US2275440A - Method and apparatus for covering balls - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l March. l0, 1942. w, E, |1Lnvn=-||REYI METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR covERING BALLS Filed Dec. 21, 1959 IFiled Dec. 21, 1959 5 sheets-sheet 2 Rg. R mm m0 N l5 Y R WH ATTORNEYS March 10, 1942. w. E.`HUMPHREY 2,275,440

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING BALLS Filed Dec. 21, y1959 5 sheeislsheer :s

I ENToR 4Q/.TER E. u/qPHREy i @ww ATTORNEYS `March 10, 1942. w. E. HUMPHREY METHOD AND APPARATUS` FOR COVERING BLLS Filed Dec. 2l, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'roR WQLTER E. Hanf/IRE;

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ATTORNEYS March 10, 1942. w. E. HUMPHREY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING BALLS 5v Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l21, 1959 TIT INVENTOR Musk E. Humm-wey ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter Humphrey, Jeannette., Pa. Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,371 32 claims'. (ci. 1514-16) The present invention relates to' the manufacture of balls and particularly tennis balls and with the application of the felt cover sections to the rubber ball core or center. Its object is the provision of a method and apparatus by which the cover piece may be applied by simple mechanical devices, replacing the old hand application.

The present 'invention also provides a new and improved means and method by which the felt cover sections may be uniformly condensed or compacted and at the same time folded and wrapped about the ball center and firmly secured thereon. To attain this end, the i-nvention shown and described herein operates upon a wholly new and different principle from those proposed heretofore by myself or others for applying felt cover pieces to tennis balls.

The present invention consists in bending a cover piece from the flat form in which it is prepared to curved condition around the ball core, the cover piece preferably being condensed or contracted uniformly as it is applied to the ball. The forming and condensing of one felt cover piece is done by a single movement and in order to accomplishl this purpose, there are provided a plurality of blades arranged transversely of ther ing block, so that the felt cover piece is reduced in area and wrapped about the ball core. In order to accomplish this purpose, certain of the blades are flexible or articulated so as to follow the arc described by the cover piece as it goes from at to curved or arched condition around the ball core.

In the embodiment of the invention shown and described herein, one cover piece is placed upon the ball core at a time, as the principles of the invention are embodied and incorporated in this one operation. Also, the device is shown as hand operated. In commercial embodiments of the invention, the two cover pieces could be applied to the ball core from opposite directions simultaneously and the operations performed by mechanically timed and operated mechanisms, thus eliminating all hand work except such as required to feed blanks or ball cores.

The purpose of the present application is to cover the basic principles which are necessarily present in the application of one cover. In the use of the apparatus which is shown, after one cover is applied, the ball may be removed from the forming block and turned so that the second cover is applied in the same manner.

It will be understood that the principles of the invention may be incorporated in many variations and modifications of that shown. v

In the drawings in which a simple form of apparatus for the application of a single cover is shown:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a single unitary machine for applying a cover piece to a prepared tennis ball core;

Fig. 2 isa detail section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showingY the lever mechanism by which the covering blades are operated;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sectional die or forming block, the full lines showing its closed position andV the dotted lines the position taken by the various sections in releasing the covered ball;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectionv taken through the guide block, the'transfer plate and lthe forming block, this view showing the forming blades in their nal position after they have forcedkv the cover piece through the transfer plate and through the throat in the forming block and wrapped it about the ball core;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the'portion of the forming block adjacent the ball core;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6 5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 4,

'showing one of the first pair of articulated forming blades;

Fig. Sis a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4,

showing a second articulated forming blade;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4,

showing a third articulated forming blade;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line lll-I 0 of Fig. 1, showing the cover-piece transfer plate;

Fig. 11 isa section on the line Il ll of Fig. 4, showing the lower ends of the non-jointed forming blades in position on the ball;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2 I2 of Fig. 1, showing the guide plate with all of the forming blades in position;

Fig. 13 is a plan of a transfer plate in which the cover piece is positioned for application to the ball core; n

Fig'. 14 is a view of a cover piece; and

Fig. 15 is a view of a covered ball.

In the making of tennis balls, a hollow, inated rubber core or center l is formed. Over this are placed the two B-shaped felt cover pieces which are indicated by the numerals 2 and 2a and, as is well recognized, the seam between these two cover pieces is a single, continuous, curved line which passes over and around' the ball. In

the manufacture of tennis balls, the flat cover pieces are cut from a felt stock somewhat in excess of the area of the cover piece after it is applied to the finished ball, so that in the application of these cover pieces the operator Ais required to condense or compact the cover pieces in order to cover the ball core. As the practice for many years has been to apply these cover pieces by hand, the result has been that the condensation of the cover pieces has been uneven throughout a ball. It is one of the objects of the present invention to secure, by the simultaneous condensation and application by mechanical means, and evenly distributed condensation of the cover pieces over the ball and thus secure a better balanced ball than can be made by hand.

Referring to Fig. 14, the full line outline is of a typical cover piece in at form, while the inner dotted line 2b represents the area to which the cover pieceis condensed during its application to the ball core.

Before the cover is applied to the ball core, the Cover piece is coated on 'the surface which is against the core with a sticky coating of a rubber or similar cement and the core is similarly coated, so that when the cover is applied labout the ball and pressed in contact therewith, it will stay in position. The cements used are of the vulcanizing type, and after the cover pieces are applied, the ball is given a setting up cure which vulcanizes the rubber cements and completes the adhesion of the cover pieces to the ball core.

Briefly described, the apparatus consists of a forming and core holding block which is segmental and provided at its center with a cavity the size and shape of the finished ball. Around this cavity is a raised, knife-like ridge which follows the path of the seam between the cover pieces and is of -sucient height so that when the ball core is placed within the center of the block and the segments of the block brought together, the ball core will be held securely by this projecting rib. On its upper surface the forming block is cut out to form an opening the shape of the cover and preferably of the size shown by the line 2b of Fig. 14, although, as will be explained, some of the condensation of the cover piece may occur in the passage through the block. The block is formed with a passage or throat leading from the upper stuface of the block to the ball seat, and this passage is shapedso that as the cover piece is arched and folded around the ball core, the edges of the cover piece will be in contact With the walls of the passage until the cover reaches the ball core to which it is attached in the area bounded by the core holding ridge.

Over the block is placed a transfer plate which has a passage, the discharge end of which overlies and is in register with or slightly smaller than the opening in the forming block. The upper end of this passage is slightly greater than the area of the uncondensed cover piece so that the cover piece may be placed therein ready to be transferred to the forming block and thence to the ball core, being condensed in area as it is moved from initial position to final position about the core.

Above the transfer block is the guiding block in which are located the flexible blade-like pushers or forming blades, and associated with these blades is an actuating mechanism by which theblades are moved down through the guiding block, thence through the transfer block, where the felt cover piece is picked up, and thence into the forming block where the continued advance of the blades bends or arches the cover piece and nally wraps it about and adheres it to the ball core.

To guide the blades in their movement, the guiding block, the transfer block and the forming block are provided with grooves or guideways in which the side edges of the blades are received and guided, and in order to bend the cover piece the grooves in the forming block are curved to progressively greater degrees from the center to the ends of the cover piece. Each extreme end blade will be flexed through an arc of 96 or more to bring its working edge from the position at the commencement of its movement to its final position below the center ofthe ball core, and the intermediate blades will be flexed but to lesser degrees up to the center blades which require no flexing.

It will also be noted that the blades at and toward the ends of the cover piece are subjected to such extreme bending operations that they are made in jointed form, while those at the center are not jointed because they are not required to bend beyond a point at which the spring of the metal plate will be sufficient.

In the specific embodiment of the invention which has been chosen for illustration, eleven blades are employed, which are sufficient to distribute the condensing and bending forces over a single cover piece in its transformation from the flat form to the curved form attached to the ball core. The five centrally located blades are not articulated, while the six blades at the ends of the cover piece are jointed.

Having described in general terms the principles of the invention, the following more specific description, taken in connection with the drawings, will make clear the best known and preferred form of machine for carrying out the invention as applied to one cover piece only, it being noted that the principles of the invention may be embodied in a machine for applying both cover pieces simultaneously.

The machine of this application comprises a base or table 5 on which is mounted the forming block 6. At the rear of the table is the upright 8 formed above the table with a bracket IB supporting a pintle Il upon which is mounted the swinging transfer plate I2. To facilitate operations, this plate is made in duplicate, as shown in Fig. 10, so that when one plate is in position over the forming block, the other may be loaded with a new cover piece.

Above the transfer plate is located a bracket I4 to which is attached the guide block l5 in which the gang of forming blades is housed while in upper or inactive position.

At the top of the upright 8 is a bracket I3 in the outer end of which is located a friction sleeve 20 in which is received the shaft 2| which supports and operates the gang of forming blades, the upper end of the shaft having adjustable nuts 22 by which the extent of downward movement of the shaft 2| is controlled. On the shaft 2| below the bracket I3 is another set of adjustable nuts 24 which is for the purpose of limiting the upward movement of the operating arm 25 movable over the lower end of the shaft 2 I.

The arm 25 is extended through a slot 26 in the upright 8 and at the base of the slot is an adjustable plate 28 to limit the downward vmovement; of the arm 25. This series of adjustments permits the operator to control accurately the movement of the blades and accommodates the movement to differences in ball cores, covers or the like.

lThe operating arm is slidably mounted on the enlarged portion of theshaft 2| below the nuts 24 and is forced upwardly against the stops 24 by a coil spring 30 surrounding shaft 2| and received at its lower end in the hollow chamber formed in a large sleeve or head 32 fastened on the lower end of shaft 2l.

Pivoted to the arm 25 at equal distances on either side of the shaft 2| are the depending, double links 34 which are pivoted in turn to arms 35. These arms 35 are pivoted at 36 to the upper end of the head 32, the arrangement thereby providing that as the arm 25 is moved downwardly against the force of the spring 30, the head 32 and the members supported thereby will vmove bodily toward the forming block until the nuts 22 strike the bracket i8. The head will stop, but the arms 35 will swing through a considerable arc about the pivots 35 until the arm 25 strikes the adjustable plate 23. This construction provides for the movement of the entire set of blades until the ve central blades reach their lowermost position, whereupon the outer, articulated blades which are carried by the arms 35 will continue their movement.

Referring particularly to Fig. l2 which shows the upper face of the guiding block; in this machine there are eleven forming blades which are shown in position in their respective slots in the guide block. The central blade is designated as 40, the two on either side of 4U are designated as 4| and the next two as 42. These are the five non-jointed blades which are attached directly to the block 32 and are thin strips of metal received and guided in narrow slots in the guide block. The lower edge of each blade is provided with a cut-out or arc-shaped recess adapted to fit against the ball (see Fig. l1), while the vertical edges are guided in the slots in the guide block, and when the head is lowered the edges of the blades enter the slots 48 in the sidewall of the passage through the transfer plate and thence into the grooves 50 in the forming block. It will also be observed that at the lowermost or applying position, the three blades 40 and 4l are straight, while the blades 42 are bent inwardly slightly so as to conform the cover piece to the ball at the beginning of its curvature from the center of the piece. As the amount of bending of the blades 42 is slight, a light spring metal blade will give the necessary flexibility. The

blades 155 to 42 inclusive are all moved to the same extent, being attached to the head 32.

The remaining six jointed or articulated blades are carried in groups of three on the swinging arms 35 on either side of the non-articulated blades, and as the different blades are spaced pended the rod 52, the lower end of which is formed as a yoke in which is pivotally mounted the block 53 sliding in the passage 43 in the guide block l5 and having wings 54 which slide in the narrow extensions 51 from the passage 43 in the guide block l5. The block 53 is .forked and carries a second pivoted yblock 55 also provided with wings 56 which are guided in the grooves 51. The'lower edge of the block 55 is curved, as at 59, to fit the surface of the ball which it will contact when in its lowermost position (see Fig. 7)

The transfer block I2 has grooves, designated as 60, in which the Wings on the jointed blocks will be received as the gang of blades is lowered, and these grooves in turn register with the grooves 6| in the forming block by which the blades constituted by the lower edges of the blocks 5'5 are guided to their final position substantially radial to the ball core.

As Will be seen by Fig. 4, the arc through which these blades travel is sufficient to require the jointed blade construction.

The next articulated blades 64 are carried by the rods 65 suspended from the links 35 and are received inpassages -62 in the guide block i5. As the .distance which these blades travel is increased and as the curvature of the path is greater, each intermediate blade 64 is made into three jointed sections 63, 51 and 68, each provided with wings to be received in the slots 69 formed as eX- tensions of the passage 62, slots 10 in the transfer plate and slots 1I in the forming block. The lower edge of the block 68 is cut away on an arc to fit the ball, as shown at 72 (Fig. 8).

The end blades are carried by the rods 15 and are received in passages 14 in the guide plate. As these move still further and bend to a still greater extent, each blade is made of four jointed sections 16, 11, 18 and 19, the last named being provided with a curved lower edge to t the ball near the ends of the cover piece. Each jointed section is provided with wings which are received in the slots 13 formed as extensions of the passagey 14, slots in the transfer lplate and slots 8| in the forming block. The slots 8l are curved to the greatest extent of all in order to bring the end of the blade near the point occupied by the end of the cover piece. In order to press down securely the ends of the cover piece, this last member 19 of the articulated blade is provided with three lateral wings or spurs 83, 84 and 85 which are designed to vbear against the extreme end portions of the cover piece and complete the attachment of the cover piece (see Fig. 9). These spurs are guided in channels or ways '85 formed in the guiding block 81 in the transfer plate and S8 in the forming block.

The upper side of the passage in the transfer plate is of the shape and size to receive a cover piece in flat form and is tapered as shown so that as the blades descend in unison, the felt cover piece is forced through the passage, being contracted as it goes until it is forced into the throat of the for-ming block. The continued movement of the blades, those in the center stopping just as soon as the ball is reached and those on the sides constituted by the articulated blades moving to their designated extents, forces the cover piece around the ball and attaches it smoothly to the ball core, and it will be found that the cover piece is uniformly condensed or contracted in its travel. This contraction may all take place in the passage through the transfer plate, or some of the contraction may take place in the forming block.

When one cover piece has been forced into engagement with the ball and Vthe arm 25 raised, the companion transfer plate is moved by the handle 92 into position with its cover piece in place and the second .covering voperation may be been removed and replaced in the forming block with its uncovered area in line with the throat.

The forming or ball-holding block has been designated as a whole by the numeral B. It is made in four sections which, when placed together, constitute a single block, the corners of the sections at the center being cut away to form the throat leading from the 8-shaped opening |0| at the top to the inner, spherical ball cavity |02, the walls of the throat being curved and shaped so that they define the path taken by the edge of the cover piece as it is bent or arched to the position surrounding the ball. The walls of the throat are provided with the several grooves or slots which have been described, which guide the blades in their movement toward the ball cavity. In the ball cavity is the sharp, knife-edged rib |04 which follows the seam about the tennis ball and when the block sections are brought together, the ball core or center is firmly gripped by the continuous rib. This rib is of substantially the depth of the felt cover and it thus defines the space into which the cover piece is forced by the gang of blades. The presence of this rib serves to fix the position of each cover piece and to prevent spreading of the cover piece beyond the limits defined by the rib.

In order to place and remove the ball, the sections of the forming block may be spread apart. In the machine shown, the four sections are moved outwardly from the center sufficiently to free the ball core. For this purpose, the table is provided with four diagonal keyways |08 in which the several blocks move and each block is provided with a pin ||0 which passes through a diagonal slot ||2 in the table and into an appropriate cam slot ||3 formed in circular plate l |5 under the table. The plate ||5 is provided with a central boss IIB about which it rotates and attached to the plate by a pin ||8 is the swinging arm ||9 pivoted at |20 to the ring-shaped retaining flange |22 on the under side of the table 5. As will be observed by an inspection of Fig. 3, when the arm H9 is rocked, the movement of the disk will cause the sections of the forming block to spread apart or draw together about the ball core.

It is believed that the description which has been given is suiiicient to enable the operation of the machine to be understood and only a brief rsum will be attempted. The prepared ball core with its coating of sticky, Vulcanizable cement is placed in the cavity at the center of the forming block, the sections of which are in dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. The arm ||9 is then rocked, bringing the sections of the block together until the ball core is seized and held during the covering operation by the ridge |04, parts of which are on each block section. The prepared cover piece is then placed in the recess in the transfer plate I2 with its cemented side down and that plate moved into position between the guiding block and the forming block.

'I'he arm 25 is then lowered, causing the several blades to move out of the guiding block and into the transfer block when they engage the cover piece and force it iiatwise through the tapered passage and into the passage in the forming block. The unitary movement of all the blades continues until the ve centrally located blades have reached their lowermost point and have attached the central or narrowest portion of the performed after the partially covered ball has cover piece to the ball core. The continued movement of the arm 25 moves the three pairs of outside forming blades to their final positions, the differences in extent of movement of the blades being compensated for by their relative positions from the pivots 36.

When one cover piece has been applied, the block is opened and the ball turned so that the uncovered area is in alignment with the throat or passage in the forming block. When both cover pieces are in place, the ball is ready for the final or setting cure.

To apply both cover pieces at the same time, it is only necessary to duplicate the various elements which have been described on the under side of the forming block.

Other improvements, changes and modifications may be made in adapting the invention to various uses and plant operations, but the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims are intended to be covered herein so as to bring such modifications within the scope hereof. As illustrative of such modifications, the number and construction of the blades may be changed, or the wall or ridge |04 which is composed of four sections, each carried as a segment of the forming block, need not be continuous when the sections of the forming block are brought together.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of covering a ball core with an 8shaped cover piece, comprising holding the core by line contact at the seam between the cover sections and applying a cover piece while the core is so held.

2. The process of covering a tennis ball with an -shaped cover section comprising holding the core of the ball by line contact at the seam between the cover sections and while so holding the core arching a cover section and applying it to the core.

3. The process of covering a tennis ball with -shaped cover sections comprising holding an adhesively-coated ball core by a line contact coinciding with the seam between the -shaped cover sections on the covered ball, and bending a cover section around the ball and applying it to the area defined by the contact.

4. The process of covering a tennis ball with an -shaped cover section comprising holding a ball core so that the area thereof to be covered by an B-shaped cover section is deiined by a wall, pressing a cover section into the area enclosed by the wall and withdrawing the wall to release the ball.

5. vThe process of covering a tennis ball with an 8-shaped cover section comprising holding a ball core so that the area thereof to be covered by an 8-shaped cover section is surrounded and dened by a wall, and bending a flat cover piece and attaching it while in curved form to the surface within the wall and withdrawing the wall to release the ball.

6. The process of covering a tennis ball with an 8-shaped cover section comprising holding a ball core so that the area thereof to be covered by the -shaped cover section is exposed and in a single movement condensing the cover section, bending it from flat to arched form and applying it to the ball core.

7. The process of covering a tennis ball comprising holding a ball core by a line contact coinciding with the edge of a cover section on the finished ball, and while the ball core is so held in a single movement condensing a cover section 'and means to force the flat cover section into and laterally, bending the section and pressing the section on the ball core. l

8. 'Ihe process of covering a tennis ball comprising holding a ball core by a Wall which deiines the area to be occupied by a, cover section, and While the core is so held moving a flat cover section against the ball until thecentral area of the cover is attached to the ball core in the area dened by the Wall.

9. The process of covering a tennis ball comprising holding a ball core by a Wall Which defines the area to be occupied by a cover section, and While the core is so held moving a flat cover section against the ball until the central area of the cover is attached to the ball core, and then bringing the ends of the cover piece against the space on the core defined by the Wall.

10. The process of covering a tennis ball comprising holding a ball core and in a single movement moving a cover section into contact with the ball core and condensing the section laterally.

11. The process of covering a tennis ball comprising holding a ball core and in a single movement moving a cover section into contact with the ball core, condensing the section laterally and bending the cover section about the ball core.

12. Apparatus for applying a cover section to a ball core comprising means for holding the core, means for holding a flat cover section adjacent the ball, a plurality of blades arranged transversely of the cover section, and means to move the blades against the cover section and to transfer it to the ball core.

13. Apparatus for applying a cover section to a ball core comprising means for holding the u core, means for holding a ilat cover section, a

yplurality of blades arranged transversely of the cover section, and means to advance the blades against the cover section and to transfer it to the ball core, the blades near the ends of the cover section having progressively greater travel than the blades nearer the center of the cover section to wrap it about the core.

14. Apparatus for applying a cover section to a ball core comprising a block having a ball cavity therein, means located in the cavity to grip an uncovered ball core, a throat extending from the outside of the block to the cavity, and means to force a cover section through the throat and to arch the cover section during its travel and apply it to the core While in arched form.

15. Apparatus for applying an 8-shaped cover section to a ball core comprising a block having a ball cavity therein, a ridge about the cavity corresponding to the edge of the cover section on the finished ball, the block having a throat lead-f ing from the cavity to the face of the block Where it is of the shape to receive the cover piece in ilattened condition, and means to force the cover piece through the throat and into contact with the area of the core surrounded by the ridge.

16. Apparatus for applying an S-shaped, ilat cover section to a ball core comprising a block having a ball cavity and a throat leading from the face of the block to the cavity, means to hold a ball core at the inner end of said throat, and means to force the flat cover section into and through the throat, arching it during the passage so that it will nt around the ball core when it reaches the inner end of the throat.

17. Apparatus for applying an 8-shaped, ilat cover section to a ball core comprising a block having a ball cavity and a throat leading from the face of the block tothe cavity, means to hold a ball core at the inner end of said throat,

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through the throat, arching it during the passage so that it will nt around the ball core when it reaches the inner end of the throat, thewall of said throat being so shaped as to maintain a sliding t with the edge of the cover section during its passage.

18. Apparatus for applying an -shaped, flat cover section to a ball core comprising a plate having a passage to receive and hold a cover section, a block having a ball cavity therein and a throat leadingfrom the ball cavity tothe surface of the block where it registers with the discharge end of the passage, kand a plunger movable through the plate and into the block to transfer a cover section from the plate, force it through the throat and bend it around the ball core.

19. Apparatus for applying an 8-shaped, flat cover section to a ball core comprising a plate having a passage to receive and hold a cover section, a block having a ball. cavity therein and a throat leading from the surface of the block in register With the passage to the ball cavity, and

a plunger having independently movable sections, said plungerbeing movable through the passage and into the throat, the sections of the plunger being movable to progressively greater extents toward the ends of the cover section to and into the throat, the sections of the plunger being movable to progressively greater extents toward the ends of the cover section to bend and apply it about the ball core, the Wall of the throat being shaped so as to have sliding nt With the edge of the cover section during its passage.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 having the space through which the cover piece is forced reduced to condense the cover piece during its passage.

22. An apparatus in accordance With claim 20 having the space through which the cover piece is forced reduced to condense the cover piece during its passage. v

23. In an apparatus for applying covers to tennis balls, a block having a ball cavity therein, a throat leading from the surface of the block to the cavity, a gang of blades located at spaced intervals transversely of -the throat, and means to move the blades through the throat until their inner edges coincide with the vWall of the ball cavity.

24. In an apparatus for applying covers to tennis balls, a block having a ball cavity therein, a throat leading from the surface of the block to the cavity, a gang of'blades-located at spaced intervals transversely of the throat, guideways in the throat to receive the side edges of the blades, and means to move the blades through the throat until their inner edges coincide With the Wall of the ball cavity,

25. In an apparatus for applying covers to tennis balls, a block having a ball cavity therein, a, throat leading from a flat 8-shaped opening on the surface of the block to the cavity, a gang of blades located at spaced intervals and adapted to enter the throat, certain of said blades being exible, and guides in the throat to flex the blades toward the ball cavity.

26. In an apparatus for applying covers to tennis balls, a block having a ball cavity therein, a throat leading from a fiat 8shaped opening on the surface of the block to the cavity, a gang of blades located at spaced intervals and adapted to enter the throat, certain of said blades being flexible, guides in the throat to flex the blades toward the ball cavity, and means to move the blades near the ends of the cover to progressively greater extents than those blades nearer the center of the cover.

27. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged with their planes transversely of the flat 8shaped cover piece, means to move the blades from that position to a position surrounding the core where their planes are substantially radial to a ball core, and means to hold the ball core.

28. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged with their planes transversely of the flat 8shaped cover piece, means to move the blades from that position to a position Where their planes are substantially radial to a ball core, means to hold the ball core, and means to keep a cover piece in the path of the blades during their movement until it is attached to the ball core.

29. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged with their planes transversely of the flat 8shaped cover piece, the edges of the blades having arcuate recesses to lit the surface of the ball, means to move the blades from that position to a position where their planes'are substantially radial to a ball core, and means to hold the ballcore.

30. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged with their planes transversely of the at 8shaped cover piece, the edges of the blades having arcuate recesses to lt the surface of the ball, means to move the blades from that position to a position Where their planes are substantially radial to a ball core, means to hold the ball core, and means to kep a cover piece in the path of the blades during their movement until it is attached to the ball core.

31. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged with their planes transversely of the fiat 8shaped cover piece, means to move the blades from that position to a position Where their'planes are substantially radial to a ball core, and a block having a throat leading to a spherical ball cavity, said throat having means to guide the blades and being shaped to maintain edge contact With a cover piece as it is forced through the throat by the blades.

32. In an apparatus for applying an 8shaped cover piece to a tennis ball core, a plurality of spaced blades arranged With their planes transverselyl of the flat 8shaped cover piece, the edges of the blades having arcuate recesses to t the surface of the ball, means to move the blades from that position to a position Where their planes are substantially radial to a ball core, and a block having a throat leading to a spherical ball cavity, said throat having means to guide the blades during their movement and being shaped to maintain edge contact with a cover piece as it is forced through the throat by the blades.

WALTER E. HUMPHREY.

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