Patent GB-1195798-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for Ejecting Balls
Inventor: WHITE BRIAN GAISFORD CARTER
IPC: A63B69/40
Filed: 1968-08-15
Abstract: 1,195,798. Apparatus for ejecting balls for training &c. B. G. C. WHITE. 15 Aug., 1968 [17 Aug., 1967], No. 39166/68. Heading A6D. An apparatus for ejecting loose articles such as balls, e.g. tennis balls, along a desired predetermined trajectory, and which is suitable for use in training practice, or for playing a game comprises a hammer having a striking face and a stem and mounted for continuous circulatory movement, a feeder device adapted to feed a number of balls in succession of the striking face after two or more full circulations of the hammer, said feeder device comprising a pair of spaced plates adapted to hold a ball in said path, and drive means for driving the hammer. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the apparatus comprises a tubular framework 10 on which are journalled three shafts 12, 14 and 16. On shaft 12 there are mounted sprockets 18 and 20, on shaft 14 a sprocket 22, and on shaft 16 a sprocket 24. A handle 26 is provided on shaft 12 for rotating shaft 12 and thus sprockets 18 and 20. Alternatively, shaft 12 may he mechanically or electrically driven. Sprocket 22 is driven by sprocket 20 via the chain drive 28. Since sprocket 22 is smaller than sprocket 20, the shaft 14 is driven at a higher speed than shaft 12. Sprocket 24 (and hence shaft 16) is driven by sprocket 18 via the chain drive 30, shaft 16 being thereby driven at a lower speed than shaft 12. On shaft 14 there is fixedly mounted a hammer having a striking face 32, a stem 34 and a counterweight 36. On the shaft 16 is mounted a feeder device comprising a pair of spaced plates 38a, 38b having cut-out portions to engage and carry a ball as shown at 40 (Figs. 4 and 7). The speed ratio between the sprockets 22 and 24 may be 12: 1. The relative arrangement of the hammer and the feeder device is such that the striking face 32 of the hammer will pass between the feeder plates 38a, 38b during, rotation of the hammer to strike a ball carried in the cut-out portions of the feeder plates. The ball will thus be ejected from the apparatus in 'the direction indicated by the arrow D. An elongated narrow chute 42 having a discharge 44 is located above the feeder device, the chute being inclined for gravity feeding of the balls to the feeder device. A speedometer 45 is oparatively connected via cable 46 to the shaft 14 to enable the operator to ensure that the shaft 14 is driven at a constant speed to obtain regular ejection of the balls. The flight of the (balls may be adjusted in a vertical sense by means of a deflector plate 48 pivoted to the frame 10 at 50 and connected by levers 52, 54. 56 to a hand lever 58 pivoted to the frame 10 at 60. An arcuate holed member 62 is connected to the plate 48 and by securing member 62 to a frame member by means of the wingnut 64, the plate 48 can be locked in any desired position. The flight of the balls may be adjusted in the lateral sense by varying the alignment of the path of the hammer relative to the feeder plates 38a, 38b, the hammer shaft 14 (Figs. 4 and 5) being mounted in bearings housed in bearing housings 66 within slippers 68 in such a manner that the housings 66 can be slid axially within the slippers 68 by means of an adjustment mechanism 70 shown in detail in Fig. 5. Devices far halting or blocking the feed of balls to the feed plates 38a and 38b are described.