Apparatus and method for manufacturing golf ball

• US 5,494,631 A
• Filed: 08/05/1994
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Oka, Kengo, Moriyama, Keiji, Sugimoto, Kazushige, Ebisuno, Tadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Timothy M.
• Application Number:
  US08/286,447
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 425/806, 425/806 R, 425/289, 425/142, 425/164, 264/161, 264/162, 156/146
• US Class Current: 264/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0026 Balata
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/00 Machines or devices designed for grinding edges or bevels on work or for removing burrs; Accessories therefor B24B21/00 takes precedence; for sharpening cutting edges on tools B24B3/00; removing burrs by loose abrasive material B24B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/02 Deburring or deflashing thermal deburring in general B23D79/005
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/04 Spherical articles, e.g. balls B29D22/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/806 Flash removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/914 Flash trimming

Abstract

A pair of semispherical molds, each having dimple-forming projections on a connecting portion is used to shape a resinous material into a golf ball having dimples on a seam corresponding to the connecting portion. A ball fixing means is utilized to hold the golf ball thereto with the seam uncovered. A cutting member disposed at an end of a rotary shaft, and having a radius of curvature smaller than a sectional radius of curvature of the dimple is utilized to remove a burr from the seam of the golf ball. The rotary shaft rotates on its axis and moves forward when the cutting member is brought into contact with the dimple on the seam and backward when the cutting member is brought into contact with a convex land portion. The cutting member is then pressed against the seam successively in alternate contact with the dimples and the land portions.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a golf ball with dimples and land portions and having great circle paths which intersect with said dimples and which is positioned on a seam of the golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:

shaping the golf ball having dimples on the seam corresponding to a connecting portion of each of a pair of semispherical molds having dimple-forming projections on the connecting portion;

removing a burr from the seam of the golf ball by rotating a cutting member having a radius of curvature smaller than a sectional radius of curvature of the dimple and by moving the cutting member forward when the cutting member is brought into contact with a concave surface of the dimple and backward when the cutting member is brought into contact with a convex land surface,

whereby the cutting member is pressed against the seam in alternate contact with the dimples and the land portions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a sensor means is provided which senses the depth of the dimples and land portions, said sensor means controlling the movement of the cutting member.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ball-forming material is a resinous material.

2. A method for manufacturing a golf ball with dimples and land portions disposed on its surface and having great circle paths which intersects with said dimples and which is positioned on a seam of the golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of semispherical molds which are brought together along a connecting seam to form a ball cavity, said semispherical molds being provided with dimple-forming projections on its interior surface, including the connecting seam;

introducing a ball-forming material into said ball cavity to produce said dimpled golf ball with a burr as well as dimples formed on said connecting seam, and

removing the burr from the connecting seam by moving a rotating, cutting member having a radius of curvature smaller than a sectional radius of curvature of the dimple against the connecting seam in a manner corresponding to the depth of the radius of curvature of the dimple portions and the depth of the land portions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the rotating, cutting member is pressed against the connecting seam in alternative contact with the dimples and the land portions.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein a sensor means is provided which senses the depth of the dimples and land portions, said sensor means controlling the movement of the cutting member.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the ball-forming material is a resinous material.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the golf ball is formed in said ball cavity by injection molding or pressure molding.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein during the burr-removing step the golf ball is also rotated.