Automatic paint cure tester

Claim 1

An automatic tester for performing consistently accurate and uniform tests to determine the cure of a film of paint or the like on a test panel, said tester comprising: a base provided with clamp means for releaseably receiving and holding said panel in a position to present said film of paint or the like in an upwardly facing direction; weight means of a selectively predetermined weight adapted to be placed on said panel; a quantity of absorbent material releaseably secured to said weight means in a disposition to be interposed between said weight means and said film when said weight means is placed on the panel; a selectively actuatable drive mechanism coupled with said weight means for repeatedly shifting the same across said panel along a predetermined path of travel with said material being in contact with the film, said drive mechanism including an elongate, reciprocably shiftable member having a distal end at which said weight means is attached, said material being saturated with a supply of solvent of a predetermined type corresponding to the test for which the cure of the film is to be determined; and control means located adjacent the panel at the opposite ends of said path of travel of said member and coupled with said drive mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of travel of said member when the latter engages said control means such that said solvent saturated material exerts a uniformly repetitious rubbing action on said film.