Club head element forming mold and club head element forming method

Abstract

A club head element forming mold is used to solve the problem that conventional carbon fiber materials cannot form skirt edges. Includes: a first mold, having a carrier, the carrier having a groove, a first mold core located in the groove, the first mold core having a molding surface and a peripheral edge portion surrounding the molding surface; a second mold, having a second mold core, the second mold core having a molding surface, an end edge portion surrounding the molding surface of the second mold, the end edge portion and the peripheral edge portion being opposite to each other; and at least one side molding part having a molding surface, the molding surface of the at least one side molding part being opposite to the peripheral portion of the second mold core in the groove. The invention further provides a rod head element molding method. This can achieve the effect of making the carbon fiber material club head element have a predetermined skirt effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a clubhead component forming mold, and more particularly to a clubhead component forming mold for forming a skirt and a clubhead component forming method. Prior Technology

[0002] Golf club head caps can be categorized based on assembly requirements into L-shaped caps with one side skirt, U-shaped caps with two opposing side skirts, and C-shaped caps with circumferential side skirts. Generally, to reduce the weight of golf club heads, materials such as carbon fiber are used to mold the components, thereby lowering the overall weight. However, carbon fiber cannot be molded using only upper and lower molds, making it difficult to select this material when manufacturing caps with skirts. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a club head component molding die and a club head component molding method, which can mold carbon fiber material into a cover plate with a skirt.

[0004] The directions or similar terms used throughout this invention, such as "front," "back," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and "side," are primarily for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. These directions or similar terms are only used to assist in explaining and understanding the various embodiments of this invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0005] The use of the quantifiers "a" or "an" for the elements and components described throughout this invention is for convenience and to provide the general meaning of the scope of the invention; in this invention, it should be interpreted as including one or at least one, and the concept of a single also includes the case of a plural, unless it clearly means otherwise.

[0006] The terms "first," "second," ... and "Nth" used throughout this invention are primarily used to distinguish descriptions of different elements or features (such as elements, directions, or steps, etc.) and do not indicate the maximum or minimum number of such elements or features possessed by a corresponding subject or method, nor do they imply any order of precedence.

[0007] The terms "combination," "integration," or "assembly" used throughout this invention mainly include those that can be separated without damaging the components after connection, or those that make the components inseparable after connection. These are terms that those with ordinary knowledge in the art can choose based on the material of the components to be connected or the assembly requirements.

[0008] The rod head component molding die of the present invention comprises: a first mold having a platform having a receiving groove having an opening at a placement portion of the platform, a first mold core located in the receiving groove having a molding surface and a peripheral portion surrounding the molding surface; a second mold having a second mold core having a molding surface, an end edge surrounding the molding surface of the second mold, the second mold core having a circumferential portion connecting the end edge, the end edge being opposite to the peripheral portion; and at least one side molding member having a molding surface, the molding surface of the at least one side molding member being opposite the circumferential portion of the second mold core within the receiving groove.

[0009] Accordingly, the rod head component molding die of the present invention has a receiving groove on the platform of the first mold, the first mold core is located in the receiving groove, the second mold core, the first mold core and the at least one side molding member can be formed in the receiving groove to close the mold. When the resin sheet is pressed into the receiving groove, the resin sheet can be guided by the inner peripheral wall of the receiving groove so that the periphery of the resin sheet can be folded up to fit close to the circumference of the second mold core. The at least one side molding member can shape the resin sheet into a predetermined skirt shape, which can achieve the effect of giving the carbon fiber rod head component a predetermined skirt.

[0010] The periphery of the first mold core is adjacent to the inner peripheral wall of the cavity. In this way, when the resin sheet is pressed into the cavity, the cavity guides the periphery of the resin sheet to fold upwards towards the second mold.

[0011] The first mold core is positioned between itself and the bottom of the receiving groove, with at least one driving member between them. The first mold core is displaced toward the opening by the driving member. Thus, the first mold core can push the resin sheet out of the opening for demolding by the driving displacement of the driving member.

[0012] In this configuration, the end edge of the second mold core is aligned with the periphery of the molding surface in a first mold-closing direction, and the at least one molded part is aligned with the circumferential portion of the second mold core in a second mold-closing direction, which is inclined toward the opening direction of the receiving groove. Thus, when the platform is pressed down, it can move the at least one molded part in an oblique direction (the second mold-closing direction) within the at least one guide groove.

[0013] The second mold core is located on a base of the second mold, and protrudes from the base. The second mold core has a reduced diameter from its molding surface toward the base, giving the circumferential portion a beveled surface. This beveled surface can thus be used to form an inwardly bent skirt.

[0014] The first mold platform has at least one guide groove that extends laterally through the platform and connects to the receiving groove. The at least one molded part is displaceably located in the at least one guide groove. Thus, the at least one molded part can achieve mold closing with the second mold core within the receiving groove via the at least one guide groove.

[0015] The at least one molded part has a connecting portion, which is located at opposite ends of the at least one molded part, along with the molding surface of the at least one molded part. The connecting portion is connected to a guide rail, and the platform drives the at least one molded part to slide on the guide rail, thereby displacing the at least one molded part within the at least one guide groove. Thus, when the platform presses down, it can drive the at least one molded part to move obliquely within the at least one guide groove.

[0016] The method for molding a clubhead component according to the present invention uses a clubhead component molding mold as described above. It includes pressing a resin sheet against the placement portion by the molding surfaces of the second mold core and the first mold core, so that the resin sheet is positioned in the receiving groove. The receiving groove causes the resin sheet to bend at its peripheral and end edges to conform to the circumference of the second mold core. Within the receiving groove, the molding surface of at least one side of the molded part and the circumference together press the thermoplastic sheet against it. Thus, the clubhead component molding method can mold the resin sheet into a predetermined skirt shape, achieving the effect of giving the carbon fiber clubhead component a predetermined skirt.

[0017] The resin sheet comprises a thermoplastic resin, which is heated to a softening temperature and then pressed against the molding surface of the second mold core and the molding surface of the first mold core. In this way, the resin sheet can be softened to allow for shaping by the rod head element molding die.

[0018] The resin sheet is heated for 20 to 100 seconds to raise its temperature to 220 to 400°C. This ensures the resin sheet is effectively softened for shaping. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0019] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the rod head element forming mold of the present invention. [Figure 2] A preferred embodiment of the rod head component forming mold of the present invention, showing the first mold core and the second mold core in mold assembly. [Figure 3] As shown in Figure 2, the first mold core and the second mold core are located in this cavity diagram. [Figure 4] A molded part with at least one side as shown in Figure 3. Implementation

[0020] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in addition, those symbols that are used in different drawings are considered to be the same and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0021] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a preferred embodiment of the rod head element forming mold of the present invention. It includes a first mold 1, a second mold 2 and at least one side forming part 3. The second mold 2 is located on the first mold 1, and the at least one side forming part 3 is located on the first mold 1.

[0022] The first mold 1 may have a platform 11, which may have a placement portion 11a for placing a resin sheet W. The platform 11 has a receiving groove 12 with an opening 12a in the placement portion 11a. The first mold 1 may have a first mold core 13, which may be a concave mold. The first mold core 13 may have a molding surface 13a, which may have an outer shape corresponding to the cap of a golf club head. More specifically, the outer shape of the molding surface 13a may correspond to the outer surface of the cap.

[0023] The first mold core 13 can be located within the receiving groove 12. The molding surface 13a of the first mold core 13 faces the opening 12a. The first mold core 13 has a peripheral portion 13b surrounding the molding surface 13a. The first mold core 13 can be displaced within the receiving groove 12 in the direction of the opening 12a or away from the opening 12a. It is worth noting that the cross-sectional profile of the receiving groove 12 perpendicular to the opening 12a can be approximately the same as the profile of the first mold core 13 (i.e., the profile of the peripheral portion 13b), so that when the first mold core 13 is displaced within the receiving groove 12, the peripheral portion 13b can be adjacent to the inner peripheral wall of the receiving groove 12. At least one driving member 14 may be present between the first mold core 13 and the bottom of the groove 12. The at least one driving member 14 is used to displace the first mold core 13. The at least one driving member 14 may be, for example, a telescopic screw or a push rod driven by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, thereby actively pushing the first mold core 13 to move. In this embodiment, the at least one driving member 14 may be a spring. The first mold core 13 may be pressed against and displaced into the groove 12, compressing the at least one driving member 14, and may also be displaced towards the opening 12a by the elastic reset of the at least one driving member 14.

[0024] The second mold 2 can be closed with the first mold 1 in a first closing direction D1. Specifically, the second mold 2 can have a second mold core 21, which can be a punch. For example, the second mold core 21 can be located on a base 2a of the second mold 2, such that the second mold core 21 protrudes from the base 2a. The second mold core 21 can have an outline corresponding to the cover plate of a golf club head; more specifically, the outline of the second mold core 21 can correspond to the inner surface of the cover plate.

[0025] The second mold core 21 has a molding surface 21a, which can have a corresponding shape to the molding surface 13a of the first mold core 13. The molding surface 21a has an end edge 21b surrounding it, and this end edge 21b can be positioned opposite to the peripheral edge 13b of the molding surface 13a in the first mold closing direction D1. The second mold core 21 has a circumferential portion 21c, which can extend from the end edge 21b toward the base 2a, and the circumferential portion 21c can have a circumferential surface corresponding to the shape of the cover's skirt. Thus, the circumferential portion 21c can be used to form the skirt of the cover. In this embodiment, the second mold core 21 can be tapered from the molding surface 21a toward the base 2a, so that the circumferential portion 21c can have an annular inclined surface 211. The annular inclined surface 211 can be inclined from the end edge portion 21b relative to the interior direction of the second mold core 21. Thus, the annular inclined surface 211 can be used to form an inwardly bent (i.e., non-right-angled) skirt.

[0026] The at least one molded part 3 forms a molded part with the second mold core 21 in the second mold-closing direction D2. More specifically, the second mold-closing direction D2 may be inclined to the first mold-closing direction D1, allowing the at least one molded part 3 to form a molded part with the second mold core 21 from an oblique direction. In this embodiment, the second mold-closing direction D2 is inclined towards the opening 12a of the receiving groove 12. The at least one molded part 3 has a molding surface 31, which may have a shape that mates with the circumferential portion 21c of the second mold core 21. Thus, the molding surface 31 and the circumferential portion 21c of the side molded part 3 can mold the bent resin sheet W into a predetermined skirt shape.

[0027] Furthermore, the at least one molded part 3 can be displaced through the first mold 1 so that the at least one molded part 3 can form a mold-closing mechanism with the second mold core 21 within the receiving groove 12 of the first mold 1. Specifically, the platform 11 of the first mold 1 may have at least one guide groove 15, which extends laterally through the platform 11 and extends along the second mold-closing direction D2. The at least one guide groove 15 connects to the receiving groove 12 of the platform 11, and the at least one molded part 3 is displacedly located in the at least one guide groove 15 so that the at least one molded part 3 can form a mold-closing mechanism with the second mold core 21 within the receiving groove 12.

[0028] For example, the at least one molded part 3 can be displaced by a telescopic screw or a push rod driven by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. In this embodiment, the at least one molded part 3 may have a connecting part 32, which and the molding surface 31 are respectively located at opposite ends of the at least one molded part 3. The connecting part 32 is connected to a guide rail R. When the platform 11 is pressed down, the platform 11 can drive the at least one molded part 3 to slide smoothly on the guide rail R, so as to move obliquely (in the second mold closing direction D2) within the at least one guide groove 15. Furthermore, the platform 11 may have an elastic member S below it. The elastic reset of the elastic member S can reset the platform 11, thereby driving the at least one molded part 3 to move in the opposite direction within the at least one guide groove 15, so that the at least one molded part 3 can be demolded from the second mold core 21.

[0029] It is worth noting that the number of at least one side molding member 3 can vary depending on the position of the skirt to be formed. For example, when a cover sheet with a skirt on one side is to be formed (L-shaped cover sheet), a predetermined skirt can be formed on one side of the resin sheet W by one side molding member 3; when a cover sheet with two opposite side skirts is to be formed (U-shaped cover sheet), a predetermined skirt can be formed on two opposite sides of the resin sheet W by two side molding members 3; when a cover sheet with a circumferential side skirt is to be formed (C-shaped cover sheet), a circumferential side skirt can be formed by multiple side molding members 3.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 2 and 3. When molding the cover with a skirt using the mold for the rod head element of the present invention, the resin sheet W is placed in the placement part 11a of the platform 11, and the resin sheet W is aligned with the opening 12a of the receiving groove 12. The resin sheet W can be made of thermoplastic resin impregnated with carbon fiber, and the resin sheet W has a predetermined shape and size that generally conforms to the rod head cover. The resin sheet W can be preheated to a softening temperature by a heating step so that the resin sheet W can be easily shaped. In this embodiment, the resin sheet W can be heated in the first mold core 13 by a heating element, which can be, for example, an infrared heating device or a high-frequency heating device. The heating element can be driven to move by a displacement device such as a robotic arm, slide rail, or linear screw to heat the resin sheet W. Preferably, the heating element heats the resin sheet W for 20 to 100 seconds to raise the temperature of the resin sheet W to 220 to 400°C. Alternatively, the resin sheet W can be a thermosetting resin impregnated with carbon fibers; in this case, the aforementioned heating step can be omitted.

[0031] The second mold 2 and the first mold 1 are then joined together in the first mold-closing direction D1, so that the molding surface 21a of the second mold core 21 and the molding surface 13a of the first mold core 13 jointly perform hot pressing molding on the resin sheet W. At this time, the second mold core 21 presses against the first mold core 13 and presses the first mold core 13 into the receiving groove 12. The resin sheet W at the peripheral portion 13b and the end edge portion 21b can be bent through the opening 12a of the receiving groove 12. After bending, the resin sheet W can be close to the circumferential portion 21c of the second mold core 21. In this way, by pressing the resin sheet W into the receiving groove 12, the periphery of the resin sheet W can be folded upwards towards the second mold 2 by the guidance of the receiving groove 12.

[0032] Please continue referring to Figures 3 and 4. The molded part 3 on at least one side forms a mold in the second mold-closing direction D2, so that the molding surface 31 and the circumferential portion 21c of the second mold core 21 jointly perform hot pressing molding on the resin sheet W, thereby forming the skirt of the cover plate. In this embodiment, after the second mold core 21 presses the first mold core 13 against the bottom surface of the receiving groove 12, it can continue to press down on the platform 11, causing the platform 11 to displace and drive the molded part 3 on at least one side to move within the at least one guide groove 15 toward the second mold core 21 in the receiving groove 12, thereby forming a mold with the circumferential portion 21c.

[0033] In summary, the clubhead component molding die and clubhead component molding method of the present invention, by means of a first mold platform having a receiving groove, the first mold core being located in the receiving groove, the second mold core, the first mold core, and the at least one side molding member being able to form a closed mold within the receiving groove, when the resin sheet is pressed into the receiving groove, the resin sheet can be guided by the inner peripheral wall of the receiving groove so that the periphery of the resin sheet can be generally folded upward to fit close to the circumference of the second mold core, and the at least one side molding member can mold the resin sheet into a predetermined skirt shape, thus achieving the effect of giving the carbon fiber clubhead component a predetermined skirt.

[0034] Although the present invention has been disclosed using the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications and alterations made by those skilled in the art to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technology protected by the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall include all changes within the meaning and equivalent scope of the appended claims.

[0035] 1: First mold 11: Platform 11a: Placement section 12: Container 12a: Opening 13: First Model 13a: Molding surface 13b: Peripheral section 14: Drive components 15: Guide groove 2: Second mold 2a: Base 21: Second model 21a: Molding surface 21b: End edge 21c: Circumferential part 211: Circular Inclined Surface 3: Side-formed parts 31: Shaping Surface 32: Connecting part D1: First mold closing direction D2: Second mold closing direction W: Resin sheet R: Guide rail S: Elastic element

Claims

1. A molding die for a rod head component, comprising: a first die having a platform having a groove having an opening at a placement portion of the platform, a first mold core located in the groove having a molding surface and a peripheral portion surrounding the molding surface; a second die having a second mold core having a molding surface, an end edge surrounding the molding surface of the second die, the second mold core having a circumferential portion connecting the end edge, the end edge being opposite to the peripheral portion; and at least one molded part having a molding surface, the molding surface of the at least one molded part being opposite the circumferential portion of the second mold core within the groove.

2. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 1, wherein, The periphery of the first mold core is adjacent to the inner peripheral wall of the trough.

3. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 1, wherein, The first mold core has at least one driving member between it and the bottom of the groove, and the first mold core is displaced toward the opening by the at least one driving member.

4. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 1, wherein, The end edge of the second mold core is positioned opposite the periphery of the molding surface in a first mold closing direction, and the at least one molded part is aligned with the circumferential portion of the second mold core in a second mold closing direction, the second mold closing direction being inclined toward the opening direction of the cavity.

5. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 1, wherein, The second mold core is located on a base of the second mold, and the second mold core protrudes from the base. The second mold core has a reduced diameter from the molding surface of the second mold core toward the base, so that the circumferential part has a ring slope.

6. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 1, wherein, The platform of the first mold has at least one guide groove that extends laterally through the platform and connects to the receiving groove. The molded part on at least one side is displaceably located in the at least one guide groove.

7. The rod head component molding die as requested in item 6, wherein, The at least one side of the molded part has a connecting portion, which is located at opposite ends of the at least one side of the molded part and the molding surface of the at least one side of the molded part. The connecting portion is connected to a guide rail, and the platform drives the at least one side of the molded part to slide on the guide rail so that the at least one side of the molded part can be displaced in the at least one guide groove.

8. A method for molding a club head component, using a club head component molding mold as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: pressing a resin sheet against the placement portion by the molding surface of the second mold core and the molding surface of the first mold core, so that the resin sheet is located in the receiving groove, and bending the resin sheet at the peripheral and end edges by the receiving groove to fit close to the circumferential portion of the second mold core; and pressing the resin sheet against the circumferential portion by the molding surface of at least one side of the molded part together with the molding surface of the circumferential portion within the receiving groove.

9. The rod head component forming method as described in claim 8, wherein, The resin sheet contains thermoplastic resin, and after being heated to a softening temperature, it is pressed against the molding surface of the second mold core and the molding surface of the first mold core.

10. The method for forming the rod head element as described in claim 9, wherein, The resin sheet is heated for 20 to 100 seconds to raise its temperature to 220 to 400°C.

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