GB2357439A - Ball collecting and projecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Ball projecting apparatus comprises ball projecting means 34, a ball reservoir 2 for storing a plurality of balls for supply to the ball projecting means wherein the ball reservoir includes ball collection means. The ball reservoir is preferably a drum which rotates relative to the projecting means so as to deliver balls sequentially to the projecting means. The projecting means may be a pair of counter rotating wheels 34 spaced apart to provide a gap through which balls are pushed and/or dragged up to projection speed. The collection means may be a grille in the base of the reservoir which is urged on to the balls so as to force them into the reservoir. The reservoir is optionally detachable from the ball projector so as to allow convenient collection of the balls. The invention is intended for the collection, storage and projection of tennis balls.

Description

2357439 BALL PROJECTING APPARATUS This invention relates to ball

projecting apparatus, more particularly, but not exclusively to ball projecting apparatus for use as a practice aid in tennis, rounders, or other ball games or the like.

It is known to provide power-driven ball projecting equipment as a practice aid for ball games such as tennis to enable a single player to develop playing skills without the need for an opponent.

Known ball projecting machines typically incorporate a ball reservoir to hold a large number of balls and from which balls are fed sequentially to a projector. However, a problem is that once all the stored balls have been ejected from the machine, they must be collected and the reservoir refilled before the machine can be used.

Collection is normally done by hand or by means of a separate collecting device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball projecting apparatus which enables a convenient and effective means of ball collection.

Accordingly in one aspect of the invention there is therefore provided ball projection apparatus comprising ball projecting means, a ball reservoir for storing a plurality of balls for supply to the ball projecting means and characterised in that the ball reservoir includes ball collection means.

With this arrangement there is no requirement for a separate collecting device to collect projected balls in order to refill the reservoir when this is empty.

The ball projecting means is preferably mounted within a housing which may take any suitable form. In a preferred embodiment the housing has one or more portions which are formed from a transparent or translucent material (e.g. plastic) so that the ball projecting means (and any other components incorporated in the apparatus, as described below) can be seen through the said one or more portions.

The apparatus may incorporates a handle portion by which it may be carried and in this respect, it is preferable that the apparatus is of lightweight construction so that it may be carried by hand by the user.

Alternatively, the ball projection apparatus may be movable e.g. by wheels to allow travel of the ball projecting apparatus along the ground.

The ball reservoir may take any suitable form and in one embodiment it has a generally cylindrical construction. However, any other shaped reservoir may be used, such as square, round, etc., and also tapered e.g.

hopper constructions.

The ball reservoir may be mounted on/in the housing, or may be provided with a separate housing.

The ball collecting means may take any suitable form and may take the form of an aperture or apertures in the reservoir, for receipt of a ball or balls into the reservoir.

-3 In the case where the apparatus is used with tennis or other resilient balls, the width of the or each ball receiving aperture is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball. With this arrangement, the ball collecting means can be urged on to a resilient ball which by virtue of its resilience will be forced through the ball collecting means into the ball reservoir but cannot (without force) return.

In this respect it is not necessary for the or each aperture to be smaller than the ball in every direction, thus a rectangular shaped aperture may be downsized across only one side.

The aperture may be any suitable shape such as circular, elliptical or square.

The ball collecting means may be in the form of a grille in which a plurality of rectangular (or indeed any) shaped apertures may be provided.

The ball collecting means may be incorporated into the reservoir in any suitable manner, and may be incorporated to form a side or end portion of the reservoir.

In a preferred embodiment, the ball collector comprises an end portion of the reservoir.

The ball reservoir may be detachable from the ball projecting apparatus or housing, if provided.

With this arrangement the reservoir may be detached for ball collection and attached for supplying (collected) stored balls to the projection means. With this in mind, the ball reservoir is preferably of lightweight construction.

The ball reservoir may include a handle or handles. These enhance the portability of the detached reservoir.

The reservoir may include support means for supporting the reservoir whilst detached from the ball projecting apparatus.

With this arrangement the reservoir could also function independently from the ball projecting apparatus to provide a convenient supply of balls to a tennis player/coach e.g. when practising "serving" a ball.

To this end the reservoir preferably incorporates an aperture for manual removal of balls.

The reservoir handle(s) and support structure may take any suitable form and may be provided by a common structure.

The common handle/support structure may be attachable to the reservoir such that it may be attached in a first position to provide a handle or handles and a second position to support the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment a common reservoir handle/support structure is provided by a plurality of elongate legs (preferably four legs are provided for stability) interconnected at respective end portions by a handle. In the first (carrying) position the free ends of the legs may be attached to the ball reservoir which is then carried by gripping the handle portion and in the second (reservoir) position the handle support structure is located with the free ends of the legs in contact with the ground and the reservoir supported on the handle portion. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the free ends of the legs incorporate projections e.g. lugs which interlockably engage with the reservoir e.g. by slots, holes or the like on/in the reservoir. The projections may also act as a stabiliser for the support structure in the second position.

Alternatively, the reservoir handles/support structure may be attached to the reservoir such that they may pivot between a first position in which they are disposed to provide a handle or handles and a second position in which they are disposed to support the reservoir.

The ball projecting means may take any suitable form and may utilise a feed action, in which the balls are dragged and/or pushed up to a speed sufficient to allow projection. Alternatively, it may utilise a hammertype action in which the balls are projected by impact. The ball projecting means may be pneumatic using controlled air flow to eject a ball from the apparatus.

Preferably the ball projecting means comprises a pair of counter rotatable wheels.

Preferably the counter rotatable wheels are spaced apart to form a gap between which a ball may pass by means of the wheels' counter rotation which projects the ball from the apparatus.

The wheels may be shaped so that together they provide any suitably shaped gap. In one embodiment, the wheels are generally cylindrical. In a further embodiment the wheels are generally conical.

Preferably the height of the wheels is greater than the diameter of the balls to be projected.

In the case of a resilient ball such as a tennis ball, preferably the space or gap so provided is dimensioned to be smaller than the ball which is thereby compressed between the wheels. This harnesses the resilience of the ball to enhance the projection.

The ball projecting means may be pivotable or tiltable laterally and/or vertically relative to or with the ball projecting apparatus or housing as the case may be. In a preferred embodiment, the ball projecting means is mounted on a frame which is pivotabie/tiltable relative to the ball projection apparatus or housing if provided. Pivoting/tilting may be achieved by any suitable means such as a twist-drivable screw-thread mechanism.

This arrangement provides for adjustment of the arc of projection of the ball.

The wheels may be rotated by any suitable means but preferably they are motor-driven. The wheel drive may be direct drive using e.g. one motor per wheel or an indirect drive using e.g. a single motor which is linked to each wheel by gears/cogs or pulleys.

The apparatus may incorporate a power supply e.g. battery which is preferably rechargeable and/or driven by connection to a main power -7 supply. The wheels may comprise any material e.g. plastics, nylon, metal etc.

The speed of a projected ball may be varied by, for example, varying the speed of the counter-rotating wheels and this may, for example, be achieved by varying the voltage supplied across the motor. Generally the wheels.may rotate at a common speed, however, spin may be applied to balls quite simply by adjustment of the relative rotation of the wheels so that one rotates faster than the other.

Preferably the ball projecting apparatus includes ball feed means to supply balls from the reservoir to the projecting means.

The feed means may take any suitable form and may be a ball exit aperture within a wall of the reservoir. Preferably the feed means incorporates a chute or channel interconnecting the reservoir and the ball projecting means.

The feed means may be configured to feed balls sequentially to the projecting means e.g. by appropriate shaping of a feed chute so that balls may only fit into the chute sequentially.

Balls may be released or removed from the reservoir to the feed means or to the projecting means (as the case may be) in a sequential manner. In one embodiment the reservoir rotates to release a single ball (via the ball exit aperture) to the feed means / projecting means per rotation.

The reservoir may be generally cylindrical or at least incorporate a -8 curved portion which is rotatable relative to a corresponding curved portion of the housing.

The rotatable reservoir may have a ball exit aperture or apertures which is rotated (by rotation of the reservoir) through a position or postions in which it can release a ball or balls to the feed means / ball projection means so that a predetermined number of ball or balls is/are released per rotation of the reservoir.

Preferably, rotation of the drum is motorised.

The ball feed means may be configured to accept a predetermined number of balls from the reservoir on each rotation thereby restricting the number of balls which may be released per rotation.

In a preferred embodiment, a single ball is released from the reservoir to the ball projecting means, for each rotation of the reservoir.

The ball feed means may incorporate a ball separating device which arrests movement of a ball in the feed means to separate the flow of balls through the feed means so that balls are supplied to the projecting means at a desired rate. This separation device may be operable in combination with the rotating reservoir so that balls are supplied to the ball projecting means at a rate dependent on the rotation of the drum.

The frequency of balls supplied (and therefore the speed of balls projected) may also be varied by varying the rotation/speed of the reservoir.

Preferably the device also incorporates a control means for user C 0 . i 1, -9control of such parameters as ball speed, ball frequency, for adjusting the arc of projection of a projected ball etc.

The invention will now be described by way of example and in reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of ball projecting apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ball reservoir of the apparatus shown in Fig 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the housing of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the reservoir detached from the apparatus in Fig. 1, shown in a ball collecting configuration; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the reservoir of Fig.6, shown supported to provide an independent ball reservoir; and Figs. M9 show a further embodiment of the invention; Figs. 10-15 show a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the ball projecting apparatus 1 comprises a ball reservoir 2, which is rotatably mounted on a cradle portion 4 of the housing 6.

-10 The ball reservoir 2 comprises a hollow generally cylindrical drum which is open at both ends in the manner described below.

At one end 8 of the drum 2 incorporates a ball collecting metal grille 10, the distance between the metal bars 12 of the grille being slightly smaller than the diameter of a standard tennis ball.

The other end 9 of the drum 2 is rounded off slightly for additional strength and this contains an aperture 14 approximately 20cm in diameter.

Also in the side of the drum 2 is a curved aperture 18, the height H of which is greater (in a direction longitudinally of the drum) than the diameter of a standard tennis ball.

The interior of the drum 2 carries a generally H-shaped member 21 which has a part-circumferential arm 20 and projection 22. Alternatively, the member 21 may be secured to the exterior of the reservoir. The arm is slidable longitudinally of the drum 2 between a first position in which the arm projects from the end 8 of the drum 2 through an opening and the arm is clear of, so as to open, the aperture 18 and a second position in which the projection 22 is retracted within drum interior. and the arm 20 is located across to effectively close the aperture 18 (in so far as to prevent a tennis ball passing through the aperture).

The housing 6 has a portion 7 of generally box construction one side of which has a circular aperture 50. Extending from an opposite side of the housing is a cradle portion 4 which provides an upwardly facing concave -11 surface 24. The longitudinal axis of the surface 24 is inclined at an angle of approximately 15 to a level axis. The cradle portion has an aperture 66 at its lowermost point.

The box portion 7 of the housing 6 incorporates ball projecting means which comprises two cou nter- rotating wheels 26,28 mounted on respective upright shafts 29 which are connected to respective motors 30,32.

The wheels 26 and 28 are cylindrical with side surfaces 34 which are flat (when viewed from the side) and spaced apart so that the gap between the wheels is smaller than the diameter of a standard tennis ball.

The wheels/motor/ arrangement is mounted on a frame 56 which is pivotable relative to the housing 6.

The cradle 4 has two spaced apart elongate rotatable rollers 36, 38, extending the length of the cradle. The rotation of roller 36 is powered by connection to a respective motor (not shown) mounted within the housing 6. (The roller 38 is a passive or stave roller, being rotated by contact with the rotating drum 2).

Motorised drum rotation arrester wheels 45 are mounted in one end of the cradle, as shown in figure 4. In place of the wheels 45, a rigid buffer of any suitable shape e.g. nylon rod, fixed to the cradle, could be used as an alternative option.

All the motors of the apparatus 1 are coupled to a rechargeable battery 40 which can be recharged by connection to a mains supply of electricity. The motors can also be run direct from a mains electricity supply, and this may require a transformer.

The housing 6 also houses a ball feed means comprising a U-shaped chute 42 which is formed partially as an integral part of the cradle and extends therefrom, inclined downwards to a position adjacent to the gaps between the wheels 26 and 28. The chute is slightly wider than the diameter of a standard tennis ball (shown in figure 4).

Extending downwards from the cradle 4 towards the chute is a gravity operated ball separator comprising an arm 44 which is pivotable between a first position in which it extends into the chute 42 so as to obstruct the passage of a ball travelling down the chute and a second position in which it is retracted completely out of the area which would be occupied by a ball in the chute 42. The arm remains in the first position under its own weight. The position of the arm longitudinally of the chute is such that a single ball can be accommodated in the upper part of the chute when the separator is in the first position. (See figure 4). Alternatively, the ball separator may be spring operated. For instance, the ball separator may comprise a resilient member e.g. flat coil (which replaces arm 44) and, in a resting position extends into the chute 42 to obstruct the passage of a ball. The projection 22 is rotated to contact the spring, forcing it to deflect and thereby move out of the chute so as to allow the ball to pass down the chute. When the projection 22 is further rotated the spring returns to the first position.

The ball projecting apparatus also includes a control panel 52 with a bank of switches 54 which control the ball feed frequency (by drum speed), ball projection speed(by wheel speed), ball spin (by relative wheel speed n.b. with a common wheel speed there is no spin) and adjustment of the arc of projection (by tilting the projection means), as described below.

The operation of the ball projecting apparatus 1 is as follows.

N.B. The aperture 18 is first opened by sliding arm 20 toward the chute 42.

In use, the drum 2 (and therefore the aperture 18) rotates by means of the rollers 36 and 38. The inclination of the reservoir ensures that all balls stored therewithin fall to the lowermost end 8 and thus in the direction of the feed and propulsion devices. As the reservoir is rotated, and the aperture 18 rotates past the roller 36 and abuts balls which tend to project from the aperture in this position. The rotating roller end (which has a friction surface e.g. rubber to prevent it slipping relative to the balls) agitates the balls to prevent them becoming lodged against the sides of the drum. When the aperture is in a position aligned with the cradle aperture 66 and chute 42 thereunder, a ball falls through the aperture into the chute where it abuts the ball separator 44 which arrests its further progress down the chute. As there is only room for one ball behind the separator 44 no further balls can enter the chute. As the drum continues to rotate, the drum aperture 18 is rotated away from the chute aperture 66 and the projection -14 22 is rotated into position to pivot the ball separator arm 44 into the second position thereby clearing the chute 42 and allowing the ball to progress under gravity down the chute 42.

The ball then passes under gravity down the chute 42 to the counter rotating wheels which co-operate to force the ball in the direction of the opening 50 and project the ball from the housing via the aperture 50. The resilient tennis ball is compressed by the rotating balls, thereby harnessing the elasticity of the ball for projection. In this manner a single ball is projected per rotation of the drum, so that the frequency of the ball supply is 1 ball per rotation of the drum.

However, if the drum is overfilled, the balls may become wedged against each other interfering with sequential ball release from the drum.

This factor will vary depending on bail wear and size (as the ball wears it reduces in size).

15. However, it is envisaged that with a drum of 340mm (internal) and 280mm (internal) height, filling the drum to a maximum of approximately half its volume with tennis balls, will reduce ball wedging and consequential interference in sequential feed, to a minimum.

Ball speed is dependent on wheel rotational speed: for example with a wheel diameter of 150 mm and rotational speed of approximately 4000 r.p.m. theoretically a ball (exit) speed of approximately 70 m.p.h would be achieved, however, slippage of the ball relative to the wheels will affect the actual ball speed. 110 watt motors have been found more than adequate to rotate the wheels and it is envisaged that much smaller motors e.g. as low as 40w can be used. Motor wattage can be reduced by reducing the frequency of the balls fed to the projector wheels. so as to enable the motor's sufficient 'recovery time' following projection of each ball. Using a common wheel speed imparts no spin on the ball, however by appropriately varying the relative speed of the wheels provides ball spin as desired.

Rotational speed of the drum, wheels and roller are controlled by varying the voltage across the motors via control switches 54 which are connected to appropriate motors.

The arc of throw is vertically adjustable by tilting the platform 54 by means of a simple twist-drivable screw-thread mechanism (not shown). The ball reservoir 2 is detached as shown in the figures 6 and 7 to form a separate ball collecting and storage device. When used as such, the aperture 18 is closed by sliding the arm 20 thereacross. A common handle support structure 71 is used and comprises a handle portion 70 and four elongate legs 72 each having an inwardly directed foot 74 at a respective free end. As can be seen in figure 7, the drum has four side slots 76 (two shown) and each foot 74 is disposed for snap-fit connection in a respective slot 76. (Three legs can be used, but may be less stable than four legs).

In a collecting position the structure 71 is attached to the drum 2 by inserting the feet 74 in the slots so that the collecting grille 10 is disposed in a downward direction disposed for collection of balls on the ground. The reservoir 2 here acts as a collecting device by virtue of the collecting grille 10.

With this configuration, the drum may be carried to collect balls scattered by the projecting apparatus / player. The drum grid is held above a baillballs and urged thereupon, the balls being squeezed through the grid to be retained in the reservoir.

In a storage/reservoir position, the structure 71 is removed from the drum and placed on the ground, with the feet 74 in contact with the ground and then ball reservoir drum, is lifted e.g. by gripping the rim of the aperture 14, and placed on the handle portion 70.

A further embodiment of the collecting device, incorporating a pivotable handle/support structure is shown in figures 8 and 9. In this embodiment a handle/support structure comprises a circumferential band 64 with rigid handle/leg members 82 pivotably fixed thereto. The band 64 is fixed around the drum and tensioned using an over-centre clip. inwardly facing lugs(not shown) on the strap engage with slots on the drum (not shown) prevent longitudinal slipping. To provide a collecting device the band is attached at the end 9 and to provide a storage device, the band is attached at end 8. The members are pivoted relative to the band between a handle position as shown in fig 8 and a support position in fig 9.

-17 Referring now to Figures 10 - 14. A further embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment is similar to the above described embodiments in construction and function except for the details as given below.

Figs. 10a-10e show the housing 106 has a cradle portion 104 for rotatable mounting of the drum (shown in Figs. 11 a-1 1 e). The housing is a plastic body with translucent or clear portions (for aesthetic appeal) with an aperture 150 (for exit of balls) in a front and recesses 152 and 154 in the rear. Alternatively, the body may include metal e.g. steel or aluminium sections and/or plastic e.g. fibre glass sections. Circular recess 152 houses a handle/wheel (not shown) for adjusting the trajectory of a projected ball. The square recess houses a main isolator switch along with two potentiometer controllers for varying the motor speeds.

The housing 106 also has a finger slot 156 to form a carrying handle.

It will be apparent that the shape of the cradle walls 157, 158 assist in preventing balls escaping over these walls when the drum is in place and rotating.

Additionally this housing incorporates a power switch (not shown) positioned so as to be activated by the ball drum (see Figs. 11 a- 11 e) when placed in the cradle 104. The switch controls the power to all motors so as to stop these when the drum is lifted out. The switch also has a time delay mechanism on the 'ON' side so when a player loads up the machine they will have time to walk to the other side of the court and make ready to receive the balls.

The ball reservoir 102 is made of metal, e.g. steel or aluminium (but could also be manufactured from plastic).

The structure is as shown in Figures 11 a- 11 e, where Fig. 11 a is a front elevation, 11 b is a section through a rear elevation, 11 c is a top view, 11 d is a view of the base, 11 e is a detailed view of the gate arrangement shown in Fig. 11 b and 11 f is a view of a grille.

The reservoir 102 has ten apertures 103 arranged at equally spaced apart positions around the circumference to act as finger holes for carrying purposes. The number of apertures can be modified as can the size of aperture.

Referring in particular to Figure 11 b, sliding gate 121 (fixed internally of the reservoir) with projections 123 slides within brackets 123 upward to an open position and downward to a closed position. Alternatively, the gate could be secured externally of the reservoir.

The gate 121 and projection 123 function as for the H member 21 of the first embodiment. The projection 122 may alternatively be a separate component.

Figure 11 f shows a ball collecting grille 112 positioned over the circular opening 113 in the top of the reservoir 102 (see Fig. 11 c) fixed with a hinge bracket and held closed by two swivel brackets.

When the grille is held closed the balls are collected from the ground and retained in the drum as for the first embodiment.

Swivelling the swivel brackets to one side allows opening of the grille for access to the balls by hand.

Figs. 12a-12d show an alternative folding leg/handle device 171 which is made from metal e.g. steel but could also be made from other materials e.g. plastic. The design allows it to be permanently fastened to the base of the reservoir 102.

Four of the legs (13, C, F, G) are pivoted to the frame 173 by brackets 172 whilst the other four (A, D, E, H) are pivoted to these legs as shown most clearly in Fig. 12d.

When in a collapsed position this folding iet/handle device sits flush with the base of the ball drum without projections in any direction. Thus allowing the drum to rotate without interference.

When extended it can act as a handle to the ball drum assisting the collection of balls from the ground. Staying extended the whole unit may then be turned over thus providing legs for the drum keeping it off the ground allowing easy reach for the balls to be recovered by hand.

All the pivot points of the folding leg/handle device will be fitted with a friction device to keep an element of rigidity about it sufficient for it to rest where it is set but allowing free movement. A spring steel 'Belville' type washer is the preferred method but other materials may be used.

The leg/handle components are manufactured and assembled in such a fashion that they are prevented from opening past a 180 degree angle allowing them only to fold back in on themselves.

Fig. 13 shows a section through the centre of the drive wheel of this embodiment. This could be made from die cast aluminium or nylon or any other suitable material. Surface J is knurled.

It may be a consideration to apply a coating of some description or tyre component to the rim to increase the frictional properties aiming to reduce potential slippage of the ball as it is accelerated.

The wheel will be mounted directly onto the shaft of the motor, the motor being it's only support.

Figs. 14a-14e illustrate the housing for the motor and drive wheels 1. The preferred material is diecast aluminium alloy but it could be made from a diecast plastic or fabricated. Figs.15a-15e illustrate an alternative housing for the motor and drive wheels.

The pivot point of this component is designed so the rim of the wheels rotate around the pick up point of the ball as contact is made when it descends the chute. There will be slightly different contact points due to the various sizes of tennis balls. Notwithstanding that as balls wear outloosing the surface fluff they reduce in volume. The more important point is that this machine can accommodate the proposed new size tennis ball three percent larger than the accepted size of today.

Not shown yet will be a screw thread mechanism attached to the casting whereby it will allow the whole unit to be adjustable in a pivoting mode facilitating the different trajectories required. It will take the principal of a threaded rod attached to the pivoting unit at one end with the other end being secured in position. When a handle or wheel attached to this end is turned the effect will be to adjust the position of the drive wheels thus varying the ball trajectory.

A further modification would enable the application of 'top spin' or under spin' on the ball. The drive wheels would be mounted on a vertical axis rather than the horizontal one and spin the wheels at different revolutions to each other. Also with the wheels on a vertical axis they could be mounted allowing them to oscillate offering varying directional shots.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.

-22

Claims (21)

Claims.

1. Ball projecting apparatus comprising ball projecting means, a ball reservoir for storing a plurality of balls for supply to the ball projecting means and wherein the ball reservoir includes ball collection means.

2. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball collecting means comprises one or more apertures in the ball reservoir for receipt of a ball into the reservoir.

3. Ball projecting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the said one or more apertures are smaller than the diameter of a ball to be collected.

4. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball collecting means is a grille.

5. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball reservoir is detachable from the ball projecting means.

6. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes support means for supporting the ball reservoir whilst detached from the ball projecting apparatus;

7. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim according to claim 6 wherein the ball reservoir includes one or more handles provided by the support structure.

8. Ball projecting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the ball reservoir incorporates a common handle and support structure which can be attached to the reservoir in a first position to provide a handle and a second position to support the reservoir.

9. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball projecting means comprises a pair of counter-rotatable wheels.

10. Ball projecting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the wheels are spaced apart to form a gap between which a ball may pass by means of said counter rotation of the wheels.

11. Ball projecting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the said gap is dimensioned to be smaller that a ball which is thereby compressed between the wheels.

12. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball projecting means is pivotable or tiltable laterally and/or vertically to or with the ball projecting apparatus.

13. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the relative rotational speed of the wheels is adjusted to apply 'spin' to a projected ball.

14. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes feed means to feed balls from the reservoir to the projecting means.

15. Ball projecting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the feed means is configured to feed balls sequentially to the projecting means.

16. Ball projecting apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the ball reservoir rotates relative to the projecting means to release balls to the projecting means.

17. Ball projecting means according to any preceding claim wherein the ball reservoir has one or more ball exit apertures which is/are rotated by rotation of the reservoir through a position or positions in which it can release a ball or balls to the feed means or ball projection means so that a predetermined number of balls is/are released per rotation of the reservoir.

18. Ball projecting means according to any of claims 14 to 17 wherein the ball feed means is configured to receive a predetermined number of balls from the reservoir on each rotation thereof thereby restricting the number of balls released from the reservoir.

19. Ball projecting means according to any of claims 14 to 18 wherein the ball feed means incorporates a ball separating device which arrests movement of a ball in the feed means to separate the flow of balls through the feed means so that balls are supplied to the projecting means at a desired rate.

20. Ball projecting means according to claim 20 wherein the ball separating device is operable in combination with the rotating reservoir so that balls are supplied to the ball projecting means at a rate dependent on the rotation of the reservoir.

21. Ball projecting means according to any preceding claim incorporating a control means for such user parameters as ball speed, frequency, applied spin' and adjustment of the arc of projection of a projected ball.

-2522. Ball projecting apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the accompanying drawings.