# US 11,441,980 B2 · Device for tear analysis of films > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,980 B2 - Document ID: US11441980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/630,709 - Filed: 2018-04-30 - Published: 2021-03-25 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-31 - Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC - Applicants: Dow Global Technologies LLC - Inventors: Sanjay C. Solanki; Donald L. McCarty, II; Robert A. Gunther; Jin Wang; Kyle A. Myers; Margaret C. Hayes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441980B2 ## CPC - G01N 3/066: {with electrical indicating or recording means} - B25J 9/044: {with forearm providing vertical linear movement} - G01N 3/08: by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence) - B25J 15/00: Gripping heads {and other end effectors (grippers used in machine tools B23Q7/04; gripping members fitted on cranes B66C1/42, B66C1/44; gripping means used for mounting electrical components H05K13/04; gripping means used in the manufacture of semiconductors H10P72/7602)} - G01N 3/58: Investigating machinability by cutting tools; Investigating the cutting ability of tools - G01N 2203/0017: Tensile - G01N 2203/006: Crack, flaws, fracture or rupture - G01N 2203/0091: Peeling or tearing - G01N 2203/0206: Means for supplying or positioning specimens or exchangeable parts of the machine such as indenters... - G01N 2203/0278: Thin specimens - G01N 2203/0282: Two dimensional, e.g. tapes, webs, sheets, strips, disks or membranes - G01N 2203/04: Chucks, fixtures, jaws, holders or anvils - G01N 2203/0617: Electrical or magnetic indicating, recording or sensing means - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A system and method for performing a tear test are described herein. The system may include a fixed clamping station configured to hold a first portion of a film specimen and a movable clamp coupled to an actuator, the movable clamp may be configured to hold a second portion of the film specimen. The movable clamp may be configured to move in a direction away from the fixed clamping station to tear the film specimen. The system may include a slitter blade configured to cut the film specimen at a location between the fixed clamping station and the movable clamp. The system may include a load cell coupled to one of the fixed clamping station and the movable clamp. The load cell may be configured to measure a force associated with tearing of the film specimen. The actuator may be configured to manipulate the movable clamp along a trajectory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for performing a tear test, the system comprising: a first fixed clamping station configured to hold a first portion of a film specimen; a movable clamp coupled to an actuator, the movable clamp configured to hold a second portion of the film specimen, wherein the movable clamp is configured to move in a direction away from the first fixed clamping station to tear the film specimen; a slitter blade configured to cut the film specimen at a location between the first fixed clamping station and the movable clamp; and a load cell coupled to one of the first fixed clamping station or the movable clamp, the load cell configured to measure a force associated with tearing of the film specimen, and wherein the actuator is configured to manipulate the movable clamp along a trajectory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a slitter blade actuator coupled to the slitter blade, wherein the slitter blade is driven by the slitter blade actuator to cut the film specimen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the load cell measures a tension force imparted on the one of the first fixed clamping station or the movable clamp during tearing of the film specimen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the load cell comprises a multi-axis load cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first fixed clamping station comprises a gripper configured to hold the first portion of the film specimen, wherein the load cell measures a tension force imparted on the gripper during tearing of the film specimen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the movable clamp comprises a gripper configured to hold the second portion of the film specimen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a four-axis robot configured to move in an X-Y plane and in a Z-direction, and to rotate about any axis as the film specimen is tested in the Z-direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to move the movable clamp to tear the film specimen in at least one of a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, an angular direction, a circular direction, or a spline. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a second fixed clamping station configured to hold a second portion of a second film specimen, wherein the movable clamp is configured to be moved between the first fixed clamping station and the second fixed clamping station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the movable clamp is configured to hold a first portion of the second film specimen. ### Claim 11 A method of performing a tear test, the method comprising: clamping a first portion of a film specimen in a fixed clamping station; clamping a second portion of the film specimen in a movable clamp connected to an actuator; moving the second portion of the film specimen with the actuator, the actuator moving the movable clamp in a direction away from the first portion of the film specimen; and measuring a force profile along a tear propagated between the first portion of the film specimen and the second portion of the film specimen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the force profile along the tear comprises measuring the force profile during the entire tear propagated between the first portion of the film specimen and the second portion of the film specimen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising actuating a slitter blade to initiate a cut between the first portion of the film specimen and the second portion of the film specimen before tearing the film specimen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining one of a peak force, an average force, work performed, or an angle of tear plane of the tear propagated between the first portion of the film specimen and the second portion of the film specimen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising disposing of the first portion of the film specimen and the second portion of the film specimen after propagating the tear using the movable clamp.