Ball game-related training system

Abstract

A ball supply apparatus includes: a housing coupled to the upper portion of the column structure, wherein a top portion of housing is partially opened, wherein the housing is divided by a partition into a ball storage portion and a ball discharge portion, wherein a bottom face of the ball storage portion is inclined downward toward the ball discharge portion, wherein a first opening is formed in a bottom of the ball discharge portion, and a second opening is formed in the partition at a lower portion thereof; a rotatable opening/closing plate rotatably coupled to the partition, wherein the rotatable opening/closing plate is configured to rotate to open/close the second opening; and a ball discharge tube rotatably coupled to the ball discharge portion at the first opening, wherein the ball discharge tube ball-communicates with the ball discharge portion via the first opening.

1 . A ball game-related training system comprising:
 a play court defined by a half line, both opposing end lines, and both opposing side lines,   wherein the play court has a net extending along the half line;   a vertical column structure adjacent to at least one of the end and side lines; and   a ball supply apparatus coupled to the column structure at an upper portion thereof,   wherein the ball supply apparatus includes:   a housing coupled to the upper portion of the column structure, wherein a top portion of housing is partially opened, wherein the housing is divided by a partition into a ball storage portion and a ball discharge portion, wherein a bottom face of the ball storage portion is inclined downward toward the ball discharge portion, wherein a first opening is formed in a bottom of the ball discharge portion, and a second opening is formed in the partition at a lower portion thereof;   a rotatable opening/closing plate rotatably coupled to the partition, wherein the rotatable opening/closing plate is configured to rotate to open/close the second opening; and   a ball discharge tube rotatably coupled to the ball discharge portion at the first opening,   wherein the ball discharge tube ball-communicates with the ball discharge portion via the first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable opening/closing plate is screw-coupled to a rotation shaft from an opening/closing motor installed in the housing, wherein the rotatable opening/closing plate is configured to rotate to open/close the second opening via rotation of the opening/closing motor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the discharge tube is inserted into the ball discharge portion through the first opening, wherein a straight bevel gear system is disposed in the housing, wherein a rack gear of the straight bevel gear system is integrally formed with an outer peripheral face of the upper end of the ball discharge tube, and the rack gear is mutual-meshed with a drive gear of the straight bevel gear system, wherein the drive gear is coupled to a rotation shaft from a swing motor installed in the housing. 
     
     
         4 . A ball game-related training system comprising:
 a play field defined by a half line, both opposing end lines, and both opposing side lines; and   a ball shooting apparatus configured to shoot a ball toward a target position on the play field, wherein the ball shooting apparatus includes:   a body frame having an internal space of a predetermined size defined therein, wherein a front side thereof is opened;   a training ball shooter configured to shoot a ball, wherein the shooter is disposed in the inner space; and   a ball container having an outer wall of a predetermined size for accommodating balls,   wherein the container is coupled to a top end of the body frame, wherein a ball inlet of a predetermined size is formed in a top portion of the body frame so that the ball is introduced from the ball container into the ball shooter, wherein a bottom portion of the container is formed to have a downward inclined face at a predetermined angle toward the ball inlet so that the ball is introduced into the ball shooter;   wherein the training ball shooter includes:   an elongate hollow shooting tube having a ball receiving hole defined in a side wall thereof to receive a ball from the ball container;   an orientation-variable support coupled to and supporting the elongate hollow shooting tube thereon;   a rotatable support bracket coupled to and supporting the orientation-variable support thereon, wherein both side faces of the orientation-variable support are pivotally coupled to both side flanges of the rotatable support bracket respectively, wherein the rotatable support bracket is configured to pivotally move up or down to allow the orientation-variable support and the elongate hollow shooting tube coupled thereto to pivotally move up or down;   a rotatable plate coupled to the rotatable support bracket, wherein the rotatable plate rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to enable the rotatable support bracket, the orientation-variable support coupled thereto, and the elongate hollow shooting tube coupled thereto to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction;   a hydraulic pressure circuit including an actuator cylinder, wherein the cylinder is coupled to a proximal end of the elongate hollow shooting tube, wherein a movable piston of the actuator cylinder is insertable into and withdrawn from the elongate hollow shooting tube, wherein a striking plate is coupled to a distal end of the movable piston,   wherein the actuator cylinder is embodied as a hydraulic actuator cylinder, wherein when the cylinder is activated, the striking plate is inserted into the shooting tube and strikes the ball received in the tube to fire the ball, wherein the cylinder has a hydraulic pressure inlet and a hydraulic pressure outlet defined therein; and   a controller configured to control the hydraulic pressure circuit, and the pivotal movement and rotation movement of the shooting tube,   wherein the hydraulic pressure circuit further includes:   a hydraulic pressure accumulator connected to the hydraulic pressure inlet via a hydraulic pressure discharge solenoid valve, wherein a nitrogen tube filled with nitrogen is disposed inside the hydraulic pressure accumulator;   a hydraulic pressure tank connected to the hydraulic pressure outlet via a hydraulic pressure recovery solenoid valve;   a hydraulic pressure pump interposed between the hydraulic pressure tank and the hydraulic pressure accumulator, wherein a hydraulic pressure supply solenoid valve is disposed between the hydraulic pressure pump and the hydraulic pressure accumulator; and   a pressure gauge for checking a nitrogen pressure in the nitrogen tube,   wherein the controller is further configured to control the hydraulic pressure circuit based on a predetermined shooting mode and/or a predetermined shooting period.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the play field is configured to be downwardly inclined from the half line to each end line, wherein the play field has a ball guide groove line defined therein along each end line, wherein the ball guide groove line is configured to be downwardly inclined from one end to the other end thereof, wherein the ball shooting apparatus is disposed on a corner region on the play field. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the play field has a rectangular goalpost standing upright thereon,
 wherein the system further includes a ball sensing gate comprising:   a rectangular body frame coupled to the goalpost;   a first light emitting elements array arranged on one of left and right vertical portions of the body frame and a first light receiving elements array arranged on the other of left and right vertical portions of the body frame, wherein the first light emitting elements correspond to the first light receiving elements in terms of the number and positions thereof respectively; and   a second light emitting elements array arranged on one of lower and upper horizontal portions of the body frame and a second light receiving elements array arranged on the other of the lower and upper horizontal portions of the body frame, wherein the second light emitting elements correspond to the second light receiving elements in terms of the number and positions thereof respectively,   wherein the system further comprises a speed gun disposed behind the goalpost, and an impact sensor disposed on the goalpost or the rectangular body frame,   wherein the system further comprises a score controller configured:   to turn on the first and second light emitting elements arrays;   to receive optical signals corresponding to light emissions received by the first and second light emitting elements arrays;   to determine a specific sub-region in an planar region defined by the horizontal and vertical portions of the frame, based on the received optical signals, wherein the specific sub-region indicate a sub-region through which the ball passes through in an event that a player shoots the ball toward the goalpost; and   to calculate a total score for the shoot event based on the determined specific sub-region, and/or a ball speed detected by the speed gun and/or an impact level detected by the impact sensor,   wherein the system further comprises a display configured to display the total score.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic pressure circuit further includes:
 a nitrogen tank connected to the hydraulic pressure inlet via the hydraulic pressure discharge solenoid valve, wherein a nitrogen tube filled with nitrogen is disposed inside the nitrogen tank;   the hydraulic pressure tank connected to the hydraulic pressure outlet via the hydraulic pressure recovery solenoid valve;   the hydraulic pressure pump interposed between the hydraulic pressure tank and the nitrogen tank, wherein the hydraulic pressure supply solenoid valve is disposed between the hydraulic pressure pump and the nitrogen tank; and   the pressure gauge for checking a nitrogen pressure in the nitrogen tube,   wherein the controller is further configured to control the hydraulic pressure circuit based on the predetermined shooting mode and/or the predetermined shooting period.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises cameras for photographing the play field, wherein the cameras are installed on different sides of the body frame, wherein the controller is configured to receive image information from the cameras and to determine whether the image information contains a predetermined movement of the player on the play field, and to activate the actuator cylinder upon determination that the image information contains the predetermined movement of the player. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a diameter of a distal end of the hollow shooting tube is smaller than a diameter of the training ball so that the training ball is seated at the distal end of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         10 . A ball game-related training system comprising:
 a play field defined by a half line, both opposing end lines, and both opposing side lines,   wherein the play field is configured to be downwardly inclined from the half line to each end line, wherein the play field has a ball guide groove line defined therein along each end line, wherein the ball guide groove line is configured to be downwardly inclined from one end to the other end thereof,   a ball shooting apparatus configured to shoot a ball toward a target position on the play field, wherein the ball shooting apparatus is disposed on a corner of the play field,   wherein the ball shooting apparatus has a ball container receiving a ball from above;   a ball supply apparatus disposed at a higher position of a net disposed on the half line of the play field, wherein the ball supply apparatus has an upper ball receiving opening to receive a ball from above, and the ball supply apparatus has a lower rotatable ball discharge tube, and the ball supply apparatus is configured to fall down the received ball on the play field via the ball discharge tube based on a ball discharge command signal;   a ball convey tube line having one end vertically overlapping the upper ball receiving opening of the ball supply apparatus, wherein the ball convey tube line is downwardly inclined from the other end to one end thereof, and   a ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line,   wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container, the upper ball receiving opening, and/or the other end of the ball convey tube.   
     
     
         11 . A ball game-related training system comprising:
 a play field defined by a half line, both opposing end lines, and both opposing side lines,   wherein the play field is configured to be downwardly inclined from the half line to each end line, wherein the play field has a ball guide groove line defined therein along each end line, wherein the ball guide groove line is configured to be downwardly inclined from one end to the other end thereof,   a ball shooting apparatus configured to shoot a ball toward a target position on the play field, wherein the ball shooting apparatus is disposed on a corner of the play field,   wherein the ball shooting apparatus has a ball container receiving a ball from above;   a ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line,   wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container, and/or an upper ball receiving opening of a ball supply apparatus;   a guide rail extending along and spaced from the side line on the play field;   a vertical post having at least one wheel on a bottom thereof so as to move along and on the guide rail, wherein the vertical post has a height higher than a height of a net disposed along the half line on the play field; and   the ball supply apparatus coupled to a top portion of the vertical post, and configured to drop a ball onto the play field, wherein the ball supply apparatus has an upper ball receiving opening to receive a ball from above, wherein when the ball supply apparatus moves toward the ball collection apparatus together with the movement of the post coupled thereto, the ball supply apparatus receives the ball from the upper rotatable ball discharge tube of the ball collection apparatus via the ball receiving opening thereof, and   the ball supply apparatus has a lower rotatable ball discharge tube, and the ball supply apparatus is configured to fall down the received ball on the play field via the ball discharge tube based on a ball discharge command signal.   
     
     
         12 . A ball game-related training system comprising:
 a play field defined by a half line, both opposing end lines, and both opposing side lines,   wherein the play field is configured to be downwardly inclined from the half line to each end line and each side line, wherein the play field has a ball guide groove line defined therein along each end line, wherein the ball guide groove line is configured to be downwardly inclined from one end and the other end to a middle portion thereof;   a basketball goalpost disposed behind the middle portion of the end line;   a ball shooting apparatus configured to shoot a ball toward a target position on the play field, wherein the ball shooting apparatus is disposed behind the goalpost, wherein the ball shooting apparatus has a ball container receiving a ball from above;   a ball collection apparatus disposed on the middle portion of the ball guide groove line,   wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container, and/or an upper ball receiving opening of a ball supply apparatus; and   a ball supply apparatus configured to drop a ball onto the play field, wherein the ball supply apparatus has an upper ball receiving opening to receive a ball from above, and   the ball supply apparatus has a lower rotatable ball discharge tube.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further includes the ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line, wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container of the ball shooting apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ball collection apparatus comprises:
 a vertical cylindrical hollow tube having a bottom ball inlet hole and a top ball discharge hole and disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line;   a vertical shaft concentrically received in the cylindrical hollow tube, where the shaft is spaced from an inner face of the hollow tube;   a vertically helically extending blade extending along and on an outer face of the vertical shaft; and   a collection motor configured to allow rotation of the vertical shaft,   when the collection motor is activated, the ball collected into the groove line is guided upwards along the vertically helically extending blade and is discharged out of the discharge hole.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further include an elongate vibration plate embedded in the ball guide groove line, wherein the vibration plate is vibrated in the longitudinal direction of the groove line by a rotation of a vibration motor such that the ball collected in the groove line moves toward the bottom ball inlet hole defined in the ball collection apparatus, wherein the elongate vibration plate is downwardly inclined toward the bottom ball inlet hole. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the upper end of the discharge tube is inserted into the ball discharge portion through the first opening, wherein a straight bevel gear system is disposed in the housing, wherein a rack gear of the straight bevel gear system is integrally formed with an outer peripheral face of the upper end of the ball discharge tube, and the rack gear is mutual-meshed with a drive gear of the straight bevel gear system, wherein the drive gear is coupled to a rotation shaft from a swing motor installed in the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the play field has a rectangular goalpost standing upright thereon,
 wherein the system further includes a ball sensing gate comprising:   a rectangular body frame coupled to the goalpost;   a first light emitting elements array arranged on one of left and right vertical portions of the body frame and a first light receiving elements array arranged on the other of left and right vertical portions of the body frame, wherein the first light emitting elements correspond to the first light receiving elements in terms of the number and positions thereof respectively; and   a second light emitting elements array arranged on one of lower and upper horizontal portions of the body frame and a second light receiving elements array arranged on the other of the lower and upper horizontal portions of the body frame, wherein the second light emitting elements correspond to the second light receiving elements in terms of the number and positions thereof respectively,   wherein the system further comprises a speed gun disposed behind the goalpost, and an impact sensor disposed on the goalpost or the rectangular body frame,   wherein the system further comprises a score controller configured:   to turn on the first and second light emitting elements arrays;   to receive optical signals corresponding to light emissions received by the first and second light emitting elements arrays;   to determine a specific sub-region in an planar region defined by the horizontal and vertical portions of the frame, based on the received optical signals, wherein the specific sub-region indicate a sub-region through which the ball passes through in an event that a player shoots the ball toward the goalpost; and   to calculate a total score for the shoot event based on the determined specific sub-region, and/or a ball speed detected by the speed gun and/or an impact level detected by the impact sensor,   wherein the system further comprises a display configured to display the total score.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system further includes the ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line, wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container of the ball shooting apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further includes the ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line, wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container of the ball shooting apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system further includes the ball collection apparatus disposed on the other end of the ball guide groove line, wherein the ball collection apparatus includes a vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder, and the ball is collected from the groove line and moves upwardly in and along the vertical hollow ball guide elongate cylinder using a collection motor, and the ball collection apparatus has an upper rotatable ball discharge tube, and the upper rotatable ball discharge tube is rotated such that a discharge hole thereof selectively overlaps vertically and above the ball container of the ball shooting apparatus.