Tennis ball throwing machine with continuously rotatable barrel having friction strip on one side only of inner wall
First Claim
1. A tennis ball throwing machine comprising a barrel, support means for supporting the barrel for rotation about its lengthwise axis,means for successively feeding tennis balls to the barrel,means for successively propelling said balls through the barrel,friction strip means on one side only of the inner wall of the barrel for imparting spin to a ball propelled therepast,and motor means connected to the barrel for continuously rotating the barrel through 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the barrel so as to continuously rotate the friction strip means around said longitudinal axis whereby to continuously vary the sense of the spin from top spin to back spin and side spin to side spin.
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Abstract
A tennis ball throwing machine pneumatically expels tennis balls through a barrel having on one side of its inner wall a Velcro strip for spinning the ball. The barrel is rotated about its lengthwise axis so that the sense of the spin, topspin, backspin, or right or left hand spin, varies in dependence upon the angular disposition of the Velcro strip as of the moment the ball passes it. The output end of the barrel is bent at an angle to its lengthwise axis resulting in an orbital motion.
67 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A tennis ball throwing machine comprising a barrel, support means for supporting the barrel for rotation about its lengthwise axis,
means for successively feeding tennis balls to the barrel, means for successively propelling said balls through the barrel, friction strip means on one side only of the inner wall of the barrel for imparting spin to a ball propelled therepast, and motor means connected to the barrel for continuously rotating the barrel through 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the barrel so as to continuously rotate the friction strip means around said longitudinal axis whereby to continuously vary the sense of the spin from top spin to back spin and side spin to side spin.
Specification