Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for de-molding a golf ball from a mold cavity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf balls may comprise one-piece constructions or they may include several layers including a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover that surrounds any intermediate layer and the core. In multi-component golf balls, there exists an inner core. Often, this core is made by winding a band of elastomeric material about a spherical elastomeric or liquid-filled center. Alternatively, the core may be a unitary spherical core made of a suitable solid elastomeric material. One such material that is conventionally used for the core of golf balls is a base rubber, such as polybutadiene, which is cross-linked with a metal acrylate, such as zinc diacrylate.
In the construction of some multi-component golf balls, an intermediate boundary layer is provided outside and surrounding the core. This intermediate boundary layer is thus disposed between the core and the outer cover of the golf ball.
Located outwardly of the core and any intermediate boundary layer is a cover. The cover is typically made from any number of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, including thermoplastic resins such as ionomeric, polyester, polyetherester or polyetheramide resins; thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethanes; natural or synthetic rubbers such as balata (natural or synthetic) or polybutadiene; or some combination of the above.
The cover may be injection molded, compression molded, or cast over the core. Injection molding typically requires a mold having at least one pair of mold cavities, e.g., a first mold cavity and a second mold cavity, which mate to form a spherical recess. In addition, a mold may include more than one mold cavity pair.
In one exemplary injection molding process each mold cavity may also include retractable positioning pins to hold the core in the spherical center of the mold cavity pair. Once the core is positioned in the first mold cavity, the respective second mold cavity is mated to the first to close the mold. A cover material is then injected into the closed mold. The positioning pins are retracted while the cover material is flowable to allow the material to fill in any holes caused by the pins. When the material is at least partially cured, the covered core is removed from the mold.
As with injection molding, compression molds typically include multiple pairs of mold cavities, each pair comprising first and second mold cavities that mate to form a spherical recess.
Although the prior art has disclosed many methods of manufacturing golf balls, the prior art has failed to provide an efficient manufacturing process at a lower cost. The present invention overcomes the increased costs of the prior art by implementing an improved injection mold and de-molding process for a lower cost mass production process.
One aspect of the present invention is an injection mold assembly for golf balls which includes a first mold half, a second half and a spring for exerting a lateral force against the second mold half during disengagement of the first mold half from the second mold half. The first mold half has a plurality of cavities and a first pin having a base with a first diameter and a first taper section with a diameter smaller than the first diameter. The second mold half has a plurality of cavities and a first bushing for engagement with the first pin of the first mold assembly. The first bushing has a main cavity with a first diameter and a first cavity with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main cavity.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method for de-molding a plurality of golf balls or golf ball precursor products from an injection mold assembly. The method beings with injecting a polymer material into a plurality of cavities of a mold to form a layer for a golf ball. Next, a lateral force is exerted on the second mold half. Next, the first mold half is separated from the second mold half. Next, the second mold half is laterally displaced from the first mold half.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, feature and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
Referring again to
The first mold half 22a preferably has a plurality of locating apertures 74a-d at each corner. A plurality of locating pins 92a-b are preferably mounted within two of the plurality of locating apertures 74a-d. In a most preferred embodiment, locating pin 92a is mounted within locating aperture 74a and locating pin 92b is mounted within locating aperture 74d.
The second mold half 22b preferably has a plurality of locating apertures 74f-h at each corner. A plurality of locating bushings 94a-b are preferably mounted within two of the plurality of locating apertures 74f-h. In a most preferred embodiment, locating bushing 94a is mounted within locating aperture 74g and locating bushing 94b is mounted within locating aperture 74f.
The locating pins 92a-b and locating bushings 94a-b properly align the mold halves 22a-b during mating thereof to form the mold assembly 20. In a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of locating pins 92a-b is diagonally opposed to each other on the first mold half 22a, and each of the plurality of locator bushings 94a-b is diagonally opposed to each other on the second mold half 22b.
As shown in
Each locating pin 92 has a length Lp preferably ranging from 1.5 inches to 4.0 inches, and most preferably a length of 2.3 inches. The base flange 101 has a length, “Lf”, preferably ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.500 inch, and most preferably from 0.175 inch to 0.200 inch. The base 99 has a length, “Lb”, preferably ranging from 0.75 inch to 2.0 inches, and most preferably a length of 1.25 inch. The second taper section 95 has a length, “LT2”, preferably ranging from 0.100 inch to 0.500 inch, and more preferably from 0.200 inch to 0.300 inch. The first taper section 93 has a length, “LT1”, preferably ranging from 0.250 inch to 1.00 inch, and most preferably from 0.500 inch to 0.750 inch.
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment shown in
Each locating pin 92′ has a length Lp preferably ranging from 1.5 inches to 4.0 inches, and most preferably a length of 2.3 inches. The base flange 101 has a length, “Lf”, preferably ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.500 inch, and most preferably from 0.175 inch to 0.200 inch. The base 99 has a length, “Lb”, preferably ranging from 0.75 inch to 2.0 inches, and most preferably a length of 1.25 inch. The second taper section 95′ has a length, “LT2”, preferably ranging from 0.250 inch to 0.750 inch, and more preferably from 0.550 inch to 0.650 inch. The cylindrical section 97 has a length, “Lc”, preferably ranging from 0.400 inch to 1.0 inch, and most preferably a length ranging from 0.600 inch to 0.850 inch. The first taper section 93′ has a length, “LT1”, preferably ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.150 inch, and most preferably from 0.100 inch to 0.130 inch.
As shown in
As shown in
The hemispherical cavity 32 preferably has an inverse dimple pattern thereon if a cover is formed on the golf ball precursor product 25 in the mold insert 30. Alternatively, the hemispherical cavity 32 will have a smooth surface if a boundary layer is formed on the golf ball precursor product 25 in the mold insert 30. Support pins 28 are preferably configured to support the golf ball precursor product 25 in a predetermined position within a mold cavity. Each mold half 22a-b includes a series of gates and a network of feeder lines, not shown, for carrying the injectable material into the cavities of each of the mold inserts 30 during the manufacturing process.
Preferred injectable materials include thermoplastic and reaction injection moldable materials. Preferred thermoplastic materials include ionomers and polyurethanes. Preferred reaction injection moldable materials include polyurethanes such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,027, which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference.
As shown in
As shown in
Although not shown, as the locating pin 92 completely separates from the bushing 94, the second mold half 22b will laterally move due to the full extension of the spring assembly 255.
The present invention allows for an easier separation of the mod halves 22a-b during de-molding and also allows for a separation of the newly molded golf ball or golf ball precursor product from a hemispherical cavity of each of the mold inserts 30.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
The Present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/132,055, filed on Jun. 3, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,972, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/711,206, filed on Sep. 1, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,041.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20100007049 A1 | Jan 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10711206 | Sep 2004 | US |
Child | 12132055 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12132055 | Jun 2008 | US |
Child | 12564798 | US |