Single-Pass Ball Printing With Nozzle Timing to Prevent Distortion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Single pass printing methods for spherical balls, such as golf balls, face challenges in reliably and consistently avoiding image distortion due to the rotation and curvature of the ball's surface, leading to unwanted image defects.

Innovation Solution

A method involving precise control of nozzle firing times and ink ejection parameters, including varying nozzle firing times and frequencies based on the center location of pixels relative to the ball's central axis, to ensure ink droplets contact the surface simultaneously, thereby reducing image distortion and defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If single pass printing is used to print images on rotating spherical balls, then productivity is improved due to high throughput speeds, but image distortion occurs due to ball rotation and surface curvature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughput speedVSAvoidimage distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between nozzle position, ball rotation angle, and ink droplet trajectory before printing. This preliminary action allows the control system to compensate for distortion in real-time without slowing down the printing process, maintaining high throughput while achieving accurate image placement on the curved surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention dynamically adjusts nozzle firing timing and ink ejection parameters based on the real-time rotation position of the ball. The system continuously modifies printing parameters during the single pass operation to account for the changing geometry of the rotating spherical surface, enabling distortion-free printing at high speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If single pass printing is used for mass production, then productivity is improved with high throughput speeds, but image defects increase due to challenges in reliably printing on rotating surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass production throughputVSAvoidprinting consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor ball rotation position and ink droplet placement accuracy during the printing process. This feedback allows real-time corrections to be made to nozzle firing timing and ejection parameters, ensuring consistent image quality across all printed balls while maintaining high production speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention systematically varies multiple printing parameters including nozzle firing time, ink ejection velocity, and droplet size based on the specific geometry and rotation state of the ball. These parameter changes are calculated and applied dynamically to ensure reliable printing across the entire range of operating conditions encountered in mass production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12565049B2Single pass printing for spherical balls

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 TAYLOR MADE GOLF CO INC

AI summary

Single pass printing methods designed to reduce or prevent unwanted image distortion and/or image defects when printing on a ball. In some embodiments, the methods can tailor one or more of nozzle firing time, nozzle firing frequency, or ink volume to reduce or prevent unwanted image distortion and/or image defects. Some embodiments are directed to golf balls comprising one or more images printed according to a single pass printing method described herein.