Computer controller ball throwing machine

A ball throwing machine capable of multiple skill level training comprising:

• a) a stirred ball container;
• b) said stirred ball container communicating with a barrel feed tube;
• c) a piston feed means within said barrel feed tube;
• d) two independent co-planar ejecting wheels positioned to receive individual balls fed from said barrel feed tube, a stationary launch point being defined by and between said two co-planar ejecting wheels;
• e) an individually controlled rotation means associated with each of said independent co-planar ejecting wheels;
• f) a gimbal-type framework allowing movement of said co-planar ejecting wheels and said barrel feed tube about two axes passing through said launch point;
• g) two adjustment means, individually controllable, to move said co-planar ejecting wheels and said barrel feed tube about one axis, with respect to said launch point;
• h) program control means comprising a microcomputer controlling said piston feed means, said individually controlled rotation means and said two adjustment means, said microcomputer means being programmed to be preset for various speeds of said rotation means and various orientations of said ejecting wheels and barrel feed tube about said launch point;
• i) remote controlling means for said microcomputer, said microcomputer being responsive to said remote controlling means and responding by achieving preset conditions and allowing adjustment of said preset conditions, whereby the speed, direction and spin of a thrown ball can be remotely controlled and the impact point chosen and specifically adjusted for, thus allowing for varying conditions and differing placements of said ball throwing machine wherein said remote controlling means comprises a touch pad keyboard whereby a launch angle and a launch speed can be adjusted to provide accurate impact points of a ball at specific check points, said program control means comprising a non-volatile type memory in look-up table form for storing corrected angle and speed data for said check points and said program control means computes calibrated angle and speed data for other chosen impact points, based upon said corrected data for said check points and uses said calibrated angle and speed data for throwing balls as directed;
• and
• j) a strain gauge is provided to measure physical parameters of a ball, in said throwing mechanism and is connected to said microcomputer for correcting the angle and speed data of the impact points in dependence on ball qualities measured by said strain gauge.

A ball throwing machine for ejecting tennis balls of the type comprising:

• an adjustable rotating-wheel type ball throwing mechanism having a launch point for launching tennis balls at a predetermined angle and speed;
• a microcomputer controlling the throwing mechanism and having memory means for storing launch angle and speed data;
• and
• a remote control unit attached to said microcomputer having a data input device wherein said ball throwing machine further comprises adjustment means for moving said rotating-wheel type ball throwing mechanism about said launch point to adjust horizontal and vertical attitude;
• said microcomputer being programmed with desired target coordinates to control said ball launch angle and speed to provide a number of preselectable target points positioned in relation to a check point;
• and a strain gauge provided in said throwing mechanism to measure physical parameters of a ball and connected to said microcomputer for correcting the angle and speed data of the impact points in dependence on ball qualities measured by said strain gauge.