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  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for de-slicking baseballs.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     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&#39;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  
       [0003]     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.  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     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.  
         [0007]     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.  
         [0008]     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.  
         [0009]     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.  
         [0010]     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.  
         [0011]     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.  
         [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     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.  
         [0014]     Methods of applying abrasive material to baseballs are also disclosed herein with such methods being apparent from the disclosure.  
         [0015]     Also, baseballs that have been de-slicked in the manner disclosed herein are also encompassed within this disclosure.  
         [0016]     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  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for de-slicking baseballs in accordance with this disclosure.  
         [0018]      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.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view, much like that of  FIG. 2 , except with the frame components being removed for convenience.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of a portion of an exemplary ejector mechanism embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0022]      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 .  
         [0023]      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.  
         [0024]      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.  
         [0025]      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.  
         [0026]      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 .  
         [0027]      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.  
         [0028]      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.  
         [0029]      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.  
         [0030]      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.  
         [0031]      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.  
         [0032]      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  
       [0033]      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.  
         [0034]     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.  
         [0035]      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 .  
         [0036]     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.  
         [0037]     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.  
         [0038]     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 .  
         [0039]     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 .  
         [0040]     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.  
         [0041]      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 .  
         [0042]     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.  
         [0043]     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 .  
         [0044]     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.  
         [0045]     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 .  
         [0046]     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.  
         [0047]     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.  
         [0048]     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.  
         [0049]      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.  
         [0050]     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 .  
         [0051]     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.  
         [0052]     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.