102results about "Friction-wheel launchers" patented technology

The present inventions provides a directing device for controlling the orientation of a ball launching device, comprising a first member, a second member pivotally attached to the first member, and a third member disposed substantially parallel to the second member, rotatably connected to the second member and operably configured to receive the ball launching device. The device further includes a first actuator connected to the first and second members and, a second actuator connected to the first and third members. When the first actuator is actuated the second member pivots relative to the first member, and when the second actuator is actuated the third member rotates relative to the second member. This invention also provides an automatic ball throwing device having the directing device of this invention and a method of converting a pitching machine into the same. This invention further provides a hopper for use with the directing device.

The present invention provides a baseball practice machine for propelling balls onto a practice field thereby providing simulated hits for use in fielding practice for ball players. The practice machine includes a ball hopper, a propulsion unit for propelling a ball toward a practice field, a movable barrel through which a ball is propelled. A barrel positioner is coupled to the propulsion unit and the movable barrel for adjusting the position of the barrel thereby controlling the trajectory of a propelled ball. A programmable control system controls the operation of the practice machine. Trajectory parameters for the propelled balls are selected from predetermined parameters defining the path of the ball to a location of a practice field where the ball is intended to land. Information defining the dimensions of a practice field are stored in a memory of the control system and used in determining the trajectory parameters.

A toy projectile launcher includes a body having a magazine for storing at least one cylindrical projectile. The body has an elongate barrel in communication with the magazine. The barrel is shaped for travel of the projectile from the magazine to an exit end. The barrel has an intermediate opening between the magazine and the exit end. A drive wheel is powered by a motor to spin about an axis of rotation. The drive wheel can be coupled to the body by a drive wheel biasing member. The drive wheel intrudes into the barrel though the intermediate opening to contact and propel the projectile down the barrel. The drive wheel can include a resilient part. The axis of rotation of the drive wheel can deviate from being perpendicular to the length of the barrel by a predetermined angle selected to impart spin to the projectile.

A pitching system is provided for throwing baseballs, softballs and the like, which machine is synchronized to work in conjunction with a video display means to permit a batter to visually view a pitcher prior to and during delivery of the pitch. The machine includes a power head having at least two and preferably three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch. Three AC motors and companion motor drives are provided for causing the wheels to rotate at predetermined speeds. The motor drives include dynamic braking circuits to permit rapid deceleration of the wheels. A pair of linear actuators is provided to permit the power head to be moved to predetermined horizontal and vertical positions. A programmable controller is included for individually controlling the rotational speed of each individual wheel, the horizontal position of the power head and the vertical position of the power head. A smart card reader may be employed for programming of the controller and the machine is adapted to be used in conjunction with a video display to simulate the actual pitching of a baseball by a pitcher. The machine is able to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds with less than ten-second intervals between pitches. A video display device is included for displaying a moving video image upon a screen situated adjacent to the pitching system. Said screen has an aperture therein for allowing unobstructed passage of the ball therethrough. The propelling of the ball and the moving image of the pitcher are synchronized by means of a programmable control unit, which chooses the video image appropriate for a particular pitch and instructs the wheels to rotate at the appropriate speeds for said pitch, as well as instructing the machine to assume a horizontal and vertical angular position appropriate for such pitch. When the programmable control detects that the wheels have assumed the appropriate speeds and the machine has assumed the appropriate horizontal and vertical angular position, the control unit initiates the playback of the video image and, after a predetermined interval of time, signals a solenoid to impel the ball into pitching machine so that the ball appears to be thrown by the image of the pitcher.

A ball-throwing machine is provided which may be used for throwing baseballs, softballs and the like. The machine includes a power head having at least two and preferably three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch. Three AC motors and companion motor drives are provided for causing the wheels to rotate at predetermined speeds. The motor drives include dynamic braking circuits to permit rapid deceleration of the wheels. A pair of linear actuators is provided to permit the power head to be moved to predetermined horizontal and vertical positions. A programmable controller is included for individually controlling the rotational speed of each individual wheel, the horizontal position of the power head and the vertical position of the power head. A smart card reader may be employed for programming of the controller and the machine is adapted to be used in conjunction with a video display to simulate the actual pitching of a baseball by a pitcher. The machine is able to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds with less than ten-second intervals between pitches.

An automatic ball launcher for pets includes a body shell, a ball launch aisle, a ball launch mechanism which is connected to the ball launch aisle and near the outlet for the ball; the ball launch mechanism comprises one or more ball launch wheels and one or more ball launch motors; the ball launch wheels are set on two sides of the ball launch aisle, a face of which is a concaved curve; the concaved curve matches the outline of the ball; regular teeth are arranged on the concaved curve; the ball launch wheels are driven by one or more ball launch motor and launch the ball from the outlet. The present invention effectively enlarged the contact surface between the wheels and the ball, which solve the problem of slippery ball being stuck inside the launcher. The playing is not interrupted by the stuck ball and is enjoyable.

A position adjusting device (10) is used to adjust the position of a load through rotation. The position adjusting device (10) comprises a first supporting member (11); a horizontal axis motor (12), which is arranged on the first supporting member (11); a second supporting member (13), which is rotatingly arranged on the first supporting member (11) through the horizontal axis motor (12); and a pitch axis motor (14), which is arranged on the second supporting member (13) and is used to drive the load to rotate. The horizontal axis motor (12) is used to drive the second supporting member (13) to rotate around the horizontal axis, and the pitch axis motor (14) is used to drive the load to move along the pitch axis. The invention further relates to a shooting device (100) using the provided position adjusting device and a shooting method thereof. The operation of the shooting device is simple and interesting.

The present invention relates to a pitch dynamics device, the pitch dynamics device being interconnected with a pitching machine for causing the pitching machine to vary the pitch dynamics of pitched balls. Optimally, variances in pitch dynamics can include varying pitch speed, pinch plate angle, and the pitch release point. The pitch dynamics device can vary the pitch dynamics of pitched balls by adjusting a pinch plate position and angle to control the location of a pitch release point, trajectory angle, and ball release speed. The resultant is that the pitch dynamics device can allow a single-wheel pitching machine to throw different speed pitches with similar accuracy, in a batter's strike zone area, without changing the pitching machine setup which may include recalibrating the pitching machine, throwing a series of test pitches to verify pitch accuracy, changing pitching machine wheel speed, or adjust pitching machine tilt angle.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for use with a ball throwing machine (e.g., baseball/softball pitching machines, tennis ball serving machines and the like) that may be employed for practice at hitting and/or catching balls thrown. In many conventional systems, such machines have a fixed position and are unable to vary the direction (horizontal) or angle (vertical) at which a ball is thrown. The present invention provides a simple, cost-effective device by which conventional machines may be adapted to provide randomly variable movement of the machine so as to enable a ball to move about a target location in order to simulate a competitive environment.

An apparatus (10) for initiating and dispensing an incendiary comprises a feed mechanism (12) for advancing a line of series connected incendiaries to a dispensing location D; an injection device (14); and a cutter (16). The injection device (14) injects a substance such as glycol into the incendiary as it is moved toward, but prior to reaching, the dispensing location D. The glycol reacts exothermically with another substance such as potassium permanganate in the incendiary. The cutter (16) cuts the incendiary into which the glycol has been injected from the line of series connected incendiary. After the incendiary has been injected with the glycol and cut by the cutter (16) from the line, the feed mechanism (12) advances the incendiary to the dispensing location D where it is dispensed by the action of gravity from the apparatus (10).

A projectile shooter toy has a body with a sidewall forming a space for holding a projectile in a loaded state and a pathway leading away from the space and along which the projectile moves in a forward direction. An actuator is arranged to engage the projectile to move the projectile forward along the pathway. At least two pinching members are spaced forwardly along the pathway from the actuator. The pinching members are separate from, and movable relative to, the actuator and the sidewall, and are configured to exert a force on the projectile as the projectile passes between the at least two pinching members.