Search

EP-4735862-A1 - SPECIMEN HOLDER SLIDE GUIDE

EP4735862A1EP 4735862 A1EP4735862 A1EP 4735862A1EP-4735862-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for enhanced specimen gripping solutions. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to specimen holder slide guides and methods for use thereof. An example apparatus for handling specimens may include a specimen holder configured to engage a specimen, one or more grippers configured to grip the specimen after insertion, and a guide. The specimen holder may include one or more holding components configured to receive the specimen in a flat position, and one or more securing components configured to securely maintain the specimen flat after insertion into the specimen holder. The guide may include one or more guide components configured for enabling coupling the guide to a component in the apparatus, engaging the specimen holder with the specimen, and enabling movement of the specimen holder with the specimen into the one or more gripper.

Inventors

  • KIRK, Ian McBride
  • BORER, Kevin
  • TREMBLAY, Keith
  • SALERNO, NICHOLAS

Assignees

  • Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An apparatus for handling specimens, the apparatus comprising: a specimen holder that is configured to engage a specimen, wherein the specimen holder comprises: one or more holding components configured to receive the specimen in a flat position; and one or more securing components configured to securely maintain the specimen flat after insertion into the specimen holder; one or more grippers configured to grip the specimen after insertion; and a guide comprising one or more guide components configured for: enabling coupling the guide to a component of the apparatus; engaging the specimen holder with the specimen; and enabling movement of the specimen holder with the specimen into the one or more gripper.
  2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the component of the apparatus comprises one of the one or more grippers.
  3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guide components comprise a fixed arm.
  4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fixed arm is arranged such that, when the guide is coupled to the component of the apparatus, the fixed arm extends in a perpendicular direction relative to a gripping axis of the one or more gripper.
  5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fixed arm is configured to enable movement of at least one other guide component, to facilitate the movement of the specimen holder.
  6. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guide components comprise a guide base configured for facilitating or supporting the coupling of the guide to the component of the apparatus.
  7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guide base comprises a surface matching a corresponding surface on the component of the apparatus, for facilitating the coupling of the guide to a component of the apparatus.
  8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the surface on the component of the apparatus is parallel to a gripping axis of the one or more gripper.
  9. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guide base is configured to enable use of one or more securing elements for securing the guide in place once coupled to the component of the apparatus.
  10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guide components comprise an arm configured for facilitating the movement of the specimen holder into the one or more grippers.
  11. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the arm is configured for facilitating the movement of the specimen holder in a perpendicular direction relative to a gripping axis of the one or more gripper.
  12. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the arm is configured for securely engaging the specimen holder.
  13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the arm is configured for securely engaging the specimen holder using one or both of mechanical elements and magnetic elements.
  14. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the arm comprises a sliding arm.
  15. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide adapter configured for operation in conjunction with the guide, wherein the guide adapter is configured to facilitate or support the coupling of the guide to the component of the apparatus.
  16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the guide adapter is configured for installation onto or otherwise coupling to the component of the apparatus, and wherein the guide is then coupled to the guide adapter.
  17. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one characteristic of the guide adapter is set or adjusted based on one or more characteristics of specimens.
  18. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic of the guide adapter comprises thickness of the guide adapter in a perpendicular direction relative to a gripping axis of the one or more gripper.
  19. 19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guide components comprise at least one slide guide component.
  20. 20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the specimen comprises a thin-film specimen.

Description

SPECIMEN HOLDER SLIDE GUIDE CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] This patent application claims priority to and claims benefit from United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/524,330, filed on June 30, 2023. The above identified application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] This disclosure relates generally to handling of specimens. More particularly, various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure relate to specimen holder slide guides and methods for use thereof. [0003] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional approaches will become apparent to one management of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the present method and system set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings. SUMMARY [0004] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to testing solutions and systems for use in conjunction therewith. More specifically, various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to thin-film specimen holder slide guides and methods for use thereof, substantially as illustrated by or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely in the claims. [0005] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of an illustrated implementation thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] Fig. 1 illustrates an example apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen. [0007] Fig. 2 illustrates an example film specimen holder that can be used in an apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen. [0008] Fig. 3 illustrates an example film specimen holder when engaged with the gripper(s) in an apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen. [0009] Fig. 4 illustrates an example aligning component of a gripper that may be used in an apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen. [0010] Figs. 5A-5D illustrate various perspectives of an example apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen when the different components thereof are put together. [0011] Figs. 6A-6B illustrate another example apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen, with additional enhancement features. [0012] Figs. 7A-7B illustrate another example apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen, with specimen width adjustment features. [0013] Fig. 8 illustrates an example apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen that incorporates a slide guide for use as slide guide. [001 ] Fig. 9 illustrates an example slide guide that may be used as slide guide in an apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film specimen. [0015] Figs. 10A-10D illustrate various perspectives of example use case scenario demonstrating use of a slide guide as a slide guide in an apparatus for holding and gripping thin-film. [0016] Fig. 11 illustrates different combinations of slide adapters and specimen holders that may be used in conjunction with a slide guide for use as slide guide in holding and gripping thin-film specimen based apparatuses. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] Various implementations in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to providing enhanced and optimized thin-film gripping and holding solutions, particularly thin-film specimen holders for aligning a thin-film specimen in material testing systems. As used herein, “thin-film specimen” is not limited to specimens of thin-films, and may also include specimens of foils or other sheet-like objects that are sufficiently thin as to require careful handling, such as to avoid deforming or otherwise damaging these specimens while being handled. Further, while various implementations disclosed herein are described as being directed to thin-film specimen, it should be readily understood and appreciated, particularly by a person of ordinary skill in the art, that substantially similar solutions and implementations may be similarly used for non-thin specimen. In this regard, the non-thin specimen may differ from thin-film specimen in that non-thin specimen are generally able to maintain form in most (or all) direction even when held from one side. [0018] Material testing systems are used to measure physical properties, such as tensile strength or compressive strength, of material specimens. In this regard, use and handling of thin-film specimen require particular care, especially when testing the material properties of thin-films. [0019] Handling thin-film specimen entails various actions that are particularly challenging, such as the insertion and alignment of such specimens into a material test system. In particular, thin-film specimens are difficult to properly insert (e.g., into gripping components used in performing tension tests). Further, specimen alignment is difficult at best. In this regard, specimen alignment may be the m