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US 4,779,387 AGranted
Method and apparatus for automatically buffing a golf ball
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsWalter L. Reid, Ralph L. Delano, Michael Ashley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic buffing machine and method for automatically buffing a golf ball are disclosed. The golf ball is oriented such that the flash ring is in a predetermined plane and then the flash ring is removed. The golf ball matrix is preferably utilized to orient the golf ball and both cutting and sanding are preferably used to remove the flash ring.
Claims15
A method for buffing a flash ring on a golf ball comprising the steps of:
- subjecting the golf ball to a step of automatically orientating the golf ball such that the flash ring is in a predetermined plane;
- (b) automatically checking the orientation of the golf ball with a sensor to determine if the golf ball is properly seated or improperly seated in a holder
- (c) designating the golf ball as either a properly seated golf ball or an improperly seated golf ball;
- and
- (d) sanding the flash ring from each properly seated golf ball by means of a continuous sanding belt that deflects partially around said golf ball during sanding thereby producing a buffed golf ball.
2 more elements
The method of claim I further comprising the step of cutting a portion of the flash ring off of each properly seated golf ball prior to the sanding step.
A method of removing a flash ring on a golf ball comprising:
- (a) aligning a matrix of golf balls in a predetermined plane;
- (b) punching a plurality of golf balls from the matrix onto a car;
- (c) moving the car containing golf balls to a loader;
- (d) loading each golf ball into a holder;
- (e) holding each golf ball such that the flash ring is in a predetermined plane;
- (f) automatically checking the golf ball with a sensor to confirm that the golf ball is properly seated such that the flash ring on the golf ball is in the predetermined plane;
- (g) cutting the flash ring from the ball to a uniform diameter;
- (h) sanding the remaining flash ring from the ball by means of a continous sanding belt that deflects partially around said golf ball during sanding;
- and
- (i) brushing the ball thereby removing the flash ring from the golf ball.
7 more elements
A method for buffing a flash ring on a golf ball comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting the golf ball to a step of orienting the golf ball such that the flash ring is in a predetermined plane;
- (b) automatically checking the orientation of each golf ball with a sensor to determine if the golf is properly seated or improperly seated in a holder;
- (c) designating the golf ball as either a properly seated golf ball or an improperly seated golf ball;
- (d) removing the flash ring from each properly seated golf ball by sanding wherein the sanding is accomplished by means of a continuous sanding belt that deflects partially around said properly seated golf ball during sanding thereby producing a buffed golf ball;
- and
- (e) sorting the properly seated golf ball from the improperly seated golf ball.
3 more elements
An apparatus for buffing a flash ring on a golf ball comprising:
- (a) a fixed platform;
- (b) for automatically orientating the golf ball in a holder such that flash ring is in a predetermined plane, said means for automatically orientating the golf ball attached to said fixed platform;
- (c) a check station attached to said fixed platform, said check station designating the golf ball as either a properly seated golf ball or an improperly seated golf ball;
- (d) a sanding station attached to said fixed platform for sanding each properly seated golf ball, said sanding station having a continuous sanding belt deflects partially around said properly seated golf ball when said properly seated golf ball is positioned opposite said sanding station during sanding;
- and
- (e) means for automatically moving said holder containing the golf ball from said means to automatically orient the golf ball to said check station and subsequently from said check station to said sanding station thereby producing a buffed golf ball.
3 more elements
An apparatus for removing a flash ring on a golf ball comprising:
- (a) a fixed platform;
- (b) aligning means for aligning a matrix of golf balls into a predetermined plane, said aligning means attached to said fixed platform;
- (c) punching means for ejecting a golf ball from said matrix, said punching means attached to said fixed platform;
- (d) a car means movably affixed to said fixed platform for receiving said ejected golf ball and for moving the ejected golf ball to a loading means;
- (e) said loading means affixed to said fixed platform and said loading means for unloading said car means and for loading the golf ball into a holding means;
- (f) said holding means for receiving said golf ball from said loading means and for moving said golf ball to a checking means, then to a cutting means, then to a sanding means, and finally to a brush means in such order;
- (g) said checking means to determine if said golf ball is properly seated in said holder, said checking means attached to said fixed platform;
- (h) said cutting means for cutting said flash ring to a predetermined diameter, said cutting means attached to said fixed platform;
- (i) said sanding means for removing the remaining flash ring, said sanding means having a continuous sanding belt that deflects partially around said golf ball when said golf ball is positioned opposite said sanding means during sanding, said sanding means attached to said fixed platform;
- and
- (j) said brush means for brushing particles off of the golf ball, said brushing means attached to said fixed platform.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.