A method for training a table tennis serve

Abstract

The application discloses a table tennis training serving method, characterized in that an irregular disturbance is applied to a table tennis ball in a process of the table tennis ball being served out of a serving port before or after the table tennis ball is served out of the serving port. The application can make the serving angle of the table tennis ball randomly change within a controllable range, and greatly improves the effectiveness and interestingness of table tennis training.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sports training technology, specifically to a serving method for table tennis training. Background Technology

[0002] A table tennis ball serving machine is a device that continuously launches pre-loaded table tennis balls for users to practice receiving. Automatic table tennis ball serving machines are suitable for both recreational and fitness purposes, as well as professional training, and can be used in communities, schools, homes, and professional training facilities. Professional table tennis players and training venues typically purchase table tennis ball serving machines for training purposes.

[0003] Existing table tennis ball-serving training devices typically only allow adjustment of the ball's speed, but have difficulty adjusting the launch direction and speed. Even those devices that can adjust the launch direction and angle often result in a fixed launch direction and angle. This makes the serves predictable, and once users master these patterns, it diminishes the fun and effectiveness of training.

[0004] Furthermore, existing table tennis serving machines typically use pneumatic principles to serve. This pneumatic method of serving table tennis training has the following drawbacks: 1. The table tennis ball is launched by air pressure. If a higher launch speed is needed to train high-speed ball-hitting reactions, a larger air pressure output is required. This causes the compressed air to rush out with the table tennis ball, significantly impacting the return shot and hindering normal return training. 2. In the device, to ensure more air pressure acts on the table tennis ball and prevent deflation, the ball channel is usually designed to be relatively small, with only a small gap between the ball and the channel. This easily generates significant noise during the ball's passage, affecting the user's training process. 3. Pneumatic devices are prone to problems due to deflation or insufficient air pressure, resulting in poor stability.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide a table tennis serving method that has randomness in its serve and can improve the fun and effectiveness of training has become a problem that needs to be considered and solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to provide a table tennis serving method with randomness of serve, which can improve the effectiveness and fun of training, and further enable it to achieve the characteristics of adjustable launch angle and high stability.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A table tennis training serving method is characterized by applying an irregular disturbance to the table tennis ball during its flight before or after it leaves the launch port.

[0008] In this way, after the ping-pong ball is disturbed and launched from the launch port, it can achieve random angle adjustments while maintaining a wide range of launch directions. This greatly improves the realism of the simulated receiving, increases the difficulty of receiving the ball, and effectively enhances training results and enjoyment.

[0009] Furthermore, the ping-pong ball is subjected to irregular disturbances by a flexible ribbon set within the path of the ping-pong ball.

[0010] This structure is simple, easy to implement, and will not interfere with the normal launch of the ping-pong ball due to excessive disturbance.

[0011] Furthermore, this method relies on a table tennis serving structure based on the principle of mechanical interference. The table tennis serving structure includes a ball-launching channel, and a pair of flexible ribbons are arranged inside the ball-launching channel along both sides of the table tennis ball's movement path.

[0012] In this way, when the ping-pong ball passes through the flexible ribbon, the airflow causes the ribbon to sway and irregularly contact the ball's surface, introducing a small, unpredictable disturbance to the ball during its journey. This results in the ping-pong ball, after being launched from the launch port, maintaining its general direction while undergoing irregular, random adjustments to its launch angle within a certain range. This significantly improves the realism of the receiving simulation, increases the difficulty of receiving, and avoids the shortcomings of existing ball-serving machines that reduce training effectiveness (for training purposes) and fun (for recreational sports) due to their predictable ball delivery. During implementation, the flexible ribbon is symmetrically arranged to prevent unilateral disturbances from causing the ball to deviate from a fixed direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the flexible ribbon is positioned 1-5 millimeters away from the path of the ping-pong ball, and its length is 0.5-2 times the diameter of the ping-pong ball. This effectively generates the aforementioned disturbance effect without excessively affecting the ball's trajectory.

[0014] Furthermore, as a preferred installation method for the flexible ribbon, a section of mounting cylinder can be detachably screwed onto the ball outlet channel, and the flexible ribbon is installed on the inner surface of the mounting cylinder.

[0015] This makes it easier to set up flexible ribbons.

[0016] Furthermore, a slot is provided on the inner surface of the mounting cylinder, and a rotatable locking plate is correspondingly engaged in the slot. The fixed end of the flexible ribbon is engaged and fixed between the locking plate and the slot.

[0017] This allows for easy installation and removal of the flexible ribbon, and the length of the ribbon can be adjusted as needed, thereby regulating the range of irregular changes in the serve angle and controlling the difficulty level of the serve.

[0018] Furthermore, the table tennis ball serving structure also includes a pair of extrusion wheels arranged side by side at the end of the ball delivery channel. The middle position of the extrusion wheels is positioned directly opposite the center position of the ball delivery channel. The extrusion wheels are connected to the extrusion motor and can be driven to rotate outward relative to each other, so that the outer side of the extrusion wheels forms a launching port. The distance between the side by side extrusion wheels is less than the diameter of the table tennis ball and the difference between the two is less than the extrusion deformation limit size of the extrusion wheels and the table tennis ball.

[0019] In this way, after the ping-pong ball enters the serving mechanism, the rotation of paired compression wheels at the end of the ball release channel clamps and ejects the ball from the launch port. This relative rotation of the compression wheels imparts launch speed to the ping-pong ball, achieving a mechanical serve effect. It is noiseless and does not affect the reception due to airflow, avoiding the drawbacks of pneumatic serves and making it more suitable for live ball training.

[0020] Furthermore, the table tennis serving structure also includes a serving frame, with a serving cavity running through the lower part of the serving frame. The squeeze wheel is vertically installed in the serving cavity, and a power cavity is located at the upper part of the serving frame. The squeeze motor is installed in the power cavity, and the end of the main shaft of the squeeze wheel passes through the power cavity and is connected to the squeeze motor by means of a gear transmission pair.

[0021] This can improve the consistency of the serve.

[0022] Furthermore, the rear sides of the serving frame and the middle part of the base plate are each hinged to the front end of a telescopic cylinder, and the rear ends of the three telescopic cylinders are each hinged to the outer shell of the ball preparation ring (by means of horizontal hinges).

[0023] These three telescopic cylinders maintain the stability of the serving frame installation. More importantly, they allow for easy adjustment of the serving frame's left-right or up-down sway by controlling the extension and retraction of the cylinders, thereby achieving control over the direction of the table tennis serve.

[0024] Furthermore, the table tennis serving structure also includes a hitting mechanism, which is located on the table tennis ball's travel path directly behind the ball release channel. The hitting mechanism includes a hitting stick positioned directly opposite the ball release channel, which is vertically mounted at the end of the hitting shaft. The hitting shaft is connected to a hitting motor, and the rotation path of the hitting stick can pass through the center position of the table tennis ball's travel path.

[0025] This allows for control of the hitting motor's speed, and the rotating hitting rod strikes the ping-pong ball along its path into the ball release channel. Through the structure of the hitting mechanism, the system actively ensures that all ping-pong balls within the ball-holding space are consistently struck. Furthermore, the ping-pong ball, after being struck, is given an outward initial velocity, allowing it to better utilize its momentum to enter the squeeze rollers of the serving frame and complete the squeeze launch, avoiding the defect of the ping-pong ball easily bouncing back due to insufficient initial velocity. Therefore, the reliability and stability of the device are greatly improved. In addition, the ball release channel and hitting rod are preferably arranged horizontally during implementation, ensuring a more stable and reliable striking process.

[0026] Furthermore, the striking rod is a cross-shaped arrangement. This allows for better control over the matching of the striking speed of the striking rod and the rotation speed of the connecting ring.

[0027] As an alternative installation method, the flexible ribbon can be installed on the serve frame in front of the squeeze roller. This is easier to install and provides better disturbance, but the drawback is that excessive disturbance can sometimes cause the serve angle to deviate from the intended range, leading to loss of control.

[0028] As an alternative, interference can be achieved by applying a randomly varying airflow that blows onto the ping-pong ball in a direction that forms an angle with the ball's trajectory.

[0029] Compared to using flexible ribbons, using irregular airflow allows for easier control of the interference level by adjusting the airflow size. The drawback is the need for an additional air source, resulting in relatively higher costs. Therefore, this method is more suitable for implementation in pneumatic table tennis serving devices, where an air source branch can be connected to the launching air source of the table tennis ball to create an interfering airflow, thus saving costs.

[0030] Furthermore, this method relies on a table tennis serving mechanism based on the principle of aerodynamic interference. The serving mechanism includes a ball-launching channel, and intersecting intersecting airflow channels are obliquely connected to each other on the sidewall of the ball-launching channel. This facilitates airflow interference, resulting in irregular ball launches.

[0031] Furthermore, the interfering airflow channel has an enlarged irregular airflow forming cavity, within which three levitating spheres are arranged. Levitating spheres are lightweight spheres that can create a levitation effect under the influence of airflow.

[0032] In this way, after the interfering airflow enters the irregular airflow forming cavity through the interfering airflow channel, the presence of the three floating spheres causes them to float and generate irregular three-body motion under the blowing action of the airflow. This further enhances the irregular disturbance effect of the gas blown out from the interfering airflow channel. This design has the advantages of being simple and ingenious, capable of generating disturbance effects without being excessive.

[0033] Furthermore, at least two interfering airflow channels are evenly arranged circumferentially on the side wall of the ball outlet channel.

[0034] In this way, the oblique blowing force generated by the airflow from the interfering airflow channel can cancel each other out, leaving only the interference effect, thus preventing unilateral interference from causing the ball to deflect in a fixed direction. It can also increase the speed of the table tennis ball.

[0035] In summary, this invention enables random variations in the serve angle of a table tennis ball within a controllable range, greatly improving the effectiveness and enjoyment of table tennis training. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a table tennis training ball-serving machine used in the implementation of this invention.

[0037] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The outer shell, ball preparation ring, and ball exit channel have been removed to show a schematic diagram of the internal partition structure.

[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows a separate structural schematic of the ping-pong ball collection chamber and the ping-pong ball conveying pipeline. The ball preparation ring is omitted on one side of the diagram to show the internal partition structure.

[0039] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the individual table tennis ball serving structure, with the upper structure of the serving frame omitted to show the internal motor.

[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A bottom view.

[0041] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the individual ball-disrupting mechanism and its mounting cylinder.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a table tennis ball serving mechanism used in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] Example 1: A table tennis training serving method, characterized in that an irregular disturbance is applied to the table tennis ball during its flight before or after it leaves the launch port.

[0045] In this way, after the ping-pong ball is disturbed and launched from the launch port, it can achieve random angle adjustments while maintaining a wide range of launch directions. This greatly improves the realism of the simulated receiving, increases the difficulty of receiving the ball, and effectively enhances training results and enjoyment.

[0046] In this embodiment, the ping-pong ball is subjected to irregular disturbances by a flexible ribbon set within its travel path. This structure is simple, easy to implement, and will not interfere with the normal launch of the ping-pong ball due to excessive disturbances.

[0047] Specifically, this method relies on Figure 1-6 The table tennis ball serving structure in a table tennis training ball serving machine is shown below. The following is a description of the entire machine to help you better understand the serving method.

[0048] The table tennis training ball-serving machine includes a base 1, on which are designed interconnected a ball collecting chamber, a ball conveying pipe, and a ball-serving structure. The ball conveying pipe includes a ball preparation ring 2 fixed relative to the base and forming a vertical circular shape. The ball conveying pipe also includes a ball-infeeding channel 3 connecting the ball preparation ring and the ball collecting chamber, and a ball-outfeeding channel 4 connecting one horizontal end of the ball preparation ring and the ball-serving structure. The inner cavity of the ball preparation ring 2 is truncated... The diameter of the ball preparation ring is larger than the diameter of a ping-pong ball but less than twice the diameter of a ping-pong ball. A slit is set along the inner side of the ball preparation ring 2 along its own ring shape. A connecting ring 5 is also set outside the slit. Multiple partitions 6 are evenly distributed along the inner ring shape of the ball preparation ring. The partitions 6 divide the inner cavity of the connecting ring into several annular spaces with a size larger than the diameter of a ping-pong ball but less than twice the diameter of a ping-pong ball. A connecting rod is fixed at one end of each partition 6, passing through the slit and fixed to the connecting ring 5. A rotating shaft 7 is set in the middle of the connecting ring 5 and is connected to the conveyor motor for transmission.

[0049] In this way, when the equipment is running, the conveyor motor drives the connecting ring and its partitions to rotate within the ball preparation ring. Ping-pong balls enter from the ball collecting chamber through the ball entering channel into the various empty ball-holding spaces within the ball preparation ring. The ping-pong balls in each space are rotated by the partitions until they enter the ball exit channel, where they are launched by the launching device. The serving speed can be adjusted by the speed of the conveyor motor. This ping-pong ball conveying pipeline structure not only ensures the orderly conveying of each ping-pong ball but also guarantees consistent conditions before each ball is launched, greatly improving the stability of the launching process. The launching device can be implemented using an existing structure capable of performing the launching function.

[0050] The table tennis ball conveying pipe and the table tennis ball serving structure each have two sets arranged horizontally at intervals.

[0051] This makes it convenient to practice doubles receiving.

[0052] The ping-pong ball collection chamber includes a first ball collection chamber 8 and a second ball collection chamber 9.

[0053] In this way, multiple ball collection compartments can improve filling efficiency.

[0054] The first ball collection chamber 8 is located above and behind the ping-pong ball conveying pipe, while the second ball collection chamber 9 is located below and in front of the ping-pong ball conveying pipe.

[0055] This makes it convenient to load ping-pong balls from all directions.

[0056] Among them, the first ball storage 8 has two goal-scoring channels for each ball preparation ring.

[0057] This makes it easier to improve the efficiency of loading ping-pong balls.

[0058] Among them, a channel switch 10 is also installed at the connection between the ping-pong ball collection chamber and the ball-scoring channel 3.

[0059] This makes it easy to close the channel when reloading is not required.

[0060] Among them, the outer perimeter of the ball preparation ring 2 is also surrounded by a shell 11.

[0061] This makes it easier to better protect the structure of the ping-pong ball delivery pipes inside.

[0062] The outer shell 11 is made of at least the upper half of a transparent material (the transparency is not shown in the figure).

[0063] This makes it easy to observe whether the ping-pong balls inside have been completely filled.

[0064] The base 1 is equipped with Mecanum wheels 12 around its lower perimeter. This facilitates movement of the control device in different directions. The Mecanum wheels themselves are existing products, and their structure will not be described in detail here.

[0065] A storage box 13 is also provided between the base 1 and the outer shell 11. This is convenient for storing ping-pong paddles and other training equipment.

[0066] The table tennis ball serving structure includes a pair of extrusion wheels 14 arranged side by side at the end of the ball delivery channel. The middle position of the extrusion wheels 14 is directly opposite the center position of the ball delivery channel. The extrusion wheels 14 are connected to the extrusion motor 15 and can be driven to rotate outward relative to each other, so that the outer side of the extrusion wheels 14 forms a launching port. The distance between the side by side extrusion wheels is less than the diameter of the table tennis ball and the difference between the two is less than the extrusion deformation limit size of the extrusion wheels and the table tennis ball.

[0067] In this way, the ping-pong balls are collected in the ball collection chamber and enter the ping-pong ball serving structure through the ball delivery pipe. Relying on the rotation of paired compression rollers, the ping-pong balls are clamped, squeezed, and ejected from the launch port. This method of using the relative rotation of the compression rollers to give the ping-pong ball launch speed achieves the effect of a mechanical serve, without noise or airflow affecting the return of the ball, avoiding the defects associated with pneumatic serves, and is more suitable for live ball training. During implementation, a rubber sleeve is provided on the outer surface of the compression rollers, which increases the compression deformation of the compression rollers and the ping-pong ball, providing better launch force.

[0068] The table tennis serving structure also includes a serving frame 16. The lower part of the serving frame 16 has a serving cavity that runs through the front and back. The squeeze wheel is vertically installed in the serving cavity. The upper part of the serving frame 16 has a power cavity. The squeeze motor 15 is installed in the power cavity. The end of the main shaft of the squeeze wheel passes through the power cavity and is connected to the squeeze motor 15 by means of a gear transmission pair.

[0069] This can improve the consistency of the serve.

[0070] The ball-serving frame 16 has its rear ends on both sides and the middle part of the base plate hinged to the front end of a telescopic cylinder 17. The rear ends of the three telescopic cylinders 17 are each hinged to the outer shell of the ball preparation ring (by means of horizontal hinges).

[0071] These three telescopic cylinders maintain the stability of the serving frame installation. More importantly, they allow for easy adjustment of the serving frame's lateral or vertical sway through telescopic control, thereby controlling the direction of the table tennis serve. In practice, electric cylinders can be used for the telescopic cylinders, facilitating fine-tuning.

[0072] The table tennis serving structure also includes a hitting mechanism, which is located on the outer side of the inner ring of the ball preparation channel, directly opposite the ball delivery channel. The hitting mechanism includes a hitting rod 18 positioned directly opposite the ball delivery channel. The hitting rod 18 is vertically mounted at the end of the hitting shaft 19, which is connected to a hitting motor. A hitting hole 20 corresponding to the hitting rod is also provided on the inner ring sidewall of the ball preparation channel, directly opposite the ball delivery channel. The rotation path of the hitting rod passes through the hitting hole and enters the ball holding space in a direction opposite to the ball delivery channel.

[0073] This allows for control of the striking motor's speed, ensuring that during operation, the striking rod rotates precisely once into the striking port and actively strikes the ping-pong ball out of the container space each time it passes through the ball outlet. This mechanism, through its structure, ensures that all ping-pong balls within the container are consistently struck. Furthermore, the initial outward velocity imparted to the ball after impact allows it to better utilize its momentum to reach the pressure rollers of the serving frame, preventing the ball from bouncing back due to insufficient initial velocity. This significantly improves the device's reliability and stability. In practice, the striking motor and the conveying motor can be the same motor (or independent motors). By pre-calculating the transmission ratio, the striking rod can be ensured to strike precisely once for each rotation of the connecting ring within the ball outlet space. This further enhances stability. In addition, the ball release channel and the hitting stick are preferably set in a horizontal direction during implementation to ensure that the above-mentioned hitting process is more stable and reliable.

[0074] The striking rod 18 is a cross-shaped arrangement. This allows for better control over the matching of the striking speed of the striking rod and the rotation speed of the connecting ring.

[0075] In addition, during implementation, the opening of the ball preparation ring is located on the outer side of the inner side, offset from the ring axis, while the striking mechanism is located on the inner side of the ball preparation ring, offset from the ring axis. This arrangement allows the striking stick to better hit the center of the ping-pong ball.

[0076] The table tennis serving structure also includes a ball-disrupting mechanism, which consists of a pair of flexible ribbons 21 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the table tennis ball's movement path in front of or behind the squeeze wheel.

[0077] In this way, when the ping-pong ball passes through the flexible ribbon, the airflow causes the ribbon to sway and irregularly contact the ball's surface, introducing a small, unpredictable disturbance to the ball during its journey. This results in the ping-pong ball, after being launched from the launch port, maintaining its general direction while undergoing irregular, random adjustments to its launch angle within a certain range. This significantly improves the realism of the receiving simulation, increases the difficulty of receiving, and avoids the shortcomings of existing ball machines that reduce training effectiveness (for training purposes) and fun (for recreational sports) due to their predictable serves. Furthermore, the paired flexible ribbons prevent unilateral interference from causing the ball to deflect in a fixed direction.

[0078] The flexible ribbon 21 is positioned 1-5 millimeters away from the path of the ping-pong ball, and its length is 0.5-2 times the diameter of the ping-pong ball. This design effectively generates the aforementioned disturbance effect without excessively affecting the ball's trajectory.

[0079] In this embodiment, as a preferred installation method for the flexible ribbon 21, a section of mounting cylinder 22 is detachably screwed onto the ball outlet channel, and the flexible ribbon 21 is installed on the inner surface of the mounting cylinder 22.

[0080] This makes it easier to set up flexible ribbons.

[0081] The inner surface of the mounting cylinder 22 is provided with a slot 23, and a rotatable locking plate 24 is correspondingly locked in the slot. The fixed end of the flexible ribbon 21 is locked and fixed between the locking plate and the slot.

[0082] This allows for easy installation and removal of the flexible ribbon, and the length of the ribbon can be adjusted as needed, thereby regulating the range of irregular changes in the serve angle and controlling the difficulty level of the serve.

[0083] As an alternative installation method, the flexible ribbon can be installed on the serve frame in front of the squeeze wheel (not shown in this embodiment). This is easier to install and provides better disturbance, but the drawback is that excessive disturbance can sometimes cause the serve angle to deviate from the predetermined range, leading to loss of control.

[0084] Example 2: A table tennis training serving method, characterized in that an irregular disturbance is applied to the table tennis ball during its flight before or after it leaves the launch port.

[0085] In this embodiment, interference is achieved by applying a randomly varying interfering airflow to the ping-pong ball in a direction that forms an angle with the ball's trajectory.

[0086] Compared to using flexible ribbons, using irregular airflow allows for easier control of the interference level by adjusting the airflow size. The drawback is the need for an additional air source, resulting in relatively higher costs. Therefore, this method is more suitable for implementation in pneumatic table tennis serving devices, where an air source branch can be connected to the launching air source of the table tennis ball to create an interfering airflow, thus saving costs.

[0087] Specifically, the serving method in this embodiment relies on a table tennis serving mechanism, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 7The table tennis ball serving mechanism includes a ball-launching channel 31. An interfering airflow channel 32 is diagonally connected to the side wall of the ball-launching channel 31. The interfering airflow channel 32 contains an enlarged irregular airflow forming cavity 33, within which three floating spheres 34 are arranged. The floating spheres are lightweight spheres that can float under the influence of airflow.

[0088] In this way, after the interfering airflow enters the irregular airflow forming cavity through the interfering airflow channel, the presence of the three floating spheres causes them to float and generate irregular three-body motion under the blowing action of the airflow. This further enhances the irregular disturbance effect of the gas blown out from the interfering airflow channel. This design has the advantages of being simple and ingenious, capable of generating disturbance effects without being excessive.

[0089] Furthermore, at least two interfering airflow channels 32 are evenly arranged circumferentially on the side wall of the ball outlet channel.

[0090] In this way, the oblique blowing force generated by the airflow from the interfering airflow channel can cancel each other out, leaving only the interference effect, thus preventing unilateral interference from causing the ball to deflect in a fixed direction. It can also increase the speed of the table tennis ball.

Claims

1. A table tennis training serve method, characterized in that, Apply an irregular disturbance to the ping-pong ball during its journey before or after it leaves the launch port; The interference is achieved by applying a randomly varying airflow that forms an angle with the ball's trajectory to the ping-pong ball. This method relies on a table tennis serving mechanism based on the principle of aerodynamic interference. The table tennis serving mechanism includes a ball delivery channel, and interference airflow channels are obliquely forward and interconnected on the side wall of the ball delivery channel. The interference airflow channels have an enlarged irregular airflow forming cavity, and three floating spheres are set in the irregular airflow forming cavity. The floating spheres are relatively light spheres that can form a floating effect under the blowing of airflow, and the three floating spheres can float in the air under the action of airflow and generate irregular three-body motion.

2. The table tennis training serve method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least two interfering airflow channels are evenly arranged circumferentially on the side wall of the ball outlet channel.

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