Handle-o-Meter

The Handle-o-Meter is a testing machine developed by Johnson & Johnson and now manufactured by Thwing-Albert that measures the "handle" of sheeted materials: a combination of its surface friction and flexibility. Originally, it was used to test the durability and flexibility of toilet paper and paper towels.^[1] It is also used to measure the stiffness of packaging film.^[2]

The test sample is placed over an adjustable slot. The resistance encountered by the penetrator blade as it is moved into the slot by a pivoting arm is measured by the machine.^[3]

Details

The data collected when such nonwovens, tissues, toweling, film and textiles are tested has been shown to correlate well with the actual performance of these specific material's performance as a finished product.^[4]

Materials are placed over a slot that extends across the instrument platform, and then the tester hits test. A beam then protrudes through the slot and a strain gauge measures the force that the material exerts on the beam. Stiff materials offer greater resistance to the movement of the beam.^[3] Machine direction and transverse stiffness are measured separately.^[5]

There are three different test modes which can be applied to the material: single, double, and quadruple. The average is automatically calculated for double or quadruple tests.^{[citation needed]}

Restrictions on measuring the friction between the platform and the material limit the instrument's accuracy.^[6]

Features

• Adjustable slot openings
• Interchangeable beams
• Auto-ranging
• 2 x 40 LCD display
• Statistical Analysis
• RS-232 Output and Serial Port
• Industry Standards:
• ASTM D2923, D6828-02
• TAPPI T498
• INDA IST 90.3