Patent ID: 8131496
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for characterizing hiding of a coating composition, said apparatus comprising: (i) a light source for illuminating target areas P (ii) a first motion translating system affixed to a bed of said apparatus, said first motion translating system comprising a first movable stage and a first mechanism for translating said first movable stage; (iii) a fixture affixed to said movable stage to position said hiding test panel thereon; (iv) a photosensitive system affixed to said bed of said apparatus, said photosensitive system being positioned to receive reflections of said light portion and said dark portion of each said target area of said hiding test panel; (v) a second motion translating system affixed to said bed of said apparatus, said second motion translating system comprising a second movable stage and a second mechanism for translating said second movable stage in a direction perpendicular to that of said first movable stage; (vi) a coating thickness detector affixed to said second movable stage for measuring thicknesses X (vii) a computing device connected to said light source, said photosensitive system, said first and second motion translating systems and said coating thickness detector to direct steps performed by said light source, said photosensitive system, said first and second motion translating system and said coating thickness detector in accordance with a computer readable program code means stored in said computing device.