Ball ejector

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball ejector and, more particularly, to a ball ejector for ejecting a ball (such as the baseball, softball, table tennis ball or the like) outward to facilitate a user practicing hitting the ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional ball ejector comprises a frame, and two rollers rotatably mounted in the frame. Thus, the two rollers are rotated to squeeze a ball (such as the baseball, softball, table tennis ball or the like) so as to eject the ball outwardly from the frame to facilitate a user practicing a ball striking skill. However, the ball ejector can eject one ball at a time only and cannot eject balls successively, thereby limiting the versatility of the ball ejector. In addition, the ball ejecting height and angle of the ball ejector cannot be adjusted to fit the user's requirement, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ball ejector, comprising a base, a housing mounted on the base and provided with a ball track, a ball conveyer mounted in the housing and partially protruded outwardly from a distal end of the ball track of the housing, an ejecting frame mounted on the housing and located adjacent to the ball conveyer, and a reduction gear box mounted in the housing and connected to the ball conveyer to drive the ball conveyer to rotate in the housing.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ball ejector having a successive ball ejecting function.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a ball ejector, wherein when the ball on the ball track of the housing is pushed by the ball conveyer to reach the trigger of the ejecting frame, the reduction motor is actuated and the cam is driven to trigger and move the elastic plate to hit the ball and to eject the ball outwardly from the housing automatically and successively so as to perform a successive ball ejecting action.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a ball ejector, wherein the ejecting frame is movable upward and downward relative to the housing by rotation of the adjusting threaded rod to adjust the height of the ejecting frame so as to adjust the ball ejecting height and angle of the ejecting frame.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a ball ejector, wherein the indication lamp lights and the horn sounds to provide an indication to the user.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball ejector in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ball ejector as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an ejecting frame of the ball ejector as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a reduction gear box of the ball ejector as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ball ejector in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base 1, a housing 2, an ejecting frame 3, a reduction gear box 4, and a ball conveyer 5.

The base 1 is provided with a battery box 11 to receive batteries 12.

The housing 2 is mounted on the base 1 and has a bottom secured to the base 1. The housing 2 is provided with a ball track 6.

The ball conveyer 5 is mounted in the housing 2 to convey a ball (not shown) on the ball track 6 of the housing 2. The ball conveyer 5 is located at and partially protruded outwardly from a distal end of the ball track 6 of the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The ball conveyer 5 has four sides each formed with a concave portion 51 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the ejecting frame 3 is mounted on the housing 2 and located adjacent to the ball conveyer 5 to eject the ball outwardly from the ball conveyer 5. The ejecting frame 3 is height adjustably mounted on the housing 2 and includes a rectangular lift member 37 movably mounted in the housing 2, a first support bracket 33 mounted on the lift member 37 to move therewith, a second support bracket 32 mounted on the lift member 37 to move therewith, an adjusting threaded rod 39 rotatably mounted on the housing 2 and connected to the lift member 37 to move the lift member 37 upward and downward by rotation of the adjusting threaded rod 39, an elastic plate 35 movably mounted between the first support bracket 33 and the second support bracket 32, a cam 36 mounted between the first support bracket 33 and the second support bracket 32 and connected to the elastic plate 35 to trigger and move the elastic plate 35, a trigger 31 movably mounted on the first support bracket 33 and connected to the cam 36 to trigger and move the cam 36, a reduction motor 34 mounted on the second support bracket 32 and connected to the trigger 31 and the cam 36 to drive the cam 36, and a press plate 38 mounted on the adjusting threaded rod 39 and rested on the lift member 37.

The adjusting threaded rod 39 is provided with a rotation knob 391 protruded outward from the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 1 to facilitate a user rotating the adjusting threaded rod 39. The adjusting threaded rod 39 is extended through the press plate 38 and screwed into a screw bore 371 (see FIG. 3) of the lift member 37, so that the lift member 37 is movable upward and downward by rotation of the adjusting threaded rod 39. Thus, the ejecting frame 3 is movable upward and downward relative to the housing 2 by rotation of the adjusting threaded rod 39 to adjust the height of the ejecting frame 3 so as to adjust the ball ejecting height and angle of the ejecting frame 3. The reduction motor 34 of the ejecting frame 3 has an output shaft 341 (see FIG. 3) connected to the cam 36. The reduction motor 34 of the ejecting frame 3 is electrically connected to the batteries 12 of the base 1 by electric wires.

Thus, when the ball reaches the trigger 31, the reduction motor 34 is actuated and the cam 36 is driven to trigger and move the elastic plate 35 to eject the ball to eject the ball outwardly from the housing 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the reduction gear box 4 is mounted in the housing 2 and connected to the ball conveyer 5 to drive the ball conveyer 5 to rotate in the housing 2. The reduction gear box 4 includes two casings 41 combined with each other, a plurality of first reduction gears 44 mounted in the two casings 41, a motor 43 mounted in the two casings 41 and connected to the first reduction gears 44 to drive the first reduction gears 44, a press cover 45 mounted on and protruded from one of the two casings 41, a second reduction gear 46 connected to and driven by the first reduction gears 44 and having an output shaft 461 protruded outwardly from the press cover 45, and a drive shaft 47 having a first end connected to and driven by the output shaft 461 of the second reduction gear 46 and a second end connected to the ball conveyer 5 to drive and rotate the ball conveyer 5. The second reduction gear 46 is mounted between the press cover 45 and one of the two casings 41. The motor 43 of the reduction gear box 4 is electrically connected to the batteries 12 of the base 1 by electric wires.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ball ejector further comprises an IC (integrated circuit) board 23 mounted in the housing 2 and electrically connected to the batteries 12 of the base 1 by electric wires, an indication lamp 21 mounted on the housing 2 and electrically connected to the IC board 23 by electric wires, and a horn 22 mounted on the housing 2 and electrically connected to the IC board 23 by electric wires.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 1-4, the ball conveyer 5 is rotated by the reduction gear box 4. In such a manner, the ball on the ball track 6 of the housing 2 is pushed by the four concave portions 51 of the ball conveyer 5 to move toward the trigger 31 of the ejecting frame 3. Thus, when the ball reaches the trigger 31 of the ejecting frame 3, the reduction motor 34 is actuated and the cam 36 is driven to trigger and move the elastic plate 35 to hit the ball so as to eject the ball outwardly from the housing 2 successively. At the same time, the indication lamp 21 lights and the horn 22 sounds to provide an indication to the user.

Accordingly, when the ball on the ball track 6 of the housing 2 is pushed by the ball conveyer 5 to reach the trigger 31 of the ejecting frame 3, the reduction motor 34 is actuated and the cam 36 is driven to trigger and move the elastic plate 35 to hit the ball to eject the ball outwardly from the housing 2 automatically and successively so as to perform a successive ball ejecting action. In addition, the ejecting frame 3 is movable upward and downward relative to the housing 2 by rotation of the adjusting threaded rod 39 to adjust the height of the ejecting frame 3 so as to adjust the ball ejecting height and angle of the ejecting frame 3. Further, the indication lamp 21 lights and the horn 22 sounds to provide an indication to the user.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.