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.

A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first and second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film. During stretching, a strain rate of the thin film may be decreased and/or a temperature of the thin film may be increased.

A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film.

A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film.

A method of manufacturing an optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes forming a composite structure that includes a polymer thin film and a high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film disposed directly over the polymer thin film, attaching a clip array to opposing edges of the composite, the clip array including a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the composite and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the composite, applying a positive in-plane strain to the composite along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction, wherein the high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film applies a negative in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along the machine.

A resin molding system 1 comprises a gripping device 3 provided with a gripping frame 30 for gripping a resin sheet material 2, a heating device for heating the resin sheet material 2 and a molding device for clamping a lower die 61 and an upper die and affixing the resin sheet material 2 to a substrate 63. The molding device is provided with: a lowering device for lowering the gripping device 3 and causing the resin sheet material 2 gripped by the gripping frame 30 to approach the lower die 61; and a pair of bent posts 67, 68 which are provided on both Y-direction sides of the lower die 61, and which come in contact with portions of the gripping frame 30 when the gripping device 3 is lowered, and which convexly bend the gripping frame 30 upward as viewed from the side along the Y-direction.

A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

The invention relates to a sliding element, in particular for a stretching installation and/or a conveyor chain, comprising graphite or electrographite, wherein the sliding element has pores which have an open pore size of ≥7.5% by volume, and wherein the particle size of the graphite particles used as a starting material for the sliding elements is between 3 μm and 15 μm.

A method of measuring thickness of a liquid layer includes applying a light beam to a liquid layer disposed on a surface of a member, detecting reflected light by a sensor, and analyzing the reflected light according to a spectral interference method with a curve fitting technique to determine the thickness of the liquid layer.