Patent Application
20190212108
The technical field of the invention is that of target launching machines for target practice, preferably for archery.
Archery traditionally offers archers the opportunity of shooting at fixed targets. A target launching machine makes it possible to vary the training conditions, by launching the targets so as to offer shooting at moving targets. This is what the applicant recently proposed with the machine disclosed in patent publication WO-A1-2013023960.
A launching machine typically comprises a launching recess capable of accommodating a discoidal target. A launching device is capable of launching a target from the launching recess. During launching, the side edge of the target rests on the launching device.
In order to be able to launch several targets in succession without action by an operator, a machine of this kind advantageously comprises a supply magazine capable of storing several targets. Said supply magazine is typically capable of delivering one target at a time.
In the case of the machine presented in patent publication WO-A1-2013023960, the magazine is an inclined ramp defining a stack of targets. This principle offers the advantage of structural simplicity. The height of the magazine however soon becomes an impediment to storing a larger number of targets. Conversely, machines from the Ball-Trap field often have a barrel-shaped magazine with a plurality of columns, each vertically storing a stack of targets. This method of storing targets significantly increases the capacity of the magazine, but at the expense of markedly greater complexity.
Consequently, there is a need to improve target storage, particularly for archery for which machines should preferably remain simple while offering significant capacity.
An aim of the present invention is a machine for launching discoidal targets, comprising:
According to an advantageous characteristic, the magazine comprises a first row capable of receiving targets side by side and a second row capable of receiving targets side by side, with the second row being located above the first row and the first row and second row leading into a target lowering column extending to the transfer portion.
This therefore provides a plurality of rows of targets (at least two, but potentially many more) without creating a too detrimental magazine height; the proposed storage is both in height and in width. Furthermore, the rows are all oriented towards a common lowering column to the transfer portion, so that they share a common exit, which simplifies the management of their movements.
Another aim of the invention is a method for dispensing targets from a storage magazine.
Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below for information in connection with the drawings in which:
Before making a detailed review of the embodiments of the invention, optional characteristics that may be used in any combination or as alternative solutions are listed hereafter:
A target 2a, b, c usable in the invention is typically cylindrical and flattened. It features an essentially flat extension. In this plane, also known as the target plane, the target 2 is bounded by a circular cylindrical contour or side edge 21. In the direction perpendicular to said plane, the target 2 is bounded by two flat faces or flanks 22, spaced apart by a thickness e. The target is preferably made of plastic foam, such as an elastomer foam. It may comprise two circular faces arranged on either side of a central body. The two circular faces are preferably formed of a material having a density lower than that of the central body in order to receive and hold the arrow on one of the two faces by blocking passage of the arrow through the central body. The indicative dimensions of a target are a diameter of more than 15 cm, for example 33 cm, and/or a thickness advantageously between 5 and 10 cm and preferably 5 cm. The indicative weight corresponding to these dimensions may be 100 grams with a tolerance of +/−10%. The machine according to the invention comprises a launching device which is the site at which the target is thrown outwards.
The launching device is equipped with a rotationally movable launching arm 3. Movement of the launching arm 3 occurs at least in part inside the launching recess 7. The rotary arm 3 therefore moves, at least over a portion of its rotation, inside the launching recess 7.
According to a first possibility, the arm 3 may be powered by an electric drive, possibly combined with a helical spring serving to store energy and release the latter violently when a target throwing command is given. According to another possibility, the machine 1 comprises a mechanical system configured to produce the energy required to rotate the arm according to its launching cycle; in particular, a helical spring may be employed, tensioned by means of a mechanical control, such as a pedal or lever, in a single movement or by repeated movements by a user.
The launching device is advantageous bounded by side walls 13, 14;
More specifically, this curvilinear shape can be defined as a circular or virtually circular shape. Advantageously, the width of the track is slightly greater than that of the targets so as not to hamper their movements, while ensuring effective guidance of the target flanks against the walls 13, 14 separated by the track. The assembly thus forms a fairing enclosing at least the target to be thrown, in which the arm 3 moves, at least during part of its movement.
Advantageously, each row is equipped with a ramp 63, 64 guiding the targets against their gravity. Advantageously, the ramps 63, 64 are inclined so as to tend to lower the targets in a preferred direction. The invention does not however exclude employing additionally or alternatively a member pushing on the targets at the end of the row 61, 62 such that lowering by gravity is unnecessary or is supplemented. Potentially, the ramps 63, 64 are parallel to each other.
In a similar way to guidance of the targets on the track 11, 12, the magazine 6 advantageously comprises a fairing serving to delimit an internal volume for receiving, and preferably for lateral guidance of, the targets present in the magazine 6. To this end and likewise similarly to the launching device, the magazine 6 preferably comprises two side walls 66, 68 on either side of the ramps 63, 64, with the walls preferably being parallel to each other; advantageously, the spacing between the side walls is such that the possibility of lateral movement of the targets is limited so that the latter are guided laterally and held in a vertical position, with the side edge 21 interacting with the ramps 63, 64. It should be understood that this arrangement forms a fairing for the magazine 6. Preferably, a fairing side edge, corresponding to a proximal end of the rows 61, 62, remains accessible, by means of an opening, so that the targets can be loaded into the rows.
Although vertically separated, the rows 61, 62 jointly lead to a transfer column 67 allowing the targets to descend towards the launching device. It is noted in fact in
It should be noted the magazine 6 can be articulated relative to the launching device in such a way that the magazine can be folded back into a position where the machine is not in use. For example,
The bottom end of the column 67 leads into a transfer portion 7. Indeed, the lateral offset between the magazine 6 and the launching arm 3 requires a change in the position of the targets up to the launching area. Consequently, there is a part in the machine that allows the targets to be offset gradually so as to reach the displacement plane of the arm 3. The transfer portion 7 appears in particular in
It should be noted that the walls previously indicated may be made of metal sheets or layers of sufficiently rigid polymer or composite materials.
It will be seen from the above that the targets are gradually conveyed by gravity to the launching area, on the side of the launching arm 3 allowing their throwing. Since, however, the lowering column 67 is common to the different rows 61, 62, it is desirable, albeit not absolutely necessary, to have a means serving to retain the targets in the bottom row(s) (in this case the first row 61) when targets are still available in the upper row (in this case the second row 62). Indeed, the lateral push of the targets of the first row 61 on the other targets already present in the lowering column 67 could block the movement of lowering by gravity in said column 67 in the direction of the launching arm 3.
Advantageously, this device is active on a portion of the angular travel of the arm 3 and inactive on another portion of this travel. More specifically, it is desirable that the retaining device be active on a portion of the angular sector of rotation of the arm upstream from the armed position (within an angular sector of 180° upstream from the armed position). It is indeed in this area that the relative blockage of targets would be most detrimental. For example, the retaining device may be active on an angular sector of at least 30° and preferably of at least 40° towards the armed position. Thus, the retaining device may be inactive on an angular sector beyond the armed position in the direction of rotation of the arm and allow in this case complete movement of the targets in the magazine and the transfer portion, including in the first row 61. In the following angular sector, in which the retaining device is active, the targets of the first row 61 are retained so as not to interfere with the movement of the targets present in the lowering column 67. According to one possibility, the retaining device can be configured to push back the targets in the first row 61 during the movements of activation of the retaining device in order to avoid persistent contact between these targets and those present in the column 67.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining device comprises a stop in the form of a rotationally movable lever 5 (a translational movement or a complex movement is not however excluded) between a retracted position that does not interfere with the first row 61 and a deployed position in which the lever 5 is liable to interfere with the targets in the first row 61, as is the case in
On a preferred embodiment, the stop (typically the lever 5) has a movement linked to that of the launching arm 3. Thus, no motorisation or additional drive means are required to perform this function. In order to achieve this, in the case illustrated, a cam 4 is integral with the launching arm, around an axis of rotation 41 also corresponding to that of the arm. The cam 4 is advantageously of curvilinear shape, elongated so as to have a larger dimension in a longitudinal direction oriented in the direction of longitudinal extension of the launching arm 3 than in a transverse direction oriented perpendicularly to the direction of longitudinal extension of the launching arm 3. Thus, the cam 4 is an elongated rounded shape. Furthermore, the cam 4 is configured to rest on the lever 5 so as to exert a force on the latter during rotation of the arm 3. In the case described in detail here, there is an offset between the planes of the magazine 6 and the launching device containing the arm 3. Consequently, the cam 4 is advantageously offset in relation to the arm 3 in the direction of the axis of rotation of the arm so as to be positioned, like the lever 5, in the volume of the magazine 6, offset to that of the launching device.
It will be understood that the contact between the cam 4 and the lever 5 is variable during rotation of the arm 3, so that the lever 5 is more or less deployed according to the area of its contact with the cam 4. In this manner, the movement of the lever 5 may follow a cycle, for example sinusoidal in shape, of deployment and retraction in relation to the first row 61. The deployed position is visible in particular, specifically in
It should be noted that if more than two rows 61, 62 are present in the magazine 6, the necessary means may be provided in the retaining device to ensure retention of the targets of the rows below the uppermost row in the magazine 6. It is in particular possible to synchronise the movement of the different additional retaining members with that of the lever 5 or with any other stop of the first row 61 described above. It is, for example, possible to employ a bar and tie rod system for transmitting movements to additional levers.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/50227 | Jan 2018 | FR | national |
