Patent GB-190525607-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Making Golf and other Balls
Inventor: SAUNDERS ADDISON TRESIZE
Filed: 1905-12-08
Granted: 1906-02-15
Abstract: 25,607. Saunders, A. T., and Saunders, G. H. Dec. 8 Balls.-Relates to a machine for winding elastic and other thread or yarn on the cores of golf balls, hand-balls, and balls for tennis, base-ball, &c. The machine is adapted to supply an adhesive solution during the winding of the thread, to effect a uniform winding of the ball, and preferably to be automatically stopped when the ball attains a certain size. The core rests on and between the edges of two serrated disks 12, Figs. 1 and 2, a number of pairs of which may be operated from one driving-shaft 10, the disks 12 being freely mounted on hubs 11 provided with clutch members 24. The disks 12 are corrugated laterally and radially, the projection on one disk corresponding to an indention on the other, so that, while the disks rotate, the ball revolves in various directions opposite to the motions of the peripheries of the disks. The thread is guided to the ball from a spool 44, against which bears an adjustable counterweighted lever 50, pivoted to a shaft 51 and adapted to prevent overrunning of the thread. From the spool, the thread is guided by a hooked device 45 to a tensioning-device, Figs. 1 and 6, consisting of a rubber &c. covered drum 52, around which the thread is passed. The tension of the thread is varied by altering the position of a weight 57 on a pivoted arm 55, which bears on a flange of the drum 52. The thread is guided to the core by an eye 46. In order to maintain the ball in contact with the disks 12, two rollers 48, 49 are employed, which are each mounted freely on axles to allow of lateral play. The axle of the roller 48 is mounted in slotted bearings in arms 48<b>, so that the roller can be removed for cleaning. The roller 49 is mounted on an axle 49<a>, which can be moved by spring-controlled pivoted arms 49<d> 49b, the latter of which may be held by a spring catch when raised to lift the roller. When it is desired to apply an adhesive solution during the winding of the ball, or an adhesive solution such as india-rubber and benzene combined with a heavy substance such as litharge in order to weight the ball, a tank 60 provided with a nozzle 64, cock 65, and pipe 66 is arranged above the ball. The tank is covered with a lid 61 secured by a screw 63 and yoke 62, and the tank is connected to a compressed-air chamber by means of a pipe 67 connected to a casing 68 provided with valves 70, 71 operated by a lever 72, so arranged that, when the ball is being wound, the valve 70 is open, and connects the casing to compressed air, and, when the winding ceases, the valve 71 is open, and connects the chamber to an exhaust. The lever 72 is operated from a shaft 15, which is rotated in order to operate the clutch mechanism which starts the driving of the disks 12. To ensure an even flow of the adhesive substance, a worm may be arranged in the outlet, and is driven from the shaft 10. The worm may be arranged in a detachable nozzle ; but, preferably, a worm 60, Fig. 12, is arranged on a shaft 60 driven by pulleys and a belt from the shaft 10. The worm rotates in a chamber connected to the tank 60, and feeds the solution through a nozzle provided with a cock to the pipe 66. Several worms may be coupled together by tongue couplings 60<k>, which enable the worms to be removed singly for cleaning. To clean the disks 12, which tend to retain solid matter formed by evaporation of the adhesive solution,. they are wiped at each revolution by a ball of solidified solution, the ball being arranged in an inclined trough which keeps it in contact with the disks. In order to stop the machine when the ball attains a definite size, the ball is arranged between the extremities 31, Figs. 1, 2, and 7, of calliper arms 30, which are pivoted upon a threaded sleeve, upon which is screwed a nut adapted to keep the arms in place. The calliper arms are pressed together by means of a light spring. The sleeve is mounted on a support 28, and the sleeve and support are bored to allow one arm of a double arm 32 to pass through, a spring 34 and nut 35 being arranged on this arm, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to press the arm downwards. When the clutch members 23, 24, Fig. 2, are in engagement, the shaft 15, which by means of a forked arm 21 moves the sleeve 22 of the clutch 23, is in the position shown in Fig. 4, and it is maintained in this position against the action of a spring 27 by means of a weighted catch 40, pivoted in a forked arm 20 fixed to the shaft, the catch abutting against a lever 36 which presses against the arm 32<a> of the double arm 32. The lever 36 is jointed to a link 37, connected by a pin and slot to a sleeve 18 through which the arm 20 passes. This arm 32<1> has a shoulder 32, which is prevented from moving through slots in the arms 30 until the slots register, which they do when the ball has moved the extremities 31 apart to a width equal to the required diameter of the ball. When this happens, the arm 32<a> forces the lever 36 out of the way of the catch 40, and the shaft 15 is allowed to move under the action of the spring 27, and this moves the clutch 23 out of engagement with the member 24. At the same time, a spring brake 12<a> acts on the hub of the disks 12 and stops their motion. An adjustable collar on the shaft 10 limits the movement of the clutch 23. The driving-mechanism is put into gear again by moving the shaft 15 by means of a handle 17 on the sleeve 18. Instead of stopping the driving-mechanism automatically, the clutch-mechanism may be band-operated by a skilled operator who gauges the size of the ball with hand callipers, a spring catch being provided for holding the clutch members in both positions. When several machines are driven from one shaft 10, the air-compressor and brake shaft 51 may be common to the various machines.