WO1996010446A1

WO1996010446A1 - An apparatus for an automatic machine

Info

Publication number: WO1996010446A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/001067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jordan Knez
Original assignee: J. Knez Ab
Priority date: 1994-09-30
Filing date: 1995-09-20
Publication date: 1996-04-11
Also published as: EP0796132A1; SE9403297D0; SE9403297L; AU3623395A

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an apparatus in an automatic machine for storing spherical objects (4), for example golf balls, and dispensing of a number of objects (4) at will, the apparatus including a magazine with a number of object paths positionned side by side and providing together a floor in said magazine for the objects (4) and running into a dispensing channel, where means (12) are provided to hold the objects (4) in the paths until it is desired to let down a number of objects (4) into the channel for dispensing of them from the apparatus, wherein said holding-means (12) is in the form of a flap extending across the object paths and having a first blocking part extending down into the object path in order to prevent the objects from leaving the path in a first position and after pivoting of the flap with the first blocking part to another position allow letting down of a number of objects (4) into the channel, and having a second blocking part (16), which in said first position allows movement of objects (4) onto the first blocking part and after pivoting of said flap with the blocking parts to the other position interfaces with the object (4) in the path to be held in the path while it or the preceding objects (4) being let down into the channel.

Description

An apparatus for an automatic machine

The present invention relates to an apparatus in an automatic machine for storing spherical objects, for example golf balls, and dispensing a number of objects at will, the apparatus including a magazine with a number of paths positioned side by side and form together a floor in said magazine for the objects and running into a dispensing channel, where means is provided to hold the objects in the paths until it is desired to let down a number of objects into the channel for dispensing of them from the apparatus.

Apparatuses or automatic machines for storing of golf balls and dispensing of a number of golf balls at will are to a large extent used at training courses (driving ranges) both outdoor and indoor. The frequency of use is extensive both indoor and outdoor. The outdoor machines are particularly sensitive to disturbances due to most different weather conditions and other operational problems. The golf players and the owners of the training courses have especially high demands on the reliability in service of the machines and also rapid dispensing of a desired number of balls.

The task forming the basis of the present invention is to realize an improvement of prior art apparatuses or machines.

This task is solved according to the present invention in the apparatus disclosed by way of introduction in that said holding means is in the form of a flap extending across the paths and having a first blocking part extending down in the object path in order to prevent the objects from leaving the path in a first position and after pivoting of the flap with the first blocking part to another position allow letting down of a number of objects into the channel, and a second blocking part, which in said first position allow movement of objects onto the first blocking part and after pivoting of said flap with the blocking parts to the other position interfere with the object in the path which object is to be held in the path while it or the preceding object being let down into the channel. The flap is substantially L-shaped and is mounted on a beam, the ends of which are mounted in bearings for pivoting of said beam clockwise and anti-clockwise and in that the short leg constitutes the first blocking part and is positioned substantially across and in right angle against the end of the paths in the first position, while the long leg is provided with the second blocking part and is positioned across and parallel with said end of the object paths.

The long leg of the flap is fixed on the underside of the bar with parts of the long leg extending on both sides of the bar. The part closest to the short leg is longer than the other part. The other blocking part is in the form of a finger extending along the object path. The fingers are fixed on the underside of the long leg of the flap. The fixing point is positioned on the part of the long leg between the bar and the short leg. The edge on the other part of the long leg is provided with a pad for contact with the fingers and bending of them during pivotion to the other position. The fingers are resilient. The fingers are arranged in the form of a comb with a finger in the shape of a tooth for each object path.

By an apparatus in accordance with the present invention the operational reliability of automatic golf ball machines is improved substantially and apparatus of the same type for dispensin of a number of spherical objects. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention allows dispensing of twice the number of objects as by prior art apparatuses. In addition to the doubled capacity the operational reliability is improved substantially as no complete operational disturbance will be present in a case that an object is positioned on such an unfortunate way that it tries to block pivotion of the flap. In such a case pivotion of the flap is allowed anyway because of the fact that only the resilient finger interfears with such an object.

The present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings . Fig 1 is a view from above of a part of an automatic golf ball machine with an embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Fig 2 is a side elevation of a part of Fig 1. Fig 3 is a part of the cross section along line A-A in Fig 1 in larger scale, the parts being shown in initial position. Fig 4 is a similar cross section as Fig 3 with the parts in dispensing position. Fig 5 is an elevation from the underside of the parts in Fig 3 and 4 of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention, some parts being left out.

The embodiment of the present invention disclosed on the drawings will be described in greater detail when used in an automatic golf ball machine, although the invention is not restricted to such a machine.

On the drawing are disclosed only the parts of the automatic ball machine as are necessary for understanding of the present invention. In the automatic golf ball machine is a magazine for storing of golf balls and the magazine has a floor forming a number of golf ball paths. The floor consists of a number of spaced square tubes 1, extending between an upper beam 2 and a lower beam 3. The square tubes 1 are fixed on the beams 2 and 3 with the diagonal directed substantially in a right angle against the beams 2 and 3. The distance between the square tubes 1 is less than the diameter of a golf ball as is shown on the path to the right in Fig 1, in which path a number of golf balls 4 are disclosed. When an automatic machine is in operation, all the paths are filled with golf balls. Close to the beam 3 parallel with it on the opposite side of the square tubes 1 extends and overhead beam 5. The distance between the underside of the overhead beam 5 and the square tubes 1 is as shown in Figs 3 and 4 sufficient for the golf balls 4 to pass freely under the same. The overhead beam 5 extends between two cross beams 6 and 7 connecting the beams 2 and 3 with each other on each side of the object paths. The beams 2 and 3 carry a further cross beam 8, which together with the cross beam 7 provide a base for different details in the machine. After the beam 3 the square tubes 1 are bent in order that the final section of the path will have a greater angle of slope. In Figs 3 and 4 it is clear that substantially two golf balls 3 have room on the section of the square tubes 1 sloping with greater angle. The part of the object paths sloping in greater angle may be considered as a discharging part for the same.

Between the cross beams 6 and 7 a beam 9 extends close to the discharge part of the object paths, which is substantially parallel with the overhead beam 5 and the ends of which are pivotal in bearings 10 and 11. The bearing 10 is mounted on the the end of the cross beam 6 while the bearing 11 is mounted on the end of the cross beam 7. The end of the beam or shaft 9 extending from the bearing 11 is longer at the opposite bearing 10 and extends to the cross beam 8 in order to be connected to some suitable drive means for rotation of the beam or shaft 9 clockwise and anticlockwise in a rocking movement between a first position and a second position. The first position is shown in greater detail in Fig 3 while the other position is shown in greater detail in Fig 4.

The beam or shaft 9 carries an L-shaped flap-forming part 12, which is fixed on the beam 9 via the long leg, while the short leg extends substantially in a right angle down in the object path as is clearly shown in Fig 3. The edge of the short leg is bent outwardly upwards in order to prevent damages on the object. The ends are bent upwards or provided with flanges 13 for strengthening of the design. In Figs 3 and 4 is clear that the paths 12 and 13 are fixed on the shaft 9 by welding. The welds are filled.

In Figs 3 and 4 is clear that the long leg extends unsymmetrically in relation to the beam or the shaft 9 so that a shorter part of the long leg extends past the shaft 9 while a longer part of the leg is between the shaft 9 and the short leg. The edge on the short part is provided with a pad 14 on the side turned to the object paths of the long leg on the part 12 is fixed a comb with suitable fixing means 15, e g rivets, said comb extends along the whole part 12 and has a tooth or a finger 16 in each object path. The pad 14 bends the finger 16 in a certain way away from the long leg on the part 12. The fixation point 15 is positioned between the shaft 9 and the short leg on the part 12.

As is seen clearest in Figs 3 and 4 the ends on the fingers or teeth 16 extend to the third golf ball 4 on the object path in order to touch the third golf ball 4 and hold this fixed on the object path, while the two preceding golf balls are allowed to leave the path by passing the short leg on the part 12, when walking from the position in Fig 3 to the position in Fig 4. In Fig 4 it is appearent that the second golf ball may well receive an impact or a pressure by the part of the finger of the tooth directly under the pad 14.

In the embodiment described the part 12 is manufactured of a sheet metal while the comb with the fingers 16 is manufactured of a suitable plastic material with suitable stiffness and resilience permanence, e g macrolon. The pad or the edge list 14 may be manufactured of a so called car body list.

The parts in Fig 5 constituting the part named cradle, e g ball cradle for double ball lines, when it comes to the embodiment described above.

In a modification of the embodiment disclosed on the drawing and described above of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the pad 14 may be in the form of, for example, a bulge in the direction of the fingers 16 at the edge of the long leg of the part 12. Also, it is possible to arrange the fingers 16 in one unit with the part 12 if this one is manufacturer by a material suitable in this connection.

The present invention should not be considered as restricted to that described above and shown on the drawing. Many modifications bein conceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the attended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus in an automatic machine for storing spherical objects (4), for example golf balls, and dispensing of a number of objects (4) at will, the apparatus including a magazine with a number of object paths positioned side by side and providing together a floor in said magazine for the objects (4) and running into a dispensing channel, where means (12) being provided to hold the objects (4) in the parts until it is desired to let down a number of objects (4) into the channel for dispensing of them from the apparatus, characterized in that said holding-means (12) is in the form of a flap extending across the object path and having a first blocking part extending down in the object path in order to prevent the objects from leaving the path in a first position and after pivotion of the flap with the first blocking part to another position allow letting down of a number of objects (4) into the channel, and having a second blocking part (16), which in said first position allow movement of objects (4) onto the first blocking part and after pivoting of said flap with the blocking parts to the other position interfere with the object (4) in the path to be held in the path while it or the preceding object (4) being let down into the channel.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flap is substantially L-εhaped and is mounted on a beam (9), the ends of which are mounted in bearings for pivoting of said beam (9) clockwise and anti-clockwise and in that the short leg constitutes the first blocking part and is positioned substantially across and in right angle against the end of the paths in the first position, while the long leg is provided with the second blocking part and is positioned across and parallel with said end of the object paths.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the long leg of the flap is fixed on the underside of the bar (9) with parts of the long leg extending on both sides of the bar (9) .

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the part closest to the short leg is longer than the other part.

5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the other blocking part is in the form of a finger (16) extending along the object path.

6. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the fingers (16) are fixed on the underside of the long leg of the flap (12) .

7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the fixing point (15) is positioned on the part of the long leg between the bar (9) and the short leg.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 4-7, characterized in that the edge on the other part of the long leg is provided with a pad (14) for contact with the fingers (16) and bending of them during pivotion to the other position.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claims 5-8, characterized in that the fingers are resilient.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the fingers (16) are arranged in the form of a comb with a finger in the shape of a tooth for each object path.