BALL DISPENSER

摘要

There is described a ball dispenser (20) susceptible for use in a ball dispenser system (10). The ball dispenser (20) includes an ball container (50) for receiving balls (40), for example golf balls, to be dispensed. The dispenser (20) further includes a dispensing mechanism (140) coupled to the ball container (50) for receiving therefrom balls (40) to be dispensed to users (60). Moreover, the dispenser (20) includes a control unit (130) coupled in communication with the dispensing mechanism (140) for controlling the dispensing mechanism (140) for dispensing the balls (40) therethrough to the users (60). Furthermore, the dispenser (20) includes one or more sources of electrical power (120) local to the dispenser (20) for providing operating power to the dispenser (20). Users (60) are able to request dispensing of balls (40) from the ball dispenser (20) using short-range wireless communication with the control unit (130). In order to allow for optimal spatial deployment of the dispenser (20), the dispenser (20) includes a coupling arrangement (325) for attaching the dispenser (20) releasably to its foundations (300).