Acushnet Company

Mark Roger Verronneau

Thomas L Mydlack

Nicholas M Nardacci

Michael R Madson

Christopher Cavallaro

Paul A Puniello

Thomas Edward Moore

Edmund T Maher

David W Sauerbrey

Richard Westgate

Sharon P Easton

Richard T Dix

Glenn R Newell

Universal mold frames for producing multi-piece golf balls are provided. The mold frames include lower and upper frame plates having locator pins that are inserted into corresponding locator slots in the mold cavities. The eccentric pin layout of the frame plates and corresponding slots in the cavities means the cavities can be fitted easily and aligned in the frame plates. The interior surfaces of the mold cavities define a specific dimple pattern such as icosahedron or tetrahedron-based patterns. The mold frames can accommodate cavities having different dimple patterns. A castable liquid polymer, for example, polyurethane is dispensed into the mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form the spherical cover for the ball.

Mold frames and cavities for making dimpled golf balls

The present invention is directed relates to a method of applying a thin thermoset or thermoplastic cover over a golf ball subassembly by simultaneously dispensing polyurethane into multiple molds while using multiple mixers from multiple polyurethane sources. The method employs a continuous conveyor system wherein pre-heated first (top) and second (bottom) mold halves are pre-heated and pre-sorted prior to a polyurethane material being deposited in each mold half, preferably, each mold half comprises four cavities. A rotary table maneuvers the mold halves into position to receive a shot of polyurethane in each cavity. The polyurethane is dispensed from two separate mixers, each mixer having a pair of dispensing nozzles capable of shuttling back and forth between the cavities. To maintain process integrity, it is imperative that polyurethane dispensed into a particular top mold half and the polyurethane dispensed into the corresponding mated bottom mold half be from the same polyurethane mixer. The method of the invention provides a mechanism to maintain that the shot of polyurethane in each mold half is dispensed from the same mixer.

Method of casting urethane for a golf ball cover

The present invention provides an apparatus and system for mixing castable polyurethanes for dispensing into a golf ball mold for application to a golf ball sub-assembly. The apparatus comprises a mixing block for merging together at least two polyurethane components, then a temperature control chamber to remove excess heat that is produced by the exothermic reaction resulting from the mixing of the urethane components. The mixing of the components is by passing the components through a tortuous mixing path created by a disposable static mixer element. The mixed components are dispensed into the golf ball mold by a multiple lead nozzle assembly.

Golf ball mixing and dispensing apparatus

The present invention is an improved mold-half that is useful in forming golf ball covers or other layers. The mold-half is particularly useful for compression molding a thin polyurethane cover over a golf ball formed from a plurality of inner layers. The mold-half includes a cavity and a land area surrounding the cavity. The land area has an upper surface and at least one vent in fluid connection with the cavity via a chamber formed by a recessed circumferential ledge adjacent the cavity. The ledge controls the flow of excess layer material from the cavity to each vent.

Mold-half

Growing community of inventors

Acushnet, MA, United States of America

Mark Roger Verronneau