Systems and methods of automatic film removal

A method for removing a backing film from a material segment, the method comprising:

• securing the material segment with an end effector in a cantilevered position, the material segment comprising a material layer having a first backing film on a first side of the material layer and a second backing film on a second side of the material layer, the second side opposite the first side;
• separating, with a separating mechanism, a first portion of the first backing film and a second portion of the second backing film from the material layer;
• gripping the first portion with a gripping mechanism;
• applying a clamping force to an exposed portion of the material layer to clamp the material layer and the second portion to the end effector;
• and
• removing a remaining portion of the first backing film from the material layer by moving at least one of the gripping mechanism or the end effector to draw the first portion gripped by the gripping mechanism away from the material layer.

A backing film removal system, comprising:

• an end effector configured to secure a material segment in a cantilevered position, the material segment comprising a material layer having a first backing film on a first side of the material layer, and wherein the end effector comprises a clamping mechanism actuatable to position at least a portion of the clamping mechanism between the first backing film and the material layer to secure the material layer to the end effector;
• at least one separating mechanism configured to separate a first portion of the first backing film from the material layer;
• and
• a separator assembly having at least one separator assembly vacuum port, the separator assembly configured to draw a vacuum through the at least one separator assembly vacuum port to draw the first portion away from the material layer, the separator assembly further comprising a gripping mechanism configured to grip the first portion, and wherein at least one of the gripping mechanism or the end effector is movable to draw the first portion gripped by the gripping mechanism away from the material layer.