Target Launch Device

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a device for launching targets comprising a target storage organ movable around a rotation axis, an organ for delivering a target from the storage organ at a delivery zone, a launch arm movable around a rotation axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the storage organ and able to apply a projection force to a target situated in the delivery zone, characterised by the fact that the launch arm and the storage organ are movable in opposite directions of rotation and in that the delivery zone is located between two distinct parallel planes in each of which the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage arm are located respectively. The invention will find its application for launching targets for archery.

Description

The present invention concerns a device for launching targets and in particular finds its application in launching targets for archery or for other shooting disciplines, for example of the type using compressed-gas weapons launching projectiles in the form of balls filled with paint or powder, such as those known by the English term “paint ball”.

Normally, devices are known for launching clay pigeons for shooting with firearms. In general terms, the targets used are substantially flattened cylinders in shape with a circular cross section.

Typically, the targets are launched by a rapid rotation of an arm previously tensioned by a spring, the release of which provides a sharp projection of the target. Before the actuation of the arm, the target is stored in a rotary storage organ and then the target to be projected is brought to a projection position. The projection position is situated in the path of the arm. To arrive at the projection position, the target is caused to move from the storage organ to its destination point.

The existing devices are not without posing difficulties in the target-loading phase. In particular, targets that are badly positioned and jammed at the projection position are frequently found. Not only does this cause faulty projection of the targets but also this may produce unwanted blockages of the machine arm relative to the other components. It will easily be understood that this blocking is not only detrimental to the efficacy of the firings and to their reliability but also may cause safety problems, in particular when it is a case of releasing a jammed target while the arm is still at least partially tensioned.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy all or some of the drawbacks of the launch devices known up until now.

To this end, the present invention concerns a device for launching targets comprising a target storage organ movable around a rotation axis, an organ for delivering a target from the storage organ at a delivery zone, and a launch arm movable around a rotation axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the storage organ and able to apply a projection force to a target situated in the delivery zone, characterised by the fact that the launch arm and the storage organ are able to move in opposite directions of rotation and in that the delivery zone is located two distinct parallel planes in each of which the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage arm are located respectively.

By virtue of the present invention, the target is delivered at the delivery zone in a movement accompanying the movement of the arm. Thus there are no longer any risks of jamming of the target at the delivery zone.

Advantageous embodiments are stated below, which may be cumulative or implemented in alternation and which are not limitative of the invention:

• • the delivery organs comprise a delivery ramp extending from the storage organs to the delivery zone;
  • the launch arm circulates between the delivery zone and the delivery ramp;
  • the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage organ are separate;
  • the target-delivery zone is located between the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage organ;
  • the delivery ramp forms a stop between the delivery zone and the end of the delivery ramp intended to hold the target on the delivery zone;
  • the device comprises a projection surface onto which the target is moved with a view to projection thereof, comprising a surface supporting a portion of the target;
  • the support surface has a concave longitudinal profile;
  • the device comprises at least one target with a circular cross section and the edge of which is configured so as to be applied to the support surface;
  • the target is made from plastics material.

The accompanying drawings are given by way of examples and are not limitative of the invention. They depict only one embodiment of the invention and enable it to be understood easily.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 to 8 illustrate the various operating phases of the device according to the invention.

As is preferred for the archery application, the target 10 is circular and has two substantially parallel faces spaced apart by an edge 11 with a circular cross section. Advantageously, the target 10 is made from plastics material, or more precisely polymer foam.

The device shown in all the figures comprises a base 12. This base 12 may be fixed non-removably or be provided with wheels facilitating movement of the device. On the base 12 launch organ and an organ 1 for storing targets 10 are mounted. The organ 1 for storing targets 10 is of the barrel type. Solely by way of indication, the barrel comprises a plurality of columns each able to receive targets 10 superimposed in the longitudinal direction of the columns.

Said target-storage organ 1 is movable around a rotation axis 2. In the figures and non-limitatively, the storage organ has a clockwise direction of rotation about the rotation axis 2.

Delivery organs, not shown, enable a target 10 to pass from one of the columns of the storage organ 1 to a delivery zone 5. The delivery zone 5 is situated on the path of the launch arm 3.

The launch arm 3 is advantageously an elongate element. The launch arm 3 is movable around an axis 2, the actuation of which is controlled manually or by any other means, in particular automation, for example coupled to the rotation of the target storage organ 1. It will be possible to use conventional rotational actuation organs in the context of the invention. One example consists of cocking the launch arm 3 by tensioning a spring by means of a drive such an electric drive. The controlled release of the spring provides an abrupt mobility of the launch arm 3, which is applied to the edge of the target 10 in order to project it.

Once the target 10 has come out of the storage organ 1 in FIG. 3, it is moved as far as the delivery zone 5 by sliding on the delivery ramp 6, with delivery organs such as for example stops formed at the end of the columns of the storage organ 1 able to hold the target 10 to be stored and to release the target 10 to be delivered. By way of example, the invention comprise organs for delivering a first target situated at the lowest height of the column of the storage organ 1 and holding organs in the column at least a second target superimposed on the first target. The holding organs comprise a ramp configured so as to exert an abutment on the bottom face of the second target during the delivery of the first target. The retention of the targets in the column advantageously takes place without the exercising of a radial pressure, by simple abutment, countering for example gravity, of the targets placed in the column above the target to be delivered.

The holding organs gradually replace the abutment effected by the target to be delivered on the other targets by means of a diversion movement of the target to be delivered releasing a space on the bottom face of the second target in order to cooperate with the holding organs.

The holding organs in question, which have a ramp, are extended along the path of the storage column so as to serve as a bottom stop in the column during a large part of the path of the column. Thus a single physical organ is used to implement the active ramp at the moment of the delivery of the first target and the retention stop in the active column during a larger phase of operation of the device.

According to the invention, the rotation axis 2 of the storage organ 1 and the rotation axis 4 of the launch arm 3 are separate.

Preferentially, the rotation axes 2 and 4 are parallel.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the delivery zone 5 for the target 10 to be projected is located between the two rotation axes 2 and 4, or more precisely between the two parallel planes in which the two rotation axes 2 and 4 respectively are located.

Preferentially, the delivery zone 5 is a space extending on either side of or close to a straight line connecting the two adjacent axes 2 and 4. It extends on either side of this straight line substantially at a distance lying between half a radius and one diameter of a target 10.

In FIG. 4, the passage of the target 10 from the delivery ramp 6 to the delivery zone 5 is illustrated. As illustrated, the delivery ramp 6 and the delivery zone 5 are at different heights. According to one possibility, the delivery ramp 6 and the delivery zone 5 are partially superimposed, or more precisely the delivery ramp 6 at least partially covers the delivery zone 5.

The target 10 passes from the delivery ramp 6 to the delivery zone 5 while changing level. The delivery zone 5 and the delivery ramp 6 are spaced apart. The delivery ramp 6 is preferentially situated above the delivery zone 5.

This space between the delivery ramp 6 and the delivery zone 5 is intended to enable the launch arm 3 to pass.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6, the launch arm 3 travels under the delivery ramp 6 and above the delivery zone 5.

It is in particular for this reason that it is especially advantageous that the launch arm 3 and the storage organ 1 have opposite directions of rotation.

When the target 10 changes level between the delivery ramp 6 and the delivery zone 5, the target 10 is driven by its inertia and/or by gravity and by virtue of the invention the launch arm 3 accompanies the movement of the target 10 in extending its transfer movement rather than counter to it, which would give rise to significant risks of blockage of the target 10 between the launch arm 3 and the delivery ramp 6.

As depicted and without being limitative, the launch arm 3 is movable in rotation in an anti-clockwise direction opposite to the storage organ 1, which undergoes a clockwise rotation.

Advantageously, the space separating the delivery ramp 6 from the delivery zone 5 has sufficient height to enable the launch arm 3 to pass while being less than the thickness of the target 10. In this way, the downstream end of the delivery ramp 6 constitutes a stop 7 for the target 10, preventing any risk that the latter might slide under the delivery ramp 6, which could cause unwanted blockages of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a plate forming a projection surface 8. This projection surface 8 is oriented in a plane parallel to the plane containing the path of the launch arm 3.

Advantageously, the delivery zone 5 is situated on this projection surface 8, preferentially at one end. At the other end, the target 10 will be projected. This projection surface 8 receives the target 10 from its leaving the delivery ramp 6 as far as its projection.

As illustrated in all the figures, the target 10 comes from the storage organ 1 and then travels over the delivery ramp 6, into the delivery zone 5 and over the projection surface 8 flat, that is to say with one face in contact with these surfaces. Preferably, the projection surface 8 comprises organs intended to limit the adhesion of the target 10 on the projection surface 8. For example, reliefs or openings can be provided for reducing the contact surfaces between the target, in particular a face of the target 10, and the projection surface 8. This is particularly important in a preferred embodiment in which the target 10 is made from plastics material, preferentially polymer foam. The target 10 is preferentially circular in cross section. This form advantageously allows a running movement on a support surface 9 as described in detail below. The target 10 may be a sandwich of three layers with identical or different thicknesses. The target has a diameter of between 15 and 400 mm, preferentially with a thickness of between 30 and 150 mm.

The launch arm 3 comes into contact with the edge 11 of the target 10. Preferentially, the launch arm 3 comprises a strip 13 made from plastics material of the elastomer or rubber type intended to increase the friction with the circular cross section of the target 10.

According to the invention, the projection surface 8 advantageously comprises a support surface 9 extending substantially perpendicular from said projection surface. The support surface 9 has a concave longitudinal profile intended to guide the movement of the target 10 over the projection surface 8 and influences the projection path.

The support surface 9 is configured so as to come into contact with the circular cross section of the target 10. This support surface 9 in particular finds its application in the present invention in which the target 10 is driven in the delivery zone 5 and over the projection surface 8 from the delivery ramp 6 by the inertia of its movement. Then the launch arm 3 comes into contact with the circular cross section of the target 10.

According to the inertia of the target 10, the point of contact of the target 10 on the launch arm 3 will be different, which could modify the projection trajectory, and there would not be any possible repeatability. By virtue of the support surface 9, once the target 10 is in contact with the launch arm 3 and whatever the position of this contact point, the target 10 is pushed in the direction of the support surface 9 because of the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the launch arm 3. The contact with the support surface 9 normalises the position of the target 10 relative to the launch arm 3 and thus affords repeatability of the firing trajectories.

Preferably, the support surface 9 is configured so as to increase the friction forces on the target 10. In this way, the target 10 moved by the launch arm 3 will undergo a rotation on itself in particular during its projection.

According to the invention, the base 2 makes it possible to use the device in various firing positions ranging from a horizontal position where the plane of the projection surface 8 is substantially horizontal, to a vertical position where the plane of the projection surface 8 is substantially vertical with the delivery zone 5 at a height lower than the opposite end of the projection surface 8 or vice versa.

REFERENCES

• • 1. Target-storage organ
  • 2. Rotation axis
  • 3. Launch arm
  • 4. Rotation axis
  • 5. Delivery zone
  • 6. Delivery ramp
  • 7. Stop
  • 8. Projection surface
  • 9. Support surface
  • 10. Target
  • 11. Edge
  • 12. Base
  • 13. Strip

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A device for launching targets comprising:

a target storage organ movable around a rotation axis,

a delivery organ for delivering a target from the storage organ at a delivery zone,

a launch arm movable around a rotation axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the storage organ and able to apply a projection force to a target situated in the delivery zone, wherein said device comprises a target in plastic materials and wherein the launch arm and the storage organ are movable in opposite directions of rotation and wherein the delivery zone is located between two distinct parallel planes in each of which the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage arm are located respectively.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the delivery organ comprises a delivery ramp extending from the storage organ to the delivery zone.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the launch arm circulates between the delivery zone and the delivery ramp.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the delivery zone is located between the rotation axis of the launch arm and the rotation axis of the storage organ.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the delivery ramp forms a stop between the delivery zone and an end of the delivery ramp configured to hold the target on the delivery zone.

14. The device according to claim 9, comprising a projection surface on which the target is moved so as to be projected, the projection surface comprising a support surface supporting a circular portion of the target.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the support surface has a concave longitudinal profile.

16. The device according to claim 14, comprising at least one target with a circular cross-section and with an edge configured so as to be applied to the support surface.