System for preparing a formulation

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for preparing a formulation in a container, comprising an agitating device, said agitating device including means for creating a conical depression within the formulation inside said container. Said system is arranged to prepare a formulation consisting of a nail polish inside a bottle.

Claims

1. System for preparing a formulation in a container, comprising an agitating device, said agitating device comprising means for creating a conical depression within the formulation inside said container and means for driving in translation, along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container, a solid body immersed inside said container, wherein the agitating device comprises means for radially guiding the solid body inside the container.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating a conical depression comprise means for driving in rotation the container along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating a conical depression comprise means for driving in rotation said immersed solid body inside the container along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container.

4. System according to claim 3, the immersed body being made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, wherein the means for driving in rotation said body comprise a magnet rotatably mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the translation of the magnet is predetermined by a pneumatic shaft cooperating with the magnet.

6. System according to claim 1, the immersed body being made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, wherein the means for driving in translation said body comprise a magnet translatably mounted along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container.

7. System according to claim 1, the immersed body being made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, wherein the means for radially guiding said body comprise a magnet translatably mounted along a variable radius of a virtual circle substantially concentric with the base of the container.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the means for radially guiding said body further consist in arranging the magnet rotatably mounted along a variable radius of a virtual circle substantially concentric with the base of the container, and wherein the means for driving in rotation said body comprise a magnet rotatably mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container.

9. System according to claim 7, wherein the radius is less or equal than that of the inner base of the container.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein said radius is predetermined by a pneumatic shaft cooperating with the magnet.

11. System according to claim 1, further comprising means for dispensing components of said formulation.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the dispensing means comprise one or more electrovalves, each electrovalve being in fluid communication, respectively, with a tank.

13. System according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit, wherein the means for creating a conical depression, the rotation driving means, the translation driving means and/or the radial guiding means cooperate with and/or comprise one or more electrically controlled actuators, said control signal or said control signals being generated by the processing unit.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the processing unit is arranged to generate control signals usable by a means for dispensing components of said formulation.

15. System according to claim 13, wherein the processing unit cooperates with or comprises storage means, said memory-storage means comprising instructions, executable or interpretable by the processing unit, the interpretation or execution thereof causing control signals to be elaborated for the actuators and/or a dispensing means of said system.

16. System according to claim 1, wherein said system is arranged to prepare a formulation consisting of a nail polish.

Description

(1) Other features and benefits will become clearer as the reader proceeds through the following description and reviews the accompanying figures, amongst which:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 show two detailed views of one embodiment of a system for preparing a formulation inside a container according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of an agitating device of a system for preparing a formulation according to the invention.

(4) FIGS. 1 and 2 show views of one embodiment of a system for manufacturing and producing a formulation in a container according to the invention. In this preferred but not exclusive embodiment, such a system is arranged to automatically manufacture a formulation consisting of a nail polish within the bottle of same. However, the invention cannot be limited to this sole embodiment. The invention provides that a system for preparing a formulation may be used for any kind of colored formulation manufactured in containers of a few milliliters or even several centiliters.

(5) In the sense of the invention, formulation is understood to mean any product obtained from a formulation operation, i.e. any mixture of various raw materials or components, and which leads to obtaining a formulated product that is stable and homogeneous and which has properties that correspond to predetermined specifications. In principle, a formulation includes at least one dispersed phase and one dispersion phase. By way of example and without limitation, the invention provides that the following be considered as formulations: Emulsions: mixture of immiscible liquids, one of which forms droplets in suspension; Foams: dispersion of gas bubbles in a liquid phase; Suspensions: dispersion of fine solid particles in a liquid phase; Gels: three-dimensional network of solid particles diluted and/or dispersed in a fluid;

(6) In addition, in the sense of the invention, container is understood to mean any receptacle provided to contain, package and store the formulation. Such a container must be suitable for ensuring the stability of the formulation throughout the period after said formulation is manufactured. The invention therefore provides that the formulation be manufactured and packaged in the same container. By way of example and without limitation, a container, in the sense of the invention, may be a bottle, a jar, a vial or any other equivalent means. Preferably, said container may consist of a bottle 11, the axis of revolution (R) thereof being defined as the axis passing through the center of the section of the opening 11o of said bottle 11 and the center of the section of the base 11b of the same bottle 11. By way of example and without limitation, as described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3, such a bottle 11 advantageously has a neck, i.e. a narrow portion near the opening 11o, the section thereof being less than the section of the base 11b of the same bottle 11.

(7) As stated above, the bottle 11 advantageously has an opening 11o through which the components of the formulation may be added. Throughout the formulation preparation method via a system according to the invention, the container, specifically the bottle 11, will advantageously be maintained open, then sealed at the end of said manufacturing method.

(8) In FIGS. 1 and 2, a system 1 for preparing a formulation in a container according to the invention advantageously comprises an agitating device 2. As stated above, a formulation consists of a mixture of at least two initially immiscible components. The mixing step, in the formulation preparation method, is thus essential to obtain said formulation. An agitating device thus makes it possible to provide such a step, i.e. ensure that the various components in the formulation, be they solid, liquid or gaseous, are brought in contact with one another in order to obtain a stable and homogeneous mixture or at least bring the phases into intimate contact. To achieve an adequate formulation, i.e. one that meets precise specifications, the agitating device 2 depends on a number of physicochemical factors and/or parameters, i.e. the type of agitating device to be selected and the determination of the operating conditions.

(9) FIG. 3 shows an example of an agitating device 2 of a system 1 for preparing a formulation inside a container, i.e. the bottle 11.

(10) Whatever the desired result, every mixing operation is defined by three features: A container, i.e. the bottle 11 in FIG. 3; A fluid or liquid, that may advantageously be a component of the formulation to be prepared, advantageously in movement; A feature creating an alteration or change in movement of the fluid.
Lastly, the mixture defines the operation dispersing a component of the formulation within another component of the latter, via a forced movement advantageously achieved using a mechanical means.

(11) To enable suitable agitation and obtain a homogeneous formulation, the agitating device 2 of a system 1 according to the invention includes means for creating a conical depression within the formulation inside said container, i.e. the bottle 11. Such a conical depression, also referred to as a vortex, consists of a swirl flow of said formulation wherein the particles of the components of the formulation rotate about an instantaneous axis to create a circulatory movement of said particles and ultimately of the flow of the components, thus homogenizing the mixture and, consequently, the formulation.

(12) In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, in order to create a depression within the flow of material, the means for creating a conical depression of the agitating device 2 of a system according to the invention may comprise means 21 for driving in rotation the bottle 11 along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution R of the bottle 11. Indeed, when said bottle thus rotated is positioned such that the axis of revolution of the neck thereof is substantially combined with the ejection axis of a component, via a dispensing means, said component is collected within the bottle but without said component spattering the inner wall of the neck of said bottle. Preferably but not exclusively, the axis of rotation may be combined with the axis of revolution R of said bottle 11, thus optimally mixing the formulation. The bottle 11, thus rotating on itself at a predetermined speed, advantageously controlled, makes it possible to create a conical depression of the formulation contained therein. As an alternative or in addition, the axis of rotation may optionally be altered during the formulation preparation method. Indeed, depending on the progress of said method, it may optionally be relevant to offset the rotation of said bottle, such that said axis of rotation is no longer combined with the axis of revolution of the bottle. The latter thus describes a substantially cylindrical path, when a dispensing means delivers a component, said component is not projected substantially along the axis of rotation of the bottle, but may cover the inner wall of the bottle, or at least the inner wall of the neck. Thus, for example, it is possible to coat the neck of the bottle 11 with a basic component of the formulation and subsequently prevent any colored component from being deposited on the neck of said bottle 11, said deposit may alter the color of the formulation, if it turns out that the ejection direction or the diffusion of said component is insufficiently combined with the axis of revolution of the bottle and covers the inner wall of the neck. Thereafter, the bottle 11 may advantageously be positioned to be rotated along the axis of revolution thereof. Therefore, the agitating device of a system according to the invention may comprise means for driving in a radial translation the bottle 11. Such translation driving means may optionally be combined and consist of a single physical entity with the means 21 for driving in rotation the bottle 11. For simplification purposes, said translation means are not shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, said means 21 for driving in rotation the bottle 11 are arranged under said bottle 11 and may advantageously comprise means for grasping and maintaining the bottle. Such means 21 comprise a bottle rotation driving system to enable the rotation movements to be transmitted. By way of example and without limitation, such a rotation system may consist of a mechanical system of friction wheels, belts and pulleys, gears by means of toothed wheels. Additionally, such a driving system may be controlled electrically. In a preferred but not exclusive application mode, the bottle 11 may advantageously be rotated continuously throughout the formulation preparation method.

(13) Also, as an alternative or in addition, the agitating device of a system for preparing a formulation according to the invention may comprise means for tilting and/or righting the axis of revolution of the bottle 11, or more generally the container 11, to an angle predetermined relative to the normal axis of a holder of said bottle passing through the center of gravity thereof, advantageously but not exclusively between forty-five degrees negative (45) and forty-five degrees positive (+45). Like the means for driving in a radial translation the bottle, such means for tilting and/or righting the bottle make it possible to correctly distribute the components of the formulation and thereby improve agitation of the formulation. Said tilting and/or righting means may optionally be combined with the means for driving in rotation said bottle 11.

(14) As an alternative or in addition, to create such a conical depression within the flow of material, the means for creating a conical depression of the agitating device 2 of a system 1 according to the invention may comprise means for rotating a solid body 12 immersed inside the bottle 11 along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the container. Preferably but not exclusively, the axis of rotation may be combined with the axis of revolution R of said bottle 11, thus optimally mixing the formulation, the solid body 12, rotating thus on itself at a predetermined, or even controlled, speed, within the formulation. The solid body creates a relative motion of the particles of the components of the formulation and thereby creates a conical depression of the formulation contained therein. Furthermore, the solid body 12 is arranged and sized to be contained inside the bottle and immersed in the formulation. Advantageously but not exclusively, the solid body 12 may be in the form of a bead. Preferably, the solid body 12 may be in the form of a cylinder or bar to improve dispersion of the swirl movement and, consequently, the conical depression within the formulation.

(15) Additionally, the solid body 12 is made of one or more materials that are chemically inert with respect to the components of said formulation. By way of example and without limitation, said solid body 12 may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE or the brand name Teflon).

(16) Preferably but not exclusively, the immersed solid body 12 may be made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. Ferromagnetic material is understood to mean any material, body or substance capable of being magnetized by an external magnetic field, said magnetization persisting in the absence, or following removal, of said external magnetic field. Paramagnetic material is understood to mean any material or substance that has no spontaneous magnetization, but which is capable, under the effect of an external magnetic field, of acquiring magnetization directed in the same direction as the excitation magnetic field. Thus, the magnetization of a paramagnetic material dissipates in the absence, or following removal, of such an external magnetic field. In this particular case, magnetization is not an intrinsic property of the paramagnetic material but rather a behavior that changes depending on externally applied conditions.

(17) When the solid body 12 is made of such ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic materials, the means for driving in rotation said body 12 of said agitating device 2 may comprise a magnet rotatably mounted about an axis R substantially parallel to the axis of revolution R of the bottle 11. As stated above, preferably but not exclusively, the axis of rotation R may be combined with the axis of revolution R of said bottle 11, thus optimally mixing the formulation. Additionally, the axis of rotation of the solid body 12 is combined with the axis of rotation of the magnet providing optimal rotation of the solid body 12. To rotate the magnet, the latter may advantageously cooperate, along various types of mechanical connections, by way of example and without limitation, an embedded connection, with a magnet rotation driving system to transmit rotation movements to said magnet. By way of example and without limitation, such a rotation driving system may consist of a mechanical system of friction wheels, belts and pulleys, gears by means of toothed wheels. Additionally, such a rotation driving system may be controlled electrically. In addition, in the sense of the invention, a magnet consists of a body, a substance or a device, generally made of a hard magnetic material, naturally generating a magnetic field and being able to attract other devices or objects, i.e. the immersed solid body 12, advantageously made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. Once the solid body 12 is attracted by the magnet, said solid body 12 positions itself parallel to the field lines. Thus, when the magnet is rotated by a suitable drive system at a predetermined speed, said solid body 12 is, due to magnetism, also rotated at the same predetermined speed. As an alternative, such a magnet may be substituted or replaced by an electromagnet. Such an electromagnet consists of a device that produces a magnetic field when said device is powered with electricity. Generally, said electromagnet consists of a coil, also referred to as a solenoid, and a part made of a ferromagnetic material, commonly referred to as a magnetic circuit. The electromagnet is thus a magnet controlled by an electric current and thereby makes it possible to produce a controlled and controllable magnetic field for a given region of space. The use of such an electromagnet therefore guarantees better control of the solid body 12 and thus of agitation, a key step in preparing formulations.

(18) As an alternative or in addition, to ensure agitation that is more evenly distributed inside the bottle 11 and consequently homogenization of the formulation prepared inside said bottle, the agitating device 2 of a system 1 according to the invention may comprise means for driving in translation, along an axis A22 substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the bottle 11, the solid body 12. The movement of the solid body 12 from the base 11b toward the opening 11o of the bottle 11 allows dispersing the particles of the components in the formulation in a second direction. The combination of means for driving in rotation the formulation and means for driving in translation the solid body thus promotes contact between the various components of the formulation, thereby optimizing homogenization of the mixture of the constituents and lastly the formulation preparation operation. Specifically, the solid body 12 may then be placed in contact with the walls of the bottle 11, rub against said walls and thus prevent components from being deposited on and/or against said walls. Such deposits indeed are unacceptable because they hinder homogenization of the mixture. In the particular case of pigmented formulations, by way of example and without limitation, nail polishes, obtaining a desired shade for such a formulation essentially depends on correct mixing of the various components in the formulation. The presence of deposits on the walls may in such case alter the shade obtained for the prepared formulation. In an advantageous but not exclusive embodiment, in order to prevent deposits from forming on the walls of the bottle 11 and specifically on the neck of said bottle 11, the solid body 12 may advantageously have a shape arranged and/or suited to move around inside the bottle 11, and optionally be in contact with the inner wall of the bottle and more particularly at a shoulder formed by the neck. Thus, it is possible to prevent deposits of material on said neck, without the solid body 12 falling out of said bottle. A block-shaped solid body 12 may be selected instead of a spherical body for example.

(19) Preferably but not exclusively, as stated above, the immersed solid body 12 may be made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. When said immersed solid body 12 is made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, the means 22 for driving in translation said body 12 of said agitating device 2 may comprise a magnet 22m translatably mounted along an axis A22 substantially parallel to the axis R of revolution of the bottle 11. To enable translation of said magnet 22m, the means 22 for driving in translation said body 12 may further comprise a translation driving system, said system cooperating with the magnet along a suitable mechanical connection, preferably but not exclusively a embedded connection. In addition, like the magnet comprised in the means for driving in rotation the solid body 12, said magnet 22m consists of a body, a substance or a device, generally made of a hard magnetic material, naturally generating a magnetic field and being able to attract other devices or objects, i.e. the immersed solid body 12, advantageously made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. Once the solid body 12 is attracted by the magnet 22m, said solid body 12 positions itself parallel to the field lines. Thus, when the magnet 22m is translated by a suitable translation driving system at a predetermined speed, said solid body 12 is, due to magnetism, also translated at the same predetermined speed. As an alternative, such a magnet may be substituted or replaced by an electromagnet. As stated above, the use of such an electromagnet therefore guarantees better control of the solid body 12 and thus of agitation, a key step in preparing formulations.

(20) As an alternative or in addition, to ensure agitation and consequently homogenization of a formulation, the agitating device 2 of a system 1 according to the invention may comprise means 23 for radially guiding the solid body 12 inside the bottle 11. The movement of the solid body 12 from the wall toward the axis of revolution of the bottle 11 allows dispersing the particles of the components in the formulation in a third direction. The combination of means for driving in rotation the formulation and means for driving in translation a solid body 12 and/or means for radially guiding a solid body 12 thus promotes contact between the various components of the formulation, thereby optimizing homogenization of the mixture of the constituents and lastly the formulation preparation operation. Furthermore, the solid body 12 may then be placed in contact with the wall of the base 11b of the bottle 11, rub against said wall and thus prevent components from being deposited on and/or against said wall. Such deposits indeed are unacceptable because they hinder homogenization of the mixture. In the particular case of pigmented formulations, by way of example and without limitation, nail polishes, obtaining a desired shade for such a formulation essentially depends on correct mixing of the various components in the formulation. The presence of deposits on the wall of the base 11b may in such case alter the shade obtained for the prepared formulation. The solid body 12, immersed inside the bottle 11, optionally near the base 11b of said bottle 11, is guided from the inner wall of the bottle 11 toward the axis of revolution R of the bottle 11. The distance between a point along the inner wall of the bottle 11 and said axis of revolution R of the bottle defines a radius along a plane substantially horizontal and parallel to the base 11b of the bottle 11. Such guiding thus ensures propagation of the agitation phenomenon throughout the volume of the formulation, thereby ensuring improved dispersion of the particles of the components throughout the volume.

(21) Preferably but not exclusively, as stated above, the immersed solid body 12 may be made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. When said immersed solid body 12 is made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, the means 23 for radially guiding said body may comprise a magnet 23m translatably mounted along a variable radius of a virtual circle substantially concentric with the base 11b of the bottle 11. In addition, the bottle 11 may, in a non-exclusive example, be cylindrical. In this case, the center of the virtual circle may advantageously be in an axis substantially combined with the axis of revolution R of the bottle 11. Preferably, to ensure optimal agitation of the formulation, the radius may be less than or equal to that of the inner base 11b of the bottle 11. Indeed, the solid body 12 being contained inside the bottle 11, it is guided inside said bottle 11.

(22) To enable translation of said magnet 23m, the means 23 for driving in translation said body 12 along a radius may further comprise a translation drying system, said system cooperating with the magnet along a suitable mechanical connection, preferably but not exclusively a embedded connection. Said magnet 23m thus may be mounted on a rotating arm of fixed or variable length, or on a disc comprising a housing translatable along a radius. As an alternative, said magnet 23m may advantageously be mounted on a rotating arm connected to a disc comprising said translatable arm. Such arms or discs may make up the translation driving system, as described above. In another advantageous embodiment, said translation driving system may advantageously comprise an electrically operated pneumatic shaft cooperating with the magnet 23m, said pneumatic shaft being advantageously arranged to determine the radius controlling the radial translation of the solid body 12. As an alternative or in addition, by way of example and without limitation, such a translation system may comprise a cylinder, a helical spring, a rack-and-pinion or roller-drive system, a screw-nut system, a cam or any other equivalent means able to provide said translation function.

(23) Advantageously but not exclusively, in the same way, the means 22 for driving in translation said body 12 along an axis A22 may further comprise translation driving system. In an advantageous embodiment, said translation driving system may advantageously comprise an electrically operated pneumatic shaft 22a cooperating with the magnet 22m, said pneumatic shaft being advantageously arranged to determine the translation of the translation of the solid body 12 along axis A22. As an alternative or in addition, by way of example and without limitation, such a translation driving system may comprise a cylinder, a helical spring, a rack-and-pinion or roller-drive system, a screw-nut system, a cam or any other equivalent means able to provide said translation function.

(24) In addition, as described above, said magnet 23m consists of a body, a substance or a device, generally made of a hard magnetic material, naturally generating a magnetic field and being able to attract other devices or objects, i.e. the immersed solid body 12, advantageously made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. Once the solid body 12 is attracted by the magnet 23m, said solid body 12 positions itself parallel to the field lines. Thus, when the magnet 23m is driven in translation by a suitable translation driving system at a predetermined speed, said solid body 12 is, due to magnetism, also driven in translation at the same predetermined speed. Regardless of whether the bottle 11 or the magnet 23m is rotatably movable, the solid body 12 describes turbulent paths of variable radii in given transverse planes, substantially parallel to the base 11b of the bottle 11. As an alternative, such a magnet may be substituted or replaced by an electromagnet. As stated above, the use of such an electromagnet therefore guarantees better control of the solid body 12 and thus of agitation, a key step in preparing formulations.

(25) In addition, the means 23 for radially guiding said body 12 of an agitating device 2 may additionally consist in arranging the magnet rotatably mounted along a variable radius of a virtual circle substantially concentric with the base of the bottle 11. Hence, the agitating device 2 is simplified because the number of features making it up is reduced. Indeed, the rotatably mounted magnet and the magnet 23m translatably mounted along a variable radius of a virtual circle substantially concentric with the base 11b of the bottle 11 may consist of a single entity. When this entity is an electromagnet, the directions of movement of the solid body 12 may be defined depending on the controlled electric control.

(26) To enable the various components of the formulation to be distributed inside the bottle 11, the system according to the invention may further comprise means 4 for dispensing components to prepare said formulation. Such dispensing means 4 make it possible to limit, and in some cases, even eliminate, all intervention by a user or operator of a system 1 for preparing a formulation according to the invention. Additionally, the dispensing means 4 may also deliver a specific and predetermined amount of each component. Indeed, each component has specific physicochemical properties that must be taken into account when preparing a formulation, such as, by way of example and without limitation, viscosity, density, solubility, temperature for liquids and pressure for gases, particle size of the components, etc. All these parameters must also be considered when determining the mixing or agitation speed to ensure that an optimal homogeneous mixture is obtained. Additionally, said dispensing means 4 may also cooperate with or comprise means for controlling the temperature of each component. To increase the dosing accuracy in order to obtain the desired shade, as an alternative or in addition, the means for dispensing 4 each component may also cooperate, respectively, with means for controlling the pressure. Preferably but not exclusively, the components of the formulation to be prepared are advantageously in liquid form. In order to facilitate and optimize dispensing of the components, the dispensing means 4 of a preparation system 1 according to the invention may comprise one or more electrovalves, each electrovalve being in fluid communication, respectively, with a tank 3. Indeed, the amounts of components used for preparation are around a few microliters. The electrovalves therefore are particularly suitable for distributing the respective desired amounts of the components of the formulation and thus make it possible to prepare said formulation with great accuracy. However, the invention cannot be limited to using solenoid valves as dispensing means. Any device or system that is able to regulate a flow and/or distribute a predetermined amount of a component may also be used. Advantageously but not exclusively, such fluid communication may be provided via one or more channels or microchannels, advantageously flexible or rigid, suitable for conveying various components of the formulation, particularly at the physicochemical conditions, and specifically pressure or flow rate. The channels may be replaced by any equivalent means able to provide a substantially identical function. Each component of said formulation may advantageously be contained or stored inside a tank 3, advantageously suited to the physicochemical parameters of said component. A system 1 for preparing a formulation according to the invention thus may cooperate with or comprise therein one or more cartridges or tanks 3. Furthermore, preferably but not exclusively, the dispensing means may be arranged and/or suited so that: The ejection direction of the basic component may, in conjunction with the agitating device, coat the inner wall of the neck; The ejection direction of the other colored components is substantially combined with the axis of revolution of the neck and is at least not in contact with the inner wall of the neck.

(27) In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system for preparing a formulation within a container, specifically a bottle 11, may advantageously comprise means 5 for moving the container or bottle 11. Such movement means 5 are advantageously arranged and/or suited to move the bottle 11 and stop the same, if necessary, under the dispensing means 4, so as to ultimately enable the components of the formulation to be distributed. Such means may, advantageously but not exclusively, consist of one or more belt conveyors, a stepper worm drive or any other equivalent device and cooperate with the agitating device 2.

(28) The invention has been described in the context of the preferred application thereof, i.e. the preparation of nail polish. However, as stated above, the invention cannot be limited to just this application. Depending on the desired cosmetic to be prepared, in some cases it may be necessary to evaporate solvents, compounds that are essential for preparing the formulations of said cosmetics. By way of example and without limitation, such cosmetics may advantageously be eye shadows or foundations in powder form. The invention thus provides that a system for preparing a formulation according to the invention may comprise means for heating and/or cooling the container and ultimately the formulation, and ultimately enabling said solvents to be evaporated.

(29) The various means, specifically but not exclusively 22, 23, of the agitating device 2, the dispensing means 4, the temperature control means and/or the means 5 for moving the bottle 11 each require a control to be actuated. Manual actuation is a possibility, but it would be long and tedious to carry out. As an alternative or in addition, to avoid all intervention by a user or an operator of said system while preparing a formulation and thus provide an automated system for preparing a formulation, specifically nail polish, suitable and usable by the greatest number of people, a system 1 for preparing a formulation according to the invention may further comprise a processing unit (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Such a processing unit, advantageously but not exclusively in the form of one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, may thus generate one or more control signals to trigger the operation of the actuator or actuators of the means for creating a conical depression, the rotation driving means, the translation driving means, the radial guiding means, the bottle-moving bottle and/or the temperature control means, the actuator or actuators being advantageously electrically controlled. As an alternative or in addition, the processing unit of a system according to the invention may also be arranged to generate control signals usable by the dispensing means 4 so the said unit determines the relevant dispensing sequence, i.e. distribution of the respective amounts of the components depending on the selected shade.

(30) Preferably but not exclusively, the processing unit of a system according to the invention may cooperate with or comprise storage means (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), said storage means comprising instructions, executable or interpretable by the processing unit, the interpretation or execution thereof causing control signals to be generated for the actuators and/or dispensing means of said system. The storage means may advantageously comprise a program memory, arranged to store the instructions from one or more programs designed specifically to implement the control sequences in order to prepare a formulation. The control signals may advantageously be transmitted to the actuators over wires or, in the case of wireless communication, via radio frequency, via light, etc. In the latter case, generating such control signals consists in elaborating and transmitting such control signals.

(31) Depending on the formulation in question, the processing unit is suited per program to create control sequences that are transmitted, respectively, to the actuators of the means for creating a conical depression, of the rotation driving means, of the translation driving means, of the radial guiding means, of the bottle-moving means, of the dispensing means and/or temperature control means, said sequences being optimized and/or designed specifically for the formulation. Thus, said processing unit may transmit two separate control sequences for two different formulations. Within the same control sequence, the rotation speed of the means for creating a conical depression may differ for two different formulations: the configuration thus differs depending on the formulation. All this may thus be configured or set by modifying the program loaded into the memory of the storage means of the processing unit. The system may therefore elaborate multiple recipes depending on the formulation or the desired shade. By way of example and without limitation, according to a predetermined application mode, such a sequence may comprise a control signal for actuating the means for continuously creating a conical depression, throughout the preparation method and one or more control signals for actuating the means for radially guiding the solid body each time a dispensing means is used, i.e. after each injection and/or addition of an amount, even minimal, of components. The invention further provides that said means for creating a conical depression may control the rotation speed of said bottle during the preparation method.

(32) To enable an operator and/or user to cooperate with the system 1 for preparing a formulation in order to configure same, fine-tune settings and/or select a formulation from a list of available formulations, said system 1 may comprise a man/machine interface (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As an alternative, said interface may be remote, cooperate with such a system 1, consist of a keyboard and/or a computer screen, a smartphone or other tablet. Said man/machine interface may also comprise means for capturing an image of a pattern and derive therefrom the primary shade (any code coming from a determined or predetermined reference system used to identify various color shades) of said pattern, in order to select a desired formulation.

(33) In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, a system according to the invention may be arranged to prepare a formulation consisting of a nail polish.

(34) The invention has been described during the operation thereof in relation to automatic systems designed specifically to prepare and produce cosmetic formulations, particularly colored formulations, specifically nail polishes, to mix said nail polishes during on-site preparation thereof. It may also be used for any type of cosmetic formulation requiring the aid of a specific agitating device and microfluidic dispensing means, such as foundations, lip glosses and eye shadows. Furthermore, the invention cannot be limited to the field of cosmetics, but may be used in any other field of formulation, such as that of acrylic paints.

(35) Other changes may be considered without falling out of the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.