# US 2018/0229097 A1 · Ball pitching machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0229097 A1 - Document ID: US20180229097A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/934,948 - Filed: 2018-03-23 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-14 - Assignees: Cloudgate Corp. - Applicants: Cloudgate Co., Ltd - Inventors: Seong Jun KIM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180229097A1 ## CPC - A63B 69/406: {with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction} - A63B 69/0002: {for baseball} - A63B 2069/0008: {for batting} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a ball pitching machine. The ball pitching machine includes a lower frame, an upper frame disposed on the lower frame, a ball introduction pipe configured to introduce a ball, a pitching unit configured to pitch a ball introduced through the ball introduction pipe, and a first pitching angle control unit coupled to the pitching unit, and configured to control the vertical pitching angle of the pitching unit. The first pitching angle control unit controls the location of the pitching unit so that the trajectory of a ball pitched by the pitching unit passes through a virtual pivot axis spaced apart from a body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball pitching machine, comprising: a lower frame; an upper frame disposed on the lower frame; a ball introduction pipe configured to introduce a ball; a pitching unit configured to pitch a ball introduced through the ball introduction pipe; and a first pitching angle control unit coupled to the pitching unit, and configured to control a vertical pitching angle of the pitching unit; wherein the first pitching angle control unit moves the pitching unit around a first virtual pivot axis located outside the ball pitching machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball pitching machine of claim 1, wherein: the first pitching angle control unit comprises a first vertical control guide and a second vertical control guide; and the first vertical control guide and the second vertical control guide are rotatably coupled to a first coupling point and second coupling point of the upper frame, respectively, and are rotatably coupled to a third coupling point and fourth coupling point of the pitching unit, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ball pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the first vertical control guide has a length different from that of the second vertical control guide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The ball pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the first pitching angle control unit further comprises a third vertical control guide rotatably coupled to the pitching unit and the upper frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The ball pitching machine of claim 2, wherein: the first pitching angle control unit further comprises a vertical drive unit coupled to the pitching unit and the upper frame; and the vertical drive unit moves a location of the pitching unit in a vertical direction so that the pitching unit is rotated around the first virtual pivot axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ball pitching machine of claim 5, wherein the vertical drive unit is any one of an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a linear motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball pitching machine of claim 1, further comprising a second pitching angle control unit coupled to the pitching unit and configured to control left and right pitching angles of the pitching unit; wherein the second pitching angle control unit moves the pitching unit around a second virtual pivot axis located outside the ball pitching machine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ball pitching machine of claim 7, wherein the second pitching angle control unit comprises a first horizontal control guide and a second horizontal control guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ball pitching machine of claim 8, wherein the first horizontal control guide and the second horizontal control guide are rotatably coupled to a fifth coupling point and sixth coupling point of the lower frame, respectively, and are rotatably coupled to a seventh coupling point and eighth coupling point of the upper frame, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ball pitching machine of claim 9, wherein the first horizontal control guide and the second horizontal control guide have an identical length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The ball pitching machine of claim 8, wherein the second pitching angle control unit further comprises a horizontal drive unit coupled to the lower frame and the upper frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ball pitching machine of claim 11, wherein the horizontal drive unit is rotatably coupled to at least any one of the lower frame and the upper frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ball pitching machine of claim 11, wherein the second pitching angle control unit further comprises at least one of a ball caster and a bearing disposed between the lower frame and the upper frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The ball pitching machine of claim 9, wherein the second virtual pivot axis intersects the first virtual pivot axis. ### Claim 15 A ball pitching machine, comprising: a lower frame; an upper frame disposed on the lower frame; a ball introduction pipe configured to introduce a ball; a pitching unit configured to pitch a ball introduced through the ball introduction pipe; and a second pitching angle control unit coupled to the pitching unit, and configured to control a horizontal pitching angle of the pitching unit; wherein the second pitching angle control unit comprises a first horizontal control guide and a second horizontal control guide, and moves the pitching unit around a virtual horizontal pivot axis located outside the ball pitching machine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ball pitching machine of claim 15, wherein the second pitching angle control unit further comprises a horizontal drive unit coupled to the lower frame and the upper frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The ball pitching machine of claim 16, wherein the second pitching angle control unit further comprises at least one of a ball caster and a bearing disposed between the lower frame and the upper frame.