US20060154578A1 - Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method - Google Patents
Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060154578A1 US20060154578A1 US11/078,883 US7888305A US2006154578A1 US 20060154578 A1 US20060154578 A1 US 20060154578A1 US 7888305 A US7888305 A US 7888305A US 2006154578 A1 US2006154578 A1 US 2006154578A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- baseball
- abrasive material
- wand
- ejecting
- support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
- B24C3/00—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
- A63B47/04—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for cleaning balls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
- B24C1/00—Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effects; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods
- B24C1/06—Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effects; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for producing matt surfaces, e.g. on plastic materials, on glass
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
- A63B47/04—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for cleaning balls
- A63B2047/046—Motorised
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
Abstract
A baseball is desirably blasted with an abrasive material to attain a sufficient level of de-slicking. Baseballs are desirably delivered one at a time to a support and rotated while being sprayed with abrasive material from plural directions. Used abrasive material may be collected and recycled for reuse. Baseballs in a hopper are delivered one at a time in one embodiment to a support by selectively aligning an opening in a rotatable hopper element with an opening in a second element to permit the passage of a baseball through the second element and to the support at an appropriate time. Desirably, baseballs are ejected from the support following de-slicking, such as using an ejection lever or wand that is actuated by a timing rod to eject the baseball from the support ahead of the delivery of the next baseball to the support.
Description
- The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for de-slicking baseballs.
- Currently, before every major league and minor league baseball game, 70 to 120 new baseballs have to be “rubbed-up” with a mud product (an abrasive). This is done to de-slick the new baseballs and to provide a uniform surface finish on the baseball for more predictable flight. The mud must be applied in such a way that the color of the baseball is not too dark and is even. Historically, each of these baseballs is rubbed-up by hand by a member of the home team's staff or by a game umpire. The product used to rub-up the balls is Lena Blackbume mud, extracted near the Delaware River. This type of mud has been used to rub-up baseballs to take the shine off them since 1938. So far, no other product has been able to produce the same results as Lena Blackburne mud. Although the mud is very effective, the way in which it is applied to rub-up baseballs is very tedious and unpleasant. Because every major league team plays in more than 160 games in one season, significant time is required to prepare the large quantity of baseballs needed for game use.
- There is therefore a need for an automated or semi-automated baseball rubbing machine to minimize the requirements of the human labor, speed up the baseball rubbing process, and to enhance the quality of rubbed-baseballs.
- In accordance with one aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus is provided for mechanically de-slicking new baseballs to provide a more consistent surface finish and color to the baseball. Desirably, the apparatus de-slicks baseballs by spraying a treatment material onto the baseball surface, such as like a sandblaster. One option for this treatment material is a mixture of dried mud, such as Lena Blackburne mud, and glass beads or sand.
- In accordance with one specific example, a baseball support is provided that is operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support. Turning includes, but is not limited to, rotating the baseball on the support or otherwise moving the baseball to reorient the baseball on the support to shift different surfaces of the baseball to different positions. In accordance with this embodiment, an abrasive material applicator is positioned to spray abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned. Desirably, the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball from a plurality of directions.
- In one desirable form, the apparatus comprises a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time. A plurality of supports may be provided with baseballs being delivered one at a time to each of the supports with baseballs on each of the supports being turned and roughened by spraying abrasive material onto the baseballs simultaneously. Any number of baseballs may be simultaneously treated in this manner.
- An exemplary singulator comprises a baseball hopper having a baseball receiving interior space; a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening; a second member defining a baseball delivery opening positioned in alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the first member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, such that a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the baseball delivery opening. The exemplary singulator may also comprise a stop (a projection) positioned to block the passage of any baseballs from the hopper into the passageway other than the first baseball when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position. In this example, one baseball is delivered at a time from the hopper.
- In accordance with another aspect, a speed adjuster may be used to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening.
- Desirably, the first member has a baseball guiding surface that is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway. For example, the guiding surface may be generally conical so as to guide baseballs toward the outer periphery of the hopper with the hopper, for example, being a right cylinder with an upright longitudinal axis. As the rotatable first member is rotated, in this example the inlet opening intercepts baseballs and carries them to the outlet opening for delivery through the baseball delivery opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position.
- The first member desirably comprises a ball engaging surface of a resilient material, such as of a high density foam or other polymeric material, so as to not mark or mar the baseballs as they shift within the hopper.
- In one specific embodiment, the support for supporting a baseball for treatment with abrasive comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about its respective longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the rollers may be parallel to one another with each of the rollers being rotated in the same direction about its respective longitudinal axis. The rollers may be contoured (e.g., of a reduced diameter in the center of the rollers), such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in position as the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball with the baseball being turned by the rollers as the rollers rotate.
- An ejector mechanism is desirably included for selectively removing a baseball from the support following de-slicking of the baseball by the abrasive material. In one specific form, the ejector comprises a baseball ejecting wand with first and second end portions. The ejector wand is pivotally supported in this example for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position. When the baseball ejecting wand is shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes a baseball positioned on the support toward a location off of the support. A chute or other delivery mechanism may be used to carry the baseball, when ejected off the support, to a storage location, such as to a drawer of the apparatus. A biasing mechanism, such as a biasing spring coupled to the ejecting wand may be used to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward the first wand position. In a mechanically simple approach, a timing rod may be coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member. The timing rod may be positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position at the appropriate time for ejecting a baseball from the support and prior to delivery of the next baseball to the support. The baseball ejecting wand desirably returns to the first position prior to delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.
- The apparatus also comprises an abrasive material applicator. In one form, the applicator comprises an air compressor for providing a source of pressurized air, a conduit coupled to the air compressor through which pressurized air flows from an air inlet to an outlet, and a siphon or suction tube coupled to the conduit and having an abrasive material inlet positioned relative to abrasive material such that air flowing through the conduit creates a vacuum and draws abrasive material into the flowing air stream for exiting with the pressurized air through the outlet. One or more hoses, desirably a plurality of hoses, carries the abrasive material to the appropriate position or positions for spraying at the baseball. A separate blasting mechanism of this type may be used for each abrasive material delivery hose that is used in the apparatus. An abrasive material recycling bin may be provided for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball with the abrasive material inlet being in communication with the recycling bin for drawing abrasive material from the abrasive material recycling bin into air flowing through the conduit.
- Methods of applying abrasive material to baseballs are also disclosed herein with such methods being apparent from the disclosure.
- Also, baseballs that have been de-slicked in the manner disclosed herein are also encompassed within this disclosure.
- It should be noted that the invention is directed toward all new and non-obvious features and method acts disclosed herein, both alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The method is not limited to the specific illustrated embodiments nor to an invention that solves all of the problems of the prior art. Also, the terms “a”, “an”, or “the” when used herein are not limited to the singular. The presence of two or more of a particular feature or element means that a, an, or the element or feature is also present.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for de-slicking baseballs in accordance with this disclosure. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a form of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 with exterior housing panels being removed to reveal an exemplary frame and internal components of this form of the apparatus. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, much like that ofFIG. 2 , except with the frame components being removed for convenience. -
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a portion of an exemplary ejector mechanism embodiment shown inFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one form of a baseball turning apparatus and abrasive material supply system usable in the apparatus ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the baseball turning apparatus of the form shown inFIG. 5 and also showing a portion of one form of a baseball ejector mechanism. -
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary abrasive material delivery circuit that may be included in the apparatus, although an air compressor using the apparatus may be a separate component positioned outside of the housing. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, looking from below, of an exemplary hopper assembly portion of the apparatus together with a portion of a baseball discharge conduit coupled to the hopper assembly and also showing a timing wand useful in triggering one form of a baseball ejector mechanism. -
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the apparatus ofFIG. 8 that also schematically illustrates an exemplary motor arrangement for rotating a rotatable member of the hopper assembly ofFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the hopper assembly ofFIG. 8 , with the baseball discharge conduit and rotatable member supporting shaft removed for clarification. -
FIG. 11 is a top view of a portion of the hopper assembly ofFIG. 8 with a rotatable member of the hopper assembly embodiment removed. -
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the hopper assembly ofFIG. 8 with the shaft that supports the rotatable member being removed and with only a portion of the discharge conduit being shown. -
FIG. 13 is an enlarged photograph showing a portion of the surface of a new un-de-slicked baseball with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty. -
FIG. 14 is a photograph of a portion of the surface of a baseball following treatment by the apparatus ofFIG. 3 with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty. -
FIG. 15 is a photograph of a portion of the surface of a baseball that has been treated by hand rubbing in accordance with the conventional approach with the baseball surface being magnified by a factor of fifty. -
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary housing for one embodiment of a baseball de-slicking apparatus. The illustrated housing is indicated generally at 10 and comprises front andrear panels 12,14 and first andsecond side panels 16,18. The illustratedhousing 10 also comprises alid portion 20 that may be pivoted to housing framework for pivotal movement between open and closed positions in the directions indicated byarrow 22. When open as shown inFIG. 1 , access is provided to ahopper opening 24 through which new (un-de-slicked) baseballs may be deposited into a baseballreceiving hopper assembly 26 located at the upper end of the housing. Adrawer 28, having ahandle 30, is also shown inFIG. 1 in an open position. De-slicked baseballs are deposited by the apparatus into the interior 32 of the drawer following de-slicking. The illustrated drawer may slide inwardly and outwardly in the directions indicated byarrow 34 to permit ready access for removal of the de-slicked baseballs and closing of the drawer to receive additional de-slicked baseballs. - The
front panel 12 also desirably comprises acontrol panel section 40 with appropriate controls for the apparatus such as a power on/offswitch 42, a compressed airvalve control switch 44, a baseball turningapparatus control switch 46, a hopperrotation control switch 48, and a hopperspeed control switch 50. In embodiments where a compressor is positioned externally to thehousing 10, a compressedair inlet port 52 may be provided through which pressurized air from the compressor may be delivered to appropriate tubing and/or piping inside the apparatus. Although not shown inFIG. 1 , an abrasive material supply inlet with opening 54 (that is typically closed when the apparatus is in use) is provided for use in charging the apparatus with fresh abrasive material. In addition, if desired to replace the abrasive material contained in thehousing 10, a vacuum or other abrasive material remover may be inserted through opening 54 to vacuum out abrasive material contained in the housing. -
FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus ofFIG. 1 with thepanels exemplary frame 60 that may be used to support the various components within the apparatus. InFIG. 2 , thelid 20 anddrawer 28 are both shown in a closed position. InFIG. 2 , thehopper assembly 26, in the form shown, comprises anupright hopper cylinder 64 that may comprise a right cylinder having a vertical longitudinal axis. Thehopper 64 may be fixedly mounted to the frame so as to not move relative to the frame. Alternatively, the hopper may be movable, such as being rotatably mounted to the frame with selected other components being fixed. A second, orbase member 66, is positioned beneathhopper 64 and is desirably supported by portions of theframe 60, such as by aframe cross-member 68.Base 66 in a desirable embodiment is disk-like with planar upper and lower surfaces and is fixed in place so as to not be moveable relative to the frame.Base 66 includes or defines a baseball delivery opening (not shown inFIG. 2 but indicated at 80 inFIGS. 10 and 12 ) to which a baseball discharge or guide, such as aconduit 82, is coupled for the purpose of guiding a baseball from thehopper assembly 26 to a baseball support. One exemplary embodiment of a suitable support is indicated generally at 86 inFIG. 2 . Abaseball 90 is turned on the support while abrasive material is being applied to the baseball by an abrasive material applicator, such as by anexemplary applicator 92 described below in connection withFIGS. 5 and 7 . An ejector mechanism, one embodiment being indicated generally at 96 inFIG. 2 , and described in greater detail below, is provided for ejecting or removing abaseball 90 from thesupport 86 following de-slicking. For example, a baseball may be ejected or pushed into a baseball discharge tube or conduit 98 (seeFIG. 3 ) for delivery from aninlet 100 of the conduit to anoutlet 102 of the conduit and to the interior 32 of thedrawer 28. Theinlet 100 may comprise anarcuate back stop 101 positioned to intercept a baseball being ejected from thesupport 86 and to direct the intercepted baseball into the main portion ofconduit 98. - Desirably, abrasive material that is sprayed at the
baseball 90 is collected following use for recycling. For example, arecycling bin 106 may be supported by frame components, such as by arectangular frame 108 inFIG. 2 , in position beneath thesupport 86 for collecting the sprayed abrasive material. Thebin 106 may, for example, be of an inverted frusto-pyramidal shape or of any other desirable shape. The bin may be provided with a lower discharge opening that is selectively opened to deposit used abrasive material into the drawer for removal. The recycled material collected inbin 106 may be picked up by the abrasive material delivery system in the apparatus for reuse in blasting baseballs. The abrasivematerial supply inlet 54 to a conduit 110 (both being shown in dashed lines inFIG. 2 ) may be used for supplying fresh abrasive material tobin 106 as desired.FIG. 3 also shows the components discussed above in connection withFIG. 2 , but without theframe 60. It should be noted that a seal may be provided betweenbase 66 and thesupport 86 to prevent abrasive material dust from passing upwardly into the apparatus. This assists in confining the abrasive material to the baseball blasting area of the apparatus. Also, an exhaust vent may be provided for venting pressurized air from the blasting area with a filter or other dust capturing device being used to capture any dust escaping with the air. - One form of
support 86 for supporting and turning a baseball, desirably during at least a portion of the time that abrasive material is being sprayed at the baseball, is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 . Desirably, the baseball is being continuously turned for the entire time abrasive material is being applied to thereby continuously reorient the baseball on the support so as to present different surfaces of the baseball toward pressurized sources of abrasive material as the baseball is being treated. With reference to these figures, cross-members, such as parallel support bars 150,152, are supported at their respective opposed ends by aborder portion 154 of therecycling bin 106.Bars support brackets second roller assemblies roller assemblies brackets brackets base portion 170 that spans the distance betweensupports upright leg portions cross-piece 176 extends between theleg portions Roller assembly 166 comprises anelongated axle 180 having end portions that are rotatably mounted to therespective bracket legs 172 ofbrackets Roller assembly 166 also comprises a ball supportingcushioning roller 182, such as of a durable material with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene being one specific example.Roller 182 is mounted toaxle 180 for rotation with the axle. Similarly,roller assembly 168 comprises anelongated axle 190 rotatably mounted at its respective end portions to therespective bracket legs 174 of thebrackets Roller assembly 168 also desirably comprises aball supporting roller 192, that may be identical toroller 182. Therollers baseball 90 in position on the rollers as the rollers are rotated. For example, the rollers may be reduced in diameter moving from an outer end portion of each roller toward the center of each roller to assist in centering the ball on the rollers as the rollers turn. Sealed bearings may be used to mount the roller axles to the respective brackets. - In the illustrated embodiment, the ends of
axles bracket 162 as shown inFIG. 6 withaxle 180 supporting apulley 200 andaxle 190 supporting apulley 202. Amotor 204, having amotor drive pulley 206, is drivenly coupled to therespective pulleys belt 208, for rotating therollers rollers FIG. 6 , as indicated byarrows motor 204 may be turned on and off by theswitch 46 on the control panel (FIG. 1 ) that is included in a motor control circuit formotor 204. - An abrasive material support for supporting a plurality of abrasive material applicators may be supported by the
respective brackets FIG. 5 and comprises respective first and second parallel spaced apartupright legs piece 216 extending between the upper end portions oflegs support 213 is a header that is generally of an inverted U-shaped configuration. The lower portions oflegs respective bracket cross-pieces 176. - Although other forms of abrasive material supply mechanisms may be used (e.g., a pressurized pot abrasive material supply device), in the illustrated embodiment, an air siphon or suction abrasive material blaster is desirably used. In the embodiment shown, pressurized air is delivered, as indicated by
arrow 240 inFIG. 5 , to an inlet to a conduit 242. Conduit 242 may be connected to the port 52 (seeFIG. 1 ), through which pressurized air may be supplied to the apparatus. A valve (not shown inFIG. 5 , but indicated at 272 inFIG. 7 ) may be placed at the inlet to conduit 242 to block the entry of pressurized air from a source (such as from an air compressor, e.g. 270 inFIG. 7 ) until desired times. A suction or venturi tube 244 (FIG. 5 ) in this embodiment extends downwardly into the abrasivematerial supply bin 106. As pressurized air flows through conduit 242 from the inlet to this conduit, abrasive material is drawn upwardly into the air stream by the vacuum created inconduit 244. This abrasive material containing air under pressure in this example reaches a three-way distribution connection 246, where the air/abrasive material flow is split to pass intobranch lines Branch lines air entering line 240 may be varied with 90 psi being a specific example. The abrasive baseball treatment material is delivered to thebaseball 90 frombranch line 248 through anoutlet 260, frombranch line 250 through an outlet 262 (shown in dashed lines inFIG. 5 ), and frombranch line 252 through anoutlet 264. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, pressurized air containing the abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball from plural directions. More specifically, inFIG. 5 , the baseball is supported betweenoutlets outlet 264, in this example, directs air containing abrasive material toward the baseball in a direction that is orthogonal to the directions fromoutlets -
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the abrasive material delivery system described above. InFIG. 7 , anair compressor 270 is shown. In addition, anair flow valve 272 is shown downstream ofinlet port 52 and upstream ofsuction tube 244.Valve 272 may be solenoid controlled in response to aswitch 44 that is selectively coupled to avoltage source 274 to, for example,open valve 272 whenswitch 44 is closed. InFIG. 7 ,abrasive material 290 is shown in the interior ofbin 206. - The
abrasive material 290 may be any suitable material or material mixture. However, desirably the abrasive material comprises dried mud such as dried Lena Blackburne mud. In addition, more desirably, the abrasive material comprises a mixture of the dried mud and other abrasive material, such as glass beads or sand. The particle size of the glass beads and sand may be varied as well as the concentration of the mud in the glass bead/sand/mud mix. For example, the mud may comprise ten to fifty percent of the mixture of mud and abrasive particles. In producing the baseball ofFIG. 14 , a mixture of 25 percent mud and 75 percent glass beads having a microparticle size of 0.5 to 1.0 mm was used. In addition, this specific mixture was applied at 90 psi for a time period of about 30 seconds. The pressure, mud abrasive mix and time period during which a baseball is treated may be adjusted to achieve the desired results. - Baseballs treated in this manner had mud that is consistently more uniformly distributed over the surface of the baseball and a more even texture in comparison to baseballs that are de-slicked by hand.
FIG. 13 illustrates a portion of the surface of a new un-de-slicked baseball.FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of the surface of a hand rubbed baseball. The dirt particles are more uniformly distributed on the baseball ofFIG. 14 than on the baseball ofFIG. 15 . - Desirably, baseballs are positioned on the
rollers 182,192 (or other support) and removed from the rollers automatically, although semi-automatic and less desirably manual approaches may be used. In addition, various electronically operated mechanisms to achieve the desired timing and to deliver and remove baseballs may be used. However, in one desirable form, a mechanical ejector mechanism is provided to push a baseball off the rollers following de-slicking and prior to the arrival of the next baseball on the rollers. - In a specific exemplary embodiment, with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 6 , the illustrated form ofejector mechanism 96 comprises anejector wand 300 comprising afirst end portion 302 and asecond end portion 304.End portion 302 is pivoted, such as by apin 306, to aprojection 308 extending from the underside of top-piece 216 of the sand blasting hose supportingheader bracket 213. The axis ofpin 306 is parallel to top-piece 216 in the illustrated embodiment. Thefirst end portion 302 ofejector wand 300 also comprises a timing rod engaging surface, in this case anarcuate surface 310 that extends upwardly inFIG. 6 from thepin 306. In this example,surface 310 extends over a portion of top-piece 216 but is spaced from the top-piece when the ejector wand is raised. In addition,end portion 304 ofejector wand 300 comprises aball ejecting tip 312 that extends downwardly inFIG. 6 from abase portion 314 of theball ejecting wand 300. In the position shown inFIG. 6 ,ball ejecting wand 300 is in a raised position where it does not interfere with the delivery of a ball to therollers FIG. 6 . - As explained in greater detail below, the
hopper assembly 26 in the form shown comprises arotatable shaft 340 shown inFIGS. 4,8 and 9. As can be seen inFIG. 9 , a motor 342 (shown schematically inFIG. 9 ) drives adrive pulley 344 in rotation with the drive pulley being coupled, such as by abelt 346 to apulley 348 mounted to theshaft 340. As the motor operates, it drives theshaft 340 in rotation, such as in a clockwise direction shown by thearrow 350 inFIG. 4 . Themotor 342 may be a variable speed motor such as a voltage controlled motor, with the motor being supplied with voltage fromsource 352 via the switch 48 (when closed). Aspeed adjustment mechanism 50, such as a rheostat, is provided in the circuit leading from the voltage source to the motor for controlling the motor speed. As a result, the speed of rotation of the motor and of theshaft 340 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as desired. Atiming wand 360 is shown mounted to theshaft 340. The timing rod in this embodiment is capable of 360 degree rotation with the rotation ofshaft 340. Ahorizontal slot 364 is provided in thedischarge tube 82 to provide clearance for passage oftiming wand 360 as it rotates past thedischarge conduit 82. Anotherslot 365, vertical inFIG. 8 , allows for passage of theejector wand 300 between raised and lowered positions. - With reference to
FIG. 4A , asshaft 340 is rotated,timing wand 360 engages thearcuate surface 310 ofbaseball ejecting wand 300. As rotation ofshaft 340 continues, thetiming wand 360 travels along thearcuate surface 310 and urges theball ejecting wand 300 downwardly, in the direction ofarrow 370 inFIG. 4A , about the pivot axis ofpin 306. Theball ejecting wand 300 travels downwardly until such time as tip 312 (FIG. 6 ) engages the ball and pushes the ball in a direction off of the ball support. The direction of rotation of therotating roller 182 assists the ejection of thebaseball 90 fromsupport 86. As theshaft 340 continues to rotate, thetiming wand 360 eventually clears theend 372 ofend portion 302 of thebaseball ejecting wand 300 so that thebaseball ejecting wand 300 can return to its raised non-baseball ejecting position. This process is repeated in this embodiment each time theshaft 340 makes one rotation. - As previously mentioned, a singulator is desirably provided for delivering one baseball at a time to the
support mechanism 86. It is, of course, possible to simply place baseballs manually one at a time onto the support, although an automatic or semi-automatic operation is more desirable. One specific form of a singulator is provided by the illustrated design ofhopper assembly 26 shown inFIGS. 8-12 . In these figures, astop 382 is shown mounted to the interior surface ofhopper cylinder 64 at a location above thebaseball delivery opening 80 throughbase 66. More specifically, in the illustrated form, thestop 382 comprises a projecting rod that overhangsopening 80. Other devices or projections may be used as the stop. -
FIG. 12 illustrateshopper assembly 26 with a plurality ofbaseballs hopper cylinder 64 of this embodiment. In the illustratedhopper assembly 26, arotatable member 386 is positioned at least partially within a lower portion ofcylinder 64.Rotatable member 386 may be rotatably supported by the upper surface ofbase 66, such as bycircular roller bearings 388. Themember 386 is desirably mounted to theshaft 340 for rotation with the rotation of the shaft. Therotatable member 386 comprises anupper surface 390, alower surface 392, and apassageway 394 extending between the upper and lower surfaces. Thepassageway 394 includes an upwardly facing baseball receiving inlet opening 396 leading to the passageway and alower outlet opening 398. The passageway has a diameter that is desirably slightly greater than the diameter of a baseball. - In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening 396 is positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the wall of
cylinder 64. In addition, theupper surface 390 ofrotatable member 386 is contoured to direct baseballs toward the opening 396. More specifically,surface 390 in the illustrated embodiment is generally conical in shape so as to urge baseballs toward the periphery of therotatable member 386. Other shapes or contours may be used to direct baseballs to the inlet to the passageway. Also, more than one passageway (and more than one opening through base 66) may be provided to deliver baseballs to plural supports if desired. Consequently, asrotatable member 386 rotates, the opening 396 encounters any baseballs remaining in thehopper 64 so that one of such baseballs may drop into thepassageway 394 if the passageway is unoccupied at the time it intercepts a baseball. Although variable, desirably the depth of the passageway is at least equal to one-half the diameter of a baseball and more desirably the depth of passageway 194 approximates the diameter of the baseball. Consequently, only one baseball may fit partially (or more desirably) entirely within the passageway in the embodiment shown inFIG. 12 . As therotatable member 386 rotates, eventually theoutlet opening 398 becomes aligned with thebaseball receiving opening 80 throughbase 66 and thereby with thedischarge conduit 82. In this case, the baseball in the passageway will drop throughopening 80 and will be directed byconduit 82 to a location on therollers stop 382 is positioned above opening 80, asbaseball 90 drops throughopening 80 andconduit 82, thestop 382 prevents other baseballs from immediately passing into thepassageway 394 where they could also drop toward the support. As a result, only one baseball at a time is delivered to the support. The height ofstop 382 above theupper surface 390 may be adjusted to permit only a single baseball in passageway 394 (or partially in such passageway) to pass underneath thestop 386 while blocking the passage of other baseballs. Afterbaseball 90 is delivered throughopening 80, continued rotation ofmember 86 exposes the inlet 396 topassageway 394 for intercepting and receiving another baseball from the hopper. The next received baseball will remain inpassageway 394 until themember 386 is again aligned with opening 80, at which time the next baseball drops toward the support. Thetiming wand 360 is positioned onshaft 340 so that a baseball is ejected from the support and thebaseball ejecting wand 300 returns to its upright position prior to the next alignment ofoutlet 398 ofpassageway 394 withbaseball delivery opening 80. - As previously mentioned,
rotatable member 386 may be made of any suitable durable material that does not mar baseballs. Examples include high density foam, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, a polymeric material such as sold under the brand name Delrin, and other suitable materials. Theshaft 340 may be provided with a clearance fit with respect to an opening throughbase 66 that accommodates the shaft. Alternatively, theshaft 340 may be coupled to base 366 by a bearing to assist in centering the rotation of therotational member 386 about the longitudinal axis of the hopper assembly. - Having illustrated and described the principles of our invention with respect to various embodiments, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this invention may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the inventive principles disclosed herein. We claim as our invention all such principles as fall within the scope and spirit of the following claims.
Claims (27)
1. An apparatus for de-slicking a baseball using an abrasive material, the apparatus comprising:
a baseball support operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support; and
an abrasive material applicator positioned to direct a spray of abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the singulator comprises:
a baseball hopper comprising a baseball receiving interior space;
a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening;
a second member defining a baseball delivery opening positioned for alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the first member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, whereby a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the passageway, the outlet opening and the baseball delivery opening being aligned when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position; and
a stop positioned to block the passage of any baseballs other than the first baseball from the hopper into the passageway when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a speed adjuster operable to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first member has a baseball guiding surface that is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway.
6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hopper comprises a right cylinder having an upright longitudinal axis and an interior wall surface, wherein the first member has upper and lower surfaces and is positioned at least partially in a lower region of the hopper and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the hopper, wherein the inlet opening opens upwardly through the upper surface of the first member, the outlet opening opens downwardly through the lower surface of the first member, wherein the passageway extends through the first member and wherein the inlet opening is positioned adjacent to the interior wall surface of the hopper, wherein the upper surface of the rotatable member is generally conical such that any baseballs in the hopper tend to move toward the interior wall surface where a baseball can be intercepted by the inlet opening to the passageway as the first member rotates, the stop being positioned at least partially above the inlet opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position, the depth of the passageway and the spacing of the stop above the inlet opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position being established such that only a single baseball positioned at least partially in the passageway may pass under the stop as the first member is moved to the baseball delivery position.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about their respective longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the rollers being parallel to one another, the rollers being rotated in the same direction about their respective longitudinal axes, the rollers being contoured such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in such position as abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an ejector operable to selectively remove a baseball from the support following de-slicking of the baseball by the abrasive material.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7 comprising an ejector mechanism operable to eject a baseball from the supporting rollers, the ejector mechanism comprising a baseball ejecting wand having first and second end portions and being pivotally supported for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position, wherein when shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes the baseball positioned on the support to a location off of the support, a biasing mechanism coupled to the wand and operable to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward the first wand position, a timing rod coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member, the timing rod being positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position, the timing rod moving past the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand following the ejection of the baseball to a location off of the support to thereby allow the baseball ejecting wand to return to the first position so as to not interfere with the delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand comprises an arcuate timing rod engaging surface, the timing rod engaging and traveling along the timing rod engaging surface as the rotatable member is rotated with the timing rod pushing the baseball ejecting wand to the second baseball ejecting portion position as the timing rod travels along the timing rod engaging surface.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the abrasive material applicator directs pressurized air and abrasive material from a plurality of directions toward a baseball positioned on the support.
12. An apparatus to claim 11 wherein the abrasive material applicator comprises an air compressor for providing a source of pressurized air, a first conduit coupled to the air compressor through which pressurized air flows from an air inlet to an air outlet, a suction tube coupled to the first conduit and comprising an abrasive material inlet positioned relative to abrasive material such that air flowing through the first conduit from the air inlet to the air outlet, draws abrasive material into the flowing air that exits the air outlet, and at least one hose coupled to the air outlet for carrying the mixture of air and abrasive material to a position for delivery at the baseball.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 comprising an abrasive material recycling bin for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball, the abrasive material inlet being in communication with the recycling bin for drawing the abrasive material from the abrasive material recycling bin into air flowing through the venturi.
14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the abrasive material comprises a glass bead and dried mud mixture.
15. A baseball de-slicked by the apparatus of claim 1 .
16. An apparatus for de-slicking a baseball using an abrasive material, the apparatus comprising:
a baseball support operable to turn a baseball positioned on the support;
an abrasive material applicator positioned to spray abrasive material at the baseball at least during a portion of the time the baseball is being turned;
a baseball singulator operable to deliver one baseball to the support at a time; and
an ejector operable to selectively engage a baseball positioned on the support to remove the baseball from the support.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16 comprising an abrasive material recycling bin for collecting abrasive material following the spraying of such material at a baseball.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the singulator comprises:
a baseball hopper comprising a baseball receiving interior space;
a first member supported for rotation relative to the hopper, the first member comprising a baseball receiving passageway having an inlet opening communicating with the baseball receiving interior space and an outlet opening;
a second fixed member comprising a baseball delivery opening positioned for alignment with the outlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway when the rotatable member is rotated to a baseball delivery position, whereby a first baseball positioned at least partially within the passageway may pass through the passageway, the outlet opening and the baseball delivery opening when the first member is in the baseball delivery position;
a stop positioned to block the passage of any baseballs other than the first baseball from the hopper into the passageway when the rotatable member is in the baseball delivery position;
wherein the support comprises plural elongated rollers each with a longitudinal axis and each being supported for rotation about their respective longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the rollers being parallel to one another, the rollers being rotated in the same direction about their respective longitudinal axes, the rollers being contoured such that a baseball positioned between the rotating rollers remains in such position as abrasive material is sprayed at the baseball; and
an ejector mechanism operable to eject a baseball from the supporting rollers, the ejector mechanism comprising a baseball ejecting wand having first and second end portions and being pivotally supported for movement between a first wand position and a second baseball ejecting wand position, wherein when shifted to the second baseball ejecting wand position, the second end portion of the baseball ejecting wand pushes the baseball positioned on the support to a location off of the support, a biasing spring coupled to the wand and operable to bias the baseball ejecting wand toward first wand position, a timing rod coupled to the first member for rotation with the rotation of the first member, the timing rod being positioned to engage the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand as the first member rotates so as to pivot the baseball ejecting wand from the first position to the second baseball ejecting position, the timing rod moving past the first end portion of the baseball ejecting wand following the ejection of the baseball to a location off of the support to thereby allow the baseball ejecting wand to return to the first position so as to not interfere with the delivery of another baseball to the support for spraying with abrasive material.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a speed adjuster operable to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotatable member to thereby adjust the rate of delivery of baseballs to the baseball delivery opening, and wherein the first member has a baseball guiding surface which is contoured to guide any baseballs in the hopper toward the inlet opening of the baseball receiving passageway.
20. A method of de-slicking baseballs comprising:
spraying a de-slicking material at a baseball; and
turning the baseball at least during a portion of the time while spraying the de-slicking compound at the baseball.
21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the de-slicking material comprises an abrasive material.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the de-slicking material comprises a mixture of dirt and glass beads.
23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the dirt is Lena Blackburne mud.
24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the act of spraying comprises blasting the baseball with abrasive material from a plurality of directions.
25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of directions comprises first and second directions from opposed locations with the ball supported between said opposed locations and a third direction orthogonal to the first and second direction.
26. A method according to claim 25 comprising the act of ejecting the de-slicked baseball.
27. A method according to claim 26 in which the act of turning the baseball comprises the act of rotating the baseball and the act of applying an abrasive material comprises the act of blasting the baseball with abrasive material from a plurality of directions.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/078,883 US20060154578A1 (en) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-03-09 | Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US64206605P | 2005-01-07 | 2005-01-07 | |
US11/078,883 US20060154578A1 (en) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-03-09 | Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060154578A1 true US20060154578A1 (en) | 2006-07-13 |
Family
ID=36653888
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/078,883 Abandoned US20060154578A1 (en) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-03-09 | Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060154578A1 (en) |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3604158A (en) * | 1969-02-11 | 1971-09-14 | Wheelabrator Corp | Apparatus for treating cylindrical workpieces |
US4001977A (en) * | 1975-08-25 | 1977-01-11 | Wheelabrator-Frye, Inc. | Rotary vestibule blasting device |
US4084357A (en) * | 1977-04-22 | 1978-04-18 | Peterson Machine Tool, Inc. | Valve cleaning machine |
US5049413A (en) * | 1989-11-01 | 1991-09-17 | Gibson William B | Method for cleaning a ball-like object adapted for sport and recreational use |
US5584747A (en) * | 1992-07-24 | 1996-12-17 | Sintokogio Ltd. | Shot blasting apparatus for polishing and cleaning wheel |
US5718155A (en) * | 1995-07-14 | 1998-02-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Sleeve bore machining apparatus and sleeve bore machining method |
US5749797A (en) * | 1996-03-01 | 1998-05-12 | Sunseri; Robert | Automatic pitching device and methods of constructing and utilizing same |
-
2005
- 2005-03-09 US US11/078,883 patent/US20060154578A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3604158A (en) * | 1969-02-11 | 1971-09-14 | Wheelabrator Corp | Apparatus for treating cylindrical workpieces |
US4001977A (en) * | 1975-08-25 | 1977-01-11 | Wheelabrator-Frye, Inc. | Rotary vestibule blasting device |
US4084357A (en) * | 1977-04-22 | 1978-04-18 | Peterson Machine Tool, Inc. | Valve cleaning machine |
US5049413A (en) * | 1989-11-01 | 1991-09-17 | Gibson William B | Method for cleaning a ball-like object adapted for sport and recreational use |
US5584747A (en) * | 1992-07-24 | 1996-12-17 | Sintokogio Ltd. | Shot blasting apparatus for polishing and cleaning wheel |
US5718155A (en) * | 1995-07-14 | 1998-02-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Sleeve bore machining apparatus and sleeve bore machining method |
US5749797A (en) * | 1996-03-01 | 1998-05-12 | Sunseri; Robert | Automatic pitching device and methods of constructing and utilizing same |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5733209A (en) | Pneumatic ball launching apparatus | |
JP6091057B2 (en) | Shot blasting equipment | |
US6085735A (en) | Device for projecting tennis balls | |
US5902414A (en) | Apparatus and method for renovating playing surfaces | |
EP2805795B1 (en) | Shot peening device | |
CN110216594B (en) | Automatic sandblast mechanism of carousel formula | |
DE3608265A1 (en) | AUTOMATIC BALL SAVING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TABLE TENNIS | |
DE2650202A1 (en) | DEVICE FOR DEBURRING WORKPIECES | |
EP0005604A1 (en) | A surface cleaning machine | |
US20060154578A1 (en) | Baseball de-slicking apparatus and method | |
US6615441B2 (en) | Cleaning apparatus | |
JPH0615570A (en) | Surface polishing machine | |
JPH11507599A (en) | Blasting equipment for wall cleaning | |
US4917380A (en) | Table tennis ball serving device | |
KR20090027711A (en) | Shooting type automatic rapping device | |
EP0041797A1 (en) | Surface treatment | |
JPH1034100A (en) | Method for cleaning resin container and device therefor | |
KR102209978B1 (en) | Shot Blasting Machine For Plate | |
CN114289105A (en) | Building concrete raw material processing method | |
DE19903454A1 (en) | Equipment supplying e.g. footballs onto playing field, takes fresh ball from stock and throws it to appropriate spot, when ball in play crosses boundary | |
GB2142546A (en) | Soccer ball practice machine | |
JP2002282517A (en) | Foreign matter removing mechanism and medal washing device | |
JPS5892379A (en) | Conveyor apparatus of polishing material in pinball store | |
NL2015526B1 (en) | Sand injection device. | |
NO781440L (en) | DEVICE FOR SPRAYER APPLIANCE. |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SMITH, TYLER D., OREGON Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SMITH, TYLER D.;WRIGHT, JAMIE S.W.;BURBANK, WINSTON S.;REEL/FRAME:016387/0517;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050222 TO 20050308 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |