Preferential orientation system for golf balls
OwnerChung Nguyen, Mark Cloutierinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A visual inspection, mapping and orientation method and system (500) for golf balls (20) is disclosed. The visual inspection and mapping equipment locates unique features on the surface of the golf bail (20) and then uses the features to orient the golf ball (20) in a particular manner in preparation for providing one or more indicia (32) on the golf ball (20). The present invention eliminates the need to manually inspect and orient golf balls (20) so that the indicia (32) can be provided in the same location on each of a multitude of golf balls (20).
Claims23
A method for orienting a golf ball for a placement of an indicia thereon, the method comprising:
- transferring a golf ball to a first vision station, the golf ball having a surface with an identifiable surface feature;
- retaining the golf ball within a first pair of clamps, each clamp of the pair of clamps engaging a portion of the surface of the golf ball;
- rotating the golf ball about a central axis at the first vision station;
- mapping a first viewable portion of the surface of the golf ball with at least one camera at the first vision station;
- transferring the golf ball to a second vision station;
- orienting the golf ball ninety degrees relative to an orientation of the golf ball at the first vision station;
- rotating the golf ball about a central axis at the second vision station;
- mapping a second viewable portion of the surface of the golf ball with at least one camera at the second vision station;
- creating a digital map of the surface of the golf ball;
- determining a location of the identifiable surface feature of the golf ball from the digital map of the surface of the golf ball;
- transferring the golf ball to a third vision station;
- confirming the location of the identifiable surface feature of the golf ball at the third vision station;
- transferring the golf ball to an orienting station;
- orienting the golf ball with reference to the at least one identifiable surface feature for printing of an indicia on a predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball;
- transferring the golf ball to a printing station;
- and
- printing an indicia on the predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball at the printing station.
A method for orienting a golf ball for a placement of an indicia thereon, the method comprising:
- transferring a golf ball to an orientation apparatus, the golf ball having at least one identifiable surface feature;
- scanning an entire surface of the golf ball to create a digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- determining the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature from the digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- orienting the golf ball relative to the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature for printing of an indicia on a predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball;
- and
- printing an indicia on the predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball.
A system for orienting a golf ball for placement of an indicia thereon, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transferring a golf ball to an orientation apparatus, the golf ball having at least one identifiable surface feature;
- means for creating a digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- means for determining the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature on the surface of the golf ball from the digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- means for orienting the golf ball relative to the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature for printing of an indicia on a predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball;
- and
- means for printing an indicia on the predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball.
A system for orienting a golf ball for placement of an indicia thereon, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transferring a golf ball to an orientation apparatus, the golf ball having at least one identifiable surface feature;
- a plurality of cameras and a microprocessor for creating a digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- means for determining the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature on the surface of the golf ball from the digital map of the entire surface of the golf ball;
- means for orienting the golf ball relative to the location of the at least one identifiable surface feature for printing of an indicia on a predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball;
- and
- means for printing an indicia on the predetermined location of the surface of the golf ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.