Systems and methods include self-service and automated components for paint tinting.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a system for customizing a cosmetic product. The system includes: an interface device, in electronic communication with a single batch formulation device. The single batch formulation device is configured to formulate a customized cosmetic product, and a threaded container configured to be imported into the single batch formulation device containing a base and exported from the single batch formulation device containing the customized cosmetic.

A fluid formulation assembly for a formulation dispenser includes a fluid container configured to store a volume of fluid cosmetic formulation, a drive assembly operatively connectable to the fluid container and configured to dispense the fluid cosmetic formulation, and a carriage that receives the fluid container and is configured to interface with the drive assembly. The fluid container is removably attachable with the carriage without tools and at least one of the drive assembly or the carriage is removably attachable with the cosmetic formulation dispenser.

Custom formulation systems include a user input device and a dispenser having a cabinet, a bead assembly, a fluid formulation assembly, and a mixing area. The bead assembly dispenses a plurality of beads containing a first cosmetic formulation, and is one of a plurality of bead assemblies located within the cabinet. The plurality of bead assemblies has a vertically organized configuration. The fluid formulation assembly is configured to dispense a second cosmetic formulation in flowable fluid form, and is one of a plurality of fluid formulation assemblies located within the cabinet. The mixing area is located within the cabinet and configured to receive at least one bead from the bead assembly and the second cosmetic formulation in flowable fluid form from the fluid formulation assembly. The vertically organized bead assemblies, the fluid formulation assemblies, and the mixing area are positioned adjacent to a first side of the cabinet.

An apparatus for blending liquids, comprising a main body (100) comprising a seating (106) configured to receive a receptacle (200); a support (140) carried by the main body and having a plurality of slots (142, 142), the support being configured to receive a plurality of cartridges (300, 300), each slot (142, 142) of the plurality of slots being configured to receive a cartridge (300, 300) of the plurality of cartridges; a first actuator configured to move one of the support and the seating relative to the other, thereby enabling positioning of any one slot of the plurality of slots in correspondence of the seating; a second actuator (120) configured to act upon a cartridge (300) placed in the slot (142) currently positioned in correspondence of the seating; and a control unit (150) connected to the first and second actuators. The control unit is configured to receive a data set indicative of a sequence of one or more liquids and, for each of the one or more liquids, an associated quantity of liquid; and for each respective liquid of the sequence of one or more liquids to control the first actuator to move the support or the seating relatively to the other such that the slot holding a respective cartridge of the plurality of cartridges is positioned in correspondence of the seating, the respective cartridge containing the respective liquid of the sequence of one or more liquids; and to control the second actuator to act upon the respective cartridge to cause transfer of a respective quantity of liquid from the respective cartridge into a receptacle positioned in the seating, the respective quantity corresponding to the associated quantity of liquid. A process for blending liquids is also provided.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a system for customizing a cosmetic product. The system includes: an interface device, in electronic communication with a single batch formulation device. The single batch formulation device is configured to formulate a customized cosmetic product, and a threaded container configured to be imported into the single batch formulation device containing a base and exported from the single batch formulation device containing the customized cosmetic.

There is disclosed a system for mixing a product including a high-precision scale for weighing product combinates added to the product, a series of computer-controlled flow control mechanisms for releasing product combinates as directed by a first computing device, a machine-readable label printer for printing a label including instructions to create the product from the product combinates at the direction of the first computing device, and a machine-readable language scanner for the label at the direction of the first computing device. The first computing device receives a request for the product, directs the machine-readable label printer to print the label including the instructions, directs the machine-readable language scanner to read the instructions; and operates the series of flow control mechanisms in response to data from the high-precision scale to release at least one of the product combinates in an amount directed by the instructions to create the product.

A dispensing device (FD; FD2), comprises a cartridge (2) rotatable around a rotational axis (R), the cartridge (2) comprising multiple seats (3; 26) for containers (C); and a stem (29) movable parallel to the rotational axis (R). The cartridge (2) is rotatable such that the seats (3; 26) are individually positionable in line with the stem (29). The dispensing device (FD; FD2) is a fragrance dispenser. A method of providing a fragrance blend (FB) blended from multiple different essences comprises loading a digital formula (DF) of the fragrance blend (FB) to a fragrance dispenser (FD; FD2) wherein the containers (C) hold essences; and by the fragrance dispenser (FD; FD2), dispensing the essences according to the loaded digital formula (DF).

A portable microfluidic mixer system includes a blend application to issue blend instructions, and a microfluidic mixer device. The microfluidic mixer device includes a housing, microfluidic pumps and valves within the device housing, a microfluidic dispenser, a microfluidic mixer chip, and a mix controller. The microfluidic mixer chip receives and meters microfluidic amounts of one or more fluids. The mix controller electronically communicates with the blend application to receives blend application blend instructions. The microfluidic mixer device includes fluid pathways for fluid communication between one or more fluid canisters and the microfluidic mixer chip, and between the microfluidic mixer chip and the microfluidic dispenser. The mix controller controls the microfluidic pumps and the microfluidic valves, to control a system pressure within the microfluidic mixer device, for the delivery of the one or more fluids to the microfluidic mixer chip, and to dispense a microfluidic mixture from the microfluidic dispenser.

An apparatus for dye dispensing is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a controller and a tray. The tray communicates with the controller and is configured with at least one opening. At least one canister is configured with an identifier and a dye. The dye is associated with the identifier. A reader communicates with the controller. A dispenser comprises an actuator communicating with the controller and a lever arm. The lever arm is coupled to the actuator and configured with a projection. The reader, based on the identifier, identifies a selected dye in a selected canister associated with a dye formulation. When the selected canister is aligned with a dispensing area, the dispenser applies a downward force on the selected canister and dispenses the selected dye.