EP0328855A1 - Appareil pour la distribution d'objets sphériques - Google Patents

Appareil pour la distribution d'objets sphériques Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0328855A1
EP0328855A1 EP88850056A EP88850056A EP0328855A1 EP 0328855 A1 EP0328855 A1 EP 0328855A1 EP 88850056 A EP88850056 A EP 88850056A EP 88850056 A EP88850056 A EP 88850056A EP 0328855 A1 EP0328855 A1 EP 0328855A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
objects
paths
channel
members
roller
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88850056A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0328855B1 (fr
Inventor
J. Knez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
J Knez AB
Original Assignee
J Knez AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by J Knez AB filed Critical J Knez AB
Priority to ES88850056T priority Critical patent/ES2052777T3/es
Priority to DE19883889445 priority patent/DE3889445T2/de
Publication of EP0328855A1 publication Critical patent/EP0328855A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0328855B1 publication Critical patent/EP0328855B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/002—Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/04—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for cleaning balls
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/16—Delivery means
    • G07F11/24—Rotary or oscillatory members
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/44—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/04—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for cleaning balls
    • A63B2047/046—Motorised

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a number of substantially spherical objects, for example golf balls, the apparatus including a magazine for the spherical objects, the floor of the magazine sloping in relation to the horizontal plane and displaying a number of members which extend in the direction of slope and are parallel to one another, forming, therebetween, a num­ber of paths for a plurality of mutually subsequent objects, the paths discharging in a pivotal portion extending along the edge formed by the lower of the ends of the members.
  • Such apparatuses are often employed as automatic golf ball dis­pensers on golf courses, these operating in such a manner that the golfer intending to practice driving may withdraw a number of balls from the dispenser against payment in the form of coins or special counters.
  • Such an automatic dispenser is described in Swedish Patent Application No. 8206402-3.
  • This prior art apparatus possesses num­erous favourable properties and advantageous constructional features which may, however, be improved to achieve, above all, greater oper­ational reliability and simplicity.
  • the task forming the basis of the present invention is to rea­lise the desired improvements to prior art apparatuses of the above-­disclosed type.
  • the pivotal por­tion is in the form of a channel-shaped beam whose channel is turn­able towards the spherical objects on the paths, for receiving the objects; and that the pivotal axis of the beam is located in such relation to the ends of the parallel members forming the paths for the objects that, on replenishment pivoting of the beam for turning the channel of the beam towards the spherical objects and receiving the objects, the upper shank of the beam comes into contact with the most proximal objects and urges these upwardly along the paths, be­fore they are released into the channel turned to face them.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention is also extremely dependable and reliable.
  • the terms dependable and reliable are here taken to mean operational de­pendability and reliability in the dispsensing of the correct number of objects.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention further per­mits cleaning of the objects, or golf balls, while many prior art automatic dispensing machines of this type require a separate cleaning feature.
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a magazine floor according to one embodi­ment of an apparatus according to the present invention and the com­ponent parts of the apparatus placed in association with the maga­zine floor
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the magazine floor of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 shows, on a slightly larger scale, an end elev­ation of two paths intended for golf balls, the paths being formed by the parallel members included in the magazine floor.
  • the magazine floor consists of a number of parallel square tubes 1, 2 and 3 disposed in side-by-side relationship and forming therebetween paths for the round or sub­stantially spherical objects which, in the present case, consist of golf balls 4.
  • the square tubes 1, 2 and 3 are anchored to an upper beam 5 and a lower beam 6.
  • the number of square tubes 1, 2 and 3 may be so great as to form 24 paths, whereby two dozen golf balls 4 may be dispensed simultaneously.
  • the outer tubes may consist of similar square tubes to the square tubes 1, 2 and 3, but may, naturally, also consist of suitably bent end wall plates or the like.
  • the magazine floor is defined by side beams B which also serve as mounting members for a plurality of other compo­nents.
  • side beams B which also serve as mounting members for a plurality of other compo­nents.
  • roller 9 is rotatably journalled at the lower edge of the side plates 7, 8. Between the plates 7, 8 and the roller 9, there is formed a magazine for the golf balls 4.
  • the roller 9 extends across the entire magazine floor and thereby over­bridges all of the paths for the golf balls 4 formed by the square tubes 1, 2, 3.
  • Fig. 1 it is clearly shown that the roller 9 is a brush roller which, on a portion of its periphery, has shorter brush bristles than the remainder of the periphery.
  • the shorter bristles permit passage of the golf balls 4, while the longer bristles force the golf balls back upwardly into the magazine, which entails that the golf balls 4 will, first, be arranged after one another on the paths between the square tubes 1, 2, 3, and secondly be cleaned by the action of the brush.
  • a pipe 10 which is connected to a water source by the intermediary of a nozzle 11 and which ex­tends throughout the entire length of the roller 9.
  • the pipe 10 is provided with a number of holes for the discharge of water and spraying of the balls 4 in the maga­zine.
  • a beam 12 which, on the side facing the square tubes 1, 2, 3, dis­plays a drip bead 13 which prevents or hinders water migration along the underside of the square tubes 1, 2, 3.
  • the paths formed by the square 1, 2 and 3 discharge in a pivotal portion or channel-shaped beam 14 which extends along the entire magazine floor and, at its ends, displays stub shafts 15 which are journalled in suitable bearings 16.
  • the one stub shaft 15, which is illustrated in Fig. 2 extends through its bearing 16 for fixed connection to an arm 17.
  • the arm 17 is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 18 whose other end is pivotally connected to a crank 19 which is disposed for simultaneous rotation with the the roller 9. This rotation is effected by means of an electric motor 20 by the intermediary of a suitable gearbox 21.
  • the rod 18 is of such type as to be yieldable on overloading in both directions, which im­plies that the rod 18 permits both expansion and contraction when a certain loading is exceeded.
  • the opposing end of the crank 19 in relation to the rod end 18 is designed for actuation of a switch 22 whose switching arm 23 dis­plays a wheel 24 for actuation by means of the end of the crank 19.
  • the switch 22 is coupled, via an electric cable 25, to control equipment, and to an electric cable 26 for power supply of the motor 20.
  • the control equipment is suitably of such type that it energizes the motor 20 on receipt of a coin or counter or the like, whereafter the motor runs and rotates the roller 9 anticlockwise, until such time as the crank 19 discontinues operation of the motor by the in­termediary of the switch 22 on passage by the crank and of the wheel 24.
  • the roller 9 and the crank 19 will rotate through one rev­olution from their starting positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and back to the illustrated positions.
  • the channel-shaped beam 14 is shown in greater de­tail, and it will be immediately apparent that the golf ball 4 loc­ated most proximal the beam 14 rests against the upper shank of the beam 14.
  • the length of the arm 17, like the length of the crank 19, is selected such that the beam 14 pivots to the replenishment posi­tion with the upper shank above the golf balls 4, and thereafter back to the dispensing and rest position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, during one revolution of the roller 9.
  • the upper shank of the beam 14 will urge the most proximally located golf ball upwardly along the paths formed by the square tubes 1, 2 and 3.
  • Those golf balls 4 which, for any reason, may possibly have fastened to the tubes 1, 2, 3 will, thus, be released in a highly efficient manner.
  • a beam 27 which extends between the side beams B and which forms a ceiling above the two golf balls 4 located most proximal the beam 14.
  • the golf ball will begin to move into the channel or cavity of the beam 14.
  • the upper shank of the beam 14 has reached its uppermost position, it will, with all probability, have been filled with golf balls and will pivot back to the position illustrated in the Drawing for dispensing the balls.
  • the end bending of the square tubes 1, 2, 3 most proximal the beam 14 facilitates roll-in of the balls 4 and considerably speeds up filling of the beam 14.
  • the control equipment may also be arranged so as to permit one or more revolutions for each coin, counter or the like, but the crank 19 and the switch 22 will always ensure that the roller 9 and the beam 14 are arrested in the same position after each revolution and pivoting, respectively.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
  • Chutes (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
EP19880850056 1986-10-20 1988-02-19 Appareil pour la distribution d'objets sphériques Expired - Lifetime EP0328855B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES88850056T ES2052777T3 (es) 1986-10-20 1988-02-19 Aparato para distribuir objetos esfericos.
DE19883889445 DE3889445T2 (de) 1986-10-20 1988-02-19 Ausgabeeinrichtung für Kugelförmige Gegenstände.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8604451A SE8604451L (sv) 1986-10-20 1986-10-20 Plockningsanordning

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0328855A1 true EP0328855A1 (fr) 1989-08-23
EP0328855B1 EP0328855B1 (fr) 1994-05-04

Family

ID=20365993

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880850056 Expired - Lifetime EP0328855B1 (fr) 1986-10-20 1988-02-19 Appareil pour la distribution d'objets sphériques

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0328855B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3889445T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2052777T3 (fr)
SE (1) SE8604451L (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995009678A1 (fr) * 1992-10-04 1995-04-13 Ing.F:A B Bäck Procede et appareil pour laver et distribuer des balles
WO2008016322A1 (fr) * 2006-08-03 2008-02-07 Knes Of Sweden Ab Distributeur
US11440055B2 (en) * 2020-12-04 2022-09-13 William Vaughn Jenkins Systems and methods for sorting balls

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB322088A (en) * 1928-11-24 1929-11-28 David Petrie Improved machine for vending cigarette and like packets
US3248008A (en) * 1964-09-03 1966-04-26 Meierjohan Ernest Golf ball dispenser or the like
DE1805800A1 (de) * 1968-10-29 1970-06-25 Tn Verkaufsautomaten Gmbh Selbstverkaeufer fuer rollende Verkaufsgueter
US3946847A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-03-30 Bock Corporation Golf ball vendor
US4054197A (en) * 1976-09-24 1977-10-18 Oscar Bock Golf ball vendor
GB2131404A (en) * 1982-11-11 1984-06-20 Jordan Knez Maskinverkstaden Apparatus for dispensing round objects
EP0167470A1 (fr) * 1984-05-10 1986-01-08 Paul Tucom Distributeur de balles de golf

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB322088A (en) * 1928-11-24 1929-11-28 David Petrie Improved machine for vending cigarette and like packets
US3248008A (en) * 1964-09-03 1966-04-26 Meierjohan Ernest Golf ball dispenser or the like
DE1805800A1 (de) * 1968-10-29 1970-06-25 Tn Verkaufsautomaten Gmbh Selbstverkaeufer fuer rollende Verkaufsgueter
US3946847A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-03-30 Bock Corporation Golf ball vendor
US4054197A (en) * 1976-09-24 1977-10-18 Oscar Bock Golf ball vendor
GB2131404A (en) * 1982-11-11 1984-06-20 Jordan Knez Maskinverkstaden Apparatus for dispensing round objects
EP0167470A1 (fr) * 1984-05-10 1986-01-08 Paul Tucom Distributeur de balles de golf

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995009678A1 (fr) * 1992-10-04 1995-04-13 Ing.F:A B Bäck Procede et appareil pour laver et distribuer des balles
US5772778A (en) * 1992-10-04 1998-06-30 Baeck; Bengt Adolf Emanuel Method and means for washing and dispensing of balls
WO2008016322A1 (fr) * 2006-08-03 2008-02-07 Knes Of Sweden Ab Distributeur
US11440055B2 (en) * 2020-12-04 2022-09-13 William Vaughn Jenkins Systems and methods for sorting balls

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3889445D1 (de) 1994-06-09
EP0328855B1 (fr) 1994-05-04
ES2052777T3 (es) 1994-07-16
DE3889445T2 (de) 1994-12-01
SE8604451D0 (sv) 1986-10-20
SE8604451L (sv) 1988-04-21

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