Ball Feeder Assembly for Automatic Pitching Machine Loading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball projecting machines require manual loading of balls, which is tedious and inefficient, and existing ball feeders are either too small, prone to ball dislodgment, or excessively large and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A ball feeder assembly comprising a frame, motor, and ball delivery element that supports a cylindrical bucket, allowing for automatic feeding of balls to the machine through a rotatable drum mechanism, preventing ball dislodgment and accommodating various bucket sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual ball loading is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to tedious repeated loading
Solution Approach 1:
The ball feeder assembly nests a motor-driven ball delivery mechanism within a compact frame structure that integrates with the pitching machine. The ball bucket is positioned to feed balls into the nested delivery mechanism, which automatically transports balls to the pitching head, eliminating manual loading while maintaining a space-efficient design.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball feed system is designed to be self-loading, where the motor-driven mechanism automatically retrieves balls from the bucket and delivers them to the pitching machine without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by continuously cycling balls through the delivery mechanism.
2Reliability
If a small ball feeder is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to ball dislodgment
Solution Approach 1:
The ball retention mechanism utilizes curved and spherical surfaces that conform to the shape of baseballs or softballs. The ball delivery element features a curved path that gently guides balls, while the retention structure uses spherical contact points that securely hold balls without creating sharp edges where balls could become dislodged.
3Quantity of substance
If a large ball hopper is used, then productivity is improved by holding more balls, but device complexity and maneuverability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The ball storage system is segmented into a removable ball bucket that can be easily detached and refilled, separate from the compact ball feeder assembly. This allows the storage capacity to be independent of the feeder complexity - users can use standard buckets of various sizes without complicating the feeder mechanism itself. The segmentation enables easy maintenance and ball replenishment.
4Productivity
If an automatic ball feed system is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic ball feed system replaces complex mechanical transmission mechanisms with a simplified motor-driven rotation system. A single motor rotates the ball delivery element along a curved path, using gravity and the element's rotation to naturally guide balls forward, eliminating the need for complex gears, belts, or linkages that would increase device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, automatic loading of balls into ball projecting machines, reducing manual labor and preventing ball loss, while being compact and compatible with existing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The ball delivery element is rotatable about a central shaft and includes a ball receiving surface defining at least one inlet aperture and a ball feed surface defining at least one outlet aperture
Implementation Method 2
The ball feed member has a first end coupled to the ball delivery element and a second end removably coupled to the ball projecting machine
Data Source
AI summary
A ball feeder assembly for a ball projecting machine includes a stand, an upper frame, a ball delivery element coupled to the frame, and a ball feeder member coupled to the ball delivery element. The assembly is configured for supporting a cylindrical ball bucket. The frame is movably coupled to the stand between at least a first position in which the frame is configured to support the bucket in a position with a top end at a higher elevation than a bottom end such that the longitudinal axis of the bucket is at angle within 0 and 80 degrees from a vertical plane, and a second position in which the frame is configured to support the bucket in a downward position with the bottom end at a higher elevation than the upper end such that the axis is within 5 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.