Automatic throwing apparatus

Apparatus for throwing a hockey puck toward a person interacting with the puck comprising:

• an arm releasably holding said puck;
• means for moving said arm for the arm to release said puck during movement of the arm;
• a first sensor for sensing the location of said person and a second sensor for sensing if the hockey puck is acceptable to release;
• and,
• control means responsive to said first sensor to control release of said puck for said puck to be released in a desired direction relative to said person;
• and,
• a movable platform on which said apparatus is installed, said control means moving said platform to change the direction in which said puck is released relative to said person.

Apparatus for throwing an object relative to a person interacting with the object comprising:

• a rotatable arm releasably holding the object;
• a motor;
• gear means including a worm and worm gear combination interconnected with said motor and said arm for said motor to rotate said arm in a desired direction through said gear means;
• a spring interconnected with said arm and movable by rotation of said arm to stretch said spring;
• and,
• release means for allowing said spring to rapidly return from a stretched position to a relaxed position during which movement energy stored in said spring is transferred to said arm to rotate said arm at a speed sufficient to release said object on a desired path relative to said person, said release means including a pin driven by said gear means and engaging said arm to force said arm to rotate in a predetermined direction during which said spring is stretched, said spring reaching an over-center position when said pin is driven by said gear means to rotate said arm a predetermined amount by said pin at which time said spring rapidly returns to its relaxed position and rotates said arm to release said object;
• and,
• a pawl and ratchet combination which allows said pin to move said arm in one-way.

Apparatus for throwing a hockey puck toward a person interacting with the puck comprising:

• an arm releasably holding said puck;
• means for moving the arm, the puck being released during movement of the arm;
• sensor means for sensing the location of said person and that a hockey puck is in position to be released;
• control means responsive to said sensor means to control release of said puck in a desired direction relative to said person;
• and,
• a movable platform on which said apparatus is installed, said control means moving said platform to change the direction in which said puck is released relative to said person.