Golf ball rental machine

Abstract

To instantaneously and quickly supply and discharge a predetermined amount of golf balls to be lent, and to stably discharge even a large amount of stored golf balls without causing clogging on a discharge path. [Solution] A downwardly inclined ball stock section 10 is arranged inside a machine frame 1, and a ball discharge section 20 is arranged in a downwardly inclined configuration in the opposite direction. Golf balls B are flattened in a parallel fashion and allowed to fall naturally from a delivery port 12 at the end of the ball stock section 10 to the ball discharge section 20 via a ball breaking mechanism 15. The ball discharge section 20 has a plurality of parallel discharge paths 22, and a discharge mechanism 31 at the bottom of the discharge paths 22 that holds golf balls B in predetermined amounts and then discharges those predetermined amounts. The discharge mechanism 31 has comb-like front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B at the front and rear edges of a flat, rectangular discharge frame 34 that is swung by a swing fulcrum shaft 32. These restriction pieces 35A and 35B appear and disappear within the discharge paths 22, respectively, and are ready for the next operation by temporary holding, discharge, and supply / holding.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf ball dispensing machine that dispenses a predetermined amount of golf balls, for example, at a golf driving range, and relates to a golf ball dispensing machine that can quickly dispense and supply a predetermined amount of golf balls without clogging. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, at golf driving ranges, players have been provided with a set number of loaned golf balls to practice various shots, approaches, etc. For this purpose, golf ball loan supply devices have been installed at golf driving ranges, and since a system that supplies a set number of golf balls to each practice seat partitioned for each player would require enormous equipment costs, many driving ranges have installed golf ball loan machines that supply a set number of golf balls by inserting, for example, coins or medals.

[0003] Examples of such golf ball dispensers include the ball dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ball dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 2, and the golf ball discharger disclosed in Patent Document 3. The ball dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 1 supplies balls through a chute formed in a ball passage connected to a ball drum and opens and closes a shutter for each predetermined amount of balls measured by a ball detection sensor. The ball dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 2 loosens the balls from a ball storage section by sending them through two spiral rollers, and then opens and closes a shutter for each set amount of balls that pass through a counting section. The golf ball discharger disclosed in Patent Document 3 adjusts the amount of balls discharged by providing an adjustable control cam and fixed guide plate in the ball passage between the inlet and outlet through which the golf balls pass, and brings the movable guide plate into contact with the control cam via a roller to move it up and down. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-108077 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-266699 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-28853 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional lending and supplying device described above, the ball supply path is set to a width equivalent to one ball, and the supplied balls are counted and closed with a shutter or the like every time a predetermined amount is dispensed. Therefore, it is necessary to wait until the predetermined amount is dispensed. Furthermore, when the balls are supplied to the supply path, they can become entangled with each other, forming clumps, causing clogging, making stable supply and discharge difficult. Furthermore, the conventional mechanism for preventing clogging has a complex configuration, making its maintenance difficult.

[0006] The present invention was created in consideration of the various circumstances that existed in the past as described above, and aims to provide a golf ball lending machine that can instantly and quickly supply and discharge a specified number of golf balls by inserting, for example, a specified number of coins or medals, that operates smoothly and stably without causing clogging in the discharge path even when a large number of golf balls are inserted and stored, that is easy to maintain, and that can be easily installed at a golf driving range. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a machine frame 1, a downwardly inclined ball stock section 10 arranged in the upper part of the machine frame 1, and a ball discharge section 20 arranged in the lower part of the machine frame 1, connected to the ball stock section 10 and in a downwardly inclined configuration opposite to the downwardly inclined configuration of the ball stock section 10. The ball stock section 10 comprises a downwardly inclined plate-like ball support board 11, at the end of which a delivery opening 12 is formed to deliver and drop golf balls B to the ball discharge section 20. The ball discharge section 20 comprises a plurality of downwardly inclined discharge paths 22 arranged in parallel, and a lower part of the discharge path 22. is provided with a discharge mechanism 31 that holds golf balls B in predetermined amounts and then discharges the predetermined amounts at a time, and this discharge mechanism 31 is characterized by comprising: a swinging fulcrum shaft 32 that is horizontally fixed at the bottom of the discharge path 22 perpendicular to the discharge path 22; a discharge frame 34 that is flat and rectangular with a length equivalent to the outer width of the discharge path 22 and the predetermined amount of golf balls B in a parallel position and is supported and swingable by the swinging fulcrum shaft 32; front and rear regulating pieces 35A and 35B that are provided at the front and rear edges of the discharge frame 34 and that appear and disappear within the discharge path 22, respectively; and swinging means 36 that swings the discharge frame 34 in the front-to-rear direction. Inside the machine frame 1, the ball stock section 10 is arranged in a downwardly inclined form so that golf balls B are sequentially sent out by natural fall from the ball stock section 10 to the ball discharge section 20, and the starting end section, which is the highest position of the ball discharge section 20, which is arranged in a downwardly inclined state in the opposite direction to the inclination direction of the ball stock section 10, is arranged below the terminal end section, which is the lowest position of the downwardly inclined ball stock section 10. The ball discharge section 20 has a plurality of parallel discharge passages 22 that slope downward. These discharge passages 22 are made of a plurality of ball guide members 22A made of pipe material that are arranged parallel to each other with intervals slightly narrower than the diameter of the golf ball B, and can be configured so that a single discharge passage 22 is formed by the gap formed between adjacent pairs of ball guide members 22A. A ball breaking mechanism 15 is provided below the discharge port 12 of the ball stock section 10, between it and the starting end of the ball discharge section 20, and this ball breaking mechanism 15 can be configured to include a control bar 16 arranged above the starting end of the ball discharge section 20 at a height interval set just enough to allow one golf ball B to pass through, a breaking roller 17 that rotates in contact with the golf ball B on this control bar 16, and a breaking motor 18 that rotates this breaking roller 17. At the start end of the ball discharge section 20, a single ball guide plate 23 can be positioned below the ball crushing mechanism 15 and connected to each of the parallel discharge paths 22. In the discharge mechanism 31, the front regulating piece 35A and the rear regulating piece 35B are arranged in a comb-tooth shape on the discharge frame 34, and the front regulating piece 35A can be set lower than the rear regulating piece 35B in accordance with the difference in height that occurs at the front and rear of the discharge frame 34 due to the inclination set in the discharge path 22. The swinging means 36 of the discharge mechanism 31 can be composed of a traction rope 38 connected to the front of the discharge frame 34 and a solenoid 37 that is turned ON / OFF to forcibly pull the front of the discharge frame 34 downward, and an elastic rope 39 that resiliently pulls the rear of the discharge frame 34 downward.

[0008] In the golf ball lending machine of the present invention configured as described above, when a coin or medal is inserted, the discharge mechanism 31 in the ball discharge section 20 swings to discharge a predetermined number of golf balls B that have been held in a compartment, and the golf balls B are available for the person wishing to borrow the balls to practice their golf shots. The ball stock section 10 stores and holds a sufficient number of golf balls B to be lent out, and the ball discharge section 20 discharges and lends out a predetermined amount of golf balls B at a time. The ball discharge section 20 instantly discharges a predetermined amount of golf balls B, which are aligned and held in a plurality of discharge paths 22 arranged in parallel, in a short time by a discharge mechanism 31. The ball breaking mechanism 15 provided at the delivery port 12 of the ball stock section 10 arranges the piled up golf balls B in a flat line on the ball guide plate 23 and supplies them in an aligned state to each of the parallel discharge paths 22, and after temporarily partitioning and holding a predetermined amount of golf balls B in the discharge frame 34, the discharge mechanism 31 swings to instantly discharge them without excess or deficiency. The discharge mechanism 31 provided at the bottom of the ball discharge section 20 divides the aligned and supplied golf balls B into predetermined amounts by having front regulating pieces 35A and rear regulating pieces 35B provided at the front and rear of the swinging discharge frame 34 alternately appear and disappear in front of and behind the discharge path 22 as the frame swings, and the temporary holding, discharge after holding, and holding after discharge, combined with the continuous supply of golf balls B to the discharge path 22, operate and process smoothly. The swinging means 36 in the discharge mechanism 31 discharges only the held golf balls B by causing the front restriction piece 35A to sink below the discharge path 22 and the rear restriction piece 35B to protrude above the discharge path 22 when the solenoid 37, which pulls the front part of the swinging discharge frame 34, is turned ON. When the solenoid 37 is turned OFF, the pulling of the elastic cord 39 returns the discharge frame 34 to its original position, and by causing the front restriction piece 35A to protrude into the discharge path 22 and the rear restriction piece 35B to sink below the discharge path 22, a predetermined amount of golf balls B are supplied in an aligned state to each of the parallel discharge paths 22, preparing for the next operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] Since the present invention is configured as described above, for example, by inserting a specified medal or coin, a specified amount of golf balls B can be supplied and discharged instantly and quickly from the ball discharge section 20, and even golf balls B that have been inserted and stored in large quantities in the ball stock section 10 can be discharged smoothly and stably without clogging the discharge path 22 in the ball discharge section 20, and further, maintenance is easy and the device can be easily installed at a golf driving range.

[0010] That is, in the present invention, a downwardly inclined ball stock section 10 is arranged inside the machine frame 1, and a ball discharge section 20 is arranged in the opposite downward inclined configuration, and the golf balls B are flattened in a parallel manner from the discharge port 12 at the end of the ball stock section 10 through the ball breaking mechanism 15 to the ball discharge section 20, allowing them to fall naturally. The ball discharge section 20 has a plurality of parallel discharge paths 22, and a discharge mechanism 31 at the bottom of the discharge paths 22 that holds the golf balls B in sections of predetermined amounts and then discharges these predetermined amounts. The discharge mechanism 31 has a flat rectangular discharge frame 34 that swings around a swing fulcrum shaft 32 as a fulcrum, and at the front and rear edges of the discharge frame 34, which has front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B in a comb-like shape that appear and disappear into each of the discharge paths 22, and the swing of this discharge frame 34 repeats the actions of temporarily holding, discharging, and supplying and holding a predetermined amount of golf balls B, preparing for the next operation.

[0011] Furthermore, although the ball stock section 10 and the ball discharge section 20 are both configured to slope downward, the directions of their slopes are completely opposite, and the beginning of the ball discharge section 20 is positioned below the end of the ball stock section 10, so that the ball stock section 10 and the ball discharge section 20 can be compactly arranged within the machine frame 1, which greatly contributes to making the machine frame 1 smaller.

[0012] The ball stock section 10 is provided at the top of the machine frame 1 in a downwardly inclined configuration, so that a large number of golf balls B can be stored, and even if a large number of golf balls B are piled up and form a clump, the clump of golf balls B can be broken up by a ball breaking mechanism 15 provided at the delivery port 12 that delivers the golf balls B to the ball discharge section 20. That is, this ball breaking mechanism 15 rotates breaking rollers 17 that come into contact with the golf balls B and rotate on a control bar 16 arranged above the ball discharge section 20 at a height just enough to allow a single golf ball B to pass through, so that even if the golf balls B are piled up in a clump, they are broken up randomly, and by breaking them up, they can be supplied to the ball discharge section 20 in a flat, parallel state.

[0013] Furthermore, by providing a ball guide plate 23 connected to multiple parallel discharge paths 22 directly below the ball crushing mechanism 15 at the starting end of the ball discharge section 20, it is possible to more reliably align and guide the balls from the ball stock section 10 to each of the discharge paths 22.

[0014] The discharge path 22 is made up of a plurality of ball guide members 22A made of pipe material arranged parallel to each other at intervals slightly narrower than the diameter of the golf ball B, so that the golf ball B supplied to the discharge path 22 rolls quickly along this downwardly inclined discharge path 22, is guided and smoothly supplied to the discharge mechanism 31 below.

[0015] In the discharge mechanism 31, the discharge frame 34 is rectangular in plan view with a length corresponding to the outer width of the discharge channel 22 and the predetermined amount of golf balls B in a line, and is provided with front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B at the front and rear edges, which respectively appear and disappear within the discharge channel 22, thereby enabling a predetermined amount of golf balls B to be partitioned and held on the discharge channel 22. The alternate appearance and disappearance of the front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B at the front and rear of the discharge channel 22 by the swinging means 36, combined with the difference in height between the front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B, ensures that the predetermined amount of golf balls B that have been partitioned and held is discharged, and that the predetermined amount is again partitioned and held in preparation for the next operation, and this repetition ensures smooth lending and discharging of golf balls B.

[0016] The swinging means 36 of the discharge mechanism 31 repeatedly swings the discharge frame 34 by vertical movement via a traction rope 38 at the front of the discharge frame 34 caused by an ON-OFF solenoid 37, and by resilient pulling by an elastic rope 39 at the rear, which has the advantage of easily controlling a series of operations such as when a coin or medal is inserted.

[0017] The reference numerals in the above sections of the Means for Solving the Problems and the Effects of the Invention are used to facilitate reference to the components shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the structure, shape, etc. shown by the reference numerals in the drawings and the description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] This is also a plan cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] These are also front cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the discharge mechanism, where (A) shows when a predetermined amount of golf balls are being partitioned and held, (B) shows when they are being discharged, and (C) shows when golf balls are being supplied in preparation for the next operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Below, we will explain one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The symbol 1 shown in the figure is a machine frame that forms the outer frame of the rental machine of the present invention, and is formed in the shape of a rectangular box that is large enough not to obstruct passage even when installed in an aisle at a golf driving range, for example.

[0020] The machine frame 1 contains a ball stock section 10 that stores and holds golf balls B to be loaned out, a ball discharge section 20 that discharges and supplies golf balls B in a predetermined amount, and a control section 6 that controls the discharge operation of the golf balls B by the ball discharge section 20.

[0021] The upper wall of the machine frame 1 is provided with a ball inlet 2 that can be opened and closed freely, through which golf balls B are inserted into the ball stock section 10, and the front wall is provided with an inspection window 3 at the top for checking the golf balls B inside the machine frame 1 and a discharge port 4 at the bottom for supplying and discharging the loaned golf balls B. Also, at the front of the machine frame 1, there is arranged a loan inlet 5 through which coins, medals, etc. are inserted to control the operation of a ball discharge section 20 that discharges a predetermined amount of golf balls B, and this loan inlet 5 is incorporated into the control section 6.

[0022] Inside the machine casing 1, the ball stock section 10 is provided in a downwardly inclined form so that the golf balls B are sequentially delivered from the ball stock section 10 to the ball discharge section 20 by natural falling, and below the terminal end section, which is the lowest position of this downwardly inclined ball stock section 10, is located the starting end section, which is the highest position of the ball discharge section 20, which is provided in a downwardly inclined state in the opposite direction to the inclination of the ball stock section 10. In other words, the delivery direction of the inserted golf balls B from the ball stock section 10 to the ball discharge section 20 is opposite to the discharge direction in which the machine casing 1 discharges the golf balls B, and both directions are continuous and the golf balls B roll due to the natural falling action.

[0023] In the illustrated example, when viewed from the front of the machine frame 1, the starting end portion, which is the highest position of the ball stock section 10, is located at the upper right position, the end portion of the ball stock section 10 and the starting end portion of the ball discharge section 20 are located on the left side, and the end portion of the ball discharge section 20 is located on the right side, but the arrangement is not limited to this illustrated example.

[0024] In the ball stock section 10, a plate-like ball support plate 11 that slopes downward as it approaches the end is disposed at the upper part inside the machine casing 1, with its side edges fixed to the wall of the machine casing 1. Golf balls B are fed through the ball inlet 2 that is provided in the upper wall of the machine casing 1 so as to be able to open and close freely, and the fed golf balls B are discharged and loaned out through a ball discharge section 20 provided below the ball stock section 10. At the lowest position of the end part of the ball support plate 11, an opening is formed for a delivery port 12 that delivers and drops the golf balls B to the ball discharge section 20, and the width of this delivery port 12 corresponds to the width of the ball discharge section 20, so that the golf balls B are delivered and dropped into the ball discharge section 20 in the number of parallel discharges to each of the discharge paths 22 described below.

[0025] The ball discharge section 20 is supported below the ball stock section 10 by support columns 21 erected at the front, rear, left, and right sides at the bottom inside the machine casing 1. The discharge ports 4 are provided at the sides of the machine casing 1 and include a plurality of parallel discharge paths 22 that slope downward as they approach the sides. The discharge paths 22 are formed from a plurality of pipe-shaped ball guide members 22A fixed to the support columns 21 and arranged parallel to each other with intervals slightly narrower than the diameter of the golf balls B. That is, a single discharge path 22 is formed by the gap formed between a pair of adjacent ball guide members 22A. In the illustrated example, eleven ball guide members 22A are provided to form ten discharge paths 22. Each discharge path 22 is connected to the lower surface of a ball guide plate 23 disposed directly below the delivery port 12 in the ball stock section 10. Golf balls B dropped from the delivery port 12 roll along the upper surface of the ball guide plate 23 and are guided to each discharge path 22. In addition, side plates are provided on both side edges of the discharge path 22 to prevent the golf balls B from falling out to the sides of the discharge path 22.

[0026] Also, below the outlet 12, a ball breaking mechanism 15 is provided to prevent the golf balls B dropped from the outlet 12 from forming clumps and becoming stuck on the ball guide plate 23 so that the golf balls B are arranged in parallel without being stacked one on top of the other, and to allow the golf balls B to roll without overlapping. This ball breaking mechanism 15 comprises control bars 16 arranged above the ball guide plate 23 at intervals of a height sufficient to allow one golf ball B to pass through on the ball guide plate 23, breaking rollers 17 that rotate in contact with the golf balls B on the control bars 16, and a breaking motor 18 arranged on the rear support frame 21 to rotate the breaking rollers 17.

[0027] The breaking roller 17 rotates in a direction to move the golf balls B on the ball guide plate 23 in the reverse direction toward the ball stock section 10, and by moving any golf balls B that may be stuck on the ball guide plate 23 in the reverse direction toward the ball stock section 10, it breaks up the stuck clumps and arranges the multiple golf balls B in a flat, aligned state so that they can pass under the control bar 16. In this way, even if the golf balls B that are dropped and delivered from the delivery port 12 are piled up in a clump, they are arranged in a flat, aligned state on the ball guide plate 23 by the control bar 16 and passed under one by one, and then roll on the ball guide plate 23 in a flat, aligned state and are guided one by one into each of the discharge paths 22 that are formed in parallel.

[0028] A discharge mechanism 31 is provided below discharge path 22 in ball discharge section 20, which separates and holds a predetermined amount of golf balls B and then discharges each predetermined amount. This discharge mechanism 31 includes a swing fulcrum shaft 32 that is horizontally fixed at the bottom of discharge path 22 and perpendicular to discharge path 22, a discharge frame 34 that is rectangular in plan view and has a length corresponding to the outer width of discharge path 22 and the predetermined amount of parallel-positioned golf balls B, is supported by swing fulcrum shaft 32, and swings around swing fulcrum shaft 32, front and rear restriction pieces 35A and 35B that are provided on the front and rear edges of discharge frame 34 and that appear and disappear within discharge path 22, respectively, and swinging means 36 that swings discharge frame 34 in the front-to-rear direction. When discharging the golf ball B, the swinging means 36 causes the front restriction piece 35A at the front end of the discharge path 22 to recede below the discharge path 22, and simultaneously causes the rear restriction piece 35B at the rear end of the discharge path 22 to protrude above the discharge path 22. When partitioning and holding the golf ball B, the front restriction piece 35A at the front end of the discharge path 22 protrudes above the discharge path 22, and simultaneously causes the rear restriction piece 35B at the rear end of the discharge path 22 to recede below the discharge path 22.

[0029] The swing fulcrum shaft 32 is fixed by welding or the like to the bottom surface of the ball guide material 22A that forms the discharge passage 22, perpendicular to the ball guide material 22A, and swing link plates 33 are supported so as to be able to swing freely on both ends of this swing fulcrum shaft 32, and a discharge frame 34 is connected to the lower part of this swing link plate 33. In this way, the discharge frame 34 is supported so as to be able to swing via the swing link plate 32, with the swing fulcrum shaft 32 as a fulcrum, and is able to swing by a swinging means 36.

[0030] The discharge frame 34 is formed into a rectangular shape in plan view using, for example, a strip, angle bar, or cylindrical material, and its width corresponds approximately to the outer width of the discharge path 22, and its length in the front-to-rear direction is set corresponding to the number of loaned golf balls B to be discharged. In the illustrated example, the discharge path 22 is configured with 10 rows, with five golf balls B in each row, so that a total of 50 golf balls B can be discharged in one operation, and the length of the discharge frame 34 corresponds to the overall length when five golf balls B are lined up in the discharge direction.

[0031] Of course, the number of discharge channels 22 and the length of the discharge frame 34 are appropriately selected according to the number of golf balls B dispensed in one operation. Also, if necessary, although not shown in the drawings, it is possible to adjust and set the number of balls dispensed per row to be reduced from the preset number of balls dispensed by disposing a dam plate that can be adjusted to appear and disappear at a position behind the trailing edge of the discharge frame 34.

[0032] The front and rear restricting pieces 35A and 35B are arranged so as to be positioned within the discharge passage 22 at the front and rear edges of the discharge frame 34, forming a so-called comb-like shape, and the height of the front and rear restricting pieces 35A and 35B is sufficient to prevent the golf ball B from rolling toward the discharge side when protruding into the discharge passage 22. However, in accordance with the difference in height between the front and rear of the discharge frame 34 due to the inclination set in the discharge passage 22, the front restricting piece 35A is set lower than the rear restricting piece 35B.

[0033] The swinging means 36 comprises a traction rope 38 connected to the front of the discharge frame 34 and an actuator of a solenoid 37 that turns on and off to forcibly pull the front of the discharge frame 34 downward, and an elastic rope 39 such as a coil spring that resiliently pulls the rear of the discharge frame 34 downward.

[0034] As a result, during discharge control of the golf balls B, the solenoid 37 is turned on to pull the traction rope 38 and pull the front of the discharge frame 34 downward, causing the front restriction piece 35A to sink below the discharge path 22, thereby discharging the golf balls B that were partitioned and held within the discharge frame 34 (see FIG. 5(B)). At this time, the rear restriction piece 35B of the discharge frame 34 protrudes into the discharge path 22, thereby maintaining the golf balls B stored behind this rear restriction piece 35B as they are.

[0035] After the golf balls B are discharged, the solenoid 37 is turned OFF, releasing the traction force on the traction cord 38, and the elastic cord 39, which was pulled and stretched by the rear restriction piece 35B projecting during discharge, pulls the rear part of the discharge frame 34 downward by its resilience, causing the rear restriction piece 35B in the discharge path 22 to retract from within the discharge path 22. Then, the rear golf balls B, which had been prevented from rolling, roll downward on the discharge path 22 (see FIG. 5(C)), and the front restriction piece 35A of the discharge frame 34 projecting into the discharge path 22, prevents the golf balls B from rolling toward the discharge side of the discharge path 22, and a predetermined number of golf balls B are partitioned and held within the discharge frame 34, ready for the next operation (see FIG. 5(A)).

[0036] A predetermined amount of golf balls B discharged by discharge mechanism 31 passes through discharge guide path 40 provided in front of ball discharge section 20 and is discharged from discharge outlet 4 formed in the lower front part of machine casing 1 into, for example, a lending basket prepared outside machine casing 1. Discharge guide path 40 is formed in the shape of a channel on the inside of the side of machine casing 1, sloping downward toward discharge outlet 4, as shown in the figure.

[0037] Furthermore, when a coin, medal, or the like is inserted into the loan slot 5, the control unit 6 controls the swinging means 36 of the discharge mechanism 31 to operate for, for example, 3 seconds to discharge a predetermined number of golf balls B from the discharge frame 34, and when the discharge frame 34 returns to its original position after the drive is stopped, a predetermined number of golf balls B are again supplied to and held in the discharge frame 34. Then, the ball breaking mechanism 15 operates for, for example, 2 to 3 seconds to break up the mass of golf balls B piled up in the delivery port 12 and send the golf balls B onto the ball guide plate 23, and arranges the golf balls B flat in a row at the rear of each discharge path 22 corresponding to the discharge path 22, preparing for the next operation.

[0038] Next, the operation of the rental machine of the present invention will be explained. For example, it is installed at a golf driving range, and a large number of golf balls B are placed in the ball stock section 10. The golf balls B are then discharged to the ball discharge section 20 through the discharge port 12 of the ball stock section 10, and a predetermined amount of golf balls B are partitioned and held by multiple operations of the discharge mechanism 31.

[0039] In the loaning machine thus prepared, when a person wishing to loan inserts, for example, a coin or medal into the loan slot 5, the control unit 6 controls the ejection mechanism 31, causing the swinging means 36 to swing the ejection frame 34, and ejects a predetermined amount of golf balls B that have been partitioned and held within the ejection frame 34 into the ejection guide path 40.

[0040] After the swinging means 36 stops, a predetermined number of golf balls B are again partitioned and held within the discharge frame 34, which swings back to its original position. Meanwhile, the ball breaking mechanism 15 breaks up the golf balls B that have been piled up in a mass at the delivery port 12, and the large number of golf balls B that are aligned flatly roll out onto the ball guide plate 23, where they are arranged in a parallel state corresponding to each of the discharge paths 22, in preparation for the next operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] B...golf ball 1…Machine frame 2...Ball slot 3...Inspection window 4…Discharge port 5...Loan slot 6...Control section 10...Ball stock section 11...Ball support plate 12…Outlet port 15...Ball breaking mechanism 16...Control bar 17...Breaking Roller 18... Breaking motor 20...Ball discharge section 21...Support frame 22...Discharge path 22A...Ball guide material 23...Ball guide plate 31...Ejection mechanism 32...Oscillating fulcrum shaft 33...Swinging guide plate 34...Emissions allowance 35A…Front regulation piece 35B…Rear regulation piece 36...Swinging means 37...Solenoid 38...Tow rope 39...Elastic rope 40...Exhaust guideway

Claims

1. The machine comprises a machine frame, a ball stock section disposed in an upper portion of the interior of the machine frame and having a downwardly inclined configuration, and a ball discharge section disposed in a lower portion of the interior of the machine frame, connected to the ball stock section and having a downwardly inclined configuration in the opposite direction to the downwardly inclined configuration of the ball stock section, The ball stock section is formed by forming a delivery port at the end portion of a downwardly inclined plate-like ball support board, through which golf balls are delivered and dropped to the ball discharge section, The ball discharge section has a plurality of downwardly sloping discharge paths arranged in parallel, and a discharge mechanism at the bottom of the discharge paths that holds golf balls in predetermined amounts and then discharges them in that predetermined amount.The discharge mechanism comprises a swinging fulcrum shaft that is horizontally fixed at the bottom of the discharge path perpendicular to the discharge path, a discharge frame that is flat and rectangular with a length equivalent to the outer width of the discharge path and the predetermined amount of golf balls in a parallel position and is supported by the swinging fulcrum shaft to swing, front and rear regulating pieces that are provided at the front and rear edges of the discharge frame and that appear and disappear within each of the discharge paths, and a swinging means that swings the discharge frame in the front and rear direction.

2. The golf ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ball stock section is provided in a downwardly inclined manner inside the machine frame so that golf balls are sequentially delivered by gravity from the ball stock section to the ball discharge section, and the starting end section, which is the highest position of the ball discharge section, is provided below the terminal end section, which is the lowest position of the downwardly inclined ball stock section, and which is provided in a downwardly inclined state in the opposite direction to the inclination of the ball stock section.

3. 2. The golf ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ball discharge section has a plurality of parallel discharge passages that are inclined downward, and the discharge passages are made of a plurality of ball guide members made of pipe material that are arranged parallel to each other with intervals slightly narrower than the diameter of the golf ball, and a single discharge passage is formed by the gap formed between adjacent pairs of ball guide members.

4. A golf ball lending machine as described in claim 1, wherein a ball breaking mechanism is provided below the discharge outlet of the ball stock section and between the discharge outlet and the beginning of the ball discharge section, and this ball breaking mechanism comprises a control bar arranged above the beginning of the ball discharge section at a height interval sufficient to allow one golf ball to pass through, a breaking roller that rotates on this control bar in contact with the golf ball, and a breaking motor that rotates this breaking roller.

5. 5. The golf ball lending machine according to claim 4, wherein a ball guide plate is connected to each of the parallel discharge paths at the beginning of the ball discharge section, the ball guide plate being located below the ball crushing mechanism.

6. A golf ball lending machine as described in claim 1, wherein in the discharge mechanism, the front and rear regulating pieces are arranged in a comb-tooth shape on the discharge frame, and the front regulating piece is set lower than the rear regulating piece in accordance with the difference in height between the front and rear of the discharge frame due to the inclination set in the discharge path.

7. The golf ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein the swinging means of the discharge mechanism is composed of a traction rope connected to the front of the discharge frame and a solenoid that is turned ON / OFF to forcibly pull the front of the discharge frame downward, and an elastic rope that resiliently pulls the rear of the discharge frame downward.

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