JP6870863B2 - How to make a softball baseball with a built-in sensor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor in which a sensor capable of measuring a motion state is arranged inside, and a method for manufacturing the softball baseball with a built-in sensor.

Conventionally, a ball having a built-in sensor is known for measuring a motion state such as a ball speed, rotation, and relative position of the ball. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a ball with a built-in sensor including a core containing hardware including a 9-axis sensor and a leather outer skin that covers the circumference of the core by winding a thread in the same manner as a normal baseball ball. Has been proposed.

Japanese Patent No. 6186544

However, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to a softball baseball whose outer skin is made of rubber, a sensor is arranged in a hollow portion of the softball baseball, and the weight and hardness become larger than those of a normal softball baseball. However, there was a problem that the grip was uncomfortable.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a softball baseball with a built-in sensor having a weight and hardness comparable to those of a normal softball baseball.

The present invention is a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor, which is arranged inside the ball and has a sensor unit for measuring the motion state of the ball and a support for fixing the sensor unit to the center of the ball. It includes a portion and an outer skin portion made of rubber arranged around the support portion, and the thickness of the outer skin portion is smaller than the rubber thickness of a ball officially recognized by the All Japan Softball Baseball Federation.

In the softball baseball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, it is desirable that the thickness of the outer skin portion is 1 to 8 mm.

In the softball baseball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, it is desirable that the outer skin portion has a one-layer structure.

In the sensor-embedded softball baseball of the present invention, it is desirable that the support portion includes a sponge having a hollow portion for accommodating the sensor portion.

In the softball baseball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, the hardness of the sponge is preferably 40 to 90 as measured by a type E durometer.

The present invention is a method for manufacturing a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor, in which a support portion forming step of forming a support portion in which a sensor portion for measuring a moving state of the ball is arranged is formed, and around the support portion. It is characterized by including an outer skin part forming step of forming an outer skin part made of rubber having a thickness smaller than the rubber thickness of a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association.

In the method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, the support portion forming step includes a split support piece forming step of forming a split support piece divided into at least two, and the sensor portion at the center of the split support piece. It is desirable to include a sensor unit accommodating step for accommodating the above and a divided support piece joining step for joining the plurality of the divided support pieces to each other.

In the method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, the support portion forming step includes a support portion preparation step of setting the sensor portion at the center of the support portion forming mold and a liquid material is injected around the sensor portion. It is desirable to include a support portion injection step and a support portion curing step of cross-linking and curing the liquid material.

In the method for manufacturing a soft baseball ball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, the exodermis forming step includes a hemispherical exodermis forming step of forming a pair of hemispherical exodermis and a sensor at the center of the pair of hemispherical exodermis. It is desirable to include a support portion accommodating step of accommodating the support portion in a state of supporting the portions, and a hemispherical exodermis portion joining step of joining the pair of the hemispherical exodermis portions to each other.

In the method for manufacturing a soft baseball ball with a built-in sensor of the present invention, the outer skin portion forming step is an outer skin portion arranging step of arranging the unvulcanized rubber of the outer skin portion around the support portion in a state where the sensor portion is supported. It is desirable to include a step of vulcanizing the outer skin portion for vulcanizing the unvulcanized rubber arranged around the support portion.

The softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor of the present invention is arranged inside the ball and has a sensor portion for measuring the motion state of the ball, a support portion for fixing the sensor portion to the center of the ball, and a support portion. The thickness of the outer skin portion is smaller than the rubber thickness of the ball officially recognized by the All Japan Softball Baseball Federation, including the outer skin portion made of rubber arranged around the support portion.

In such a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor, the weight and hardness of the outer skin portion can be made smaller than the weight and hardness of the rubber portion of the ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. Therefore, the weight and hardness of the softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor of the present invention including the sensor portion and the support portion can be made comparable to that of a normal softball baseball ball such as a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. ..

The method for manufacturing a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor of the present invention includes a support portion forming step of forming a support portion in which a sensor portion for measuring the motion state of the ball is arranged inside, and an all-Japan softball baseball association around the support portion. It includes an outer skin forming step of forming an outer skin made of rubber having a thickness smaller than the rubber thickness of a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association.

Such a method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor is a softball baseball with a built-in sensor whose weight and hardness including the sensor part and the support part are the same as those of a normal softball baseball such as a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. The ball can be manufactured with high accuracy.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a support part. It is an exploded perspective view of the exodermis part. It is a flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the manufacturing method of the soft baseball ball with a built-in sensor of this invention. It is a flowchart of a support part formation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows one aspect of the support part forming process. It is a flowchart of the outer skin part formation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows one aspect of the exodermis part formation process. It is a flowchart of the support part formation process of another embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows one aspect of the support part forming process of another embodiment. It is a flowchart of the exodermis part formation process of another embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows one aspect of the exodermis part formation process of another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a softball baseball ball 1 having a built-in sensor according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor of the present embodiment includes a sensor unit 2 for measuring the motion state of the ball and a support unit 3 for fixing the sensor unit 2 to the center of the ball. , The outer skin portion 4 made of rubber arranged around the support portion 3 is included. It is desirable that the sensor unit 2 is arranged inside the ball. Such a softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor can accurately measure the motion state of, for example, a ball moving in the air.

The thickness t of the outer skin portion 4 of the present embodiment is smaller than the rubber thickness of the ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. Here, the rubber thickness of the Japan Softball Baseball Association official ball is the rubber part of the softball baseball manufactured to satisfy the diameter, weight, repulsion and 20% compression load specified as the Japan Softball Baseball Association official ball. It means rubber thickness.

In such a softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor, the weight and hardness of the outer skin portion 4 can be made smaller than the weight and hardness of the rubber portion of the ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. Therefore, the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor of the present embodiment has the same weight and hardness as a normal softball baseball ball such as a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association, including the sensor portion 2 and the support portion 3. can do.

In a more preferred embodiment, the sensor unit 2 includes a well-known motion sensor. The motion sensor includes, for example, a 3-axis acceleration sensor, a 3-axis angular velocity sensor, and a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor. It is desirable that the sensor unit 2 has a function of transmitting data measured by the motion sensor to an external measuring means of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor via a communication means.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the support portion 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 3 includes, for example, a sponge 3a formed in a substantially spherical shape with the sensor portion 2 included. The sponge 3a of the present embodiment has a hollow portion 3b for accommodating the sensor portion 2 (shown in FIG. 1). The hollow portion 3b is formed in a spherical shape as a whole, for example. Such a support portion 3 can fix the sensor portion 2 to the center of the ball while suppressing an increase in weight.

The sponge 3a of the present embodiment is formed of a pair of substantially hemispherical split support pieces 3c. The split support pieces 3c are joined to each other by, for example, an adhesive. In such a sponge 3a, it is easy to form a hollow portion 3b having high shape accuracy, and the sensor portion 2 can be accurately fixed to the center thereof.

The sponge 3a is formed containing, for example, at least one of vulcanized rubber, vinyl acetate or polyurethane. The vulcanized rubber is appropriately selected from, for example, nitrile rubber, natural rubber, styrene / butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene / propylene rubber and the like. Among these, it is particularly desirable that the sponge 3a is formed containing a nitrile rubber containing a phenol resin. It is also desirable that the sponge 3a is formed containing polyurethane. It is easy to set the hardness and specific gravity of such a sponge 3a, and the weight and hardness of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor will be the same as that of a normal softball baseball ball such as the Japan Softball Baseball Association official ball. Useful.

The hardness of the sponge 3a is preferably 4 to 100, more preferably 40 to 90, as measured by a type E durometer. Such a sponge 3a can fix the sensor portion 2 to the center of the ball and make the hardness of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor about the same as that of a normal softball baseball ball.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the exodermis portion 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the exodermis portion 4 of the present embodiment has a one-layer structure. It is desirable that the exodermis portion 4 has a hollow portion 4a for accommodating the support portion 3. Such an exodermis portion 4 can reduce the manufacturing cost as compared with the rubber portion of a normal softball baseball which generally has a two-layer structure.

It is desirable that the outer skin portion 4 is made of the same material as the outer layer portion of the rubber portion of a normal softball baseball, which generally has a two-layer structure. Such an exodermis portion 4 is useful for forming a softball baseball ball 1 having a built-in sensor having the same tactile sensation as a normal softball baseball ball.

The thickness t of the outer skin portion 4 is preferably 1 to 8 mm, more preferably 2 to 7 mm. Such an outer skin portion 4 can appropriately set the weight and hardness of the sensor built-in softball baseball ball 1, and as a result, the sensor built-in softball baseball ball 1 including the sensor portion 2 and the support portion 3 The weight and hardness can be made to the same level as a normal softball baseball.

It is desirable that the thickness t of the outer skin portion 4 is smaller than the rubber thickness of the outer layer portion of the rubber portion of a normal softball baseball, which generally has a two-layer structure. The weight and hardness of such an outer skin portion 4 can be further reduced, and the weight and hardness of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor can be reduced to the same level as that of a normal softball baseball ball such as the Japan Softball Baseball Association official ball. Helps to do.

The exodermis portion 4 of the present embodiment is formed of a pair of hemispherical hemispherical exodermis portions 4b. The hemispherical exodermis 4b are joined to each other by, for example, an adhesive. Such an exodermis portion 4 makes it easy to form a hollow portion 4a having high shape accuracy, which helps to accurately fix the sensor portion 2 to the center of the softball baseball ball 1 having a built-in sensor.

Next, a method of manufacturing the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of manufacturing the softball baseball ball 1 having a built-in sensor according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the method for manufacturing the sensor-embedded softball baseball 1 of the present embodiment includes a sensor portion preparation step S1, a support portion forming step S2, and an outer skin portion forming step S3.

In such a method of manufacturing a softball baseball ball with a built-in sensor, the weight and hardness of the softball baseball ball 1 including the sensor portion 2 and the support portion 3 are similar to those of a normal softball baseball ball such as a ball officially recognized by the Japan Softball Baseball Association. The built-in softball baseball 1 can be manufactured with high accuracy.

In the method of manufacturing the sensor-embedded softball baseball 1 of the present embodiment, first, the sensor unit preparation step S1 for preparing the sensor unit 2 is performed. In the sensor unit preparation step S1, for example, the sensor unit 2 including a well-known motion sensor or the like is prepared. In such a sensor unit preparation step S1, an appropriate sensor unit 2 can be selected according to the measurement mode of the motion state of the ball.

In the method for manufacturing a softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor of the present embodiment, a support portion forming step S2 for forming a support portion 3 in which the sensor portion 2 is arranged is performed after the sensor portion preparation step S1. In the support portion forming step S2, for example, the support portion 3 is formed by forming a sponge 3a around the sensor portion 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the support portion forming step S2, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing one aspect of the support portion forming step S2. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the support portion forming step S2 of the present embodiment, the split support piece forming step S21 for forming the split support piece 3c divided into at least two is performed.

In the split support piece forming step S21, for example, a pair of substantially hemispherical split support pieces 3c are formed. The split support piece 3c may be formed, for example, by a mold having that shape, or may be formed into that shape by machining. It is desirable that the split support pieces 3c have a hollow portion 3b capable of accommodating the sensor portion 2 at the center when they are joined to each other. The hollow portion 3b of the present embodiment is formed in a hemispherical shape on each of the divided support pieces 3c. Such a split support piece forming step S21 can accurately form the outer shape of the split support piece 3c and the shape of the hollow portion 3b, and is useful for fixing the sensor portion 2 to the center thereof.

In the support portion forming step S2 of the present embodiment, the sensor portion accommodating step S22 for accommodating the sensor portion 2 in the center of the divided support piece 3c is performed after the split support piece forming step S21. In the sensor unit storage step S22, it is desirable that the sensor unit 2 is stored in the hollow portion 3b of the split support piece 3c. In the sensor unit storage step S22, for example, the sensor unit 2 and the divided support piece 3c may be adhered to each other by an adhesive. Such a sensor unit accommodating step S22 is useful for accurately fixing the sensor unit 2 to the center of the support unit 3.

In the support portion forming step S2 of the present embodiment, after the sensor portion accommodating step S22, a split support piece joining step S23 for joining a plurality of split support pieces 3c to each other is performed. In the split support piece joining step S23, it is desirable that an adhesive is applied to the joint surface 3d of the split support piece 3c to join them to each other. In such a split support piece joining step S23, the support portion 3 in which the sensor portion 2 is fixed to the center thereof can be easily formed.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the manufacturing method of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor of the present embodiment, after the support portion forming step S2, the rubber thickness of the ball certified by the Japan Softball Baseball Association is larger than that around the support portion 3. The outer skin portion forming step S3 for forming the outer skin portion 4 made of rubber having a small thickness t is performed. In such an outer skin forming step S3, it is possible to form a softball baseball ball 1 having a built-in sensor having the same tactile sensation as a normal softball baseball ball.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the exodermis portion forming step S3, and FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing one aspect of the exodermis portion forming step S3. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the exodermis portion forming step S3 of the present embodiment, a hemispherical exodermis portion forming step S31 for forming a pair of hemispherical exodermis portions 4b is performed.

In the hemispherical exodermis portion forming step S31, for example, the hemispherical exodermis portion 4b may be formed by a mold capable of forming a hollow hemisphere, or may be formed into a hollow hemisphere by machining. In such a hemispherical exodermis portion forming step S31, the surface forming the hollow portion 4a of the exodermis portion 4 can be smoothly formed, the support portion 3 can be held accurately, and the sensor portion 2 is sensored. It is useful for fixing to the center of the built-in softball baseball ball 1.

In the outer skin portion forming step S3 of the present embodiment, next to the hemispherical outer skin portion forming step S31, the support portion accommodating step S32 for accommodating the support portion 3 in a state of supporting the sensor portion 2 at the center of the pair of hemispherical outer skin portions 4b. Is done. In the support portion accommodating step S32, for example, the support portion 3 and the hemispherical exodermis portion 4b may be adhered with an adhesive. Such a support portion accommodating step S32 is useful for accurately fixing the sensor portion 2 to the center of the softball baseball ball 1 with a built-in sensor.

In the outer skin portion forming step S3 of the present embodiment, after the support portion accommodating step S32, a hemispherical outer skin portion joining step S33 for joining the pair of hemispherical outer skin portions 4b to each other is performed. In the hemispherical exodermis joining step S33, it is desirable that an adhesive is applied to the joining surface 4c of the hemispherical exodermis 4b to join them to each other. In such a hemispherical exodermis joining step S33, the sensor-embedded softball baseball 1 in which the sensor portion 2 is arranged at the center can be easily formed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the support portion forming step S4 of another embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing one aspect of the support portion forming step S4. The support portion forming step S4 of this embodiment can be adopted in place of the support portion forming step S2 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the support portion forming step S4 of this embodiment, the support portion preparation step S41 for setting the sensor portion 2 at the center of the support portion forming mold 6 is performed.

It is desirable that the support portion forming mold 6 includes at least two support portion split molds 6a. At least one of the support portion split molds 6a includes, for example, at least three pins 7 capable of supporting the sensor portion 2. The sensor portion 2 of the present embodiment is supported by the pin 7 and is arranged at the center of the support portion forming mold 6. In such a support portion forming mold 6, the support portion 3 in which the sensor portion 2 is arranged at the center thereof can be formed with high accuracy.

In the support portion forming step S4 of this embodiment, after the support portion preparation step S41, a support portion injection step S42 for injecting a liquid material around the sensor portion 2 is performed. In the support injection step S42, for example, liquid polyurethane is injected. In such a support portion injection step S42, the material of the support portion 3 can be efficiently supplied.

In the support portion forming step S4 of this embodiment, the support portion curing step S43 for cross-linking and curing the liquid material is performed after the support portion injection step S42. In the support curing step S43, it is desirable to foam the liquid material when it is crosslinked and cured. In such a support portion curing step S43, the sponge 3a in which the sensor portion 2 is fixed to the center thereof can be formed accurately and easily.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the exodermis portion forming step S5 of another embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing one aspect of the exodermis portion forming step S5. The exodermis portion forming step S5 of this embodiment can be adopted in place of the exodermis portion forming step S3 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the outer skin portion forming step S5 of this embodiment, the outer skin portion in which the unvulcanized rubber of the outer skin portion 4 is arranged around the support portion 3 in a state where the sensor portion 2 is supported is arranged. The placement step S51 is performed.

In the outer skin portion arranging step S51, it is desirable to dispose unvulcanized rubber having a substantially constant thickness t around the support portion 3. In such an exodermis portion arranging step S51, since the rubber for forming the exodermis portion 4 can be arranged in an unvulcanized state, the exodermis portion 4 can be arranged accurately and easily.

In the outer skin portion forming step S5 of this embodiment, after the outer skin portion arranging step S51, the outer skin portion vulcanization step S52 for vulcanizing the unvulcanized rubber arranged around the support portion 3 is performed. In the outer skin vulcanization step S52, it is desirable that the unvulcanized rubber arranged around the support portion 3 in the outer skin arrangement step S51 is housed inside the outer skin vulcanization mold 8 which can be divided into a plurality of parts. .. In such an exodermis vulcanization step S52, the exodermis 4 can be integrally molded with the sensor portion 2 included therein, so that the softball baseball 1 with a built-in sensor having excellent durability is formed. Can be done.

The exodermis vulcanization die 8 includes, for example, at least two exodermis split dies 8a. It is desirable that the vulcanized mold 8 for the outer skin is closed after the unvulcanized rubber is stored and vulcanized at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. In such an exodermis portion vulcanization step S52, since the exodermis portion 4 is vulcanized and molded with the support portion 3 included inside, the exodermis portion 4 and the support portion 3 can be reliably fixed and exercised. The measurement accuracy of the state can be improved.

Although the particularly preferable embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified into various embodiments.

1 Softball baseball with built-in sensor 2 Sensor part 3 Support part 4 Exodermis part

Claims (5)

It is a manufacturing method of a softball baseball with a built-in sensor.
A support part forming step of forming a support part in which a sensor part for measuring the motion state of the ball is arranged inside,
Wherein the periphery of the support portion, seen including a sheath portion forming step of forming a sheath portion made of rubber,
In the support portion forming step, the support portion is formed by a sponge having a hollow portion for accommodating the sensor portion.
The support portion forming step is
A split support piece forming step of forming a split support piece divided into at least two,
A sensor unit storage process for accommodating the sensor unit in the center of the divided support piece, and
Including a split support piece joining step of joining a plurality of the split support pieces to each other.
How to make a softball baseball with a built-in sensor. The method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor according to claim 1, wherein the split support piece forming step forms the hollow portion in each of the split support pieces in a hemispherical shape. The method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor portion accommodating step adheres the sensor portion and the divided support piece with an adhesive. The exodermis forming step is
A hemispherical exodermis forming step of forming a pair of hemispherical exodermis,
A support portion accommodating step of accommodating the support portion in a state of supporting the sensor portion in the center of the pair of the hemispherical exodermis portions, and a support portion accommodating step.
The method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a step of joining the pair of hemispherical exodermis portions to each other. The exodermis forming step is
A step of arranging the exodermis portion in which the unvulcanized rubber of the exodermis portion is arranged around the support portion in a state where the sensor portion is supported, and
The method for manufacturing a softball baseball with a built-in sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a step of vulcanizing an outer skin portion that vulcanizes the unvulcanized rubber arranged around the support portion.

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