Ball retrieving device

Claim 2

A ball retriever for collecting balls and similar objects lying on a field area comprising: a. a frame member mobile over the ground area; b. conveying means on said frame adapted to convey the balls to a point of discharge, said conveying means including at least one rotative paddle adapted to propel said balls from a receiving end on said conveying means to said point of discharge; c. gathering means on said frame and movable therewith for gathering said balls from the ground area and introducing them to the conveyor means, said gathering means including means adopted to engage the ground for ejecting balls out of depressions in the ground; and d. receptacle means on said frame member adapted to receive the balls from the discharge of said conveying means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle is a tub removably attached to said frame member.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tub is provided with means for washing the balls received therein.

Claim 5

A ball retriever for collecting balls lying on a field area as it moves over the ground area comprising comprising: a. a mobile frame member having front and rear axles with wheels mounted thereon; b. a conveyor trough having a bottom and upstanding sidewalls, said conveyor being rearwardly inclined having a lower receiving end and an upper discharge end; c. paddle means mounted within the confines of said trough, said paddle means being rotative about a shaft; d. drive means for rotating said paddles; e. two gathering members forming a general V-shape outwardly from each said trough sidewalls and adapted to gather and funnel balls to the receiving end of the conveyor; f. means on said gathering members for ejecting balls out of depressions in the ground; and g. a mobile receiving tank towably mounted to said frame to receive balls from the discharge of the conveyor.

Claim 6

A ball retriever for collecting balls lying on a field area as it moves over the ground area comprising comprising: a. a mobile frame member having front and rear axles with wheels mounted thereon; b. a conveyor trough having a bottom and upstanding sidewalls, said conveyor being rearwardly inclined having a lower receiving end and an upper discharge end; c. paddle means mounted within the confines of said trough, said paddle means being rotative about a shaft; d. drive means for rotating said paddles; e. two gathering members forming a general V-shape outwardly from each said trough sidewalls and adapted to gather and funnel balls to the receiving end of the conveyor; f. means on said gathering members for ejecting balls out of depressions in the ground; and g. a mobile receiving tank towably mounted to said frame to receive balls from the discharge of the conveyor.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tank is provided with agitator means frictionally driven.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for ejecting balls out of depressions comprise a biased hinged member extending inwardly from said gathering members and being spring biased in the direction of forward travel.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said conveyor trough bottom is comprised of a series of parallel spaced apart stringers which assist in the orderly transfer of the balls along the trough.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drive means includes a drive pulley on said front axle, pulley means associated with each paddle shaft, and belt means interconnecting said drive pulley to said paddle pulley whereby said paddles are synchronously rotated as the ball retriever moves over the field area.