Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method

Abstract

A baseball is desirably blasted with an abrasive material to attain a sufficient level of de-slicking. Baseballs are desirably delivered one at a time to a support and rotated while being sprayed with abrasive material from plural directions. Used abrasive material may be collected and recycled for reuse. Baseballs in a hopper are delivered one at a time in one embodiment to a support by selectively aligning an opening in a rotatable hopper element with an opening in a second element to permit the passage of a baseball through the second element and to the support at an appropriate time. Desirably, baseballs are ejected from the support following de-slicking, such as using an ejection lever or wand that is actuated by a timing rod to eject the baseball from the support ahead of the delivery of the next baseball to the support.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for de-slicking baseballs.

BACKGROUND

Currently, before every major league and minor league baseball game, 70 to 120 new baseballs have to be “rubbed-up” with a mud product (an abrasive). This is done to de-slick the new baseballs and to provide a uniform surface finish on the baseball for more predictable flight. The mud must be applied in such a way that the color of the baseball is not too dark and is even. Historically, each of these baseballs is rubbed-up by hand by a member of the home team's staff or by a game umpire. The product used to rub-up the balls is Lena Blackbume mud, extracted near the Delaware River. This type of mud has been used to rub-up baseballs to take the shine off them since 1938. So far, no other product has been able to produce the same results as Lena Blackburne mud. Although the mud is very effective, the way in which it is applied to rub-up baseballs is very tedious and unpleasant. Because every major league team plays in more than 160 games in one season, significant time is required to prepare the large quantity of baseballs needed for game use.

SUMMARY

There is therefore a need for an automated or semi-automated baseball rubbing machine to minimize the requirements of the human labor, speed up the baseball rubbing process, and to enhance the quality of rubbed-baseballs.

In accordance with one aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus is provided for mechanically de-slicking new baseballs to provide a more consistent surface finish and color to the baseball. Desirably, the apparatus de-slicks baseballs by spraying a treatment material onto the baseball surface, such as like a sandblaster. One option for this treatment material is a mixture of dried mud, such as Lena Blackburne mud, and glass beads or sand.

In accordance with one specific example, a baseball support is provided that is operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support. Turning includes, but is not limited to, rotating the baseball on the support or otherwise moving the baseball to reorient the baseball on the support to shift different surfaces of the baseball to different positions. In accordance with this embodiment, an abrasive material applicator is positioned to spray abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned. Desirably, the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball from a plurality of directions.

In one desirable form, the apparatus comprises a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time. A plurality of supports may be provided with baseballs being delivered one at a time to each of the supports with baseballs on each of the supports being turned and roughened by spraying abrasive material onto the baseballs simultaneously. Any number of baseballs may be simultaneously treated in this manner.

An exemplary singulator comprises a baseball hopper having a baseball receiving interior space; a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening; a second member defining a baseball delivery opening positioned in alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the first member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, such that a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the baseball delivery opening. The exemplary singulator may also comprise a stop (a projection) positioned to block the passage of any baseballs from the hopper into the passageway other than the first baseball when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position. In this example, one baseball is delivered at a time from the hopper.

In accordance with another aspect, a speed adjuster may be used to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening.

Desirably, the first member has a baseball guiding surface that is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway. For example, the guiding surface may be generally conical so as to guide baseballs toward the outer periphery of the hopper with the hopper, for example, being a right cylinder with an upright longitudinal axis. As the rotatable first member is rotated, in this example the inlet opening intercepts baseballs and carries them to the outlet opening for delivery through the baseball delivery opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position.

The first member desirably comprises a ball engaging surface of a resilient material, such as of a high density foam or other polymeric material, so as to not mark or mar the baseballs as they shift within the hopper.

In one specific embodiment, the support for supporting a baseball for treatment with abrasive comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about its respective longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the rollers may be parallel to one another with each of the rollers being rotated in the same direction about its respective longitudinal axis. The rollers may be contoured (e.g., of a reduced diameter in the center of the rollers), such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in position as the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball with the baseball being turned by the rollers as the rollers rotate.

An ejector mechanism is desirably included for selectively removing a baseball from the support following de-slicking of the baseball by the abrasive material. In one specific form, the ejector comprises a baseball ejecting wand with first and second end portions. The ejector wand is pivotally supported in this example for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position. When the baseball ejecting wand is shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes a baseball positioned on the support toward a location off of the support. A chute or other delivery mechanism may be used to carry the baseball, when ejected off the support, to a storage location, such as to a drawer of the apparatus. A biasing mechanism, such as a biasing spring coupled to the ejecting wand may be used to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward the first wand position. In a mechanically simple approach, a timing rod may be coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member. The timing rod may be positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position at the appropriate time for ejecting a baseball from the support and prior to delivery of the next baseball to the support. The baseball ejecting wand desirably returns to the first position prior to delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.

The apparatus also comprises an abrasive material applicator. In one form, the applicator comprises an air compressor for providing a source of pressurized air, a conduit coupled to the air compressor through which pressurized air flows from an air inlet to an outlet, and a siphon or suction tube coupled to the conduit and having an abrasive material inlet positioned relative to abrasive material such that air flowing through the conduit creates a vacuum and draws abrasive material into the flowing air stream for exiting with the pressurized air through the outlet. One or more hoses, desirably a plurality of hoses, carries the abrasive material to the appropriate position or positions for spraying at the baseball. A separate blasting mechanism of this type may be used for each abrasive material delivery hose that is used in the apparatus. An abrasive material recycling bin may be provided for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball with the abrasive material inlet being in communication with the recycling bin for drawing abrasive material from the abrasive material recycling bin into air flowing through the conduit.

Methods of applying abrasive material to baseballs are also disclosed herein with such methods being apparent from the disclosure.

Also, baseballs that have been de-slicked in the manner disclosed herein are also encompassed within this disclosure.

It should be noted that the invention is directed toward all new and non-obvious features and method acts disclosed herein, both alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The method is not limited to the specific illustrated embodiments nor to an invention that solves all of the problems of the prior art. Also, the terms “a”, “an”, or “the” when used herein are not limited to the singular. The presence of two or more of a particular feature or element means that a, an, or the element or feature is also present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for de-slicking baseballs in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a form of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with exterior housing panels being removed to reveal an exemplary frame and internal components of this form of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, much like that of FIG. 2, except with the frame components being removed for convenience.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a portion of an exemplary ejector mechanism embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one form of a baseball turning apparatus and abrasive material supply system usable in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the baseball turning apparatus of the form shown in FIG. 5 and also showing a portion of one form of a baseball ejector mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary abrasive material delivery circuit that may be included in the apparatus, although an air compressor using the apparatus may be a separate component positioned outside of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, looking from below, of an exemplary hopper assembly portion of the apparatus together with a portion of a baseball discharge conduit coupled to the hopper assembly and also showing a timing wand useful in triggering one form of a baseball ejector mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 8 that also schematically illustrates an exemplary motor arrangement for rotating a rotatable member of the hopper assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the hopper assembly of FIG. 8, with the baseball discharge conduit and rotatable member supporting shaft removed for clarification.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a portion of the hopper assembly of FIG. 8 with a rotatable member of the hopper assembly embodiment removed.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the hopper assembly of FIG. 8 with the shaft that supports the rotatable member being removed and with only a portion of the discharge conduit being shown.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged photograph showing a portion of the surface of a new un-de-slicked baseball with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty.

FIG. 14 is a photograph of a portion of the surface of a baseball following treatment by the apparatus of FIG. 3 with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty.

FIG. 15 is a photograph of a portion of the surface of a baseball that has been treated by hand rubbing in accordance with the conventional approach with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary housing for one embodiment of a baseball de-slicking apparatus. The illustrated housing is indicated generally at 10 and comprises front and rear panels 12,14 and first and second side panels 16,18. The illustrated housing 10 also comprises a lid portion 20 that may be pivoted to housing framework for pivotal movement between open and closed positions in the directions indicated by arrow 22. When open as shown in FIG. 1, access is provided to a hopper opening 24 through which new (un-de-slicked) baseballs may be deposited into a baseball receiving hopper assembly 26 located at the upper end of the housing. A drawer 28, having a handle 30, is also shown in FIG. 1 in an open position. De-slicked baseballs are deposited by the apparatus into the interior 32 of the drawer following de-slicking. The illustrated drawer may slide inwardly and outwardly in the directions indicated by arrow 34 to permit ready access for removal of the de-slicked baseballs and closing of the drawer to receive additional de-slicked baseballs.

The front panel 12 also desirably comprises a control panel section 40 with appropriate controls for the apparatus such as a power on/off switch 42, a compressed air valve control switch 44, a baseball turning apparatus control switch 46, a hopper rotation control switch 48, and a hopper speed control switch 50. In embodiments where a compressor is positioned externally to the housing 10, a compressed air inlet port 52 may be provided through which pressurized air from the compressor may be delivered to appropriate tubing and/or piping inside the apparatus. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an abrasive material supply inlet with opening 54 (that is typically closed when the apparatus is in use) is provided for use in charging the apparatus with fresh abrasive material. In addition, if desired to replace the abrasive material contained in the housing 10, a vacuum or other abrasive material remover may be inserted through opening 54 to vacuum out abrasive material contained in the housing.

FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the panels 12,14,16 and 18 removed to show an exemplary frame 60 that may be used to support the various components within the apparatus. In FIG. 2, the lid 20 and drawer 28 are both shown in a closed position. In FIG. 2, the hopper assembly 26, in the form shown, comprises an upright hopper cylinder 64 that may comprise a right cylinder having a vertical longitudinal axis. The hopper 64 may be fixedly mounted to the frame so as to not move relative to the frame. Alternatively, the hopper may be movable, such as being rotatably mounted to the frame with selected other components being fixed. A second, or base member 66, is positioned beneath hopper 64 and is desirably supported by portions of the frame 60, such as by a frame cross-member 68. Base 66 in a desirable embodiment is disk-like with planar upper and lower surfaces and is fixed in place so as to not be moveable relative to the frame. Base 66 includes or defines a baseball delivery opening (not shown in FIG. 2 but indicated at 80 in FIGS. 10 and 12) to which a baseball discharge or guide, such as a conduit 82, is coupled for the purpose of guiding a baseball from the hopper assembly 26 to a baseball support. One exemplary embodiment of a suitable support is indicated generally at 86 in FIG. 2. A baseball 90 is turned on the support while abrasive material is being applied to the baseball by an abrasive material applicator, such as by an exemplary applicator 92 described below in connection with FIGS. 5 and 7. An ejector mechanism, one embodiment being indicated generally at 96 in FIG. 2, and described in greater detail below, is provided for ejecting or removing a baseball 90 from the support 86 following de-slicking. For example, a baseball may be ejected or pushed into a baseball discharge tube or conduit 98 (see FIG. 3) for delivery from an inlet 100 of the conduit to an outlet 102 of the conduit and to the interior 32 of the drawer 28. The inlet 100 may comprise an arcuate back stop 101 positioned to intercept a baseball being ejected from the support 86 and to direct the intercepted baseball into the main portion of conduit 98.

Desirably, abrasive material that is sprayed at the baseball 90 is collected following use for recycling. For example, a recycling bin 106 may be supported by frame components, such as by a rectangular frame 108 in FIG. 2, in position beneath the support 86 for collecting the sprayed abrasive material. The bin 106 may, for example, be of an inverted frusto-pyramidal shape or of any other desirable shape. The bin may be provided with a lower discharge opening that is selectively opened to deposit used abrasive material into the drawer for removal. The recycled material collected in bin 106 may be picked up by the abrasive material delivery system in the apparatus for reuse in blasting baseballs. The abrasive material supply inlet 54 to a conduit 110 (both being shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2) may be used for supplying fresh abrasive material to bin 106 as desired. FIG. 3 also shows the components discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, but without the frame 60. It should be noted that a seal may be provided between base 66 and the support 86 to prevent abrasive material dust from passing upwardly into the apparatus. This assists in confining the abrasive material to the baseball blasting area of the apparatus. Also, an exhaust vent may be provided for venting pressurized air from the blasting area with a filter or other dust capturing device being used to capture any dust escaping with the air.

One form of support 86 for supporting and turning a baseball, desirably during at least a portion of the time that abrasive material is being sprayed at the baseball, is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Desirably, the baseball is being continuously turned for the entire time abrasive material is being applied to thereby continuously reorient the baseball on the support so as to present different surfaces of the baseball toward pressurized sources of abrasive material as the baseball is being treated. With reference to these figures, cross-members, such as parallel support bars 150,152, are supported at their respective opposed ends by a border portion 154 of the recycling bin 106. Bars 150,152 carry first and second spaced apart end support brackets 162,164 that are provided for supporting respective first and second roller assemblies 166,168. The roller assemblies 166,168 are supported by the brackets 162,164 for rotation about respective longitudinal axes that are desirably parallel to and spaced apart from one another. The axes in the illustrated embodiment are desirably in a common horizontal plane. More specifically, the illustrated brackets 162,164 each comprise a base portion 170 that spans the distance between supports 150,152 and respective upright leg portions 172,174. A reinforcing cross-piece 176 extends between the leg portions 170,172. Roller assembly 166 comprises an elongated axle 180 having end portions that are rotatably mounted to the respective bracket legs 172 of brackets 162,164. Roller assembly 166 also comprises a ball supporting cushioning roller 182, such as of a durable material with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene being one specific example. Roller 182 is mounted to axle 180 for rotation with the axle. Similarly, roller assembly 168 comprises an elongated axle 190 rotatably mounted at its respective end portions to the respective bracket legs 174 of the brackets 162,164. Roller assembly 168 also desirably comprises a ball supporting roller 192, that may be identical to roller 182. The rollers 182 and 192 desirably are contoured so as to assist in retaining a baseball 90 in position on the rollers as the rollers are rotated. For example, the rollers may be reduced in diameter moving from an outer end portion of each roller toward the center of each roller to assist in centering the ball on the rollers as the rollers turn. Sealed bearings may be used to mount the roller axles to the respective brackets.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ends of axles 180,190 project outwardly beyond the bracket 162 as shown in FIG. 6 with axle 180 supporting a pulley 200 and axle 190 supporting a pulley 202. A motor 204, having a motor drive pulley 206, is drivenly coupled to the respective pulleys 200,202, such as by a belt 208, for rotating the rollers 182,192 as the motor is driven. Desirably the rollers 182,192 are rotated in the same direction, such as counterclockwise in FIG. 6, as indicated by arrows 210,211 in this figure. The motor 204 may be turned on and off by the switch 46 on the control panel (FIG. 1) that is included in a motor control circuit for motor 204.

An abrasive material support for supporting a plurality of abrasive material applicators may be supported by the respective brackets 162,164. For example, one exemplary support is indicated at 213 in FIG. 5 and comprises respective first and second parallel spaced apart upright legs 214,215 together with a top-piece 216 extending between the upper end portions of legs 214,215. Thus, the illustrated support 213 is a header that is generally of an inverted U-shaped configuration. The lower portions of legs 214,215 in this embodiment are mounted, such as by fasteners, to the respective bracket cross-pieces 176.

Although other forms of abrasive material supply mechanisms may be used (e.g., a pressurized pot abrasive material supply device), in the illustrated embodiment, an air siphon or suction abrasive material blaster is desirably used. In the embodiment shown, pressurized air is delivered, as indicated by arrow 240 in FIG. 5, to an inlet to a conduit 242. Conduit 242 may be connected to the port 52 (see FIG. 1), through which pressurized air may be supplied to the apparatus. A valve (not shown in FIG. 5, but indicated at 272 in FIG. 7) may be placed at the inlet to conduit 242 to block the entry of pressurized air from a source (such as from an air compressor, e.g. 270 in FIG. 7) until desired times. A suction or venturi tube 244 (FIG. 5) in this embodiment extends downwardly into the abrasive material supply bin 106. As pressurized air flows through conduit 242 from the inlet to this conduit, abrasive material is drawn upwardly into the air stream by the vacuum created in conduit 244. This abrasive material containing air under pressure in this example reaches a three-way distribution connection 246, where the air/abrasive material flow is split to pass into branch lines 248,250 and 252. Branch lines 248,250 and 252 may, for example, be conventional sand blasting hoses, such as with an outside diameter of one-half inch and an inside diameter of approximately one-fourth inch. The air pressure for air entering line 240 may be varied with 90 psi being a specific example. The abrasive baseball treatment material is delivered to the baseball 90 from branch line 248 through an outlet 260, from branch line 250 through an outlet 262 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5), and from branch line 252 through an outlet 264. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, pressurized air containing the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball from plural directions. More specifically, in FIG. 5, the baseball is supported between outlets 260,262 which direct the abrasive material containing air toward the baseball in respective opposite directions. In addition, outlet 264, in this example, directs air containing abrasive material toward the baseball in a direction that is orthogonal to the directions from outlets 260,262. It has been found in testing that nozzles, although they may be used, are not necessary at the outlets.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the abrasive material delivery system described above. In FIG. 7, an air compressor 270 is shown. In addition, an air flow valve 272 is shown downstream of inlet port 52 and upstream of suction tube 244. Valve 272 may be solenoid controlled in response to a switch 44 that is selectively coupled to a voltage source 274 to, for example, open valve 272 when switch 44 is closed. In FIG. 7, abrasive material 290 is shown in the interior of bin 206.

The abrasive material 290 may be any suitable material or material mixture. However, desirably the abrasive material comprises dried mud such as dried Lena Blackburne mud. In addition, more desirably, the abrasive material comprises a mixture of the dried mud and other abrasive material, such as glass beads or sand. The particle size of the glass beads and sand may be varied as well as the concentration of the mud in the glass bead/sand/mud mix. For example, the mud may comprise ten to fifty percent of the mixture of mud and abrasive particles. In producing the baseball of FIG. 14, a mixture of 25 percent mud and 75 percent glass beads having a microparticle size of 0.5 to 1.0 mm was used. In addition, this specific mixture was applied at 90 psi for a time period of about 30 seconds. The pressure, mud abrasive mix and time period during which a baseball is treated may be adjusted to achieve the desired results.

Baseballs treated in this manner had mud that is consistently more uniformly distributed over the surface of the baseball and a more even texture in comparison to baseballs that are de-slicked by hand. FIG. 13 illustrates a portion of the surface of a new un-de-slicked baseball. FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of the surface of a hand rubbed baseball. The dirt particles are more uniformly distributed on the baseball of FIG. 14 than on the baseball of FIG. 15.

Desirably, baseballs are positioned on the rollers 182,192 (or other support) and removed from the rollers automatically, although semi-automatic and less desirably manual approaches may be used. In addition, various electronically operated mechanisms to achieve the desired timing and to deliver and remove baseballs may be used. However, in one desirable form, a mechanical ejector mechanism is provided to push a baseball off the rollers following de-slicking and prior to the arrival of the next baseball on the rollers.

In a specific exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the illustrated form of ejector mechanism 96 comprises an ejector wand 300 comprising a first end portion 302 and a second end portion 304. End portion 302 is pivoted, such as by a pin 306, to a projection 308 extending from the underside of top-piece 216 of the sand blasting hose supporting header bracket 213. The axis of pin 306 is parallel to top-piece 216 in the illustrated embodiment. The first end portion 302 of ejector wand 300 also comprises a timing rod engaging surface, in this case an arcuate surface 310 that extends upwardly in FIG. 6 from the pin 306. In this example, surface 310 extends over a portion of top-piece 216 but is spaced from the top-piece when the ejector wand is raised. In addition, end portion 304 of ejector wand 300 comprises a ball ejecting tip 312 that extends downwardly in FIG. 6 from a base portion 314 of the ball ejecting wand 300. In the position shown in FIG. 6, ball ejecting wand 300 is in a raised position where it does not interfere with the delivery of a ball to the rollers 182, 192. Desirably, the wand is biased to this first or upward position by a biasing mechanism, such as a torsional or other spring. An exemplary spring is shown schematically at 316 in FIG. 6.

As explained in greater detail below, the hopper assembly 26 in the form shown comprises a rotatable shaft 340 shown in FIGS. 4,8 and 9. As can be seen in FIG. 9, a motor 342 (shown schematically in FIG. 9) drives a drive pulley 344 in rotation with the drive pulley being coupled, such as by a belt 346 to a pulley 348 mounted to the shaft 340. As the motor operates, it drives the shaft 340 in rotation, such as in a clockwise direction shown by the arrow 350 in FIG. 4. The motor 342 may be a variable speed motor such as a voltage controlled motor, with the motor being supplied with voltage from source 352 via the switch 48 (when closed). A speed adjustment mechanism 50, such as a rheostat, is provided in the circuit leading from the voltage source to the motor for controlling the motor speed. As a result, the speed of rotation of the motor and of the shaft 340 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as desired. A timing wand 360 is shown mounted to the shaft 340. The timing rod in this embodiment is capable of 360 degree rotation with the rotation of shaft 340. A horizontal slot 364 is provided in the discharge tube 82 to provide clearance for passage of timing wand 360 as it rotates past the discharge conduit 82. Another slot 365, vertical in FIG. 8, allows for passage of the ejector wand 300 between raised and lowered positions.

With reference to FIG. 4A, as shaft 340 is rotated, timing wand 360 engages the arcuate surface 310 of baseball ejecting wand 300. As rotation of shaft 340 continues, the timing wand 360 travels along the arcuate surface 310 and urges the ball ejecting wand 300 downwardly, in the direction of arrow 370 in FIG. 4A, about the pivot axis of pin 306. The ball ejecting wand 300 travels downwardly until such time as tip 312 (FIG. 6) engages the ball and pushes the ball in a direction off of the ball support. The direction of rotation of the rotating roller 182 assists the ejection of the baseball 90 from support 86. As the shaft 340 continues to rotate, the timing wand 360 eventually clears the end 372 of end portion 302 of the baseball ejecting wand 300 so that the baseball ejecting wand 300 can return to its raised non-baseball ejecting position. This process is repeated in this embodiment each time the shaft 340 makes one rotation.

As previously mentioned, a singulator is desirably provided for delivering one baseball at a time to the support mechanism 86. It is, of course, possible to simply place baseballs manually one at a time onto the support, although an automatic or semi-automatic operation is more desirable. One specific form of a singulator is provided by the illustrated design of hopper assembly 26 shown in FIGS. 8-12. In these figures, a stop 382 is shown mounted to the interior surface of hopper cylinder 64 at a location above the baseball delivery opening 80 through base 66. More specifically, in the illustrated form, the stop 382 comprises a projecting rod that overhangs opening 80. Other devices or projections may be used as the stop.

FIG. 12 illustrates hopper assembly 26 with a plurality of baseballs 90,90′ shown positioned within the interior baseball receiving space of hopper cylinder 64 of this embodiment. In the illustrated hopper assembly 26, a rotatable member 386 is positioned at least partially within a lower portion of cylinder 64. Rotatable member 386 may be rotatably supported by the upper surface of base 66, such as by circular roller bearings 388. The member 386 is desirably mounted to the shaft 340 for rotation with the rotation of the shaft. The rotatable member 386 comprises an upper surface 390, a lower surface 392, and a passageway 394 extending between the upper and lower surfaces. The passageway 394 includes an upwardly facing baseball receiving inlet opening 396 leading to the passageway and a lower outlet opening 398. The passageway has a diameter that is desirably slightly greater than the diameter of a baseball.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening 396 is positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the wall of cylinder 64. In addition, the upper surface 390 of rotatable member 386 is contoured to direct baseballs toward the opening 396. More specifically, surface 390 in the illustrated embodiment is generally conical in shape so as to urge baseballs toward the periphery of the rotatable member 386. Other shapes or contours may be used to direct baseballs to the inlet to the passageway. Also, more than one passageway (and more than one opening through base 66) may be provided to deliver baseballs to plural supports if desired. Consequently, as rotatable member 386 rotates, the opening 396 encounters any baseballs remaining in the hopper 64 so that one of such baseballs may drop into the passageway 394 if the passageway is unoccupied at the time it intercepts a baseball. Although variable, desirably the depth of the passageway is at least equal to one-half the diameter of a baseball and more desirably the depth of passageway 194 approximates the diameter of the baseball. Consequently, only one baseball may fit partially (or more desirably) entirely within the passageway in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. As the rotatable member 386 rotates, eventually the outlet opening 398 becomes aligned with the baseball receiving opening 80 through base 66 and thereby with the discharge conduit 82. In this case, the baseball in the passageway will drop through opening 80 and will be directed by conduit 82 to a location on the rollers 182,192 that comprises the baseball support in this example. Because stop 382 is positioned above opening 80, as baseball 90 drops through opening 80 and conduit 82, the stop 382 prevents other baseballs from immediately passing into the passageway 394 where they could also drop toward the support. As a result, only one baseball at a time is delivered to the support. The height of stop 382 above the upper surface 390 may be adjusted to permit only a single baseball in passageway 394 (or partially in such passageway) to pass underneath the stop 386 while blocking the passage of other baseballs. After baseball 90 is delivered through opening 80, continued rotation of member 86 exposes the inlet 396 to passageway 394 for intercepting and receiving another baseball from the hopper. The next received baseball will remain in passageway 394 until the member 386 is again aligned with opening 80, at which time the next baseball drops toward the support. The timing wand 360 is positioned on shaft 340 so that a baseball is ejected from the support and the baseball ejecting wand 300 returns to its upright position prior to the next alignment of outlet 398 of passageway 394 with baseball delivery opening 80.

As previously mentioned, rotatable member 386 may be made of any suitable durable material that does not mar baseballs. Examples include high density foam, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, a polymeric material such as sold under the brand name Delrin, and other suitable materials. The shaft 340 may be provided with a clearance fit with respect to an opening through base 66 that accommodates the shaft. Alternatively, the shaft 340 may be coupled to base 366 by a bearing to assist in centering the rotation of the rotational member 386 about the longitudinal axis of the hopper assembly.

Having illustrated and described the principles of our invention with respect to various embodiments, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this invention may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the inventive principles disclosed herein. We claim as our invention all such principles as fall within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for de-slicking a baseball using an abrasive material, the apparatus comprising:

a baseball support operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support; and

an abrasive material applicator positioned to direct a spray of abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the singulator comprises:

a baseball hopper comprising a baseball receiving interior space;

a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening;

a second member defining a baseball delivery opening positioned for alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the first member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, whereby a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the passageway, the outlet opening and the baseball delivery opening being aligned when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position; and

a stop positioned to block the passage of any baseballs other than the first baseball from the hopper into the passageway when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a speed adjuster operable to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first member has a baseball guiding surface that is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hopper comprises a right cylinder having an upright longitudinal axis and an interior wall surface, wherein the first member has upper and lower surfaces and is positioned at least partially in a lower region of the hopper and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the hopper, wherein the inlet opening opens upwardly through the upper surface of the first member, the outlet opening opens downwardly through the lower surface of the first member, wherein the passageway extends through the first member and wherein the inlet opening is positioned adjacent to the interior wall surface of the hopper, wherein the upper surface of the rotatable member is generally conical such that any baseballs in the hopper tend to move toward the interior wall surface where a baseball can be intercepted by the inlet opening to the passageway as the first member rotates, the stop being positioned at least partially above the inlet opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position, the depth of the passageway and the spacing of the stop above the inlet opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position being established such that only a single baseball positioned at least partially in the passageway may pass under the stop as the first member is moved to the baseball delivery position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about their respective longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the rollers being parallel to one another, the rollers being rotated in the same direction about their respective longitudinal axes, the rollers being contoured such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in such position as abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an ejector operable to selectively remove a baseball from the support following de-slicking of the baseball by the abrasive material.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 comprising an ejector mechanism operable to eject a baseball from the supporting rollers, the ejector mechanism comprising a baseball ejecting wand having first and second end portions and being pivotally supported for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position, wherein when shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes the baseball positioned on the support to a location off of the support, a biasing mechanism coupled to the wand and operable to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward the first wand position, a timing rod coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member, the timing rod being positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position, the timing rod moving past the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand following the ejection of the baseball to a location off of the support to thereby allow the baseball ejecting wand to return to the first position so as to not interfere with the delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand comprises an arcuate timing rod engaging surface, the timing rod engaging and traveling along the timing rod engaging surface as the rotatable member is rotated with the timing rod pushing the baseball ejecting wand to the second baseball ejecting portion position as the timing rod travels along the timing rod engaging surface.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the abrasive material applicator directs pressurized air and abrasive material from a plurality of directions toward a baseball positioned on the support.

12. An apparatus to claim 11 wherein the abrasive material applicator comprises an air compressor for providing a source of pressurized air, a first conduit coupled to the air compressor through which pressurized air flows from an air inlet to an air outlet, a suction tube coupled to the first conduit and comprising an abrasive material inlet positioned relative to abrasive material such that air flowing through the first conduit from the air inlet to the air outlet, draws abrasive material into the flowing air that exits the air outlet, and at least one hose coupled to the air outlet for carrying the mixture of air and abrasive material to a position for delivery at the baseball.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 comprising an abrasive material recycling bin for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball, the abrasive material inlet being in communication with the recycling bin for drawing the abrasive material from the abrasive material recycling bin into air flowing through the venturi.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the abrasive material comprises a glass bead and dried mud mixture.

15. A baseball de-slicked by the apparatus of claim 1.

16. An apparatus for de-slicking a baseball using an abrasive material, the apparatus comprising:

a baseball support operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support;

an abrasive material applicator positioned to spray abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned;

a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time; and

an ejector operable to selectively engage a baseball positioned on the support to remove the baseball from the support.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 comprising an abrasive material recycling bin for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the singulator comprises:

a baseball hopper comprising a baseball receiving interior space;

a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening;

a second fixed member comprising a baseball delivery opening positioned for alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the rotatable member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, whereby a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the passageway, the outlet opening and the baseball delivery opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position;

a stop positioned to block the passage of any baseballs other than the first baseball from the hopper into the passageway when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position;

wherein the support comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about their respective longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the rollers being parallel to one another, the rollers being rotated in the same direction about their respective longitudinal axes, the rollers being contoured such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in such position as abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball; and

an ejector mechanism operable to eject a baseball from the supporting rollers, the ejector mechanism comprising a baseball ejecting wand having first and second end portions and being pivotally supported for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position, wherein when shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes the baseball positioned on the support to a location off of the support, a biasing spring coupled to the wand and operable to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward first wand position, a timing rod coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member, the timing rod being positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position, the timing rod moving past the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand following the ejection of the baseball to a location off of the support to thereby allow the baseball ejecting wand to return to the first position so as to not interfere with the delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a speed adjuster operable to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening, and wherein the first member has a baseball guiding surface which is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway.

20. A method of de-slicking baseballs comprising:

spraying a de-slicking material at a baseball; and

turning the baseball at least during a portion of the time while spraying the de-slicking compound at the baseball.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the de-slicking material comprises an abrasive material.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the de-slicking material comprises a mixture of dirt and glass beads.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the dirt is Lena Blackburne mud.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the act of spraying comprises blasting the baseball with abrasive material from a plurality of directions.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of directions comprises first and second directions from opposed locations with the ball supported between said opposed locations and a third direction orthogonal to the first and second direction.

26. A method according to claim 25 comprising the act of ejecting the de-slicked baseball.

27. A method according to claim 26 in which the act of turning the baseball comprises the act of rotating the baseball and the act of applying an abrasive material comprises the act of blasting the baseball with abrasive material from a plurality of directions.