Formulation delivery priming methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426693-B2
Application number	US-202218084451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2022
Priority date	Dec 20, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

Methods of priming formulation delivery devices include providing a formulation cartridge, inserting the formulation cartridge into a handle of the formulation delivery device, and initiating a priming sequence which simultaneously pumps a first formulation and a second formulation from the formulation cartridge for a first time period such that the first formulation and the second formulation pass from the formulation cartridge, through a pump, and exit a nozzle assembly of the formulation delivery device.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of priming a formulation delivery device, the method comprising:
providing a formulation cartridge configured to store a first formulation and a second formulation;
inserting the formulation cartridge into a handle of the formulation delivery device, such that the formulation cartridge fluidically couples the first formulation and the second formulation to a formulation dispensing assembly of the formulation delivery device, wherein the formulation dispensing assembly comprises a nozzle assembly, at least one pump fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly, and a controller operably connected to the pump;
initiating a priming sequence of the formulation delivery device, wherein the priming sequence comprises simultaneously pumping the first formulation and the second formulation with the at least one pump for a first time period such that the first formulation and the second formulation pass from the formulation cartridge, through the at least one pump, and exit the nozzle assembly; and
authenticating the formulation cartridge, prior to initiating the priming sequence, by reading an encryption chip disposed on the formulation cartridge with a cartridge authentication interface disposed on the handle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period includes a second time period during which the first formulation and the second formulation exit the nozzle assembly.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first formulation and the second formulation exit the nozzle assembly as a mixture, wherein during the second time period, the first formulation and the second formulation exit the nozzle assembly as the mixture.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the controller comprises logic configured to operate the at least one pump such that the mixture exits the nozzle assembly at an operating flow rate and a priming flow rate, wherein the priming flow rate is greater than the operating flow rate, wherein the priming sequence comprises pumping the first formulation and the second formulation such that the mixture exits the nozzle assembly at the priming flow rate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the operating flow rate is about 20 mL/min to about 40 mL/min.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the operating flow rate is about 24 mL/min to about 36 mL/min.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the priming flow rate is at least 5 mL/min higher than the operating flow rate.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising initiating a cleaning sequence of the formulation delivery device prior to inserting the formulation cartridge into the handle, wherein the cleaning sequence comprises pumping a cleaning fluid through the formulation dispensing assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cleaning sequence comprises inserting a cleaning cartridge into the handle such that the cleaning cartridge fluidically couples to the formulation dispensing assembly, and operating the at least one pump to pump the cleaning fluid from the cleaning cartridge through the formulation dispensing assembly.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning sequence comprises pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning cartridge through the formulation dispensing assembly at a cleaning flow rate, wherein the cleaning flow rate is greater than the priming flow rate.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second time period is about five seconds to about ten seconds.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is about five seconds to about fifteen seconds.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first time period does not exceed about fifteen seconds.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising unlocking the formulation delivery device after authenticating the formulation cartridge.

15. A method of priming a formulation delivery device, the method comprising:
providing a formulation cartridge configured to store a first formulation and a second formulation;
inserting the formulation cartridge into a handle of the formulation delivery device, such that the formulation cartridge fluidically couples the first formulation and the second formulation to a formulation dispensing assembly of the formulation delivery device, wherein the formulation dispensing assembly comprises a nozzle assembly, at least one pump fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly, and a controller operably connected to the pump;
initiating a priming sequence of the formulation delivery device, wherein the priming sequence comprises simultaneously pumping the first formulation and the second formulation with the at least one pump for a first time period such that the first formulation and the second formulation pass from the formulation cartridge, through the at least one pump, and exit the nozzle assembly,
wherein initiating the priming sequence comprises executing a priming actuation sequence of a button disposed on the handle, wherein the priming actuation sequence comprises pressing the button in a predetermined pattern within a third time period.

16. A formulation delivery system, comprising:
a formulation cartridge configured to store a first formulation and a second formulation in a first formulation packet and a second formulation packet, respectively; and
a handle configured to reversibly receive the formulation cartridge, wherein the handle houses a formulation dispensing assembly comprising a nozzle assembly, at least one pump fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly, and a controller operably connected to the pump, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a data store storing logic, which when executed by the processor, executes a priming sequence comprising simultaneously pumping the first formulation and the second formulation with the at least one pump for a first time period such that the first formulation and the second formulation pass from the formulation cartridge, through the at least one pump, and exit the nozzle assembly,
wherein the controller comprises logic configured to operate the at least one pump such that the first formulation and the second formulation exit the nozzle assembly at an operating flow rate and a priming flow rate, wherein the priming flow rate is greater than the operating flow rate, wherein the priming sequence comprises pumping the first formulation and the second formulation at the priming flow rate.

17. A formulation delivery system, comprising:
a formulation cartridge configured to store a first formulation and a second formulation in a first formulation packet and a second formulation packet, respectively; and
a handle configured to reversibly receive the formulation cartridge, wherein the handle houses a formulation dispensing assembly comprising a nozzle assembly, at least one pump fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly, and a controller operably connected to the pump, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a data store storing logic, which when executed by the processor, executes a priming sequence comprising simultaneously pumping the first formulation and the second formulation with the at least one pump for a first time period such that the first formulation and the second formulation pass from the formulation cartridge, through the at least one pump, and exit the nozzle assembly,
wherein the handle houses a cartridge authentication interface, and wherein the controller comprises logic which, when executed by the processor, authenticates the formulation cartridge inserted into the handle by reading an encryption chip disp

Assignees

• Oreal

Inventors

• Lee Ji
• Levi Damien
• Hampton Marie

Classifications

• A45D2034/005

  with a cartridge · CPC title

• A45D34/04

  Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball · CPC title

• A45D2034/002

  Accessories · CPC title

• B05B11/1081

  Arrangements for pumping several liquids or other fluent materials from several containers, e.g. for mixing them at the moment of pumping · CPC title

• A45D19/0083

  the roots of the hair · CPC title