CA2519443C - Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2519443C
CA2519443C CA2519443A CA2519443A CA2519443C CA 2519443 C CA2519443 C CA 2519443C CA 2519443 A CA2519443 A CA 2519443A CA 2519443 A CA2519443 A CA 2519443A CA 2519443 C CA2519443 C CA 2519443C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cover paper
printing devices
wallboard
horizontal element
inches
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA2519443A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2519443A1 (en
Inventor
William R. Fox, Jr.
Melissa S. Merfeld
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gold Bond Building Products LLC
Original Assignee
National Gypsum Properties LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Gypsum Properties LLC filed Critical National Gypsum Properties LLC
Publication of CA2519443A1 publication Critical patent/CA2519443A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2519443C publication Critical patent/CA2519443C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04CSTRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C2/00Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
    • E04C2/02Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials
    • E04C2/04Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material; of asbestos cement; of cement and other mineral fibres
    • E04C2/043Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material; of asbestos cement; of cement and other mineral fibres of plaster
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28BSHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B19/00Machines or methods for applying the material to surfaces to form a permanent layer thereon
    • B28B19/0092Machines or methods for applying the material to surfaces to form a permanent layer thereon to webs, sheets or the like, e.g. of paper, cardboard
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/23Sheet including cover or casing
    • Y10T428/232Encased layer derived from inorganic settable ingredient
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/24Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
    • Y10T428/24802Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
    • Y10T428/24934Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] including paper layer
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/249921Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
    • Y10T428/249953Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
    • Y10T428/249967Inorganic matrix in void-containing component
    • Y10T428/249968Of hydraulic-setting material

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Finishing Walls (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus and method for applying reference or grid markings to wallboard during the manufacturing process is disclosed. Reference or grid markings are applied to one sheet of cover paper (21A) at a location between the originating cover paper rolls and the cover paper creaser (50) or creasers (50). This is accomplished by locating and aligning multiple print heads (61) across the width of the continuously passing cover paper (21A), such that markings are ejected onto the cover paper (21A) in a specific and coordinated fashion. In addition to using any suitable commercially-available computer equipment to coordinate printer head (61) activity, this function is accomplished by attaching each print head (61) to a common horizontal support element (63) and provide individual adjustments that are perpendicular to, and with the directional flow of the passing cover paper (21A).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING REFERENCE MARKINGS TO
WALLBOARD DURING MANUFACTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for manufacturing wallboard, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for applying reference markings to wallboard during the manufacturing process.
Description of the Related Art Gypsum board is well known and widely used in the construction industry as a convenient way to construct walls, barriers and other structural formations.
The use of inorganic gypsum board, which is also commonly known as "wallboard" or "drywall," is often desirable over more expensive and time consuming conventional wet plaster methods.
A typical sheet of wallboard comprises a gypsum core, a back cover sheet on one surface of the core and a face or front cover sheet on the other core surface. One cover sheet is typically folded around the long side edges of the core and overlaps the side edges of the other cover sheet Apparatuses and methods for the commercial manufacture of wallboard are well known, and instances of such apparatuses and methods can be found, for example, in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Second Edition, 1970, Vol. 21, pages 621-24. Other examples can also be found in U.S.
Patent Nos. 5,718,797 and 5,879,446, both of which are commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application.
Like similar building components make of other materials, gypsum wallboard is normally manufactured into and commercially sold in relatively large standardized sizes, such as 48 inches by 96 inches, 48 inches by 120 inches, 48 inches by 144 inches, and so forth. This wallboard is typically attached to studs, joists, rafters or other types of building supports by use of nails, screws or other types of faskihers. Although some wallboards may be placed and fastened in their entirety, others must be cut to the required size, and both whole and cut boards are typically marked to indicate fixing points for receiving fasteners such as nails or screws.
During construction, a worker typically translates actual measurements of the intended installation to the location and materials at hand, as there are usually sufficiently material deviations in installation techniques and site variances such that reliance on blueprints or drawings for accurately trimming and marking materials is not practical. In practice, construction workers continually measure and mark both materials and target installation sites for the purpose of achieving proper fit, locations for fixing materials, and utilization of wallboard material. The measuring and malting work required for this purpose can be detailed and time-consuming and must be carried out with reasonable care. Such measuring and marking can result in delays in the work, especially when errors are involved, and can result in the use of more wallboard than should be required for a particular job. Such a waste in construction materials is undesirable. In addition, because labor is typically one of the costliest components in construction, excess time or any time needed for such measuring and marking work is particularly undesirable.
Accordingly, there exists a need for wallboard that is fabricated with existing reference markings in a way that is generally useful for construction workers.
Such a need has been addressed to some degree, such as by, for example, U.S. Patent Nos.
4,858,402;
4,870,788; 4,927,696; 5,950,319 and 6,012,255.
Each of these references discusses various needs and solutions for reference or grid markings on wallboard or like construction materials, and each discusses various methods of implementation and use for their solutions. Only one of these references, however, actually refers to a method or apparatus for applying such markings to a wallboard;
and this reference, U.S. Patent No. 4,858,402, only briefly discusses a "marking roller" that crudely applies markings after a wallboard has already been made.
In fact, while many different types of lines, patterns and markings may be desirable, the actual application of markings to wallboard is not trivial. Commercial manufacture of gypsum wallboard is often accomplished by processes that are capable of operation under continuous high speed conditions. Generally, wallboard is conventionally produced by sandwiching a core of aqueous "slurry" or paste of calcined gypsum and other materials between two extremely long and continuous sheets of board cover paper. Various types of cover paper are known in the art, and all such types can be used for this purpose. This cover paper is typically creased during an automated process to form the sides of the wallboard just before it meets with the slurry. After the gypsum slurry has set (i.e., reacted with the water from the aqueous slurry) for a period of time, the resulting extremely long board is then cut into manageable sections. These sections are then fully dried in heating kilns and the finished product becomes a strong, rigid, fire-resistant building material, which is then cut into various
2
3 board sizes as desired. Cut boards of like sizes are then bundled into large stacks which are then sold and shipped to various wholesale or retail entities.
The foregoing manufacturing process does not naturally lend itself to the application of a "marking roller" or another like marking material. As an initial matter, the marking of wet wallboard is entirely impractical. Furthermore, pre-marking of the very large rolls of cover paper used in a conventional manufacturing process is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, cover paper can tend to expand and contract slightly from the time it is pre-marked up until the time that it actually meets the slurry. Secondly, the creaser elements in most manufacturing processes have some degree of flexibility to them, which results in cover paper not being creased in exactly the same location throughout the manufacturing process.
In addition, if any pre-marked lines happen to be slightly offset for whatever reason, there exists no convenient way to correct for this offset in conventional wallboard manufacturing systems.
Accordingly, the markings discussed in the references listed above tend to be made by unbundling shipped stacks of wallboards and then marking them as desired.
Alternatively, markings could possibly be applied between the heating kiln and bundling stages for wallboard manufactured by a commercial manufacturing process, although such a process typically does not allow for the space, time and labor that would be required for such an operation. As can be readily understood, both an unbundling and marking technique and a kiln-marking-bundling technique incorporate a substantial amount of additional time and effort than is typically required in the manufacture of wallboard.
Furthermore, neither technique provides a method for marking wallboard during the actual manufacturing process, as this process has technically ended after the kiln and cutting stages. While they are thus serviceable due to the desirable resulting product, both of these potential marking techniques are largely inefficient ways for providing reference markings on wallboard.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus and method for applying reference or grid markings to wallboard during the manufacturing process, and in particular for such an apparatus and method to be capable of being incorporated into a wallboard manufacturing process with minimal adaptation or alteration to such a processes.
SUMMARY
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for applying reference markings to wallboard during the manufacturing process.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the provided apparatus and method involve applying reference markings to one sheet of cover paper at a location between the originating cover paper rolls and the cover paper creaser or creasers. This can be accomplished by locating and aligning multiple print heads across the width of the continuously passing cover paper, such that markings are ejected onto the cover paper in a specific and coordinated fashion. In addition to using any suitable commercially-available computer equipment to coordinate printer head activity, this function can be accomplished by rotatably attaching each print head to a common horizontal support bar and adjusting the horizontal and rotated location of each print head as needed.
In one embodiment there is provided a method for applying reference markings to wallboard, comprising during a wallboard manufacturing process: attaching one or more printing devices to a horizontal element, wherein the horizontal element traverses cover paper used to construct said wallboard, the horizontal element being located in between a cover paper source and a slurry source of the wallboard manufacturing process;
aligning said one or more printing devices with the cover paper at a predetermined spacing; passing said cover paper past said one or more printing devices on the cover paper's way from the paper source to the slurry source; connecting a follower arm to the horizontal element, wherein horizontal shifting of the cover paper is translated to the one or more printing devices through the follower arm; utilizing said one or more printing devices to selectively eject marking material onto said cover paper in an organized fashion as said cover paper passes said one or more printing devices; and combining said cover paper with a slurry to form said wallboard.
In another embodiment there is provided an apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during a wallboard manufacturing process, comprising: a horizontal element that traverses cover paper used to construct said wallboard, the horizontal element being located in between a cover paper source and a slurry source of the wallboard manufacturing process; one or more printing devices attached to said horizontal element at a predetermined spacing so that the one or more printing devices form a substantially symmetric pattern of marks along the cover paper by ejecting marking material on the cover paper as the cover paper passes by the printing devices on the cover paper's way from the cover paper source to the slurry source; one or more mounting brackets connecting said one or more printing devices to said horizontal element; and at least one follower arm connected to said horizontal element and tangentially connected to the cover paper so that any horizontal shift in the cover paper equally shifts the follower arm which in turn equally shifts the horizontal element in order to keep the attached one or more printing devices in horizontal aligninent with the cover paper, as the cover paper passes by the one or more printing devices to create the substantially symmetric pattern.
4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures for the disclosed inventive customer interface web site.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for the commercial manufacture of wallboard.
FIG. 2 illustrates in side cross-sectional view an example of a sheet of cover paper passing by a plurality of marking and creasing elements according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates in front cross-sectional view the example depicted in FIG.
2 of a sheet of cover paper passing by a plurality of marking and creasing elements according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates in top cross-sectional view an example of a modified mounting unit with additional structure, as depicted in FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate in side cross-sectional views examples of a modified mounting unit and a simple mounting unit relative to a horizontal support bar and print head according to one embodiment of the present invention.
4a DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An example application of a system and method accor ' g to the invention is described in this section. This example is being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the invention. Other applications are possible, such that this example should not be taken as limiting.
One advantage of the present invention is a reduction in the amount of labor required for installing wallboard and in the amount of wallboard that must be scrapped or otherwise wasted due to inefficient manual measuring techniques. This advantage is accomplished through the manufacture of wallboard that contains useful reference markings at common distances both horizontally and vertically across the wallboard.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to apply these reference markings to the wallboard during the manufacturing process itself, such that the drawbacks of pre-marlcing cover paper or marking wallboard after it has been manufactured can be avoided. Accordingly, those practicing the invention are provided the opportunk to implement the inventive processes described herein as fully automated or, alternatively, may elect to have varying levels of manual operator participation and/or intervention.
Modem technologies such as computers, processors, automated systems and the like offer new opportunities for manufacturers to produce products more rapidly and efficiently.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying reference or grid markings to wallboard during the manufacturing process itself. Reference or grid markings are preferably applied to one sheet of cover paper at a location 'between the originating cover paper rolls and the cover paper creaser or creasers. This is accomplished by locating and aligning a plurality of print heads across the width of the continuously passing cover paper, such that markings are ejected onto the cover paper in a specific and coordinated fashion. In addition to using any suitable commercially-available computer equipment to coordinate printer head activity, this function is accomplished by attaching each print head to a common
5 horizontal support bar and adjusting the horizontal and rotated location of each print head as needed.
Referencing FIG. 1, an exemplary system 10 for the commercial manufacture of wallboard is illustrated. At a wetend region 11 of this system 10, two configurations 20A and 20B for supplying two continuous streams of cover paper can be seen. Although dimensions may vary, this continuously-supplied cover paper is typically four to five feet in width, but preferably 48 inches, and is supplied continuously from huge rolls having: a diameter of four to six feet or more. A bottom cover paper 21A is supplied by a bottom cover paper supply configuration 20A comprising two large spindles, each capable of supporting one huge roll of cover paper. A top cover paper 21B is supplied by a separate top cover paper supply configuration 20B, which configuration is substantially similar to the configuration 20A for the bottom cover paper.
As the bottom cover paper 21A leaves its point of origin at configuration 20A, it travels along a conveyor, roller, belt or other like system to a point where its edges are upturned at substantially right angles with respect to the otherwise horizontally oriented bottom cover paper. Methods and devices for creating such upturned edges on cover paper on the fly are well known in the art, and any such methods and devices for performing this function may be utilized in practicing the present invention. One device commonly used for performing this function is a creaser 50, operation of which will be generally understood by one skilled in the art. A slurry 12 of wet calcined gypsum and other materials is then continuously deposited on the moving continuous sheet of bottom cover paper 21A at a given location, which is preferably after the edges on the bottom cover paper have been upturned by the creaser 50 to form a shallow trough for receiving and containing the slurry. The slurry 12 quickly settles and evens out within the moving bottom cover paper 21A due to the liquid state of the slurry and the ongoing forward motion of the bottom cover paper.
At some distance after the slurry 12 has been deposited onto the bottom cover paper 21A, the top cover paper 21B is directed into place atop the wet slurry and bottom cover paper, thereby forming a "sandwich" of slurry within sheets of cover paper. As in the case of the bottom cover paper, the top cover paper leaves its point of origin at configuration 20B
and travels along a similar but separate conveyor, roller, belt or other like system until it is directed into place atop the slurry and bottom cover paper. A "wet" wallboard is thus formed at this point, and several minutes are generally required until the wet wallboard has set sufficiently such that it can be cut and dried further. Because the manufacturing process would be considerably slowed by allowing this newly formed "wet" wallboard to sit in place
6 while it sets for cutting, this newly formed wallboard is thus continually moved forward on a "board line" 13 so that new wet wallboard can continue to be made while setting occurs. This board line 13 can extend for hundreds or thousands of feet before cutting.
Again referencing FIG. 1, a cutting mechanism such as a rotary knife 30 is located at the end of the board line 13 and is used to cut the now-set wallboard into smaller and more manageable sections 31. This rotary knife 30 is preferably controlled by or at least receives information from a control system 40 that is capable of measuring various parameters, assisting in the optimal placement of cover paper splices, and adjusting the timing of the knife cuts as necessary to isolate selected defects such as cover paper splices. After this initial cutting of the wallboard by the rotary knife 30, the cut wallboard sections 31 are then placed onto a separate conveyor or roller system 14 by manual or automated means so that they can be processed through heating kilns 15 or any other appropriate device for fully hardening and drying wallboard. Once these wallboard sections are sufficiently dried and hardened by the drying kilns or other drying device, they can then be further cut, bundled, packaged and processed in accordance with the desires of the manufacturer and the needs of consumers, through standard methods that are readily known to those skilled in the art.
Turning now to FIG. 2, a side cross-sectional view of a sheet of cover paper passing by a plurality of marking and creasing elements according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. For ease of illustration, references here will be made only with respect to bottom cover paper 21A, with it being understood that these or similar details with respect to creasing and/or marking can be applied to the top cover paper as well. As previously discussed, cover paper is preferably creased (i.e. has its edges upturned) before it meets with a slurry in the process of forming wallboard. Such an operation is preferably performed by a creaser 50, which generally comprises, inter alia, creaser wheels 51 that operate in conjunction with one or more paper guide plates 52 and one or more inside scores and/or adjuster plates 53.
The paper guide plate 52 generally serves to guide the continuously-moving cover paper 21A to an appropriate vertical position prior to its passing through the creaser wheels 51. This paper guide plate is preferably at least the width of the passing cover paper, and it is particularly preferable for the width of the paper guide plate to exceed the width of the passing cover paper by some nominal amount. The paper guide plate is preferably mounted to one or more paper guide plate supports 54 by an adjusting attachment mechanism 55, such as a sliding nut and bolt arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This adjusting attachment mechanism then permits the orientation and level of the paper guide plate to be adjusted
7 according to the orientation and level of the creaser wheels, such that the passing cover paper can enter the creaser wheels at an optimum orientation and level.
The inside score and/or adjuster plate 53 generally serves to provide a reference for the location of the passing cover paper relative to the creaser wheels 51. As discussed previously, the commercial manufacture of gypsum wallboard is often accomplished under continuous high speed conditions, with continuous sheets of cover paper passing through numerous guides, belts, rollers and/or the like. However, while the vertical location of these sheets of cover paper tends to remain relatively stable according to the settings of such guides, belts and/or rollers, the relative side-to-side position of these sheets of cover paper can vary over time from the paper source to the location where both sheets of cover paper and slurry meet. These variances are generally tracked by said inside score and/or adjuster plate 53, as this element is designed to shift horizontally from side to side along with the cover paper whenever the cover paper shifts horizontally from side to side during the manufacturing process. For illustrative purposes, these related horizontal side to side shiftings by both the cover paper 21A and the inside score and/or adjuster plate 53 occur substantially along axes directly perpendicular to the side cross-sectional view presented by FIG. 2 (i.e. into and out of the illustration).
Again referencing FIG. 2, a printing apparatus 60 is preferably provided at a location in the manufacturing process just prior to the creaser 50. This printing apparatus generally comprises, inter alia, one or more printing devices 61 connected to one or more mounting units 62, which are in turn connected to a horizontal element 63 that generally traverses the cover paper 21A horizontally (i.e. into and out of the illustration) at some distance from the cover paper as the cover paper passes. In a preferred embodiment, said one or more printing devices comprise one or more print heads, with the functionality of said print heads being controlled by a printing control unit, as discussed in greater detail below.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, five print heads are provided at designated intervals along horizontal element 63, as also discussed in greater detail below. Said one or more mounting units preferably comprise brackets adapted for specific functionalities, as described in greater detail below, while said horizontal element 63 comprises a support bar capable of both rotating and shifting horizontally. Horizontal element 63 is generally connected to and supported by one or more vertical supports 64, which may comprise stanchions or other like supports, as would be readily understood by one skilled in the art.
A follower arm 65 is connected to the inside score and/or adjuster plate 53, such that this follower arm moves horizontally from side-to-side in sync with the inside score and/or
8 adjuster plate when that element does so. Follower arm 65 is also preferably connected to one or more printing devices 61 and/or one or more mounting units 62 via connecting means 66, which can be, for example, a threaded connecting rod, cam, dowel, or any other suitable means for connecting the follower arm to said one or more printing devices either directly or indirectly. In this manner, any horizontal shifting of the passing cover paper is translated via the inside score and/or adjuster plate 53 through the follower arm 65 and then to said one or more printing devices 61. Accordingly, the alignment of said one or more printing devices with the passing cover paper will not be affected if the cover paper shifts horizontally from side to side, as typically occurs from time to time during a conventional wallboard manufacturing process. Alternatively, follower arm 65 may also be connected to horizontal element 63 either directly or indirectly via one or more additional mounting units 62, or may likewise be connected to any other suitable element that will allow the follower ann to aid in translating the horizontal shifts of the passing cover paper to said one or more printing devices, such connection as would be readily understood by one skilled in the art.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a front cross-sectional view the example depicted in FIG. 2 of a sheet of cover paper passing by a plurality of marking and creasing elements according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the width 22 of cover paper 21A is about 48 inches, and the direction of travel of this 48 inch-wide continuous sheet of cover paper is into the page. As referenced previously, one preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a printing system including a plurality of print heads 61, each with one or more ink ejectors 67, and a computer control unit (not shown) for coordinating the printing activity of all print heads. Such a printing system comprising a computer control unit and multiple print heads is commercially available, for example, as the Diagraph IJ 3000 printing system manufactured and sold by Diagraph, a division of Illinois Tool Works of Glenview, Illinois. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, five print heads 61 are spaced and mounted at specific intervals along horizontal support assembly 63, such that the ink ejectors 67 of each print head are spaced a short but nominal distance beneath the cover paper 21A as it passes above the print heads. As will be readily understood by one skilled in the art, the optimum distance between any given set of print heads and the cover paper may vary slightly, and this distance may be set accordingly by altering the location of the cover paper, the print heads, or both.
While the horizontal support assembly 63 can preferably be rotated as a means for adjusting various elements and relationships in printing apparatus 60, it is generally preferable that this support assembly be stable during normal manufacturing operations.
9 Accordingly, one or more standard slide plates 68 are provided for preventing such undesired rotation of the support assembly. Such a slide plate or slide plates are preferably attached to one or more of the vertical supports 64 via nails, screws, or other appropriate fastening means, and this slide plate or slide plates operates to block one or more elements rigidly attached to the horizontal assembly, such that its axial rotation is fixed at the desired point.
Adjustments to the rotation of the horizontal mounting assembly may preferably be accomplished via routine adjustments to the location and position of said one or more slide plates, as would be readily understood by one skilled in the art.
Again referencing FIG. 3, a preferred horizontal spacing of these five print heads can be seen. One print head is optimally located at a central position such that its markings onto the cover paper are substantially down a center line of the paper. Two more print heads are located at end or "gutter" positions near the edges of the cover paper, such that their markings onto the cover paper are substantially near the edges of the cover paper and spaced away from the edges at some nominally desired distance. The final two print heads are advantageously spaced at like distances from the center print head, such that the markings from all five print heads may form a substantially symmetric pattern of marks along the continuously passing cover paper. Such a pattern is formed when each print head is preferably coordinated via the computer control unit to eject ink or otherwise print in unison, thereby creating five markings that are substantially in line each time ink is ejected. Of course, any type of marking material, such as ink or indelible ink e.g., known to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure could be utilized with the present invention.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, these print heads are arranged such that their markings are made in parallel lines near the edges of the cover paper, and at locations 16, 24 and 32 inches from either edge of the cover paper, as these are the distances presumed to be of greatest use to construction workers who work with and install wallboard.
Each print head ejects ink only in controlled spurts, such that each marking may be less than an inch in both length and width, and it is particularly preferred that each marking in each line be 4 inches from the markings that precede and succeed it. In this manner, a set of markings that resemble the vertices of a grid are patterned onto the cover paper. It is contemplated that each individual marking may simply be a dot or short dash, or alternatively, a cross, character, or any other readily recognized symbol. It is further contemplated each mark could comprise a company's logo, or trademark, advertising, or a barcode, e.g.

In addition, although specific distances between print heads and markings and in the lengths and widths of markings have been given, it is specifically contemplated that these distances may be varied as desired, as the exact spacing between print heads and markings is not critical to the overall invention as disclosed herein. In fact, it is specifically contemplated that simple adjustments in the number of print heads used, the spacing of same, and/or the timing of ink ejections can result in the reproduction of one or more of the wallboard marking patterns disclosed by one or more of the prior art references discussed above.
Continuing with FIG. 3, a plurality of mounting units 62 and 62A can be seen.
Such mounting units may comprise custom-designed mounting brackets, mounting brackets designed for and sold with commercial printing systems, such as those provided by Diagraph for its print heads or ones provided by Matthews International Corporation, other readily known mounting apparatuses as would be known to those skilled in the art, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing. For example, Diagraph manufactures and sells specific mounting brackets designed for use with its printing heads for use with its II
3000 printing system, and Matthews International Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania manufactures and sells mounting brackets for use with its DROP-ON-DEMANDTm ink-jet print heads in its R4 system. However, these mounting brackets do not provide the entire range of functionality required in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Accordingly, one or more additional mounting units are preferably used in conjunction with the mounting units that are already commercially provided by, for example, Diagraph or Matthews.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is sufficient for one print head to be mounted only by the mounting unit 62 provided by Diagraph or Matthews, and for purposes of illustration, this is the center print head in FIG. 3. As illustrated, however, each of the other four print heads are provided with additional structure in their modified mounting units 62A.
This complexity in mounting units arises primarily from a desire for flexibility and ease of adjustment for each print head in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. While such additions to mounting structure are not necessary, they do provide for the ability of each print head to be conveniently individually rotated and adjusted with respect to the horizontal support assembly 63 and the other print heads. Because many commercially provided mounting units only provide for a simple fastening to a support assembly or other support structure, however, the five print heads of the preferred embodiment disclosed herein would not ordinarily be individually adjustable with respect to the horizontal support and each other.
Such adjustment, however, is desirable not only during installation, but periodically thereafter =
as the performance of each individual print head changes over time or is replaced. Hence, modifications to each mounting unit are preferably added to permit each individual print head to be rotated and adjusted as desired without requiring a full dismounting of the print head.
Turning now to FIG. 4, a top cross-sectional view of an example of a modified mounting unit with additional structure, as depicted in FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided. Modified mounting unit 62A comes with a mounting bracket 70 originally-provided Diagraph or Matthews, which is attached to a custom designed adjuster bracket 71 such that the horizontal support 63 passes through both brackets 70 and 71. Unlike the situation where only the Diagraph or Matthews standard mounting bracket 70 is utilized, however, the combined use of brackets 70 and 71 provides for the ability of a mounted print head (not illustrated) to be rotated about the horizontal support without dismounting it. This is accomplished by one of brackets 70 or 71 being firmly attached to the horizontal support 63, while the other of these brackets is firmly attached to the print head, with the attachment between mounting brackets being adjustable such that each bracket can rotate with respect to the other when a readily adjustable connector between the two is loosened. Such a connector can be a simple bolt and wing nut, or any other like connection, as would be readily understood by one skilled in the art.
An additional perspective of the relationships between both brackets 70 and 71, the horizontal support and a print head is provided in FIGS. 5A and 58. Both FIG.
5A and FIG.
58 are provided in side cross-sectional views, and FIG. 5A depicts a modified mounting unit 62A, while FIG. 5B depicts a Diagraph or Matthews-only standard mounting unit 62. As can be seen from FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, a mounting unit 62 that only utilizes a standard mounting bracket 70 forces the mounting unit, and thus the print head, to become rigidly attached to the horizontal support 63, while a modified mounting unit 62A that also utilizes an adjuster bracket 71 readily permits the rotational orientation of the print head to be adjusted, even while the mounting unit 62A is rigidly attached to the support bar 63 and the print head 61.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims (30)

The embodiments of the present invention for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method of applying reference markings to wallboard, comprising during a wallboard manufacturing process:
attaching one or more printing devices to a horizontal element, wherein the horizontal element traverses cover paper used to construct said wallboard, the horizontal element being located in between a cover paper source and a slurry source of the wallboard manufacturing process;
aligning said one or more printing devices with the cover paper at a predetermined spacing;
passing said cover paper past said one or more printing devices on the cover paper's way from the paper source to the slurry source;
connecting a follower arm to the horizontal element, wherein horizontal shifting of the cover paper is translated to the one or more printing devices through the follower arm;
utilizing said one or more printing devices to selectively eject marking material onto said cover paper in an organized fashion as said cover paper passes said one or more printing devices; and combining said cover paper with a slurry to form said wallboard.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is used during a commercial wallboard manufacturing process.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said combining step is performed after said utilizing step.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said method is performed at a location in the wallboard manufacturing process between the cover paper source and one or more cover paper creasers.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said marking material is ink.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein a continuous pattern is marked on said cover paper.
7. The method of claim I wherein each of the one or more printing devices creates successive marks along the cover paper.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the successive marks are four inches apart along the cover paper.
9. The method of claim 1 further including attaching the one or more printing devices on the horizontal element at predetermined locations.
10. The method of claim 9 in which the predetermined locations are selected such that a resulting pattern of marks are located on each edge of the cover paper, and 16 inches, 24 inches, and 32 inches from either edge of the cover paper.
11. The method of claim I, wherein said horizontal element comprises a support structure.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of said one or more printing devices is adjustable with respect to said support structure.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said adjustment is a rotational adjustment.
14. An apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during a wallboard manufacturing process, comprising:
a horizontal element that traverses cover paper used to construct said wallboard, the horizontal element being located in between a cover paper source and a slurry source of the wallboard manufacturing process;
one or more printing devices attached to said horizontal element at a predetermined spacing so that the one or more printing devices form a substantially symmetric pattern of marks along the cover paper by ejecting marking material on the cover paper as the cover paper passes by the printing devices on the cover paper's way from the cover paper source to the slurry source;
one or more mounting brackets connecting said one or more printing devices to said horizontal element; and at least one follower arm connected to said horizontal element and tangentially connected to the cover paper so that any horizontal shift in the cover paper equally shifts the follower aim which in turn equally shifts the horizontal element in order to keep the attached one or more printing devices in horizontal alignment with the cover paper, as the cover paper passes by the one or more printing devices to create the substantially symmetric pattern.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said one or more printing devices comprise one or more print heads.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said one or more print heads comprise one or more ink ejectors.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the substantially symmetric pattern of marks comprise marks spaced away from a first mark on an edge of the cover paper at 16 inches, 24 inches, 32 inches, and 48 inches.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the one or more printing devices comprise five print heads.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the one or more printing devices are coordinated by a controller such that successive marks from each of the one or more printing devices are a predetermined distance apart.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the predetermined distance is four inches.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the marks are trademarks.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the marks comprise squares.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the squares have a length of one inch.
24. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the marking material is ink.
25. The apparatus of claim 14 in which one of the one or more mounting brackets may comprise a standard bracket rigidly attaching one of the one or more printing device to the horizontal element.
26. The apparatus of claim 14 in which at least one of the one or more mounting brackets comprises a standard bracket and an adjuster bracket to allow one of the one or more printing devices to be rotated with respect to the horizontal element.
27. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said horizontal element comprises a support structure.
28. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
a control unit to coordinate the activity of said one or more printing devices.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said control unit comprises a computer.
30. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein one of the at least one follower arm connected to said horizontal element directs the placement of said horizontal element according to the placement of one or more creaser elements in the manufacturing process.
CA2519443A 2003-03-20 2004-03-17 Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture Expired - Lifetime CA2519443C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/393,079 US7220329B2 (en) 2003-03-20 2003-03-20 Method for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture
US10/393,079 2003-03-20
PCT/US2004/008164 WO2004085143A2 (en) 2003-03-20 2004-03-17 Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2519443A1 CA2519443A1 (en) 2004-10-07
CA2519443C true CA2519443C (en) 2015-06-09

Family

ID=32988040

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2519443A Expired - Lifetime CA2519443C (en) 2003-03-20 2004-03-17 Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (3) US7220329B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1603742A4 (en)
CA (1) CA2519443C (en)
MX (1) MXPA05009987A (en)
WO (1) WO2004085143A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080245461A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 Georgia-Pacific Gypsum Llc Cover stock cutter and splicing apparatus for wallboard manufacture and methods of using the same
CN104816379B (en) * 2015-05-14 2017-02-22 王旭广 Full-automatic production line for light wallboard
KR102647259B1 (en) * 2018-12-21 2024-03-12 요시노 셋고 가부시키가이샤 Factor-containing architectural face material and method of manufacturing the same

Family Cites Families (41)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1719199A (en) * 1925-10-12 1929-07-02 Schumacher John Apparatus for printing wall board
US1859853A (en) * 1930-03-10 1932-05-24 Gypsum Lime And Alabasting Can Manufacture of wall board
US2270419A (en) 1936-11-18 1942-01-20 Certain Teed Prod Corp Covering material
US2697982A (en) * 1949-03-11 1954-12-28 United States Gypsum Co Apparatus for producing plasterboards having printed edge indicia
US3462341A (en) * 1968-07-16 1969-08-19 Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp Gypsum wallboard
US4442152A (en) 1982-06-01 1984-04-10 Kirk Arthur G Marker member
JPS60162655A (en) 1984-02-03 1985-08-24 Nec Corp Ink jet printer
US4739415A (en) 1984-05-01 1988-04-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image handling system capable of varying the size of a recorded image
US4579610A (en) * 1984-12-13 1986-04-01 National Gypsum Company Method of making predecorated gypsum board
ATA17585A (en) 1985-01-24 1986-01-15 Putz Helmar BUILDING BOARD, PARTICULARLY PLASTERBOARD
US4764880A (en) 1986-01-09 1988-08-16 Gerber Garment Technology, Inc. Compound plotting apparatus and related method of operation
US4686540A (en) 1986-04-15 1987-08-11 Microdynamics, Inc. Compact plotter for generation of accurate plotted images of long length
US4870788A (en) 1987-10-20 1989-10-03 Melvin Hassan Building panels
US4924644A (en) 1988-05-03 1990-05-15 Lewis David L Construction board grid system with imprint and method of using same
US4916819A (en) 1988-05-17 1990-04-17 Gerber Garment Technology, Inc. Progressive plotter with unidirectional paper movement
AU609132B2 (en) * 1988-05-18 1991-04-26 Ildvaco Engineering A/S Reverse angle doctor blade assembly
US4927696A (en) 1988-07-28 1990-05-22 Berg Louis K Material for use in fabrication
US5083143A (en) 1990-12-26 1992-01-21 Tektronix, Inc. Rotational adjustment of an ink jet head
CA2146277C (en) 1994-05-25 2002-03-26 John L. Phillips Apparatus and method for manufacturing gypsum board
US6082018A (en) 1995-05-10 2000-07-04 Wells; Harold T. Pre-marked makeready tape
JP3284037B2 (en) 1995-11-29 2002-05-20 ニチハ株式会社 How to paint building boards
US5749551A (en) 1996-09-03 1998-05-12 Torres; Eric R. Portable device to allow for simultaneous duplex printing and scanning on single pass machines
TW380358B (en) 1996-12-10 2000-01-21 Whitaker Corp Surface mount pad
US6045730A (en) * 1996-12-18 2000-04-04 Aki Dryer Manufactures, Inc. Process monitor for gypsum board manufacturing
US5950319A (en) 1997-04-29 1999-09-14 Harris; David Neal Reference marking on construction materials
ES2133101B1 (en) 1997-05-30 2000-02-01 Investronica Sistemas S A FLAT TABLE RASTER DRAWING MACHINE.
US6012255A (en) * 1997-09-09 2000-01-11 Smid; Dennis M. Construction board having a number of marks for facilitating the installation thereof and a method for fabricating such construction board
US6164753A (en) 1998-02-26 2000-12-26 Hewlett-Packard Company Optical sensor system to calibrate a printhead servicing location in an inkjet printer
EP0950438A1 (en) 1998-03-19 1999-10-20 Schablonentechnik Kufstein Aktiengesellschaft Process for making a pattern on the surface of a substrate
TW459084B (en) * 1998-05-04 2001-10-11 Visy R & Amp D Pty Ltd Paper liner for plasterboard and plasterboard product and methods of producing the same
US5879446A (en) 1998-08-21 1999-03-09 National Gypsum Company Gypsum wallboard, and method of making same
US20040101673A1 (en) 1999-06-08 2004-05-27 Schoppman Robert P. Apparatus and method for transferring a template
US6412992B2 (en) * 2000-01-14 2002-07-02 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Printer with paper aligning device
US6539643B1 (en) 2000-02-28 2003-04-01 James Hardie Research Pty Limited Surface groove system for building sheets
KR100385051B1 (en) * 2001-01-20 2003-05-23 삼성전자주식회사 apparatus for adjusting a head-gab of ink-jet printer
US6467174B1 (en) 2001-05-18 2002-10-22 Fatmir Kotori Combination scoring and marking apparatus for sheet goods and methods of use
US7150128B2 (en) * 2001-10-30 2006-12-19 Schuman Thomas L Boards comprising an array of marks to facilitate attachment
US6880229B2 (en) 2002-03-08 2005-04-19 Dura-Trac, Inc. Electrical machine construction using axially inserted teeth in a stator ring or armature
US6634729B1 (en) 2002-06-12 2003-10-21 J.M. Huber Corporation Apparatus for applying ink indicia to boards
US6880299B2 (en) * 2002-08-20 2005-04-19 Thomas E. Martin Construction material with multiple stud position indicia
US7003833B2 (en) 2004-02-11 2006-02-28 Pedro Feliciano Hand-held carpenters tool

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20050097856A1 (en) 2005-05-12
EP1603742A4 (en) 2008-10-29
WO2004085143A2 (en) 2004-10-07
US20050102945A1 (en) 2005-05-19
WO2004085143A3 (en) 2004-11-18
US20040182272A1 (en) 2004-09-23
CA2519443A1 (en) 2004-10-07
MXPA05009987A (en) 2005-11-04
US7220329B2 (en) 2007-05-22
US7151553B2 (en) 2006-12-19
EP1603742A2 (en) 2005-12-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE602004005762T2 (en) Method for controlling a cutting and creasing machine
EP1459878B1 (en) Corrugated board machine and manufacturing of corrugated board sheets
EP2812124B1 (en) Device and method for applying paint to a glass plate
DE102014202537A1 (en) Corrugating machine
MXPA03008000A (en) Continuous method of making four-tapered edge gypsum board and the gypsum board made therefrom.
EP1500504A2 (en) Apparatus for printing flat articles produced from wood-fibre material
DE10312601A1 (en) Material web and process for the production of corrugated cardboard
CA2519443C (en) Method and apparatus for applying reference markings to wallboard during manufacture
US4860723A (en) Ceramic tile spacing gauge and tile holder
DE102007018023A1 (en) Method and device for the manufacture of book covers for individual books and short runs of different format sizes
JP2004520966A (en) Coated gypsum board product and method of manufacture
US6868883B2 (en) Apparatus and method for reducing wallboard waste during manufacture
JPH0818387B2 (en) Device for adjusting the distance between the gluing roll and the web guide roll
US7640928B2 (en) Cutting machine for cutting fiber-cement materials and method operation and use
EP1420926A1 (en) Method and device for producing gypsum plasterboards
JP2007503334A5 (en)
JP7218002B2 (en) PRINTED ARCHITECTURAL FRAME MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
DE19929583A1 (en) Device for preparing plate-like materials for erecting shuttering posts etc has two circular saw blades whose planes are at adjustable V-shape relative to each other to produce different opening angle
RU2775277C1 (en) Facing construction material with printed marks and the method for its manufacture
WO2023026636A1 (en) Cutting device, method for manufacturing gypsum board, and cutting method
US6949061B2 (en) Apparatus for working with sheet material
EP4011581B1 (en) 3d printing method for producing an object from concrete or mortar with a feedthrough
JPH0986027A (en) Transfer method and apparatus for gypsum board positioning line
SU1729752A1 (en) Die for manufacturing of brick panels
JPH031208Y2 (en)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request