Mobile paint system utilizing slider attribute prompts and reflectance memory storage
What is disclosed is a plurality of prepaints which are used in any combination to produce base paints and/or colored paints of varying end-use application characteristics. Additionally, a mobile paint factory for producing a plurality of lines of paints from a plurality of prepaints en route to and/or at various locations is disclosed, which may include a vehicle having a paint production system, a spectrometer and a gloss meter. Furthermore, a method of producing a plurality of lines of user-selected paints from a plurality of prepaints en route to and/or at various locations is disclosed. The method may include: providing a mobile paint factory; prompting a user to select a value for a paint attribute on a slider; and automatically dispensing predetermined amounts of appropriate prepaints. The method may also comprise storing information about the reflectance of produced paints in a local data storage device.
1. A method of producing a plurality of lines of user-selected paints from a plurality of prepaints en route to and/or at various locations, the method comprising:
providing a mobile paint factory comprising:
a vehicle;
a paint production system located on the vehicle, the paint production system comprising, a plurality of aqueous prepaints, a plurality of supply reservoirs containing the plurality of aqueous prepaints, at least one receiving reservoir wherein the receiving reservoir receives at least two of the plurality of aqueous prepaints;
a colorant system;
a control coupled to the paint production system;
a gloss meter which provides a gloss reading to the control;
a spectrometer which provides a color reading to the control; and
prompting the user to select, through the control, values for paint attributes, wherein the paint attribute prompt is a slider which allows the user to select the paint attribute from anywhere along a specified range;
automatically dispensing through the paint production system predetermined amounts of appropriate prepaints into the receiving reservoir, wherein none of the prepaints are paints prior to being dispensed; and
the paints having the selected values for paint attributes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein sheen may be selected on the slider without user input.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile paint factory further comprises a touchscreen coupled to said control.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein color may be selected on the slider without user input.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer and gloss meter are both remotely linked to the control.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user to select a paint quality on the slider.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user selects the paint attribute by moving an indicator on the slider in a horizontal fashion.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user selects the paint attribute by clicking on a point on the slider.