Wallboard score, snap and edge appearance test procedure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11029139-B2
Application number	US-201916375670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Jul 27, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A procedure is provided for evaluating the score, snap and edge appearance of wallboard panels, and includes scoring a wallboard panel with a knife at a constant and known force using a benchtop board scoring device; snapping the scored panel in a Universal Board Testing Machine to measure the breaking force, forming a snapped panel edge; measuring a cleanliness of the snapped panel edge by placing a straight edge against the snapped panel edge and measuring gaps between the snapped panel edge and the straight edge in a plurality of locations on a face of the panel, and a plurality of locations on a back of the panel; and averaging all of the measured gaps to create an Index Score.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A procedure for evaluating the score, snap and edge appearance of wallboard panels, comprising:
scoring a wallboard panel with a knife at a constant and known force using a benchtop board scoring device;
snapping the scored panel in a Universal Board Testing Machine to measure the breaking force, forming a snapped panel edge;
measuring a cleanliness of the snapped panel edge by placing a straight edge against the snapped panel edge and measuring gaps between the snapped panel edge and the straight edge in a plurality of locations on a face of the panel, and a plurality of locations on a back of the panel; and
averaging all of the measured gaps to create an Index Score.

2. The procedure of claim 1 , further including providing the wallboard panel in a sample size of 12 inches×16 inches.

3. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein said benchtop scoring device includes:
a frame having a first end and an opposite second end, a work area defined between said first and second ends, each end having at least one leg configured for contacting a substrate;
a track connected to said frame and extending between said first end and said second end;
a carriage slidably mounted to said track for travel between said first end and said second end;
an arm having an upper surface, a pivot end pivotally connected to said carriage, and an opposite knife mount end;
a knife blade mounted to said knife mount end;
a power transmission element connected to said carriage for achieving user-powered pulling movement of said carriage along said track, said arm pivoting along an axis transverse to a direction of said movement of said carriage along said track; and
a weight post associated with, and projecting from said arm, and constructed and arranged for receiving weights for exerting a force on said arm.

4. The procedure of claim 3 , wherein said scoring is performed by a user grasping the power transmission device on the carriage and drawing the knife across the sample panel.

5. The procedure of claim 3 , wherein said power transmission device is a handle.

6. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein said constant and known force applied to the panel is achieved by adding sufficient weights to the weight post to provide 2.5 lbs of tension when a scale is placed on the arm.

7. The procedure of claim 6 , wherein said weights are steel washers.

8. The procedure of claim 1 , further including placing a desired sample panel under the bench top scoring device, and further placing strips of wallboard at each of a first and second edge of the panel in the direction of travel of a knife on the bench top scoring device.

9. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein the sample panel is placed on the Universal Testing Apparatus so that a load is applied to a back of the panel along the score line created by the knife on the front of the panel.

10. The procedure of claim 9 , wherein the sample is removed from the Universal Testing Apparatus, which divides the panel into two halves, the halves are folded into an approximate 90-degree angle and the rear face paper of the panel is scored completely using a knife.

11. The procedure of claim 10 , wherein one of the halves is used for measuring the edge appearance.

12. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein said measuring step further includes measuring the gap between the snapped panel edge and the straight edge in three locations on the face of the panel, and three locations on the back of the panel.

13. The procedure of claim 12 , wherein said measuring step further including measuring the edge at at least one of the back side and the front side of the panel at a first location 2 inches from one of an upper and lower edge, a second location at a middle of the edge, and a third location 2 inches from the other of the upper and lower edge.

14. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein said measuring step further includes positioning the straight edge relative to the snapped panel edge so that said straight edge is parallel to a hypothetical snapped edge of the panel.

15. The procedure of claim 1 , wherein said Index is calculated as follows:
(Score force,lbs.)+(Gap Average)+(0.1×Snap Force,lbs.).

16. A procedure for evaluating the score, snap and edge appearance of wallboard panels, comprising:
scoring a wallboard panel with a knife at a force of 2.5 pounds using a benchtop board scoring device;
snapping the scored panel in a Universal Board Testing Machine at a designated force level, forming a snapped panel edge;
measuring a cleanliness of the snapped panel edge by placing a straight edge in parallel alignment against the snapped panel edge and measuring gaps between the snapped panel edge and the straight edge in three locations on a face of the panel, and three locations on a back of the panel; and
averaging all of the measured gaps to create an Index Score.

Assignees

• United States Gypsum Co

Inventors

• Wonderlich Jerry D
• Koch John A
• Cochran Charles W
• Lucas Tim
• Omodt Jenner

Classifications

• G01N3/20

  by applying steady bending forces (G01N3/26, G01N3/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• B26F3/002

  Precutting and tensioning or breaking · CPC title

• G01N2203/006

  Crack, flaws, fracture or rupture · CPC title

• G01M99/007 Primary

  by applying a load, e.g. for resistance or wear testing (G01M99/001 takes precedence; testing the elasticity of structures G01M5/00) · CPC title

• G01N2203/0278

  Thin specimens · CPC title