ES1073031U - Automatic ball picker (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic ball picker, which is intended for use on tennis courts, paddle and the like, in order to automatically collect the balls distributed capriciously during training and practice of said sports, characterized in that it comprises a robot ( 1) by which the direct collection of the balls is carried out, and a column with a ball storage basket, under whose column and basket the robot is apt to be placed for the unloading of the balls of the latter on the basket ; with the particularity that said robot includes an entrance of balls with two rollers, propellers for the transfer of the balls and a storage tank for the balls themselves, said robot being autonomous in its movement and collection of the balls, while the column under which the robot with its tank full of balls is capable of being placed, has propellers whose rotation produces the transfer of the balls from the robot (1) to an exit tube of said column, facing the mouth of the robot itself. Ball storage basket. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Automatic ball catcher.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a dustpan automatic ball, specifically provided for the collection of balls randomly distributed by tennis courts, paddle and Similar.

The object of the invention is to achieve savings of time and effort in the ball collection operation, allowing full use of classes and training of tennis and paddle.

Background of the invention

As is known, in the practice of tennis and paddle, the monitor continuously throws balls at the students, for them to return or beat according to the guidelines and orders given by the monitor, so that the launch of balls to students is continuous, and they return or not the balls, falling in different places, which then have to be collected, put that the monitor takes them from a basket, and when they run out logically it is necessary to collect the balls that are distributed all over the field, a collection that involves not only an effort, since it is necessary to bend down every time a ball is collected, but a very considerable waste of time, which results in the practical real-time class is reduced in the period of time it takes to pick up the balls, whenever necessary Perform that operation.

Description of the invention

The ball catcher that has been recommended has been designed to solve the problem described above, in based on a simple solution but of great efficiency.

More specifically, the automatic collector of balls of the invention comprise two parts, one of them constitutive of an autonomous robot that with a deposit forming part of the same, it is conveniently programmed to travel the court and pick up all the balls you find while the second part is a column and the basket of balls, where the robot once filled its deposit is directed specifically to that area of the column and basket, standing conveniently under that column and basket, positioning properly using a position cell, so that through the activation of appropriate means, the balls are transferred from the robot tank to the storage basket of the same, the transfer means being constituted by propellers that in their turn drag the ball upwards from the tank of the robot until the exit of the column in which they are located those propellers, falling directly into the basket of storage of balls or balls, so that the Robot drive is carried out before the basket balls, in order to return on time before it wear out all.

The robot, will include a battery for autonomous operation of that, battery that can be rechargeable by network, or through photovoltaic panels incorporating in its lower part an inlet with a pair of serrated rollers for the drag of the balls inwards, where there are some propellers that when the tank that is part of the robot is full, those propellers, previous situation of the robot under the column and storage basket of balls or
balls, make the turn and corresponding transfer of the balls to the commented storage basket.

Under this basket or under the column itself with the transfer propellers of the balls, a robot position detection cell, including this one for its running a CPU with object recognition software, a circuit panel, an object detector sensor, a camera video and the corresponding drive motor for rotation of the serrated rollers and of course the transfer propellers of the balls.

The capacity of the robot and the basket will be sized so that there are always balls left in the basket.

Using the automatic ballistic device of the invention, a saving of time and effort is achieved, providing better use of classes and tennis and paddle workouts, since the device or pickup He picks up the balls and refills the basket, so that the classes will have the duration determined by the instructor or monitor, without having to stop for having used up the amount of balls that They fit in the basket.

Likewise the automatic ball catcher is practical, since no time is spent collecting the balls, being able to shorten the duration of the classes, but maintaining the practice time for them, so it means being able to offer throughout the day greater number of class hours, without the student waste internship time, resulting in savings for student and a higher income for the club or monitors that use the Automatic collector described.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that then it will be done and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, is accompanied as an integral part of that description, a set of drawings in where illustrative and not limiting, it has been represented the next:

Figure 1.- Shows a representation schematic according to side elevation of the collector assembly Automatic ball made according to the purpose of the invention, in its position of carrying out the transfer of balls from the robot tank to the storage basket of these balls.

Figure 2.- Shows an elevation view side and independent the robot that is part of the pickup Automatic ball object of the invention.

Figure 3.- Shows a plan view of the robot represented in the previous figure.

Figure 4.- Shows an elevation view side and on the outside of the same robot of the figures above, where certain components of same.

Figure 5.- Shows, finally, a view in detail of the shape of the propeller for the transfer of the balls from the robot tank to the storage basket of the same.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As you can see in the referred figures, the automatic ball catcher object of the invention comprises two independent but functionally associable parts of each other, a corresponding to a robot (1) and another corresponding to a column (2) to which a storage basket (3) of balls (4), with the particularity that said robot (1) with the corresponding software, will be in charge of touring the court where the balls have been distributed in the development of the game, to collect them, for which it is expected that said robot (1) count on wheels (5) for sliding along the surface of the ball collection court, including a battery (6) that can be rechargeable using photovoltaic panels or via network directly, and that constitutes a means to that the robot (1) be autonomous in its operation, comprising this a storage tank (7) for the balls (4), and an area previous (8) with an entry (9) in which a pair of rollers (10) that are toothed and inverse rotation, associated with the corresponding drive means, not represented in the figures, for the collection of the balls (4) capriciously distributed on the ground, incorporating in the area (8) propellers (11) for lifting the balls (4) from the tank (7) to the upper exit zone (12) of said robot (1) assisted by the corresponding engine, including a second device displacement motor (13), a CPU (14) for by means of the corresponding software carry out a recognition of objects, intervening in this recognition a front sensor (15) and a video camera (16), complementing frontally with a panel (17) of the circuit itself.

On the other hand, said robot (1) includes in its upper part of a position detection cell (18) thereof, which is complementary to another (18 ') provided under the basket (3) of storage of balls or balls (4).

In this way, the operation of the collector Automatic ball is as follows:

Once all the balls in the basket are sold out (3), the robot (1) is put into operation, crossing the field whereby all the balls are randomly distributed or balls, and will pick them up by inserting them between the rollers (10) of the entrance (9), and storing them in the deposit (7) of said robot (1), so that once that tank (7) is filled, the robot (1) travels to column (2), being placed under it and the own basket of balls (3), so that with the cells of position detection (18 and 18 ') the robot (1) is perfectly positioned so that through the propellers (11) the balls (4) access the inside the column (2), through the entrance (2 ') of said column (2), where there are other propellers (11) that carry out the transfer of the balls (4) to the top of the column (2), where there is an outlet pipe (19) facing the mouth top (20) of the basket itself (3), the balls falling through from the outlet of that tube (19) to said basket (3), until they have been exhausted all the balls collected by the robot (1).

Finally say that the whole column (2) with the basket (3) it can constitute a removable means, for which may have a general frame with wheels (21) for moving from one place to another without any problem.

Claims (3)

1. Automatic ball catcher, which is intended for use on tennis courts, paddle tennis and the like, in order to automatically collect the balls capriciously distributed during training and practice of such sports, is characterized by comprising a robot ( 1) by means of which the direct collection of the balls is carried out, and a column with a ball storage basket, under whose column and basket the robot can be conveniently placed for the unloading of the balls on the basket ; with the particularity that said robot includes an entry of balls with two rollers, propellers for the transfer of the balls and a storage tank of the balls themselves, said robot being autonomous in its movement and collection of the balls, while the column under which the robot is capable of being placed with its tank full of balls, has propellers whose rotation produces the transfer of the balls from the robot (1) to an outlet tube of said column, facing the mouth of the ball storage basket. 2. Automatic ball catcher, according to claim 1, characterized in that the robot, in addition to the corresponding wheels for its movement along the field, includes a battery for autonomous feeding thereof, a propeller driving motor, as well as a CPU and position detection cell, complemented by an object detector sensor and a video camera. 3. Automatic ball catcher, according to previous claims, characterized in that the column under which the robot is located, has a lower ball entry mouth, and inside the column itself a series of propellers for the transfer of the balls from the robot to the outlet tube, with the particularity that this column together with the basket is capable of being mounted on a frame with wheels for its movement and positioned anywhere.