US1643522A - Automatic baseball game - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27,1927. E B ROPP 3,5

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AUTOM ATIC BASEBALL GAME- Filed June 15, 1925 l6 Sheets-Sheet 1O Sept. 27',

E. B. ROPP AUTOMATIC BASEBALL GAME Filed June 13, 1925 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 56 I All? @159 Sept. 27, I E. B. ROPP AUTOMATIGBASEBALL GAME Filed June 13, 1925 16 Sheets-Sheet 13 /izzfzg Sept. 27, 1927.

E. B. ROPP AUTOMATIC BASEBALL GAME Filed June 1:5, 192s 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 Sept. 27, 1927. I E. B ROPP AUTOMATIC BASEBALL GAME Filed June 13. 1925 jgyiza 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 Patented ,Sept. 27 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,643,522 PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA B. ROPP, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKIlAH OMA.

AUTOMATIC BASEBALL GAME.

'Application filed June 13, 1925. Serial-No. 36,986.

' of hit that is made, and with scoring apparatus for the same.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a machine or apparatus of the above character adapted to be played in a manner 'closely resembling an actual base ball game, and in which the results are determined largely by the skill of the player or players.

There are many features of my invention and these will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing portion of the specification and appended claims.

'Before taking up the drawings, I believe it advisable to first refer briefly to the preferred device embodying my invention.

In general, a base ball field is provided, havingthe usual outfield, infield and dia mond with base positions, together with a batting apparatus controlled by the operator and a ball feeding and pitching apparatus also controlled by the operator. That is the pitching apparatus is manually manipulated 30 to pitch the ball toward a bat, which is swung by the manual manipulation of the operator. When the ball is hit it is-knocked out into the field, preferably by rolling over the surface where it may drop down into any one of a number of different control positions having electric contacts which advance runners over the bases according to the hit made. According to the present form of my invention one, two, three and four base hits may be made. Also sacrifice as in a regular game.

hits may be made, or'the player is put out either by a strike-out or by hitting the ball to certain positions in the infield or outfield. The men are advanced on the bases That is, assuming the first ball hit is for one base, a runner is automatically advanced to first base. Should the next hit be for two bases, the man on first is advanced to third and the batter advanced to second base, all automatically.

65 batter, makes a complete circuit of the bases.

Thus as described, three hits have been made and these would all be automatically recorded on the score board. Also three runs having been made, they would be automatically recorded on the score board. Thus thegame continues until one side makes three outs, the outs also being recorded. Then the other side or opponent} player controls the machine. and continuesuntil three outs are made. Outs and innings are automati cally indicated, so that one can always tell at a glance the score of the game and what inning and the number of outs. Where two people are playingthe game, first one operates the machine until three outs are made and then the opponent operates it. Or any number on each side may play. This contlnues up to the capacity of the machine. In the present form of my invention the machine is designed to operate forfive full innings, when it is automatically rendered inoperative and requiresthe deposit of another coin before it can be played again. It is to be understood, however, that my invention 1s not limited to any particular number of innings, this depending upon the de sign of the' mechanism and which may be extended as desired. Referring now to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of my invention I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device as a whole, showing the base ball field, batting control knob B, pitching control handle P and the scoring apparatus at the rear of the field; I I Fig. 2 is an enlarged (full size) perspective View showing the batting apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking into the machine from the outside along the third base line, and showing the setting lever and pitching control apparatus with the pitching handle P;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view along the line 44 of Fig. 3, also showing some of the ball receiving, storing, feeding and pitching apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the ball receiving, storing, feeding and pitching apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a left side elevation along the line 66 of Fig. 4, showing some of the pitching apparatus and particularly the parts used for giving a snap or quick pitching action to the ball and also a uniform speed. to the pitched balls;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view along the line 77 of Fig. 4, showing the check apparatus for maintaining the fed balls in the chute leading up.to,-,the pitching arm;

' Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the rotatable pitching control apparatus along theline 88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation along the line 9-9 of Fig. 3, showing the holding mechanism for maintaining the pitching arm P in operative relation to the pitching mechanism, the holding mechanism being adapted to be actuated at the termination of five innings to uncouple the pitching arm from the pitching mechanism until the setting lever isoperated; I

Fig. 10 is a vertical section along the line 10-10 of Fig. 3, showing the retaining pawl for maintaining the parts locked to prevent interferenceand uncoupling of the pitching arm after it has once been set for a game;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the score registering drums shown at the score board at the rear of the field, together with the control mechanism therefor, being along the line 1111 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 12 is a plan sectional-view along the line 12--12 of Fig. 11, showing the score control apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation partly in section along the line 1313 of'Fig. 12, showing the shifting mechanism for shifting the op erating rods from the hit and run score drums for one side to the drums for scoring for the other or opposing side;

Fig. 1a is a plan sectional view along the line 141 l of Fig. 11, showing more particularly the winding mechanism for winding up the sprin for advancing the large central drum which registers the outs and the inning which is being played;

Fig. 15 is a plan sectional view along the line 15 15 of Fig. 13, showingmore in detail the scoring rod shifting device;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view along the line 16-16 of Fig. 1, that is through the framework at the outer edge of the outfield and showing the ball receptacles or openings for operating the advance and scoring mechanism, this view also showing afield trapdoor adapted to be placed in desired parts of the infield and outfield for controlling the advancing and scoring mechanism as desired; i

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view along the line 17-17 of Fig; 16, showing the trapdoor mechanism and contact makers which receive the ball for controlling the player advancing and the scoring mechanism;

Fi 18 is a vertical sectional view along the l1ne-1818 of Fig. 16, showing the pockets or ball receiving positions together. with the contact makers positioned therein;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the player advancing mechanism located immediately beneath the infield, along line l9l9 of Fig.

20, with portions of the field surface broken away to more clearly show the parts, this view also showing portions of the hit and run scoring mechanism, the apparatus being positioned beneath the diamond with the large sprocket wheel at the home plate and the other wheels positioned beneath the corresponding bases;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 19, along the line 20-20 thereof, which is along the line from the home plate to first base;

Fig. 21 is a side elevation along the line 21-21 of Fig. 19, showing more in detail the apparatus for operating the run scoring mechanism and controlling the player figures for properly placing them in batting position;

Fig. 22 is a plan sectional view of the motor and motor control mechanism along the line 2222 of Fig. 23; i

Fig. 23 is a right end elevation in section through the motor shaft along line 2323 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a bottom view looking upward ly along line 2424 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional View along line 2525 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 26 is a plan view in section along.

line 26-26 of Fig. 25, showing the armatures of the base hit magnets;

line 2727 of Fig. 25; and

Fi 28 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuit for the apparatus.

Referring now more in detail to the apparatus employed, I will take up the construction and operation of the various. units and their cooperation.

. Batting apparatus.

preferably of metal so as to give it suflicient weight and also because I preferably use a metal ball, the ball used being an ordinary diameter. The bat 30 is positioned at the home plate, as indicated ,in Fig. 1, so that as the ball 31 is pitched from the pitchers box PB it may be met by the bat asthe bat is swung, and knocked out over the field as in a regular game. The ball is preferably rolled out over the field when hit, so a comparatively heavy one is used. The bat as ositioned in Fig. 1 is for a left handed atter, although this may be shifted as desired. The bat is preferably. mounted so that it may be swung in a circle, and to this end is supported upon a 'vertical shaft 33 rotatably mounted at its upper and lower Fig. 27 is a plan sectional view along the steel bearing ball of about 4 of an inch in ends and carrying a pulley 34 at the lower end. This pulley is connected to an. operatirg pulley 35 by a suitable belt 36 traveling over pulleys 3738. I interpose a spring 39 in the belt so as to keep the belt taut and also give a more resilient or snap action to the bat. The driving pulley 35 is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 40 carrying a batting lcnob B. A suitable soft stop in the nature of a rubber buffer 41 is so mounted that the bat 30 will stop against the buffer at either end of its swing.

To operate the bat 30, the operator or player grasps the batting knob B and manipulates it, preferabl swinging the bat back of the position indicated in Fig. 1 as in a regular game. Then as the ball is pitched, the knob B is rotated clockwise by a short snappy movement so as to swing the bat to meet the ball. After some experience .the operator or player becomes expert, so that the hall can be hit in desired directions just as in an ordinary base ball game.

I preferably position the scoring apparatus and connect it so that the hits in this game correspond in a measure to the hits in a regular game. That is, it is known that a ball hit ordinarily to a certain part of the field will give a runner two bases. Then again a ball hit within catching range of a fielder usually will result in an out. Accordingly, I arrange the control contacts around on the field and at the edge of the field so as to give results corresponding to the ordinary game. A player upon becoming expert with my game is enabled to hit the ball most of the time to the more desirable spots, while the poorer player, having less control, is not so successful. Thus, to a great extent, the game depends upon the skill of the player in manipulating the bat in synchronism with the pitched ball.

Ball receiving, storing, feeding and pitching apparatus.

Now as to the ball receiving, storing, feed ing and pitching apparatus, this is shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 to 10, inclusive.

Generally speaking, the pitching knob P is manipulated, that is the crank is given one rotation for each ball pitched. That is by giving the pitchers crank P one rotation in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1, the apparatus is operated to pitch one ball toward the home plate. In the operation of the mechanism, the player preferably stands at the near corner of the table shown in Fig. 1, grasping the batting knob B in the right hand and the pitching knob P in the left .hand. Or, of course, this may be reversed if desired. The knob P is then rotated to pitcha ball and as the ball leaves the pitchers box PB and approaches the home plate, the batters knob B is manipulated to swing the bat 30 toward the oncoming ball. I preferably provide mechanism which gives the same speed to the pitched ball irrespective of the speed of rotatien of the pitching knob PL That is a tripping mechanism is employed, which is wound up and released so as to always effect the same snap action to the pitching arm which throws the ball out of the pitchers box PB.

Referring now more in detail to the mechanism referred to, the pitchers knob P is mounted upon a suitable crank carried by the rotatably mounted shaft 42, which extends downwardly through the outer frame 43 of the cabinet and longitudinally slidably through the clutch sleeve 44 into the hub or crank shaft 45. Shaft 42 carries a yoke member 46 adapted to set down over the stud 47 of sleeve 44, so that the entire shaft 42 may be pulled upwardly out of the hub and out of the frame. That is, the pitching shaft may thus befreed from the entire apparatus to prevent its operation by simply pulling out the pin 48, thereby detaching the holding arm 46 from the shaft and permitting the shaft 42 to be pulled upwardly.

Normally with the apparatus inoperative, the clutch sleeve 44 is in its upper or dotted position with the clutch finger 49 clear of the hub 45, the clutch operating lever 50 also then being in its dotted position to hold the clutch parts 4945 disconnected. By normally I mean with the pitching shaft disconnected. This clutch operating lever 50 is pivotally supported upon a stud 51, which also carries a lever 52 connected by a link 53 to setting lever 54 which is manually actuated so that the lever 52 may be dropped downwardly so that the pawl 55 carried at its end may hook over the clutch operating lever 50 when it is down in its dotted position and then lift it up into its full line position, as shown in Fig. 3, to put the clutch finger 49 in operative engagement with the hub 45. 7

It might be mentioned at this time that the machine is preferably arranged to disconnect the pitching crank at the end of five innings of full play, and for this purpose release arm 57 (Fig. 9) is moved toward the right to hook over tail piece 55 of the pawl, so that when release arm 57 moves toward the left again the pawl 55 is pulled free of the lever 50, allowing it to be pulled downwardly by the spring 58 into its dotted line position, thereby lifting the clutch member 44 with its finger 49 clear of the driving hub 45 and thereby disconnecting them.- It will be noted that release arm 57 is supported in a guide 60, which is curved on a radius with shaft 51 as a center so that this arm 57 ma follow down with the tail piece 55' for a s ort distance, but still remain in operative relation. This is so as to permit locking cooperation of the clutch, although the setting lever 54 is not fully moved to its ill] limit of movement. In other words, to take care of slight differences in manual opera tion of the setting lever.

In order to retain the levers 5052 in their upper position and thus maintain the clutch parts locked together, I provide a locking pawl 61 pivotally mounted at its lower end and spring pressed toward the lever 52, so that the teeth in the locking pawl 61 (Fig. will engage the inclined tooth 52 and hold lever 52 in its upper position. The locking pawl 61 is held in a uide 52 to prevent side play.

It will be noted that the pawl 61 has a peculiar cam shape at 61 (Fig. 10), so that when looking lever is released at the time holding pawl is operated, said lever drops downwardly and engages this cam portion 61 so as to move pawl 61 and release it from the lever 52, permitting lever 52 to be moved downwardly for a subsequent operation by I posited, slide manual setting lever 54 when the machlne is to be started in play again.

I have referred to the manual setting lever 54 as being preferably under coin control and I have shown in Fig. 1 a coin receiving device 63, which may be of any suitable construction and in which a slide 64 is mounted, which extends through to the end shown in Fig. 3 which is connected to the slotted end of arm 54. Thus when a coin is de 64 may be pulled outwardly, thereby pulling'lever 54 to the right to its extreme position, and then slide 64 is shoved back restoring lever 54 to its position of Fig. 3, this reciprocation bringing the pitching shaft into cooperative relation with the pitching mechanism through the clutch 45, as already referred to. This reciprocation of-slide 64 releases the cam and-the slide and lever 64 are locked until the end of the game and deposit of another coin.

Referring now to the ball receiving, feeding and pitching apparatus, which is controlled by the rotation of the pitching crank P, and which apparatus is more particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 10, inclusive, this said mechanism is controlled through a link 65 carried upon the eccentric or crank 66 (Fig. 4) of the hub 45, which is rotatably supported upon the bearing 67. Thus when the pitching shaft 42 is rotated the eccentric 66 is rotated one turn, thereby giving a complete reciprocation to the link 65. This link is connected to an arm 68 pivotally connected to a link 69 which extends back to the feeding and pitching apparatus shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8.

This pitching control unit is connected through said link 69 back to the operating lever 68 as-previously stated, and this unit comprises a main shaft which with its supported parts are carried by the bracket bearings 7 3-74 mountedupon the main base X.

Rotatably supported upon the shaft 72 is a sleeve 75, rigidly attached to which is the arm 76 having a rear extension 77 to which the operating link 69 is pivotally attached, said arm 76 also carrying apawl 78 with a releasing tail piece 78. Thus as the link 69 is reciprocated through the action of the pitching knob, said arm 76 and sleeve 75 are reciprocated upon the shaft 72, moving the pawl 78 from its-full line position indicated by the tail piece 78' (Fig. 6) to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 6. Thispawl 7 8 is adapted to engage the tooth 79 on the plate 80, which plate is carried by ahub 81 freely rotatable upon the shaft 72. This hub 81 also carries an arm 82 having a pawl 83 mounted upon its end and adapted to be moved back into its dotted position (Fig. 6) to engage the tooth 84 of a plate 85 carried by hub 86 and securely fastened to the shaft 72. Both the pawls 78 and 83 are spring pressed, that is with the nose being pressed toward their respective plates 80 and 85, but

both pawls in their full line position of Fig. 6 are being held clear of their plates by the releasing stops or cams 87-88 respectively. The pawl 7 8 is shown with its tail piece engaged by the stop 87, which stop is engaged as the pawl is moved counter-clockwise (Fig. 6) by the return movement of link 69, thereby lifting the pawl free of the tooth' 79 to release the plate 80 for a purpose hereinafter described. Tail piece 83' of pawl 83 carries a lateral extension 83 to engage the under side of rod 89 to act as a stop and prevent too far rotation of the pawl 83 on its pivot if it should be moved back clear of the plate 85. Similar stop pieces are provided for the pawl 78, as shown adjacent the tail piece 78 in Fig. 8.

Each of the plates 8085 are spring restored through chain and spring connections. That is, plate 80 has a chain 90 fastened to its hub 81, which chain is attached to a spring 91 the tension of which may be varied by a manually adjustable lever 92 so as to vary the action of the spring and by which it is possible to vary the speed of pitched balls if desired. Plate 85 has a chain 93 attached to its hub 86, said chain being fastened to a spring 94 for restoring the plate 85 and shaft 72, as will be hereinafter described. The rotation of this shaft 72 effects the pitching operation of the pitching arm PA through the link connection 95, which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the pitching arm and at its lower end to a crank arm 96 rigidly fastened to shaft 72. Thus for each reciprocation of the crank arm 96, the pitching arm is operated to throw a ball.

.The link connection has a spring 97 interposed therein so as to give a quick snap pitching movement. That is, it is a snore snappy movement than if the entire'link 95 were rigid.

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