Patent ID: 6460530
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of:(a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper including: a dispensing mechanism to individually feed balls between the source and the ball propelling machine comprising of tumbler casing of a hollow tube formation, having an entry hole on its open upper end and a feed hole on its open lower end forming a feed port through the tube; said upper end of tube being inserted into the exit hole of the hopper; said tumbler casing having a tumbler hole on its wall; a round tumbler sleeve in with said tumbler hole axially extending into the casing; a semicircular sleeve extension attached to the tumbler sleeve, having an inner and outer wall and extending a predetermined distance into the feed port; said tumbler sleeve having tumbler ring gear circumferencing its outer edge; a turnstile ring gear with a gearlike undersurface surrounding the entry hole of the casing and riding on the edge of the tumbler ring gear; said turnstile ring gear having a mixing means on its upper surface extending into the hopper.