Golf Ball Component Center Shift Reduction via Pre-Cut Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for forming golf ball components often result in center shift due to uneven cooling and shrinking of rubber preps, leading to inadequate concentricity and performance issues in golf balls.
Innovation Solution
The method involves cooling the extrudate before cutting it into shaped preps, using techniques such as cooling jackets and conveyer belts to control the temperature, thereby reducing shrinkage and concavity, and ensuring better concentricity of the golf ball components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the extrudate is cut immediately after extrusion into shaped preps, then the manufacturing process is faster and simpler, but center shifting occurs which adversely affects the concentricity of the core and the resulting golf ball
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by cooling the extrudate before cutting it into shaped preps. The cooling step is performed in advance before the cutting operation, allowing the material to stabilize its shape and reduce shrinkage that would otherwise cause center shifting during and after cutting. This preliminary cooling action prevents the concavity formation that leads to concentricity problems.
2Manufacturing precision
If the extrudate is cooled before cutting into shaped preps, then concentricity and center alignment are improved, but the manufacturing process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the temperature of the extrudate through cooling before cutting. By adjusting the cooling parameters (temperature reduction from extrusion temperature to a lower temperature range), the material's physical properties change, allowing it to maintain its shape better during cutting and reducing subsequent shrinkage. This temperature parameter control achieves improved concentricity while managing the time required for cooling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces concavity in golf ball components, improving the concentricity of the finished golf balls, resulting in more consistent shot dispersion and increased durability.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the extrudate, wherein the component prep has a second temperature that is less than the first temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods of reducing center shifting of golf ball components, which, in turn, improves concentricity of the resulting golf balls. The methods include extruding a golf ball component material through an extruder to form an extrudate having a first temperature, cutting the extrudate at a second temperature to form a component prep, and molding the component prep into the golf ball component. The preps formed by the methods of the present disclosure include surfaces having reduced or no concavity.