PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR REGULARLY DELIVERING BALL-SHAPED OBJECTS

Abstract: In a process for delivering ball-shaped objects from a quantity, in which the objects move under the influence of gravity to a delivery point situated low down and are removed there from the quantity, some of the objects near the delivery point are removed from the quantity in a direction essentially crosswise to the discharge direction, in such a way that bridge formation in the quantity of objects near that delivery point is avoided. A device for regularly delivering essentially ball-shaped objects from a quantity according to said process, is provided with a container (1) in which the stock lies, a discharge channel for the objects to be delivered, and regulating means (4) between container (1) and channel for regulating the passage of the objects through the channel. The regulating means (4) have a surface part (11) which can be in contact with the objects in the container (1) and which is movable in at least one direction laterally away from the channel, in such a way that the surface part (11) can produce a movement of the objects directed laterally away from the channel.

Description: The invention relates to a device for delivering essentially ball-shaped objects from a quantity in a container, whereby the objects move under the influence of gravity to a delivery point situated low down and are removed there from the container, provided with a discharge channel for the objects to be delivered, and regulation means between container and discharge channel for regulating the passage of the objects through the discharge channel, which regulating means are formed by a body of rotation and have a surface part which can be in contact with the objects in the container and in which the axis of rotation of the body of rotation runs horizontally, at right angles to and higher up than the discharge channel. Such a device is known from GB-A-2131404. Said device is able to deliver a number of balls at a time, each ball being guided by one of a number of adjacent discharge channels through rotating the body of rotation. Depending on the amount of balls present in the container, a larger or smaller number of the discharge channels contains a ball. It is therefore not possible to guarantee a regular delivery of the balls: a large amount of balls gives rise to a situation whereby all discharge channels contain a ball, whereas a small amount gives rise to a situation wherein only some of the discharge channels contain a ball. This means that the output of said prior art device depends on the amount of balls present in the container. Moreover, in certain rotational positions of the body of rotation, the objects are stopped or pushed backwards. This may cause further irregularities in the delivery of objects, and may even give rise to bridge formation. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a device which guarantees a regular delivery of balls, which is independent of the amount of balls present in the container. Said aim is achieved by the features of claim 1 in that in any rotational position of the body of rotation, the smallest distance between the body and the bottom of the channel is such that the objects may roll freely one by one through said channel underneath the body. The device according to the invention permits a continuous dispensing of the objects, in that they are able to roll freely from the container, via and underneath the body of rotation, through the discharge channel. The rotational movement of said body influences the amount of balls in the container in such a way that no blocking or bridge-formation can occur. This is achieved in that only objects which are situated higher than the objects in the channel, i.e. which lie on top of the latter objects, are moved upwardly and away from the channel. In this respect it is pointed out that devices for regularly dispensing ball-shaped objects are widely known, for instance from US-A-3244319. However, the prior art devices appear to be quite vulnerable with respect to blocking in that bridge formation may occur near the point of delivery. The channel has a V-shaped cross-section, and the body of rotation has two conical end parts of which the tips facing away from each other coincide with the axis of rotation, which end parts face the channel walls. A cylindrical surface is preferably provided between the bases of the conical end parts, in such a way that a free passage exists between said cylindrical surface and the bottom of the channel. Good results are obtained with a device in which the bottom of the container is V-shaped in cross-section corresponding to the discharge channel and runs slanting to the discharge channel. In this embodiment the objects are fed in a very uniform manner to the passage. The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an example of an embodiment shown in the figures. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the device according to the invention along line 1-1 in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the device according to the invention along line 2-2 in Figure 1. The device shown in Figure 1 for delivering ball-shaped objects comprises a large collection container 1, in which ball-shaped objects such as golf balls or tennis balls 2 are accommodated. The bottom of the container 1 comprises two walls 3 which are combined in a V shape, and between which a body of rotation 4 is placed. As can be seen better in Figure 2, the walls 3 run at an angle towards the discharge opening 5, and the body of rotation 4 is placed near the lowest part of the bottom. The body of rotation 4 is fixed on a shaft 6 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 7. The body of rotation 4 can be driven by motor 9 by means of a belt transmission 8. The body of rotation 4 comprises two conical parts 10, which are interconnected by a cylindrical part 11. The dimensions of the body of rotation 4 are selected in such a way that it fits at a distance into the V-shaped bottom of the container. All this is achieved in such a way that between the lowest part 12 of the bottom and the cylindrical part 11 a free space is left where the ball-shaped objects 2 can roll freely through to the opening 5. The distance between the conical parts 10 and the walls 3 of the bottom is such that no objects can roll through between them. The body of rotation 4 is also provided with bosses 13 which can exert a driving action on the objects 2 when the body of rotation 4 is being rotated. As can be seen better in Figure 2, the body of rotation 4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 14, in such a way that the objects 2 situated near said body of rotation are taken away in a direction away from the V-shaped channel formed by the panels 3. This provides additional space in the quantity of balls situated on the bottom of said channel, in such a way that they can move freely through under the body of rotation 4 without any bridge being formed in the process. As can also be seen in Figure 2, the body of rotation 4 is covered by a panel 15. The container 1 can now be filled up completely with objects 2, without the risk of the objects 2 flowing along the wrong side of the body of rotation 4 to the opening 5. The panel 15 is provided with an edge 16, in such a way that the height level of the objects 2 near the body of rotation 4 remains limited.

Claims: Device for regularly delivering essentially ball-shaped objects (2) from a quantity in a container (1), whereby the objects move under the influence of gravity to a delivery point (5) situated low down and are removed there from the container, provided with a discharge channel for the objects to be delivered, and regulating means (4) between container and discharge channel for regulating the passage of the objects through the discharge channel, which regulating means are formed by a body of rotation (10, 11) and have a surface part which can be in contact with the objects in the container and in which the axis of rotation of the body of rotation runs horizontally, at right angles to and higher up than the discharge channel characterized in that , the channel has a V-shaped cross-section, and the body of rotation has two conical end parts of which the tips facing away from each other coincide with the axis of rotation, which end parts face the channel walls in such a way that in any rotational position of the body (10, 11) of rotation, the smallest distance between the body (10, 11) of rotation and the bottom of the channel is such that the objects (2) may roll freely through said channel underneath the body (10, 11) of rotation. Device according to claim 1, in which a cylindrical surface is provided between the bases of the conical end parts, in such a way that a free passage exists between said cylindrical surface and the bottom of the channel. Device according to claims 1 or 2, in which the bottom of the container is V-shaped in cross-section corresponding to the discharge channel and runs slanting to the discharge channel. Device according to claim 3, in which the body of rotation is situated at the lowest part of the bottom of the container and is covered at the top side. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the body of rotation is provided with bosses distributed at regular intervals over its periphery, in such a way that a free passage exists in each case between the V-shaped bottom and a boss facing it.

Inventors: HOOGHIEMSTRA, GEORGE ALFRED
Applicants: JEDAHO B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A63B47
IPC codes: A63B47, A63B69, G07F11