Cloud-Based Color Mixing Dispensing Apparatus for On-Demand Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The nail paint industry faces challenges in providing a wide range of color combinations due to limited manufacturing capabilities, hygiene issues, wastage from dryness and improper handling, and inefficient packaging, which affects customer satisfaction and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising user devices, a cloud server, and a color mixing dispensing apparatus that allows users to input color parameters for instant mixing, using a dispensing housing unit with cartridges and a controller module to achieve desired color consistency, reducing wastage and enhancing hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional manufacturing processes are used to provide a wide range of nail paint colours, then the colour variety is limited, but the manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nail paint system is segmented into multiple separate colour components (base colours, glitters, effects) that are stored individually and mixed on-demand. This allows infinite colour combinations without manufacturing each complete colour separately, resolving the contradiction between colour variety and manufacturing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The base colours and additives are prepared and stored in advance in the dispensing apparatus. When a customer wants a specific colour, the system quickly mixes the pre-prepared components rather than manufacturing from scratch, enabling fast delivery of diverse colours.
2Manufacturing precision
If quality control processes are performed to ensure colour consistency and texture, then the quality is improved, but the cost and time increase due to complex manual processes
Solution Approach 1:
Manual quality control processes are replaced with an automated electronic system that uses pre-programmed recipes and digital controls to ensure consistent colour mixing. The controller module automatically dispenses precise amounts of each component, eliminating the need for complex manual QC procedures while maintaining high colour consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-quality control through automated dispensing and mixing mechanisms that inherently ensure consistency. The pre-programmed recipes and automated controls make the system self-regulating, reducing the need for external QC intervention.
3Ease of operation
If nail paint is applied to multiple customers using the same bottle, then the process is simple, but hygiene problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses disposable applicators or single-use dispensing units that are discarded after one customer's use. This eliminates cross-contamination between customers while keeping the overall system simple and easy to operate, as no complex sterilization procedures are needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The nail paint is segmented into individual customer portions, with each customer receiving their own mixed colour in a separate container or applicator. This physical separation prevents hygiene contamination while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If a large bottle of nail paint is purchased for single use, then the convenience is improved, but product wastage increases due to dryness
Solution Approach 1:
The system mixes and dispenses only the partial amount of nail paint needed for each customer's specific application rather than providing a full bottle. This prevents the excess paint from drying out and being wasted, while still offering the convenience of ready-to-use product.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the volume parameter of the dispensed product to match the exact requirement of each application. By controlling the dispensing amount precisely, the system eliminates the wastage associated with having large quantities of paint exposed to air and potential dryness.
Data Source
AI summary
Method, system, and apparatus to facilitate mixing of at least one colour to achieve a desired colour consistency to perform one or more activities. Particularly, the present system includes multiple user devices, a cloud server, and a colour mixing dispensing apparatus. In operation, multiple user devices are accessible to a user via a user interface to input data by the user to select at least one colour coding parameter. The cloud server includes at least one memory adapted to store data for the at least one colour coding parameter in a colour database and at least one processor that is adapted to execute processor-executable code. In practice, the colour mixing dispensing apparatus is configured to provide instant colour mixing to the user by receiving a set of instructions from the cloud server via a communication network.