Method for single pass printing a multi-colored image at multiple locations on a golf ball
A method and system for printing multiple-color at multiple positions on a golf ball is disclosed herein. A printing station of the system and method is capable of printing as many as twenty different colors in a single cycle. The printing station preferably has a four stamping stations, four curing stations and four reorientation stations.
1. A method for printing multiple colors on a golf ball, the method comprising:
loading a golf ball onto a printing machine;
placing the golf ball into a fixture;
transferring the golf ball to a first stamping station, wherein the first stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the golf ball;
stamping the golf ball at the first stamping station to create a first stamped golf ball;
transferring the first stamped golf ball to a first curing station;
curing the first stamped golf ball at the first curing station to create a first cured golf ball;
transferring the first cured golf ball to a first reorienting station;
reorienting the first cured golf ball at the reorienting station into a second orientation;
transferring the first cured golf ball in the second orientation to a second stamping station, wherein the second stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the first cured golf ball in the second orientation;
stamping the first cured golf ball in the second orientation at the second stamping station to create a second stamped golf ball;
transferring the second stamped golf ball to a second curing station;
curing the second stamped golf ball at the second curing station to create a second cured golf ball;
transferring the second cured golf ball to a second reorienting station;
reorienting the second cured golf ball at the reorienting station into a third orientation;
transferring the second cured golf ball in the third orientation to a third stamping station, wherein the third stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the second cured golf ball in the third orientation;
stamping the second cured golf ball in the third orientation at the third stamping station to create a third stamped golf ball;
transferring the third stamped golf ball to a third curing station;
curing the third stamped golf ball at the third curing station to create a third cured golf ball;
transferring the third cured golf ball to a third reorienting station;
reorienting the third cured golf ball at the reorienting station into a fourth orientation;
transferring the third cured golf ball in the fourth orientation to a fourth stamping station, wherein the fourth stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the third cured golf ball in the fourth orientation;
stamping the third cured golf ball in the fourth orientation at the fourth stamping station to create a fourth stamped golf ball;
transferring the fourth stamped golf ball to a fourth curing station;
curing the fourth stamped golf ball at the fourth curing station to create a fourth cured golf ball; and
unloading the fourth cured golf ball from the printing station.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball receives from ten to twenty different colors at the printing station.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein reorientation comprises maintaining the golf ball in the fixture, exerting a vacuum on the golf ball using a vacuum cup, opening the fixture, moving the vacuum cup to reorient the golf ball through use of a servo motor, and closing the fixture around the reoriented golf ball.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the printing station allows for coverage of at least 90% of the golf ball.
5. A method for printing multiple colors on a golf ball, the method comprising:
loading a golf ball onto a printing machine;
placing the golf ball into a fixture;
transferring the golf ball to a first stamping station, wherein the first stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the golf ball;
stamping the golf ball at the first stamping station to create a first stamped golf ball;
transferring the first stamped golf ball to a first curing station;
curing the first stamped golf ball at the first curing station to create a first cured golf ball;
transferring the first cured golf ball to a first reorienting station;
reorienting the first cured golf ball at the reorienting station into a second orientation;
transferring the first cured golf ball in the second orientation to a second stamping station, wherein the second stamping station has a pad carousel with five stamping pads for stamping the first cured golf ball in the second orientation;
stamping the first cured golf ball in the second orientation at the second stamping station to create a second stamped golf ball;
transferring the second stamped golf ball to a second curing station;
curing the second stamped golf ball at the second curing station to create a second cured golf ball; and
unloading the second cured golf ball from the printing station.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the golf ball receives from four to ten different colors at the printing station.
7. The method according to claim 5 wherein reorientation comprises maintaining the golf ball in the fixture, exerting a vacuum on the golf ball using a vacuum cup, opening the fixture, moving the vacuum cup to reorient the golf ball through use of a servo motor, and closing the fixture around the reoriented golf ball.