Patent attributes
An electrical motor rotatably drives a motor shaft, and a helical rib radially extends from the shaft. The helical rib supports a number of balls, and forms a channel to accommodate the balls. The balls are dropped from the helical rib when the balls reach the bottom of the helical rib. Several targets are affixed to the shaft. A sensor is located adjacent to and apart from the shaft, and is positioned in close proximity to the targets. The sensor senses each target as each target rotates past the sensor. The number of targets sensed per revolution of the shaft is equal to the number of balls dropped from the helical rib per revolution of the helical rib. A counter in data communication with the sensor displays the number of targets sensed, and thus displays the number or balls dropped from the helical rib.
