JP2920488B2 - Pitching machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pitching machine used for a baseball game or toss batting practice. The present invention relates to a pitching machine which can be used for actual battles, thereby eliminating physical growth stoppage caused by unreasonable pitching particularly in juvenile baseball. Or to reduce the physical wasting of relatively elderly people.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hitherto known pitching apparatus includes:
A launching means for launching the ball in a predetermined external direction from a launching window of the case body, and a linear shooter for stocking the ball and sequentially feeding the ball into the case body having the launching means, It is mainly used for batting center and baseball toss practice.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional pitching apparatus, since the ball is automatically and continuously fired at predetermined time intervals, it is necessary to practice other than monotonous batting practice. Could not be used. In addition, the present inventors have provided an activation button at the upper end of the pitching device to improve the pitch so as to be thrown immediately after pressing the activation button, and tried to use this for actual baseball. Not only does the athlete need to press the start button when approaching the device each time a pitch is thrown, but because the ball is suddenly fired unlike an artificial pitch that has a series of poses at the time of pitching, the case of loose toss batting Except, it is extremely difficult for a batter to respond to this.

Further, as for the appearance of the apparatus, a linear shooter extends backward and bulky with respect to the case body, so that the stability is poor and it is easy to fall over. It was not practical because there was a danger of moving forward and hitting the shooter of the pitcher, or there was a problem that the pitch between the first and third basemen easily hit the shooter of the pitcher. Recently, it has become clear that full-scale pitching in elementary and junior high school children's baseball by growing children in baseball is likely to hurt their shoulders and hinder proper growth as a baseball pitcher. Also, the emergence of a pitching machine to replace children was desired.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned various problems in the prior art, enables use in practical baseball, and particularly, makes the body by unreasonable pitching in youth baseball possible. It is intended to eliminate the cessation of strategic growth or to reduce the physical exhaustion of relatively elderly people. Specifically, it is installed in the case main body and the case main body, and in a fixed external direction from the launch window. A firing means for firing the ball toward
Place the ball in the receiver and the case body
For the next supply, from the ball supply port into the case body
Gulf in the direction surrounding the case body while gradually increasing altitude
Bent, and the curved part is tilted toward the case body
Start with the attached shooter and the above receiver
And a transmitting device for transmitting a signal.
By issuing an activation signal to the receiving device,
A pitching machine characterized in that the launching of the launching means can be remotely controlled and the case body is provided with audio or optical notice means for displaying in advance the timing of launching the ball by the launching means. About.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[Function] When a large number of balls are placed on the shooter surrounding the case body, the balls roll sequentially on the shooter,
Around the rear part of the case body, it is 1
Individually, it enters the case body and is ready for firing.
The pitcher presses the start switch on the case main body to activate the firing means, or the pitcher or coacher has a transmitting device and issues a pitching instruction signal toward the case main body when necessary, so that the receiving device in the case main body When receiving this and immediately activating the firing means, one or several sounds such as a buzzer immediately before the pitch,
Alternatively, an optical warning means such as lighting of one or more pilot lamps is displayed to the outside, and immediately after a certain period of time has passed since the final warning, the waiting ball is directed to a certain outside direction from the launch window. Fired.

[0009] In this case, shooter described above is because it is attached is curved in a direction surrounding the case body while increasing gradually advanced from the ball supply port into the case body, the players to be the shooter projecting rearwardly There is no danger of collision or the like, and the entire device is made compact and stable. In addition, since the above-described curved portion of the shooter is attached to the case body so as to be inclined, the rolling of the ball on the shooter is further smoothed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The specific contents of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a case main body, 8 denotes a case installed in the case main body 1, and a fixed external direction from a launch window. , A receiving device 18 mounted in the case body 1, a shooter 15 for sequentially supplying the balls into the case body, and a notification device 21. The case body 1 is made of a synthetic resin such as metal or plastic or other materials, and has a ball guide plate 3 which has a firing window 2 opened in the front and is slightly curved toward the firing window 2. Further, a ball supply port 4 for supplying a ball onto the ball guide plate 3 is formed on the left side of the case body 1. 16 is a cover for receiving the ball B from the shooter 15;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a lower cover surrounding the ball supply port 4.

Further, a circular projection 5 is formed in the upper part of the case body 1 so as to protrude horizontally from one wall surface to the other wall surface, and a handle part 6 is provided at the upper end of the case body 1. Further, a screw-type height adjusting device 7 is attached to the bottom of the case body 1 near the front. The firing means 8 is formed by folding a metal spring round bar in a U-shape with a slight interval (about 1.5 to 2.8 cm) on the side approaching the ball guide plate 3 to form two parallel metal bars. The eccentric cam 14 operates the pitch spring 9 by a spring round bar, the eccentric cam 14 for operating the pitch spring 9, and the reduction gear 13 coaxial with the eccentric cam 14.

The pitching spring 9 has a coil spring portion 9a wound in a coil shape on each of the two parallel metal spring round bars in the base direction, and a length direction from the coil spring portion 9a. At a position near the center, the metal spring round bar is recessed on one side, a roller shaft 12 supporting a roller 10 is supported in the recessed portion, and the roller shaft 12 is stopped by a stop spring 11, so that the left and right 2 The roller 10 is rotatably held between the metal spring round bars.

Further, the pitching spring 9 has a base end portion fixed to an upper portion of the case main body 1 and a coil spring portion 9a held by the projection 5 to receive a biasing force of the case main body 1 toward the back. In this case, the projection 5 is supported as a fulcrum so that the distal end thereof can move toward the back (to the rear of the case body 1) substantially along the ball guide plate 3 against its elastic force, The portion is urged to be located in the direction of the launch window 2. The eccentric cam 14 is centered on the rotating shaft 12 having both ends supported on the side wall surface of the case body 1, and a specific position (0 degree) in the rotational direction angle is set to the small diameter portion 14 a.
In this case, the diameter is gradually increased gradually in the circumferential direction from the small-diameter portion 14a, and the position at the rotation direction angle of 360 degrees is the largest diameter portion 14b having the largest diameter.
The 60-degree portion is connected by a falling wall 14c.

The eccentric cam 14 is provided with the above-described throwing spring 9.
2 and a reduction gear 13 coaxially and integrally mounted with the roller 10 and a drive gear G meshing with the reduction gear 13, the motor M With the above driving force, the reduction gear 13 and the eccentric cam 14 can be rotated at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

The receiving device 18 is mounted in the case main body 1 and includes a receiver 19 and an antenna 20. The antenna 20 receives a transmission signal from an external transmitting device (not shown), and Detects this, and activates the above-mentioned launching means 8 by the signal received by the receiver 18. The transmitter and receiver used in this case may be known ones, and the frequency of the transmission / reception radio waves used may be in the free band. In this case, the mounting position of the antenna 20 is not necessarily limited to the rear portion of the case body 1 as shown in FIG. As long as the above two conditions are satisfied and there is no possibility that the reception sensitivity is degraded, there is no particular question about the installation location. Also, the material of the case body 1 at least at the place where the antenna 20 is built in the receiving device must be made of a material such as plastic which does not hinder the reception of the transmission signal from the external transmitting device.

Further, the shooter 15 has a base end portion 15.
a ball supply port 4 formed on one side surface of case body 1
To form a curved portion 15b by gradually bending the ball from the ball supply port 4 in the direction surrounding the rear portion of the case body 1 while gradually increasing the height from the ground contact surface.
After wrapping around the rear part of the case body 1, the tip part 15 c is turned back and along the side surface on the opposite side of the case body 1 so that the tip part 15 c is located closer to the front on the opposite side of the case body 1, and the tip part 15 c
Can be supplied to the ball.

In this case, the bending portion 1
5b is attached to the case body 1 side so as to be higher on the A1 side than on the A side in the cross section A-A1, so that the passage of the ball B in the curved portion 15b becomes smoother. In addition, it is possible to eliminate ball clogging. Regarding the cross-sectional shape of the shooter 15, a passage is formed which can accommodate the ball B and has a sufficient margin for rolling. The passage has a flat bottom surface or is slightly curved. It is preferable that the surface has a rising wall surface, and the cross section is configured to be substantially U-shaped. However, the cross section may be substantially V-shaped or cylindrical.

In the case of this embodiment, the notice means 21 comprises three kinds of optical LED lamps of a red pilot lamp L1, a yellow pilot lamp L2, and a blue pilot lamp L3, and a sound by a buzzer BZ attached to the case body 1. Display means. Specifically, the three eccentric cams 14 of the firing means 8 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so that the eccentric cams 14 can contact the radial surface from the small diameter portion 14a to the large diameter portion 14b. A limit switch LS having S2 and S3 protruding in the horizontal direction is attached.

That is, the contact S1 is connected to the pilot lamp L
1, the pilot lamp L1 is turned on by making contact at a portion rotated by approximately 90 degrees from the start point of the small diameter portion 14a (falling wall 14c), and the contact S2 is connected to the pilot lamp L2 to connect the pilot lamp L2. Contact at a portion rotated approximately 220 degrees from the start point of the part to light the pilot lamp L2,
Further, the contact S3 is connected to the pilot lamp L3,
The pilot lamp L3 is turned on by making contact at a portion rotated by approximately 300 degrees from the start point of the small diameter portion 14a. The buzzer BZ has a built-in known time switch, and is designed to sound for a fixed period (about one second) every time the above-mentioned pilot lamps L1, L2, L3 are turned on.

In the above-described configuration, when the ball B is placed on the tip 15c of the shooter, the ball B goes around the rear part of the case body 1 along the curved portion 15b from the shooter tip 15c. Along the base end 15a, falls from the upper cover 16 into the lower cover 17, and falls one by one from the ball supply port 4 to the case body 1.
The player rides on the ball guide plate 3 in the inside and stands by while being supported by the tip of the pitching spring 9. On the other hand, when either the pitcher or the coacher behind the pitching machine has a transmitting device (not shown) and emits a firing signal toward the case body 1 when necessary by remote control, the receiving device 18 in the case body 1 The motor M is driven by a power source of a battery (not shown) incorporated in the case body 1 and the drive gear G rotates the reduction gear 13 at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

When the reduction gear 13 starts rotating from the state shown in FIG. 2, the eccentric cam 14 coaxial therewith also rotates, and the small-diameter portion 14a of the eccentric cam 14 comes into contact with the roller 10 and the large-diameter portion 14a.
As the rotation proceeds in the direction b, the rotation shaft 12 of the eccentric cam 14
The pitching spring 9 is deformed toward the back (rear) of the case body 1 against the elastic force while the roller 10 rolls on the eccentric cam 14 with this. When the contact position of the roller 10 reaches the final large-diameter portion 14b, the roller B is located at a portion indicated by a chain line in FIG. 2, and accordingly, the ball B is also lowered along the ball guide plate 3 in FIG. Reach position.

At this time, the contact S1 of the limit switch LS provided on the side of the eccentric cam 14 starts contact at a portion where the eccentric cam 14 is rotated by about 90 degrees from the starting point of the small diameter portion 14a (falling wall 14c). Then, the buzzer BZ is sounded for a certain period of time, and the pilot lamp L1 (red) is turned on. Further, the contact S2 starts contacting at a portion rotated by approximately 220 degrees from the start point of the small diameter portion, and the buzzer BZ sounds for a certain period of time At the same time, the pilot lamp L2 (yellow) is turned on, and the contact S3 starts to contact at a portion rotated approximately 300 degrees from the start point of the small diameter portion, the buzzer BZ is sounded, and the pilot lamp L3 (blue) is sequentially turned on. Let it.

Further, the motor M continues to rotate, and the roller 10 on the large-diameter portion 14b of the eccentric cam 14 immediately separates from the large-diameter portion 14b and moves along the falling wall 14c in the direction of the small-diameter portion 14a. Slide down. At that moment, the roller 10 is released and the pitch spring 9 is vigorously restored in the direction of the launch window 2 by the original elastic force, and the ball B located at the chain line position in FIG. This is emitted from the emission window 2 in a certain outward direction. The batter then sounds the buzzer BZ at regular intervals and the pilot lamps L1 (red), L2 (yellow), L3
By predicting the pitching of the ball based on the transition according to (blue), the timing of the hit is measured accordingly.

After the firing, when the drum 13 is in the state of FIG. 2, each of the contacts S1 to S3 of the limit switch LS is separated from the eccentric cam 14 to turn off the pilot lamps L1 to L3, and the motor M is turned off. It stops automatically and prepares for the next firing signal, and the next ball enters the lower cover 17 and waits. In the above-described embodiment, the pilot lamp L1
The optical light emitting means by L3 and the sounding means by the buzzer BZ are used in combination, but either one may be used, and in any case, the lighting or sounding does not necessarily have to be in three stages as described above. Alternatively, it may be performed only once, or only two stages, or four or more stages before a predetermined time immediately before the ball B is fired.

It should be noted in order to curved portion 15b of the shooter 15 is mounted in an inclined on the case body 1 side,
When the ball B passes through the curved portion 15b, the rolling resistance against the outer peripheral side wall surface is reduced, and the rolling of the ball becomes smoother. In the above-described embodiment, the receiving device is built in the case body, and the firing unit is activated by transmitting a firing signal from the external transmitter toward the receiving device. A push button for starting may be provided on the upper part of the main body, and the firing means may be started by pressing the push button.

[0026]

According to the present invention, as described above, the case body,
It is installed in the case main body, and comprises firing means for firing the ball from the firing window in a fixed external direction and a shooter for sequentially supplying the ball into the case main body, and the timing for firing the ball by the firing means on the case main body. Is provided in advance for displaying the
The batter can predict the pitching timing of the ball by observing the buzzer by the warning means and the state of light emission change by the pilot lamp of red, yellow, blue, etc., and adjust the timing of the hitting according to this and prepare for the hitting , Enabling use in actual baseball games. It also allows elementary and junior high school students to use baseball, hurt the shoulders of growing children and prevent them from hindering their ability to grow properly as baseball pitchers. , So that you can enjoy baseball more closely.

Further, in the case where a receiving device is installed in the case main body and the activation of the launching means can be remotely controlled by transmitting an activation signal to the above-mentioned receiving device using an external transmitting device, the actual baseball game is used. Is much easier to use. In addition, the shooter is attached to the case body while gradually increasing the altitude from the ball supply port into the case body and curving in the direction surrounding the case body .
In, during play, for example, bumping players to be the shooter projecting rearwardly defense's advancement as such when the batter is bunting, or without the risk of pitching is or hit between first baseman and third baseman, device Is compact and the stability is improved. In addition, since the curved portion of the shooter is attached to the case body at an angle, the rolling of the ball on the shooter is further smoothed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire pitching machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inside of a case main body in FIG. 1;

[Description of Signs] 1 Case main body 2 Launch window 3 Ball guide plate 4 Ball supply port 5 Projection 6 Handle 7 Height adjustment device 8 Launching means 9 Throw spring 9a Coil spring 10 Roller 11 Stop spring 12 Roller shaft 13 Reduction gear 14 Eccentric cam 14a Small diameter portion 14b Large diameter portion 14c Falling wall 15 Shooter 15a Base end 15b Curved portion 15c Tip 16 Upper cover 17 Lower cover 18 Receiving device 19 Receiver 20 Antenna 21 Notice means LS Limit switch M Motor G Drive gear

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-10076 (JP, A) JP-A-62-97575 (JP, A) JP-A-9-38266 (JP, A) 149377 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 59-2372 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A63B 69/40 511 A63B 69/40 501

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A case body, and installed in the case body.
A launching means for launching the ball from the launch window in a fixed external direction, a receiving device mounted in the case body,
Case body to supply balls sequentially into the case body
Case that gradually increases the altitude from the ball supply port to the inside
The main body is bent in the surrounding direction, and the bent portion is
And a shooter attached to the main body at an angle
From the transmitting device that transmits the activation signal to the receiving device
An activation signal is transmitted from the transmitting device to the receiving device.
Can be controlled remotely by sending
A pitching machine characterized in that the case body is provided with a warning means for displaying in advance the timing of firing the ball by the firing means.