Patternator Testing - 2012


Percent Coverage

Of the three parameters determined by the computer programs, percent coverage is probably the most valuable for sprayer adjustment. It is also the one measurement that is accurate whether using an airblast or boom sprayer. The percent coverage can be used to adjust the nozzle positions on an airblast sprayer in the same manner as the patternators developed in the 2010 NESare project. Some significant differences were found depending on the paper, dye or program utilized.

Blue Dye – Different Papers (1st Test)

When using the blue spray pattern indicator, significant differences were found with the NESareScan program at 2.5 to 6.5 feet above the ground. The percent coverage on the gloss, semi-gloss and matte papers was significantly higher than the water sensitive paper, usually at the 1% level of significance.

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With the DepositScan program and blue dye, significant differences were found only at 2.5 and 3.5 feet above the ground. At each of these two heights only one significant difference at the 5% level was found between the gloss and matte paper.

Red Dye – Different Papers (2nd 3rd 4th Tests)

2nd test

Very few significant differences were found between the various papers when using red food coloring and the NESareScan program. With the second test, a significant difference was found only at 5.5 feet above the ground. The semi-gloss paper had significantly higher coverage than the water sensitive paper at the 5% level. All others papers at the various heights were not significant.

Using the DepositScan program on the results from the second test, a significant difference was found at 3.5 feet above the ground between the gloss and water sensitive paper.

3rd test

The third test yielded no significant difference for any paper or height with the NESareScan program.

Significant differences were found using the DepositScan program. At 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 7.0 and 7.5 feet above the ground the percent coverage was significantly higher for the water sensitive paper versus the other papers.

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4th test

The fourth test results had a few significant differences with the NESareScan program. The percent coverage on the Office Max gloss paper was significantly higher than the H-P matte paper at 5.0 and 5.5 feet above the ground. The difference was at a 5% level of significance. At 4.5 feet above the ground, the H-P gloss was significantly higher than the H-P matte paper at a 5% level of significance.

A few significant differences were also found with the DepositScan program. The H-P gloss paper had a significantly higher percent coverage than the H-P matte paper at 4.5 feet. The level of significance was 5%. The same result occurred at 7.5 feet. At 5.0 feet above the ground, the Office Max and H-P gloss papers were significantly higher than the H-P matte paper.

Blue Dye versus Red Dye (1st & 2nd tests)

The percent coverage for each of the two dyes can be compared between the first and second tests when the only parameter that changed was the dye. Using the NESareScan program the blue spray pattern indicator had significantly greater percent coverage than the red food coloring with the gloss, semi-gloss and matte papers at nearly all the heights. Most of the differences were at the 1% level of significance. No significant differences were found for the water sensitive paper.

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The percent coverage for the blue dye versus the red dye was also compared using DepositScan. The blue spray pattern indicator had significantly greater percent coverage than the red food coloring with the gloss, semi-gloss and matte papers at most heights. Many of the differences were at the 1% level of significance. The only result where the red dye had significantly greater coverage than the blue dye occurred with the matte paper at 1.5 feet above the ground. No significant differences were found for the water sensitive paper.

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