Patent ID: 7556565

Claim:
A golf ball carrying apparatus for use on driving ranges comprising: a chain connected between a drive unit having a motor and a driven unit spaced apart from the drive unit by a predetermined distance, said motor being connected to said drive unit so as to reversibly drive said chain; a guide rail extending around said chain, said guide rail having a top having a width greater than a width of a bottom thereof, said guide rail having a size suitable for receiving the golf ball and for allowing the golf ball to be guided therealong, said guide rail having a plurality of ball supply ports formed in longitudinally spaced relation; a first detecting sensor means affixed at an end of said guide rail for detecting a presence of the golf ball in said guide rail so as to reverse said motor for moving the golf ball toward said drive unit; a connection guide coupled to an end of each of said plurality of ball supply ports; a carrying pipe connected to said connection guide, said connection guide having a size for guiding the golf ball from said guide rail to said carrying pipe; a plurality of tee-up devices respectively connected to each of the carrying pipes; a second detecting sensor means positioned on said connection guide for determining a presence of the golf ball in said connection guide; and a pushing means affixed to said guide rail at a location corresponding to said connection guide, said pushing means having a movable part retractably inserted through a hole of said guide rail, said pushing means for urging said movable part outwardly so as to urge the golf ball from said chain and into said connection guide.