Golf ball buffing apparatus and method
AssigneeBridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
InventorTakehiko Yamaguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf ball buffing apparatus includes a holder for holding a golf ball and an assembly for buffing the surface of the golf ball. The buffing assembly mounted for motion toward and away from the golf ball includes a rotating shaft; a buffing head affixed to one end of the rotating shaft and having a buffing face shaped in substantial conformity with the surface of the golf ball; and a guide assembly having a plurality of following faces that are disposed radially outward from the buffing head and substantially coincide with the extended shape of the buffing face. The buffing head and the guide assembly are movable together in the axial direction of the shaft. The apparatus can efficiently buff only selected portions on the surface of the golf ball where burrs are formed.
Claims12
A golf ball buffing apparatus comprising:
- means for holding a golf ball having an outside surface, and
- means for buffing the outside surface of the golf ball, the buffing means being movable toward and away from the golf ball and including
- a rotating shaft having an axis,
- a buffing head mounted on one end of the rotating shaft and having a buffing face shaped in substantial conformity with the outside surface of the golf ball, and
- a guide assembly having a following face that is disposed radially outward from the buffing head and substantially coincides with the extended shape of the buffing face;
- wherein said buffing head and said guide assembly are mounted so that said buffing head and said guide assembly are movable together in the axial direction of the rotating shaft;
- and
- said guide assembly comprises a plurality of roller-shaped followers, each rotatable about a pivot, wherein the followers rotate over the ball and about the respective pivots, either together with rotation of the buffing head or independently thereof.
A method for buffing a golf ball, comprising the steps of:
- (a) securely holding a golf ball having an outside surface with a holder means having a ball holding platform and ball retainers such that said golf ball is held to said platform;
- (b) pushing buffing means against the golf ball, said buffing means being movable toward and away from the golf ball and including a rotating shaft, a buffing head mounted on one end of the rotating shaft and having a buffing face shaped in substantial conformity with the outside surface of the golf ball, and a guide assembly having a guide disc and a following member with a following at its lower end that is disposed radially outward from the buffing head and substantially coincides with the extended shape of the buffing face, and
- (c) rotating the rotating shaft, and hence the buffing head for buffing the golf ball with the buffing face.
A golf ball buffing apparatus comprising:
- means for holding a golf ball having an outside surface, said means including a ball holding platform to set the golf ball thereon and ball retainers to fasten the golf ball to the ball holding platform, and
- means for buffing the outside surface of the golf ball, said buffing means being movable toward and away from the golf ball and including
- a rotating shaft having an axis,
- a buffing head mounted on one end of the rotating shaft and having a buffing face shaped in substantial conformity with the outside surface of the golf all, and
- a guide assembly having a guide disc and a plurality of follower members extending vertically downward from the periphery of the guide disc, wherein each of the follower members has a following face at its lower end that is disposed radially outward from the buffing head and substantially coincides with the extended shape of the buffing face;
- and
- wherein said buffing head and said guide assembly are mounted so that said buffing head and said guide assembly are movable together in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.