Soccer ball projecting apparatus

An apparatus for projecting soccer balls comprising:

• a horizontal base frame;
• a sub-frame movably mounted on said base frame;
• means for projecting a soccer ball mounted on said sub-frame and comprising a ball striking means incorporated therein;
• and
• means for supporting a soccer ball mounted on said sub-frame in operational association with said means for projecting a soccer ball;
• said means for projecting a soccer ball further comprising:
• sprocket and chain drive means for cocking said ball striking means;
• said sprocket and drive means comprising a driven sprocket;
• means for detecting a rotation of said driven sprocket expressed in number of teeth on said driven sprocket when said ball striking means is being cocked, and
• controller means connected to said means for detecting a number of teeth and to said sprocket and drive means, for controlling a rotation of said sprocket and drive means such that a degree of cocking of said ball striking means is controllable in increments each corresponding to the width of one tooth on said driven sprocket.

An apparatus for projecting soccer balls comprising:

• a horizontal base frame;
• a sub-frame movably mounted on said base frame;
• means for projecting a soccer ball mounted on said sub-frame and comprising a ball striking means incorporated therein;
• and
• means for supporting a soccer ball mounted on said sub-frame in operational association with said means for projecting a soccer ball;
• said means for projecting a soccer ball further comprising:
• an arcuated structure having a first end connected to a pair of horizontal pivots having a common axis and being affixed to said sub-frame, and being pivotally movable about said pair of horizontal pivots;
• and
• linear actuator means connected to said arcuated structure and to said sub-frame for adjusting a radial orientation of said arcuated structure about said common axis for optionally changing an impact point on a soccer ball by said ball striking means when said soccer ball is supported by said means for supporting a soccer ball;
• said striking means comprising an elongated leg member having a first end pivotally connected to said arcuated structure for pendulous movement along a striking path;
• and
• said means for projecting a soccer ball further comprising:
• a crank shaft pivotally mounted on said arcuated structure and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to said striking path;
• a drive means mounted on said arcuated structure and connected to said crank shaft for rotating said crank shaft;
• and
• a compressible spring assembly connected between said crank shaft and said leg member for moving said leg member along said striking path between a cocked position and a striking position and vice-versa upon a rotation of said crank shaft;
• and
• a latch mechanism for detachably retaining said leg member in said cocked position;
• and
• means for moving said leg member from said striking position to said cocked position upon rotation of said crank shaft a first half-turn;
• and
• means for compressing said spring assembly upon rotation of said crank shaft a second half-turn when said leg member is adapted to be retained in said cocked position by said latch mechanism and when said crank shaft is adapted to be rotated, such that said leg member is movable back and forth by said crank shaft rotating in a single direction.