Device that produces color on demand

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10899165-B2
Application number	US-201916388176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A device for reproducing a color on demand. The device includes a body including a tip and a scanner. The body also includes a control unit, a plurality of ink reservoirs, an ink supply system, a mixing tank and a sensor. The control unit communicates with the scanner and ink supply system to reproduce a desired color that has been scanned.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for producing colors on demand, the device comprising:
an inspection tool for capturing the color;
a plurality of ink reservoirs, each one of the plurality of ink reservoirs configured to hold a different color thermochromic ink;
an ink supply system fluidly connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the ink supply system being configured to receive the thermochromic ink from the plurality of ink reservoirs and including a heating mechanism to control the color of the thermochromic ink disposed therein;
a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the ink supply system and being configured to mix the thermochromic ink received from the ink supply system; and
a control unit operatively connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the ink supply system and the inspection tool for controllably reproducing and dispersing the color captured by the inspection tool,
wherein the heating mechanism includes an electric wire wrapped around the mixing chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 , further including a sensor, the sensor being positioned adjacent to a tip disposed in the device.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a movement detector, the movement detector sensing a movement of the tip of the device.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the movement detector is a spring and actuator.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the movement detector includes magnets disposed near the tip of the device.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to the plurality of ink reservoirs or the ink supply system to initiate a flow of the thermochromic ink, only after receiving a signal from the movement detector indicating movement of the tip.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to the plurality of ink reservoirs or the ink supply system to cease a flow of the thermochromic ink after receiving a signal from the movement detector indicating an absence of force detected by the movement detector.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heating mechanism is disposed in a supply channel.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a writing instrument.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the writing instrument is a pen.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ink supply system includes at least one ink supply channel in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ink reservoirs.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine a resistance to heat the heating mechanism based on a signal received from the inspection tool.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool includes a scanner.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool includes a camera.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit or a microelectro-mechanical system (MEMS).

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes electrical or mechanical components.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic ink includes microspheres, wherein each microsphere includes a dye, a developer, and a solvent, and wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to the heating mechanism to heat the thermochromic ink to a temperature that causes the dye and the developer to detach from one another.

18. A writing instrument for producing color on demand, the writing instrument comprising:
an inspection tool for capturing the color;
a plurality of ink reservoirs, each one of the plurality of ink reservoirs configured to hold a different color thermochromic ink;
an ink supply system fluidly connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the ink supply system being configured to receive the thermochromic ink from the plurality of ink reservoirs and including a heating mechanism to control the color of the thermochromic ink disposed therein;
a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the ink supply system and being configured to mix the thermochromic ink received from the ink supply system; and
a control unit operatively connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the ink supply system and the inspection tool for controllably reproducing and dispersing the color captured by the inspection tool,
wherein the heating mechanism includes an electric wire wrapped around the mixing chamber.

19. A device for producing colors on demand comprising:
an inspection tool for capturing the color;
a plurality of ink reservoirs, each one of the plurality of ink reservoirs holding a different color thermochromic ink;
a mixing chamber configured to receive and mix the thermochromic ink;
an electric wire disposed around the mixing chamber, the electric wire being configured to generate heat to control the color of the thermochromic ink; and
a controller operatively connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the electric wire and the inspection tool, the controller being configured to generate signals for reproducing and dispersing the color captured by the inspection tool.

20. The device of claim 19 , further including an ink supply system fluidly connected to the plurality of ink reservoirs, the ink supply system being configured to receive the thermochromic ink from the plurality of ink reservoirs, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive the thermochromic ink from the ink supply system.

Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Roudaut Etienne
• Caffier Guillaume
• Folgoas Loic

Classifications

• B43K29/08

  with measuring, computing or indicating devices · CPC title

• C09D11/50

  Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks · CPC title

• B43K29/003

  with optical equipment, e.g. magnifier, viewer · CPC title

• B43K5/025 Primary

  with multiple colours · CPC title

• B43K5/1818

  Mechanical feeding means, e.g. valves; Pumps · CPC title