JPS59131375A - Golf ball sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a golf ball sorting device.

Recently, golf balls have been manufactured in nine types of various materials. There are cases where two or more types of golf balls are manufactured in assembly lines, and in that case, there is a risk that different types of balls may be mixed into the product and shipped.

Conventionally, in order to avoid the mixing of different types of balls, golf balls have been sorted using the operator's ears to identify them by the bouncing sound made when they fall onto the floor or the like.

In particular, ionomer balls and balata balls that have undergone the stamping process cannot be distinguished with the naked eye, and the above-mentioned identification by ear requires a high degree of skill.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and is capable of efficiently and without making mistakes, without damaging the golf ball or deteriorating the material of the outer shell.
The purpose is to automatically sort golf balls.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

In Fig. 1, (1) and (1) are two guide rails provided in parallel, which are fixed on the substrate (2) and are used to sequentially roll the golf ball (3) in the direction of the arrow. It is sent while moving. (4) (4) is this guide rail (1) (
1) with two mutually parallel electrodes attached to each
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, electrodes (4) (4) in the form of strips having a predetermined width and length (L) are placed in a predetermined manner. It is provided approximately horizontally at the interval (A). On this electrode (4) (4), golf balls (3) to be sorted are sequentially rolled and passed (5) one by one.

Further, a photoelectric switch (5) is provided on the substrate (2) in close proximity to the upstream end (4a) (4a) of the electrode (4) (4), and the photoelectric switch (5) is still connected to the electrode' (4) (4). ) downstream end (4
b) Another photoelectric switch (6) is provided in close proximity to (4b).

In FIG. 4, the electrode (4) of the sensing section (7) in FIG.
) (4) and the preamplifier (8) constitute a sensor part (9), and detect the value of capacitance (Q) with each golf ball (3) as a dielectric.

As shown in FIG. If (ε) is the capacitance (Q) between two parallel conducting wires (10 ClO), then the golf ball (3
), the dielectric constant (ε) will be different if the material of the cover that forms the outer skin of . Therefore, on the electrodes (4) (4) as shown in Figs.
If two types of golf balls (3)... are rolled one after another, due to the difference in dielectric constant of both materials, as shown in Fig. Capacitance (
Both solid and broken curves for Q are obtained.

If the voltage is converted, the vertical axis in FIG. 5 represents the voltage value. FIG. 9 shows the actual measured values in more detail.

As shown in Fig. 4, the main amplifier (lυ,
A controller part G having a peak hold circuit a2, a gate (1), a discrimination circuit (14), etc. is connected to the sensor part (9), and a photoelectric switch (5) shown in FIG. , 1 (6) is the gate 0 of the controller section 09
Connect to 3. Then, as shown in Figures 4 and 6,
The preset value (1) (I) corresponds to the golf ball material.
I) is determined and can be input to the discrimination circuit 010.

In Figures 1, 4, and 5, first, a golf ball (3
) passes through the phototube (5), the peak hold circuit α is activated via the gate α9 and begins to detect the capacitance 0 between the electrodes (4) (4), and the signal of the sensor part (9) is activated. is input from the main amplifier αυ to the peak hold circuit α, and the maximum value (value) or (value)' in FIG. 5 is held in the circuit a. The ball (3) passes through another photoelectric switch (6) and the detection of that ball (4) ends. The maximum value held (wealth) and the preset value (1) (I
I) are compared and selected by the discrimination circuit +14). In the examples of Figures 6 and 4, C, balata ball region (A), and ionomer ball region.

It is sorted into three stages: area (b), and uncertain area (hi).

When the three-step output signals (A), (B), and (C) are output from the discrimination circuit, the solenoid valve, cylinder, sorting door, etc. (not shown) are operated to move the balls (3)... to a predetermined position. This is to separate the flow into channels and containers.

As mentioned above, the permittivity (ε) of each golf ball (3) differs depending on the material of the cover, and this difference is caused by the difference in the dielectric constant (ε) of the golf ball (3).
As explained in the figure and the above-mentioned formula, the capacitance is detected in the form of 0, and the maximum value MU' is compared with the set values (1) (II) to select the capacitance. By the way, the balls (3) in the uncertain area (c) are to be selected in a re-examination.

However, depending on the device capacity, the fixed set value (I) and (II
) can be brought closer and matched, so that Figures 8 and 10
As shown in the figure, it is also preferable to perform two-stage sorting. In addition,
If three or more types of balls need to be sorted, the above set values (I), (II), etc. may be increased.

Note that the distance (5) between the electrodes (4) (4) in FIGS. 1 to 3 is suitably about 6 to 8 mm. Then, the ball (3) is rolled while touching the electrode (4),
It is important to let them pass (5) without dancing. However, since the ball (3) has dimples, the electrode (4) (4) must have a relatively large length dimension (L) so that the maximum value MIIJ' is accurate and reproducible. Furthermore, in order to stabilize the discrimination function of this sorting device, it is desirable to have a sensor self-calibration function.

As described in detail above, the present invention has two parallel electrodes,
The golf balls to be sorted are sequentially rolled one by one, and a part of the sensor detects the capacitance value of each golf ball as a dielectric, and the capacitance value of each golf ball as it passes through the electrode is detected. Since the configuration is such that a discriminating circuit compares and selects the value and a preset setting value, the conventional method (a) requires manufacturing different types of golf balls at completely different locations; b) It took a lot of effort to match the number of balls.
(C) It is necessary to double-check when switching lines or supplying the line, (d) It requires a high level of skill to identify by the bouncing sound, and (e) Balls may be soiled or damaged. Ta. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily establish a production line for a wide variety of products in a limited space, and it is also possible to automatically and reliably sort balls without errors, thereby achieving a significant efficiency improvement in sorting work. It is something. Moreover, there is no physical or chemical influence on the balls during sorting, and the entire device can be made simple in structure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of main parts, Fig. 3 is a front view of main parts, Fig. 4 is a block diagram, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows the relationship between ball movement and capacitance (voltage).
Fig. 6 is a diagram showing setting values and selection categories, Fig. 7 is a model diagram explaining the basic formula of capacitance, and Fig. 8 is a block diagram of main parts of another embodiment of a part of Fig. 4. , FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of actually measured values corresponding to FIG. 5, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing classification by t of another embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6. (3)...Golf ball, (4)...Electrode, (9)
... Say? Part, circle...discrimination circuit, (C1...capacitance, (goods) (goods)'...maximum value, (■)(n)・
...Setting value. Patent applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Figure 9 - Ruri Kaminyo η1 Figure 8 ζ Honriki (?;l4t) Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] / The golf balls to be sorted are sequentially rolled one by one on two parallel electrodes, and the value of capacitance with each golf ball as a dielectric is detected by a part of the sensor, and each A golf ball sorting device characterized in that a discrimination circuit compares and selects the maximum value of golf balls passing through the electrodes and a preset value.