Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an accurate volume of fluid from a supply vessel to a process vessel or system in which a computer-controlled servo motor and pump are connected with a modified sampling valve with plunger-type injection device to allow complete addition of all metered fluids. The apparatus is particularly useful for addition of pH or viscosity control additives or shading colorants wherein the delivery of small volumes with precision is desired.

Abstract: A device for spraying and baking panels within a single automated unit. The spray booth and baking environment are differentially pressurized and purged such that the unit can be located with an environment which is electrically classified as hazardous for flammable materials. Parameters unique for processing materials to be used are programmed into a control computer. Mounted within the spray chamber is an emissions reduction attachment which collects paint and wash liquids used in purging the spray gun during the spray cycles. Significant increase in the useful life of materials collecting paint overspray and a decrease in airborne emissions can thereby be achieved.

Abstract: A process for shading paint to match the color of a standard color paint which process involves the use of transparent film to optically simulate the effect of reading color through the conventional clearcoat layer, which eliminates the steps of cooling, spraying, flashing and baking the clearcoat with each iteration of test panels, with resultant significant decrease in process time.

Abstract: An electrical device for measuring the dry film thickness of a paint film applied to a conductive coating adhered to a plastic substrate without destroying the film; the device contains the followintg components: a. an electric sensing device of two separate electrodes isolated from each other and positioned in a material capable of conforming to the surface of the film being measured where the sensing device is placed in contact with the surface of the film and measured under a uniform and reproducible pressure; b. a gain and phase measuring device electrically connected to the sensing device for measuring the gain and phase of an alternating current electrical signal passed from one electrode through the film and conductive coating to the second electrode; c.

Abstract: A device for measuring the thickness of a wet or dry paint film applied on a substrate without contacting the film is disclosed. The device uses an ultrasonic sensor positioned adjacent to an inductive eddy-current proximity sensor where the ultrasonic sensor measures the distance between the device and the upper surface of the paint film and the proximity sensor measures the distance between the device and the upper surface of the substrate. The two distances measured, when compared, produce the film thickness value. The device is capable of accurately measuring thickness of various paint films, such as flat, glossy and metal-flake containing paint films.

Abstract: A device for measuring the thickness of a wet or dry paint film applied on a substrate without contacting the film is disclosed. The device uses an optical sensor positioned centrally and coaxially with an inductive eddy-current proximity sensor. The optical sensor measures the distance between the device and the upper surface of the paint film at specular reflection angle. The proximity sensor measures the distance between the device and the upper surface of the substrate. The two distances measured, when compared, produce the film thickness value. The device is capable of accurately measuring thickness of various paint films, such as flat, glossy and metal-flake containing paint films.

Abstract: An improved paint spraying device for applying coats of paint to an object in which the machine has a paint spray gun, a gear pump gun that pumps paint to the spray gun from a vessel containing paint, a variable speed electric motor that drives the gear pump, a pump motor controller that controls the electric motor of the gear pump, means for moving the spray gun vertically and horizontally and for controlling the speed and acceleration of the movement of the gun, means for controlling the number of passes made by the gun, the dwell period at the end of each pass and the flash time between coats of paint applied by the gun; wherein the improvement is as follows:a.

Abstract: A process for forming paint panel color standards in which a multiplicity of panels are painted and marked with a man/machine readable ID number; the improvement used with this process is as follows:(1) electronically determining the ID number of each panel and measuring each panel color coordinate values and feeding this information to a computer which establishes a criteria for various panel quality standards;(2) sorting the panels by electronically determining panel ID number and feeding the number to the computer which signals a robot to place the panel with a group of panels having the same quality standard.

Abstract: An improved paint spray machine having a spray gun with an adjustable spray nozzle, apparatus for controlling the speed and acceleration of the horizontal and vertical movement of the gun, apparatus for controlling the number of passes by the gun, apparatus for controlling the dwell period at the end of each pass and apparatus for controlling flash time between coats of paint; wherein the improvement is the following: (1) a computer system: (a) capable of storing programs for multiple paint spray procedures with their specific operating parameters; and (b) capable of actuating, monitoring and correcting parameters of a spray procedure so as to insure accurate spray application of the paint; and (2) optionally, apparatus for connecting the spray machine to a remote computer system and apparatus for controlling the flow of paint to the spray gun.

Abstract: An apparatus for the inspection of fluids, particularly paints, having a housing with a cavity and enclosed with a light transmitting window and having an insert member positioned in the cavity which provides a fluid chamber where fluid flows by the window and wherein the flow is laminar and undirectional. This provides a view area of the liquid whose color parameter can be accurately measured by a colorimeter of spectrophotometer. The apparatus is particularly useful in the manufacture of paints so that the color of the paint being made can be accurately matched to a standard color.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an accurate volume of fluid from supply vessel to a mixing vessel in which a piston pump or gear pump is driven by a motor controlled by a motor controller amplifier coupled to a computer which allows the pump to be driven an exact number of strokes or revolutions to move the desired amount of liquid from the supply vessel to a mixing vessel. The apparatus is particularly useful in mixing paints wherein accurate amounts of mill bases are required to be added to achieve a desired paint color.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for automatically and rapidly making a paint having the color values of a standard paint; a computer is used which is connected to and controls a multiplicity of metering pumps that are each individually connected to a supply of components used to make the paint such as binder solution, solvent and colorants; the components are accurately metered into a mixing vessel and mixed, paint is circulated through a recycle loop attached to the vessel, the loop contains a cell having a viewing window through which the paint is pumped, a colorimeter views the cell and determines the color values of the wet paint and feeds these values back to the computer which compares the values to values of the standard paint and calculates the amount of colorant to be added and signals the metering pumps to add colorant, the process is repeated until the paint is brought within the tolerance values of the standard paint.