Hanatek CBT1 User manual

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
0
HANATEK
Crease and Board Stiffness Tester
CBT1
Model 9011
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Rhopoint Instruments
Hanatek Instruments
Rhopoint House
Enviro 21 Park
Queensway Avenue South
St Leonards on Sea
TN38 9AG UK
Tel. No. [phone]
Fax No. [phone]
[email protected]
www.hanatekinstruments.com

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
1
Contents
Page
Introduction 2 - 3
Instrument menus and screen 4 - 9
Identifying grain direction 10
Sample for board testing 11
Sample for crease testing 12 - 13
Board test 14 - 16
Crease test 17
Interpretation of results 18 –19
Exporting results 20 - 21
Calibration 22
Maintenance 23

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
2
The Hanatek Crease and Board Stiffness Tester
1. Identifying parts on the crease and board stiffness
tester
The crease and board stiffness tester measures the force
required to hold a creased sample folded to 90oor a board
sample bent through 15o, the results being taken after these
conditions have been maintained for 15 seconds (s). The
samples are bent against the load cell blade (F) and the force on
this blade is displayed on the LCD display (C).
Operating the instrument is through rotating the relevant test jaw
(J + I) and using the capacitive touch buttons (D)
F
C
D
G
J
H
F
I
H

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
3
The display automatically displays the force reading at the end of
the 15s test period. Both results from crease testing and board
stiffness testing are stored in separate columns with batch testing
stats and the crease to board stiffness ratio also displayed.
To operate, the instrument needs connection to a 110-240V AC
supply via the AC-DC 24V power adapter. The power DC power
input socket and ON switch is located at the rear of the instrument
(G).
At switch-on, the display (C) will display the instrument serial
number, last certified date and the firmware version loaded into
the three PCBs inside the CBT instrument. This information may
be requested by Hanatek or approved repair centres if you
require technical assistance at any stage.
It is recommended with any measuring equipment that it is left for
thirty minutes to warm up before commencing testing. The
recommended operating conditions as stated in the standard
BS6965 is 23deg C at 50% r.h.

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
4
Instrument Menus and operating screens
The instrument has been designed for ease of operation with
options shown in images and symbols where ever possible.
Start up screen
On first power up Initialising hardware please wait will be written
on the screen below the firmware version numbers.
During this period do NOT touch the cap buttons as they are
calibrating.
Wait until the screen display is as below and then tough any of
the cap sense buttons to continue.
Cap buttons are highlighted with a red X
Last Certified 28/03/2014
SN: CBT01010101A
Ver: G: 2.00 T: 1.00 L: 4.00
X
X
X
X
X
X

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
5
Main Operating Screen
The main operating screen is shown below. On the left-hand side
are the following Icons.
Enter Options Menu
Tare/Zero the instrument
Output test data
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:
- - - - - -

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
6
Options Screen
The options screen is shown below. On the left-hand side are the
following icons.
Adjust time and date
Adjust test time from 10-15 Seconds *
15seconds is specified in the standard BS6965 and the recommended time.
Turn Stats display on and off
Return to main test screen
15 s
On

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
7
Adjusting the time and date
From the options screen press the button next to the Icon.
Press the middle button on the bottom button bar to enable
adjustments.
Use the up and down arrows to adjust the green highlighted field.
Pressing the middle button will skip to the next field.
When finished press the left hand button to save and exit to the
main screen
Return to main test screen Set Time and Date
11 : 44 : 51
April 04
2014

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
8
Adjusting the test time
From the options screen press the button next to the Icon.
This will cycle the test time from 10-15 seconds.
The Standard BS6965 recommends 15seconds. It is
recommended that the operator does not deviate from this.
Turning Stats On and Off
From the options screen press the button next to the Icon.
This will cycle from On - Off.
Return to main test screen
15 s
On

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
9
Using the Instrument
At the beginning of testing, and at regular intervals during
extended testing, it is recommended that the instrument tare
button is pressed to re-zero.
Before placing a sample in the clamp, Press the cap sense button
next to the icon on the screen (K).
The sample for testing may now be inserted in the appropriate
clamp (J) for board stiffness, (I) for crease. To open the clamp,
rotate the knob (H). Further details of setting up samples in the
clamps are given later in the text. On turning the appropriate jaw
to fold the sample the timing sequence is automatically initiated.
After 15 s the timer the stiffness result is displayed on the display.
This figure is held until the next sequence.
T
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:0
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:0
14s
- - - -
Max: 44.4g
Min: 44.0g
Mean: 44.2g
SD: 0.173
Samples: 4
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:0
44.1g
- - - -
Max: 44.4g
Min: 44.0g
Mean: 44.2g
SD: 0.173
Samples: 4
Max:
Min:
Mean:
SD:
Samples:0
44.1g
- - - -
When the sample jaw is rotated the
countdown timer will start and the
clock will show at the bottom of the
screen
When the countdown timer has
finished the X will show at the
bottom of the screen indicating the
jaw needs to be returned.
The bin Icon is shown allowing the
user to discard the last test result.
Pressing and holding the button will
delete all the samples.
Max: 44.4g
Min: 44.0g
Mean: 44.2g
SD: 0.173
Samples: 4
Max: 43.9g
Min: 43.7g
Mean: 43.8g
SD: 0.099
Samples:4
44.1g
0.992
Main test screen showing 4 crease
and 4 board tests. The ratio has
been calculated automatically.
43.7g

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
10
Identifying the grain direction of carton board
Board is manufactured in a continuous strip, the direction in
which it moves through the board-making machine being known
as the machine direction (MD).
Board is always stiffer in the machine or grain direction than
perpendicular to it. This second direction is called the cross, or
across grain direction (CD).
The machine direction of board may be identified by flexing the
board, preferably in the form of a square, holding first one pair of
opposite sides, then the other. The board will feel stiffer when the
machine direction runs from hand to hand.
The stiffness tester can be used to measure the force required to
bend board in the machine and cross directions.
Note that the force on the load cell blade should NEVER exceed 550 grams (g).

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
11
Cutting samples for board stiffness measurement
The required size of board sample for measuring board stiffness
is 70mm x 38mm. The board direction required for test should
run along the 70 mm length of the specimen. This is illustrated in
diagram 1.
Diagram 1
These samples are easily prepared using the sample templates
supplied or any of the optional Hanatek sample preparation
cutters.
A number of samples should be tested in each direction.
It is recommended that you test MD and CD separately to get
accurate results and a crease to board stiffness ratio.
Ten samples per direction should give adequate accuracy,
though some formal testing standards require a higher number.
To avoid confusion it is helpful to label the samples MD or CD
after cutting.
Machine direction
M D Sample
C D Sample

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
12
Cutting samples for crease stiffness measurement
The supplied templates and optional sample cutters are used for
cutting board stiffness samples and cutting the crease stiffness
samples, in some cases extra operations are required.
The size of a standard BS6965 crease sample is 38x38 with the
crease line 13mm in from one edge.
The CBT1 instrument is designed to test crease samples of the
above size only.
If it is not possible to cut a standard size sample the Hanatek
CFA instrument will allow the user to test non standard size
samples.
38mm
38mm
13mm
25mm
Crease Line

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
13
Diagram 2 illustrates MD and CD samples with creases across
them, as will be required for crease stiffness testing. Confusion
can arise from the naming of the creases, as the crease in the
MD sample runs across the grain indicated by the arrow. This
crease is known as the MD crease, named after the MD sample it
is taken from. Similarly, the crease in diagram 2B is known as the
CD crease, it is taken from a sample cut in the CD direction. The
reason for this is that the stiffness of the MD crease relates to the
stiffness of the board in the MD. (This is discussed in more detail
later in the text).
A B
When cutting samples of creased board it is very important that
the crease is not folded or bent before the test.
As with board stiffness testing a number of samples should be
tested in each direction.
It is recommended that you test MD and CD separately to get
accurate results and a crease to board stiffness ratio.
When using the instrument to identify the crease to board
stiffness ratio MD board stiffness samples must be tested with
MD crease stiffness samples. CD board stiffness samples must
be tested with CD crease stiffness samples. More on this subject
is below in the section, Interpretation of results.
MD Sample
Crease
Crease
CD Sample
Diagram 2

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
14
Making a board stiffness test
Remember that board stiffness is measured on a sample 70 mm
x 38 mm in size.
Board does not have to be bent through 90o, as creases do, so
the stiffness is tested with a much smaller bend of only 15o
Board stiffness differs slightly according to whether it is tested
with the liner on the side touching the load bar, or on the other
side, so at least five samples must be tested with the liner on the
inside, facing the load bar, and five with the liner on the outside.
Fix a sample in the clamp, as shown below. The tester will
measure the force with which it presses on the load cell blade
when the clamp is rotated through 15o. Before the clamp is
rotated, check that the board sticks out straight from the clamp. It
should just touch the load cell blade without pushing on it.

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
15
Board Curl Adjustment
Sometimes board is curled. According to which way it is curled,
one of two things may happen.
Look at Diagram 5.
It shows that if the board is curled towards the load bar, it will
push on it before the Jaw is rotated, and this extra force will give
an inaccurate result.
Alternatively, the board may curl away from the load bar as in
Diagram 5B, so that it does not touch it. Then, when the jaw is
rotated, the board will be bent through less than 15o, and again
the result will be incorrect.
A
B
Diagram 5
Load cell blade

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
16
If either of the above happens, the curl adjustment has to be
used. Unscrewing the curl adjustment loosens the clamp, so that
it can be turned to bring the board into the correct position for
testing. The curl adjustment is then tightened again to lock the
rotation angle. The starting position of the clamp will be held like
this, but the rotation angle will still be 15owhen you start the test.
On each sample, the steps are as set out below. Follow through
this procedure on your tester:
1 Fix a sample in clamp.
2 Check that it is just touching the load cell blade and not
pressing on it.
3 Make any adjustments if required, loosen the curl
adjustment knob and turn the clamp to correct it. Lock the
curl adjustment knob.
4 The measurement of board stiffness is made by rotation of
the LH clamp anti-clockwise through 15oagainst its stop.
At the end of 15 seconds, the display will stabilise and record the
board stiffness.
Repeat the test with the remaining board stiffness samples.
Board Curl
Adjustment knob

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
17
Making a crease stiffness test
The first Step is to put the sample in the clamp.
Open the crease jaw clamp by turning the plastic knob a quarter
turn either way and insert the larger panel of your sample,
making sure that the depression of the crease (the white liner, or
the side of the board with a dent in it) is facing towards the load
cell blade. Position the sample well into the base and back of the
clamp, then close the jaws by turning the winged knob vertical
again.
The sample will now be sticking out of the clamp just in front of
the edge of the load cell blade.
To make the crease stiffness measurement, rotate the clamp
clockwise through 90oagainst its stop, the movement should be
made at a speed so that full movement is made within 1 second.
The countdown timer will start automatically.
After 15 s, the crease stiffness will be shown.
Max: 44.4g
Min: 44.0g
Mean: 44.2g
SD: 0.173
Samples: 4
Max: 43.9g
Min: 43.7g
Mean: 43.8g
SD: 0.099
Samples:4
44.1g
0.992
14 s

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
18
Interpretation of results
The measurement of board stiffness is made on the Crease and
Board Stiffness Tester, generally as required by BS3748: 1964.
The British Standard covering the measurement of crease
stiffness is BS 6965 Part 1.
The quality of a crease for machine packing can initially be
assessed by its appearance. Cracking of the liner or back of the
board are obvious defects. An irregular crumpled appearance of
the rib on the inside of the fold can also indicate a potentially
unsatisfactory crease in carton erection and closure. Even
without these visual defects, creases can be too stiff for
successful carton performance on the packing line.
Studies by PIRA and other Institutes have shown that the critical
factor is the ratio of crease stiffness to board stiffness, both
measurements being made in the same grain direction of the
board. PIRA packaging line studies have shown that successful
carton performance can be anticipated if this ratio of
crease/board stiffness is in this range when measurements in
g.cm and g are taken directly from the display.
The Hanatek CBT tester automatically calculates the
Crease/Board stiffness ratio giving quick and easy analysis or
results.

CBT1.2 Operating Manual Issue C
28-05-19
19
Recommended Ratio
Machine direction 1.5 to 3.0
Cross direction 3.0 to 7.0
Packaging machine trials will enable suitable ranges for this ratio
to be determined in other situations.
Both board and crease stiffness will change with variations in
moisture content. Standard tests are conducted at 23oC. 50% rh.
Board in equilibrium with high humidity must be expected to give
lower readings.
Should it be necessary to reduce crease stiffness for a particular
board, then an optimum crease width should be selected which
avoids visual defects in the folds. At this groove width, deeper
impressions will reduce crease stiffness.
Max: 44.4g
Min: 44.0g
Mean: 44.2g
SD: 0.173
Samples: 4
Max: 43.9g
Min: 43.7g
Mean: 43.8g
SD: 0.099
Samples:4
44.1g
0.992
43.7g
CREASE TO BOARD
STIFFNESS RATIO