Professional batting training machine
First Claim
1. A baseball pitching machine including a counterrotating wheel baseball launcher having a plurality of counterrotating wheels each on axles defining respective axes of rotation thereof, variable speed motor means for each counterrotating wheel, motor speed control means, wheel axes adjustment means for the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher and a baseball delivery system for providing a sequence of baseballs to the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher characterized in that:
- said baseball delivery system comprises a carrier for receiving a baseball having seams in a predetermined standard seam orientation;
means for advancing said carrier from a baseball receiving position to a baseball launch position near the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher with each baseball on said carrier in the predetermined standard baseball orientation;
first baseball rotating means positioned along the route of travel of said carrier intermediate the baseball receiving position and the baseball launch position for rotating the baseball from its predetermined standard baseball orientation to a selected baseball orientation about one axis while each baseball is on said carrier; and
second baseball rotating means positioned further along the route of travel of said carrier for rotating the baseball about a second axis while the baseball is on said carrier to produce the required baseball orientation to produce a selected pitch when launched.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A baseball pitching machine is disclosed preferably employing a counterrotating wheel type baseball launch subsystem pitching a series of baseballs and a computer controlled system for selecting the type and percentage of pitches, pitcher and batter characteristics, strike zone areas and other parameters to provide a meaningful batting training session. The pitching machine includes a ball transport subsystem including a carousel for receiving and transporting baseballs in sequence to a position adjacent the counter rotating wheels. While being transported, each baseball stops at seam orienting stations where seam rotators rotate the baseball to provide a commanded seam orientation for the particular pitch selected. The baseball is oriented by the ball orienter for insertion in the launch subsystem. A computer allows the selection by the operator of a variety of pitches, random or selected order. The computer has memory capability for storing pitches corresponding to any pitcher'"'"'s typical pitch pattern and the system includes video, audio and data recording to record each batting session. An alignment system is included utilizing a laser light source. A remote control is also provided for the batter or his coach. A manual baseball inserter is disclosed for use with other pitching machines.
60 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A baseball pitching machine including a counterrotating wheel baseball launcher having a plurality of counterrotating wheels each on axles defining respective axes of rotation thereof, variable speed motor means for each counterrotating wheel, motor speed control means, wheel axes adjustment means for the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher and a baseball delivery system for providing a sequence of baseballs to the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher characterized in that:
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said baseball delivery system comprises a carrier for receiving a baseball having seams in a predetermined standard seam orientation; means for advancing said carrier from a baseball receiving position to a baseball launch position near the counterrotating wheel baseball launcher with each baseball on said carrier in the predetermined standard baseball orientation; first baseball rotating means positioned along the route of travel of said carrier intermediate the baseball receiving position and the baseball launch position for rotating the baseball from its predetermined standard baseball orientation to a selected baseball orientation about one axis while each baseball is on said carrier; and second baseball rotating means positioned further along the route of travel of said carrier for rotating the baseball about a second axis while the baseball is on said carrier to produce the required baseball orientation to produce a selected pitch when launched. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A baseball pitching machine comprising:
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a plurality of subassemblies including; a baseball transporting subassembly; a baseball launching subassembly; control means for said subassemblies; said baseball transporting subassembly including a baseball carrier for receiving a baseball having seams to be launched with the baseball'"'"'s seams in a predetermined standard starting orientation; said control means including means for storing baseball seam orientation information for each of a variety of pitches; means coupled to said baseball transporting means for contacting the baseball while on the carrier and for changing the orientation of a baseball while being transported on said carrier from a baseball receiving station to a baseball launch station; said control means including; operator controlled pitch command input means for allowing the selection of each of the stored variety of pitches; and means for operating said orientation changing means to adjust the orientation of a baseball while on the carrier from the starting orientation to the orientation for a pitch commanded by the operator utilizing said input means prior to a baseball completing its transport by said carrier to said baseball launching subassembly; and means for lifting each baseball from said carrier when positioned adjacent to said baseball launching subassembly for inserting each baseball into said baseball launching subassembly in the baseball orientation command at said input means by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification