Ball projector having clutch and spring means causing a striker head to contact a ball in its path of travel

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR PROJECTING BALLS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID FRAME, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A SWINGING OPERATING ARM PIVOTED TO SAID FRAME COAXIALLY WITH SAID SHAFT, A DETENT ON SAID ARM, A DISC HAVING AT LEAST ONE NOTCH SECURED TO SAID SHAFT, THE DETENT ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO SAID NOTCH AND LATCH THE ARM TO THE DISC, A FIXED TRIGGER ON THE FRAME AND IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE DETENT ON SAID ARM, MOTOR MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT SO AS TO DRIVE IT IN ONE DIRECTION, A STRIKER HEAD MOUNTED ON THE ARM, A SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING A FREELY RESTING BALL IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID HEAD, RESILIENT MEANS SECURED BETWEEN SAID ARM AND FRAME URGING SAID ARM TO ROTATE IN SECOND DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION, SAID MOTOR MEANS ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID ARM AND DETENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TOWARD SAID TRIGGER WHEN SAID DETENT IS IN SAID NOTCH WHEREBY SAID TRIGGER ENGAGES AND RELEASES SAID DETENT FROM SAID NOTCH AND SAID RESILIENT MEANS SNAPS SAID ARM IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION SO SAID HEAD MAY STRIKE A BALL ON SAID SUPPORT, STOP MEANS ON SAID FRAME IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM, SAID STOP MEANS CONTACTING SAID ARM AFTER SAID ARM HAS STRUCK SAID BALL AND THEREBY PREVENTING SAID ARM FROM ROTATING COMPLETELY AROUND ITS PIVOT AXIS.