Method and apparatus for forming golf ball dual cores
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorVince Simonds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mold assemblies and methods for compression molding dual cores of golf balls are provided. The mold assemblies and methods for molding dual cores allow for direct and independent temperature control of both the shell forming plate and the mold cavity plate during manufacturing of the dual cores. The shell forming plate and the mold cavity plate are temperature-controlled by independent platens. The ability to precisely control the temperature of the shell forming plate independent from the temperature of the mold cavity plate prevents under and overcuring of the outer core layer, which can adversely affect core durability, concentricity, and manufacturing yields.
Claims20
A mold assembly for forming a golf ball component, comprising:
- a shell forming plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface comprises a plurality of hemispherical protrusions extending therefrom,
- a first platen operatively connected to the upper surface of the shell forming plate and configured to maintain the shell forming plate at a first temperature, wherein the first platen is temperature-controlled by water thermally cycled therethrough,
- a mold cavity plate positioned below the shell forming plate and having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface comprises a plurality of hemispherical cavities configured for insertion of a preform and aligned with the plurality of hemispherical protrusions,
- a second platen operatively connected to the lower surface of the mold cavity plate and configured to maintain the mold cavity plate at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, wherein the second platen is temperature-controlled by a source independent from the thermally cycled water, and
- a press ram operatively connected to the mold cavity plate and configured to press the mold cavity plate against the shell forming plate to form the golf ball component under sufficient heat and pressure.
A mold assembly for forming a golf ball component, comprising:
- a shell forming plate having a plurality of hemispherical protrusions extending therefrom,
- a first platen operatively connected to the shell forming plate and configured to maintain the shell forming plate at a first temperature, wherein the first platen is temperature-controlled by a first source of thermally cycled fluid,
- a mold cavity plate positioned below the shell forming plate, wherein the mold cavity plate comprises a plurality of hemispherical cavities configured for insertion of a preform, and
- a second platen operatively connected to the mold cavity plate and configured to maintain the mold cavity plate at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, wherein the second platen is temperature-controlled by a second source of thermally cycled fluid independent from the first source.
A mold assembly for forming a golf ball component, comprising:
- a shell forming plate having a plurality of hemispherical protrusions extending therefrom,
- a first platen operatively connected to the shell forming plate and configured to maintain the shell forming plate at a first temperature, wherein the first platen is temperature-controlled by a first source,
- a mold cavity plate positioned below the shell forming plate, wherein the mold cavity plate comprises a plurality of hemispherical cavities configured for insertion of a preform, and
- a second temperature-controlled platen operatively connected to the mold cavity plate and configured to maintain the mold cavity plate at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, wherein the second platen is temperature-controlled by a second source independent from the first source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.