Abstract:
The present invention comprises: a frame; an ascending and descending vertical carrier; a motor; a first rod for performing a forwards rotation or backwards rotation movement; a second rod linked in movement to the other end of the first rod; a separating type of pressed-member which separates from the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is ascending, and which collides with and is pressed by a pushing plate formed in the other side surface of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is descending; a rotational force transmission means for converting the pressing force of the pressed-member into a rotational force; and a golf ball guide member means for nudging the golf ball and settling it on a tee member of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the vertical carrier has descended.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 application of International Application No. PCT/KR2009/002851, filed May 28, 2009, which in turn claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0057955, filed Jun. 19, 2008, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic golf ball supply device, in more detail, an automatic golf ball supply device that can automatically and sequentially supply a plurality of golf balls to where a user hits the golf balls, for example in a golf practice range, and has a small malfunction rate and maintains smooth operation under various environment, with reduced manufacturing cost. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, golf, sports in which the players hit a small round ball into desired holes, using as few hits as possible, is an event that is popular with a wide class. 
     It is very important to practice techniques for hitting a golf ball to a desired location in a desired direction in order to enjoy golf and it is general to practice in indoor and outdoor golf practice ranges before going to the field or in order to practice the golf techniques. 
     The devices automatically supplying golf balls to users in the golf practice range are the automatic golf ball supply devices, which are also called tee-up systems. 
     That is, the automatic golf ball supply devices of the related art are automatically supplied with golf balls from under the ground and automatically put the golf balls on a tee member, such as a tube-shaped elastic member, on the ground, without making the users directly put the golf balls on the tee (a rod stick in the ground to hold a golf ball at a predetermined height from the ground) with a hand. 
     Therefore, the users can continues practicing while sequentially receiving new golf balls after hitting the golf ball that has been supplied from the automatic golf ball supply device. 
     However, the automatic golf bass supply devices described above, as disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 353165, moves up a vertical carrier with a belt or pulleys and a golf ball guide member for putting on a golf ball on the vertical carrier; however, it has a problem that, first, the internal parts (e.g. the belt revolved by the pulleys) moves a long distance and the motor should continue operating while the parts move the long distance, such that large noise and vibration are caused. 
     Second, there was a problem in the automatic golf ball supply devices of the related art that the golf ball guide member putting a golf ball on the tee member moves at the same speed due to the constant movement of the belt etc., such that the golf ball fails to be flipped on the tee member and returns without being stably held on the tee member, when being put on the tee member, which is repeated. 
     Third, there was a problem in the automatic golf ball supply devices of the related art that the golf ball guide member always operates with the motor from the top dead center to the bottom dead center of the vertical carrier, such that the motor continues consuming power due to unnecessary operation of the golf ball guide member when the user accurately adjusts the height of the golf by operating a switch box after teeing up a golf ball and the golf ball guide member hits against the next golf ball while operating during the adjustment of the tee height, such that noise and vibration are additionally caused. 
     Fourth, there was a problem in the automatic golf ball supply devices of the related art that the height of a frame relatively increases due to the long movement distance of the belt, which causes a problem, such as a limit in installing the device in a golf practice range or the design of a golf practicing range. 
     In order to solve the problems of the related art, an automatic golf ball supply device has been developed which includes a vertical carrier freely moving up/down and stably put a golf ball on a tee, using the torque of a motor moving the vertical carrier up/down, for example, in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 200391702 and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 200418251. 
     However, the automatic golf ball supply device has an integrated-coupled structure in which parts, various rods, are hinged, linked, or firmly connected in a cam structure and the integrated-coupled structure has a problem that, first, the parts, particularly the parts connected with a vertical carrier are dependant on the up-down movement of the vertical carrier and moved with the vertical carrier, such that the parts rub with each other, and accordingly, the parts are easily worn or large noise and vibration are generated. 
     Second, there was a problem in the integrated-coupled structure that since the parts operate together with each other, foreign substances (soil particles, grass, and weeds etc.) are stuck in between the parts and interfere with the operation and a variety of malfunction or breakage of the parts may be caused when the operation with the foreign substances stuck is repeated. 
     Third, there was a problem in the integrated-coupled structure in that since the parts are firmly coupled, it is required to disassemble all the parts in order to replace of fix the parts. 
     Fourth, there was a problem in the integrated-coupled structure that it is trouble to assemble the parts and a too large number of parts are used, such that productivity reduces and manufacturing cost of the product increases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic golf ball supply device that has a small volume, can improve durability of parts and prevent noise and vibration by reducing friction or collision between the parts, using a separable pressed-member separated from a vertical carrier, can be little influenced by various foreign substances (soil particles, grass, and weeds etc.) by separating the parts, can maintain a smooth operation under bad weather conditions, can make it easy to replace or fix the parts, can improve productivity, and can make it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the product. 
     In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides an automatic golf ball supply device that automatically supplies golf balls to where a user hits the golf balls with a golf club. The automatic golf ball supply device includes: a frame having a golf ball outlet at the top; a carrier having a tee member where the golf ball is held and freely moving up/down to/from the outlet along a guide mounted on the frame; a motor mounted on the frame; a first rod having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the motor to pivot forward/backward; a second rod having a slit at the center portion where the other end of the first rod is fitted, one end hinged to the frame to be pivoted by the first rod, and the other end horizontally moving along a rail formed on one side of the vertical carrier; a separable pressed-member separated from the vertical carrier when the vertical carrier moves up, and hitting against a pressing plate formed on the other side of the vertical carrier to be pressed when the vertical carrier moves down; a torque transmitting member connected to the pressed-member and converting the force pressing the pressed-member into torque; and a golf ball guide member pushing the golf ball in the golf ball reservation room to be held on the tee member of the vertical carrier, which has moved down, while being pivoted by the torque transmitting member. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the separable pressed-member may include an elastic roller that hits against the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and the torque transmitting member may include a link having one end that is guided up/down by a vertical slit formed at the frame and the other end linked with a protruding arm positioned on the same axis with the golf ball guide member. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the separable pressed-member may include a rotary member having one end hinged to the frame and the other end equipped with an elastic roller that hits against with the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and the torque transmitting member may include a driving gear coupled to one end of the rotary lever, a driven gear coupled to a rotary shaft of the golf ball guide member, and an intermediate gear disposed between the driving gear and the driven gear. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the separable pressed-member may include a pressed-link having a first roller and a second roller that are fitted inside a second rail of the vertical carrier while hitting against the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and the torque transmitting member may include a protruding hinge arm having one end hinged to the other end of the pressed-link, a locking protrusion that is locked to a preliminary rotary stopper formed at one side of the pressed-link, and the other end positioned on the same rotary axis with the golf ball guide member. 
     As described above, according to the automatic golf ball supply device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a malfunction rate, maintain a smooth operation under various environments, improve durability, prevent noise and vibration, reduce bad influence due toe various foreign substances, easily replace or fix the parts, improve productivity, and reduce the manufacturing cost of the product. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing an automatic golf ball supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3 to 5  are views sequentially showing the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a picture of the front of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a picture of the rear of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view showing an automatic golf ball supply device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9 to 11  are views sequentially showing the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a picture of the rear of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIGS. 13 to 15  are views sequentially showing the operation of an automatic golf ball supply device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective assembly view showing the main parts of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, automatic golf ball supply devices according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing an automatic golf ball supply device  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 1 ,  FIGS. 3 to 5  are views sequentially showing the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6  is a picture of the front of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 7  is a picture of the rear of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 2 . 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an automatic golf ball supply device  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an automatic golf ball supply device  100  automatically supplying golf balls  1  to where a user hits the golf balls  1  with a golf club, and includes a frame  101 , a vertical carrier  102 , a motor  103 , a first rod  104 , a second rod  105 , a separable pressed-member  106 , a torque transmitting member  107 , and a golf ball guide member  108 . 
     In this configuration, the frame  101 , the metal framework of the automatic golf ball supply device  100 , has a golf ball outlet  101   a  for discharging upward the golf ball  1 , at the top. 
     Further, the vertical carrier  102  is mounted on the frame  101  and has an elastic tube-shaped tee member  109  where the golf ball  1  is held, at the top, and freely moves up/down from/to the outlet  101   a  along a guide  110  mounted on the frame  101 . 
     In this configuration, the guide  110  may be composed of two guide bars standing inside the frame  101 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Further, the motor  103  is a driving device mounted on the frame  101  and pivoting forward/backward the first rod  104 . 
     Though not shown in this configuration, the motor  103  is controlled by controls signals transmitted from a specific controller connected with a switch box. 
     Further, one end of the first rod  104  is connected to the rotary shaft of the motor  103  to pivot forward/backward. 
     Further, the second rod  105  operates with the first rod  104 , has a slit  105   a  formed at the center portion to connect the other end of the first rod  104 , one end hinged to the frame  101  and pivoted by the first rod  104 , and a the other end horizontally moving along a rail  111  formed on one side of the vertical carrier  102 . 
     Therefore, as the motor  103  rotates forward/backward, the first rod  104  connected to the rotary shaft of the motor  103  pivots forward/backward and the second rod  105  operating with the first rod  104  horizontally moves along the rail  111  of the vertical carrier  102 , such that the torque of the motor  103  can be converted into vertical movement force of the vertical carrier  102 . 
     Meanwhile, the automatic golf ball supply device  100  can make the golf ball guide member  108  put the golf ball  1  on the tee member  109  of the vertical carrier  102 , using the vertical movement force of the vertical carrier  102 . 
     That is, the separable pressed-member  106  is separated from the vertical carrier  102  when the vertical carrier  102  moves up, and is hit and pressed by a pressing plate  112  formed on the other side of the vertical carrier  102  when the vertical carrier  102  moves down, such that it can stand by in separation from the vertical carrier  102 . 
     Therefore, when the separable pressed-member stands by in separation from the vertical carrier  102 , it does not rub with the vertical carrier  102  and there is no gap for foreign substances to be stuck, such that the foreign substances are not stuck between the vertical carrier  102  and the separable pressed-member  106  or do not have a bad influence; therefore, it is possible to improve durability of the parts and prevent malfunction due to the foreign substances which frequently occurs under bad weather or the outdoor environment. 
     On the other hand, the torque transmitting member  107  is connected to the pressed-member  106  and converts the pressing force of the pressed-member  106  into torque, that is, it pivots the golf ball guide member  108 , using the pressing force of the pressed-member  106  pressed by the vertical carrier  102 . 
     In this configuration, the golf ball guide member  108  puts the golf ball  1  from a golf ball storage G onto the tee member of the vertical carrier  102  while being pivoted by the torque transmitting member  107  and an arc rotator that can lift up the golf ball  1  is shown in the drawings. 
     In particular, as an example of the automatic golf ball supply device of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the separable pressed-member  106  may be an elastic roller  113  that hits against the pressing plate  112  of the vertical carrier  102 . 
     Further, the torque transmitting member  107  has one end that is guided along a vertical slit  114  of the frame  101  to be prevented from failing to contact with the pressing plate  112  due to external interference or shaking, and the other end with a link  116  that is linked with a protruding arm  117  positioned coaxially with the golf ball guide member  108  on the rotary shaft  115 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a forcible returning protrusion  120  that interferes with the pressing plate  112  may be formed at one end of the protruding arm  117  such that the golf ball guide member  108  can be forcibly returned to the stand-by state, when the vertical carrier  102  moves up. 
     Therefore, in the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the vertical carrier  102  and the elastic roller  113  are separated from each other when the vertical carrier  102  has moved up, in which the elastic roller  113  can keep standing by until the vertical carrier  102  starts moving down. 
     In this standing-by state, a user can adjust the tee height by moving up/down the vertical carrier  102  within a tee height adjustment range by operating the switch. 
     Thereafter, the user can hit the golf ball  1  held on the tee member  109  of the vertical carrier  102  with a golf club. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when a ball sensor (not shown) mounted to the tee member  109  detects that there is no ball, after the hitting, the motor  103  rotates forward, the vertical carrier  102  is moved down by the first rod  104  and the second rod  105 , and the pressing plate  112  of the vertical carrier  102  hits against the elastic roller  113  while the vertical carrier  102  moves down along the guide  110  with the tee member  109  without a ball. 
     In this operation, since the elastic roller  113  is made of an elastic material, it can prevent bad influence from foreign substances due to a small contact area with the vertical carrier  102  while attenuating shock, noise, and vibration. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , while the vertical carrier  102  continues moving down, the link  116  pressed by the pressing plate  112  of the vertical carrier  102  moves down along the vertical slit  114 , the protruding arm  117  connected with the link  116  pivots with the downward movement of the link  116 , and the golf ball guide member  108  pushes the golf ball  1 , thereby the golf ball  1  can be held on the tee member  109 . 
     Thereafter, when the process described above is reversed, as the motor  103  rotates backward, the vertical carrier  102  is moved up by the first rod  104  and the second rod  105  and the golf ball  1  is prepared to be hit. 
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view showing an automatic golf ball supply device  100  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 8 ,  FIGS. 10 to 12  are views sequentially showing the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 13  is a picture of the front of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 14  is a picture of the rear of the automatic golf ball supply device  100  of  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a rotary lever  214  having one end hinged to a frame  201  and the other end coupled with an elastic roller  213  that hits against a pressing plate  212  of a vertical carrier  202  may be used as a separable pressed-member  206 , in an automatic golf ball supply device  200  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Further, a torque transmitting member  207  may be composed of a driving gear  216  coupled to one end of the rotary lever  214 , a driven gear  217  coupled to the rotary shaft of a golf ball guide member  208 , and an intermediate gear  218  disposed between the driving gear  216  and the driven gear  217 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a forcible returning protrusion  220  that interferes with a pressing plate  212  may be formed at one end of the driving gear  216  such that the golf ball guide member  208  can be forcibly returned to the stand-by state, when the vertical carrier  202  moves up. 
     Therefore, in the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device  200  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the vertical carrier  202  and the elastic roller  213  are separated from each other when the vertical carrier  202  has moved up, in which the elastic roller  213  can keep standing by until the vertical carrier  202  starts moving down. 
     In this standing-by state, the user can adjust the tee height by moving up/down the vertical carrier  202  within a tee height adjustment range by operating the switch. 
     Thereafter, the user can hit the golf ball  1  held on a tee member  209  of the vertical carrier  202  with a golf club. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when a ball sensor (not shown) mounted to the tee member  209  detects that there is no ball, after the hitting, the motor  203  rotates forward, the vertical carrier  202  is moved down by a first rod  204  and a second rod  205 , and the pressing plate  212  of the vertical carrier  202  hits against the elastic roller  213  while the vertical carrier  202  moves down along a guide  210  with the tee member  209  without a ball. 
     In this operation, since the elastic roller  213  is made of an elastic material, it can prevent bad influence from foreign substances due to a small contact area with the vertical carrier  202  while attenuating shock, noise, and vibration. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 12 , while the vertical carrier  202  continues moving down, the rotary lever  214  pressed by the pressing plate  212  of the vertical carrier  202  pivots forward with the driving gear  216 , the intermediate gear  218  rotates backward with the forward rotation of the driving gear  216 , and the driven gear  217  rotates forward with the backward rotation of the intermediate gear  218 , such that the golf ball  1  can be put and held on the tee member  209  without a ball. 
     Thereafter, when the process described above is reversed, as the motor  203  rotates backward, the vertical carrier  202  is moved up by the first rod  204  and the second rod  205  and the golf ball  1  is prepared to be hit. 
     On the other hand,  FIGS. 13 to 15  are views sequentially showing the operation of an automatic golf ball supply device  300  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 16  is a perspective assembly view showing the main parts of the automatic golf ball supply device of  FIG. 13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the automatic golf ball supply device  300  according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention may include a pressed-link  315  having a first roller  313  and a second roller  314  at one end, which are fitted inside a second rail  312  of a vertical carrier  302  while hitting against a pressing plate  311 , for a separable pressed-member  306 . 
     Further, it may include a protruding hinge arm  318  having one end hinged to the other end of the pressed-link  315 , a locking protrusion  317  that is locked to a preliminary rotary stopper  316  formed at one side of the pressed-link  315 , and the other end positioned a the same rotary axis with a golf ball guide member  308 , for a torque transmitting member  307 . 
     Therefore, in the operation of the automatic golf ball supply device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 13  first, the vertical carrier  302 , the first roller  313 , and the second roller  314  are spaced apart from, only in contact with, or separated from each other, when the vertical carrier  302  has moved up, such that as the first roller  313  and the second roller  314  moves down, the stopper  316  hits against the locking protrusion  317  and keep standing by until the vertical carrier  302  starts moving down. 
     In this standing-by state, the user can adjust the tee height by moving up/down the vertical carrier  302  within a tee height adjustment range by operating the switch. 
     Thereafter, the user can hit the golf ball  1  held on a tee member  309  of the vertical carrier  302  with a golf club. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 14 , when a ball sensor (not shown) mounted to the tee member  309  detects that there is no ball, after the hitting, a motor  303  rotates forward, the vertical carrier  302  is moved down by a first rod  304  and a second rod  305 , and the stopper  316  hits against the locking protrusion  317  first to reduce shock applied to the vertical carrier  302  and then hits against the pressing plate  311  while the vertical carrier  302  moves down with the tee member  309  along a guide  310  in the tee height adjustment range. 
     In this operation, since first roller  313  and the second roller  314  are made of an elastic material, they can prevent bad influence from foreign substances due to a small contact area with the vertical carrier  302  while attenuating shock, noise, and vibration. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 15 , while the vertical carrier  302  continues moving down, the pressed-link  315  pressed by the pressing plate  312  of the vertical carrier  302  pivots forward and the vertical carrier  302  continues moving down, with the second roller  314  hitting against the pressing plate  311  and stopping rotation, and accordingly, the protruding hinge arm  318  pivots backward and the golf ball guide member  308  pushes the golf ball  1 , thereby the golf ball  1  can be held on the tee member  309 . 
     Thereafter, when the process described above is reversed, as the motor  303  rotates backward, the vertical carrier  302  is moved up by the first rod  304  and the second rod  305  and the golf ball  1  is prepared to be hit. 
     Therefore, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improved durability of the parts by reducing friction and collision between the parts, using separable pressed-members that are separated from the vertical carrier  302 , and prevent noise and vibration. Further, since the parts are separated, it is possible to reduce bad influence due to various foreign substances (soil particles, grass, and weeds etc.). 
     Further, since the separable pressed-members are not coupled to the vertical carrier, it is possible to easily replace or fix desired parts, and accordingly, it is possible to improve productivity and reduce the manufacturing cost by optimizing the parts. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be modified by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Therefore, it should be understood that the spirit of the present invention is not determined within the embodiments described above and limited by the scope described in the following claims. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to improve durability of parts, prevent noise and vibration, reduce bad influence due to various foreign substances (soil particles, grass, and weeds etc.), maintain a smooth operation under bad weather conditions, easily replace or fix the parts, improve productivity, and decrease the manufacturing cost.