Automatic ball server

In a ball serving machine, a generally cylindrical compressed air chamber adapted to be placed on the ground or other supporting surface so that its longitudinal axis extends vertically when the machine is placed in operating position, an air compressor in said chamber for pressurizing said chamber, a ball discharge conduit in said chamber, said conduit having a vertical section secured to the top wall of said chamber, a horizontal section secured to and extending through the side wall of said chamber, and an elbow section forming a smoothly curved junction between said vertical and horizontal conduit sections for facilitating the passage of balls therebetween, said conduit providing a continuous ball rolling surface through said chamber except for an air injector port in the horizontal section of said conduit directly connecting said conduit with said chamber so that compressed air from said chamber is discharged through said port and into said conduit in the direction of ball passage therethrough, an opening in the top wall of said chamber within the confines of the vertical section of said conduit for enabling balls to be dropped from a ball compartment secured to the top of said chamber through said opening and into said conduit, said ball compartment having its upper end open to the atmosphere and being sealed off from said chamber except through said opening, a flap valve in said conduit for sealing said opening adapted automatically to open for the passage of balls from said ball compartment into said conduit and to close in response to an increase of air pressure in the vertical section of said conduit above the air pressure in said ball compartment, a ball firing barrel connected to said conduit outside said chamber containing a detent against which a ball passing into said firing barrel becomes lodged in fluid tight relationship until the air pressure behind said ball increases to a level wherein the ball is forced past said detent and fired through said firing barrel, and means in said ball compartment for successively feeding balls therein through said opening and into said conduit.