Patent ID: 6721055
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A combination useful for assessing the fineness of dispersion of particles in a liquid vehicle, comprising:a) a light source; b) a moveable carrier having a top surface; c) a grindometer gauge block disposed on the top surface of said carrier, wherein said block has a longest length dimension and a flat face surface, and comprises a linear channel disposed on its face that varies in depth along said length dimension and having corresponding markings to indicate the depth of the channel, wherein said channel is adapted to receive a liquid vehicle which contains a film-forming dispersion of particles; d) an image-producing means, useful for producing a two-dimensional electronic image of a film disposed in said channel from a liquid vehicle placed therein; e) memory means for archiving said two-dimensional electronic image of said film; and f) means for displaying said two-dimensional image of said film, wherein said light source, said grindometer gauge block, and said image-producing means are sufficiently positioned so that the view of the image-producing means is aimed into the dark field below the light source so as to render said image-producing means disposed so that the light it receives is predominantly only that which is reflected from discontinuities in the surface of said film.