MINI-BALL INSERTION MECHANISM FOR FORMING GOLF BALL CORES

摘要

A method and apparatus for forming golf ball cores with a generally spherical nucleus at its center is characterized by the use of a transfer plate which insures that the nucleus is centered within the core. The core is formed in upper and lower mold plates which contain upper and lower hemispherical cavities, respectively, which are adapted to mate to define a spherical cavity for the core. The transfer plate is arranged between the mold plates and includes a support for the nucleus to position the nucleus in the center of a pair of upper and lower slugs of core material which are molded in the upper and lower hemispherical cavities. When the mold plates are initially brought together with the transfer plate arranged therebetween and with the slugs arranged on opposite sides of the transfer plate, the slugs are partially molded in the hemispherical cavities with the nucleus being pressed into one of the slugs. The mold plates are then separated and the transfer plate is removed with the nucleus being retained in one of the slugs. Finally, the mold plates are brought together in mating fashion to form the core with the nucleus centrally arranged therein.