Golf Ball Mold Vent Pin Layout for Low-Flash Molding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball molding processes suffer from production defects such as weld marks and flash due to inadequate venting of gases, leading to poor surface quality and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball mold design with support and vent pins that allow for precise gas release, featuring small clearances and strategic pin placements to minimize flash formation while maintaining durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clearance between pins and pin holes is increased to vent gases, then gas venting is improved, but flash formation increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the gas venting function into multiple segments by adding both support pins and vent pins distributed across the mold cavity. This segmentation allows gas to escape through multiple smaller clearances rather than requiring one or two large clearances, thereby reducing flash formation while maintaining effective gas venting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pin types are assigned different functions: support pins hold the core in position with minimal clearance, while vent pins provide dedicated gas escape paths with optimized clearance. This local differentiation allows each pin type to perform its specific function optimally without compromising overall ball quality.
2Reliability
If the clearance between pins and pin holes is increased to vent gases, then gas venting is improved, but weld marks and surface defects increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vent pin locations segment the gas escape function throughout the mold cavity, allowing gas to vent through many small clearances rather than few large ones. This prevents localized gas compression that causes burn marks and weld defects while maintaining smooth surface quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Vent pins act as intermediary elements specifically designed to facilitate gas escape. These pins provide controlled clearance that serves as an intermediary pathway for gas to exit the mold cavity smoothly, preventing direct contact between trapped gas and the forming ball surface that would cause defects.
3Reliability
If the number of vent pins is increased to improve gas venting, then gas escape is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mold structure achieves multi-functionality by integrating both support pins (for core positioning) and vent pins (for gas escape) into a unified pin system. This universal approach allows the same basic pin structure to serve multiple functions, reducing overall device complexity compared to having separate support and venting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the support and venting functions into a coordinated pin system where support pins and vent pins work together. By combining these functions into a integrated approach rather than separate systems, the overall mold structure complexity is reduced while achieving effective gas venting.
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
The mold enables smooth gas venting, reducing flash and weld marks, resulting in high-quality golf balls with improved surface finish and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the pin holes for the support pins have a clearance that allows gases generated within the spherical cavity during injection molding to be released to the exterior
Implementation Method 2
defects known as 'burn marks' caused by the adiabatic compression of gases at the interior also arise
Data Source
AI summary
A vertically separating two-part golf ball mold having a spherical cavity, support pins and support pin holes for disposing a core in the cavity and vent pins and vent pin holes is designed so as to reduce flash formation, allow gases generated during molding to reliably escape to the exterior and enable golf balls having a good surface state to be obtained without lowering the ball durability.