FR2878754A1 - Golf club head cleaning machine for use in club house, has unit descending club head in bag during rotation cycle of bag, making head to remain in bag during cleaning period and raising head above liquid level during end of cycle - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a bag (2) containing a cleaning liquid and including a cleaning unit (4) e.g. brush set, for cleaning a club head. A frame (6) is disposed above the bag for allowing three degrees of freedom for golf clubs. A unit descends the club head in the bag during rotation cycle of the bag, makes the head to remain in the bag during cleaning period, and raises the head above the liquid level during end of the cycle. An independent claim is also included for a method for cleaning a golf club head.

Description

Machine for cleaning the heads of golf clubs

  TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the technical sector of golf club head cleaning and in particular to an automatic machine or device for cleaning, in particular golf club heads.

  Technical problem and prior art: It is well known that, when playing golf, the clubs used must be carefully cared for. In particular, at the end of a course or a part, it is advisable to clean the clubs used, and in particular their head, in order to rid them of particles of earth or other dust which could have adhered to it during the game. .

  Traditionally, this is done manually using a brush, which proves particularly tedious.

  However, devices are known for the automatic cleaning of golf clubs. FR-A-2,699,085 has for example described such a device implementing a cylinder, inside which radially outwardly emerge brush hairs, a part of which extends substantially up to the axis of said cylinder, cylinder at which is inserted the golf club head.

  While certainly such a device can rough the cleaning operation, however, it is imperfect, and in addition, some parts of the head of the golf club are not completely cleaned.

  Also described in US-A-5,742,965, an automatic device for cleaning golf club heads, operating on the principle of vending machines.

  Such a device comprises two types of pairs of brushes, one for irons and the other for wood, and is activated by insertion of a coin in a suitable device.

  Again, the cleaning of the golf club head is not satisfactory.

  Other cleaning devices using ultrasonic technology are still known. In addition to the random nature of cleaning, such devices require their actuation by an operator, generating additional cost in terms of operation.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to propose an automatic device of the general type in question, making it possible to optimize the effective cleaning of such golf club heads, to perfectly clean the heads of golf clubs, not to require the use of golf clubs. manual cleaning operations, to operate safely, and this for a production cost of the machine that is compatible with a wide installation in the clubhouse.

  Another machine is known from the patent application FR 2854577 filed on May 7, 2003 (date of publication November 12, 2004) in the name of the Applicant according to which the clubs are secured to a mobile gantry in translation, and comprising a set of rotating brushes at level of the heads of golf clubs. This machine was the subject of a prototype that was unsatisfactory: imperfect cleaning, safety not fully ensured, and prohibitive manufacturing cost (about 13 to 15 k, while the allowable price for the international market would be 3 k).

  Another very notable technical problem is that the machine must perform these operations quickly, otherwise it will not be accepted by the players and the clubhouse, and will not meet the time requirements between each game. An optimal time is 45 seconds.

  Naturally, we will try to load the machine with as many clubs as possible at each cycle, which is another technical problem: indeed, each player can own or use 14 clubs of which 13 are to be cleaned (the putter cleaning itself exclusively by hand). We will therefore seek a loading capacity of in particular 5 to 13 clubs cycle, preferably 7 to 10.

  The skilled person will have understood that the cleaning of golf club heads is made even more difficult because of a wide variety of angles and surfaces, of a wide variety of shapes in a bag of golf balls. 13 clubs, and streaks still present on the ball's striking surface. The cleaning of these streaks is essential because otherwise the effect given to the ball precisely by these striations (compacting of the ball on strike) would become erratic.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the proposed machine uses a circular and rotary cleaning tank, containing a cleaning liquid in which sets of cleaning means operate, in particular rotating brushes.

  Detailed description of the invention

  The invention therefore relates to a machine 1 for cleaning golf clubs, of the type comprising a tank 2 preferably containing a cleaning liquid 3 and cleaning means 4 which operate in said tank and said liquid characterized in that: cleaning tank 2 is circular and rotatable about a vertical axis 5 passing through its center, said rotation defining one or more cleaning cycles, the machine 1 comprises a stationary rack-holder or rack 6, fixed, disposed above said tray 2, on a portion P of its circumference, and - the machine 1 comprises a stationary rack-rack or rack holder 6, arranged above said tray 2, on a portion P of its circumference, and adapted by technical means 7 so that the clubs 8 are placed vertically while maintaining a degree of freedom of movement in vertical translation TV in both directions (upwards and downwards), a degree of freedom of movement in rotation RH autou r of the vertical axis, and preferably a slight freedom of movement pendulum PL (light oscillations around the vertical), these three movements can be driven separately or in combination, under the driving action of said cleaning means 4 , said tray 2 comprises or contains cleaning means 4 adapted to clean the club heads 9, and exert a driving action on the heads 9 according to the degrees of freedom of movement indicated above; the machine further comprises a technical means 10 adapted to lower the club heads 9 in the tray 2 at the beginning (zone Z1) rotation cycle of the tray, leave them during cleaning (zone Z2), then out and the take up (zone Z3) above the level of the cleaning liquid at the end of the cycle.

  According to a particular embodiment, said tank comprises a cleaning liquid generally water and optionally known cleaning additives.

  According to another particular embodiment, said cleaning means 4 are chosen from - sets of rotating brushes 4 each being mounted on a support 11 itself attached to the tray 2, sets of cleaning liquid spraying nozzles on the At different angles, the heads of the ultrasonic applicators are a combination of these means. The sets of rotating brushes will be most clearly preferred.

  Preferably, the sets of brushes 4 each comprise three brushes, each mounted on an independent support 11, and each acting at a different or identical angle from the others on at least a portion of the heads 9.

  According to a particular embodiment, three different sets of brushes 4, each mounted on a support, that is to say a lower brush 12, and two lateral brushes 13 and 14 exerting a lateral brushing effect on the head 9, the brushes 13 and 14 being either horizontal or inclined relative to the horizontal.

  Preferably, 3 sequences of these three different games are used, for a total of nine sets of brushes, for a machine capable of quickly and effectively cleaning 5 clubs in each loading / cleaning cycle.

  According to a particular embodiment, said technical means 7 of the rack allowing the club 8 to retain the freedom of movement indicated above simply consist of supports 7 having a notch whose spacing E is sufficiently greater than the diameter D of the club handle to allow said freedoms of movement, while being sufficiently weak to maintain said handle.

  A foam rack system or the like may be employed.

  It can be seen from Figure 2 in particular that the head of the club can move in the three degrees of freedom mentioned, and undergo in these three degrees of freedom at the same time the action of the force of gravity (TV) and the action of brushes 4 or other cleaning means (TV, RH, PL); as can be seen, the club head 9 rests on the lower brush 12 when, according to the most preferred embodiment, it exists in all sets of brushes.

  This allows the optimal and automatic orientation of club heads, according to the three dimendions, under the driving action including brushes 4, this optimal orientation may vary from one set of brushes to another.

  It will be noted that the brushes always exert at least a slight downward force on the head 9, because of the geometry of said head and in particular of its striking surface, which is known to be inclined and always open at an angle of 7. at 64 0. Thus, automatically, said head will be slightly pressed against the lower brush 12, so with maximum efficiency without too much wear of the brushes, because the head opposes, thanks to its degrees of freedom, little resistance to the action of the brushes.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the sets of brushes are adjacent such that the lower brushes 12 are sufficiently close to each other, or even substantially adajacentes, to form a receiving belt 18 heads 9 (see operation, ci- Below) According to a preferred embodiment, said technical means 10 adapted to perform a cleaning cycle lies in the fact that the bottom 15 of the tray 2 comprises or has a particular profile 16 as shown in the appended FIG. 3, which is a developed from this profile.

  According to a particular embodiment, said profile comprises a flat horizontal zone Z1 loading clubs in the rack, located above the level of the cleaning liquid 3, - then a break 17 which can be vertical and is anyway suitable for that during the rotation of the tray 2, the heads 9 fall by gravity (TV movement) (ZP diving zone) one after the other in the tray, that is to say on, in particular, the sets of brushes 4 which preferably form a receiving mat 18, then a substantially horizontal zone Z2 for washing and cleaning (particularly brushing in the case of use of brushes) with the automatic and optimal spatial orientations by the movements TV, RH, PL, - then a ramp or head up zone 9 (reverse TV movement) (the ramp acting as a cam) which brings the clubs Z1 area which will serve as unloading area before a new load.

  According to a particular embodiment, and quite preferred, the zone Z3 and possibly part of the zone Z1 (this possibility has been represented under the zone ZS) comprises drying means 19 of the club heads 9.

  In particular, nozzles and jets of compressed air acting at different angles are used so as to scan all the surfaces of each head; optimally, two air knives are used, that is to say two thin blades of compressed air.

  Compressed air can also be blown from below zones Z3 and Z1 (naturally only in the zone forming ZS) for example by slots.

  Variations of such profiles are shown in FIG. 4: (a) that the bottom 20 of the zone Z2 can be of sinusoidal shape (or similar soft or angular shape) so as to force a reciprocal vertical movement TV in combination with the action of the brushes; this bottom may also be simply grooved (see d)) so as to print the heads a low amplitude vibration to help detach the embedded particles; or again, b) or d), the end of zone Z3 may comprise a projection or bead 21 so as to cause the head to fall from one to a few centimeters, upon its arrival on the receiving zone Z1, to help by this slight shock to detach the drops of water and therefore to better dry.

  There is also a profile c) in soft corbs which is possible but occupies a little more space.

  Those skilled in the art will understand that these variants can be used in combinations, as well as other variants which will appear to him immediately on reading this description.

  According to another embodiment, said technical means 10 adapted to carry out a cleaning cycle resides in the fact that the clubs are fixed on a rack fixed in rotation but movable in translation according to the vertical (TV movement of the rack), said translation being controlled either by a set of cams controlled by a profile as described above, or by position sensors and an electronic driving a motor, the objective being as above to dive, let clean, then raise the heads of clubs according to the cycle also described above; the skilled person will consider other equivalent variants. All, however, will be more complex and therefore more expensive to manufacture and in terms of maintenance.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 represents a machine 1 according to the invention, in lateral section: machine comprises a side wall container 2 containing a cleaning liquid 3, preferably water; according to this example, said tray is suspended by known mechanical means to the machine frame by means of the geared motor unit 40 which causes its rotation about its axis 5; on the walls and the bottom of the tray are fixed supports 11 which themselves bear, in this non-limiting example, cleaning brushes 4; the clubs 8 (5 according to this preferred but non-limiting example) are deposited with their head 9 without particular orientation by the players on the bottom of the zone Z1 by opening a door 45 tilting or pivoting or sliding etc ..., optionally recalled by a cylinder 46 of the type reminiscent of motor vehicle trunks; For the record, we recalled the three degrees of freedom for each TV club RH and PL. ; the rack 6 with its means 7 for holding the clubs in place can be fixed on the door as shown here, according to a non-limiting variant; the door is closed and the cycle can begin with possibly electrical or other security associated with the closing of the door and prohibiting any start of the rotation of the door open and any opening of the door during the rotation of the tray. A return spring check valve system 50 allows the bin to be emptied by gravity. A level sensor can alert if the level of liquid in the tank is too low; we then readjust the level. This can be automated as well.

  According to a particular embodiment, and preferably, a blower or turbine 60 makes it possible to blow compressed air around the heads 9 at the end of the cycle as described above, either by nozzles blowing air or by nozzles forming, preferably two air knives, either by slots in the bottom of the zone Z1 under the heads 9, or a combination of such means. Optionally an additive can also be sprayed or sprayed around the golf heads (for example an alcohol) just before the first drying medium in order to accelerate it, but this stresses the cost of operation, of course.

  Figure 2, which consists of Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, shows three sets of cleaning brushes forming a preferred subassembly 70-brushes; we will place in the tray 2, 3, 4, .... such subsets depending on the dimensions, and therefore the desired loading capacity. 3 such subassemblies of brushes correspond to a load capacity of 5 clubs and this represents an excellent compromise dimension (footprint) / cost / capacity; it is seen that in this preferred embodiment, the walls 2 of the tray and its bottom bear supports 11 which are attached respectively three brushes 12 and 13 side and 12 bottom or bottom. In this preferred but nonlimiting example, there is always a lower brush 12 and the side brushes 12 and 13 are either inclined or horizontal.

  FIG. 3 represents a preferred but non-limiting example developed of the bottom profile 16 of the tray 2, this profile being framed by the lateral surfaces 15 of the tray 2. The heads 9 are placed on the bottom of the zone Z1, these fall into the liquid at the beginning of rotation of the tank, zone ZP, by the rupture of level 17 (arrow showing the fall by gravity or diving), the head being preferably received by adjacent bottom brushes 12 to form a carpet of reception 18, the heads are cleaned at the zone Z2 by the brushes, then the ramp of the zone Z3 gradually returns them to the starting zone Z1, which ends the cycle; it can be seen that at the zone Z3 (partly that is to say above the level of the liquid) and at least the beginning of the reception zone Z1, drying means have been placed here as non-limiting examples of nozzles 19 blowing compressed air and possibly a system of fan slots 230 under the heads.

  FIG. 4, which consists of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, shows the same profile of FIG. 3 according to variants: FIG. 4A zone Z2 with corrugated bottom; Figure 4b, boss 21 between the zone Z3 and Zone 1 to help drying by a slight drop of the head; Figure 4 c profile entirely in gentle curves; Figure 4 d boss 21 and bottom of the zone Z1 grooved or grooved to create small vibrations of the head.

  Those skilled in the art will understand that combinations of these variants are possible, one being represented in FIG. 4 d.

  FIG. 5, which consists of FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, shows very schematically a cleaning cycle in an example with 5 clubs of capacity and comprising 4 subassemblies of brushes 70 according to FIG. 2 (we saw that three such subsets could suffice for a capacity of 5 clubs): We see that the rack 6 is fixed (attached to the machine frame, possibly associated with the loading door) and receives 5 club heads 100 , 110, 120, 130 and 140 in any angular orientation (it is important both for the comfort of the player and for the speed of the process that the clubs do not have to be accurately positioned at loading).

  The circular tray 2 is rotatable in the direction indicated, as described above.

  The main zones of its bottom profile 16 are represented, that is to say Z1, rupture 17 (ZP), cleaning zone Z2 and ramp Z3.

  In Figure 5a, clubs are simply loaded and undirected.

  In Figure 5b the tank begins to rotate and the first two clubs 100 and 110 fell by gravity (TV movement), the heads being received by the brushes 4 which automatically orient them; the cleaning of these two heads begins. The other three clubs, 120, 130 and 140 are still in zone Z1.

  In FIG. 5c, all the clubs are in the cleaning position by the subassemblies of brushes 70.

  In Figure 5d, the ramp Z3 is bringing back the first two clubs 100 and 110 to the zone Z1 that is to say, to take them up out of the cleaning liquid. The other clubs 120, 130 and 140 are still in the cleaning phase. FIG. 5 d shows a drying ramp 200 comprising nozzles 19 for blowing air, as well as slits 230 for blowing drying air from below, in a non-limiting manner in the form of a sinusoid or similar curve .

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, and non-limiting examples below.

EXAMPLES:

  A 4 mm thick thermoformed plastic prototype was made for the tank, for a capacity of five clubs, with an outer diameter of 790 mm tray comprising 3 subassemblies of brushes 70 according to FIG. 2 a + b + c .

The liquid is water.

  The bottom 16 of the tray profile is HDPE (high density polyethylene) for a compromise wear resistance / cost / hardness. It may optionally provide a rubber-like coating easily removable by simply clipping on the bottom 16, and inexpensive, not to damage the underside of the heads.

  For a capacity of respectively 10 and 13 clubs the diameter would be respectively 950 mm and 1500 mm.

  We see that the machine is very compact.

  Solutions such as mechanosolding or molded polyester shells would be possible but more expensive.

  The invention also covers all the embodiments and all the applications which will be directly accessible to the person skilled in the art upon reading the present application, of his own knowledge, and possibly of simple routine tests.

Claims (14)

13 Claims   1 golf club cleaning machine 1, of the type comprising a tank 2 preferably containing a cleaning liquid 3 and cleaning means 4 which operate in said tank and said liquid characterized in that: said cleaning tank 2 is circular and rotatable around a vertical axis 5 passing through its center, said rotation defining one or more cleaning cycles, - the machine 1 comprises a stationary rack-holder or rack rack 6, fixed above said tray 2, on a portion P of its circumference, and adapted by technical means 7 so that the clubs 8 are placed vertically while maintaining a degree of freedom of movement in vertical translation TV in both directions (upwards and downwards), a degree of freedom of movement in rotation RH about the vertical axis, and preferably a slight freedom of movement pendulum PL (slight oscillations around the vertical), these three movements can be driven separately or in combination, under the driving action of said cleaning means 4, said tray 2 comprises or contains cleaning means 4 adapted to clean the heads 9 of clubs, and exercise a driving action on the heads 9 according to the degrees freedom of movement indicated above; the machine further comprises a technical means 10 adapted to lower the club heads 9 in the tray 2 at the beginning (zone Z1) rotation cycle of the tray, leave them during cleaning (zone Z2), then out and the take up (zone Z3) above the level of the cleaning liquid at the end of the cycle.   2 Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that said tray comprises a cleaning liquid generally water and optionally known cleaning additives.   3 Machine according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said cleaning means 4 are selected from - sets of rotating brushes 4 each being mounted on a support 11 itself attached to the tray 2, sets of spray nozzles cleaning liquid on the heads 9 from different angles - ultrasonic applicators a combination of these means 4 Machine according to claim 3 characterized in that the sets of brushes 4 each comprise three brushes, each mounted on an independent support 11, and each acting at a different or identical angle from the others on at least a portion of the heads 9.   Machine according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that three different sets of brushes 4 each mounted on a support, that is to say a lower brush 12, and two lateral brushes 13 and 14 exerting a cooling effect are used in sequence. side brushing on the head 9, the brushes 13 and 14 being either horizontal or inclined relative to the horizontal.   Machine according to Claim 5, characterized in that three sequences of the three different sets are used, ie a total of nine sets of brushes, for a machine capable of rapidly and efficiently cleaning 5 clubs at each loading / cleaning cycle.   7 Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that said technical means 7 of the rack allowing the club 8 to retain the freedom of movement indicated above simply consist of supports 7 having a notch whose spacing E is sufficiently greater than the diameter D of the club handle to allow said freedom of movement, while being sufficiently weak to maintain said handle.   8 Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the head of the club can move in the three degrees of freedom, and undergo under these three degrees of freedom at a time the action of the force of gravity ( TV) and the action of the brushes 4 or other cleaning means (TV, RH, PL) with the club head 9 which rests on the lower brush 12, which achieves an optimum and automatic orientation of the head.   9 Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the sets of brushes are adjacent such that the lower brushes 12 are sufficiently close to each other or substantially adjoining, to form a receiving mat 18 heads 9.   Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that said technical means 10 adapted to perform a cleaning cycle lies in the fact that the bottom 15 of the tray 2 comprises or has a particular profile 16.   11 Machine according to claim 10 characterized in that said profile comprises a flat horizontal zone Z1 loading clubs in the rack, located above the level of the cleaning liquid 3, then a break 17 which can be vertical and is anyway adapted so that during the rotation of the tray 2, the heads 9 fall by gravity (TV movement) (ZP diving zone) one after the other in the tray, that is to say, in particular, the games of brushes 4 which preferably form a reception mat 18, then a substantially horizontal zone Z2 for washing and cleaning (in particular brushing in the case of use of brushes) with the automatic and optimal spatial orientations by the movements TV, RH, PL, - Then a ramp or recovery area of the heads 9 (reverse TV movement) (the ramp acting as a cam) which brings the clubs Z1 area that will serve as unloading area before a new load.   12 Machine according to claim 10 or 11 characterized in that the zone Z3 and possibly part of the zone Z1 (this possibility has been represented under the zone ZS) comprises drying means 19 of the club heads 9.   13 Machine according to claim 12 characterized in that as drying means is used nozzles and jets of compressed air acting at different angles so as to scan all the surfaces of each head and optimally we use two air knives c i.e. two thin blades of compressed air.   Machine according to Claim 12, characterized in that compressed air is blown from below the zones Z3 and Z1 (only in the zone forming ZS), for example by slots.   Machine according to any one of claims 10 to 14 characterized in that a) the bottom 20 of the zone Z2 may be sinusoidal (or similar shape soft or angular) so as to force a reciprocal vertical movement TV in combination with the action of the brushes; this bottom may also be simply grooved (see d)) so as to print the heads a low amplitude vibration to help detach the embedded particles; or again, b) or d), the end of zone Z3 may comprise a projection or bead 21 so as to cause the head to fall from one to a few centimeters, upon its arrival on the receiving zone Z1, to help by this slight shock to detach the drops of water and thus to better dry, or a profile c) in soft curves.   Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 15 characterized in that said technical means 10 adapted to carry out a cleaning cycle lies in the fact that the clubs are fixed on a stationary rack rotating but movable in translation according to the vertical ( TV movement of the rack), said translation being controlled either by a set of cams controlled by a profile according to any one of claims 12 to 15, or by position sensors and an electronic driving motor, to dive, let clean , and then raise the clubheads according to said cycle 17 Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 16 characterized in that it comprises at least one and preferably several, including three sets of cleaning brushes forming a subset 70 of 9 brushes, including three brushes 12 and 13 side and a brush 12 bottom or bottom.   18 Method for cleaning golf club heads using a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 17 characterized in that, with a bottom profile 16 of the tray 2 which is framed by the side surfaces 15 of the tray 2 , the heads 9 are placed on the bottom of the zone Z1, they fall into the liquid during the beginning of rotation of the tank, zone ZP, by the rupture of level 17 (arrow shows the fall by gravity or diving), the head being preferably received by adjacent bottom brushes 12 to form a receiving mat 18, the heads are cleaned at the zone Z2 by the brushes, then the ramp of the zone Z3 gradually returns them to the zone Z1 of departure , which ends the cycle and in that at zone Z3 (above the level of the liquid) and at least beginning of the reception zone Z1, the heads are dried by drying means or nozzles 19 blowing out of the water. compressed air and possibly a system fan slots 230 under the heads.