Device for automatically picking up objects

• US 20050204717A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andre Colens
• Original Assignee: Andre Colens
• Inventors: Colens, Andre
• Application Number:
  US11/077,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20050204717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/344
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/022 Autonomous machines which find their own way around the playing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/021 for picking-up automatically, e.g. by apparatus moving over the playing surface
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/00 Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface for snow or ice E01H5/00; cleaning tramway rails E01H8/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; in combination with application of bitumen or the like E01C19/16; in combination with application of traffic line E01C23/16 ; Sweeping apparatus, particularly for lawns A01G20/30, A01G20/40; removing undesirable matter from floors and similar surfaces A47L5/00 - A47L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/244 using passive navigation aids external to the vehicle, e.g. markers, reflectors or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/646 Following a predefined trajectory, e.g. a line marked on the floor or a flight path
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/661 Docking at a base station delivering or retrieving payloads G05D1/667
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2105/14 for collecting waste or trash
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2107/24 Sports fields, e.g. golf courses
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2109/10 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2111/36 generated or reflected by cables or wires carrying current, e.g. boundary wires or leaky feeder cables

Abstract

A system for picking up golf balls over a golf practice green consists of an automatic mobile machine equipped with a motor and a power source, for example a rechargeable battery, and provided with an onboard computer. The machine carries a mechanical device for gripping and storing the golf balls in a container, a device for emptying such container, a device for detecting the limits of the surface for picking up. The system further comprise at least a station for discharging the balls picked up and preferably a station for recharging the rechargeable batteries. Both stations are advantageously integrated to each other.

Claims

1. A system for picking up and collecting golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets in a golf practice without interrupting the players comprising an automatic mobile machine provided with an on-board computer and a power source, said machine having mechanical means to pick up and store said golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets, the machine being programmed to move in a substantially random way on said golf practice to pick up and store said golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets in a container and to return, and automatically unload, by gravity action, the golf balls, at a station, said station being provided with recharging means for said power source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said golf practice is provided with a wire extending at the periphery of said golf practice and being detectable by a detector carried by the machine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the automatic mobile machine reaches the station by following the golf practice limiting wire, the station being situated along said wire or on an extension thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical means to pick up the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets is a driven rotating flexible disc system.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a recharging means and unloading means for the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets are coupled.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine has a plurality of spaced-apart flexible discs connected to a transverse rotation shaft such that the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets become wedged between adjacent flexible discs,

a plurality of fingers disposed transversely on the machine between the flexible discs to extract the golf balls, dead leave and paper sheets out of the discs wherein the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets fall into the container.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the station has a means to transmit at least one directional beam, the machine having a receiver to receive the at least one directional beam such that the machine may be controlled to direct the machine to the station.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the station comprises a recovery bowl for the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets equipped with a lifting system and connected to a duct which is adapted to convey the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets at least partly by gravity from the mobile machine.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the station is raised, the station having ramps connected to an elevated platform, the mobile machine being directed onto the platform, a recovery bowl being disposed under the platform wherein the container in the mobile machine is emptied into the recovery bowl.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container for the golf balls, dead leaves and paper sheets has a door, the door being opened by the computer to empty the container.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the station having means to recharge the power source.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the station has at least one fixed rail which is adapted to come in contact with one of two side brushes carried by the automatic mobile machine, and side brushes detecting the presence of the fixed rail.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, further having a detector, the detector sensing when the power source is in need of recharging and when the container is full such that the detector directs the machine to the station.