PITCHING MACHINE
The present invention relates to a pitching machine. According to the present invention, an upper wheel (13) and a lower wheel (14) are disposed such that motors (11) and (12) are each disposed on a central shaft on one surface and a ball is pitched using the rotation driven by the motor. A ball supply container (15) and a ball supply device (16) are disposed on one side of the upper wheel (13) and lower wheel (14) so as to supply the ball to the upper and lower wheels. A stepper motor (18) is connected to the central shaft of the upper wheel (13) and lower wheel (14) so as to adjust the directional angle of the upper and lower wheels according to the angular direction of the ball. A body rod (20) supporting one side of the upper and lower wheels, the stepper motor (18), and the ball supply container (15) are connected to a triangular supporting leg (21) at the lower portion so as to support the body rod (20). According to the pitching machine, a hitter can practice hitting alone by selecting various angle, direction and speed patterns.
The present invention relates to a pitching machine and, more particularly, to a pitching machine configured to include an input unit, a CPU, a control unit, a driving unit, and a sensor unit and to enable a batter to select a desired speed, pitching type, and direction of a ball and to practice batting.
BACKGROUND ARTIn general, a pitching machine refers to a machine that throws balls to a batter in order to be used for batting practices in baseball.
Such a pitching machine is characterized in that a batter may install the pitching machine indoors or outdoors regardless of time and may practice batting.
A demand for such a pitching machine is increased as baseball population is increased.
That is, in Korea, baseball population includes many baseball teams, such as professional baseball teams, university baseball teams, middle school baseball teams, elementary school baseball teams, and civilian baseball club teams.
In order to play baseball as described above, batters require batting practices. In order to practice batting, a pitcher who throws balls is required, but throwing balls is limited. Accordingly, there is a need for a pitching machine that throws balls instead of a pitcher. Such pitching machines are required as many as baseball teams.
However, a known pitching machine simply supplies balls between two wheels, and the balls are pitched in such a manner that they are pitched by two upper and lower wheels. Accordingly, since balls having various pitching types are not thrown to a batter, the batter immediately recognizes the patterns of the pitching types of the pitching machine. As a result, there is a problem in that batting practices are not effective.
Furthermore, a related prior art is described below. Korean Patent No. 1130348 discloses a pitching machine configured to include a ball input unit, a ball throw unit, a control box, and a support.
A plurality of ball plungers that function to grip a ball is installed within the ball input unit. The ball throw unit includes a guide rail connected in front of the ball input unit, a driving wheel installed in front of the guide rail, spaced apart from the guide rail at an interval of 120 degrees, and configured to forward throw a ball that moves through the guide rail, throw means axially installed at the center of the driving wheel and formed of a driving motor for rotating the driving wheel, and a support plate configured to support the throw means.
The driving wheel includes a fastening member connected to the motor shaft of the driving motor, made of aluminum, and configured to include a first fastening member with which the motor shaft is coupled and a second fastening member coupled with the outside of the first fastening member and a friction member coupled with the outside of the fastening member, made of urethane, and coupled with the outside of the second fastening member.
The pitching machine of the prior art configured as described above is also problematic in that a batter is unable to freely practice various pitching types and the directions and speeds of balls.
That is, if a batter practices batting using the pitching machine, the batter has to hit a ball thrown by the pitching machine when the ball is closest to the batter while seeing the ball to the end in the state in which the batter does not recognize the pattern of the ball. However, the conventional pitching machine is problematic in that a batter cannot control various patterns of a ball and batting practice effects are low because a combination of pitching types of balls thrown by the pitching machine is simple and thus the batter recognizes ball combinations after repeating batting practices.
DISCLOSURE Technical ProblemThe present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pitching machine that enables a batter to select pitching types, directions, and speeds having various patterns and to practice batting. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pitching machine configured to freely change combination patterns, speeds, and directions of balls and to throw balls in various patterns so that a batter does not recognize the combination patterns, speeds, and directions of the balls even after long-term batting practices and thus the batter can have an effect that a pitcher actually throws balls.
Technical SolutionThe present invention has been made to achieve the objects and provides a pitching machine, including:
an input unit configured to select a pitching type, direction, and speed of a ball when a batter practices batting;
a CPU and a memory unit configured to store input signals of the pitching type, direction, and speed of the ball selected by the input unit and to instruct an operation signal stored by calculating a pitching type, direction, and speed of the ball;
a control unit configured to selectively send a command to motors of upper and lower wheels, a pitching type motor, and a ball supply motor in response to a command signal received from the CPU; and
a control box configured to comprise a driving unit for pitching balls by driving sensors and drives in response to a command from the control unit.
The input unit receives commands of the pitching type, direction, and speed of a ball using any one of manipulation methods using a remote controller (IR), a manual manipulation (Key), and a PC.
The driving unit comprises upper and lower wheel drives connected to an RPM sensor, a pitching type drive connected to an encoder sensor, and a supply drive supplied to a proximity sensor.
The pitching machine of the present invention configured as described above enables a batter to select the direction, speed, and pitch of a ball by himself or by herself and to practice batting in various forms
Advantageous EffectsThe pitching machine according to the present invention has an advantage in that batters can practice batting in various ways without pitchers in the batting practices of professional baseball players, the batting practices of persons interested in baseball, the batting practices of middle and high school baseball clubs, the batting practices of society baseball clubs, and so on.
Furthermore, the present invention has advantages in that a batter can practice batting in various ways and various forms in the speed of a ball, the pitching type of a ball, and the direction of a ball and a batter who practices batting is unable to recognize a ball combination pattern, thereby enhancing batting practice effects.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail.
A pitching machine 10 configured to have a batter to practice batting includes:
an upper wheel 13 and a lower wheel 14 configured to have respective motors 11 and 12 installed in the central shaft of the upper and lower wheels on one side thereof and installed so that balls are able to be pitched while being rotated by the driving of the motors;
a ball supply container 15 and a ball supply device 16 installed on one side of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 and configured to supply balls to the upper and lower wheels;
a stepping motor 18 connected to the central shaft of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 and configured to control the direction angles of the upper and lower wheels in response to the pitching type direction of a ball;
a body rod 20 configured to support one sides of the upper and lower wheels, the stepping motor 18, and the ball supply container 15; and triangular support legs 21 connected to the bottom of the body rod 20 so that the triangular support legs 21 support the body rod 20.
A proximity sensor 46 is installed at each of the corners of the ball supply device 16.
A non-reference numeral 50 is a ball.
In accordance with the present invention configured as described above, when practicing batting, a batter may practice batting by himself or by herself or two persons as a team may practice batting.
That is, in accordance with the present invention, if a person practices batting alone, the person may input the batting directions, speeds, and pitching type of balls through the input unit 31 of a control box 30 and may practice batting.
In this case, when inputting the batting directions, speeds, and pitching type of balls to the input unit 30 in order to practice batting alone, a person may perform manipulations using a remote controller or manually. If two persons practice batting as a term, one of the two persons may practice batting and the other of the two persons may control the pitching machine 10 so that balls having different directions, speeds, and pitch types are pitched in various ways.
If two persons practice batting as a term using the pitching machine 10 according to the present invention, there is an advantage in that a pitcher throws balls because a person who practices batting is unaware of the settings of pitching types and the directions of balls.
The present invention configured as described above is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
After the pitching machine 10 is powered on as described above, when the batter selects the direction, speed, and pitching type of the balls through the input unit 31 of the control box 30, the input signal is transmitted to a CPU 32. The signal input to the CPU 32 is stored in a memory unit 33.
The memory unit 33 stores the input signal so that the batter may practice batting. In response to the input signal, the CPU 32 sends an execution signal to a control unit 34.
In response to the execution signal transmitted to the control unit 34, the motors 11 and 12 of the upper and lower wheels, a pitching type motor 35, and a ball supply motor 36 are driven.
In this case, in the driving units associated with the control unit 34, the number of revolutions of an upper and lower wheel motor drive 41 is determined by an RPM sensor 44 installed on one side of the upper and lower wheel motor drive 41.
That is, the RPM sensor 44 is connected to the upper and lower wheel drive 41 and executes the number of revolutions of the motors 11 and 12 of the upper and lower wheels of the control unit 34 in response to the command signal of the CPU 32 based on a signal value input through the input unit 31.
The launch device of the pitching machine 10 according to the present invention is basically based on a closed-loop system. The control box 30 sends a rotation signal to a pitching type motor drive 42 so that the motors and the wheels are rotated. Furthermore, the control box 30 reads the rotation speeds of the wheels in real time and maintains set speeds.
General elements and an electronic signal system within the control box 30 of the present invention are described below. The launch device of the pitching machine 10 includes the input unit 31, the CPU 32, the memory unit 33, the control unit 34, a driving unit 40 that drives the drives, and an encoder sensor 45, thus forming a pitching system.
A circuit configuration that associates the control unit with the driving unit that drives the drives includes PWM control, PID control, and encoder input.
In the pitching machine 10 according to the present invention, reference may be made to
That is, referring to
The closed-loop system, PID, PWM, and the encoder are described in detail below.
1) Closed-Loop System
As illustrated in
That is, the closed-loop system is also called feedback control and refers to control in which output is fed back as input. In such a structure, a difference between input and output is input to a controller. The controller is controlled in such a manner that a deviation is reduced.
Accordingly, although a physical and electrical disturbance signal is externally input, there is no change in the speeds of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14.
2) PID
A PID control system is one of the elements of the closed-loop system. Accordingly, the PID control system is configured to compare an actual output motor speed with a target motor speed and incorporate a difference between the actual output motor speed and the target motor speed into output. The PID control system is configured to perform Proportional (P), Integral (I), and/or Differential (D) using comparison errors and to make the errors “0” for a short time.
3) PWM
As can be seen from
MS: Motor Speed
MSmax: Max Motor Speed
Pt: PWN period
Pon: Pulse on time
Poff: Pulse off time
Speed of a ball is controlled within a range of 0˜100% by controlling the time of Pon up to 0˜Pt.
4) Encoder
The encoder counts the number of pulses received for a time, calculates the speed of the motor, and outputs a corresponding signal to the pitching type driver so that a pitching type can be selected.
This is described below in terms of an equation.
MS: Motor Speed
T: Count time
N: Count Number
Calculate a current speed (RPM) of the motor by counting the number of pulses input for a time t.
Furthermore, in the present invention, pitching types may be selected in various directions in various ways. A signal of a pitching type input through the input unit 31 is processed by the CPU 32 and is stored in the memory unit 33. The processed signal is transmitted to the pitching type motor 35 of the control unit 34. At the same time, a pulse signal input by the pitching type motor drive 42 and the encoder sensor 45 of the driving unit 40 is maintained based on a current motor speed so that a ball of a selected pitching type is pitched.
A batter who practices batting may select the pitching type selected as described above and may input the selected pitching type, or a coach, a pitcher, or a colleague may selectively select the pitching type.
Furthermore, in the pitching machine according to the present invention, the pitching type, speed, and direction of a ball are input through the input unit. An input method may include input (IR) using a remote controller, manual input (Key), and input using a PC over a network. Such inputs may be checked on a display installed on one side.
In this case, a variety of pitching types, such as slide, curve, and sinker, can be performed due to the rotation of the ball 50 by making different the rotary speeds of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14.
The motors 11 and 12 are installed on both sides of the central shaft of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 and rotate the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14.
The motors installed on one sides of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 are driven in response to the input and output signals of the input unit, the CPU, the control unit, and the driving unit as described above.
Furthermore, the control box 30 configured to control the pitching machine 10 of the present invention electrically and electronically is installed on one side of the ball supply container 15 and the ball supply device 16 that are installed on one side of the pitching machine 10.
Furthermore, a wheel 47 is installed in the pitching machine 10 according to the present invention in order to freely move the body of the pitching machine when the body rod 20 is separated from the support legs 21.
The body rod 20 that connects the pitching machine and the support legs enables the body of the pitching machine to be supported by the support legs. The support legs have the same configuration as common triangular supports and firmly support the pitching machine. The support legs firmly support the pitching machine so that the pitching machine is not fluctuated when a ball is pitched.
Furthermore, a connection pole 19 that connects the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 is installed on the other side on which the motors 11 and 12 of the upper and lower wheels 13 and are installed. Another connection pole is formed at the center of the connection pole 19 so that it is integrated with the connection pole 19 and extended therefrom and is then connected to the stepping motor 18.
Although an additional fixing device is not illustrated, the stepping motor 18 is fixed to one side of the body rod that fixes the pitching machine. When the direction of a pitching type is selected, the stepping motor 18 is driven so that the direction of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 of the pitching machine can be moved.
Since the stepping motor 18 is configured to move the direction angle of the body of the pitching machine 10, a ball having a pitching type, such slide, sinker, or curve, can be curved and pitched from one side while drawing a parabola.
The pitching machine and the body rod 20 are connected by a hinge unit so that the direction angles of the upper and lower wheels can be controlled by the stepping motor.
A ball supplied by the ball supply container 15 is supplied to the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 through the ball supply device 16 at the bottom of the ball supply container 15 and is then pitched.
The ball supply device 16 includes the supply wings 17 configured to have a plurality of grooves formed therein so that the ball 50 can be seated in the groove and rotated around the axis. The proximity sensors 46 are installed at the ends of the respective supply wings 17 and configured to set the location on which the ball is mounted.
That is, the proximity sensors 46 are installed inside the location on which the ball supplied by the ball supply device 16 is mounted. Furthermore, the proximity sensor 46 is installed at the end of each of the ball supply wings 17. If a ball is supplied and the proximity sensor installed at the wing becomes close to the proximity sensor 46 installed in the inner wall of a ball mounting unit of the ball supply device 16, the ball seated in and mounted on the groove of the ball supply wing is placed in the ball input unit of the upper and lower wheels and is then supplied. Accordingly, the ball can be pitched by the rotation of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14.
In this case, a ball supply proximity sensor (the proximity sensor installed in the driving unit is the same as the proximity sensor installed in the supply wing) is connected to the ball supply motor drive 43 of the ball supply device 16 and is driven in response to a signal input by the control unit 34.
The stepping motor 18 controls a direction according to a baseball pitching type in response to a signal from the input unit 31.
Furthermore, the control box is installed on one side of the ball supply device and configured to control the pitching type and speed of a ball.
In the present invention, in selecting a pitching type, the angle of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 is controlled using a micro step stepping motor, a decomposition implements 0.72/250=0.00288°. A pitching type can be controlled by controlling the angle in real time during batting practices.
The motor adopted in the present invention is so-called a stepping motor and is moved at a basic angle of 0.72/250=0.00288° in response to a single pulse command. 125,000 pulses are required in order for the motor to rotate around the wheel once.
Accordingly, when a pitching type is selected, a difference between a current angle of the wheel and an angle of the wheel to be changed is converted into the number of pulses, and the motor is moved by the number of calculated pulses.
In this case, the encoder inversely converts a rotation angle into the number of pulses and inputs the number of pulses to a pulse input device.
The pulse input device counts the number of input pulses and transfers the counted number of pulses to the CPU 32.
The CPU compares the number of received pulses with the number of instructed pulses. If the number of input pulses is identical with the number of instructed pulses, the CPU determines that the selection of a pitching type has been completed. If the number of input pulses is not identical with the number of instructed pulses, the CPU instructs additional pulses and performs control so that the number of input pulses is identical with the number of instructed pulses.
As described above, after the angle and speed of the upper and lower wheels are controlled, a ball is pitched. When the selection of the rotation speed and pitching type of a ball is completed, launch permission is displayed on the display.
When the launch permission is displayed on the display, a user inputs a ball launch command to the input device.
The CPU 32 receives the input signal and instructs the control unit to supply a ball through the motor of the ball supply unit.
The control unit sends a rotation command to the supply motor drive 43 of the driving unit on one side thereof so that the ball supply motor is rotated. The ball supply motor of the ball supply device is rotated by only ⅓ and supplies the ball.
At this time, the proximity sensor detects the rotation wing and inputs a corresponding signal to the on/off device. The on/off device transfers the proximity sensor signal to the CPU.
Furthermore, the CPU determines that the ball has been launched by the supply device.
In accordance with the pitching machine of the present invention, a batter or an auxiliary trainee can input a schedule, such as the pitching type and speed of a ball, the number of launches, and a launch time interval, through the input unit in advance, and can practice batting when balls are pitched.
Accordingly, data input for a schedule in order for a batter to practice batting is described below with reference to Table 1 below.
Furthermore, a method of inputting data to the input unit of the pitching machine according to the present invention includes storing data in the memory unit of the control box.
A schedule stored in the memory unit of the input unit as described above is input to the input unit and instructs an operation when the pitching machine is started. The signal stored in the input unit is input to the CPU. The CPU receives a start input signal and launches balls according to the schedule stored in the memory unit.
In this case, the pitching types, speeds, and sequence numbers of launched balls are displayed on the display. Furthermore, a current situation is displayed on a computer PC or terminal connected over a wireless LAN.
As described above, when the launch of all the balls is finished, the CPU enters a standby state and waits for a next command. The end state is output to the display, the PC, and a smart phone.
The smart phone can operate in conjunction with the pitching machine if the Internet is installed.
The pitching machine of the present invention as described above can be used in various ways in the practice batting of professional baseball players, in the practice batting of persons interested in baseball, in the practice batting of middle and high school baseball clubs, and in the practice batting of society baseball clubs.
Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, when practicing batting, a batter can practice batting in various ways and various forms in the speed of a ball, the pitching type of a ball, and the direction of a ball.
Claims
1. A pitching machine configured to have a batter to practice batting, comprising:
- an input unit configured to select a pitching type, direction, and speed of a ball when a batter practices batting;
- a CPU and a memory unit configured to store input signals of the pitching type, direction, and speed of the ball selected by the input unit and to instruct an operation signal stored by calculating a pitching type, direction, and speed of the ball;
- a control unit configured to selectively send a command to motors of upper and lower wheels, a pitching type motor, and a ball supply motor in response to a command signal received from the CPU; and
- a control box configured to comprise a driving unit for pitching balls by driving sensors and drives in response to a command from the control unit.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input unit receives commands of the pitching type, direction, and speed of a ball using any one of manipulation methods using a remote controller (IR), a manual manipulation (Key), and a PC.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving unit comprises upper and lower wheel drives connected to an RPM sensor, a pitching type drive connected to an encoder sensor, and a supply drive supplied to a proximity sensor.
4. A pitching machine configured to have a batter to practice batting, comprising:
- an upper wheel 13 and a lower wheel 14 configured to have respective motors 11 and 12 installed in a central shaft of the upper and lower wheels on one side thereof and installed so that balls are able to be pitched while being rotated by the driving of the motors;
- a ball supply container 15 and a ball supply device 16 installed on one side of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 and configured to supply balls to the upper and lower wheels;
- a stepping motor 18 connected to the central shaft of the upper and lower wheels 13 and 14 and configured to control direction angles of the upper and lower wheels in response to a pitching type direction of a ball;
- a body rod 20 configured to support one sides of the upper and lower wheels, the stepping motor 18, and the ball supply container 15; and
- triangular support legs 21 connected to a bottom of the body rod 20 so that the triangular support legs 21 support the body rod 20.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the ball supply device 16 has a proximity sensor 46 installed at each of corners of ball supply wings 17.
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of wheels 47 installed on one side of the pitching machine so that the pitching machine is able to be separated from the triangular support legs and is rolled and moved.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 26, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
Inventor: Sung Ok Yoo (Gunpo-si)
Application Number: 14/390,023
