GB2167965A

GB2167965A - Apparatus for covering playball cores

Info

Publication number: GB2167965A
Application number: GB08430668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Edward Bogdan; Alan Leslie Walshaw
Original assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Current assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Priority date: 1984-12-05
Filing date: 1984-12-05
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: DE3542554A1; JPS61137571A; ZA858241B; FR2573987A1; GB8430668D0

Abstract

An apparatus for covering a spherical playball core with twelve identical pentagonally-shaped cover pieces, the apparatus comprising: (a) one or more storage members (10...19) for the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces (20...29); (b) dispensing means associated with each storage member (10...19) to dispense the cover pieces therefrom; (c) twelve applicator tubes (30...39) symmetrically positioned around the periphery of the spherical playball core (70); (d) a transporting member (60...69) associated with each storage member (10...19) and adapted to transport one pentagonally-shaped cover piece to each of the twelve applicator tubes (30...39); (e) twelve applicator members (50...59), each applicator member being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (30...39) and adapted to place one pentagonally-shaped cover piece in contact with the surface of the spherical core (70); (f) actuation means associated with each of the twelve applicator members (50...59); and (g) one or more positioning members to support the playball core (70) to receive the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces (20...29). The operation of the apparatus can be fully automated (e.g. by means of conveyors, programmable logic controllers and "pick-and-place" devices). The apparatus is particularly adapted for covering tennis-ball cores with cover pieces of cloth.

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Covering Playball Cores This invention relates to an apparatus for covering playball cores and in particularto an apparatus for covering a spherical playball core with twelve identical pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the production of playballs of the type described and claimed in our co-pending UK Patent Application No. 2124504A.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for covering a spherical playball core with twelve identical pentagonally-shaped cover pieces, the apparatus comprising: (a) one or more storage members for the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces; (b) dispensing means associated with each storage member (a) to dispense the cover pieces therefrom; (c) twelve applicator tubes, symmetrically positioned around the periphery of the spherical playball core; (d) a transporting member associated with each storage member (a) and adapted to transport one pentagonally-shaped cover piece to each of the twelve applicator tubes (c); (e) twelve applicator members, each applicator member being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (c) and adapted to place one pentagonally-shaped cover piece in contact with the surface of the spherical core;; (f) actuation means associated with each of the twelve applicator members (e); and (g) one or more positioning members to support the playball core to receive the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

The storage members (a) are suitably of pentagonal configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, twelve storage members (a) are provided, each being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (c) and being provided with its own transporting member (d).

Alternatively, there may be only one or two storage members, in which case the transporting members (d) associated therewith will comprise a manifold system.

Preferably, the cross-sectional area of each storage member (a) is such as substantially to accommodate the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

When twelve storage members (a) are provided, these are conveniently about 1 metre in iength, this length being sufficient to accommodate about 300 of the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

The dispensing means (b) is adapted to operate in a programmed manner and this may suitably be achieved by the application of pressurised air to the end of the storage members (a) opposite the end from which the cover pieces are dispensed.

Dispensing of individual cover pieces from the storage members (a) can be attained by means of pulsating air-pressure.

The applicator tubes (c) are symmetrically positioned around the periphery of the spherical playball core. Each tube (c) is provided with a radially-extending slot to receive a pentagonallyshaped cover piece transversely across the section of the tube (c).

The transporting member (d) associated with each storage member (a) may suitably comprise a slider. Preferably, the slider is so shaped as to conform to at least two adjacent edges of a pentagonally-shaped cover piece whereby each said cover piece is maintained in correct orientation during transportation.

Each applicator member (e) suitably comprises a piston adapted to slide within its associated applicator tube (c). Each piston can be retracted within its associated applicator tube (c) to a position axially behind the radially-extending slot. One or more of the pistons may be provided with means to apply a vacuum thereto when the piston is in contact with a pentagonally-shaped cover piece. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the twelve applicator tubes (3) are disposed in a vertical plane relative to the playball core, whereby at least six of the pistons require the application of a vacuum thereto to hold the cover pieces in contact therewith against the pull of gravity.

Preferably, the surface of each piston which is to contact the pentagonally-shaped cover piece is of arcuate longitudinal section. The piston should moreover have a smaller transverse cross-sectional area than that of the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces and a preferred cross-sectional configuration for the piston is one corresponding to the inscribed circle of each pentagonally-shaped cover piece.

The actuation means (f) associated with each piston can suitably comprise a pneumaticallyoperated plunger member.

The positioning members (g) are suitably disposed within the apparatus so as to support the spherical playball core about opposite poles.

Preferably, there is provided a plurality of positioning members to support the spherical playball core, these being distributed symmetrically about each pole of the core.

For example, three positioning members can be provided to support the core about each pole and these are suitably distributed so as to coincide with three of the angular apices of a pentagonal cover piece.

Alternatively, five positioning members, distributed so as to coincide with all five angular apices of a pentagonal cover piece, can be provided to support the core about each pole.

For optimum support of the core, each positioning member (g) is directed along a radius of the spherical core and extends towards its centre.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of positioning members (g) about each pole of the spherical playball core comprises a set and the two sets are adapted to move together, in a complementary manner, inwardly and outwardly along radii of the core. This will be necessary to permit adjustment of the apparatus so as to receive spherical cores of different sizes, as well as to permit loading and removal of the core during operation of the apparatus.

Each positioning member (g) in a set can, in a further preferred embodiment, abut and extend from the angled face of one of a pair of ring members, said ring members having an axis of rotation which is coincident with and moveable along the polar axis of the spherical core, whereby each set of positioning members (g) can be caused to move together, inwardly and outwardly along radii of the core. Thus, the two ring members are moveable, towards and away from each other, in a complementary manner, whereby the axis of each positioning member (g) will pass through a point corresponding to the notional centre of the core and the end of each positioning member (g) will lie upon the notional surface of the core.

Complementary movement of the ring members can be achieved, for example, by suitable threading.

Alternatively, each ring member can be attached to one of a pair of mutually-moveable platens.

Movement of the ring members can, if desired, be controlled by electronic means, for example a programmable logic controller.

The playball cores can be placed in position in the apparatus by means of a known "pick-and-place" device, optionally associated with a conveyor. Thus, the operation of the apparatus can be fully automated. In addition, the operation of the apparatus can include, if desired, a cleaning stage.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic side-elevation of apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged, exploded view on line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side-elevation of a portion of the apparatus according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like parts.

Referring to Figure 1, a plurality of storage members (ten are shown: 10, 11, 12. .19) are arranged symmetrically about an adhesive-covered spherical playball core 70. The storage members contain pentagonally-shaped cover pieces shown schematically at 20,21, 22...29. Sequential feeding of the cover pieces from the storage members is obtained by means of pulsating air-pressure applied in the direction of arrows A.

Associated with each storage member is an applicatortube 30,31,32...39 and each tube is provided with a radially-extending slot 40,41, 42...49 and an applicator member 50,51, 52...59 respectively.

Also associated with each storage member is a transporting member 60, 61, 62.. .69 which serves to transfer individual cover pieces from the storage member to the applicator tube via the radiallyextending slot.

The applicator member 50, 51, 52...59 comprises a piston which, when viewed in longitudinal section, has an arcuate face. At least those pistons which are above the notional equatorial line of the core 70 (i.e.

60, 61, 62, 68 and 69) are provided with means (not shown) to apply a vacuum thereto so as to hold the cover pieces in contact with the piston against the pull of gravity.

In Figure 2, there is shown schematically, the operation of a transporting member.

Storage member 10 is of pentagonal configuration when viewed end-on and is of such dimensions as substantially to contain cover piece 20. The transporting member comprises a slider 60, the configuration of which is such as to conform to two adjacent edges of the cover piece 20, so that the said cover piece is maintained in the correct orientation during transportation.

The cover piece 20 is introduced into the applicator tube 30 via a radially-extending slot (not shown in Figure 2).

Referring now to Figure 3, the spherical playball core 70 is supported about opposite poles by means of positioning members (four are shown: 80,81 and 82, 83). Each positioning member comprises a pin capable of being urged into abutment with the surface of the core 70 and each pin being directed along a radius of the core and towards its centre.

Each set of pins (80, 81 and 82, 83) is located on the angled faces (9:, 92 and 101, 102) of respective ring members 90 and 100. Means (not shown) are provided to move towards and away from each other, in a complementary fashion, the ring members 90 and 100.

Claims

1. An apparatus for covering a spherical playball core with twelve identical pentagonally-shaped cover pieces, the apparatus comprising: (a) one or more storage members for the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces; (b) dispensing means associated with each storage member (a) to dispense the cover pieces therefrom; (c) twelve applicator tubes, symmetrically positioned around the periphery of the spherical playball core; (d) a transporting member associated with each storage member (a) and adapted to transport one pentagonally-shaped cover piece to each of the twelve applicator tubes (c); (e) twelve applicator members, each applicator member being associated with one of the twelve applicator tubes (c) and adapted to place one pentagonally-shaped cover piece in contact with the surface of the spherical core; (f) actuation means associated with each of the twelve applicator members (e); and (g) one or more positioning members to support the playball core to receive the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which each storage member (a) is of pentagonal configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the cross-sectional area of each storage member (a) is such as substantially to accommodate the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the dispensing means (b) operates in a programmed manner.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, in which the dispensing means (b) comprises pulsating airpressure.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each applicator tube (c) is provided with a radially-extending slot to receive a pentagonally-shaped cover piece transversely across the section of the tube (c).

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each transporting member (d) comprises a slider.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, in which the slider is so shaped as to conform to at least two adjacent edges of a pentagonally-shaped cover piece, whereby each said cover piece is maintained in correct orientation during transportation.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each applicator member (e) comprises a piston adapted to slide within its associated applicator tube (c).

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, when dependant upon Claim 6, in which each piston can be retracted within its associated applicator tube (c) to a position axially behind the radially-extending slot.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, in which one or more of the pistons is provided with means to apply a vaccum thereto when the piston is in contact with a pentagonally-shaped cover piece.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, in which at least six of the pistons are provided with means to apply a vacuum thereto.

13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, in which the surface of each piston which is to contact the pentagonally-shaped cover piece is of arcuate longitudinal section.

14. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, in which each piston has a smaller transverse cross-sectional area than that of the pentagonallyshaped cover pieces.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, in which the cross-sectional configuration of each piston corresponds to the inscribed circle of the pentagonally-shaped cover pieces.

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the positioning members (g) support the spherical playball core about opposite poles.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, in which a plurality of positioning members is provided to support the spherical playball core, said positioning members being symmetrically distrubuted about each pole of the core.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 16 or 17, in which three positioning members are provided to support the core about each pole, said three positioning members coinciding with three of the angular apices of a pentagonally-shaped cover piece.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 16 or 17, in which five positioning members are provided to support the core about each pole, said five positioning members coinciding with the five angular apices of a pentagonally-shaped cover piece.

20. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 16 to 19, in which each positioning member (g) is directed along a radius of and extends towards the centre of the core.

21. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, in which the plurality of positioning members about each pole of the spherical playball core comprises a set and the two sets are adapted to move together, in a complementary manner, inwardly or outwardly along radii of the core.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 21, in which each positioning member in a set abuts and extends from the angled face of one of a pair of identical ring members, said ring members having an axis of rotation which is coincident with and moveable along the polar axis of the spherical playball core, whereby each set of positioning members can be caused to move together, inwardly or outwardly along radii of the core.

23. Apparatus for covering a spherical playball core, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.