JPH0448210Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a pitching machine, and more particularly, to a support device for supporting a pitching machine body that throws a baseball ball.

(Prior Art) Pitching machines have traditionally been used for baseball batting practice, catching practice, and the like.

Conventionally, such pitching machines have the following configuration. That is, the pitching machine body is mounted on a lifting platform that is raised and lowered by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder, and by raising and lowering it, it is possible to obtain underthrows, side throws, and even overthrows.

Further, a rotary table that rotates around a vertical axis is provided on the lifting platform, and a pair of left and right brackets protrudes from this rotary table, and these brackets can freely rotate around a horizontal axis extending left and right. The pitching machine main body is pivotally supported. Therefore, by rotating the rotary table about the vertical axis, the pitching direction can be changed to the left or right, and by rotating the pitching machine body about the horizontal axis, the pitching direction can be changed up or down. .

In the above case, in order to prevent the pitching machine main body from coming into contact with the rotation table when rotating the pitching machine body around the above-mentioned horizontal axis, both brackets are made to protrude significantly upward, and the pitching machine main body is located sufficiently high from the top of the rotating table.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, in the above configuration, both brackets are made to protrude greatly and the pitching machine body is installed at a high position above the rotary table.
Another disadvantage is that the center of gravity becomes high, making the pitching machine unstable. Second, even if the elevator platform is lowered in an attempt to obtain an underthrow, the pitching machine body is located at a high position above the rotary table, so there is a problem in that it is not possible to obtain an underthrow from a desired low position.

In addition, in the above configuration, if the weight of the rotating table and bracket that support the pitching machine body on the lifting platform is heavy, the capacity of the hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower it and the hydraulic pump that supplies pressure oil to it will be reduced. However, since these hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic pumps are expensive, it is not desirable for their capacities to become large.

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was made with attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and by reducing the weight of the support device that supports the main body of the pitching machine, it lowers the center of gravity of the pitching machine and improves its stability. Furthermore, by making it possible to lower the pitching machine body to a sufficiently low position, it is possible to obtain an underthrow from a desired low position. The purpose is to reduce the burden of driving the platform up and down.

(Structure of the device) The feature of this device for achieving the above object is that an annular support is provided on the cart, and the center of the inner hole of the annular support is oriented vertically. An annular support is pivotably supported around its hole center, and a pair of brackets that sandwich the inner hole of the annular support from the left and right are protruded onto the annular support, and the pitching machine body for pitching the ball is mounted on this annular support. The pitching machine body is pivoted to the left and right brackets so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis, and a part of the rotation locus of the pitching machine body when it rotates about the horizontal axis crosses the inner hole of the annular support. It is in.

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

In the figure, T is a pitching machine, and this pitching machine T has a truck 1, on which a hydraulic lifting device 2 is placed. Further, a pitching machine main body 4 for pitching a ball 3 is provided above the elevating device 2, and the pitching machine main body 4 is supported on the elevating device 2 by a support device 6 and can be raised and lowered. Furthermore, a ball supply device 7 is attached to the support device 6 to periodically supply the balls 3 to the pitching machine main body 4. Note that the arrow Fr in the figure indicates the ball 3 produced by this pitching machine body 4.
It shows the forward direction of the pitch.

In FIG. 1, the bogie 1 has a pair of left and right front wheels 9, 9 and rear wheels 10, 10, which are supported by a bogie frame 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, the elevating device 2 will be explained.

The lifting device 2 has a fixed base 13 supported on the carriage frame 11, and the fixed base 13 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view. A lifting base 14 is located above the fixed base 13.
A pair of interlocking rods 15, 15 are provided on the left and right between the lifting platform 14 and the lifting platform 13.
5, 15 are connected to a first pivot shaft 16 at the center in the longitudinal direction.
These two interlocking rods 1 are pivotally supported to each other.
The lower ends of the interlocking rods 5, 15 are engaged with the fixed base 13 so as to be movable back and forth, while the upper ends of the interlocking rods 15, 15 are engaged with the lift base 14 so as to be movable back and forth.

Further, a drive arm 18 is pivotally supported on the fixed base 13 by a second pivot shaft 19 so as to be movable up and down, and the rotating end of the drive arm 18 is pivoted to the interlocking rod 15 by a third pivot shaft 20. supported. Also, a hydraulic cylinder 2 that moves this drive arm 18 up and down
2 is provided. And this hydraulic cylinder 22
Due to the operation of a hydraulic pump (not shown), arrow A in the figure
When the drive arm 18 is extended as shown by arrow B in the figure, it rotates upward around the second pivot shaft 19. And, along with this, both interlocking rods 1
5 and 15 rotate relative to each other around the first pivot shaft 16, and as a result, the lifting platform 14 is rotated as shown by arrow C in the figure.
rises.

Contrary to the above, if the hydraulic cylinder 22 is contracted, the lifting platform 14 is lowered.

Note that the hydraulic pump may be operated manually or electrically.

The support device 6 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

A base 23 is attached to the lifting table 14, and the base 23 is framed by angle members in a rectangular shape in plan view. Further, an annular support 25 is provided on the base 23, and the hole center 24 of the inner hole 25a of the annular support 25 is oriented vertically. The hole center 24 is provided on the lower surface of this annular support 25.
A circumferential groove 26 is formed coaxially with the hole center 24 , and a plurality of balls 27 are arranged on the base 23 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the hole center 24 .
is rotatable around the center of the ball. These balls 27 and the circumferential groove 26 are fitted, and as a result, as shown by arrow D in the figure, the base 2
3, an annular support 25 is rotatably supported around the hole center 24.

Further, a rotation device 28 for rotating the annular support 25 as described above is provided. The rotating device 28 is composed of a rack gear 28a attached to the annular support 25, a pinion 28b meshing with the rack gear 28a, and a first reduction motor 28c driving the pinion 28b. Therefore, if the first deceleration motor 28c is rotated forward or reverse, the annular support 25 will rotate as a clock.
Or it will rotate counterclockwise.

Note that the base 23 may not be provided, and in this case, the annular support 25 may be directly supported by the lifting platform 14.

A pair of brackets 30 and 31 are provided that sandwich the inner hole 25a of the annular support 25 from the left and right sides, and these brackets 30 and 31 protrude from the upper surface of the annular support 25. A large-diameter gear 33 is screwed to the protruding end of the left bracket 30, and a bearing 3 is attached to the large-diameter gear 33 and the right bracket 31, respectively.
A support frame 35 is pivotally supported via 4 and 34.
In this case, the support frame 35 is rotatable about a horizontal horizontal axis 36 extending in the left-right direction as shown by arrow E in the figure.

A second reduction motor 37 is supported by the support frame 35, and a pinion 37a attached to the second reduction motor 37 meshes with the large diameter gear 33. Therefore, when the second reduction motor 37 is driven to rotate the pinion 37a, the pinion 37a meshes with the large-diameter gear 33 and rolls on its outer circumferential surface, and along with the pinion 37a, the above-mentioned The support frame 35 rotates around the horizontal axis 36 as shown in FIG.

Next, the pitching machine main body 4 will be explained.

This pitching machine main body 4 is supported by the above-mentioned support frame 35, and has a pitching cylinder 38 having a square cross section. This pitching cylinder 38 extends in the front-rear direction and is supported by the front and rear parts of the support frame 35 via bearings 38a, 38a.
It can be rotated freely.

A rotation device 40 for rotating the pitching cylinder 38 as described above is provided. This rotation device 40 is a large gear 40a attached to the pitching cylinder 38.
and a pinion 40 that meshes with this large gear 40a.
b, and a third reduction motor 40c that drives the pinion 40b. Therefore, the third
If the deceleration motor 40c is driven, the pitching cylinder 38
can be rotated as described above.

A pair of left and right rear rotating wheels 41, 41 are supported at the rear of the pitching cylinder 38. On the other hand, the same pitching cylinder 3
A pair of left and right front rotating wheels 42, 42 are supported at the front part of 8. These rotating wheels 41 and 42 have the same shape and size, and their axes are parallel to each other.

Further, an upper electric motor 43 is supported on the upper surface side of the above-mentioned pitching cylinder 38, and is coaxially connected to the above-mentioned pitching cylinder 38.
A lower electric motor 44 is supported on the lower surface side of 8, and an upper electric motor 43 rotates the rear rotating wheel 41 and the front rotating wheel 42 on the right side clockwise through an upper V-belt transmission means 45 as shown by arrow G in FIG. Rotate it. Also,
The lower electric motor 44 connects the left rear rotary wheel 41 and the front rotary wheel 42 to the second rotary wheel via the lower V belt transmission means 46.
Rotate counterclockwise as shown by arrow H in the figure. In the above case, each of the electric motors 43 and 44 is individually variable speed, and the front rotating wheel 42
The rotational speed of the rear rotating wheel 41 is faster than that of the rear rotating wheel 41.

When the ball 3 is supplied from the rear end side of the pitching cylinder 38 to between the facing outer peripheral surfaces of the rear rotating wheels 41, 41, the ball 3 is sandwiched between the two outer peripheral surfaces and is accelerated and thrown forward. be done. Further, the ball 3 is sandwiched between the facing outer circumferential surfaces of the front rotating wheels 42, 42, where it is further accelerated and thrown forward as shown by the arrow in the figure.

In the above configuration, the height of the pitching machine main body 4 is adjusted by raising and lowering the lifting table 14, and the rotation of the annular support body 25 around the hole center 24 and the rotation of the support frame 35 around the horizontal axis 36 are controlled. By rotating the pitching machine body 4 and adjusting its posture, underthrows, side throws, and even overthrows can be achieved. In the above case, the lifting device 2 is removably screwed to the cart 1 or the support device 6 using bolts or the like, and when the lifting device 2 is removed, the support device 6 is directly attached to the cart 1. If it can be screwed on, underthrow from a lower position can be achieved.

In addition to the above adjustment, each electric motor 43, 44
In other words, the rotation speeds of the respective rotary wheels 41, 42 are adjusted thereby, and further, the pitching cylinder 38 is rotated around the front and rear hole center 39 to rotate the respective rotary wheels 41, 42 as described above. By adjusting the posture of the ball 42, the ball 3 can be pitched in various types, such as a curve or a shot.

In the above case, as shown in FIG.
When the pitching machine main body 4 is rotated, a portion of the rotation locus 48 of the pitching machine main body 4 crosses the inner hole 25a of the annular support 25. Also, when the pitching machine main body 4 is rotated around the front and rear hole centers 39 as shown in FIG.
The inner hole 25a of No. 5 is crossed.

That is, when the pitching machine main body 4 is supported on the lifting table 14, a part of the pitching machine main body 4 overlaps the annular support 25 when viewed from the side, and the lifting table 14
The position of the pitching machine main body 4 on the top is made as low as possible. Therefore, by lowering the elevator platform 14, the pitching machine body 4 can be lowered to a sufficiently low position, and an underthrow from a desired low position can be obtained.

Next, the ball supply device 7 will be explained.
This ball supply device 7 has a case 52 that accommodates the balls 3, and this case 52 is located at the rear and upper part of the pitching machine main body 4 and is supported by the base 23 by four brackets 53. A discharge port 54 for the ball 3 is formed on the bottom surface of the bracket 53, and this discharge port 54
is the pitching cylinder 3 through the coil spring 55.
It communicates with the rear end opening of 8.

Further, a rotary disk 56 is provided on the bottom surface of the case 52, and this rotary disk 56 is rotated by a deceleration motor (not shown). and,
As shown by arrow J in FIG.
6 rotates, the balls 3 are supplied one by one to the pitching machine main body 4 through the coil spring 55 as shown by the arrow K in FIG. The ball will be pitched.

(Effect of idea) This idea has the following effects.

(1) Conventionally, the main body of the pitching machine was rotated around the vertical axis using a rotary table, but in this invention, an annular support was used instead of the rotary table. The weight of the supporting device for supporting the pitching machine body is reduced accordingly, and the weight of the pitching machine can be reduced. Furthermore, as the support device becomes lighter as described above, the center of gravity of the pitching machine is lowered accordingly, which increases the stability of the pitching machine, making it easier to transport, and improving pitching accuracy.

(2) Also, when the pitching machine body is rotated to change the pitching direction, a part of the rotation locus of the pitching machine body is located below the pitching machine body and is supported by an annular support. Since it crosses the inner hole of the body, a part of the pitching machine body overlaps with the annular support body when viewed from the side. Therefore, the position of the pitching machine body can be lowered by the amount of overlap. As a result, the pitching machine main body can be lowered to a sufficiently low position, thereby making it possible to obtain a desired underthrow from a low position, and further promoting the lowering of the center of gravity described above.

(3) Furthermore, when the support device is placed on the lifting platform, the weight of the supporting device becomes lighter as described above, which reduces the burden on the hydraulic cylinders etc. that drive the lifting platform up and down, reducing costs. It will be advantageous.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the entire device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire device, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 2. 1... Trolley, 3... Ball, 4... Throwing machine body, 6
...support device, 14...lifting platform, 24...kongxin,
25... Annular support body, 25a... Inner hole, 36...
Horizontal axis, 48...Rotation locus, T...Throwing machine.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. An annular support is provided on a truck, the center of the inner hole of the annular support is oriented vertically, and the annular support is rotatable about the center of the hole. Support,
A pair of brackets that sandwich the inner hole of the annular support from the left and right sides are protruded on the annular support, and the pitching machine body for pitching a ball is pivotally supported on the left and right brackets so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis. 1. A support device for a pitching machine, characterized in that a part of the rotation locus of the pitching machine body when it rotates around a horizontal axis crosses the inner hole of the annular support. 2. The support device for a pitching machine as set forth in claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that an elevating platform that can be raised and lowered on a truck is provided, and an annular support is provided on the elevating platform.