JP3091637B2 - Sphere collection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sphere collecting device for collecting a large number of spheres falling in a wide area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, at a driving range, a ball collecting device is used to collect a large number of golf balls falling on a lawn.

As shown in FIG. 12A, a conventional ball-collecting device is a ball-collecting device in which a plurality of radially projecting pins 1 are stacked at intervals slightly smaller than the diameter of a golf ball 3. A drum 4 is provided. The ball collecting drum 4 is mounted on the rear surface of a dedicated dump truck (not shown) and is towed.

[0004] The ball collecting drum 4 rolls in the direction of the arrow in the figure by being towed, and holds the golf ball 3 falling between the pins 1. Then, as the ball collecting drum 4 rotates, the golf ball 3 is carried upward. This golf ball 3 is pulled out of the pin 1 by the ball pulling bar 5,
It is stored in the carrier 6.

FIG. 12B shows a conventional ball-collecting device.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a type provided with a ball collecting drum 8 in which a plurality of disks 7 are stacked at intervals slightly smaller than the diameter of the golf ball 3. The falling golf ball 3 is sandwiched between the disks 7, carried upward, and stored in the carrier 6. Also,
Conventionally, as a large-sized ball collecting device, there is also known a ball collecting device in which the golf ball 3 extracted by the ball removing rod 5 as described above is conveyed to a carrier by a belt conveyor.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the ball collecting drum 4 is formed by stacking a large number of plates 2 or disks 7 on which a large number of pins 1 are projected.
Because of the formation of No. 8, the weight was extremely heavy, and there was a risk of damaging the turf of the golf course. Further, since the processing of the pin 1 is complicated, the cost is high, and the frequency of breakage of the pin 1 is high.
Maintenance costs were also high.

Further, a large number of ball-pulling rods 5 are required, which leads to an increase in cost and weight. Also. When the golf ball 3 is pulled out by the ball pulling rod 5, the golf ball 3 is sometimes skipped by the reaction and falls again on the grass surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sphere collecting device which is lightweight and inexpensive and can collect spheres reliably. .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method of mounting a cylindrical body having a helical structure with an interval shorter than the diameter of a spherical body on a moving body and rolling the cylindrical body from a side opening of the cylindrical body. The ejected sphere is transported by the transport device to the accommodation section of the moving body.

[0010]

Since the cylindrical body has a hollow spiral structure, it is light in weight and inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, there is no protruding portion and the ground is gradually curved, so that the lawn is not damaged.

The cylindrical body takes in the spherical body by its own elastic deformation, and moves the spherical body to one side of the cylindrical body along the spiral by rotation. Then, the sphere is received by the ball receiving portion and sent to the storage portion by the transport device.

[0012]

[Examples] 1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a front view of a state in which the spherical collecting apparatus of an embodiment attached to the front of the vehicle body 11 of the light truck of the present invention. Also,
FIG. 2 is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. This sphere collecting device is used for collecting golf balls falling on a grass surface at a driving range.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a fixed panel 12 made of an iron plate is firmly fixed to a lower part of the front surface of the vehicle body 11. The width of the fixed panel 12 is determined by the direction indicators 11a, 1
The width is set so that 1b is not hidden. Metal arms 13 and 14 are attached to the lower part of both sides of the fixed panel 12 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. Arm 13,
The tip of 14 is a frame 1 arranged in front of the vehicle body 11.
5 is mounted on the upper surface so as to be rotatable up and down. Inside the frame 15, metal coil springs 16, 1
7 are rollably accommodated.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two coil springs 16 and 17 are arranged in front and rear. The rotation axes of the coil springs 16 and 17 are
The direction is orthogonal to the movement direction (front-back direction) of the vehicle body 1, that is, is parallel to the front surface of the vehicle body 11.

The winding interval t between the coil springs 16 and 17
Is slightly shorter than the diameter of the golf ball 3. The winding interval t is a value obtained by subtracting the diameter of the wire forming the coil springs 16 and 17 from the pitch of the coil springs 16 and 17. The winding directions of the coil springs 16 and 17 are as follows.
It is the winding direction of the left screw (counterclockwise with respect to the axis).

The frame 15 covers the upper surfaces and the front, rear, left and right side surfaces of the two coil springs 16 and 17. The length of the frame 15 in the lateral direction (the direction parallel to the front of the vehicle body)
The width is set equal to or slightly longer than the width of the vehicle body 11.
The same applies to the lengths of the two coil springs 16 and 17.

The lower side of the frame 15 is a ground (grass surface) G
It is located above the height h. This height h is
It is larger than the diameter of the golf ball 3. This means that the golf ball 3 falling on the ground (grass surface) G is
This is because it has been considered so that it can penetrate below.

At the center of the upper surface of the frame 15, the tip of a rod 18a of a power cylinder 18 driven by a DC motor is rotatably connected. The rear end of the power cylinder 18 is rotatably connected to the upper center of the fixed panel 12. Inside the frame 15 is a coil spring 1
Rollers 21 to 27 for preventing falling off of the rollers 6 and 17 are attached. These rollers 21 to 27 are in the form of a straight metal bar, and have a length substantially equal to the inner length of the frame 15.

Since four rollers 21 to 24 are in contact with the upper portions of the coil springs 16 and 17 and three rollers 25 to 27 are in contact with the lower portions, the coil springs 16 and 17 are supported in the frame 15. And can rotate without falling off.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rollers 21 to 27 and the coil springs 16 and 17. Rollers 21-27
Bearings are installed at both ends of the housing. The shafts 28 of these bearings are fixed to the inner surface of the frame 15.

Metal disks 31 and 32 having a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the coil springs 16 and 17 are fixed to one ends of the coil springs 16 and 17 (on the driver's seat side of the vehicle body 11 and on the right side in Japan). Have been. These disks 3
The rotation shafts 33 and 34 of the first and the second 32 are rotatably supported by the side plate 15 a of the frame 15.

These discs 31 and 32 support one end of the coil springs 16 and 17 in the frame 15 and, at the same time, support the ends of the coil springs 16 and 17 and the frame 15.
It plays a role in preventing wear due to contact with the inner surface. Further, since one ends of the coil springs 16 and 17 are supported by the frame 15, the movement of the coil springs 16 and 17 in the axial direction is restricted.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the other ends of the coil springs 16 and 17 from abutting on the inner surface of the frame 15 and being worn.
Further, the golf balls 3 once taken in by the discs 31 and 32 can be prevented from falling out of the coil springs 16 and 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, a ball receiving portion 35 is fixed to the left side surface 15b of the frame 15 so as to bulge laterally. As shown in FIG. 5, the ball receiving portion 35
The lower corner is curved so as to have an arc-shaped cross section, and a coil spring 37 is inserted therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pipe 36 is connected to a lower portion of the rear surface of the ball receiving portion 35. This pipe 36
Extends above the loading platform 11 c, and the distal end thereof is a cylindrical bracket 40 fixed to the distal end of the support arm 39.
It is connected to the. Support arm is angle post 11
d extends horizontally rearward from the center of the upper side. The motor 38 is mounted on the bracket 40 so as to face the pipe 36.
Has been fixed.

As shown in FIG. 6, a coil spring 37 is rotatably inserted into the pipe 36, and the tip of the coil spring 37 is fixed to a disk 38b fixed to an output shaft 38a of a motor 38. ing. The rotation of the motor 38 rotates the coil spring 37. A discharge port 41 is formed on the lower surface of the bracket 40, and the golf ball 3 conveyed by the coil spring 37 falls from the discharge port 41.

[0026] 2. When the operator (driver) gets on the vehicle body 11 and moves forward, the coil springs 16 and 17 roll due to friction with the ground (grass surface) G. Then, the golf ball 3 falling on the ground (grass surface) G is taken into the coil springs 16 and 17. This is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the coil spring 16 hits the golf ball 3 on the ground (grass surface) G, the coil spring 16 rides on the golf ball 3 while rolling. Then, the portion of the coil spring 16 riding on the golf ball 3 expands to the diameter of the golf ball 3 while being elastically deformed (FIG. 7B). afterwards,
When the coil spring 16 is elastically restored, the golf ball 3 is taken into the coil spring 16 (FIG. 7C).

The rear coil spring 17 picks up the golf ball 3 that could not be picked up by the front coil spring 16. This ensures that the golf ball 3 is picked up. The golf ball 3 taken into the coil springs 16 and 17 is
By the rotation of 7, the coil springs 16 and 17 move to the left end openings. As shown in FIG. 5A, an opening 15c is formed in the side surface 15b of the frame 15, and the golf balls 3 gathered at the left ends of the coil springs 16 and 17 pass through the ball receiving portion 35 from the opening 15c. Rolls in.

Since the opening 15c is located higher than the ground (grass surface) G, the golf ball 3 fits directly below the opening 15c. At the left ends of the coil springs 16 and 17, a jumping portion 42 bent inward is formed, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the jumping portion 42 jumps with the rotation of the coil springs 16 and 17. The portion lifts the golf ball 3 immediately below the opening 15c and discharges the golf ball 3 from the opening 15c.

As shown in FIG. 8, the golf ball 3 that has rolled down from the opening 15c into the ball receiving portion 35 enters the coil spring 37. Then, the golf ball 3 is fed into the pipe 36 with the rotation of the coil spring 37. The golf ball 3 sent into the pipe 36
After being conveyed to the tip of the pipe 36, as shown in FIG. 6, it falls from the outlet 41 of the bracket 40 onto the carrier 11c.

After the collection of the golf ball 3 is completed, the operator drives the power cylinder 18. When the power cylinder 18 is driven, the rod 18a is retracted, and FIG.
The frame 15 is lifted as shown in FIG. When the frame 15 is lifted, the coil springs 16, 17
Moves away from the ground (grass surface) G. Thereby, the vehicle body 1
1 can run at high speed.

The operator moves the vehicle body 11 to a predetermined location and dumps the carrier 11c. When the carrier 11c is dumped, the golf balls 3 in the carrier 11c fall from the carrier 11c and are discharged.

As described above, the coil springs 16, 1
No. 7 is hollow because it is cylindrical and lightweight, and because it has elasticity, it does not damage the turf, the material cost is low, and it is inexpensive. Further, the golf balls 3 taken in by the spiral rotation of the coil springs 16 and 17 can be collected on one side. Therefore, unlike the conventional apparatus, a large number of ball removing rods 5 are not required, and the weight can be reduced accordingly.

Further, by disposing the sphere collecting device in front of the vehicle body 11, the operator can collect the falling golf ball 3 while visually confirming it from the driver's seat. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the conventional device being arranged behind the vehicle body.

Further, when the sphere collecting device is disposed behind the vehicle body as in the prior art, the golf ball 3 is stepped on by the tires. Was collected between the left and right tires and passed through the lower surface of the center of the vehicle. On the other hand, by disposing the sphere collecting device in front of the vehicle body 11 as in the above-described embodiment, the golf ball 3 can be collected before the tire of the vehicle body 11 is reached. Therefore, a guide plate and a goal discharging device are not required, and cost can be reduced. Of course, the sphere collection device may be provided behind the vehicle body.

As described above, in order to arrange the sphere collecting device in front of the vehicle body 11, the device must be lightweight. If the conventional device having a large weight is disposed in front of the vehicle body 11, the conventional device can only move forward and backward due to its weight, and cannot turn right and left. For this reason, conventionally, it was limited to the device which is arranged behind the vehicle body and towed. On the other hand, as described above, the coil spring 1
The use of 6, 17 makes the device lighter and enables the left and right turns.

Further, since the conventional device is disposed behind the vehicle body where the loading platform is located, it is necessary to remove the device when dumping the loading platform. On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, since the sphere collecting device is disposed in front of the vehicle body 11, it is not necessary to remove the sphere collecting device when dumping the carrier 11c, which is convenient.

Further, by using a conveyor for rotating the coil spring 37 to transport the golf ball 3 to the carrier 11c, the cost of the transport device can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced.

[0039] 3. Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, as a means for sending the golf balls 3 gathered at one end of the coil springs 16 and 17 to the opening 15C, a jump-up portion 42 as shown in FIG. 5 is used. The jumping pin 43 can be substituted. The raising pins 43 are fixed to the inner surface of the side plate 15b of the frame 15. The shape of the rising pin 43 may be a bar shape bent downward, a curved plate shape, or a plate shape having an inclined surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, one end of each of the coil springs 16 and 17 may be formed in a tapered shape such that the diameter decreases toward the tip. In this case, the golf ball 3 in the coil springs 16 and 17
Rises along the tapered portion 44 with the rotation of the coil springs 16 and 17, and is discharged from the opening 15C.

Further, the four rollers 21 to 24 which are in contact with the upper portions of the coil springs 16 and 17 are divided and
As shown in (A), it can be replaced with a short roller 45. As shown in FIG. 11B, each roller 45 is rotatably supported between two bent arms 48. The support ends of the arms 48, 48 are formed with shaft holes 49, 49 into which the shafts 46, 46 of the roller 45 are loosely fitted. At the tips of the shafts 46, 46, retaining flanges 47, 47 are formed.

At the other ends of the arms 48, 48, holes 50, 50 for inserting bolts (not shown) are formed.
After a bolt is inserted through the holes 50 and the torsion spring 51 is inserted through the bolt, the bolt is fixed to a fixing portion (not shown) protruding from the inner surface of the frame 15. The torsion springs 51, 51 are formed with locking portions 52, 53 which are locked to the arms 48, 48 and the fixed portion. Due to the repulsive force of the torsion springs 51, 51, the roller 45 is in contact with the upper portions of the coil springs 16, 17 with elasticity.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
When the ground (lawn surface) G has irregularities, the coil springs 16 and 17 can be deformed corresponding to the irregularities.
Therefore, even when the golf ball 3 has fallen into the dent of the ground G, it can be reliably collected.

Further, the power cylinder 18 is provided with a DC
In addition to the motor drive type, a type using other power such as a hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder, or a solenoid type may be used. In addition to the power cylinder 18, other lifting and lowering devices such as a gear type or a rope or chain winding type may be used. The power cylinder may have a shock absorber type elasticity so that the sphere collecting device swings up and down along the curvature and unevenness of the ground G.

The diameter of the coil springs 16 and 17
The winding interval and the elastic modulus are uniform as a whole, but may be partially non-uniform. For example, the winding interval and the elastic coefficient may be smaller (or larger) as approaching the ball receiving portion 35 or approaching both ends.

The coil springs 16 and 17 are
Only books or three or more books may be used. The winding direction may be left-handed or right-handed, and is preferably such that the golf balls 3 can be collected on the opposite side to the driver's seat as in the above-described embodiment. This is to prevent the pipe 36 from disturbing getting into and out of the driver's seat.

Further, the wires constituting the coil springs 16 and 17 may be made of other materials such as synthetic resin or fiber reinforced plastic in addition to metal such as iron. The cross-sectional shape of the wire is not limited to a circle, but may be an ellipse, a polygon (square, rectangle, trapezoid, or the like), a thin plate, or the like.

Further, the picked-up golf ball 3 is placed on the carrier 11
The transfer device for transferring to c is not limited to the above-described conveyor using the coil spring 37, and may be another transfer device such as a belt conveyor, a bucket conveyor, or a screw conveyor.

Further, the moving body on which the sphere collecting device is mounted is not limited to the light truck as in the above embodiment, but may be a specially made engine car or electric car, or a hand-pushed small carrier. Alternatively, a mobile body of a radio control type or a self-propelled robot type may be used.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention can change the helix interval of the cylindrical body so that a sphere other than a golf ball, for example,
Sports equipment such as baseball and tennis balls, and agricultural and fishing products such as potatoes, tangerines, apples, chestnuts, shells, eggs, stones, etc. It can be used as a device for collecting polyhedrons, objects with thorns or irregularities on the surface, and the like. The claims at the time of filing the application in the present specification are as follows. [A]
A frame that can be attached to the front or rear surface of a powered or manual moving body having a spherical housing,
The frame is rotatably supported so that a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving body on a horizontal plane is an axis, and has a helical structure with a winding interval slightly shorter than the diameter of the sphere, elastically. One or two or more cylinders that take in the sphere by deforming and expanding the winding interval are attached to the frame so as to face a side opening of the cylinder,
A sphere collection device comprising: a ball receiving portion that receives a sphere discharged from the opening; and a transport device that transports the sphere from the ball receiving portion to the storage portion. [B] The cylinder according to claim A, wherein the cylindrical body is a hollow spiral body of a coil spring, and the spherical body taken inside is moved to the side opening by rotation of the spiral structure. Sphere collection device. [C] The sphere collection device according to claim A or B, wherein the transfer device is a conveyor in which the sphere moves inside by rotating a coil spring.

[0051]

As described in detail above, the present invention has a structure in which spheres are taken into the cylinder and collected by rolling the cylinder having a spiral structure with a shorter interval than the diameter of the sphere. Thereby, the device of the present invention is lightweight and the manufacturing cost is low.

Further, since the cylindrical body has a spiral structure, the grass is not damaged. Moreover, since the structure is simple, maintenance can be performed easily at low cost. In addition, since the sphere once taken into the cylinder moves in the cylinder, the sphere can be reliably collected without being released to the ground again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sphere collection device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a left side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 shows coil springs 16 and 17 and rollers 21
It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of -27.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views around a ball receiving portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view near the discharge port 41.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are coil springs 1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sphere 3 is taken into 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a ball receiving portion.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a state in which the frame is lifted.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing another embodiment of a sphere lifting means.

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the roller, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the roller.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... body, 11c ... loading platform, 12 ... fixed plate, 15
... Frame, 16, 17 ... Coil spring, 21-2
7: roller, 35: ball receiver, 37: coil spring, 38: motor, t: interval.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A powered or manual moving body having a spherical container, a frame attachable to the front or rear surface of the moving body, and one or more than one rotatably supported by the frame. A cylindrical body, and a rotation axis of the cylindrical body is oriented in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the moving body, and the cylindrical body has a spiral structure with a winding interval slightly shorter than a diameter of a sphere to be accommodated. The sphere is taken in by elastically deforming and expanding the winding interval, and the cylinder rotates according to the movement of the moving body, and faces the side opening of the cylinder. A ball receiving portion attached to the frame and receiving the sphere discharged from the opening; a conveying device for conveying the sphere from the ball receiving portion to the housing portion; and a spiral having a spiral structure of the rotating cylinder. The end of the rotating cylinder It is formed by bending towards the spheres collecting device, characterized in that it comprises a flip-up portion put spheres in said cylinder to said ball receiving portion. 2. A powered or manual moving body having a spherical container, a frame mountable on a front or rear surface of the moving body, and one or more rotatably supported by the frame. A cylindrical body, and the rotation axis of the cylindrical body is oriented in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the moving body, and the cylindrical body has a spiral structure with a winding interval slightly shorter than the diameter of the sphere to be accommodated. The sphere is taken in by elastically deforming and expanding the winding interval, and the cylinder rotates according to the movement of the moving body, and faces the side opening of the cylinder. A ball receiving portion attached to the frame for receiving the sphere discharged from the opening; a transport device for transporting the sphere from the ball receiving portion to the housing portion; fixed to the frame, and rotated from the frame; Inside the cylinder Cored, spheres collecting device, characterized in that it comprises a flip-up pins to put the spheres in the cylindrical body to the ball receiving part. 3. A powered or manually operated moving body having a sphere housing, a frame attachable to the front or rear surface of the moving body, and one or more rotatably supported by the frame. A cylindrical body, and the rotation axis of the cylindrical body is oriented in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the moving body, and the cylindrical body has a spiral structure with a winding interval slightly shorter than the diameter of the sphere to be accommodated. The sphere is taken in by elastically deforming and expanding the winding interval, and the cylinder rotates according to the movement of the moving body, and faces the side opening of the cylinder. A ball receiving portion attached to the frame and receiving a sphere discharged from the opening; a conveying device configured to convey the sphere from the ball receiving portion to the housing portion; It gets smaller as you go to the tip In response to rotation of said cylinder, sphere collecting device characterized by the spheres in the cylindrical body and a tapered portion put into the ball receiving portion. 4. A powered or manual movable body having a spherical container, a frame attachable to the front or rear surface of the movable body, and one or more rotatably supported by the frame. A cylindrical body, and the rotation axis of the cylindrical body is oriented in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the moving body, and the cylindrical body has a spiral structure with a winding interval slightly shorter than the diameter of the sphere to be accommodated. The sphere is taken in by elastically deforming and expanding the winding interval. The sphere is attached to the frame so as to face a side opening of the cylindrical body, and the sphere discharged from the opening is provided. A ball receiving portion, a transport device for transporting the sphere from the ball receiving portion to the housing portion, and a divided roller that has an elastic force in contact with an upper portion of the cylindrical body by a repulsive force of a torsion spring. Divided b By the elastic force of color, sphere collecting apparatus characterized by deforming in response to the cylinder body irregularities.