Handling system and holding device for golf ball orienting and multi-hit printing
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorRichard Westgate
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A holding device includes a support mechanism configured to contact and hold the golf ball, a first motion device configured to move the golf ball and at least a portion of the support mechanism in a translational direction along an axis, a second motion device configured to move the golf ball and at least a portion of the support mechanism in a rotational direction around the axis, and a securing mechanism configured to produce a retaining force configured to hold the golf ball to the support mechanism.
Claims20
A method for printing a combined marking on a surface of a golf ball, the method comprising,
- coupling the golf ball to a holding device such that the golf ball is in a first position, wherein the holding device comprises a support mechanism, a first motion device configured to move the support mechanism, a second motion device configured to move the support mechanism, and a securing mechanism configured to produce a retaining force to retain the golf ball to the holding device;
- performing a first printing operation to print a first stamp on a first site on the surface of the golf ball while the golf ball is in the first position;
- moving, by the holding device, the golf ball to a second position;
- and
- performing a second printing operation to print a second stamp on a second site on the surface of the golf ball while the golf ball is in the second position.
A holding device for handling a golf ball, the holding device comprising:
- a support mechanism configured to contact and hold the golf ball;
- a first motion device configured to move the golf ball and at least a portion of the support mechanism in a translational direction along an axis;
- a second motion device configured to move the golf ball and at least a portion of the support mechanism in a rotational direction around the axis;
- and
- a securing mechanism configured to produce a retaining force configured to hold the golf ball to the support mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.