System for positioning a golf ball in a high speed printing line

{
  "publication_number": "US12011939B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System for positioning a golf ball in a high speed printing line",
  "abstract": "A device for transporting and positioning a golf ball has a shuttle configured to be attached to a track for movement along the track relative to a printing station. The device has a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle. The golf ball holder maintains an orientation of the golf ball. The device also has at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder between an with respect to the shuttle and the printing station. The at least one plate enables position registration of the golf ball for printing.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A device for transporting a golf ball, comprising: a shuttle configured to be attached to a track for movement along the track relative to a printing station; and a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle, the golf ball holder configured to maintain an orientation of the golf ball, wherein the golf ball holder comprises at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder relative to the shuttle, wherein the golf ball holder comprises a clamp for holding the golf ball, and wherein the clamp comprises a movable contact element configured to move between an open position and a locked position.",
    "2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one plate comprises a mounting plate attached to a mount of the shuttle by a mounting pin.",
    "3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mounting pin is fixed to the mount and the mounting plate is vertically movable with respect to the mounting pin.",
    "4. A device for transporting a golf ball, comprising: a shuttle configured to be attached to a track for movement along the track relative to a printing station; and a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle, the golf ball holder configured to maintain an orientation of the golf ball, wherein the golf ball holder comprises at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder relative to the shuttle, wherein the at least one plate comprises a mounting plate attached to a mount of the shuttle by a mounting pin, wherein the mounting pin is fixed to the mount and the mounting plate is vertically movable with respect to the mounting pin, and wherein the at least one plate further comprises a sliding plate movable with respect to the mounting plate.",
    "5. The device of claim 4, wherein the sliding plate comprises a slot configured to receive a portion of the mounting pin.",
    "6. The device of claim 5, wherein the sliding plate comprises a lock feature for interacting with a corresponding feature on the printing station.",
    "7. The device of claim 6, wherein the lock feature is a notch formed in the sliding plate.",
    "8. A system for transporting a golf ball, comprising: at least one track; a printing station adjacent to the track for printing markings on the golf ball; a shuttle configured to be attached to the track for movement along the track relative to the printing station; and a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle, the golf ball holder configured to maintain an orientation of the golf ball, wherein the golf ball holder comprises at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder relative to the shuttle and the printing station, wherein the at least one plate comprises a mounting plate attached to a mount of the shuttle by a mounting pin, wherein the mounting pin is fixed to the mount and the mounting plate is vertically movable with respect to the mounting pin, and wherein the printing station further comprises a support rail and the mounting plate is configured to move vertically away from the mount to be supported by the support rail.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein the golf ball holder comprises a clamp for holding the golf ball.",
    "10. The system of claim 9, wherein the clamp comprises a movable contact element configured to move between an open position and a locked position.",
    "11. A system for transporting a golf ball, comprising: at least one track; a printing station adjacent to the track for printing markings on the golf ball; a shuttle configured to be attached to the track for movement along the track relative to the printing station; and a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle, the golf ball holder configured to maintain an orientation of the golf ball, wherein the golf ball holder comprises at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder relative to the shuttle and the printing station, wherein the at least one plate comprises a mounting plate attached to a mount of the shuttle by a mounting pin, and wherein the at least one plate further comprises a sliding plate movable with respect to the mounting plate to move the golf ball holder between an open position and a locked position.",
    "12. The system of claim 11, wherein the printing station further comprises a push block for applying a linear force to contact the golf ball holder and move the golf ball holder into the locked position through movement of the sliding plate with respect to the mounting plate.",
    "13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sliding plate comprises a lock feature for interacting with a corresponding feature on the printing station in the locked position.",
    "14. The system of claim 13, wherein the lock feature is a notch formed in the sliding plate and the corresponding feature is a stationary pin on the printing station.",
    "15. A system for transporting a golf ball, comprising: at least one track; a printing station adjacent to the track for printing markings on the golf ball; a shuttle configured to be attached to the track for movement along the track relative to the printing station; and a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle, the golf ball holder configured to maintain an orientation of the golf ball, wherein the golf ball holder comprises at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder relative to the shuttle and the printing station, and wherein the shuttle includes a plurality of bearings for riding on the track.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein the shuttle comprises bearings on opposing sides of a stanchion such that either side of the shuttle is configured to ride on the track, and thereby enabling side-to-side transfer of the shuttle from the track to another track."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention generally relates to a manufacturing and processing system for golf balls, and more particularly to a system for positioning a golf ball in a high speed manufacturing line, such as a pad printing line.\n\nThe manufacture of golf balls typically involves a series of sequential processes performed at different processing stations, typically spatially separated one from another. These different processing stations may require manual movement of the golf balls between different stations. For example, golf balls may need to be manually moved from a processing station to a printing area and hand-fed into a printing line. Conventional automation tools have limited applicability to golf balls, because of the wide variety of markings that are printed on golf balls, often in small quantities. Different individual printing stations may require individual preparation, planning, and turnover to produce golf balls with different printed markings, such as custom logos or other indicia. The disclosed embodiments provide automation tools for improving the processing speed and efficiency of manufacturing golf balls, especially the process of printing markings on golf balls.\n\nIn some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a device for transporting and positioning a golf ball has a shuttle configured to be attached to a track for movement along the track relative to a printing station. The device has a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle. The golf ball holder maintains an orientation of the golf ball.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41J 3/40731",
    "B41F 17/001",
    "B65G 2201/0214",
    "B65G 35/06",
    "B65G 54/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B41J 3/407",
    "B65G 35/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Acushnet Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Edmund T. Maher",
    "Jedediah H. James"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-12-16",
  "publication_date": "2024-06-18",
  "grant_date": "2024-06-18",
  "priority_date": "2021-12-16",
  "application_number": "US-202117552646-A",
  "family_id": "86767122",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US1721965A",
    "US4982556A",
    "US20100186610A1",
    "DE102015203798A1",
    "US10118775B2",
    "US10086626B1",
    "US10328718B2",
    "US11161700B2",
    "US10913362B2",
    "US10532891B2"
  ]
}