JPH0520370Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a ball feeding device for a pitching machine.

(Prior Art) The ball feeding device of a conventional pitching machine feeds the ball to the part corresponding to the palm of the rotating pitching arm. It was installed.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, as is well known, in the rotating pitching arm of a conventional pitching machine, the distance between the center axis of rotation and the palm at the tip that receives the ball is long; Since the ball is scooped up from below and rotated to be pitched by passing through a gap that supports the ball from the left and right sides, the rotational position of the palm that scoops up the ball is likely to be misaligned, and it comes into contact with the ball support. However, there was a problem in that the smooth supply of balls could be disrupted due to breakage.
This invention was developed as a result of research and development to solve the above-mentioned problems. Even if the palm touches the ball's support rod, the ball's support rod will retreat, preventing damage to the palm and smoothing the ball. This invention was devised for the purpose of providing a ball feeding device that can guarantee the supply of balls.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention uses a spring to constantly press the base of the ball support rod, so that it can be moved backward, and it also works in conjunction with the rotating pitching arm. A holding plate for supplying the balls is provided to ensure that the balls are supplied one by one, thereby making it possible to supply the balls smoothly.

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings. 1 is an oblique position at which the palm 3 at the tip of the rotating pitching arm 2 reaches a substantially horizontal ball scooping position due to the rotation of the rotating pitching arm 2 (see Figure 2). This is a substantially groove-shaped ball descending table provided obliquely downward in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the palm 3 at the upper position. 4,4 is ball descending platform 1
This is a cylindrical spring storage tube with a lid provided on the left and right sides of the tip of the ball descending table 1 in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the ball descending table 1. Reference numerals 5 and 5 indicate springs built inside the left and right spring storage cylinders 4. 6 is a spring storage tube with the center position facing downward and bent inward, and the left and right ends of the ball support rod inserted into the spring storage tube 4 so as to slide into the spring storage tube 4, with the center position facing diagonally downward. Insert into 4. Reference numerals 7 and 7 designate a permanent press plate fixed to the tip end of the ball support rod 6 inserted into the spring storage tube 4 in a compressed state. Reference numeral 8 denotes a holding plate rotating shaft provided on the side surface of the ball descending table 1 and supported in the vertical direction so as to rotate in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the ball descending table 1. Reference numeral 9 denotes a ball holding plate having an arc-shaped cross section and fixed inwardly to the upper end side of the holding plate rotating shaft. Reference numeral 10 denotes a connecting rod fixed to the lower end of the holding plate rotating shaft 8 so as to be able to swing laterally. The upper end of the sprocket 11 is fixed to one end of the connecting rod 10, and the lower half of the sprocket 11 is fixed in a substantially vertical direction so as to be attached to a swing pin 13 provided on the side of a sprocket 12 which is connected to the rotating pitching arm 2 by a chain hook. It is a swinging rod installed in the Reference numeral 14 denotes a guide rod inserted in the swinging direction into a sliding groove 15 cut into the lower end side of the swinging rod 11. 16, 16 are parallel to the left and right end portions of the ball support rod 6, facing each other at positions on the left and right sides with an interval (ball support width) that allows ball support from the tip side of the ball support rod 6. This is a ball support plate provided in a circular shape. Reference numeral 17 denotes a traction spring that is hooked and pulled at an intermediate position of the connecting rod 10.

(Function) Next, to describe the function of the present invention, each time the rotary pitching arm 2 makes one rotation of the pitch, the sprocket 12 also rotates once, and the swing pin 13 moves the swing rod.
The holding plate rotating shaft 8 rotates via the connecting rod 10,
The upper and lower ends of the holding plate 9 swing inward and outward once, and the balls that enter the holding plate 9 from above descend one by one to the ball support rod 6 side, and are separated from the ball support rod 6 and the ball support plate. When the ball reaches between 16 and 16, it is supported as shown in Fig. 2, and waits for the palm 3 to rotate from below and scoop it up.In this case, the position of the palm 3 to scoop up the ball is slightly shifted. Even if it comes into contact with the tip of the ball support rod 6, the ball support rod 6 compresses the spring 5 and rises and retreats, so the palm 3 is not damaged and no excessive force is applied to the rotating pitching arm 2. never join.

(Effects of the invention) When the invention is implemented, the balls are reliably supplied one by one to the palm of the rotating pitching arm, and moreover, when the palm of the rotating pitching arm passes through the gripping part of the ball support and scoops up the ball, , even if the ball makes contact with the support part, the support part retracts and there is no risk of damage to the palm or rotating pitching arm.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main parts of the present invention. 1...Ball descending table, 2...Rotating pitching arm, 3...
...Palm, 2...Spring storage tube, 5...Spring, 6...Ball support rod, 7...Continuous push plate, 8...
...Holding plate rotating shaft, 9...Holding plate, 10...Connecting rod, 11...Swinging rod, 12...Sprocket, 1
3... Swing pin, 14... Guide rod, 15... Sliding groove, 16... Ball support plate, 17... Traction spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] From a position diagonally above the ball scooping position where the palm 3 of the rotating pitching arm 2 reaches laterally, a groove-shaped ball descending platform 1 is provided diagonally downward in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the palm 3 to lower the ball. Spring storage tubes 4 with built-in springs 5 on the left and right sides of the tip of the stand 1,
4 is provided, and the left and right ends of the ball support rod 6, whose central position is bent downward, are slidably inserted into the spring housing cylinders 4, 4, and the springs 5 are used to constantly push the ball support rods toward the tip side. Ball support plates 16 are provided facing each other on the left and right and have ball support widths such as 6 and 6, and an arc-shaped ball holding plate 9 is provided on one side of the ball descending table 1 facing inward. A ball feeding device characterized in that a holding plate rotating shaft 8 for swinging a ball 9 from side to side and a swinging rod 11 for swinging in conjunction with a rotating pitching arm 2 are connected.