Automatic ball control apparatus

An automatic ball control apparatus having a ball top spin actuator assembly connected to a ball ejector barrel on a ball ejector machine operable to impart variable top spin to a ball member being ejected therefrom, comprising:

• a) a fixed extension sleeve assembly having a fixed sleeve member connected to an outer end of the ball ejector barrel;
• b) a sliding actuator sleeve assembly having a movable sleeve member mounted about and axially movable on said fixed sleeve member and automatically movable from a minimum top spin to a maximum top spin condition and increments of top spin conditions therebetween acting on the ball member;
• c) a spin actuator paddle assembly including a spin paddle assembly pivotally connected to said movable sleeve member and having a ball actuator lever member positioned adjacent and extended outwardly of an outer end of the ball ejector barrel;
• d) said movable sleeve member having a hinge member for pivotally connecting to said fixed sleeve member, a chain connector bracket connected to one end of a connector means and an opposite end connected to a portion of the ball ejector machine;
• e) said sliding actuator sleeve assembly includes a sleeve actuator member operable to bias said movable sleeve member to the maximum top spin condition which is a maximum pivotal movement of said main support lever member;
• and
• f) said movable sleeve member having an adjustable opening at one end having a set screw therein which can be adjusted axially to limit an outward sliding movement of said movable sleeve member thereby controlling pivotal movement of said main support lever member to the maximum top spin condition thus providing adjustability thereof;
• whereby said sleeve actuator member is operable to move said movable sleeve member in one direction for maximum top spin position and said connector means is operable to move said movable sleeve member rearwardly on said fixed sleeve member to the minimum top spin condition on imparting variable top spin to the ball member.

On a ball ejector machine including a ball propulsion mechanism to propel a ball member outwardly through a ball ejector barrel, means for moving the ball ejector barrel in lateral and vertically oscillating paths, an improvement involves the use therewith of an automatic ball control apparatus, comprising:

• a) a fixed extension sleeve assembly connected to the ball ejector barrel and a spin actuator paddle assembly connected to said fixed extension sleeve assembly;
• b) said spin actuator paddle assembly includes a spin paddle assembly pivotally connected to a cam actuator assembly connected to said fixed extension sleeve assembly;
• and
• c) said spin paddle assembly includes a main support lever member having a ball actuator lever member at one end engagable with a ball member to impart top spin thereto and an actuator cam member at another end engagable with said cam actuator assembly to reciprocally, continuously, and gradually pivot said main support lever member from a position of minimum to maximum to minimum top spin contact with the ball members to impart continuous variable top spin thereto;
• d) said ball actuator lever member having an arcuate support body with an outer arcuate concave contact surface to contact the ball member;
• and
• e) said main support lever having a connector opening thereon to receive a portion of said arcuate support body therein for adjustable movement in said connector opening providing variations between minimum and maximum top spin conditions acting on the ball members being ejected from said ball ejector barrel.

On a ball ejector machine including a ball propulsion mechanism to propel a ball member outwardly through a ball ejector barrel, means for moving the ball ejector barrel in lateral and vertically oscillating paths, an improvement involves the use therewith of an automatic ball control apparatus, comprising:

• a) a fixed extension sleeve assembly connected to the ball ejector barrel and a spin actuator paddle assembly connected to said fixed extension sleeve assembly;
• b) said spin actuator paddle assembly includes a spin paddle assembly pivotally connected to a cam actuator assembly connected to said fixed extension sleeve assembly;
• c) said spin paddle assembly includes a main support lever member having a ball actuator lever member at one end engagable with a ball member to impart top spin thereto and an actuator cam member at another end engagable with said cam actuator assembly to reciprocally pivot said main support lever member from a position of minimum to maximum top spin contact with the ball members;
• and
• d) said cam actuator assembly includes 1) a cam support channel secured to said fixed extension sleeve assembly;
• and 2) a sliding cam assembly connected to said cam support channel and operably engagable with said main support lever member in order to cause pivotal movement thereof and, thus, move said ball actuator lever member into and out of contact with a ball member adjacent an outer end of said ball ejector barrel to regulate the amount of variable top spin imparted to a ball member being ejected therefrom.

An automatic tennis ball ejector machine operable to impart lateral and vertical oscillating motion to tennis ball members being expelled from a ball ejector barrel with this invention being an automatic ball control apparatus to add top spin to the expelled tennis ball members, comprising:

• a) a sleeve member connected to an outer end of a ball ejector barrel of a ball ejector machine;
• b) an actuator assembly mounted on said sleeve member;
• c) a spin paddle actuator assembly including a main support lever member engagable with said actuator assembly and pivotally movable relative to said sleeve member with a ball actuator lever member movable continuously and gradually from minimum to maximum to minimum continuous interference with a tennis ball member ejected from an outer end of said ball ejector barrel to impart from minimum to maximum top spin conditions and increments of top spin therebetween to the tennis ball members;
• and
• d) connector means adjustably connected to said actuator assembly and a stationary portion of said ball ejector machine to automatically and continuously pivot said support lever member on vertical movement of said ball ejector barrel;
• whereby said actuator assembly is moved at a maximum height assimilating a position of said ball ejector barrel to achieve the maximum top spin condition to the tennis ball members contacting said main support lever member.