Method and system utilizing imaging analysis for golf balls
A method and system for determining concentricity of a multiple layer golf ball are disclosed herein. One or more images of a golf ball are generated using an X-ray source, a camera or a digital detector, and an image intensifier. An edge detection algorithm is preferably utilized. The method also includes calculating Y,Z center coordinates of the a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge layer and outer edge layer of the multiple layer golf ball.
1. A method for determining concentricity of a multiple layer golf ball, the method comprising:
taking a first plurality of images of the full cross-sectional view of the golf ball using an x-ray source and a digital detector;
averaging the first plurality of images into a single first image of the full cross-sectional view of the golf ball;
calculating Y,Z center coordinates of a best fit diameter or ellipse of an inner edge layer and an outer edge layer of a specific layer of the multiple layer golf ball using the single first image of the full cross-sectional view of the golf ball;
rotating the golf ball to a new orientation within an imaging machine 90 degrees about a Z-Axis;
taking a second plurality of images of the full cross-sectional view of the golf ball in the new orientation using the x-ray source and the digital detector;
averaging the second plurality of images into a second single image of the full cross-sectional view of the golf ball;
calculating X,Z center coordinates of a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge layer and outer edge layer of the specific layer of the multiple layer golf ball; and
comparing the X,Z and Y,Z center coordinates of the specific layer to determine the concentricity of the inner layer within any of the outer layers.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of images range from 2 to 24 and a single image is derived by averaging a plurality of images.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the concentricity of the inner and outer edges are calculated using Euclidean distances.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball is held in a suction cup.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball is held in a static fixture.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball consist of four layers.
7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising evaluating the golf ball against a predetermined criteria.
8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sorting the golf ball according to the evaluation.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein each layer of the multiple layer golf ball has a visual contrast relative to an adjacent layer.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the visual contrast of the adjacent layers is created by materials of different densities or different filler materials.
11. A method for determining concentricity of a multiple layer golf ball, the method comprising:
taking a plurality of images of a full cross-sectional view of the multiple layer golf ball using an x-ray source and a digital detector;
averaging the plurality of images into a single image of the full cross-sectional view of the multiple layer golf ball;
determining a diameter or ellipse dimensions of an inner edge and an outer edge of a layer of the multiple layer golf ball utilizing an edge detection algorithm; and
calculating X,Z coordinates of a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge and outer edge the layer of the multiple layer golf ball.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of images range from 2 to 8.
13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the concentricity of the inner and outer edges are calculated using Euclidean distances.
14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the multiple layer golf ball is held in a suction cup.
15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the multiple layer golf ball is held in a static fixture.
16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the multiple layer golf ball is rotated 90 degrees about a Z-Axis to determine the Y,Z coordinates of a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge and the outer edge of the layer of the golf ball in a second orientation.
17. The method according to claim 11 further comprising evaluating the multiple layer golf ball against a predetermined criteria.
18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising sorting the multiple layer golf ball according to the evaluation.
19. The method according to claim 11 wherein each layer of the multiple layer golf ball has a visual contrast.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the visual contrast is created by different densities or different filler materials.