System and method for terahertz tomography analysis of golf balls
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorRobert Blink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system, and techniques are disclosed herein that provides non-destructive analysis of a golf ball or golf equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to using terahertz tomography to identify imperfections, missing layers, or other undesirable features of a golf ball construction, as well as identifying the composition of various golf ball components or layers. The present disclosure also provides for a relatively quick examination technique that can be implemented in-line with existing manufacturing lines due to its ability to rapidly scan the golf balls.
Claims20
A method of analyzing at least one characteristic of a golf ball comprising at least a core and a cover layer, the method comprising:
- acquiring imaging data related to at least one characteristic of a golf ball via at least one terahertz scanner assembly;
- and
- generating at least one parameter from the imaging data and comparing the at least one parameter against a threshold value,
- wherein the at least one characteristic of the golf ball includes at least one of:
- (i) a thickness of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (ii) a composition of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (iii) a presence of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (iv) a thickness of the cover layer;
- (v) a thickness of a casing layer surrounding the cover layer;
- (vi) a composition of the cover layer;
- or
- (vii) a composition of a casing layer surrounding the cover layer.
A method of analyzing at least one characteristic of a golf ball via non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, the golf ball comprising at least a core and a cover layer, the method comprising:
- directing an imaging area of at least one terahertz scanner assembly at a periphery of the golf ball, wherein the periphery of the golf ball only includes a portion of at least one paint or coating layer surrounding the cover layer, and a portion of the cover layer;
- acquiring imaging data related to at least one characteristic of a golf ball via the at least one terahertz scanner assembly, wherein the at least one characteristic of the golf ball includes at least one of:
- (i) a thickness of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (ii) a composition of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (iii) a presence of at least one paint or coating layer on the cover layer;
- (iv) a thickness of the cover layer;
- (v) a thickness of a casing layer surrounding the cover layer;
- (vi) a composition of the cover layer;
- or
- (vii) a composition of a casing layer surrounding the cover layer;
- generating at least one parameter from the imaging data and comparing the at least one parameter against at least one threshold value;
- and
- generating a notification when the at least one parameter exceeds the at least one threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.