BALL THROWING MACHINE
A ball throwing apparatus includes a ball magazine attached to a first end of a ball tube. A ball propelling or throwing assembly is attached to a second end of the ball tube. A retaining element, such as a spring finger, extends into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube. A holder which may be pivotally mounted on the ball tube extends into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube. An arm moves through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube in a reciprocating motion, feeding balls one at a time from the ball magazine into the throwing assembly, in a uniform time sequence.
The field of the invention is ball pitching or ball throwing machines. More specifically the invention relates to machines for automatically throwing balls, to assist players in practicing movements in various sports. In particular the invention relates to apparatus and methods for holding multiple balls and individually feeding balls into a ball throwing unit which throws the balls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBall throwing machines are used in various sports, such as baseball and tennis. Typically these types of machines have a tray, track, or other component for holding several balls queued up for throwing. The balls are individually moved out of the holding space and dropped or pushed into a ball projecting device, such as a pair of opposing rotating pinch wheels. The balls are projected or thrown out by the machine typically at evenly spaced timed intervals.
While these types of machines have met with varying degrees of success in the past, challenges remain in designing a ball throwing machine that is lightweight, compact and easily portable. Challenges also remain in designing a ball throwing machine that is reliable, simple to set up and use, and inexpensive to manufacture. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved ball throwing machine is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA new ball throwing machine includes a ball magazine for feeding balls into a ball tube. A flex element, such as a spring finger, extends into the ball tube. A holder, which may be pivotally mounted on the ball tube, is movable from a first position wherein the holder or part of the holder extends into the ball tube, to a second position wherein the holder is withdrawn. An arm moves through an arm slot in the ball tube in a reciprocating motion, with the arm moving the holder from the first to the second position. The holder may return to the first position via spring force. The flex element and the actuation of the arm feeds balls, one at a time, from the ball magazine into a throwing assembly which throws the balls.
In the drawings, the same element number indicates the same element in each of the views.
Turning now in detail to the drawings, as shown in
Referring still to
Referring now to
The lower or outer wall 62 of the ball tube may have a corresponding radius of curvature based on the diameter of the balls 40 used with the machine 10. For example, for use with balls having a diameter of about 7 cm, such as a tennis ball, the inside diameter of the ball tube may be about 8 cm, the radius of curvature of the inner wall 64 may be 4 to 10 cm, and the radius of curvature of the outer wall 62 may be about 7 cm greater than the radius of curvature of the inner wall.
In
A ball roller 58 may be attached to upper end of the arm 50. A straight slot 52 is provided in the arm 50. A pin 44 on the drive wheel 42 extends into and/or through the slot 52. A cap or head on the pin 44 holds the pin 44 into the slot. A bearing or roller may be provided on the drive pin 44, to reduce friction and wear between the drive pin and the slot. The upper end of arm 50 extends through an arm slot 48 in the outer wall 62 of the ball tube 24. The arm slot may be just wide enough to provide clearance for the arm 50.
The arm 50 may have a generally straight lower section 51 and an offset upper section 53. The arm slot 52 may be straight and centered in the lower section 51 and also parallel to the lower section 51. The offset upper section 53 advantageously has a curved back surface 55 that projects rearward. The ball roller 58 at the upper end of the upper section 53 may be substantially aligned over the arm slot 52.
Referring still to
The throwing assembly 68 typically includes a throwing housing 70 which may be attached to a collar 78 on the second end of the ball tube 24. A pair of spaced apart pinch wheels 74 are rotated by motors 76. The pinch wheels are spaced apart by a dimension slightly less than the diameter of the balls 40. As a ball 40 enters the throwing housing 70, it is pinched slightly by the pinch wheels 74, pulled in between the wheels, and then ejected or thrown out of the throw housing 70 with a throwing speed determined by the diameter and rotation speed of the pinch wheels 74, as is well known in the art.
The motor or motors 76 used in the drive assembly 68 may also be powered via the line cord 80, or by batteries. The motors 76 and 46 may optionally be remotely controlled via a wireless link via wireless circuitry on or in the throwing machine 10. For example, The motor 46, or motors 46 and 76, may be connected to a receiver/controller 75 in the housing 16. The regulator assembly 22, or both the regulator assembly 22 and the pitching assembly 68, may then be remotely controlled via a remote unit 77. Control signals initiated by the user via the remote unit 77 are transmitted to the receiver/controller 75 by radio frequency, infrared light, or other known techniques. The remote unit 77, if used, may include controls to turn on the motor 46, or motors 46 and 76, and also to adjust ball feed speed of the regulator assembly 22, and the pitching speed of the pitching assembly 68. One or more elevation angle actuators 79 connected to the receiver/controller 75 and positioned to tilt the housing 16 may also be provided, to allow the elevation angle to be remotely changed. Other forms of throwing assemblies may also be used in place of the pinch wheel type of throwing assembly. For example, a throwing assembly using a throwing arm, lever or paddle, or a pneumatic throwing apparatus may be used. In an alternative design, the receiver/controller may be voice activated. In this design, no remote unit 77 is needed. Rather, the receiver/controller is programmed, or otherwise designed to respond to voice commands, such as, ON, OFF, FAST, SLOW, UP, DOWN, etc.
In use, balls 40 are loaded into the magazine 18. The first ball 40 to be loaded drops down through the magazine and moves into the load position as shown in
The motor 46 is switched on, and the motor 46 rotates the drive wheel 42. The motor 46 and a gear reduction unit may typically rotate the drive wheel at about 6-12 rpm. As shown in
As shown in
Via gravity, the ball 40 moves past the holder plate 32 and comes into contact with the leaf spring 26 or similar retaining element. The spring 26 holds the ball 40 in the ready position shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The speed of the motor 42 may be changed to increase or decrease the time interval between sequentially thrown balls. The motor speed may be changed using controls on the machine 10 or using a remote or wireless control. The speed of the motor 42 may also be varied to provide a degree of randomness between ball launches. The throwing assembly motors 76 may be similarly controlled to select different ball launch speeds.
Thus, a novel ball throwing machine and methods have been shown and described. The machine may be used for throwing baseballs, softballs, tennis balls, volleyballs, soccer balls, and similar types of balls. Various changes and substitutions may of course be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited except by the following claims and equivalents of them.
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a ball tube;
- a flex element extending into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube;
- a holder extending into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube, with the holder having a holder plate and a holder leg;
- a holder spring urging the holder into a first position;
- an arm moveable in the ball tube in a first direction to move the holder, and moveable in the ball tube in a second direction opposite from the first direction to move a ball out of the ball tube; and
- a motor linked to the arm and configured to move the arm in the first direction and in the second direction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 with the holder pivotally mounted on the ball tube.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 with the holder leg joined to the holder plate at an angle ranging from 70 to 110 degrees.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 with the ball tube having an inlet and an outlet, and with the outlet oriented within 30 degrees of perpendicular to the inlet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive slot in the arm and a drive pin on a drive wheel attached to the motor, and with the drive pin extending into the drive slot, with the motor driving the arm in a reciprocating movement.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 with the arm having a substantially straight lower section and offset upper section, and with the motor linked to the lower section of the arm.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the motor oscillates the arm over an arc of 30 to 75 degrees.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the motor oscillates the arm between a forward position wherein the lower section of the arm is inclined forwardly 20 to 45 degrees from vertical, and a rearward position wherein the lower section of the arm is inclined rearward by 10 to 30 degrees from vertical.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flex element comprises a spring finger and the holder positioned opposite from the spring finger, and with the holder and spring finger facing each other.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 with the arm and the holder leg movable through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magazine attached to a first end of the ball tube, and a throwing assembly attached to a second end of the ball tube.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a tripod pivotally supporting the ball tube.
13. Ball throwing apparatus comprising:
- a curved ball tube;
- a ball magazine attached to a first end of the ball tube;
- a throwing assembly attached to a second end of the ball tube;
- a spring extending into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube;
- a holder pivotally mounted on the ball tube and extending into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube, with the holder having a holder plate and a holder leg joined to the holder plate, and the holder leg movable through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube;
- a holder spring urging the holder into a first position; and
- an arm moveable through the arm slot in a reciprocating motion via a motor rotating a drive wheel having a drive pin moveable within a drive slot in the drive wheel, with the motor oscillating the arm over an arc of 30 to 75 degrees.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 with the ball tube supported on a tripod.
15. A method for throwing balls, comprising:
- loading a plurality of balls including a first ball and a second ball into a magazine; allowing the first ball to drop into a ball tube;
- holding the first ball in at a load position in the ball tube;
- moving an arm in a first direction through the ball tube to allow the first ball to drop down to a ready position;
- holding the ball in the ready position;
- pushing the ball out of the ready position via the arm by moving the arm in a second direction, opposite from the first direction; and
- holding the second ball at the load position.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising pushing the first ball out of the ball tube by moving the arm in the second direction.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising moving the arm in a uniform reciprocating motion.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising using the arm to displace a holder from a first position wherein the holder projects into the ball tube and holds the first ball in the load position, to a second position wherein the holder does not project into the ball tube, to allow the first ball to move from the load position into the load position.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising pushing the first ball out of the ball tube and into a ball throwing assembly connected to the ball tube.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating a drive wheel at a constant speed and moving the arm in a uniform reciprocating motion by linking the arm to the drive wheel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 21, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 27, 2012
Inventors: Jose E. Leal (Stow, MA), John Barletta (Southborough, MA)
Application Number: 13/165,383
International Classification: A63B 69/40 (20060101);