EP0601861A1 - Procédé de fabrication d'une balle de golf - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication d'une balle de golf Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0601861A1
EP0601861A1 EP93309922A EP93309922A EP0601861A1 EP 0601861 A1 EP0601861 A1 EP 0601861A1 EP 93309922 A EP93309922 A EP 93309922A EP 93309922 A EP93309922 A EP 93309922A EP 0601861 A1 EP0601861 A1 EP 0601861A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
paint
golf ball
coat
thickness
coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93309922A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0601861B1 (fr
Inventor
Kiyoto Maruoka
Kuniyasu Horiuchi
Yoshikazu Yabuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd filed Critical Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd
Publication of EP0601861A1 publication Critical patent/EP0601861A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0601861B1 publication Critical patent/EP0601861B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/12—Special coverings, i.e. outer layer material
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/0022—Coatings, e.g. paint films; Markings
    • A63B37/00222—Physical properties, e.g. hardness
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B45/00—Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
    • B05B5/025—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
    • B05B5/04—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements, i.e. spraying being also effected by centrifugal forces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a golf ball which can stably elicit the carrying or flight properties of the dimples on the ball, and a method of manufacturing the same.
  • a golf ball has its surface covered with a coating formed from both enamel paint and clear paint, or clear paint alone, so that the ball may keep a clean outer appearance and prevent dirt from depositing thereon.
  • the golf ball is formed on its surface with depressions, called dimples, which are intended to help produce certain carrying properties of the ball.
  • the present invention is directed to overcoming the above mentioned problems of the prior art, and accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a golf ball including a surface coat capable of stably eliciting the carrying properties of dimples.
  • the present invention provides a golf ball having a surface covered with a paint coating having a thickness in the range of from 5 to 60 ⁇ m, the ratio of the maximum to the minimum coat thickness being in the range of from 1 to 2, so that the carrying properties of dimples can be stably brought out.
  • a coat of paint of such uniform thickness is formed by supplying a paint to which a voltage of more than 50,000 V to a disc revolving at a velocity of more than 15,000 rpm for atomization, and coating the atomized paint onto the surface of the golf ball.
  • the thickness and thickness uniformity of the paint coating covering the surface of the golf ball will be discussed.
  • the coating When the thickness of the coating is less than 5 ⁇ m, the coating lacks durability and its gloss will be lost as a result of several strokes given to the ball.
  • the coating thickness is more than 60 ⁇ m, even if the coating is uniformly effected, the dimples lose their pre-coat configuration with the result that their carrying properties will change.
  • the thickness of the coating is within the range of from 5 to 60 ⁇ m, preferably within the range of 10 to 30 ⁇ m.
  • the ratio of the maximum to the minimum coating thickness represents the degree of uniformity of the coat. When the ratio is greater than 2, the uniformity of the coat is lost, and dimples lose their pre-coat configuration, which results in changes in the carrying properties of dimples.
  • Air gun painting is known as a painting method for forming a coat of paint.
  • a paint to which a voltage of more than 50,000 V has been applied is supplied to a disc revolving at a speed of more than 15,000 rpm for atomization, and the atomized paint is coated onto the surface of the golf ball to form a paint coating.
  • the paint is supplied to a disc which is rotating at such a velocity of more than 15,000 rpm for atomization of the paint, fine paint particles can be obtained, so that the coating at the edge portion of each dimple can be formed to a thickness similar to that at the other portion of the dimple.
  • a uniform coating that has a thickness in the range of from 5 to 60 ⁇ m, with the ratio of the maximum to the minimum coat thickness being less than 2.
  • the voltage applied to the paint is more than 50,000 V, preferably more than 80,000 V, more preferably 90,000 to 120,000 V.
  • the speed of rotation of the disk is preferably more than 15,000 rpm, more preferably 25,000 to 35,000 rpm.
  • the surface of the golf ball to which the paint coating is to be applied is previously coated with an electroconductive agent so as to readily enable the ball to adsorb charged paint particles.
  • an electroconductive agent a quaternary amine or the like is preferred which will adsorb airborne moisture after it is coated on the golf ball.
  • the charged paint particles are applied so that they enclose the golf ball; and it is especially preferred that they are applied from the lower portion of the ball. Also, it is preferred that the golf ball is kept in rotation during the coating process.
  • Fig. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a dimple and its periphery on the surface of a golf ball of the invention.
  • Two-piece golf balls each comprising a core formed by vulcanizing a rubber composition, and a cover formed principally of an ionomer rubber, the core being covered with the cover.
  • the speed of ball rotation during the process of electrostatic painting was 50 rpm. After painting, each ball was dried at a temperature of less than 50 °C. for 24 hours. In cases C, D and G, for the purpose of electrostatic painting, the surface of the ball was previously coated with Plaslac Electroconductive Agent NC (trade name ; available from Cashew Co.) that had been diluted with isopropyl alcohol to a concentration of 1 %. In cases E and F for air gun painting, the pressure applied during the painting process was 2 kg/cm2.
  • Coating amounts on sample balls were: 200 mg one minute after coat application, in each of cases C to E; 100 mg in case F; and 500 mg in case G.
  • H, I, J, K represent the following positions.
  • the height of the flight trajectory of each hit ball is expressed by the angle which a straight line connecting between the highest point of the trajectory and the point of hitting makes with the horizontal.
  • balls of Examples 1 to 4 are all satisfactory in appearance and within a coat thickness range of 5 to 60 ⁇ m, with a maximum coat thickness / minimum coat thickness ratio registered lower than 2, which shows good uniformity of coat thickness. Therefore, as Table 2 shows, balls of Examples 1 to 4 exhibited a greater carry than balls of comparison examples having corresponding numbers of dimples, stably eliciting the potential flight performance of dimples.
  • balls of Comparison Examples 1 to 8 are all unsatisfactory in appearance and, although balls of Comparison Examples 1 to 7 are within a coat thickness range of 5 to 60 ⁇ m anyhow, they have a maximum to minimum coat ratio greater than 2, showing lack of coat thickness uniformity.
  • Comparison Example 8 in which the coat thickness is particularly large, dimples of each ball have lost their pre-coat configuration and, therefore, the flight performance or carrying property of the ball is rather low as shown in Table 2.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
EP93309922A 1992-12-09 1993-12-09 Procédé de fabrication d'une balle de golf Expired - Lifetime EP0601861B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP352542/92 1992-12-09
JP4352542A JPH06170014A (ja) 1992-12-09 1992-12-09 ゴルフボールおよびその製造方法

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0601861A1 true EP0601861A1 (fr) 1994-06-15
EP0601861B1 EP0601861B1 (fr) 1997-02-12

Family

ID=18424777

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93309922A Expired - Lifetime EP0601861B1 (fr) 1992-12-09 1993-12-09 Procédé de fabrication d'une balle de golf

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0601861B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH06170014A (fr)
AU (1) AU676216B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69308111T2 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0661103A1 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-05 Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited Procédé pour revêtir des balles de golf
GB2290991A (en) * 1994-07-04 1996-01-17 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Golf ball with coating of paint including polymer gel particles
WO2002028485A3 (fr) * 2000-10-02 2003-01-09 Taylor Made Golf Co Balle de golf comportant une couche intermediaire mince et procedes de fabrication associes

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7819761B2 (en) 2005-01-26 2010-10-26 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf ball having cross-core hardness differential and method for making it
US8211976B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2012-07-03 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Sports equipment compositions comprising a polyurethane, polyurea or prepolymer thereof and a polyfunctional modifier
US8096899B2 (en) 2007-12-28 2012-01-17 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf ball comprising isocyanate-modified composition
US8629228B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-01-14 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Ionomer compositions for golf balls
US8575278B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2013-11-05 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Ionomer compositions for golf balls
US8674023B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-03-18 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Ionomer compositions for golf balls

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4802674A (en) * 1986-03-17 1989-02-07 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf ball
US4871589A (en) * 1987-09-26 1989-10-03 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Method of coating a golf ball
JPH02131786A (ja) * 1988-11-11 1990-05-21 Bridgestone Corp 回転体の表面処理装置

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4532148A (en) * 1983-04-01 1985-07-30 General Motors Corporation Robot painting system for automobiles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4802674A (en) * 1986-03-17 1989-02-07 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf ball
US4871589A (en) * 1987-09-26 1989-10-03 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Method of coating a golf ball
JPH02131786A (ja) * 1988-11-11 1990-05-21 Bridgestone Corp 回転体の表面処理装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 014, no. 363 (C - 0746) 7 August 1990 (1990-08-07) *

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0661103A1 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-05 Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited Procédé pour revêtir des balles de golf
US5506004A (en) * 1993-12-29 1996-04-09 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Method for coating golf balls
EP0911087A1 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1999-04-28 Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. Procédé pour revêtir des balles de golf
GB2290991A (en) * 1994-07-04 1996-01-17 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Golf ball with coating of paint including polymer gel particles
AU690271B2 (en) * 1994-07-04 1998-04-23 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Coated golf ball
GB2290991B (en) * 1994-07-04 1998-04-29 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Coated golf ball
US5789486A (en) * 1994-07-04 1998-08-04 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Coated golf ball
WO2002028485A3 (fr) * 2000-10-02 2003-01-09 Taylor Made Golf Co Balle de golf comportant une couche intermediaire mince et procedes de fabrication associes
US7001286B2 (en) 2000-10-02 2006-02-21 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf ball having thin intermediate layer and methods of manufacture
US7687116B2 (en) 2000-10-02 2010-03-30 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Method for making a golf ball having a thin intermediate layer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5219893A (en) 1994-06-23
DE69308111T2 (de) 1997-06-05
JPH06170014A (ja) 1994-06-21
AU676216B2 (en) 1997-03-06
EP0601861B1 (fr) 1997-02-12
DE69308111D1 (de) 1997-03-27

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