Patent ID: 8556565

Claim:
A ball retrieval device comprising: an L-shaped frame including a first section and a second section; a feeder system located on the first section of the L-shaped frame; a paddle wheel system connected to the feeder system; and a lift system located on the second section of the L-shaped frame; wherein the paddle wheel system includes a bar having a plurality of rotating vanes; wherein the lift system includes a plurality of shelves adapted to carry balls, wherein the shelves are attached to chains mounted on sprockets, wherein the sprockets are mounted on an upper crank shaft and a lower crank shaft attached to the L-shaped frame, and wherein the upper crank shaft has a crank handle attached to one end; wherein the rotation of the crank handle vertically lifts the shelves carrying the balls and drops the balls into a basket; wherein the rotation of the crank handle activates a knock off bar driven by the upper crank shaft, wherein the knock off bar hits a timing device operatively connected to a stopper which normally holds the rotating vanes in a locked position, wherein the hitting of the timing device by the knock off bar raises the stopper away from its position locking the rotating vanes thereby allowing the rotating vanes to rotate, and wherein the rotation of the rotating vanes introduces the balls into the shelves in an orderly, synchronized manner to avoid jamming of the device.