Automatic omnidirectional tennis ball thrower for training - has electronic processor controlling gimbal support pivotable for remote adjustment of trajectory

摘要

The automatic tennis ball thrower allows various trajectories to be used by virte of a preset programme without user intervention using pulse transmission to a receiver controlling the changes. The thrower has a fixed base (1) supporting a platform (2) on which a fixed colmn (3) coaxially supports a rotatable column (7) driven through a wheel (5) by a motor (4). The rotatable column carries at its upper end two vertical limbs of a fork which in turn rotatably supports a horizontal arm (11) on which the ball tubes (8) are rigidly secured. The horizontal arm is angularly adjustable by a further electric motor on the rotatable column. The effect is a gimbal type support for the tubes allowing their adjustment about horizontal and vertical axes.