Parts Cooler
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsStephen K. Scolamiero, LeRoy H. Seymour, Michael F. Vieira
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for integrated curing and cooling of golf ball cores. A plate die is used to separate hot golf ball cores from a post-mold matrix. The hot golf ball cores are held in an insulated unit to maintain the elevated temperature of the golf ball cores to achieve additional curing or cross-linking. The hot, cured golf ball cores are then passed through a cooling section where ambient, turbulent air is passed over the golf ball cores to achieve the desired level of cooling. The cooled golf ball cores are delivered to a pneumatic delivery system for additional processing. A cueing hopper is also provided between the insulated unit and the cooling section to serve as a buffer or accumulator in the system.
Claims23
An assembly for processing golf ball cores, the assembly comprising:
- a die plate comprising a plurality of holes, wherein each hole sized to allow passage of a single golf ball core;
- a post-cure unit disposed adjacent the die plate and arranged to receive cores passing through the die plate;
- a moveable cueing hopper in communication with the post-cure unit, wherein the cueing hopper is sized to hold a plurality of golf ball cores;
- and
- a cooling section in communication with the cueing hopper, wherein the cooling section is adapted to remove heat from the golf ball cores.
A system for sorting golf ball cores comprising
- a riser for increasing elevation of the golf ball cores;
- a variable size divert member having a first diameter sized and dimensioned to allow the golf ball cores that match a predetermined size to pass through and a second diameter to reject the golf ball cores that do not match said predetermined size, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter, and
- wherein the golf ball cores are dropped into the variable size divert member.
A method for processing golf ball cores, the method comprising:
- passing the matrix of hot golf ball cores through a die plate to separate individual golf ball cores from the matrix;
- holding the golf ball cores in an insulated and sealed post-cure unit for a pre-determined period of time to further cure the golf ball cores;
- and
- passing high velocity air over the golf ball cores to remove heat from the golf ball cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.