Automated test systems configured to evaluate properties of packaging film and related methods

An automated or semi-automated packaging film testing system configured to perform at least one of a hot tack test, a heat seal test and an aged seal test, comprising:

• at least one specimen test station, the at least one test station comprising cooperating upper and lower side-insertion peel clamps configured to allow a film specimen to be slidably inserted therein to releasably hold the film specimen during at least one of an automated:
• (a) hot tack test, (b) heat seal test and (c) aged seal test, wherein at least one of the upper and lower peel clamps is automatically translatable during the at least one automated test,
• wherein the side-insertion peel clamps reside vertically aligned, one above another, in a specimen loading configuration whereby an operator is able to slidably insert the film specimen from a left or right hand side into both peel clamps concurrently while the film specimen is oriented vertically, and wherein the peel clamps then automatically grip the film specimen to thereby provide fast operating loading of the film specimen,
• wherein the system includes a support platform that includes a top frame attached to a bottom frame by left and right hand frame sides, the support platform residing inside a housing, and wherein the at least one specimen test station comprises at least three test stations residing inside the housing, with the upper and lower side entry peel clamps of each test station residing inside the support platform, the system further comprising a peel grip assembly for each test station in communication with a respective upper side-insertion peel clamp, the peel grip assembly for each test station comprising a transducer for measuring peel force exerted on a specimen as a seal defined by a specimen undergoing evaluation is peeled apart.

An automated or semi-automated packaging film testing system configured to perform at least one of a hot tack test, a heat seal test and an aged seal test, comprising:

• at least one specimen test station, the at least one test station comprising cooperating upper and lower side-insertion peel clamps configured to allow a film specimen to be slidably inserted therein to releasably hold the film specimen during at least one of an automated:
• (a) hot tack test, (b) heat seal test and (c) aged seal test, wherein at least one of the upper and lower peel clamps is automatically translatable during the at least one automated test,
• wherein the side-insertion peel clamps reside vertically aligned, one above another, in a specimen loading configuration whereby an operator is able to slidably insert the film specimen from a left or right hand side into both peel clamps concurrently while the film specimen is oriented vertically, and wherein the peel clamps then automatically grip the film specimen to thereby provide fast operating loading of the film specimen,
• wherein the system is configured to measure peel force using a peel force transducer in communication with the upper peel clamp, the system further comprising an integrated force transducer calibration platform that resides above the peel force transducer and is in communication with the peel force transducer, wherein the integrated force transducer calibration platform is configured to allow calibrated weights to be placed thereon to allow external periodic calibration of the peel force transducer while the peel force transducer remains in position in the device.

An automated or semi-automated packaging material testing system, comprising:

• a housing with a top frame, a bottom frame and opposing side frames that define a support platform;
• a plurality of side-by-side testing stations residing within the housing, each testing station attached to the support platform and including:
• a cooperating pair of upper and lower side-insertion peel clamps, wherein the upper and lower peel claims of each peel clamp pair reside vertically aligned, one above another, whereby an operator is able to slidably insert test film from a left or right hand side into both peel clamps while the test film is oriented vertically;
• an upper latch for holding a first end portion of the test film residing above the upper side-insertion peel clamp;
• a lower latch for holding an opposing second end portion of the test film residing below the lower peel clamp;
• and
• a peel grip assembly including an integral calibration platform residing above the top frame and aligned with a corresponding cooperating peel clamp pair, wherein the peel grip assembly also includes a peel force transducer residing below and closely spaced to the calibration platform, and wherein each platform is adapted to releasably hold a calibrated dead weight for periodic calibration of the respective peel force transducer while the respective peel force transducer remains in position in the system;
• and
• a controller configured to programmatically direct the test stations to selectively carry out one of a hot tack test, a heat seal test and an aged seal test, wherein the controller is configured to direct at least one of the upper and lower positioning assemblies to automatically move corresponding upper and lower peel clamps of each test station to carry out a selected test.