US1347821A - Pin-setting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

A.. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1919.

Patented July 27, 1920..

- 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

flab 970601. A 1K 0J6 e10 A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING-MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r m 7 w 7 I A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECH'ANISM.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 2.1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

- UNITED sTA ALFRED N; OLSEN, OF ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA.'

PIN-SETTIN G MECHAN ISM.

Application filed July 2, 1919. Serial No. 308,081.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED N. OLSEN, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin-Setting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanisms'for setting bowling pins upon their spots on the floor of a bowling alley and has as its general object the provision of a mechanism for this purpose into which the pins may be placed or thrown and which in its operation will set the pins accurately upontheir respective spots in upright position thus avoiding the tedious procedure of manually placing the pins.

The'mechanism of'the present invention embodies a frame mounted for raising and lowering movement and having a plurality of pin receiving units and one object of the invention is to so construct each of these units that the devices comprising the same will operate to'automatically place the pin occupying the same in upright position accuratel'y centered upon its spot, when the frame .is lowered, and will after such deposition of the pin automatically release the same so that the position of the pin will not be disturbed when the frame is withdrawn from the pins in an upward direction.- 3

Another object of the invention is to so constructthe devices of each pin receivingunit that these devices when in normal or active condition will firmly support or bolster the respective pin when the pin is thrown or placed therein and will yet operate immediately upon lowering act the frame of the device to depositing position,

to release the pin and yet supportthe same firmly in an upright position upon the respective s t. v

Another object of the invention is to so construct the devices of each pin receiving ,unit that when the pin is placed or thrown into the unit it will be supported in upright or vertical position and will continuously maintain said. position during the operation of the mechanism as a whole so that in effecting deposition of the pin upon its spot the pin is not in any manner turned, tilted, or subjected to any other motion which would in any way affect its stability when set and released.

Each pin unit embodies coacting devices for supporting the pin when the latter is deposited therein, one of these devices constituting an abutment for one side of the pin and the other device constituting a bolstering means for the pin, and a further object of the invention is to so construct the bolstering means that the pin engaging member thereof will be caused to promptly and positively recede from the pin when the mechanism is operating to deposit the pin upon its spot.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of the mechanism embodying the present invention installed in a bowling alley;

Fig. 2 isa vertical front to rear sectional view through one of the pin receiving units, the pin supporting devices thereof being shown in position supporting a pin within the unit; f

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in a downward direction; I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the manner in which the pin bolstering element is to be 5 F ig. 5 'is a similar view illustrating the E s PATENT: OFFICE-:

v Specification of Letters Zita tent. Patented July 27, 1920.

Eaovd through its en- .gagement with the flo r of the bowling alley to release the pin;

positionsof the parts-when the pin is really therefrom and have secured each to its outer end a rod 3 whichlextends. upwardly poo from the respective bracket and through suitable upper and lower guides indicated by the-numerals 4 and 5 respectively. A d1- eachrod 3 and at its lower end to any suitable portion of the frame 1. .By this conagonal brace 6 is secured-at'its upper end to struction and arrangement of parts, the

. frame 1 is mounted for raising and lowering movement, and in order that. the frame may be cushioned in its upward movement, suitablebufie'r springs 7 may be positioned upon the lower portions of the rods 3 so as'to be deposited in the frame and it will be understood, of course, that the frame may be lowered to depositing position upon the floor of the alley, which floor is indicated by the numeral 12, by grasping either of the rods 3 or the frame 1 or any other convenient part of the mechanism and movin the same in a downward direction, and, 0 course, when the pins have been deposited and the frame or its associated parts have been relieved of this downward pressure, the frame will be automatically returned to the elevated position through the action of the counterweights 11. The guides Q: and 5 and also a transverse shaft or bar 13 which carries the pulleys 10, are supported by suitable uprights or standards 14 mounted upon the walls 15 of. the alley, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The bowling pins are indicated each by the. numeral 16.

I As above stated, the frame 1 may be of any desired construction, and the pin receiving units which are arranged within this frame may be built into the frame or ar ranged therein in any other suitable manner. As these units are of identical construction, a description of one will suffice for all. Each of the units comprises a box-like body including sides 17, a forward wall 18, and a rear wall 19. The back or rear wall 19 of the unit is vertically disposed and the inwardly presented face thereof, indicated by the numeral 20, is transversely concave preferably on an are somewhat of greater degree than the are describing the major circumference of the body of the bowling pin 16 to be received within the unit, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This back or rear wall constitutes a fixed abutment for the bowling pin, and in order that the pin may be suitably engaged at a point above the point of maximum diameter of its body.

under conditions to be presently explained, the said wall 19 is provided at its top with an abutment shoulder 21 which may be of metal or any other suitable material and which is preferably set into a rabbet. 22

' formed in the inner face 20 of the said Wall 19. This shoulder is secured in place by boltsor other fastening devices'23 and is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 24" having an arcuate inwardly presented edge 25 for engagement with the side of the pin as stated above.

of the pin bolstering member which is indicated in general by the numeral 27, the said body being in this manner supported for up and down slidin movement within the forward portion of t e unit. It will be understood and particularly by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, that the body 27 of the pin bolstering member is inclined with relation to the plane of the rear wall 19 of the unit and that in the upward sliding movement of the said body 27, the body will recede from the said wall 19. In order to. limit the downward movement of the bolstering member,the forward wall 18 of the unit is formed with a slot 28 which extends vertically and opens through the upper edge of the said wall, and the body 27 is provided upon its face which opposes the said wall 18, with a stud 29 designed to normally seat in the lower end of the slot 28 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings when the parts are in normal position or more specifi- .cally while the bolstering member is in position to bolster and support the pin 16. In order that the bolstering member 27 may be adapted to suitably engage the body of the pin so as to support the same in a centered position, and in order that the bolstering member may readily ride out of engagement with the pin, when operating to spot the same, without disturbing the position of the pin or causing the same to totter, means is provided upon the body of the member 27 as will now be described. Spindles 30 are rigidly secured at their inner ends toa block 31 upon the rear face of the body 27, preferably by providing the said ends of the spindles with-attaching tangs 32 which are disposed and secured in grooves 33 in the rear face of the block 31, and these spindles are supported at their outer ends by suitable brackets3 l secured to the said rear face of the body of the member 27 the spindles.

being disposed with their axes extending at diverging lines as clearly shown in Rig. 3 of the drawings. The numeral 35 indicates concave antifriction rollers which are rotatably mounted upon the spindles 30 and which may be of fiber or any other suitable material, the curvature of the concave peripheries of the rollers being such as to adapt these faces to snugly fit and conform to the contour of the body of the pin to be supported. The disposition of the rollers 35 is such that they will engage the forward side of the pin at spaced points located at opposite sides of the front to rear median 'line of the body of the pin disposed within the unit, and inasmuch as the bolstering member 27 will recede from the abutment 19 as the said member slides upwardly in the frame of the unit, the rollers .35 will be correspondingly moved with relation to the said abutment 19. .When the bolstering member 27 is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the maximum distance between .its rollers 35 and the concave face 20 of the abutment wall 19 will be less than the maximum diameter of the body of the pin 16 so that when'the pin is dropped or thrown into the unit, it will assume substantially the upright position shown in Fig. 2 and will be supported in this position until the apparatus is operated to spot the pins.

The body of the bolstering member 27 is provided with spaced downwardly extending legs 36 and as the frame of the structure is lowered for the purpose of spotting the pins, the lower ends of the said legs 36 will come into engagement with the surface of the floor or alley, as clearly shown in Fig.-

4 of the drawings, and upon continued downward movement of the frame 1, the bolstering members will be moved upwardly within their respective units slightly elevating the respective pins until they come into engagement at the rear sides of their bodies with the arcuate edges 25 of the respective shoulders 21. At such time, the maximum distance between the rollers 35 and the concave or abutment face of the wall 19 of they respective unit will be approximately equal to the maximum diameter of the body of the respective pin but also at this time the lower extremities of the legs of the bolstering members will still project a short distance below the lower edges of the walls of the unit. As the lowering of the framel is completed, the bolstering member of each unit will be further moved in an upward direction carrying with it the respective rollers which, as they ride upwardly along the forward side of the body of the pin, permit the pin to drop from the position shown in Fig; 4. to the position shown .in-Fi'g. 5, in which latter position the pin will be properly "spotted upon the floor of the alley. It will be understood by reference to Fig. 4 that the two rollers engage the forward side of the pin at the opposite sides of the front 'to rear median line thereof and the rear side of the body of the'pin is in engagement at a single point in said line with the concave face 20 of the abutment member 19, the rear side of thepi'n at the'upper portion thereof being. a'lso-in' engagement with the arcuate edge of the shoulder 21 so that the pinis spotted accurately in upright '01 vertical position which it will maintain as it is dropped to the position shown in Fig. 5. After the pins have been spottedin the manner stated and as shown in Fig. '5 .of the drawings, the frame 1 is raised andas it raises carrying having a floor engaging part with it the pin receiving units, the rollers will remain in engagement with the forward sides of the respective pins and the said pins will remain at their rear sides iniengagement' with the concave faces of the abutment members 19 of the respective units and will thus be steadied. and prevented from tottering. Of course, as the units are further ele-, vated, the pin bolstering members will gradually resume the position shown in Fig. 2' of' the drawings until finally they are lifted.

entirely clear of the respective pins.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z. c 1. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive andsupport a pin in upright position and including a bolstering member movable in a direction to recede from the pin and in so moving operableto seat the same without a change in the position of the pin and to steady the pin upon receding therefrom.

" 2. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive and support a pin in upright position and including fixed and movable coacting pin engaging devices, the movable device being arranged in active position to engage the body of the pin below line of maximum diameter and in released position to engage the body of the pin substantially at said line and operable to set the pin without a change in its position.

means mounted or raising and lowering movement, and a flpin bOlSilGIlIlg member mounted-thereon and movable in a down- 4. In pin settin mechanism, a supporting l ward direction to active position and in an upward direction to inactive position, and means providing for automatic movement of the said member to inactive position upon lowering of the supporting means:

5. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive-and support a pin to be set comprising a relatively fixed abutment member, and a gravity actuatedbolstering member bodily 1,

slidable in an up :and down direction and coacting therewith and having a floor en gaging part to provide for its movement inan upward direction to release the pin when the means is lowered to spotting position.

6. In pin setting mechanism, means to re-' ceive and support a pin to be set comprising a relatively fixed abutment member, and a bolstering member mounted for up and down sliding movement and guided in its upward-movement to recedefrom the plane ment member, and an inclined bolstering member supported for up and down sliding movement and located opposite the saidabutment member. and arranged in its upward movement to recede from the plane thereof.

8. In pin setting mechanism, means for.

receiving and supportin a pin to be set comprism an upright re atively fixed abutment mem er, a bolstering member slidably supported for up and down movement in a plane inclined upwardly away from the plane of the abutment member, the said bolstering member having a floor engaging art.

P 9. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pin to be set comprising an upright relatively fixed abutment member having a concave abutment face to engage one side of the body of the pin, and a bolstering member mounted for movement in a direction receding from the said face of the abutment member and having anti-friction rollers to engage the opposite side of the pin at spaced points.

10. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supportin a pin to be set comprising an upright re atively fixed abut ment member havin a concave abutment face to engage one side of the body of the pin, and a bolstering member mounted for movement in a direction receding from the said face of the abutment member, and having anti-friction rollers to engage the opposite-side of the pin at spaced points, the said rollers having concave peripheries to conform to the curvature of the bpdy of the 11. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive and support a pin to be set comprising a relatively fixed abutment member havin a concave abutmentwface to engage one si e of the pin to be set, a fixed member located opposite the abutment member, a bolsterin member slidablewith relation to the said xedminber, and coacting means upomt'lie bolstering member and the said fixed member for limitin the downward movement of the bolstering member by gravit 12. pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a. pin to be set member.

13. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pinto be set comprising a pin receiving unit including side walls and oppositely located connecting walls, one of the said connecting walls constituting a relatively fixed abutment to be engaged by one side of the pin to be set, the

other connecting wall being disposed in a plane inclined upwardly and away from the first. mentioned connecting wall, and a bolstering member mounted in 'the unit for sliding movement against the inner face of the last mentioned connecting wall and having a floor engagin portion projecting below the unit, where y upon engagement of the said portion with a floor in the lowering movement of the unit, the said bolstering member will be moved upwardly and in a direction to recede from a pin bolstered thereby.

14. 11 pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pin to be set comprising a pin receiving unit including side walls and oppositely 'located connecting walls, one of the said connecting walls constitut'in a relatively fixed abutment to be engage by one side of the pin to be set, the other connecting wall bein disposed in a plane inclined upwardly an away from the first mentioned connecting wall, a-bolstering member mounted in the unit for sliding movement against the inner face of the last mentioned connecting wall and having a floor engaging. portion projecting below the unit, whereby upon engagement of the said portion with a floor in the lowering movement of the unit, the said bolstering member will be moved upwardly and in a direction to recede from a pin bolstered thereby, the said inclined connecting wall having a vertically extending slot therein, and a pin pro'ecting from the bolstering member into I- sai slot and engageable with the lower end wall of the slot whereby to limit the downward movement of the bolstering m ember.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED N. OLSEN. [1 s.]

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