Ball separation device for a golf range target

• US 8,866,613 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Fs/Sg Ip Holdings, Llc
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORTELL, JOHN F
• Application Number:
  US13/212,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape

Abstract

A ball separation device for a golf range target system is described. The ball separation device comprises a golf range target having a golf ball delivery shaft. A ball isolation system within the golf ball delivery shaft is configured to temporarily trap the ball within the shaft. A gate is configured to control the routing of a golf ball released from the ball isolation system. A control system queries the RFID reader while a ball is trapped in the ball isolation system. If the RFID reader receives a signal that identifies the golf ball as an RFID golf ball, the ball separation control system routes the ball to an RFID ball collector, otherwise, the ball is routed to a secondary location. After the determination is made as to where the trapped golf ball is to be routed, the ball isolation system releases the ball.

Claims

1. A ball separation device for a golf range target system comprising:

a golf range target comprising a golf ball delivery shaft;

a gravity fed ball isolation system that includes a partial disc within the golf ball delivery shaft configured to rotate to temporarily trap a golf ball within the shaft, wherein the partial disc is rotatable and the ball is temporarily trapped within a cutout of the partial disc;

an RFID reader;

an actuator configured to change the configuration of a gate, the gate configured to control the routing of the golf ball released from the ball isolation system;

a ball separation control system configured to query the RFID reader when the ball is isolated in the ball isolation system;

the ball separation control system configured to communicate with the RFID reader and determine if the trapped ball is an RFID golf ball, and then route the ball to an RFID ball collector;

the ball separation control system configured to communicate with the RFID reader and determine if the trapped ball is not an RFID golf ball, and then route the ball to a secondary location; and

the ball isolation system further configured to release the ball after the control system has made a routing determination.

2. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein the ball isolation system comprises a first separation component that includes a first partial disc and a second separation component that includes a second partial disc, the separation components coupled to the ball delivery shaft;

and

the first separation component configured to rotate to permit the golf ball to enter the shaft and the second separation component configured to temporarily trap the ball between the first separation component and the second separation component.

3. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein the ball isolation system comprises a single separation component coupled to the ball delivery shaft, the single separation component includes a partial disc configured to rotate to permit the ball to enter but not exit the shaft, trapping the ball within the shaft.

4. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein the ball isolation system is controlled by the ball separation control system.

5. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein the ball isolation system is controlled by an independent control system.

6. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein non-RFID golf balls are deposited in a non-RFID golf ball collector.

7. The ball separation system of claim 1, wherein non-RFID golf balls are deposited on the ground.

8. A ball separation device for a golf range target system comprising:

a golf range target comprising a golf ball delivery shaft;

an RFID reader;

a gravity fed ball isolation system within the golf ball delivery shaft configured to temporarily trap a golf ball within the shaft, the ball isolation system comprising a helical ramp configured such that an RFID tag embedded in the golf ball rotates at least 180 degrees relative to an antenna of the RFID reader, the ball isolation system including,

a first separation component includes a first partial disc and a second separation component includes a second partial disc, wherein each of the separation components is operatively coupled to the ball delivery shaft,

the first separation component configured to rotate and to permit the golf ball to enter the shaft and the second separation component configured to temporarily trap the golf ball between the first separation component and the second separation component along the golf ball delivery shaft, wherein the ball is temporarily trapped within a cutout of the single separation component;

an actuator configured to change the configuration of a gate, the gate configured to control the routing of a golf ball released from the ball isolation system;

a ball separation control system configured to query the RFID reader when the ball is isolated in the ball isolation system;

the ball separation control system configured to communicate with the RFID reader and determine if the trapped ball is an RFID golf ball, and then route the ball to an RFID ball collector;

the ball separation control system configured to communicate with the RFID reader and determine if the trapped ball is not an RFID golf ball, and then route the ball to a secondary location; and

the ball isolation system further configured to release the ball after the control system has made a routing determination.

9. The ball separation system of claim 8, wherein the ball isolation system comprises the first separation component above the helix and the second separation component below the helix, the separation components coupled to the ball delivery shaft;

and

the first separation component and the second separation component configured to rotate to temporarily trap the ball between the first separation component and the second separation component.

10. The ball separation system of claim 8, wherein the ball isolation system is controlled by the ball separation control system.

11. The ball separation system of claim 8, wherein the ball isolation system is controlled by an independent control system.

12. The ball separation system of claim 8, wherein non-RFID golf balls are deposited in a non-RFID golf ball collector.

13. The ball separation system of claim 8, wherein non-RFID golf balls are deposited on the ground.

14. A method for separating golf balls with a golf range target system comprising:

capturing a golf ball in a golf range target, the golf range target comprising a golf ball delivery shaft;

temporarily trapping the ball within the golf ball delivery shaft with a gravity fed ball isolation system;

rotating a single separation component of the ball isolation system such that the ball is temporarily trapped within a cutout of the single separation component;

querying an RFID reader with a ball separation control system when the ball is trapped in the ball isolation system, wherein the ball isolation system includes,

a first separation component includes a first partial disc and a second separation component includes a second partial disc, wherein each of the separation components is operatively coupled to the ball delivery shaft,

the first separation component configured to rotate to permit a gravity-fed golf ball to enter the shaft, and the second separation component configured to temporarily trap the golf ball between the first separation component and the second separation component along the golf ball delivery shaft;

routing the ball to an RFID ball collector with the ball separation control system, when the RFID reader determines that the trapped ball is an RFID golf ball;

routing the ball to a secondary location with the ball separation control system, when the RFID reader determines that the trapped ball is not an RFID golf ball;

changing the configuration of a gate to control the routing of the golf ball released from the ball isolation system; and

releasing the ball after the ball separation control system has made a routing determination and the gate configuration has been changed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising rotating the first separation component and the second separation component of the ball isolation system such that a ball is temporarily trapped between the first separation component and the second separation component.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling the ball isolation system with the ball separation control system.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling the ball isolation system with the independent control system.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising depositing non-RFID golf balls in a non-RFID golf ball collector.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising depositing non-RFID golf balls on the ground.