JP2017086482A - Pitching machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pitching machine which can be easily used and which throws a ball by air pressure.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a pitching machine 1 for throwing a ball by air pressure of air injected from an air injection mechanism, in which the air injection mechanism comprises in a casing 9, a compressor 10 for supplying a constant volume of air per a unit time; a constant volume tank 11 connected to the compressor 10 and stores the constant volume of air; and an opening/closing valve 12 provided between the constant volume tank 11 and the ball. The invention further comprises a control device C which causes the compressor 10 to supply air to the constant volume tank 11 by driving the compressor 10 for a period according to speed of the thrown ball.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pitching machine that uses air pressure to throw a ball.

  Conventionally, pitching machines for throwing a ball with a rotating arm have been widely used as baseball practice equipment and playground equipment. However, in recent years, pneumatic pitching that uses air pressure instead of an arm type is used. A machine is being developed.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a conventional pneumatic pitching machine is provided with a compressor for supplying air at a constant pressure to the outside of a casing while accommodating a tank for storing air inside the casing. A pressure converter is interposed between the tank and the compressor.

  In a conventional pitching machine, an external compressor is operated to supply a constant pressure of air, and the pressure converter is depressurized to a predetermined pressure and supplied to the tank, and the predetermined pressure stored in the tank is supplied. The ball is thrown out by jetting air onto the ball.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-33157

  However, in the above-described conventional pitching machine, it is necessary to prepare a large compressor for supplying air at a constant pressure to the outside of the casing, and it is difficult to move and use, which is inconvenient. .

  Further, the conventional pitching machine requires an expensive pressure transducer between the compressor and the tank, increasing the cost of the pitching machine.

Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, in a pitching machine that throws a ball at a pressure of air ejected from the air ejecting mechanism, the air ejecting mechanism supplies a constant volume of air per unit time to the inside of the casing. And a constant volume tank connected to the compressor for storing a constant volume of air, and an open / close valve provided between the constant volume tank and the ball.
Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, in the present invention according to claim 1, there is provided a control device for supplying air from the compressor to the constant volume tank by driving for a time according to the speed of the ball throwing out the compressor. did.

  And in this invention, there exists an effect described below.

  That is, in the present invention, in a pitching machine that throws a ball at the pressure of air injected from the air injection mechanism, the air injection mechanism includes a compressor for supplying a constant volume of air per unit time to the inside of the casing; A large-sized compressor is prepared because it is connected to a compressor and accommodates a constant-volume tank for storing a fixed volume of air and an on-off valve provided between the constant-volume tank and the ball. The installation location of the pitching machine can be easily moved, and the usability of the pitching machine can be improved. Further, it is not necessary to provide an expensive pressure transducer, and the pitching machine can be made inexpensive.

  In particular, when it is decided to have a control device that drives the time according to the speed of the ball that throws out the compressor and supplies air from the compressor to the constant volume tank, it can be easily controlled to various ball speeds. Can also improve the usability of the pitching machine.

Side surface sectional drawing which shows a pitching machine. The same side expanded sectional view. The same plane expanded sectional view. The side surface expanded sectional view which shows a ball control means. The front expanded sectional view.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the pitching machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the pitching machine 1 has a non-rotating ball fired from the ball firing means 3 at the front end of the ball firing means 3 for firing a non-rotating ball 2 by air pressure. 2 is connected to a ball-controlling means 4 for imparting rotation, and the ball 2 is thrown forward (front) from a pitching port 5 formed at the front end (tip) of the ball-controlling means 4. Further, the pitching machine 1 is connected to the front end portion of the ball control means 4 by a muffling means 6 for reducing the sound volume by absorbing a plosive sound generated when the ball 2 is fired from the ball launching means 3.

  The ball launching means 3 includes an air injection mechanism 7 that injects high-pressure compressed air and a ball supply mechanism 8 that supplies the ball 2.

  The air injection mechanism 7 accommodates a compressor 10, a constant volume tank 11, and an opening / closing valve 12 inside a hollow box-shaped casing 9. Here, the compressor 10 supplies a constant volume of air to the constant volume tank 11 per unit time. The constant volume tank 11 is connected to the compressor 10 and stores a constant volume of air at a predetermined pressure. The on-off valve 12 is provided between the constant volume tank 11 and the ball 2 (ball supply mechanism 8). A control device C is connected to the compressor 10, the constant volume tank 11, and the opening / closing valve 12.

  When the control device C closes the opening / closing valve 12 and drives the compressor 10, the air injection mechanism 7 supplies air from the compressor 10 to the constant volume tank 11. At that time, since a constant volume of air is supplied from the compressor 10 per unit time, the pressure of the air inside the constant volume tank 11 increases according to the drive time of the compressor 10. For example, when a constant-volume tank 11 having a capacity of 1 L is used and a compressor 11 capable of supplying 500 cc of air per second is used, the compressor 11 is driven for 2 seconds. Since 1 L of air is supplied, the pressure of the air inside the constant volume tank 11 increases to 2 atm. When the compressor 11 is driven for 6 seconds, 3 L of air is further supplied to the 1 L constant volume tank 11. For this reason, the pressure of the air inside the constant volume tank 11 increases to 4 atmospheres. When the opening / closing valve 12 is opened by the control device C from this state, the compressed air stored in the constant volume tank 11 (air compressed with a pressure corresponding to the driving time of the compressor 11) is provided at the front end of the opening / closing valve 12. It can be sprayed from the tube 13 toward the ball 2 inside the ball supply mechanism 8.

  The ball supply mechanism 8 includes a supply device 14 that supplies the balls 2 one by one and a setting device 15 that sets the balls 2 one by one.

  The supply device 14 connects the upper end portion of the supply pipe 17 extended vertically to a ball supply port 16 formed in the ceiling portion of the casing 9, and the partition plates 18 and 19 are connected to the supply pipe 17 in the vertical direction for approximately one ball. Attach the cylinders 18 and 19 with electric cylinders 22 and 23 supported by brackets 20 and 21 attached to the outer periphery of the supply pipe 17 while opening and closing them so that they can be opened and closed (movable forward and backward). Yes. A control device C is connected to the electric cylinders 22 and 23.

  The supply device 14 supplies the balls 2 one by one from the lower end of the supply pipe 17 to the lower set device 15 by appropriately interlocking the upper and lower partition plates 18 and 19.

  The set device 15 is connected to the front end portion of the injection pipe 13 of the opening / closing valve 12 with the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 24 extended back and forth, and the inner cylinder 25 extended back and forth inside the outer cylinder 24 slides back and forth. It is housed freely. A communication port 26 that communicates with the lower end opening of the supply pipe 17 of the supply device 14 is formed in the front upper portion of the outer cylinder 24. In addition, a pair of left and right arms 28, 28 inserted through elongated holes 27, 27 extending in the front-rear direction formed in the outer cylinder 24 are connected to the left and right side portions of the inner cylinder 25. Are connected to electric cylinders 30, 30 supported by brackets 29, 29 attached to the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 24. A control device C is connected to the electric cylinders 30 and 30.

  The set device 15 opens the communication port 26 by moving the inner cylinder 25 rearward with the electric cylinders 30 and 30 and receives the ball 2 supplied from the supply device 14 into the outer cylinder 24. By moving the inner cylinder 25 forward by the electric cylinders 30 and 30, the ball 2 is pushed out to the front end of the outer cylinder 24 at the front end of the inner cylinder 25, and a communication port 26 or a long hole formed in the outer cylinder 24 27 and 27 are closed and the inside is kept airtight.

  The ball launching means 3 is configured as described above, and the ball 2 is supplied from the supply device 14 to the setting device 15 and set at the front end portion of the outer cylinder 24 by the setting device 15. By injecting high-pressure compressed air from the air injection mechanism 7 toward the front, the ball 2 is fired forward from the front end portion of the outer cylinder 24 by air pressure. At that time, the ball 2 is thrown at a speed corresponding to the air pressure, for example, 80 km / h at 2 atm, 100 km / h at 4 atm, 120 km / h at 6 atm. Further, since the ball 2 is pushed out evenly by air pressure, the ball 2 is fired forward with almost no rotation. For this reason, since the non-rotating ball 2 is thrown out as it is, it changes in an unexpected direction. Therefore, in order to allow the ball 2 to rotate and to throw in the desired direction, the ball control means 4 is required.

  The ball control unit 4 includes a ball control mechanism 31 that determines the firing direction of the ball 2, a rotation mechanism 32 that contacts the ball 2 that is launched from the ball launching unit 3 and rotates the ball 2, and the rotation mechanism 32 is rotated left and right. And a turning mechanism 33 to be moved.

  The ball control mechanism 31 is connected to the front end portion of the outer cylinder 24 of the ball firing means 3 in a state where a hollow cylindrical ball control tube 34 having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the ball 2 is extended in the front-rear direction.

  The ball control mechanism 31 is configured such that when the ball 2 launched from the ball launching means 3 passes through the inside of the ball control tube 34, the outer peripheral portion of the ball 2 and the inner peripheral portion of the ball control tube 34 come into contact with each other. Is set to coincide with the extending direction of the control tube.

  The rotating mechanism 32 rotatably inserts a hollow cylindrical connecting tube 35 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ball 2 into the front end portion of the ball control tube 34 and faces the upper and lower portions of the connecting tube 35. Through holes 36 and 37 are formed, and supports 38 and 39 that cover the through holes 36 and 37 are attached to the outer periphery of the connecting pipe 35. The support bodies 38 and 39 rotatably support the rotating shafts 40 and 41. Motors 42 and 43 attached to the outside of the support bodies 38 and 39 are connected to the rotation shafts 40 and 41, and rotating bodies 44 and 45 arranged inside the support bodies 38 and 39 are attached. The rotators 44 and 45 project from the through holes 36 and 37 to the inside of the connecting pipe 35 so that the outer periphery of the ball 2 passing through the connecting pipe 35 comes into contact.

  The rotating mechanism 32 is arranged so that the two rotating bodies 44 and 45 are opposed to each other. However, the rotating mechanism 32 is arranged so that at least one rotating body is in contact with the upper half and the lower half of the ball 2. What is necessary is just to be able to arrange | position three or more rotary bodies. Further, in the rotating mechanism 32, it is preferable that the rotating bodies 44 and 45 are arranged along the radial direction of the connecting pipe 35 so that the rotating bodies 44 and 45 are in uniform contact with the outer periphery of the ball 2.

  In the rotating mechanism 32, the rotating bodies 44 and 45 are forcibly rotated by the motors 42 and 43 so that the rotating bodies 44 and 45 come into contact with the outer periphery of the non-rotating ball 2 launched from the ball launching means 3. The ball 2 is rotated. At this time, the balls 2 are rotated by making the rotation speeds of the rotating bodies 44 and 45 different. Since the rotation mechanism 32 is provided at the front end of the ball control tube 34, the rotation mechanism 32 can rotate all the balls 2 to be fired from the ball launching means 3. In addition, since the rotating mechanism 32 projects the rotating bodies 44 and 45 from the inner periphery of the connecting pipe 35 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ball 2, the ball 2 is attached to the rotating bodies 44 and 45. The ball 2 passes while contacting, and then the ball 2 passes through the substantially central portion of the connecting pipe 35. As a result, the compressed air injected from the ball launching means 3 flows over the ball 2 from the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the ball 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube 35 inside the connecting tube 35. The compressed air can be discharged uniformly and smoothly, and the ball 2 can be passed along the center line of the connecting pipe 35. The ball 2 passes on the central axis of the control tube 34 and the connecting tube 35, thereby forming a passage (ball passing passage 46) through which the ball 2 passes by the control tube 34 and the connecting tube 35.

The rotation mechanism 33 has a motor 47 attached to the upper part of the ball control pipe 34 and a rack 48 attached to the motor 47. On the other hand, an annular pinion 49 is attached to the outer periphery of the rear end of the connecting pipe 35, and the rack 48 and the pinion 49 is engaged.
The rotation mechanism 33 rotates the connecting tube 35 to the left and right with respect to the ball control tube 34 by the motor 47, so that the rotation mechanism 32 rotates to the left and right in the circumferential direction around the ball passage passage 46. I am doing so.

  The ball control means 4 is configured as described above, and a ball passage passage 46 extending back and forth is formed inside the ball control pipe 34 of the ball control mechanism 31 and the connecting pipe 35 of the rotation mechanism 32. As the ball 2 fired from the ball firing means 3 passes along 46, the firing direction and rotation of the ball 2 are determined.

  In the pitching machine 1, each part such as the ball launching means 3 is controlled by a control device C (computer). Therefore, the rotational speed of the rotating bodies 44 and 45 of the rotating mechanism 32 can be controlled according to the ball speed of the ball 2 thrown out from the ball launching means 3 by the control device C. Also, when the ball 2 is thrown out from the ball launching means 3 Further, the rotation mechanism 32 can be moved in the circumferential direction of the connecting pipe 35 by the rotation mechanism 33. For example, in the control device, the rotational speed of the rotating bodies 44 and 45 can be increased as the ball speed of the ball 2 increases, and the increasing rate of the rotating speed of the rotating bodies 44 and 45 is greater than the increasing speed of the ball speed. It can also be made larger.

  In the pitching machine 1, the non-rotating ball 2 is fired pneumatically from the ball launching means 3, the non-rotating ball 2 is rotated by the ball control means 4, and the tip of the ball passage passage 46 formed in the ball control means 4. The ball 2 is thrown out from. The ball control means 4 is provided with rotators 44 and 45 having different speeds in contact with the upper half and the lower half of the ball 2 in the ball passage passage 46, and the balls 2 passing through the ball passage passage 46 are provided with the rotators 44 and 45. The ball 2 is configured to be rotated by contacting 45. Therefore, in the pitching machine 1 configured as described above, the ball 2 can be spun well, and the so-called sharp ball 2 thrown by the actual pitcher can be thrown out.

  In the pitching machine 1, the rotating body 45 that contacts the lower half of the ball 2 is rotated in the moving direction of the ball 2 at a speed faster than the moving speed of the ball 2. The rotating body 44 that is in contact is rotated in the traveling direction of the ball 2 at a speed slower than the traveling speed of the ball 2. Therefore, in the pitching machine 1 configured as described above, the ball 2 with backspin can be thrown out.

  Further, the pitching machine 1 is configured such that the ball control means 4 is rotated left and right with the ball passage passage 46 as a central axis. Therefore, in the pitching machine 1 having the above-described configuration, it is possible to throw the ball 2 rich in changes such as a shoot ball or a curve ball.

  The pitching machine 1 is configured as described above, and before the ball 2 is thrown out, air of a constant pressure is supplied from the compressor 10 to the constant volume tank 11 for a predetermined time (time corresponding to the speed of the ball 2 to be thrown out). Thus, the air pressure inside the constant volume tank 11 is set to a predetermined pressure (pressure corresponding to the speed of the ball 2 to be thrown out), and the air of the air pressure is jetted onto the ball 2 so that the ball 2 is thrown out at a predetermined speed. . For this reason, the compressor 10 does not always operate, but only needs to be driven before the ball 2 is thrown out. In addition, when throwing the ball 2 continuously with a predetermined interval time, the compressor 10 is driven for a predetermined time simultaneously with the start of the interval time, and then the opening and closing valve 12 is opened simultaneously with the end of the interval time. 2 may be thrown out, and after the interval time starts, the compressor 10 is driven for a predetermined time, and at the end of the interval time, the driving of the compressor 10 is stopped and the on-off valve 12 is opened to open the ball 2 May be thrown out.

  As described above, the air injection mechanism 7 of the pitching machine 1 is connected to the compressor 10 for supplying a constant volume of air per unit time to the inside of the casing 9, and is connected to the compressor 10. A constant volume tank 11 for storing air and an open / close valve 12 provided between the constant volume tank 11 and the ball 2 (ball supply mechanism 8) are accommodated.

  Therefore, in the pitching machine 1 configured as described above, it is not necessary to prepare a large compressor separately from the pitching machine 1, and the capital investment cost can be reduced, and the installation location of the pitching machine 1 can be easily moved. Therefore, the usability of the pitching machine 1 can be improved. Moreover, in the pitching machine 1 having the above-described configuration, it is not necessary to provide an expensive pressure transducer, and the pitching machine 1 can be reduced in price.

  The pitching machine 1 has a control device C that is driven for a time according to the speed of the ball 2 that throws out the compressor 10 and supplies air from the compressor 10 to the constant volume tank 11.

  Therefore, in the pitching machine 1 configured as described above, it is not necessary to directly adjust or control the pressure of the air supplied from the compressor 10 to the constant volume tank 11, and the time for supplying the air from the compressor 10 to the constant volume tank 11 (the compressor 10 The driving time of the pitching machine 1 can be controlled directly and can be easily controlled to various ball speeds, and the usability of the pitching machine 1 can also be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pitching machine 2 Ball 3 Ball launching means 4 Ball control means 5 Throwing port 6 Silencer means 7 Air injection mechanism 8 Ball supply mechanism 9 Casing 10 Compressor
11 Constant volume tank 12 Open / close valve
13 Injection pipe 14 Feeder
15 Set device 16 Ball supply port
17 Supply pipe 18,19 Partition plate
20,21 Bracket 22,23 Electric cylinder
24 outer cylinder 25 inner cylinder
26 Communication port 27 Long hole
28 Arm 29 Bracket
30 Electric cylinder 31 Ball control mechanism
32 Rotating mechanism 33 Rotating mechanism
34 Control tube 35 Connecting tube
36,37 Through hole 38,39 Support
40,41 Rotating shaft 42,43 Motor
44,45 Rotating body 46 Ball passage
47 motor 48 rack
49 Pinion C controller

Claims (2)

In the pitching machine that throws out the ball with the pressure of the air injected from the air injection mechanism,
The air injection mechanism is provided inside the casing.
A compressor for supplying a constant volume of air per unit time;
A constant volume tank connected to the compressor for storing a certain volume of air;
An open / close valve provided between the constant volume tank and the ball;
Pitching machine characterized by containing   The pitching machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that drives the time corresponding to the speed of a ball that throws out the compressor to supply air from the compressor to the constant volume tank.

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