Hair Dye Dispensing With Measured Reuse-Based Formulation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The salon industry faces significant waste and inefficiency in hair coloring services due to stylists mixing excessive amounts of dye, leading to unused product disposal and inaccurate color formulations, which also results in unnecessary packaging waste.
Innovation Solution
A dye dispensing system that includes a scanner, dispenser, and controller to measure and track the amount of dye dispensed, recommending precise amounts based on client and stylist data, using recyclable canisters to minimize waste and improve formulation accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stylists manually mix dye components from separate containers, then customization of hair color formulations is enabled, but excessive waste of dye components occurs due to mixing too much product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical mixing with an automated dispensing system that uses peristaltic pumps to precisely control the mixing and dispensing of dye components. This eliminates the need for stylists to manually mix large amounts of product, thereby reducing waste while maintaining formulation customization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of dispensing precision by using peristaltic pumps that can accurately dispense variable amounts of each dye component based on the specific formulation requirements. This allows the system to dispense only the exact amount needed for each client's hair color needs, reducing excess product waste.
2Adaptability or versatility
If stylists manually measure and mix dye components, then flexibility in color formulation is achieved, but measurement inaccuracies occur leading to inconsistent results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual measurement and mixing with an automated peristaltic pump system that precisely controls the volume and ratio of each dye component. This mechanical substitution ensures consistent and accurate formulation while maintaining the flexibility to create various color recipes through programmed dispensing ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a scale that continuously monitors the weight of dye components during dispensing and provides feedback to the controller. This feedback mechanism ensures that the precise amounts specified in the formulation are dispensed, correcting any deviations and maintaining high measurement accuracy for consistent color results.
3Reliability
If separate containers are used for each dye component, then chemical stability is maintained by avoiding premature mixing, but packaging waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate dye component containers into a single integrated dispensing unit with multiple reservoirs. This consolidation maintains the chemical stability of individual components by keeping them sealed until dispensing, while reducing overall packaging waste by eliminating multiple separate outer containers and reducing material usage.
4Ease of operation
If traditional manual dispensing methods are used, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming mixing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the stylist simply selects the desired hair color formulation from a menu, and the automated peristaltic pump system independently handles the complex tasks of measuring, mixing, and dispensing the dye components. This maintains operational simplicity for the stylist while dramatically increasing productivity through automated execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming various hair color formulations with their specific component ratios and quantities. When a stylist selects a formulation, the system has already prepared the mixing parameters and can immediately begin dispensing, eliminating the time-consuming manual calculation and measurement steps while keeping the interface simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed including at least one scanner identifying an identification associated with a receptacle. At least one dispenser is configured to dispense a first desired amount. At least one dispensing area has a measuring instrument that measures a dispensed amount and an unused amount, and associates with the identification. At least one storage device stores a program, and at least one controller which, when executing the program, is configured to receive information and associate the information with the identification. Collected data associated with the identification is recorded. A second desired amount based on at least some of the collected data in at least one file in the database is recommended. The at least one dispenser is controlled by the at least one controller based on the first desired amount or the second desired amount. The at least one dispenser is configured to dispense the second desired amount.