Pitching machine

Abstract

A pitching machine includes a pedestal, a hopper, a guide channel connecting the hopper with a ball rack for guiding a ball in the hopper to the ball rack, and a ball hitting mechanism which includes a striking rod pivotally coupling with the pedestal, a resilient element for applying a pulling force against the striking rod to drive a lower end thereof towards the ball rack, and a striking rod drive mechanism. The striking rod drive mechanism drives the lower end of the striking rod backward, wherein when the striking rod is pivotally and backwardly moved at an utmost limit, the lower end of the striking rod is released, such that the lower end of the striking rod rapidly swings towards the ball rack for hitting the ball thereat. Therefore, the pitching machine is safe and easy to operate and brings convenience for batters.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the sporting equipment, and more particularly to a baseball or softball pitching machine.

2. Description of Related Arts

Baseball game is a sport requiring the cooperation of hands, head and legs. It not only improves player's health condition but also develop player's agility and response ability. However, the batting practice often requires a pitcher for pitching the baseball or a pitching machine. However, most dedicated pitching machines are too expensive to be afforded by some little league teams or the like. If a batter practices alone, the batter has to cast the baseball with one hand, and to adjust his or her pose to get ready to bat before the ball falls. The time is always too limited, so such self-practice is ineffective for the batters.

To solve this problem, the invention with the Patent No. of CN2604208Y provides a pitching machine that can be operated by any batter alone. When a batter triggers the pitching machine, it will shoot out a ball after a period of delay to leave sufficient time for the batter to adjust his or her pose and get ready for batting.

But, this pitching machine still has the following defects:

Before pitching, the batter has to press the lever to engage it with the trigger board and then step on the pedal to trigger the pitching machine. It is quite complicated and inconvenient for the batter to press the lever while holding a bat and a ball at the same time.

If the lever is pressed but the pedal is not stamped to release the lever for some reasons, the pitching machine is just as dangerous as a loaded gun and can easily hurt people, especially the children.

The lever has to be pressed before every pitching, so it cannot realize constant feeding or automatic pitching of balls. Besides, it is inconvenient to install a guide channel on it. Therefore, it brings inconvenience for batters.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an automatic pitching machine which is safe and easy to operate and to shoot the balls constantly.

Accordingly, a pitching machine in accordance with the present invention, comprises a pedestal, a guide channel, a ball rack, a ball hitting mechanism and a hopper. The outlet opening at the bottom of the hopper connects to the guide channel while the outlet opening of the guide channel connects to the ball rack. The ball hitting mechanism comprises a striking rod, a resilient element and a striking rod drive mechanism. The upper end of the striking rod is hinged on the pedestal and the lower end of the striking rod swings around the hinge point thereof. The resilient element pulls the lower end of the striking rod towards the ball rack. Driven by a motor, the striking rod drive mechanism drives the striking rod to swing backward by overcoming the elasticity of the resilient element. When the striking rod swings to the utmost limit against the resilient element, it is released by the striking rod drive mechanism and then pulled back by the resilient element to its original position, thereby hitting the ball out of the ball rack.

The pitching machine further comprises a striking rod drive mechanism which comprises a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket, a chain and a chain support plate. The drive sprocket is driven by a motor. The chain support plate is mounted between the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket to support the lower half perimeter of the chain outwards in an arc-shape. On the circumference of the chain, there is one or two protrusive drive latches, which engage the protrusion on the striking rod in position and drive the striking rod to swing backwards against the resilient element when the drive latches roll from the upper to lower half perimeter of the chain. After passing the lower half perimeter of the chain, the drive latches disengage the protrusion and the resilient element rapidly pulls the striking rod back to its original position and swings forwards to hit the ball out of the ball rack.

The pitching machine further comprises a feeding mechanism with an ejection plate reciprocating up and down in the sliding channel of the pedestal. The ejection plate is mounted under the outlet opening at the bottom of the hopper and driven by a motor through a crank connecting link or a rack and sector gear, with the upper end of the ejection plate extends into the hopper reciprocating up and down to free one of the balls from the hopper.

The pitching machine further comprises a controlling mechanism, which comprises a poke rod, a drive wire and a controlling member. The poke rod is mounted on the pedestal with its middle part fixed through a pin, its one end connected to one end of stay wire in said drive wire, and its other end swept by the drive latch. The sheath of the drive wire is fixed on the pedestal, and one end of stay wire in the drive wire connects with the controlling member. The controlling member comprises a wheel seat which is fixed on the pedestal just under the outlet opening of the guide channel, and a star wheel equipped with an overrunning clutch. The star wheel and the overrunning clutch are mounted on the wheel seat through star-wheel shaft. The other end of stay wire in the drive wire connects with the outer shell of the overrunning clutch. Through the overrunning clutch, the stay wire drives the star wheel to forwardly rotate and the star wheel pushes the ball at the very bottom of the outlet opening of the guide channel towards the ball rack. When the stay wire gets loose, the overrunning clutch will bounce back to its original position under the force of the retracting spring.

In the pitching machine, an adjusting pin on said wheel seat restricts the reversing rotation of the star wheel when the stay wire in the drive wire gets loose and the overrunning clutch is bounced back by the retracting spring.

In the pitching machine, the striking rod drive mechanism of striking rod is a crank with a roller mounted on one end driven by a motor. When rotating clockwise along the crank, the roller engages the protrusion on striking rod in corresponding position and drives the striking rod to swing backwards by overcoming the elasticity of the spring. When the crank moves on, the roller disengages the protrusion and the striking rod is pulled back by the spring to its original position and then moves forwards to hit the ball out of the ball rack.

The pitching machine comprises a feeding mechanism which includes an L-shape ejection plate, an axis and an ejection rod. The axis goes through the bearing holes on the right side plate of pedestal, with one end mounted with the L-shape ejection plate and the other end with the ejection rod. As the crank rotates every circle, it presses the ejection rod downwards and levers the L-shape ejection plate on the other end of the axis upwards. The top end of the L-shape ejection plate extends into the hopper to free one of the balls from the hopper.

The pitching machine comprises a controlling mechanism. The controlling mechanism comprises a stop plate that is mounted between the outlet opening of the guide channel and the ball rack, a sliding channel on pedestal, and a control rod sliding in the slide-way. The control rod connects with the stop plate. When the striking rod swings backwards, its lower end pushes the control rod backwards which makes the stop plate rotate or move, thus clearing the passage between the outlet opening and the ball rack.

In the pitching machine, the bottom of the hopper is designed sloping with the outlet opening at the lowest point.

The pitching machine comprises an angle control device that is mounted on the rear end of the pedestal. By rotating the adjusting screws, the batter can change the terracing clearance of base plate on the rear of pedestal and thus change the ball pitching angle.

The pitching machine illustrated in the present invention constantly supplies balls from the hopper to the ball rack through a guide channel. Its ball hitting mechanism is driven by a motor and can pitch balls constantly. The pitching machine is safe and easy to operate, and brings convenience for batters.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be illustrated in detail through the following figures and embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pitching machine according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pitching machine according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a rod stays in the striking position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pitching machine according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a rod stays in ready-to-strike position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pitching machine according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the feeding mechanism and controlling mechanism of the pitching machine according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the pitching machine according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the pitching machine according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the first position of the striking rod.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the pitching machine according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the second position of the striking rod.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the pitching machine according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the third position of the striking rod.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the pitching machine according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the ejection plate of the pitching machine.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the pitching machine according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which two drive latches of the striking rod are moving towards a deflector rod.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is another rear perspective view of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the controlling member of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the controlling member of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is another exploded view of the controlling member of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a first schematic diagram of the controlling mechanism of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a second schematic diagram of the controlling mechanism of the pitching machine according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a pitching machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the pitching machine comprises a pedestal, a guide channel 4, a ball rack 20, a hopper 5, and a ball hitting mechanism. The pedestal includes a base plate 1, a left side plate 2, and a right side plate 3. To ensure all the balls in the hopper 5 can flow along the guide channel 4 to the ball rack 20, the bottom of the hopper 5 has a funnel shape that the bottom thereof is extended inclinedly and the outlet opening of the hopper 5 is formed at the lowest point of the bottom of the hopper 5. The outlet opening of the hopper 5 is connected to the guide channel 4, and the outlet opening of the guide channel 4 is connected to the ball rack 20. When the hopper 5 is filled up with balls, it can constantly supply the balls to ball rack 20 to retain the ball at the ball rack 20. The ball hitting mechanism comprises a striking rod 6, a resilient element 7 such as a spring, and a striking rod drive mechanism. The upper end of the striking rod 6 is hinged on the left side plate 2 at a hinge point 6a, and the lower end of the striking rod 6 swings around the hinge point 6a. The resilient element 7 is mounted at the pedestal at a position in front of the striking rod 6 for applying a pulling force to pull the lower end of the striking rod 6 towards the ball rack 20. Driven by a motor 8, the striking rod drive mechanism drives the striking rod 6 to swing backwards by overcoming the elasticity of the resilient element 7. When the striking rod 6 swings to the utmost limit against the resilient element 7, it is released by the striking rod drive mechanism and then pulled back by the resilient element 7 to its original position, thereby hitting the ball 21 out of the ball rack 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the striking rod drive mechanism illustrated in a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a drive sprocket 12, a driven sprocket 9, an endless chain 10 continually moving in a loop manner and a chain support plate 11. The drive sprocket 12 is driven by the motor 8 in cooperation with bevel gears 13 and 14. The chain support plate 11 is mounted between the drive sprocket 12 and the driven sprocket 9, wherein the lower half perimeter of the chain 10 is deformed to have an arc shape that the curvature thereof is formed with respect to the hinge point 6a as its center. On the circumference of the chain 10, there are two (or one) protrusive drive latches 10a outwardly protruding from the chain 10, which engage the protrusions 6b on the striking rod 6 in position and drive the striking rod 6 to swing backwards against the resilient element 7 when the drive latches 10a roll from the upper to lower half perimeter of the chain 10. After passing the lower half perimeter of the chain 10, the drive latches 10a are disengaged from the protrusion 6b, i.e. the utmost limit of the striking rod 6, and the resilient element 7 rapidly pulls the striking rod 6 back to its original position and swings forwards to hit the ball 21 out of the ball rack 21.

The pitching machine illustrated in a first embodiment of the present invention further comprises a feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises a geared sector 15, which is driven by the motor 8 through the bevel gears 13 and 14, and an ejection plate 16 with rack. The ejection plate 16 is perpendicularly mounted under the outlet opening of the bottom of hopper 5, and guided by two rollers 17 on the left side plate 2 of the pedestal. Two rollers 17 define the guide channel 4 in the straightaway of the ejection plate 16. The geared sector 15 drives the ejection plate 16 to move up and down in the slide way formed by two rollers 17 once every circle it rotates. The upper end of the ejection plate 16 extends into the hopper 5 and reciprocates up and down to free one of the balls 21 from the hopper 5 to flow along the guide channel 4.

The pitching machine illustrated in a first embodiment of the present invention further comprises a controlling mechanism. The controlling mechanism comprises a stop plate 18 mounted between the outlet opening of the guide channel 4 and the ball rack 20, a sliding channel 19 on pedestal, and a control rod 22 sliding in the sliding channel 19. The control rod 22 connects with the stop plate 18 through a joint plate 23. The middle part of the stop plate 18 engages the left side plate 2 on pedestal. When the striking rod 6 swings backwards, its lower end pushes the control rod 22 backwards which makes the stop plate 18 rotate, thus clearing the passage between the outlet opening and the ball rack 20 to let the ball in the guide channel 4 roll into the ball rack 20. After the striking rod 6 disengages the control rod, the stop plate 18 will bounce back to its original position under the force of the resilient element 7. Each time the striking rod 6 only hits one ball, and before it swings back for the next hitting the stop plate 18 is opened just once to let one ball in at a time, thereby preventing balls from getting stuck.

The pitching machine illustrated in a first embodiment of the present invention further comprises an angle control device mounted on the rear end of the pedestal. The angle control device comprises a top beam 24 mounted underneath the base plate 1, a bottom beam 25, and an equilateral trapezoid formed by two side plates 26. The top beam 24 is fixed on the base plate of pedestal, and the bottom beam 25 is mounted with ground attachments. Adjusting screws 27 are fastened on both ends of the bottom beam 25 and connect with the lower ends of side plates 26. By rotating the adjusting screws 27, the batter can adjust a level of the top beam 24 with respect to the bottom beam 25 and change the oblique angle of side plates 26 and thus change the ball pitching angle.

The difference between the pitching machine illustrated in a second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 and a first embodiment is as follows: The striking rod drive mechanism of the striking rod 6 is a crank 28 with a roller 28a mounted on one end driven by the motor 8. When rotating clockwise along the crank 28, the roller 28a engages the protrusion 6b on the striking rod 6 in the direction of the right side plate on pedestal and drives the striking rod 6 to swing backwards by overcoming the elasticity of the resilient element 7. When the crank 28 moves on, the roller 28a disengages the protrusion 6b and the striking rod 6 is pulled back by the resilient element 7 to its original position and then moves forwards to hit the ball 21 out of the ball rack 20.

The pitching machine illustrated in a second embodiment of the present invention further comprises a feeding mechanism which comprises an L-shape ejection plate 29, an axis and an ejection rod 30. The axis goes through the bearing holes on the right side plate 2 of pedestal, with one end mounted with the L-shape ejection plate 29 and the other end with the ejection rod 30. As the crank 28 rotates every cycle in a circular manner, the respective end of the crank 28 with the roller 28a presses the ejection rod 30 downwards and levers the L-shape ejection plate 29 on the other end of the axis upwards. The top end of the L-shape ejection plate 29 extends into the hopper to free one of the balls from the hopper.

FIGS. 10 to 20 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. Identical with the structural principle of a first embodiment, the principal part in a third embodiment also comprises a pedestal, a guide channel 4, a ball rack 20, a hopper 5, and a ball hitting mechanism. The pedestal includes a base plate 1, a left side plate 2, and a right side plate 3. The ball hitting mechanism comprises a striking rod 6, a resilient element 7 and a striking rod drive mechanism. The striking rod drive mechanism comprises a drive sprocket 12, a driven sprocket 9, a chain 10 and a chain support plate 11.

The major difference between the first and the third embodiments lies in the controlling mechanism, feeding mechanism and angle control section.

The feeding mechanism in the third embodiment includes an ejection plate 16 that is mounted under the outlet opening of the bottom of the hopper 5 and driven by the motor 8 to reciprocate up and down in the sliding channel of pedestal. The momentum output by the motor 8 is faded first by the bevel gears 13 and 14 and then by a pair of cylindrical gears 31 and 32. A crank 33 on the cylindrical gear 32 actuates a connecting rod 34 which then drives the ejection plate 16 to reciprocate up and down in the sliding channel of pedestal. The top end of the ejection plate 16 moves up and down in the hopper 5 to free one of the balls from the hopper 5 such that the ball is guided to flow along the guide channel 4 smoothly without getting stuck.

The controlling mechanism illustrated in a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a poke rod 36, a drive wire 37 and a controlling member. The poke rod 36 is mounted on the left side plate 2 of a support 39 with its middle part fixed through a pin 38 and its one end connected to the top end of stay wire in the drive wire 37. The other end of the poke rod 36 goes through the left side plate 2 and is swept by the drive latch 10a on the chain 10. The top end of the sheath of the drive wire 37 is fixed on the support 39, and the lower end is connected to a support 40 behind a wheel seat. The lower end of the stay wire in the drive wire 37 connects with the controlling mechanism, which comprises a wheel seat 41 and a star wheel 42 equipped with an overrunning clutch 43 coaxially coupled with the star wheel 42. The wheel seat 41 is fixed on the base plate 1 and located under the outlet opening of the guide channel 4. The star wheel 42 and the overrunning clutch 43 are mounted on the wheel seat 41 through a star-wheel shaft 44. The lower end of the stay wire in drive wire 37 is connected through screws with the outer shell of the overrunning clutch 43 on which the retracting spring 45 is hitched. As the chain 10 rotates, the drive latch 10a impels the back end of the poke rod 36 to drive the poke rod 36 start rotating, and meantime impels the front end of the poke rod 36 to pull out the stay wire in the drive wire 37. When the stay wire in the lower end of the drive wire 37 retracts, it drives the star wheel 42 having four flutes to forwardly rotate 1/4 circle through the overrunning clutch 43 and to push a ball to roll from the guide channel to the ball rack 20. Meantime, another ball in the guide channel 4 enters the star wheel 42 and waits in the guide channel for the next hitting. In other words, the subsequent ball is stopped by the star wheel 42 and is waiting for next rotation of the star wheel 42 to be pushed to the ball rack 20. When the drive latch 10a passes the back end of the poke rod 36, the stay wire in the drive wire 37 gets loose of the tension and the retracting spring 45 drives the outer shell of the overrunning clutch 43 to reversely rotate and return to its original position waiting for the next forward rotation of star wheel. At that time, an elastic adjusting pin 46 on the wheel seat 41 restrains the star wheel 42 from reversely rotating following the overrunning clutch 43, so each time when the drive latch 10a pushes the poke rod 36, the star wheel 42 supplies a ball to the ball rack 20.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the angle control device in the pitching machine illustrated in a third embodiment of the present invention is much simpler. It is also mounted on the rear of the pedestal and comprises a base plate 1, a bottom beam 25, adjusting nuts 47 spacedly coupling between the base plate 1 and the bottom beam 25, and bearing springs 48 spacedly supported between the base plate 1 and the bottom beam 25. Ground attachments are fastened in the lower part of the bottom beam 25 and adjusting bolts are fastened in the upper part. By rotating the adjusting nuts 47, the batter can selectively adjust a level of the base plate 1 with respect to the bottom beam 25 and change the terracing clearance of base plate 1 on the rear of pedestal and thus change the ball pitching angle.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A pitching machine, comprising: a pedestal,a hopper supported by said pedestal for containing one or more balls in said hopper;a ball rack adapted for retaining said ball thereat;a guide channel connecting an outlet opening of said hopper with said ball rack for guiding said ball in said hopper to said ball rack through said guide channel; anda ball hitting mechanism, which comprises:a striking rod having an upper end pivotally coupling with said pedestal and a lower end adapted to pivotally and forwardly swing towards said ball rack;a resilient element supported by said pedestal for applying a pulling force against said striking rod to drive said lower end thereof towards said ball rack; anda striking rod drive mechanism operatively coupling with said striking rod to drive said lower end of said striking rod backward, wherein when said striking rod is pivotally and backwardly moved at an utmost limit, said lower end of said striking rod is released, such that said lower end of said striking rod rapidly swings towards said ball rack for hitting said ball thereat.

2. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein said striking rod drive mechanism comprises a motor, an endless chain powered by said motor to continually move in a loop manner, and at least a drive latch outwardly protruding from said chain to engage with a protrusion of said striking rod, in such a manner that when said chain is moving in a loop manner, said drive latch engages with said protrusion to pivotally and backwardly move said lower end of said striking rod away from said ball rack, and when said chain is kept moving in a loop manner, said drive latch disengages with said protrusion such that said lower end of said striking rod rapidly swings towards said ball rack for hitting said ball thereat.

3. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 2, wherein a lower half perimeter of said chain is deformed to have an arc shape that a curvature thereof is formed with respect to a hinge point of said striking rod as its center.

4. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a feeding mechanism for feeding said ball from said hopper to said guide channel, wherein said feeding mechanism comprises a geared sector driven by said motor, an ejection plate perpendicularly mounted under said outlet opening of said hopper, and two rollers supported by said pedestal to define said guide channel in a straightaway of said ejection plate, wherein when said geared sector is actuated to drive said ejection plate to reciprocatingly move up and down, an upper end of said ejection plate extends into said hopper and reciprocates up and down to free one of said balls from said hopper to flow along said guide channel.

5. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a feeding mechanism for feeding said ball from said hopper to said guide channel, wherein said feeding mechanism comprises a geared sector driven by said motor, an ejection plate perpendicularly mounted under said outlet opening of said hopper, and two rollers supported by said pedestal to define said guide channel in a straightaway of said ejection plate, wherein when said geared sector is actuated to drive said ejection plate to reciprocatingly move up and down, an upper end of said ejection plate extends into said hopper and reciprocates up and down to free one of said balls from said hopper to flow along said guide channel.

6. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controlling mechanism which comprises a stop plate mounted between an outlet opening of said guide channel and said ball rack, a sliding channel formed on said pedestal, and a control rod sliding in said sliding channel and connecting with said stop plate, wherein when said striking rod swings backwards, said lower end of said striking rod pushes said control rod backwards for driving said stop plate to rotate and for clearing a passage between said outlet opening of said guide channel and said ball rack so as to ensure said ball at said guide channel being rolled into said ball rack.

7. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 5, further comprising a controlling mechanism which comprises a stop plate mounted between an outlet opening of said guide channel and said ball rack, a sliding channel formed on said pedestal, and a control rod sliding in said sliding channel and connecting with said stop plate, wherein when said striking rod swings backwards, said lower end of said striking rod pushes said control rod backwards for driving said stop plate to rotate and for clearing a passage between said outlet opening of said guide channel and said ball rack so as to ensure said ball at said guide channel being rolled into said ball rack.

8. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an angle control device mounted on a rear end of said pedestal, wherein said angle control device comprises a top beam mounted underneath said pedestal, a bottom beam mounted with ground attachments, and a plurality of adjusting screws fastened with said bottom beam to adjust a level of said top beam with respect to said bottom beam for changing a ball pitching angle when said lower end of said striking rod hits said ball at said ball rack.

9. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 7, further comprising an angle control device mounted on a rear end of said pedestal, wherein said angle control device comprises a top beam mounted underneath said pedestal, a bottom beam mounted with ground attachments, and a plurality of adjusting screws fastened with said bottom beam to adjust a level of said top beam with respect to said bottom beam for changing a ball pitching angle when said lower end of said striking rod hits said ball at said ball rack.

10. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a feeding mechanism which comprises an ejection plate mounted under said outlet opening said hopper and driven by said motor to reciprocatingly move up and down through said outlet opening of said hopper so as to free one of said balls from said hopper to said guide channel.

11. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a feeding mechanism which comprises an ejection plate mounted under said outlet opening said hopper and driven by said motor to reciprocatingly move up and down through said outlet opening of said hopper so as to free one of said balls from said hopper to said guide channel.

12. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a controlling mechanism which comprises a poke rod pivotally supported at said pedestal and adapted to be swept by said drive latch of said chain, and a star wheel being driven to rotate when said poke rod is tapped by said drive latch, wherein when said chain is moving, said drive latch impels said poke rod to drive said star wheel to rotate, such that a flute of said star wheel pushes said ball to roll from said guide channel to said ball rack while a subsequent ball is stopped by said star wheel for next rotation of said star wheel.

13. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a controlling mechanism which comprises a poke rod pivotally supported at said pedestal and adapted to be swept by said drive latch of said chain, and a star wheel being driven to rotate when said poke rod is tapped by said drive latch, wherein when said chain is moving, said drive latch impels said poke rod to drive said star wheel to rotate, such that a flute of said star wheel pushes said ball to roll from said guide channel to said ball rack while a subsequent ball is stopped by said star wheel for next rotation of said star wheel.

14. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 12, wherein said controlling mechanism further comprises an overrunning clutch coupling with said star wheel, a retracting spring coupling with said overrunning clutch and a drive wire having one end coupling with said poke rod and an opposed end coupling with said overrunning clutch, wherein when said drive latch impels said poke rod to pull at said drive wire, said star wheel is driven to rotate through said drive wire, wherein after said drive latch impels said poke rod, said drive wire is loosen such that said retracting spring pulls said star wheel to reversely rotate and return to its original position for next rotation of said star wheel.

15. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 13, wherein said controlling mechanism further comprises an overrunning clutch coupling with said star wheel, a retracting spring coupling with said overrunning clutch and a drive wire having one end coupling with said poke rod and an opposed end coupling with said overrunning clutch, wherein when said drive latch impels said poke rod to pull at said drive wire, said star wheel is driven to rotate through said drive wire, wherein after said drive latch impels said poke rod, said drive wire is loosen such that said retracting spring pulls said star wheel to reversely rotate and return to its original position for next rotation of said star wheel.

16. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an angle control device which comprises a base plate mounted at a rear of said pedestal, a bottom beam comprising a plurality of ground attachments, a plurality of bearing springs spacedly supported between said base plate and said bottom beam, and a plurality of adjusting nuts coupling between said base plate and said bottom beam to selectively adjust a level of said base plate with respect to said bottom beam for changing a ball pitching angle when said lower end of said striking rod hits said ball at said ball rack.

17. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 13, further comprising an angle control device which comprises a base plate mounted at a rear of said pedestal, a bottom beam comprising a plurality of ground attachments, a plurality of bearing springs spacedly supported between said base plate and said bottom beam, and a plurality of adjusting nuts coupling between said base plate and said bottom beam to selectively adjust a level of said base plate with respect to said bottom beam for changing a ball pitching angle when said lower end of said striking rod hits said ball at said ball rack.

18. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 15, further comprising an angle control device which comprises a base plate mounted at a rear of said pedestal, a bottom beam comprising a plurality of ground attachments, a plurality of bearing springs spacedly supported between said base plate and said bottom beam, and a plurality of adjusting nuts coupling between said base plate and said bottom beam to selectively adjust a level of said base plate with respect to said bottom beam for changing a ball pitching angle when said lower end of said striking rod hits said ball at said ball rack.

19. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein said striking rod drive mechanism comprises a motor, a crank driven by said motor to rotate and having one end engaging with a protrusion of said striking rod, wherein when said crank is driven to rotate, said respective end of said crank engages with said protrusion to pivotally and backwardly move said lower end of said striking rod away from said ball rack, and when said crank is kept rotating, said respective end of said crank disengages with said protrusion such that said lower end of said striking rod rapidly swings towards said ball rack for hitting said ball thereat.

20. The pitching machine, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a feeding mechanism which comprises an ejection rod rotatably supported by said pedestal and an ejection plate driven to rotate by said ejection rod, when said crank is driven to rotate every cycle in a circular manner, said respective end of said crank presses said ejection rod downwards and levers said ejection plate upwards, such that a top end of said ejection plate extends into said hopper to free one of said balls from said hopper to said guide channel.