US3815567A - Coacting wheel ball projecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball throwing machine utilizing two counterrotating wheels positioned so as to grasp between their peripheries, such as a tennis ball, and project it along the mutual tangent line of the counterrotating wheels. A plurality of feed magazines discharging balls one at a time in timed sequence for grasping and projection by the counterrotating wheels. The sequential timed release of balls from the columns of balls in the respective feed magazines is effected by a plurality of escapement mechanisms, one of which is positioned adjacent the exit end of each of the respective feed magazines. The angle and speed at which the ball is projected are adjustable by changing the speed at which the wheels rotate and angle of the entire machine relative to the support on which it rests. The wheels are driven independently of one another, and the escapement mechanisms are driven independently of either wheel. The inner structure of each of the two wheels is made of resilient material which is compressed substantially when a ball is moved therebetween.

Description

United States atent 1191 Serra 111,1 3,815,567 .1451 June 11, 1974 1 COACTING WHEEL BALL PROJECTING DEVICE [76] Inventor:

Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 221 Filed: Nov.'l5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 198,674

[52] US. Cl l24/1,'124/50, 124/41 [51] Int. Cl. F4lb 3/04 [58] Field ofSearch 124/1, 41, 49, 50, 32; 273/26 D; 74/54; 221/68, 133; 214/85 1-1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,334,326 3/1920 Strane 221/68 x 1,944,499 l/l934 2,716,973 9/1955 2,918,915 12/1959 3,459,168 8/1969 3,538,900 11/1970 Samuels..... 124/1 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne Norman R. Serra, 735 Ocampo Dr..

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A ball throwing machine utilizing two counterrotating wheels positioned so as to grasp between their peripheries, such as a tennis ball, and project it along the mutual tangent line of the counterrotating wheels. A plurality of feed magazines discharging balls one at a time in timed sequence for grasping and projection by the counterrotating wheels. The sequential timed release of balls from the columns of balls in the respective feed magazines is effected by a plurality of escapement mechanisms, one of which is positioned adjacent the exit end of each of the respective feed mag- I azines.-The angle and speed at which the ball is projected are adjustable by changing the speed at which the wheels rotate and angle of the entire machine relative to the support on which it rests. The wheels are driven independently of one another, and the escapement mechanisms are driven independently of eitherwheel. The inner structure of each of the two wheels is made of resilient material which is compressed substantially when a ball is moved therebetween.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 1 1 m4 SHEEI 2 [IF 3 PATENTEDJUN 11 m4 31315561 SHEET 3 0F 3imrmr 1 I Ii i l 1 COACTING WHEEL BALL PROJECTING DEVICE Previous devices proposed for automatically projecting balls for the purpose of improving theathletic ability of an individual or team had in general been large, bulky, complicated devices of dubious reliability.

In general, previous devices could not effectively alter their ball trajectory determining characteristics rapidly, simply, and reliably. Previous devices generally utilized large, inefficient ball storage and feed structures. Generally, previous devices had attempted to utilize a single source of power to drive all of the moving mechanisms, which resulted in heavy, expensive, and complicated power transmission devices.

These and other disadvantages of the prior art have been overcome according to the present invention.

The present invention provides a small, lightweight, hand portable ball-throwing machine which automatically projects balls in sequence at timed intervals. In accomplishing this result, an efficient ball storage and ball feed structure is utilized in which a plurality of ball magazines are arranged laterally'across one side of a rectangular suitcase-like structure so that the discharge or exit ends of the magazines feed into a short, simple, and efficient ramp structure that delivers-balls under the urging of gravity onto the converging side of the peripheries of a pair of counterrotating wheels. The peripheries of the wheels at their closest adjacent point are spaced apart a distance which is somewhat less than the nominal diameter of the ball which is to be projected. The cores of the rotating wheels arecomposed of resilient, radially compressible material, and the rims of the wheels are defined by relatively rigid flanges.

The presence of the ball between the peripheries of the rotating wheels deforms the cores of the peripheries into ball grasping grooves so that the ball is grasped firmly and accelerated to the circumferential speed of the wheels. As the ball approaches the diverging side of the counterrotating wheels, it is released and thrown outwardly along the mutual tangent. line of the wheel peripheries.

Each of the ball magazines contains a column of balls. Balls are released from each of the magazines in turn, one ball at a time, by means of an escapement mechanism. There is an escapement device in each ball magazine near its exit end. The escapement devices operate so as to release one of the balls from the column of balls after a predetermined interval of time. The actuation of each escapement device is timed with that of each of the other escapement devices so that one ball is released from each of the feed magazines before a second ball is released from any of the magazines. The

feed magazines serve as the ball storage receptacles so that no additional hopper or storage structure is required.

Each of the wheels is directly driven independently FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view taken along view line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view taken along view line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6, a crosssectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a tennis ball in grasped position between the peripheries of ball projecting wheels;

FIG. 7, an enlarged view of the escapement mechanism portion of FIG. 2 showing the escapement mechanism in the ball discharge configuration; and

FIG. 8, a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the escapement mechanism in the ball movement configuration.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated aframe 10, which includes a generallyrectangular housing 12.Rectangular housing 12 is provided with a first end wall'14. The approximate midportion offirst end wall 14 is removed to provide aball projection port 16. The entire ball throwing machine is adapted to be transported by means ofhandle 18.Rectangular housing 12 is providedwith afirst side wall 20.First side wall 20 is detachably mounted in a position that extends generally perpendicular tofirst end wall 14.First side wall 20 is designed to cooperate with certain fixed structures (as more fully described hereinafter) onrectangular housing 12 to permitfirst side wall 20 to be mounted in either a transportation and storage configuration or alternatively in a 'ball projecting configuration.

First side wall20 is a generally rectangular planar structure on which are defined a plurality of ball magazines. The first through the eighth ball magazines are identified byreference numerals 22 through 36, respectively, see FIG. 1. Each of the ball magazines is provided with a slot adjacent its exit end. The first through the eighth slots are identified respectively withreference numerals 38 through 52, see FIG. 1. Theball magazines 22 through 36, respectively, are defined by the outwardly disposed surface offirst side wall 20 in cooperation with partitions mounted on and extending acrossfirst side wall 20. The nine partitions utilized in defining the ball magazines are identified by thereference numerals 54through 69, respectively, see FIG. 1.

The balls are guided adjacent the exit end of the respective ball magazines so as to insure their proper release from the magazines bybar 70, FIGS. 1 and 2. Bar is mounted onpivots 72 so that it may be pivoted be-, tween the locations shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the location shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

First side wall 20 is provided with storage position 10-cator pins 74 and 75 that project laterally outwardly from oppositely disposed edges offirst side wall 20. Operativeposition locator pins 76 and 77 are spaced on the oppositely disposed edges offirst side wall 20 from storageposition locator pins 74 and 76. Therespective locator pins 74 through 77 are adapted to engage with first and secondmagazine mounting brackets 78 and 80 respectively. When first side wall' 20 is in its transportation and storage configuration, storageposition locator pins 74 and 75 are engaged with second and first magazine-mounting brackets 80 and 78, respectively. Whenfirst side wall 20 is in the ball projecting configuration, operativeposition locator pins 76 and 77 are engaged with second and firstmagazine mounting brackets 80 and 78, respectively.

, 3Ball retainer lip 82, FIGS. 1 and 2, projects outwardly in generally a common plane withfourth end wall 87 so as to prevent balls falling off the machine as they emerge from the exit end'of the ball magazines. The respective lateral ends ofball retainer lip 82 are bent through an angle of approximately 90 degrees so as to extend above and generally in a common plane with the second andthird end walls 106 and 108, respectively. These extensions ofball retainer lip 82 are identified as endwall retainer legs 84 and 86, respectively. Endwall retainer legs 84 and 86 are spaced outwardly from the adjacent edges of the respective third andsecond end walls 108 and 106 so as to define slots between the retainer legs and the edges of the end walls. The slots that are so defined receive the adjacent portions of first side wall for the purpose of retainingfirst side wall 20 in proper relationship torectangular housing 12, whenfirst side wall 20 is in the transportation and storage configuration.

Second side wall 88 serves to mount an angular adjustment structure indicated generally at 90.Angular adjustment structure 90 includes asupport leg 92 that p is pivotally mounted tosecond side wall 88 by means of support hinge 100. Braceam 94 is pivotally mounted to supportleg 92 by means ofbrace hinge 102. Aperforated plate 98 is mounted in generally contacting coplanar relationship withsecond side wall 88 and includes a plurality ofholes 104.Brace arm 94 terminates at its unhinged end in locator pin 96. Locator pin 96 is of such dimensionsas to be received and secured. in theholes 104 ofperforated plate 98. By moving locator pin 96 from one ofholes 104 to another, the angle betweensecond side wall 88 and the underlying support structure is varied or adjusted to a desired value.

Stiffener plates 110 and 112 are mounted to the inwardly disposed surfaces of second andthird end walls 106 and 108, respectively. First mountingplate 114 is mounted onrectangular housing 12 adjacentfirst side wall 20. Second mountingplate 116 is mounted on the inwardly disposed surface ofsecond side wall 88.Stiffener plates 110 and 112 extend between the respective ends of first and second mountingplates 114 and 116 so as to space these mounting plates apart a predetermined distance.

First andsecond wheels 118 and 120, respectively, are mounted between first and second mountingplates 114 and 116. First andsecond wheels 118 and 120 are mounted for counterrotation in a generally common plane in the directions indicated by the arcuate arrows in FIG. 3.

First andsecond wheels 118 and 120 are spaced apart a distance which is slightly less than the diameter of the balls which are to be projected from the machine. When there are no balls in position between the peripheries of first andsecond wheels 118 and 120, the peripheries have the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5. When a ball is grasped between the peripheries offirst wheel 118 andsecond wheel 120, the peripheries of the wheels compress radially to define a ball-grasping groove, shown, for example, in FIG. 6.

First wheel 118 is mounted for rotation on first mountingshaft 122, andsecond wheel 120 is mounted for rotation onsecond'mounting shaft 124. First and second mountingshafts 122 and 124, respectively, are mountedto first and second mountingplates 114 and 116 so that the mounting shafts extend generally parallel to one another. First mountingshaft 122 is mounted to first mountingplate 114 by means ofproximal bearing 126, and second mountingshaft 124 is similarly mounted toplate 114 by means ofproximal bearing 128. First mountingshaft 122 is mounted to second mountingplate 116 by means ofdistal bearing 130, and second mountingshaft 124 is similarly mounted to second mountingplate 116 by means ofdistal bearing 132.First wheel 118 is rigidly mounted to and rotates with first mountingshaft 122; likewise, second wheel rotates with second mountingshaft 124. Stepped drivenpulley 134 is mounted to the proximal end of first mountingshaft 122 and stepped drivenpulley 136 is mounted to the proximal end'of second mountingshaft 124. 5

First wheel 118 is composed of a proximal flange- 138, adistal flange 142, and acore 146 disposed between the proximal and distal flanges. Thesecond wheel 120 is likewise composed of aproximal flange 140, adistal flange 144, and a core 14'! disposed between the proximal and distal flanges. The respectiveproximal flanges 138 and 140 are of such radial dimensions that at their closest adjacent positions the distance between the respective proximal flanges is less than the diameter of the ball that is intended to be received between the wheels. Likewise, the distal flanges extend radially for such distances that at their closest adjacent points they are spaced apart a distance which is less than the diameter of the ball which is intended to be received between the peripheries of the respective first and second wheels. The respective proximal and distal flanges are generally rigid so that they are not radially compressible to any significant degree.

Thecore 146 offirst wheel 118 is composed at its outermost periphery ofball contacting band 148. Extending radially inwardly from the inner surface ofball contacting bank 148 is radiallycompressible band support 150. Likewise,core 147 ofsecond wheel 120 is composed of aball contacting band 149 at its outer periphery which is supported on its radially'inwardly 'disposed surface by means of radiallycompressible band support 151.

Ball contacting bands 148 and 149, respectively, are composed of flexible, shock and abrasion resistant substances that exhibit a high coefficient of friction. in contact with the surface of the balls that are to be projected by the machine. The necessary radial deflection that is required for the ball to be grasped by and passed between the moving peripheries of the wheels is provided by the radially compressible band supports 150 and 151. In general, the radially compressible band supports 150 and 151 are composed of resilient sponge-like materials that have a large pore cellular structure so as to admit a considerable amount of radially compression without permanentdeformation. The wheels are mounted on hubs that receive the mounting shafts.

First andsecond motors 152 and 154, respectively, are mounted interiorly ofrectangular housing 12.First motor 152 is provided with a steppeddriver pulley 156, and a second motor154 is likewise provided with a stepped driver pulley 158. Steppeddriver pulley 156 is counterrotation ofsecond wheel 120 with respect tofirst wheel 118.

First motor 152 is entirely independent ofsecond motor 154 and drives first'wheel 118 directly. Likewise,second motor 154 is completely independent-offirst motor 152 and is the direct drive forsecond wheel 120. First andsecond motors 152 and 154 do not drive any mechanism other than the respective first andsecond wheels 118 and 120. The rate at which first andsecond wheels 118 and 120 are driven may be adjusted by movingbelts 160 and 162 to various locations on steppeddriver pulleys 156 and 158 and stepped drivenpulleys 134 and 136. In general, the selection of pulleys should be such that first andsecond wheels 118 and 120 rotate at the same peripheral speed.

When first side wall is positioned in its operative ball projecting configuration, the respective exit ends of theball magazines 22 through 36 are operatively positioned adjacent a plurality ofescapement devices 164 through 178, respectively, see FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular. The escapement devices regulate the release of balls from the magazines.

Each of the escapement devices is substantially idencommon pivot point of the respective arms andcam 212.

Cam 2 12 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 7 and 8. Ascam 212 reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the feed-arm 190 moves from the 4 position shown in phantom lines to that shown in solid lines, responsive to the movement of feed-arm cam follower'portion 198 into the radially depressed portion ofcam 212. The portions of feed-arm 190 and stop-arm 192 that-project throughslot 44 into ball magazine are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive a ball therebetween, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 7. The single ball that is disposed between the respective arms is prevented from exitingball magazine 30 by the presence of feed-arm 190. The remainder of the balls in the column of balls contained within ball magazine- 30-are prevented from entering the spaced between the respective arms by the presence of the outermost tip of stop-arm 192, see particularly FIGS, 2 and 7.

The rotation ofcam 212 to the location where its radially depressed portion registers with feed-armcam follower portion 198 permits the ball between the respective arms to be released from the exit end of ball tical to the others and consists of a feed-arm 190 and Y a stop-arm 192, FIGS. 2, 7, and 8 in particular. A portion of each of the feed-arm 190 and stop-arm 192 projects through the slot at the exit end of the individual ball magazine so that balls in the magazine contact a portion of the feed-arm 190 and stop-arm 192. Theframe 10 .is positioned so that gravity forces balls against the feed-arm 190 and stop-arm 192. The stop mounted on anescapement support shaft 194.Feedarm 190 and stop-arm 192 pivot about a common point.Cam shaft 202 is rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel with the axis ofescapement support shaft 194.Cam shaft 202 is provided with eight cams, identified byreference numerals 204 through 218, respectively, see particularly FIG-3. Each of theescapement devices 164 through 178 is-actuated responsive to the movement of one of thecams 204 through 218. The eight cams oncam shaft 202 are angularly displaced from one another by one-eighth of a full revolution, or approximately degrees, so that they operate to actuate the respective escapement devices one at a time at regularly spaced time intervals.

Theescapement device 170 is illustrated in enlarged detail, particularly in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8. The description ofescapement device 170 applies equally as well to each of the other escapement devices.

With particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, feed-arm 190 is provided with a feed-armcam follower portion 198, and stop-arm 192 is provided with a stop-armcam follower portion 200. These cam follower portions of the respective arms are biasedinto contact with the surface ofcam 212 by means of biasingspring 196.Biasing spring 196 is mounted to and extends between the respective arms 19.0 and 192 at a location between themagazine 30.

As thecam 212 continues to rotate between the positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, there are no balls located in the space between the respective arms.

As thecam 212 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 8, where the radially depressed portion of cam 212'registers with the stop-armcam follower portion 200, biasingspring 196 serves to draw the stop-arm 192 out of contact with the ball that is at the base of the column of balls inball magazine 30. This permits the lowest ball of the column of balls inball magazine 30 to move into position against feed-arm 190. The stop-armcam follower portion 200 follows the contour of cam 2l2'as the cam continues to rotate. As the radially depressed portion ofcam 212 moves past the stop-armcam follower portion 200, the stop-arm 192 is again moved intothe position, shown in FIG. 7, where it blocks the movement of any of the column of balls inball magazine 30.

Cam shaft 200 andescapement support shaft 194 are mounted to the outwardly disposed side of first mountingplate 114 by means of mountingbrackets 220, 222, and 224, respectively.Cam shaft 202 is provided with a driventoothed pulley 226 that is mounted coaxially and rigidly therewith, see particularly FIG. 4. Driventoothed pulley 226 is operatively engaged withtiming belt 228. Timingbelt 228 is driven by drivertoothed pulley 230.. Drivertoothed pulley 230 is driven bythird motor 232.Third motor 232 is independent of first andsecond motors 152 and 154, respectively.Third motor 232 drives drivertoothed pulley 230 at a very low rate, for example, four or five revolutions per minute. By contrast steppeddriver pulleys 156 and l58'are driven by first andsecond motors 152and 154, respectively,

.at speeds of several hundred to several thousand revolutionsper minute.

When the escapement devices operate so as to release balls from any of the'exit ends ofball magazines 22, 24, 26, or 28, the balls are urged by-gravity ontofirst ramp 234.First ramp 234 extends laterally across the exit ends ofball magazines 22 through 28. First I ramp 234slopes downwardly towardchute 238 so that gravity will urge a ball on its surface towardchute 238. Likewise, balls that are discharged from the exit ends 7 I ofball magazines 30, 32, 34, and 36 will fall under the urging of gravity onto the sloping surface ofsecond ramp 236.Second ramp 236 also slopesdownwardly towardchute 238.Chute 238 is arranged to deliver balls under the urging of gravity onto the converging side of the moving peripheries of first andsecond wheels 118 and 120, respectively. A ball is illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 onramp 234 and will move by gravity in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure intochute 238. A'ball is indicated in phantom lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 as it enterschute 238, having traveled downchute 236, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

Electrical switch 240 is a three way switch having a first position where the first, second, and third motors, 152, 154, and 232 respectively, are all in the unenergized configuration. The second position of the three way switch. 240 is where first andsecond motors 152 and 154, respectively, are energized, andthird motor 232 is not energized. The third position of threeway switch 240 is one whereat all of first, second, andthird motors 152, 154 and 232 are energized.

In operation the first side wall is positioned in the transportation and storage configuration with its lower outer edges under endwall retainer legs 84, 86, and storage locator pins 75 and 74 are engaged with first and secondmagazine mounting bracket 78 and 80, respectively. The intended user of the machine transports it manually in this configuration, by means ofhandle 18, to the desired location of use. 7 e

The intended user of the machine places it on a suitable supporting surface at the intended site of use and adjusts the angle at which the balls will be projected from the machine by loweringsupport leg 92 and selecting which of theholes 104 is to receive locator pin 96.

First side wall 20 is removed from its transportation and storage configuration andflexible belts 160 and 162 are positioned on the desired steps of the stepped driven and driver pulleys 134, 136,- 156, and 158, respectively. Preferably,belts 160 and 162 are so adjusted that the peripheries of first and second wheels .118 and 120, respectively, move at the same rate of speed. I I vFirst side wall 20 is placed in the operativeconfiguration wherein operative position locator pins 76 and 77 are engaged with second and firstmagazine mounting brackets 80 and 78, respectively. Each of themagazines 22 through 36 is filled with a column of balls, and bar 70 is positioned over the balls that are in contact with the escapement devices, as indicated in FIG. 1.

Threeway switch 240 is moved to the: position whereat first, second, andthird motors 152, 154, and 232, respectively, are energized. The rotation ofcam r shaft 202, through the cooperative action between the escapement devices and the cams oncam shaft 202, will discharge one ball frommagazine 22. One-eighth of a revolution of the cam shaft later, a second ball will tion 200 and the radially depressed portion of the respective operatively associated cam. The withdrawal of the stop-arms 192 permits the lowest of the balls in the column of balls in the respective ball magazine to move into position against feed-arms 190. Stop-arms 192 then return to the position in which they serve to hold the remainder of the balls in the magazine out of contact with feed-arm 190. The machine will continue to project balls at a predetermined rate dependent upon the speed of rotation ofcam shaft 202 until all of the magazines have been emptied.

When it is desired to project only one ball at a time, I

for example, where a'coach is working individually with a student, theswitch 240 is moved to the configuration in which only the first and secondelectrical motors 152 and 154,-respectively, are energized, and the thirdelectrical motor 232 is not energized. In that situation the escapement devices will not operate, and balls may be fed manually to the converging side of first andsecond wheels 118 and 120 at any desired rate.

The ball projecting machine of this invention is particularly well suited for use with tennis balls; however, baseballs, ping pong balls, and the like may be used if desired. The proportions of the machine .are adjusted to accommodate the particular ball that is to be used.

The radial compressibility of thecores 146 and 147 is generally achieved through the use of a resilient, synthetic sponge material in which the pores are relatively large, and the material is fatigue resistant. This spongy material is utilized as the radially compressible band supports 150 and 151. In general, material of this nature does not exhibit good wear resistant characteristics and exhibits generally undesirable characteristics when contacted directly with the ball. The radially tacting bands are bonded to the band supports.

cally the stop-arms 192 pivot downwardly responsiveto the cooperation between stoparm cam follower por- The escapement devices may be configured as desired so long as they act to release only one ball at a time from the column of balls in the ball magazine. Various known ball release means, including devices wherein one ball at a time is received in a rotating receptacle at one position and discharged after the receptacle has rotated approximately degrees, and devices wherein the feed-arm and stop-arm are integral and the ball release function is accomplished by rotating or pivoting the integral arms, may be-used if desired. If desired, ball release devices may be adjusted to release balls one at a time from a single magazine until it is empty instead of releasing one ball from each magazine in turn.

The side wall may be hinged to the frame instead of being completely removable if desired. If desired, the exit ends of the ball magazines may be fixed in place adjacent the escapement devices and the remainder of the ball magazines may be telescoped or hinged with the exit ends so as to provide access to the interior of the frame and collapsibility for carrying and storage purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. A lightweight, small, hand portable device for projecting a plurality of balls in sequence at timed intervals comprising:

a frame means for supporting a mechanism for projecting a plurality of balls including a generally rectangular housing;

a pair of wheels rotatably mounted within said generally rectangular housing for counterrotation in substantially a common plane, said pair of wheels having a diverging side and a converging side, the peripheries of each of the individual wheels in said pair of wheels including substantially rigid flanges and a resiliently, radially compressible core means disposed between said flanges and a compressible support band means for forming the inner portion of the wheels so that when one of said balls of said plurality of balls is positioned between said wheels said core means and said band means will be compressed substantially by oneof said balls of said plurality of balls and said wheels will accelerate said ball to the speed at which said wheels are rotating and project said ball from the diverging side of said wheels along a mutual tangent line of said wheels;

a ball guide means for guiding balls,-said ball guide means being mounted on said frame means 'on the converging side of saidpair of wheels in position to deliver balls under the urging of gravity to said converging side;

a plurality of ball magazine means for holding balls mounted on a first side wall of said generally rectangular housing, each of said ball magazine means being configured to hold a plurality of balls in the form of a single'column of balls, each individual one of said plurality of ball magazine means having an exit end, the exit ends of each said individual ball magazine means being positioned to discharge ballsunder the urging of gravity onto said ball guide means; and a a plurality of escapement devices positioned adjacent the exit ends of said individual ball magazine means, one of said escapement devices being positioned adjacent the exit end of each of said individual ball magazine means, means for coordinating the operation of said plurality of escapement devices whereby balls are released sequentially at predetermined intervals from said plurality of ball magazine means.

2. A device ofclaim 1, wherein the escapement devices are actuated to release balls by cams'mounted on a driven cam shaft, cams mounted on acam shaft said cams being spaced at regular angular intervals on said cam shaft, a feed-arm and a stop-arm being biased into contact with each of said cams, the feed-arm and stoparm associated with one cam projecting into the exit end of one of the individual ball magazine means, the said feed-arm and stopearm being spaced apart in the said exit end to receive a ball therebetween, whereby actuation of said feed-arm by said cam releases a ball from between the said feed-arm and stop-arm and actuation of the said stop-arm by said cam allows a ball of said plurality of balls in said individual ball magazine means to move into the space between the said feedarm and stop-arm.

3. A device ofclaim 1, wherein the first side wall mounting the plurality of ball magazine means i is mounted on the frame means and said first side wall is generally planar.

4. A device ofclaim 1 wherein the ball guide means includes a ball chute mounted on said frame means on the converging side of said pair of wheels positioned to deliver balls under the urging of gravity to said converging side, and a ramp means for guiding balls from the exit ends of the individual ball magazine means to said ball chute under the urging of gravity.

l l l UNITED STATES PATE OFFICE g CERTIFICATE OF CO RECTION Patent 1315.567 Dated June 11. 1974- Inventofls) Ngrman R Serra It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

ColuinnlO,line 14, cancel "cams mounted on a cam shaft"; andline 15, after "said" insert --driven-- InColumn 10,- line 39, insert the following claim:

5. A device ofclaim 1 wherein each of the wheels is driven independently of the other, the rate at which said wheels are driven being I adjustable, and the plurality of escapement dleviciesi being driven independently of said w as s; a

Signed and sealed this 5th day of november 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: McCOY M. GIBSON- JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Atteating Officer Commissioner of Patents PORN Po-mso uo-ss) I USOMM-DC 60376-P69 9 U. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I... 0'l6-lll

Claims (4)

1. A lightweight, small, hand portable device for projecting a plurality of balls in sequence at timed intervals comprising: a frame means for supporting a mechanism for projecting a plurality of balls including a generally rectangular housing; a pair of wheels rotatably mounted within said generally rectangular housing for counterrotation in substantially a common plane, said pair of wheels having a diverging side and a converging side, the peripheries of each of the individual wheels in said pair of wheels including substantially rigid flanges and a resiliently, radially compressible core means disposed between said flanges and a compressible support band means for forming the inner portion of the wheels so that when one of said balls of said plurality of balls is positioned between said wheels said core means and said band means will be compressed substantially by one of said balls of said plurality of balls and said wheels will accelerate said ball to the speed at which said wheels are rotating and project said ball from the diverging side of said wheels along a mutual tangent line of said wheels; a ball guide means for guiding balls, said ball guide means being mounted on said frame means on the converging side of said pair of wheels in position to deliver balls under the urging of gravity to said converging side; a plurality of ball magazine means for holding balls mounted on a first side wall of said generally rectangular housing, each of said ball magazine means being configured to hold a plurality of balls in the form of a single column of balls, each individual one of said plurality of ball magazine means having an exit end, the exit ends of each said individual ball magazine means being positioned to discharge balls under the urging of gravity onto said ball guide means; and a plurality of escapement devices positioned adjacent the exit ends of said individual ball magazine means, one of said escapement devices being positioned adjacent the exit end of each of said individual ball magazine means, means for coordinating the operation of said plurality of escapement devices whereby balls are released sequentially at predetermined intervals from said plurality of ball magazine means.

2. A device of claim 1, wherein the escapement devices are actuated to release balls by cams mounted on a driven cam shaft, cams mounted on a cam shaft said cams being spaced at regular angular intervals on said cam shaft, a feed-arm and a stop-arm being biased into contact with each of said cams, the feed-arm and stop-arm associated with one cam projecting into the exit end of one of the individual ball magazine means, the said feed-arm and stop-arm being spaced apart in the said exit end to receive a ball therebetween, whereby actuation of said feed-arm by said cam releases a ball from between the said feed-arm and stop-arm and actuatioN of the said stop-arm by said cam allows a ball of said plurality of balls in said individual ball magazine means to move into the space between the said feed-arm and stop-arm.

3. A device of claim 1, wherein the first side wall mounting the plurality of ball magazine means is mounted on the frame means and said first side wall is generally planar.

4. A device of claim 1 wherein the ball guide means includes a ball chute mounted on said frame means on the converging side of said pair of wheels positioned to deliver balls under the urging of gravity to said converging side, and a ramp means for guiding balls from the exit ends of the individual ball magazine means to said ball chute under the urging of gravity.

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