The present disclosure relates to stretching apparatus and method for aligning microfibrils. Specifically, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning microfibrils along a single direction, which includes: a first elastic substrate onto which a composition containing microfibrils is loaded; and a stretching module which stretches the width of the elastic substrate. In accordance with the apparatus the present disclosure, microfibrils or cells may be aligned along a particular direction simply by pulling and then releasing the elastic substrate. The present disclosure is also useful for culturing of the aligned cells because the physiological activity of the cells can be maintained and cytotoxicity can be prevented.

The present disclosure relates to stretching apparatus and method for aligning microfibrils. Specifically, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning microfibrils along a single direction, which includes: a first elastic substrate onto which a composition containing microfibrils is loaded; and a stretching module which stretches the width of the elastic substrate. In accordance with the apparatus the present disclosure, microfibrils or cells may be aligned along a particular direction simply by pulling and then releasing the elastic substrate. The present disclosure is also useful for culturing of the aligned cells because the physiological activity of the cells can be maintained and cytotoxicity can be prevented.

The present invention provides a method capable of producing a retardation film having an elongated shape, having high uniaxiality and a high in-plane alignment property, and having a slow axis in an oblique direction with high production efficiency. The production method for a retardation film of the present invention includes: holding left and right end portions of a film with left and right variable pitch-type clips configured to have clip pitches changing in a longitudinal direction, respectively; preheating the film; increasing the clip pitch of the clips on one side and reducing the clip pitch of the clips on another side, while extending a distance between the left and right clips, to obliquely stretch the film; maintaining or reducing the clip pitch of the clips on the one side and increasing the clip pitch of the clips on the another side so that the clip pitches of the left and right clips are equal to each other, while extending the distance between the left and right clips, to obliquely stretch the film; and releasing the film from being held with the clips.

An improved method and an associated improved device for operating a linear-motor-driven simultaneous stretching installation is distinguished inter alia by the following features: during normal operation, the linear-motor-driven transporting units in the simultaneous stretching zone are subjected to an acceleration phase with a normal-operation acceleration profile involving a growing increase in the distance from a following transporting unit driven by the linear motor drive; when the web of material is moved into the stretching zone, at least two leading tenters, following one another and driven by the linear motor, are accelerated in the stretching zone in such a way that differs from the normal-operation acceleration profile that the distance formed between the at least two tenters following one another and driven by the linear motor is less than 80% or less than 75% of the distance that is brought about during normal operation.

An improved method and an associated improved device for operating a linear-motor-driven simultaneous stretching installation is distinguished inter alia by the following features: during normal operation, the linear-motor-driven transporting units in the simultaneous stretching zone are subjected to an acceleration phase with a normal-operation acceleration profile involving a growing increase in the distance from a following transporting unit driven by the linear motor drive; when the web of material is moved into the stretching zone, at least two leading tenters, following one another and driven by the linear motor, are accelerated in the stretching zone in such a way that differs from the normal-operation acceleration profile that the distance formed between the at least two tenters following one another and driven by the linear motor is less than 80% or less than 75% of the distance that is brought about during normal operation.

An improved gripper with a toggle lever arrangement is characterized by, among others, the following features the gripper comprises a gripper lever which is pivotable with respect to a gripper holder around a gripper axis, the gripper lever is configured as a toggle lever and comprises in addition a first and a second toggle lever leg which are pivotable relative to each other around a toggle lever axis,—in addition a force application unit is provided which acts on the second toggle lever leg pivotable around the toggle lever axis and/or on the toggle lever flap,—the force application unit is thereby configured such that during pivoting of the gripper lever from the release position into the closed- and clamping position thereof, the toggle lever flap initially touches down on the side of the gripper table lying away from the material web while prefixing the material web in this region, before the toggle lever flap reaches the final closed- and clamping position thereof during the remaining pivoting process, in which position it is force-actuated in the direction of the gripper table and holds the material web edge clamped between the gripper surfaces.

An improved gripper with a toggle lever arrangement is characterized by, among others, the following features the gripper comprises a gripper lever which is pivotable with respect to a gripper holder around a gripper axis, the gripper lever is configured as a toggle lever and comprises in addition a first and a second toggle lever leg which are pivotable relative to each other around a toggle lever axis,—in addition a force application unit is provided which acts on the second toggle lever leg pivotable around the toggle lever axis and/or on the toggle lever flap,—the force application unit is thereby configured such that during pivoting of the gripper lever from the release position into the closed- and clamping position thereof, the toggle lever flap initially touches down on the side of the gripper table lying away from the material web while prefixing the material web in this region, before the toggle lever flap reaches the final closed- and clamping position thereof during the remaining pivoting process, in which position it is force-actuated in the direction of the gripper table and holds the material web edge clamped between the gripper surfaces.

Method and device for the transport of foil in a transport direction, in particular, for an stretching plant, wherein at least one upper moving rope and at least one lower moving rope are guided, and the at least one upper moving rope and the at least one lower moving rope clamp the foil at its lateral edge at least in places and take it along.

Method and device for the transport of foil in a transport direction, in particular, for an stretching plant, wherein at least one upper moving rope and at least one lower moving rope are guided, and the at least one upper moving rope and the at least one lower moving rope clamp the foil at its lateral edge at least in places and take it along.

A gripper is disclosed for a draping frame having a gripper chassis and at least two opposing mutually movable gripper jaw elements for gripping a film element. The gripper jaw elements are provided on a gripper head part of the gripper. The gripper head part of the gripper is movably mounted, at least with one degree of freedom, relative to the gripper chassis.