Ball throwing machine

Abstract

A ball throwing apparatus includes a ball magazine attached to a first end of a ball tube. A ball propelling or throwing assembly is attached to a second end of the ball tube. A retaining element, such as a spring finger, extends into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube. A holder which may be pivotally mounted on the ball tube extends into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube. An arm moves through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube in a reciprocating motion, feeding balls one at a time from the ball magazine into the throwing assembly, in a uniform time sequence.

1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a ball tube;   a flex element extending into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube;   a holder extending into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube, with the holder having a holder plate and a holder leg;   a holder spring urging the holder into a first position;   an arm moveable in the ball tube in a first direction to move the holder, and moveable in the ball tube in a second direction opposite from the first direction to move a ball out of the ball tube; and   a motor linked to the arm and configured to move the arm in the first direction and in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  with the holder pivotally mounted on the ball tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  with the holder leg joined to the holder plate at an angle ranging from 70 to 110 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  with the ball tube having an inlet and an outlet, and with the outlet oriented within 30 degrees of perpendicular to the inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a drive slot in the arm and a drive pin on a drive wheel attached to the motor, and with the drive pin extending into the drive slot, with the motor driving the arm in a reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  with the arm having a substantially straight lower section and offset upper section, and with the motor linked to the lower section of the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the motor oscillates the arm over an arc of 30 to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the motor oscillates the arm between a forward position wherein the lower section of the arm is inclined forwardly 20 to 45 degrees from vertical, and a rearward position wherein the lower section of the arm is inclined rearward by 10 to 30 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flex element comprises a spring finger and the holder positioned opposite from the spring finger, and with the holder and spring finger facing each other. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  with the arm and the holder leg movable through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a magazine attached to a first end of the ball tube, and a throwing assembly attached to a second end of the ball tube. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a tripod pivotally supporting the ball tube. 
     
     
         13 . Ball throwing apparatus comprising:
 a curved ball tube;   a ball magazine attached to a first end of the ball tube;   a throwing assembly attached to a second end of the ball tube;   a spring extending into the ball tube from a first side of the ball tube;   a holder pivotally mounted on the ball tube and extending into the ball tube from a second side of the ball tube, with the holder having a holder plate and a holder leg joined to the holder plate, and the holder leg movable through an arm slot in the second side of the ball tube;   a holder spring urging the holder into a first position; and   an arm moveable through the arm slot in a reciprocating motion via a motor rotating a drive wheel having a drive pin moveable within a drive slot in the drive wheel, with the motor oscillating the arm over an arc of 30 to 75 degrees.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  with the ball tube supported on a tripod. 
     
     
         15 . A method for throwing balls, comprising:
 loading a plurality of balls including a first ball and a second ball into a magazine; allowing the first ball to drop into a ball tube;   holding the first ball in at a load position in the ball tube;   moving an arm in a first direction through the ball tube to allow the first ball to drop down to a ready position;   holding the ball in the ready position;   pushing the ball out of the ready position via the arm by moving the arm in a second direction, opposite from the first direction; and   holding the second ball at the load position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising pushing the first ball out of the ball tube by moving the arm in the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising moving the arm in a uniform reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising using the arm to displace a holder from a first position wherein the holder projects into the ball tube and holds the first ball in the load position, to a second position wherein the holder does not project into the ball tube, to allow the first ball to move from the load position into the load position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising pushing the first ball out of the ball tube and into a ball throwing assembly connected to the ball tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising rotating a drive wheel at a constant speed and moving the arm in a uniform reciprocating motion by linking the arm to the drive wheel.