JPH0413015Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention relates to a pitching machine used for baseball batting practice, etc. More specifically, this invention is a pitching machine that can be used for baseball batting practice, etc. The present invention relates to a support device for a pitching machine main body.

(Prior Art) A pitching machine may be configured as follows, for example. That is, the pitching machine main body has a pair of left and right rotating bodies, and is configured to rotate these rotating bodies in opposite directions and to have relatively different rotational speeds. Then, a ball is sandwiched between these two rotating bodies and is pitched. In this case, rotation is applied to the ball in proportion to the difference in the rotational speeds of the two rotating bodies, and the ball is pitched as a shot, curve, or other type of pitch. Further, the pitching machine main body is supported on the base side via a support means.

By the way, when using a pitching machine like the one described above for batting practice or for fielders to practice pitching, the direction of pitching can be changed to some degree in any direction, and the direction of rotation of the ball can be arbitrarily selected to produce the desired pitch. It is desired that the ball be pitched depending on the species. In order to achieve this, it is conceivable to construct the support means in a ball joint type as follows.

That is, for example, a ball body is provided to protrude upward from the base side. On the other hand, a holding member is provided in the pitching machine main body to sandwich the ball, and the holding member is rotatable around the center of the ball. The holding member is configured to be able to hold the ball body in any rotational posture relative to the ball body.

However, the above configuration has the following disadvantages. That is, if an attempt is made to rotate the ball around the horizontal axis by positioning both rotating bodies up and down by rotating the pitching machine main body, the holding member will come into contact with the connecting portion between the base side and the ball body. becomes. For this reason, it is difficult to rotate the pitching machine main body so that both rotating bodies are arranged one above the other. As a result, there are restrictions on the types of pitches that can be pitched.

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was made with attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and allows the rotation direction of the ball to be arbitrarily selected when pitching, thereby making it possible to obtain various desired types of pitches. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple configuration of a device that makes this possible.

(Structure of the device) The feature of this device for achieving the above object is that the supporting means for supporting the main body of the pitching machine is of a ball joint type, and the ball body is sandwiched between the ball body and the ball body. and a holding member that is rotatable around the center point of the pitching machine, and the ball body projects from either the pitching machine main body or the base side in a substantially horizontal direction forward or backward in the pitching direction. On the other hand, the holding member is provided on the other of the two, and the ball body and the holding member can be fixed in any relative rotational posture.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The pitching machine 1 includes a truck 2, a lifting device 3 provided on the truck 2, a pitching machine main body 5 that is supported by the lifting section of the lifting device 3 and throws a ball 4, and a pitching machine main body 5 that throws a ball 4. It has a ball supply section 6 that supplies balls.

To explain the above-mentioned truck 2, this truck 2 has a base 7 that is framed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. At the front of this base 7 are a pair of left and right front wheels 8, 8.
On the other hand, a pair of left and right rear wheels 9, 9 are provided at the rear of the base 7. Each rear wheel 9 is a caster.

The lifting device 3 is of a double pipe type. That is, a fixed tube 11 with a circular cross section is protruded from the rear upper surface of the base 7, and a movable tube 12 with a circular cross section is fitted into the fixed tube 11 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. A driving means 13 for driving the movable tube 12 up and down is provided.

The driving means 13 has a worm gear device 15, a worm in the worm gear device 15 is connected to a handle 16, and a rack pinion 17 is connected to the worm wheel. On the other hand, a rack gear 18 is formed on the movable tube 12, and this rack gear 18 and a rack pinion 17 are engaged with each other, and the movable tube
2 can be raised and lowered freely.

The pitching machine main body 5 includes a pair of left and right disc-shaped rotating bodies 21, 21 supported by a support base 20, and DC motors 23, 23 connected to each of these rotating bodies 21 via a flexible coupling 22. have. These pair of rotating bodies 21, 21 are rotated in mutually opposite directions, and the ball 4 is rotated between these rotating bodies 21, 21.
It is pitched between 1st and 21st. In addition, it is possible to relatively vary the rotational speed of each rotating body 21, 21 through a converter (not shown), and the rotation of the ball 4 itself due to this causes the ball 4 to change into a shot or curve when thrown. It will be done.

The pitching machine main body 5 is connected to the movable tube 12 of the lifting device 3 via a ball joint type support means 25.
supported at the top.

To explain the support means 25, a small-diameter support portion 12a is formed at the upper end of the movable tube 12, and a cylindrical body 26 is fitted into this support portion 12a so as to be rotatable about its axis. and,
A support pipe 27 extends approximately horizontally forward from this cylinder 26.
A ball body 28 is supported at the protruding end of the support tube 27 . The cylindrical body 26 can be fixed to the support portion 12a by screwing in a stop bolt 26a.

Meanwhile, a holding member is provided on the support base 20. This holding member is composed of a pair of left and right holding plates 29, 29 facing each other. These retaining plates 2
The upper ends of 9 and 29 are screwed to the support base 20. Further, the lower end is a free end, and a fastener 30 is provided between the lower ends. Same as above holding plate 29, 29
Circular through-holes 31, 31 are formed respectively in the through-holes 31, 31, and these through-holes 31, 31 are arranged coaxially. Then, both left and right sides of the ball body 28 are fitted into the through holes 31, 31. In this case, an annular resin material 32 such as urethane is interposed between the ball body 28 and each through hole 31, and this resin material 32 is pasted on the inner surface of the through hole 31. When the fastener 30 is loosened, the ball body 28 and the holding plates 29, 29 can be rotated relative to each other, so that the ball body 5 can pitch in any direction with the ball body 28 as the center. can be changed to some extent. Further, when the fastener 30 is tightened, the pitching machine main body 5 is fixed to the movable tube 12.

To explain the ball supply section 6, an angle changing plate 34 is rotatably supported on the support stand 20, and a support cylinder 35 in an inclined position is fixed onto this angle changing plate 34. Then, the ball 4 is connected to both rotating bodies 2
A guide member 36 that guides the guide members 1 and 21 is fitted into the support cylinder 35 so as to be rotatable about its axis. The axis 36a of this guide member 36 is the axis 3 of the support cylinder 35.
5a, and by rotating this guide member 36 around the axis 35a of the support cylinder 35, the inclination angle of the guide member 36 with respect to the horizontal plane can be arbitrarily set within a certain range.

A cylindrical support member 38 that can support the pitching machine main body 5 is protruded from the front upper surface of the base 7.
This support member 38 is located below the support portion 12a of the movable tube 12, and a support portion 38a having the same shape as the support portion 12a is formed at the upper end of the support member 38. Then, the support means 25 is attached to the movable tube 12.
By selectively attaching it to the support part 12a of the movable tube 12 and the support part 38a of the support member 38, the pitching machine main body part 5 is attached to the support part 12a of the movable tube 12 and the support part 38a of the support member 38.
It is possible to selectively attach the support part 38a to the support part 38a.

Next, the effect of the above configuration will be described. If the movable tube 12 is raised and the pitching machine main body 5 is positioned upward, an overthrow is possible (as shown by the solid line in the figure). Further, by lowering the movable tube 12 and positioning the pitching machine main body 5 downward, side throws are possible (as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure). Furthermore, by attaching the pitching machine main body 5 to the support member 38, it becomes possible to make an under throw (as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure).

For example, both rotating bodies 21, 2 at each of the above positions.
By rotating the ball 1 at approximately the same speed, it is possible to throw a fastball or a ball that drops rapidly in front of the hitting position (a so-called fork ball). In this case, if the two rotating bodies 21, 21 are placed on the left and right and the rotation speeds of these two rotating bodies 21, 21 are made different, the ball 4 can be rotated around the vertical axis to pitch a shot or a curve. I can do it.

Further, by operating the support means 25 at each of the above positions, the pitching machine main body 5 is rotated about an axis extending forward and backward in the pitching direction, and the rotating bodies 21, 21 are disposed in an inclined direction, and both rotating bodies 21 , 21, it is possible to pitch a ball (so-called slider) that rotates around the tilt axis, assuming a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed pitcher. Furthermore, if both the rotating bodies 21, 21 are arranged vertically in the same way as above (as shown by the dashed line in the figure), the ball 4 can be rotated around the horizontal axis so that the ball descends in front of the hitting position. (so-called drop) or conversely, he can pitch a ball that floats up.

On the other hand, the pitching direction can also be changed vertically or horizontally by operating the support means 25 at each of the above positions.

Note that although the above is based on the illustrated example, the ball body 28
may be provided on the pitching machine main body 5, and the holding plates 29, 29 may be provided on the base 7 side.

(Effect of the invention) According to this invention, the ball body protrudes from either the pitching machine body or the base side in a substantially horizontal direction forward or backward in the pitching direction, and a holder for holding the ball body is provided. Since the member is provided on the other of the two, the pitching machine main body can take any rotational posture around the axis extending back and forth in the pitching direction. Therefore, when pitching with different rotational speeds of the two rotating bodies, the direction of rotation of the ball can be arbitrarily selected by setting the pitching machine main body in a predetermined rotational posture. Various types of pitches can be obtained. Moreover, this is advantageous because it is achieved by a support means of a simple structure of a ball joint type.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 1 is an overall side view of the throwing machine, Fig. 2 is a front view of the above throwing machine, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the above throwing machine, and Fig. 4 is the same as the one shown in Fig. 1. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Throwing machine, 5... Throwing machine main body part, 7... Base, 21... Rotating body, 25... Supporting means, 28...
... Ball body, 29 ... Holding plate (holding member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a pair of rotating bodies that rotate in opposite directions and whose rotational speeds can be relatively different,
In a pitching machine that is provided with a pitching machine main body that is configured to pitch between the two rotating bodies and a support means that supports this pitching machine main body on the base side, the support means is a ball joint. It is composed of a ball body and a holding member that sandwiches the ball body and is rotatable around the center point of the ball body, and is capable of pitching from either the main body of the pitching machine or the base side. The ball body is provided protruding in a substantially horizontal direction forward or backward, and a holding member is provided on the other of the two, and the ball body and the holding member are in a relative arbitrary rotational posture. A support device for a pitching machine main body, characterized in that it can be fixed.