is possible, and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the generated information to a terminal device.

2. The coating material related information providing device of claim 1, wherein the recoating determination unit determines that recoating is possible when the hard form and type of resin of the paint are the same, and when the type of solvent contained in the first coating material is the same as the type of solvent contained in the second coating material, determines that recoating is possible when the type of solvent contained in the first coating material is a strong solvent type and the type of solvent contained in the second coating material is a weak solvent type or water-based, determines that recoating is possible when the type of solvent contained in the first coating material is a weak solvent type and the type of solvent contained in the second coating material is water-based, and determines that recoating is possible when the type of solvent contained in the first coating material is an aqueous two-component type and the type of solvent contained in the second coating material is water-based, strong solvent type or weak solvent type.

3. The coating material related information providing device of claim 1, wherein the recoating feasibility determination unit selects different ranks in the following cases: when the combination of the first coating material and the second coating material is the same as the specifications set by the manufacturer of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; when the combination of the resin type of the first coating material and the resin type of the second coating material is appropriate; when the resin types approved by the manufacturer of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material are the same; and when recoating is not possible.

4. The coating material related information providing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the solubility parameter is a three-dimensional HANSEN parameter including a dispersion force component, a polar component, and a hydrogen bond component, and the coating material identification unit identifies the third coating material having a solubility parameter corresponding to coordinates in a three-dimensional space representing the solubility parameters that are a predetermined reference distance or less from coordinates corresponding to the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material.

5. The coating material related information providing device according to claim 4, further comprising a solubility parameter calculation unit that calculates the solubility parameter based on the content rate of at least one type of ingredient contained in at least one of the materials.

6. A coating material related information providing system comprising: a terminal device; a coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; an overcoating determination unit that determines whether or not the second coating material can be overcoated on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in each of the first coating material and the second coating material, the hardness form of the paint, the type of resin, and a solubility parameter; a coating material identification unit that identifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first coating material and the second coating material; and a coating material related information notification unit that generates coating material related information including overcoating feasibility information indicating whether or not the overcoating is possible, and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits the information to the terminal device.

7. A method for providing painting material related information, comprising: a step of acquiring target painting material information including first painting material information indicating a first painting material on the base side when two types of painting materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second painting material information indicating a second painting material to be overcoated on the first painting material; a step of determining whether or not the second painting material can be overcoated on the first painting material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in each of the first painting material and the second painting material, the hard form of the paint, the type of resin, and the solubility parameters; a step of identifying a third painting material that can be mixed with at least one of the first painting material and the second painting material based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first painting material and the second painting material; and a step of generating painting material related information including overcoating feasibility information indicating whether or not the overcoating is possible, and third painting material information indicating the third painting material, and transmitting the generated information to a terminal device.

8. A program for causing a computer to function as: a coating material information acquisition unit that acquires target coating material information including first coating material information indicating a first coating material on the base side when two types of coating materials specified by a user are overcoated, and second coating material information indicating a second coating material to be overcoated on the first coating material; an overcoating determination unit that determines whether or not the second coating material can be overcoated on the first coating material based on at least one of the types of solvent contained in each of the first and second coating materials, the hardening form of the paint, the type of resin, and the solubility parameters; a coating material identification unit that identifies a third coating material that can be mixed with at least one of the first and second coating materials based on the solubility parameter of at least one of the first and second coating materials; and a coating material related information notification unit that generates coating material related information including overcoating feasibility information indicating whether or not overcoating is possible, and third coating material information indicating the third coating material, and transmits it to a terminal device.

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