Pitching Machine Having Angle and Speed Adjustment Function

Abstract

A pitching machine includes a stand unit, a direction adjusting device swivelably mounted on the stand unit, a base unit pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device, two pitch adjusting devices mounted on the base unit, and an angle adjusting device pivotally mounted between the base unit and the direction adjusting device. The base unit includes a base frame, two side brackets, two screwed sockets, two rotation wheels, two drive motors, a guide track, and a push member. Thus, the inclined angle of each of the rotation wheels can be adjusted individually by each of the pitch adjusting devices so that the rotation wheels can be adapted to have different inclined angles. In addition, the angle adjusting device can move the base frame relative to the support arm to change the inclined angle of the base frame.

1 . A pitching machine, comprising:
 a stand unit;   a direction adjusting device swivelably mounted on the stand unit;   a base unit pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device;   two pitch adjusting devices mounted on the base unit to adjust a pitching motion of the base unit; and   an angle adjusting device pivotally mounted between the base unit and the direction adjusting device to adjust an angle of the base unit.   
     
     
         2 . The pitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the direction adjusting device includes a support arm swivelably mounted on the stand unit;   the base unit includes:   a base frame pivotally mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device;   two side brackets pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base frame;   two screwed sockets each pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets;   two rotation wheels each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets;   two drive motors each mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets and each connected with a respective one of the two rotation wheels to rotate the respective rotation wheel;   an elongate guide track mounted on the base frame and located between the two rotation wheels; and   a push member mounted on one end of the guide track.   
     
     
         3 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a surface provided with a curved guide groove;   each of the two side brackets of the base unit is pivotally mounted on the base frame by one of two limit members;   the guide groove of each of the two side brackets is slidable on a respective one of the two limit members so that each of the two side brackets of the base unit is pivotable relative to the base frame.   
     
     
         4 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the base frame of the base unit has a bottom pivotally mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device by a pivot shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two pitch adjusting devices includes:
 a mounting bracket secured on the base frame of the base unit;   a threaded rod rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and screwed into and extended through a respective one of the two screwed sockets of the base unit; and   a rocking handle pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and connected with the threaded rod to rotate the threaded rod relative to the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         6 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the angle adjusting device includes:
 a connecting lever movably mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and pivotally connected with the base frame of the base unit to drive and move the base frame of the base unit relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device; and   an adjusting handle mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and releasably locked onto the connecting lever to releasably lock the connecting lever onto the support arm of the direction adjusting device.   
     
     
         7 . The pitching machine of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting lever of the angle adjusting device has an upper end pivotally connected with the base frame of the base unit and a lower end provided with an elongate limit slot to allow passage of the adjusting handle. 
     
     
         8 . The pitching machine of  claim 7 , wherein the limit slot of the connecting lever is slidable on the adjusting handle when the connecting lever is moved relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device. 
     
     
         9 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the direction adjusting device further includes:
 a control handle mounted on the stand unit and releasably locked onto the support arm to releasably lock the support arm onto the stand unit.   
     
     
         10 . The pitching machine of  claim 9 , wherein the support arm of the direction adjusting device has a surface provided with a curved guide slot to allow passage of the control handle. 
     
     
         11 . The pitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the guide slot of the support arm is slidable on the control handle when the support arm is rotated relative to the stand unit. 
     
     
         12 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the stand unit includes:
 a support seat on which the support arm of the direction adjusting device is swivelably mounted;   a plurality of telescopically arranged support legs each mounted on a bottom of the support seat; and   a plurality of fastening knobs each releasably locked onto a respective one of the support legs to adjust a height of the respective support leg.   
     
     
         13 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the support arm of the direction adjusting device has a substantially V-shaped profile. 
     
     
         14 . The pitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile. 
     
     
         15 . The pitching machine of  claim 14 , wherein each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a vertical section for mounting the respective screwed socket and a horizontal section for mounting the respective rotation wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The pitching machine of  claim 3 , wherein the guide groove of each of the two side brackets is located between the respective screwed socket and the respective rotation wheel.