Golf Ball With Thin Biaxial Film Outer Layer

Abstract

Systems and methods for manufacturing a golf ball are disclosed. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic film may be manipulated causing the molecules in the film to become biaxially oriented. In some embodiments, a robotic arm may manipulate the thermoplastic film. In some embodiments, a robotic arm may manipulate the golf ball core in order to dispose the thermoplastic film around the golf ball core. In some embodiments, a robotic arm may position the golf ball components in a mold. In some embodiments, a robotic arm may remove the golf ball components from a mold. In some embodiments, the mold may be associated with a conveyer belt.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing thermoplastic film, comprising:
 providing a sheet of thermoplastic film;   providing a heat source;   applying the heat source to the thermoplastic film;   stretching the thermoplastic film in a first direction; and   stretching the thermoplastic film in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of stretching the thermoplastic film in a first direction and stretching the thermoplastic film in a second direction is performed using a robotic arm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a golf ball core having an outer surface;   providing a robotic arm;   gripping the golf ball core with the robotic arm; and   disposing the thermoplastic film on the outer surface of the golf ball core while gripping the golf ball core with the robotic arm.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein disposing the thermoplastic film on the outer surface of the golf ball core further comprising:
 forming a crease in the thermoplastic film so that the thermoplastic film is substantially L-shaped.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein disposing the thermoplastic film in the outer surface of the golf ball core further comprising:
 positioning the golf ball core in the crease of the thermoplastic film while gripping the golf ball core with the robotic arm.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein disposing the thermoplastic film on the outer surface of the golf ball core further comprising:
 folding the thermoplastic film into a U-shape around the outer surface of the golf ball core while the robotic arm is gripping the golf ball core.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 placing the golf ball core into a mold using the robotic arm after the thermoplastic film is disposed around the outer surface of the golf ball core.   
     
     
         8 . A method for manufacturing a golf ball, comprising:
 disposing a biaxial thermoplastic film on an outer surface of a golf ball core;   providing a robotic arm;   gripping the golf ball core having the biaxial thermoplastic film disposed around the outer surface of the golf ball core with the robotic arm;   providing a first mold half having a first inner surface and a first outer surface;   providing a second mold half having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the second inner surface is facing the first inner surface; and   positioning the golf ball core having the biaxial film disposed on the outer surface of the golf ball core between the first inner surface and second inner surface using the robotic arm.   
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the first inner surface of the first mold half includes a first plurality of protuberances, and the second inner surface of the second mold half includes a second plurality of protuberances. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first mold half includes a first passage extending throughout the first mold half, wherein the first passage having a first opening at the first inner surface of the first mold half and a second opening at the outer surface of the first mold half. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a positive pressure source is connected to the second opening of the first passage of the first mold half. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a vacuum source is connected to the second opening of the first passage of the first mold half. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first outer surface of the first mold half is associated with a first extension arm and the second outer surface of the second mold half is associated with a second extension arm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first extension arm is associated with a first conveyer belt and the second extension arm is associated with a second conveyer belt. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
 providing a golf ball core;   gripping a golf ball core with a first robotic arm;   providing a first sheet of thermoplastic film having a first surface and a second surface;   providing a second sheet of thermoplastic film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the second sheet is facing the first surface of the first sheet; and   positioning the golf ball core between the first surface of the second sheet of thermoplastic film and the first surface of the first sheet of thermoplastic film with the robotic arm.   
     
     
         16 . The system in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a first mold half having a first inner surface;   providing a second mold half having a second inner surface;   placing the first inner surface in contact with the second surface of the first sheet; and   placing the second inner surface in contact with the second surface of the second sheet.   
     
     
         17 . The system in  claim 15 , wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and the second sheet of thermoplastic are substantially biaxial. 
     
     
         18 . The system in  claim 16 , wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic film becomes substantially biaxial after the second surface of the first sheet contacts the first inner surface of the first mold half. 
     
     
         19 . The system in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 applying a heat source to the first and second sheet of thermoplastic film.   
     
     
         20 . The system in  claim 16 , wherein a second robotic arm places the first inner surface in contact with the second surface of the first sheet, and wherein a third robotic arm places the second inner surface in contact with the second surface of the second sheet.