JPS6115716B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a space support device for a ball in a pitching machine for practicing hitting in ball sports such as table tennis and baseball.

This type of pitching machine, which is currently widely used, has two tires arranged symmetrically and rotated in opposite directions, as shown in Figure 3. Since the structure was such that the ball fed by the tire was fired through the ball using the frictional force of the tire, there was no need to support the ball in space. This is done by changing the number of rotations, but because of the rotational inertia of the tires, it is impossible to rapidly change the number of rotations, and to get a curve ball, it is done by changing the rotation speed of the left and right tires. However, there are only a few types of curve balls that can be obtained, and the speed of the pitched ball and the trajectory of the ball may change due to slight differences in the diameter of the ball, the distance between the tires, the surface condition of the ball and the tires, etc. Therefore, it was difficult to consistently pitch the ball consistently, and there were many defects such as the ball being crushed or damaged.

In order to eliminate this drawback, the ball is supported in space with as little resistance as possible, and an external force is applied to the ball to pitch the ball.By changing the strength and direction of the applied external force, the speed of the ball can be changed and various types of pitches can be used. All you have to do is to generate a curve ball.

The present device was invented in response to such requirements, and will be described in detail below with reference to illustrative drawings.

A wire 1 consisting of two piano wires each lengthwise and horizontally,
A coil spring 2 is connected to both ends, and this coil spring is fixed to a rectangular frame 3 so that the four filaments 1 form a square window in the center of the frame 3, and this window is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the sphere 5. The ball 5 is sized to be in contact with the small diameter position, and the ball 5 faces the window, and the lower side of the ball 5 is
It is supported by two support rods 4 provided diagonally.

In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a ball batting element, which moves forward through the launch tube 7 using compressed air, throws the ball 5, and throws the ball.Conversely, the interior of the launch tube 7 is made into a vacuum, and the ball hitter 7 is pulled back.
Be prepared for the next pitch. The compressed air and vacuum generator that supplies the firing cylinder is not shown in the figure as it is not the subject of this application, but two solenoid coils are attached to the outer periphery of the cylinder, and
By turning ON and OFF, the piston in the cylinder is moved forward and backward to generate compression and vacuum, and this can be used.Other commonly known compressors and vacuum pumps may also be used.

Reference numeral 8 is a guide for sequentially supplying the balls 5, so that when the ball 5 facing the window is pitched, the next ball falls and faces the window.A hopper is provided above the guide 8. However, illustration is omitted.

The explanation above has been made according to the drawings, but the drawings have four lines.
In this example, the number of striations is not limited to four, but three.
It doesn't matter how many books you have, as long as it's more than a book. Further, although the filament 1 is exemplified as a piano wire connected to a coil spring 2, a strong rubber strip or a small-diameter coil spring may be used in which the filament itself has elasticity.

As described above, the present invention allows a ball to face a window made up of several filaments, and by applying an external force from behind, the filaments are stretched and the window is pushed outward to allow the ball to pass through and be pitched. The ball is supported only by a few thin wires and a support rod that supports the lower side, all of which support the ball stably in space through point contact, and even when passing through a window, the wires stretch and extend outward. Since it expands in the opposite direction, there is less resistance and it does not have any negative effect on pitching, so you can always get a constant and stable pitch.
By providing this device, it is possible to obtain a high-performance pitching machine for batting practice that is extremely effective for batting practice for table tennis, baseball, tennis balls, and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view, FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 viewed in the direction of arrow A, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the pitching principle of the conventional machine. 1... Line, 2... Coil spring, 3... Frame, 4
...support rod, 5...ball, 6...ball hitter, 7...launch tube, 8...guide.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Several filaments are stretched so as to form a regular polygonal window in the center, and these filaments are either elastic filaments themselves or made of rubber or coil springs so that they can expand outward. The regular polygonal window is sized to touch a slightly smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the ball, so that the ball faces the window, and the lower side of the ball is diagonally 1. A spatial support device for a ball in a pitching machine, characterized in that the ball is supported by a support rod provided in the pitcher.