A cue ball launching device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of sports auxiliary training equipment, in particular to a billiard ball launching device which comprises a shell and a ball storage track; the ball storage track is provided with a ball launching end, and a ball launching mechanism is arranged in the shell at the ball launching end; a control module is further arranged in the shell; the ball launching mechanism comprises a driving assembly and a striker, and the control module is in communication connection with a position detection sensor; a target ball falling position vacancy signal emitted by the position detection sensor is received by the control module, and then the driving assembly is actively controlled to move, so that the striker is high-speed ejected to the ball to be hit, and the passive ball launching mode relying on gravity rolling is completely changed, and the billiard ball is endowed with initial high-speed linear kinetic energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sports auxiliary training equipment technology, specifically to a billiards serving device. Background Technology

[0002] In daily training and recreational billiards, players typically need to practice continuously. To maintain the continuity of training, a device is needed to automatically replenish the billiard balls to the striking position in a manner consistent with the demands of actual gameplay. Chinese patent application publication number CN120983891A discloses a billiard serving device and a billiard table. This solution uses a payment controller to control a rotating component that drives the ball storage plate to rotate, causing the ball to slide from the storage plate onto the serving plate. The height difference of the serving plate's groove causes the ball to move towards the lower end under its own weight. Although this solution achieves automatic ball placement, the power output remains passive and singular. The serving power of this device relies entirely on the ball's own weight rolling down the inclined groove, failing to provide active striking force. This results in a constant and slow ball speed, making it impossible to simulate the varying serving forces in a real match. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, a billiard serving device is provided. The control module receives a target ball landing position vacancy signal from a position detection sensor and then actively controls the drive component to strike the ball at high speed by pushing the striker towards the target position. This completely changes the passive serving method that relies on gravity to roll the ball and gives the billiard ball initial high-speed linear kinetic energy.

[0004] To address the problems of existing technologies, this invention provides a billiard serving device, comprising a housing and a ball storage track disposed within the housing; the ball storage track has a ball exit end, and a serving mechanism is disposed within the housing at the ball exit end; a control module electrically connected to the serving mechanism is also disposed within the housing; the ball storage track is used to guide the movement of the billiard ball and bring it to a ready-to-be-hit position at the ball exit end; the serving mechanism includes a drive assembly and a striker controlled by the drive assembly, the drive assembly driving the striker to push it out towards the ready-to-be-hit position, thereby hitting the billiard ball located at the ready-to-be-hit position; the control module is communicatively connected to a position detection sensor for detecting whether a target landing position outside the device is vacant; the control module is configured to control the drive assembly to act and serve based on a signal from the position detection sensor indicating that the target landing position is vacant.

[0005] Preferably, the drive assembly includes a solenoid valve cavity and a return spring located within the solenoid valve cavity; the firing pin is slidably disposed on the solenoid valve cavity.

[0006] Preferably, the serving mechanism further includes an adjustment component located in front of the firing pin's trajectory; the adjustment component includes a mounting cavity with an internal counter-spring, and the firing pin has an abutment block; during the firing pin's stroke toward the firing position, the abutment block can abut against and compress the counter-spring.

[0007] Preferably, the mounting cavity is a telescopic structure with one end fixed to the inside of the housing; the telescopic end of the mounting cavity is coaxially arranged with the striker, and is used to change the initial intervention distance between the counter-spring and the abutment block.

[0008] Preferably, the adjustment assembly further includes a transmission assembly, which has a lead screw rotatably connected to the housing; the lead screw is threadedly engaged with the telescopic end of the mounting cavity, and the lead screw drives the telescopic end to perform axial displacement when it rotates.

[0009] Preferably, a guide assembly is provided on the housing in front of the ball-out end; the guide assembly includes a linkage frame located on one side of the ball-out trajectory, the linkage frame being able to swing horizontally to change the depth and angle at which it extends into the ball-out trajectory.

[0010] Preferably, the linkage frame includes a first guide frame and a second guide frame; one end of the first guide frame is rotatably connected to the housing, and the other end is rotatably connected to the second guide frame; the end of the second guide frame away from the first guide frame is slidably connected to the housing, and both the first guide frame and the second guide frame are provided with guide wheels.

[0011] Preferably, the ball storage track is a double-layer structure, including an upper ball storage lane, a lower serving lane, and a ball drop channel connecting the two; the waiting position is located in the lower serving lane.

[0012] Preferably, the position detection sensor is a non-contact photoelectric switch; the serving device is arranged at a preset safe distance from the target landing position, and the billiard ball rolls in a directional manner to the target landing position after being hit by the serving mechanism, so as to avoid the serving device colliding with the billiard cue.

[0013] Preferably, the control module is configured with a delayed transmission mechanism; after receiving the signal from the position detection sensor that the target ball landing position is empty, the control module generates a random delay time, and after the random delay time ends, outputs the drive signal to control the drive component to launch the ball.

[0014] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are: 1. This invention receives a target ball landing position vacancy signal from a position detection sensor via a control module, and then actively controls the drive component to move, causing the firing pin to push out at high speed towards the waiting position to strike the billiard ball. This completely changes the passive serving method that relies on gravity rolling, giving the billiard ball initial high-speed linear kinetic energy, making it possible to quickly replenish the ball and simulate the real hitting speed, and fundamentally solving the problem of the single power source for gravity serving.

[0015] 2. The drive component of this invention uses a solenoid valve cavity in conjunction with a return spring. It uses electromagnetic force to burst out and push out the firing pin. After power is cut off, it relies on the return spring to pull back quickly. This dynamic and static combination structure makes the serving action crisp and clean, and the return is quick, which meets the needs of high-frequency continuous serving and further improves the efficiency and stability of active serving.

[0016] 3. The serving mechanism of this invention incorporates an adjustment component including an anti-spring. During the ejection stroke of the firing pin, the physical interference between the abutment block and the anti-spring forces the dissipation of part of the initial kinetic energy of the firing pin. By adjusting the extension length of the mounting cavity, the initial intervention distance is changed. Without altering the underlying electrical thrust, stepless and flexible fine-tuning of the final physical striking force is achieved, effectively compensating for the inability to precisely control force with a single electromagnetic thrust, and meeting the needs of different simulated serving forces.

[0017] 4. The present invention provides a linkage frame consisting of a first guide frame and a second guide frame hinged together on the side of the ball's trajectory. By adjusting the horizontal swing angle and depth of this multi-segment linkage mechanism, asymmetrical friction intervention can be applied to the side of the ball at the moment it is hit, thereby changing the ball's trajectory angle or giving it strong spin, breaking the trajectory constraint of the fixed groove, and achieving a high-level realistic serve effect. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a billiard serving device. Figure 1 .

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a billiard serving device. Figure 2 .

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal three-dimensional structure of the shell of a billiard serving device. Figure 1 .

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal three-dimensional structure of the shell of a billiard serving device. Figure 2 .

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a front view of a billiard serving device.

[0025] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a billiard serving device. Figure 3 .

[0026] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a billiard serving device.

[0027] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional structural diagram of a billiard serving device.

[0028] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 Enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0029] The diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Shell; 11. Ball storage track; 111. Ball delivery end; 112. Guide assembly; 1121. Linkage frame; 11211. First guide frame; 11212. Second guide frame; 11213. Guide wheel; 113. Upper ball storage lane; 114. Lower ball delivery lane; 115. Drop ball channel; 12. Ball delivery mechanism; 121. Drive assembly; 1211. Strike pin; 1212. Abutment block; 1213. Solenoid valve cavity; 1214. Return spring; 122. Adjustment assembly; 1221. Counteracting spring; 1222. Mounting cavity; 1223. Lead screw; 1224. Mounting hole; 13. Control module; 131. Position detection sensor; 2. Billiard ball. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To further understand the features, technical means, and specific objectives and functions achieved by the present invention, the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] like Figures 1 to 8As shown: A billiard serving device includes a housing 1 and a ball storage track 11 disposed within the housing 1; the ball storage track 11 has a ball exit end 111, and a serving mechanism 12 is disposed within the housing 1 at the ball exit end 111; a control module 13 electrically connected to the serving mechanism 12 is also disposed within the housing 1; the ball storage track 11 is used to guide the movement of a billiard ball 2 and keep it at the waiting position at the ball exit end 111; the serving mechanism 12 includes a drive assembly 121 and a striker 1211 controlled by the drive assembly 121, the drive assembly 121 drives the striker 1211 to push out towards the waiting position, thereby striking the billiard ball 2 located at the waiting position; the control module 13 is communicatively connected to a position detection sensor 131 for detecting whether a target landing position outside the device is vacant; the control module 13 is configured to control the drive assembly 121 to act and serve based on the signal of a vacant target landing position fed back by the position detection sensor 131.

[0032] In typical single-player training or recreational billiards scenarios, after striking the target ball, the player often needs to frequently interrupt their current stance and power posture to manually reposition the billiard ball 2 back to the initial serving position. This repetitive bending and retrieving of the ball significantly disrupts the continuous rhythm of the shot. To address this issue, this solution provides a billiards serving device, which primarily utilizes a ball storage track 11 and a serving mechanism 12 arranged within a housing 1 for physical serving. The ball storage track 11 has a ball exit end 111, used to guide the billiard ball 2 and stabilize it at the ball exit end 111, awaiting physical striking. The core power for the serve lies in the driving component 121 included in the serving mechanism 12 and the striking pin 1211 controlled by the driving component 121. The driving component 121 can specifically employ linear actuators such as electromagnetic push-pull rods, linear cylinders, or high-speed electric push rods. In terms of electrical control logic, the control module 13 installed inside the housing 1 is communicatively connected to a position detection sensor 131. The position detection sensor 131, for example, can be an NPN photoelectric switch, an infrared beam sensor, or an ultrasonic ranging module, and is responsible for real-time detection of whether the target ball landing position on the external table is vacant. When the user knocks away the billiard ball 2 on the target landing position, the position detection sensor 131 immediately captures the vacancy signal and feeds it back to the control module 13. The control module 13 then outputs a level command to control the drive component 121 to launch the ball, causing the drive component 121 to drive the striker 1211 to push out at high speed towards the target ball position, thereby knocking the billiard ball 2 located at the target ball position out and rolling to replenish the outer table, realizing a seamless automatic ball replenishment cycle.

[0033] like Figures 3 to 11As shown: The drive assembly 121 includes a solenoid valve cavity 1213 and a return spring 1214 located inside the solenoid valve cavity 1213; the striker 1211 is slidably disposed on the solenoid valve cavity 1213.

[0034] To achieve a balance between instantaneous explosive power and stable circulation, the drive assembly 121 includes a solenoid valve cavity 1213 and a return spring 1214 located within the solenoid valve cavity 1213. The firing pin 1211 is slidably mounted on the solenoid valve cavity 1213. At the moment of firing, the coil within the solenoid valve cavity 1213 is energized, generating a strong magnetic field that instantly overcomes the initial resistance of the return spring 1214, pushing the firing pin 1211 out like a piston, thereby imparting extremely high instantaneous kinetic energy to the billiard ball 2. When the firing action is completed and the solenoid valve cavity 1213 is de-energized, the driving magnetic field disappears, and the return spring 1214 releases its accumulated elastic potential energy, smoothly and quickly pulling the firing pin 1211 back to its initial yielding position, ensuring readiness for the next serve and preventing mechanical jamming even under extreme conditions of continuous high-frequency firing.

[0035] like Figures 3 to 11 As shown: The serving mechanism 12 further includes an adjustment component 122 located in front of the movement trajectory of the firing pin 1211; the adjustment component 122 includes a mounting cavity 1222 with an internal counteracting spring 1221, and the firing pin 1211 is provided with an abutment block 1212; during the stroke of the firing pin 1211 towards the firing position, the abutment block 1212 can abut against and compress the counteracting spring 1221.

[0036] The mounting cavity 1222 is a telescopic structure with one end fixed to the inside of the housing 1; the telescopic end of the mounting cavity 1222 is coaxially arranged with the striker 1211 and is used to change the initial intervention distance between the counter-spring 1221 and the abutment block 1212.

[0037] The adjustment assembly 122 further includes a transmission assembly, which has a lead screw 1223 rotatably connected to the housing 1; the lead screw 1223 is threadedly engaged with the telescopic end of the mounting cavity 1222, and the lead screw 1223 drives the telescopic end to perform axial displacement when it rotates.

[0038] Furthermore, considering the drawbacks of low response accuracy and susceptibility to voltage fluctuations when relying solely on voltage pulse width adjustment to change the electromagnetic thrust, the serving mechanism 12 adds a purely mechanical adjustment component 122 in front of the trajectory of the firing pin 1211 to flexibly weaken the fixed limit electromagnetic thrust. The adjustment component 122 includes a mounting cavity 1222 with an internal counter-spring 1221, and an abutment block 1212 machined on the rod of the firing pin 1211. During the thrust stroke of the firing pin 1211 towards the firing position, the abutment block 1212 abuts against the front end of the counter-spring 1221 and forcibly compresses it. Through this mechanical counteraction, a portion of the electromagnetic kinetic energy of the firing pin 1211 is forcibly converted into the elastic potential energy of the counter-spring 1221 for dissipation, thereby precisely controlling the striking force ultimately transmitted to the billiard ball 2. To achieve stepless fine-tuning of the force, the mounting cavity 1222 is configured as a telescopic structure with one end fixed to the interior of the housing 1, and its telescopic end is coaxially arranged with the firing pin 1211. The adjustment assembly 122 also includes a transmission assembly having a lead screw 1223 rotatably connected to the housing 1.

[0039] To facilitate quick adjustments without disassembling the outer casing, a mounting hole 1224 is specially provided on the outer wall of the casing 1, allowing external driving components such as Allen wrenches, flathead screwdrivers, or external adjustment knobs to pass through the mounting hole 1224 and directly engage with the lead screw 1223, driving it to rotate in place. Utilizing the self-locking characteristic of the lead screw 1223's nut drive, the rotation of the lead screw 1223 drives the telescopic end of the mounting cavity 1222 to achieve stable axial displacement. This axial displacement fundamentally changes the initial engagement distance between the counter-spring 1221 and the abutment block 1212. When a light shot is needed, the distance between the counter-spring 1221 and the striker 1211 is adjusted to be longer, so that the abutment block 1212 begins to contact and compress the counter-spring 1221 at the initial extension of the striker 1211, consuming a large amount of kinetic energy during the longer counter-stroke. When a powerful shot is needed, the adjustment is reversed to shorten the intervention distance of the counter-spring 1221, so that the striker 1211 only contacts the spring at the end of the sprint stroke, hitting the billiard ball 2 at full speed with almost no extra energy consumption. Thus, the physical force of the shot is accurately calibrated without changing the underlying electrical structure.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown: A guide assembly 112 is provided on the housing 1 in front of the ball outlet end 111; the guide assembly 112 includes a linkage frame 1121 located on one side of the ball outlet trajectory, and the linkage frame 1121 can swing horizontally to change the depth and angle of its extension into the ball outlet trajectory.

[0041] The linkage frame 1121 includes a first guide frame 11211 and a second guide frame 11212; one end of the first guide frame 11211 is rotatably connected to the housing 1, and the other end is rotatably connected to the second guide frame 11212; the end of the second guide frame 11212 away from the first guide frame 11211 is slidably connected to the housing 1, and both the first guide frame 11211 and the second guide frame 11212 are provided with guide wheels 11213.

[0042] To meet the spatial scheduling requirements for flexible ball placement at multiple points, a guide component 112 is arranged on the housing 1 in front of the ball-release end 111 to intervene in the ball-release trajectory. The guide component 112 includes a linkage frame 1121 located on one side of the ball-release trajectory. The linkage frame 1121 is a slider-rocker kinematic model formed by hinged first guide frame 11211 and second guide frame 11212. Specifically, one end of the first guide frame 11211 is rotatably connected to the housing 1, and the other end is rotatably connected to the second guide frame 11212; while the end of the second guide frame 11212 away from the first guide frame 11211 is slidably connected to the housing 1. Through this multi-segment hinge and sliding constraint, the linkage frame 1121 can swing horizontally as a whole to smoothly change its depth and angle of insertion into the ball-release trajectory. Furthermore, to prevent the high-speed rolling billiard ball 2 from changing its preset guide angle upon impact, set screws or high-damping washers can be configured at each rotating or sliding connection node of the linkage frame 1121 for fixing and locking. When the billiard ball 2 is hit at high speed and passes over the linkage frame 1121, this multi-segment configuration can form a physical guide surface with adjustable curvature on the side of the ball outlet, thereby projecting and constructing a wide, fan-shaped landing area in front of the serving device. Compared to the single, fixed ball outlet point of traditional ball machines, this fan-shaped area coverage allows the billiard ball 2 to be flexibly and accurately guided and delivered to any different landing point within the fan-shaped area according to the user's actual needs, improving the spatial flexibility and error tolerance of the ball landing position of the serving device.

[0043] like Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 5 As shown: The ball storage track 11 is a double-layer structure, including an upper ball storage lane 113 located at the top, a lower ball service lane 114 located at the bottom, and a ball drop channel 115 connecting the two; the waiting position is located in the lower ball service lane 114.

[0044] The position detection sensor 131 is a non-contact photoelectric switch; the ball-serving device is arranged at a position outside the preset safe distance from the target landing position. After the ball 2 is hit by the ball-serving mechanism 12, it rolls in a direction to the target landing position to avoid collision between the ball-serving device and the cue stick 2.

[0045] In terms of overall spatial layout and fluid dynamics, the ball storage track 11 abandons the horizontal straight-lay method that occupies the bottom area of ​​the equipment, and adopts a vertical upper and lower layer folding structure, including an upper ball storage lane 113, a lower ball service lane 114, and a ball drop channel 115 connecting the two. The billiard balls 2 roll down sequentially under their own gravity, and finally the target ball position is stably located in the lower ball service lane 114. This structure of converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy not only greatly reduces the overall footprint of the equipment, but also ensures the smooth and continuous rolling of each ball. The position detection sensor 131 can specifically be a diffuse reflection photoelectric switch with long detection distance and strong resistance to ambient light interference, or an industrial-grade lidar sensor with long-range detection capability. Thanks to the long-range detection capability of the position detection sensor 131, the entire ball service device can be arranged at a position outside the preset safe distance from the target ball position. After being struck by the serving mechanism 12, the billiard ball 2 rolls over a certain distance and eventually reaches the target landing position, completely isolating the personnel operation area from the core serving area in physical space, eliminating the potential danger of the player accidentally hitting the serving device when violently swinging the billiard ball 2.

[0046] like Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 5 As shown: The control module 13 is equipped with a delayed transmission mechanism; after receiving the signal from the position detection sensor 131 that the target ball landing position is empty, the control module 13 generates a random delay time, and after the random delay time ends, it outputs the drive signal to control the drive component 121 to perform the ball serving action.

[0047] Finally, to break away from the rigid and inflexible fixed ball-refilling rhythm of traditional industrial automation equipment, the control module 13 is specially configured with a delayed transmission mechanism in its underlying software logic. When the user knocks away the billiard ball 2, after the control module 13 receives the signal from the position detection sensor 131 that the target ball landing position is vacant, it does not mechanically execute the firing action immediately. Instead, it first generates a random delay time through an internal algorithm. Only after the random delay time has elapsed will it output the final command to control the drive component 121 to fire the ball.

[0048] The above embodiments only illustrate one or more implementations of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A billiard serving device, characterized in that, It includes a housing (1) and a ball storage track (11) disposed within the housing (1). The ball storage track (11) has a ball outlet end (111), and a ball launching mechanism (12) is provided inside the housing (1) at the ball outlet end (111). The housing (1) is also provided with a control module (13) that is electrically connected to the ball-serving mechanism (12). The ball storage track (11) is used to guide the movement of the billiard ball (2) and keep it at the ready-to-fire position at the ball outlet (111); The serving mechanism (12) includes a drive assembly (121) and a striker (1211) controlled by the drive assembly (121). The drive assembly (121) drives the striker (1211) to push out toward the position to be hit, thereby hitting the billiard ball (2) located at the position to be hit. The control module (13) is communicatively connected to a position detection sensor (131) for detecting whether the target ball landing position outside the device is empty. The control module (13) is configured to control the drive component (121) to serve the ball based on the signal of the target ball landing position vacancy fed back by the position detection sensor (131).

2. The billiard serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly (121) includes a solenoid valve cavity (1213) and a return spring (1214) located inside the solenoid valve cavity (1213); the striker (1211) is slidably mounted on the solenoid valve cavity (1213).

3. A billiard serving device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The serving mechanism (12) further includes an adjustment component (122) located in front of the movement trajectory of the firing pin (1211); the adjustment component (122) includes a mounting cavity (1222) with an internal anti-spring (1221), and the firing pin (1211) is provided with an abutment block (1212); during the stroke of the firing pin (1211) pushing out toward the firing position, the abutment block (1212) can abut against the anti-spring (1221) and compress the anti-spring (1221).

4. A billiard serving device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mounting cavity (1222) is a telescopic structure with one end fixed to the inside of the housing (1); the telescopic end of the mounting cavity (1222) is coaxially arranged with the striker (1211) and is used to change the initial intervention distance between the counter-spring (1221) and the abutment block (1212).

5. A billiard serving device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adjustment assembly (122) further includes a transmission assembly having a lead screw (1223) rotatably connected to the housing (1); the lead screw (1223) is threadedly engaged with the telescopic end of the mounting cavity (1222), and the lead screw (1223) drives the telescopic end to perform axial displacement when rotating.

6. A billiard serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) is provided with a guide assembly (112) in front of the ball outlet end (111); the guide assembly (112) includes a linkage frame (1121) located on one side of the ball outlet trajectory, and the linkage frame (1121) can swing horizontally to change the depth and angle of its insertion into the ball outlet trajectory.

7. A billiard serving device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The linkage frame (1121) includes a first guide frame (11211) and a second guide frame (11212); one end of the first guide frame (11211) is rotatably connected to the housing (1), and the other end is rotatably connected to the second guide frame (11212); the end of the second guide frame (11212) away from the first guide frame (11211) is slidably connected to the housing (1), and both the first guide frame (11211) and the second guide frame (11212) are provided with guide wheels (11213).

8. A billiard serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball storage track (11) is a double-layer structure, including an upper ball storage lane (113) located above, a lower ball service lane (114) located below, and a ball drop channel (115) connecting the two; the position to be hit is located in the lower ball service lane (114).

9. A billiard serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The position detection sensor (131) is a non-contact photoelectric switch; the ball-serving device is arranged at a position outside the preset safe distance from the target landing position. After the ball (2) is hit by the ball-serving mechanism (12), it rolls in a direction to the target landing position to avoid collision between the ball-serving device and the ball (2) stick.

10. A billiard serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module (13) is equipped with a delayed transmission mechanism. After receiving the signal from the position detection sensor (131) that the target ball landing position is empty, the control module (13) generates a random delay time and outputs the drive signal after the random delay time ends to control the drive component (121) to act and serve the ball.

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