System and method for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets

A system located at a shooting range for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets comprising:

• a net adapted to act as a closed loop conveyor belt between at least an elongated rear roller and an elongated front roller;
• the net covering at least a portion of a target fall zone;
• the net having mesh openings sufficient to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged targets to pass thru;
• at least one motor operatively connected to the elongated front roller;
• each elongated roller supported above a ground surface;
• a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller for receiving undamaged clay targets transported by the net;
• a plurality of elongated friction strips positioned longitudinally along a length of each of the elongated front roller and the elongated rear roller, the elongated friction strips spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of each respective elongated roller;
• a plurality of fixed caster assemblies supporting each of the elongated front roller and the elongated rear roller, each fixed caster assembly positioned around the respective elongated roller and comprising at least two fixed lower casters and a fixed upper caster;
• and
• a protective barrier positioned in front of the collection area opposite the elongated front roller.

A method for recovering undamaged frangible aerial targets at a shooting range comprising:

• a) providing a conveyor system comprising:
• a net having mesh openings dimensioned to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass through;
• an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and elevated above ground level, wherein the net forms a closed loop around the elongated front roller and elongated rear roller;
• a motor operatively coupled to at least one of the elongated rollers to impart rotational motion;
• a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller;
• b) positioning the conveyor system to cover a target fall zone of the shooting range;
• c) activating the motor to cause the net to move in a direction from the elongated rear roller toward the elongated front roller;
• d) catching undamaged frangible aerial targets on an upper surface of the net;
• and
• c) transporting the undamaged frangible aerial targets on the upper surface of the net to the collection area.