Abstract: A ball throwing machine suitable for battery operation is disclosed. Balls are supplied from a helical ball track to a firing track. A ball striker is cocked by a motor against the force of an adjustable spring. When the striker is positioned over-center the striker rapidly rotates striking the ball. A one-way clutch mechanism is included in the gear train between the motor and ball striker so that the kinetic energy remaining after the ball is launched is utilized to begin cocking the striker for the next cycle of operation. This results in significant reduction in the electrical energy required to operate the mechanism. An elevation control permits selective positioning of the firing track relative to the ball striker.

Abstract: A portable ball throwing macine employs a battery operated motor for projecting tennis balls for practice purposes. The balls are fed from a bin by means of a ball fence and agitator to a tube which conveys the ball to a ball track. A spring biased arm is cocked by the motor and released at the correct point in the cycle by operation of a cam gear and pawl. The arm then strikes the ball projecting it from the machine. Included in the device is an arrangement for oscillating the device from side to side to vary the pattern of balls projected from the machine and a gate mechanism to index balls onto the ball track.