Abstract: A system, device and method for nail care is provided. The nail care system includes a shaping system, a polish removal system and/or a cuticle management system; a vision system; a nail polish application system; and a mobility system. The nail system may further include an accelerated drying system, a hand massage system, a nail identification/diagnosis/estimation of conditions system, an enclosure, a hand/foot rest system, a computer software system, a computer hardware system, a cartridge/pod system, and a multi-tool system. Related apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method that is suitable for modelling and simulating optical properties in special effect paints which contain pigments with isotropic light-scattering properties and pigments with anisotropic light-scattering properties, and the effect-producing substances form at least one layer of material or coat of paint on a suitable substrate. The method is characterised in that the isotropically light-scattering pigments and the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are virtually separated such that the isotropically light-scattering pigments virtually form the layer of material and the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are virtually arranged on the edge surfaces of the layer of material. The optical properties of the virtual layer of material of the isotropically light-scattering pigments are determined by linear differential equations and the optical properties of the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are taken into consideration as boundary conditions, by means of specific effect operators.

Abstract: A method that is suitable for modelling and simulating optical properties in special effect paints which contain pigments with isotropic light-scattering properties and pigments with anisotropic light-scattering properties, and the effect-producing substances form at least one layer of material or coat of paint on a suitable substrate. The method is also suitable for reproducing a shade of colour of a colour template of a special effect paint of this kind, by determining and comparing the optical properties of the colour template and a formulation of a paint mock-up, so that using the comparison a correction can be made to the formulation for the paint mock-up and the shades of colour of the colour template and paint mock-up can be matched.

Abstract: In a method of determining the shade stability of paints, the total color difference &Dgr;E(FT) between the color at the film thickness FT and the color at a predetermined film thickness FT0 is measured for different film thicknesses FT. Subsequently, the slope &sgr;(FT) of the plot &Dgr;E(FT) is determined, which represents a useful parameter for the shade stability. Alternatively to &sgr;(FT), it is also possible to determine the limiting film thickness FTlim at which the total color difference &Dgr;E(FT) passes below a predetermined limit. The method of determining the shade stability is additionally employed in order to optimize paint formulations.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring coated test panels, the test panels (2) being taken from a feed magazine (1) by a gripping and moving device, e.g. a laboratory robot, placed on a measuring station (9) and, finally, transferred to a delivery station (5). In the measuring station (9) measurement of the various properties of the coating is carried out by the laboratory robot (3) using various measuring devices (4). This process can in particular involve spatial resolution and electronic recording. The test panels can furthermore be distinguished by a bar code system which is recorded and evaluated electronically.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for coating objects by means of direct current, in which process an adjustable DC voltage is pulse-modulated with an adjustable AC voltage. The process is useful for electrochemical coating of objects with resinous coating material. Preferably, the pulse modulation of the DC voltage is limited to certain time intervals during the coating process and the pulse modulation is connected and disconnected with an adjustable duty ratio.