FR2573987A1 - GAME BODY COATING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A MACHINE FOR COATING SPHERICAL BODIES OF GAME BALLS WITH IDENTICAL COVERING PIECES IN THE FORM OF A PENTAGON. THE PENTAGON SHAPED COVERS 20 ... 29 ARE TRANSFERRED FROM STORAGE ELEMENTS 10 ... 19 THROUGH APPLICATOR TUBES 30 ... 39, FROM A CONVEYOR ELEMENT 60 ... 69 AND APPLICATOR ELEMENTS 50 ... 59, ON THE SURFACE OF THE SPHERICAL BODY 70 OF THE GAME BALL WHICH HAS BEEN COATED WITH ADHESIVE, THE BODY 70 BEING SUPPORTED BY POSITIONING ELEMENTS DURING THE APPLICATION OF THE COVERING PARTS . APPLICATION TO THE COATING OF TENNIS BALLS.

Description

The present invention relates to a body coating machine for

  playing balls and in particular a machine for coating a spherical playing ball body with twelve identical pentagon-shaped cover pieces. The main object of the present invention is to create a machine for the production of game balls of the type described and claimed in U.K.

2,124,504.

  In correspondence, the present invention

  a machine for coating a spherical body of

  playing ball with twelve pieces of recovery identi-

  in the form of a pentagon, the machine comprising: (a) one or more pentagon-shaped cover member storage members;

  (b) a dispensing device associated with each

  storage medium (a) for dispensing the cover pieces therefrom;

  (c) twelve applicator tubes, positioned symmetrically

  around the periphery of the spherical ball body; (d) a conveying element associated with each storage element (a) and adapted to transport a pentagon-shaped cover piece to each of the twelve applicator tubes (c);

  (e) twelve applicator elements, each element

  plier being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (c) and being adapted to place a pentagon-shaped cover piece in contact with the surface of the spherical body; (f) an actuating mechanism associated with each of the twelve applicator members (e); and (g) one or more positioning members for supporting the play ball body to receive the pentagon-shaped cover pieces.

  The storage elements (a) have an appropriate

  owns a pentagon configuration by observing them

in cross section.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

  In this invention, twelve storage elements are provided.

  (a) which are each associated with one of the twelve tubes

  (c) and which are each provided with their own

carrier element (d).

  Alternatively, only one or

  two storage elements, in which case the trans-

  carriers (d) associated with them include a system

collector

  Preferably, the cross-section of each element

  storage medium (a) is arranged substantially

  to adapt to penta-shaped

  Gone. When twelve storage elements (a) are provided, they advantageously have a length of about 1 meter, this length being sufficient to receive

  about 300 pentagon-shaped cover pieces.

  The dispensing device (b) is adapted to operate in a programmed manner and this can be conveniently accomplished by applying compressed air to the end of the storage elements (a), which is opposite the end from which

  cover pieces are distributed. A distribution

  individual covering pieces from the storage elements (a) can be ensured by means of

a pulsating air pressure.

  Applicator tubes (c) are arranged symmetrically

  truncated around the periphery of the spherical ball body. Each tube (c) is provided with a slot

  extending radially to receive a coating part

  well pentagon-shaped transversely in the

section of the tube (c).

  The carrier element (d) associated with each storage element (a) may advantageously comprise a slider. Preferably, the slider is shaped so as to adapt to the shape of at least two adjacent edges of a pentagon-shaped covering piece, each covering piece thus being maintained.

  in a correct orientation during transport.

  Each applicator member (e) suitably comprises a piston adapted to slide in its associated applicator tube (c). Each piston may be retracted into its associated applicator tube (c) into a position axially behind the radially extending slot. One or more of the pistons may be provided with means for applying a depression to them when the

  piston is in contact with a cover

  pentagon-shaped. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the twelve applicator tubes (C) are arranged in a vertical plane with respect to the gaming ball body, so that at least six of the pistons require a depression to be applied thereto. to maintain the cover pieces

  in contact with them in opposition to the force of gravity.

  Preferably, the surface of each piston that comes into contact with the shaped cover

  pentagon has a curved longitudinal section.

  The piston must also have a section surface

  cross-section smaller than that of

  pentagon-shaped cover and a configuration

  preferred cross-section of the piston is that which

  correspond to the inscribed circle of each piece of cover-

pentagon-shaped.

  The actuating mechanism (f) associated with each piston may suitably include a plunger

pneumatically operated.

  The positioning elements (g) are

  fit within the machine so as to support the spherical game ball body between opposite poles. Preferably, a plurality of positioning elements are provided to support the spherical body of the game ball, these elements being distributed symmetrically around each pole.

from the body.

  For example, three positioning elements can be provided to support the body around each pole and these are appropriately distributed so as to coincide with three of the vertices of a room.

  pentagon-shaped cover.

  Alternatively, five positioning elements, distributed so as to coincide with the five vertices of the pentagon of a cover piece, may be

  designed to support the body around each pole.

  For optimal support of the body of the game ball, each positioning element (g) is directed along a radius of the spherical body and extends in the direction of

from its center.

  In a preferred embodiment, the differences

  positioning elements (g) planned around

  each pole of the spherical body of the game ball cons-

  a set and the two sets are adapted

  to move in unison, in a complementary way

  shut, inward and outward along the body's rays. This is necessary to allow adjustment of the machine to receive spherical bodies

  large dimensions, as well as to allow

  and removal of the body during the

machine.

  Each positioning element (g) of a

  it seems possible, in another preferred embodiment, to abut against and extend from the inclined face of one of two annular elements, said annular elements having an axis of rotation which coincides with and moves on the along the polar axis of the body

  spherical, so that each set of posi-

  (g) can move in unison with others, inward and outward along

  body rays. Consequently, the two annulling

  the two axes may be brought together and spaced apart from one another in a complementary manner, the axis of each positioning element (g) passing through a point corresponding to the nominal center of the body, and the end of each

  positioning element (g) being located on the

nominal face of the body.

  A complementary movement of the annulled

  laires can be obtained, for example, by a suitable thread. As a variant, each annular element can

  to be attached to one of two relatively

  is lying. A movement of the annular elements can, if necessary, be controlled by an electronic means,

  for example a programmable logic controller.

  The bodies of game balls can be placed in position in the machine by means of a known device "gripping and positioning" possibly

  associated with a carrier. Consequently, the function

  The machine can be fully automated.

  In addition, the operation of the machine may include,

  if necessary, a cleaning step. -

  Other features and advantages of the

  will be highlighted, in the following

  1, a schematic side elevational view of a machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view on an enlarged scale taken along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevational view of a portion of the machine corresponding to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. On the drawings, numerical references

  identical designates identical parts.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a plurality of storage elements (ten are represented: 10, 11, 12 ... 19) are distributed symmetrically around a

  spherical ball body game 70 covered with adhesive.

  The storage elements contain spare parts

  pentagon-shaped cover, represented schematically

  20, 21, 22 ... 29. A sequential transfer of the cover pieces from the storage elements is provided by means of a pulsating air pressure, exerted in the direction of the arrows A. An applicator tube 30 , 31, 32 ... 39 is associated with each storage element and each tube is provided with a radially extending slot 40, 41,

  42 ... 49 and an applicator element 50, 51, 52 ... 59.

  Each storage element is also associated with a conveyor element 60, 61, 62, 69 which serves to transfer individual covering pieces from the storage element to the applicator tube.

  via the radially extending slot.

  The applicator element 50, 51, 52 ... 59

  takes a piston which, when viewed in longitudinal torque, has a curved face. At least the pistons which are placed above the nominal equatorial line of the body 70 (i.e. 60, 61, 62, 68 and 69) are provided with means (not shown) to apply a vacuum to them to maintain the overlapping parts in contact with the piston in opposition

to the force of gravity.

  In Figure 2, there is shown schematically

  operation of a conveyor element.

  The storage member 10 has a pentagonal configuration when viewed at the end and is sized to substantially accommodate a cover 20. The carrier includes a slider 60, the configuration of which is such that adapts to the shape of two adjacent edges of the cover piece 20, so that said cover piece is held in the correct orientation during transport. The cover piece 20 is introduced into the applicator tube 30 via a radially extending slot (not shown in FIG.

Figure 2).

  Referring now to Figure 3, the spherical body 70 of the game ball is supported around opposing pins by means of positioning elements (four are shown: 80, 81 and 82, 83). Each locating member comprises a pin that can be pushed abutting against the surface of the body 70 and each pin being directed along a body radius

and towards his center. -

  Each set of pins (80, 81 and 82, 83) is placed on the inclined faces (91, 92 and 101, 102) of respective annular elements 90 and 100. Means (not shown) are provided to bring the one of the other, in a complementary way, the elements

annular 90 and 100.

Claims (14)

  1. Machine for coating a spherical body   playing ball with twelve pieces of identical   pentagon-shaped tick, characterized in that it comprises: (a) one or more storage elements (10 ... 19) pentagon-shaped cover pieces (20 ... 29);   (b) a dispensing device associated with each   storage medium (10 ... 19) for distributing the cover pieces (20.   29) from there; (c) twelve applicator tubes (30 ... 39), positioned symmetrically about the periphery of the spherical ball body (70); (d) a conveying element (60 ... 69) associated with each..CLMF: storage element (10 ... 19) and adapted for transmitting   wear a penta-shaped cover   gone to each of the twelve applicator tubes (30 ... 39);   (e) twelve applicator elements (50 ... 59), each element   applicator applicator being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (30 ... 39) and being adapted to place a pentagon-shaped cover (20 ... 29) in contact with the surface of the spherical body (70); (f) an actuating mechanism associated with each of the twelve applicator members (50 ... 59); and (g) one or more positioning members (80 ... 83) for supporting the play ball body (70) to receive the cover pieces by pentagon form (20 ... 29).   2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in   what each storage element (10 ... 19) has a confi-   when it is observed in cross-section, its cross-sectional area being such that it practically enables it to receive the parts   pentagon-shaped overlap <20 ... 29).   3. Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the dispensing device operates in a programmed manner, for example by means of a forced air pressure.   4. Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that each applicator tube (30 ... 39) is provided with a radially extending slot (40 ... 49) for receiving a pentagon-shaped cover piece transversely in the section of the tube (30 ... 39).   5. Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that each conveying element (60 ... 69) comprises a slider which is shaped to fit the shape of at least two adjacent edges of a pentagon shaped cover , to   that each of said cover pieces is now   nude in a correct orientation during transport.   6. Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 5, characterized in that each applicator element (50 ... 59) comprises a piston adapted to slide in its associated applicator tube (30 ... 39) and in that each of said pistons can be retracted inside. its associated applicator tube (39) into a   positioned axially behind the slot extends radially (40 ... 49).   7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that one or more (for example six) of said pistons are provided with means for applying a depression   when the piston is in contact with a exactly in the shape of a pentagon.   8. Machine according to one of claims 6 or 7,   characterized in that the surface of each piston   (50 ... 59) which comes into contact with the   shaped pentagon (20 ... 29) has a curved longitudinal section.   9. Machine according to any one of the claims   6 to 8, characterized in that each piston (50 ... 59) has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the pentagon-shaped cover pieces (20 ... 29),   the cross-sectional configuration of each piston cor-   Responding preferably to the inscribed circle of a room   pentagon-shaped cover.   Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 9, characterized in that the positioning elements   (80 ... 83) support the spherical body (70) of   Play ball around opposite poles.   11. Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that a plurality of positioning elements (80 ... 83) are provided to support the spherical body (70) of game ball, said positioning elements being distributed symmetrically around each pole of   body (70), for example, three positional elements   each coinciding with one of the pentagon's three vertices of a covering piece, ie five positioning elements each coinciding with one of the five   pentagon tops of a piece of cover.   Machine according to one of claims 10 or 11,   characterized in that each positioning element (80 ... 83) is directed along a body radius and extends towards the center of this body.   13. Machine according to one of claims 11 or 12,   characterized in that the plurality of positional elements   placed around each pole of the spherical body (70) of the play ball constitutes a set, and the two sets are adapted to move in unison, ii in a complementary manner, inwardly or   outside along the body's rays.   14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that each positioning element of an assembly abuts against and extends from the inclined face of one of two identical annular elements (90, 100), said elements rings having an axis of rotation which coincides with and is movable along the polar axis of the spherical body (70) of the ball of   each set (80,81,82,83) of posi-   able to move in unison with others, inward or outward. long rays of the body.