GB320099A - A new or improved apparatus incorporating means adapted to propel balls - Google Patents

Abstract

320,099. Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., Randles, J. T. T., and Goodhall, S. N. May 22, 1928. Testing balls.-An apparatus for testing tennis balls, squash racquet balls, racquets, for displaying the like, and for practising games comprises a racquet 1 gripped in a resilient anchorage 2 upon a flywheel 3 rotating with a shaft 4 driven by a motor 5. The ball delivery means comprises a tube 18 into which the balls fall from a shoot 19 and from which they are released in timed relation to the rotation of the racquet by the regulating mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and shown in detail in Fig. 5, which is driven off the racquet operating shaft 4. Fine timing of the release mechanism is obtained by providing a final release mechanism 32 which trips once every rotation of the racquet. The balls are returned to the shoot 19 by means of ricochet boards 42 and 43. Balls which miss the ricochet boards gravitate down the sloping floor 51 to a hole 53 through which they pass into a guide shoot 56 in communication with the conveyer 55 which is driven from the motor 5. The conveyer 55 comprises a chain from which project cups 62 which in passage round the lower chain sprocket 63 scoop up a ball from the shoot 56 and deliver it through the hole 68 to the shoot 19. The mechanical actuation of the delivery v mechanism may be replaced by an electrical actuation. When practising games the player can return the balls instead of the ricochet boards. The Provisional Specification states that the apparatus can be used with golf clubs and balls.