Manually or remotely-controlled rolling-ball apparatus for measuring instantaneous adhesion

Abstract

A measuring apparatus to measure adhesive performance of a Pressure Sensitive tape or label, which includes an electric or pneumatic actuator that can be triggered manually or remotely to perform a rolling ball tack evaluation at different or extreme conditions to those standardized in an adhesives laboratory, by using a small laboratory oven or small weathering chamber to simulate those extreme conditions. Also, installing this apparatus inside of those chambers and triggering it remotely through the mentioned actuator installed in the apparatus. The triggering systems includes; a power source to convert the standard laboratory high voltage source to low DC voltage to avoid the risk of an electric shock during the apparatus operation, a couple of metallic isolated cables for electric conduction of voltage to the actuator electric coil, an electric control box containing a momentary push button switch, the actuator containing an electric coil, a spring and a metallic mobile piston, and a mechanical fastening system to attach the actuator to the apparatus and the piston to the mechanical ball release system.