US2992000A - Ball return - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 196 H. c. CONGELLI BALL RETURN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 INVENTOR HENRY C. CONGELLI July 11, 1961 H. c. CONGELLl BALL RETURN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 INVENTOR 'fiRNEY H$N RY C. CONGELLI United States Patent 1 '0 BALL RETURN Henry C. Congelli, Kenmore, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 686,520 17 Claims. (Cl.273-43) This invention relates to automatic bowling pin spotting machines and particularly to a novel bowling ball return mechanism.

In bowling pin spotting machines, bowling pins are usually removed from the playing surface of a bowling alley into a pit at the rear of the alley after each ball is rolled by a device, known commonly as a sweep. The sweep generally occupies a non-operative position above and at the end of the pit adjacent the playing surface. After a ball is rolled and drops into the pit, the sweep is lowered into operative position adjacent the alley and moved therealong delivering any fallen, or unwanted pins from the playing surface of the alley into the pit. The sweep then returns to its non-operative position. In prior art bowling pin spotting machines, separate mechanisms are generally provided to separate bowling balls from pins after delivery into the pit by the sweep, and to deliver bowling balls thus separated onto a return runway or track for return to the head end of the alley.

The present invention constitutes an important advance in the art because it utilizes the sweep for the dual purpose of removing deadwood or fallen pins, and unwanted standing pins from the pin supporting bed of a bowling alley during a part of its operation, and also as the prime means for effecting the delivery of bowling balls directly from the pit onto the ball return track or runway for return to the player at the head end of a bowling alley during another part of its operation. Thus because of the novel contruction and operation of the sweep, the bowling pin spotting machine of which it'forms a part is simpler in construction, and less expensive to construct and maintain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sweep mechanism for removing bowling balls and pins from the playing surface of a bowling alley and for separating balls from pins and returning bowling balls to the head end of the alley.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for utilizing a portion of the conventional structure of a bowling alley as a bowling ball return.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means within the pit of a bowling alley and coacting with the sweep for utilizing one movement of the sweep relative to the bowling alley to effect the return of bowling balls in the pit to the head end of the alley.

An added object of the present invention is to provide a control system for regulating the movement of a bowling ball directly out of the pit and forwardly up the alley to the head end thereof.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3--3, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 4--4, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electrical drawing showing a suitable control system for the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a preferred embodiment oft-he in-' "ice vention installed in a conventional bowling alley 10 and operating in conjunction with a sweep mechanism 12. Sweep mechanism 12 may be similar in construction and operation to that shown in Zuercher application, Serial N 0. 575,548, filed April 2, 1956, now Patent No. 2,878,019, for Bowling Alley Sweep Mechanism.

A bowling ball 14 delivered to pit P of bowling alley -10 drops onto the upper lap of substantially horizontal conveyor 16 mounted in pit P which is mounted for travel on rollers, one of which, roller 18, is shown in FIGURE 1. Conveyor 16 preferably is constructed of a resilient material, such as rubber. Rollers 18 are fixed on and rotate with shafts 19 journaled in kickbacks K of pit P and driven in any convenient manner. Platform 20 is secured between the opposed faces of kickbacks K and supports and prevents the upper lap of conveyor 16 from sagging under the load or impact of balls and pins deposited thereon. Conveyor 16 is supported in a slightly inclined manner in pit P toward header plank 22 and also toward the kickback Kon the side of pit P adjacent ball return track 24, as shown in FIGURE 2. The upper lap ofconveyor 16 travels away from header plank 22 as indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be apparent that bowling balls and pins deposited on the upper lap of conveyor 16 will tend to gravitate toward header plank 22 and kickback K adjacent ball return track 24. Pins, thus deposited will be carried by frictional contact with resilient conveyor 16 away from header plank 22 toward a pin elevator (not shown), which may be similar in construction and operation to that shown in Holloway et al. Patent 2,767,983. Since this elevator forms no specific part of the present invention, further disclosure thereof is omitted. Bowling balls, however, will gravitate and roll on the upper lap of conveyor 16 toward and into a corner formed by header plank 22, kickback K adjacent ball return track 24 and the upper lap of conveyor 16.

At a predetermined point in the operation of the pm spotting machine with which this invention forms a part, sweep 12 is moved downwardly into operative position adjacentthe playing surface of alley 10. Sweep 12 is then moved along the playing surface of alley 10 rearwardly, or from right to left as viewed in FIGURE .1, sweeping fallen, or unwanted standing pins into pit P.

Sweep 12 is operated by motor 31 by means of crank arms 29 fixed to motor shaft 28. The free end of crank arm 29 is attached to sweep operating link 33. As mentioned hereinabove, the construction and operation of sweep 12 is essentially the same as that disclosed in Zuercher application Serial No. 575,548, now Patent No. 2,878,019, and further detailed description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity.

Referring to FIGURE 5 which shows a suitable electrical control system for effecting the purposes of the invention, when push button switch B is closed, either manually or by any convenient mechanical or electrical means, a circuit is completed energizing relay 37, closing its contacts 39 and, through normally closed contacts 32, energizing sweep motor 31. Upon the energizing of sweep motor 31, the high point 43 .of cam 45 mounted on drive shaft 28 of sweep motor 31 is rotated out of engagement with normally closed switch 41. Thus when push button B is released, a hold in circuit is still maintained through switch 43, relay 37 and contact 32 which continues to energize sweep motor 31.

When sweep 12 reaches its rearmost limit of travel, the movement thereof is automatically stopped, and the sweep dwells in the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGURE 5, as sweep 12 reaches its rearmost position, a second high portion 27 on cam 26 on shaft 28 diametrically opposite high point 43 engages and-remains in contact with .the operating armxof switch 30, opening contact 32, which interrupts the sweep drive motor circuit through motor 31. At the time that contact 32 is opened, contact 34 of switch '30 is closed, thereby completing a circuit which energizes relay 36 which closes contacts 38 and 118. The closing of contacts 38 completes a circuit through normally closed contacts 40 of relay 42 actuating motor 44 of the ball elevating mechanism. Relay 36 is held in by a circuit including now closed contacts '118 and switch 116 whose contact is closed when motor 44 is energized moving lug 90 on chain 58 out of engagement with the actuating arm of switch 116.

Sprocket 46, fixed to one end of shaft 48 of motor 44, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, drives chain 50 in the direction of arrow B in FIGURE 1. Chain 50 in turn, drives sprocket 52 fixed to shaft 54. Shaft 54, journaled in bracket 56, has a sprocket 57 affixed thereto which drives chain 58 running on sprockets 60 rotatably mounted on studs 62 secured to bracket 56. Sprocket 64 fixed to the other end of shaft 48 drives chain 66 in the direction of arrow C in FIGURE 1. Chain 66 in turn, drives sprocket 68 fixed to shaft 70 journaled in bracket 72. A sprocket 71 fixed to shaft 70 drives chain 74 around sprockets 76 rotatably mounted on stud shafts 78 secured to bracket 72.

An elongated ball lifting rod '80 is positioned between and secured to chains 58 and 74 by connectors 82 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. When ball elevator motor 44 is energized, driving chains 58 and 74 by means of the connections described above, rod 80 is moved outwardly through vertical slot or opening 84 in header plank 22 into pit P and adjacent the upper lap of conveyor 16. In order for rod 80 to function as described hereinbelow, opening 84 is located a distance from kickback K adjacent ball return track 24 at least one half but less than the full diameter of a standard bowling ball.

n the continued operation of motor 44, rod 80 is next elevated in slot 84 to the position indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1. A bowling ball 14, moving into the corner formed by header plank 22, kickback K adjacent ball return track 24 and the upper lap of conveyor 16, will be raised by the action of rod 80 to a point aligned vertically and horizontally, with gutter 88 of alley 10.

Lug 90 is fixed to chain 58 such that it will contact switch 92 secured to bracket 56 when rod 80 reaches the position indicated in dotted lines in HGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 5, when lug 90 engages switch 92, it closes normally open contacts 93. This completes a circuit energizing timing motor 91. This timing motor, which may be of any suitable conventional type, is provided with a switch operating flag 95 rotatable in a plane normal to the plane of the drawing, FIGURE 5. The closing of switch 92 simultaneously energizes relay 42. Relay 42 when energized, will open contacts 40 breaking the circuit actuating motor 44. In addition, when relay 42 is energized, contacts 97 will be closed completing a circuit to the sweep motor 31 allowing sweep motor 31 to move sweep 12 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1, moving high portion 27 out of engagement with switch 30.

As sweep 12 moves toward its forward or non-operative position, roller 98 secured to bracket 100 mounted on sweep 12, engages ball 14 resting on elevated rod 80 and against kickback K propelling it along gutter 88 toward the head end of alley 10. When sweep mechanism 12 reaches its forward-most travel position, indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURES -1 and 2, ball 14 thus propelled by sweep 12 continues onto track 102 and thence onto rails 108 of ball return track 24. Track 102 is comprised of rails 104, one end of each being pivotally mounted on bracket 106 which is in turn secured to ball return track 24, with the portion of rails 104 being aligned in bracket 106 with tracks 108. The other ends of rails 104 are secured to bracket 1'10 pivotally mounted on link 112 which is, in turn, pivotally mounted on rail 114 of sweep mechanism 12. As sweep '12 is raised into its non-opera-' 4 tive position above alley 10, rail 114 raises link 112, bracket 100, and the ends of track 102 attached thereto to the position indicated by the dotted lines inFIGURE 1, thus clearing gutter 88 and alley 10, permitting continuation of play.

When flag 95 of timing motor 91 completes its cycle of rotation, it opens switch 96 breaking the circuit ener: gizing relay 42 and closing contacts 40. Since the hold-in circuit through switch 116 and contacts 118'ho1ds relay 36 closed, after contact 34 of switch 30 is opened, contacts 40 thus re-established, complete the circuit to motor 44 which, when energized, continues to drive chains 58 and 74. As chains 58 and 74 are thus driven, rod 80, at its position of uppermost travel shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, will be withdrawn from pit P and into the space between chains 58 and 74. It will be understood that since contact 32 has been reclosed by high portion 27 moving ofi switch 30, sweep motor 31 will continue to be energized moving sweep 12 to the right at FIGURE 1 after relay 42 has been de-energized. When lug on chain 58 contacts switch 116 secured to the underside of gutter 88, the hold-in circuit through contacts 118 energizing relay 36 is broken, opening contacts 38 and breaking the circuit to motor 44. Sweep motor 31 will remain energized moving sweep 12 along the playing surface of alley 10 and thence into non-operative position thereabove. When sweep 12 reaches its non-operative position, shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1, high point 43 on cam 45 opens switch 41, breaking the hold-in circuit energizing relay 37. This opens contacts 39 and breaks the circuit through motor 31 until push button B is operated at the start of the next succeeding sweep cycle.

When, during the cyclic operation of the automatic pin spotting machine of which this invention forms a part, sweep 12 is again moved downward into operative position adjacent the playing surface of alley 10 upon the operation of push button B as described hereinabove, rail 114 is also lowered, bringing track 102 into gutter 88 in position to receive the next succeeding bowling ball propelled therealong by sweep 12.

I claim:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a ball return mechanism comprising sweep means for removing howling pins from the playing surface of said alley into said pit, a ball elevating station, a pin elevating station, means in said pit operative to separate pins from said balls for delivery of said balls and pins to their respective stations, means in said pit at said ball elevation station for conveying balls delivered thereto by said last-named means to a point of delivery adjacent one of the gutters of said alley above said pit, said sweep means being operative to engage a ball at said point of delivery and propel said ball from said point of delivery along said gutter towards the head of said alley.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, including a ball return track extending along said alley to the head thereof, and guide means for transferring a ball propelled by said sweep means from said gutter onto said return track.

3. The invention defined in 1 including means coacting with said conveying means and said sweep means to control the movement of bowling balls out of said pitand along said gutter.

4. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a ball return mechanism comprising a sweep mechanism for removing pins and balls from the playing surface of said alley into said pit, an endless belt conveyor in said pit, a ball elevating station in said pit, means mounting said conveyor transversely of said pit and with aportion thereof inclined towards said alley, said inclination being operative to deliver bowling balls deposited on the upper lap of said conveyor to said elevating station, selectively operative means at said elevating station to convey a ball delivered. thereto to a release station above said pit adjacent the gutter of said alley, and means carried by said sweep mechanism to engage a ball at said release station in response to the movement of said sweep to propel said ball along said gutter of said alley towards the head end thereof.

5. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end and gutters extending from said pit to the part of the alley remote from said pit, ball return apparatus comprising a sweep, means supporting said sweep for movement back and forth along a portion of the playing surface of said alley and said gutters adjacent said pit for removing pins thereon into said pit, a conveyor, means mounting said conveyor in said pit with a portion thereof inclined towards a front corner of said pit, a ball elevating device mounted in said front corner of said pit, said device comprising an elongated ball lifting member, means mounting said member for movement in a closed path of travel into engagement with bowling balls delivered to the lowest point on the upper surface of said conveyor at said front corner of said pit, means for operating said device to elevate said balls to a release point above said pit and generally aligned with one of said gultters in the path of travel of said sweep, and means for moving said sweep to engage and move a ball from said release point along said gutter towards the head end of said alley.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, including a ball return guide, a ball return track paralleling said alley, means mounting said guide for movement from a point above said alley to said gutter and selective operating means for locating said guide in operative position relative to said gutter and said return track to effect the transfer of a rolling ball from said gutter to said return track.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including selectively operable control mechanism for the operation of said sweep, said member and said guide whereby the movement of bowling balls out of said pit along said return track is regulated.

8. Ball return apparatus for use in a bowling alley having a pit at one end and gutters extending from said pit to the head end of said alley comprising a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement from above said alley into operative position adjacent the playing surface of said alley and portions of said gutters adjacent thereto and rearwardly therealong to deliver bovvling pins on said alley into said pit and then in a reverse direction forwardly along said alley surface and said portions of said gutters back to its inoperative position, operating means for said sweep, means in said pit for delivering balls received thereon to a ball lifting station in said pit, an elongated ball engaging and lifting rod, means mounting said rod for movement into said pit into engagement with a ball at said station in a closed path of travel to elevate a ball engaged thereby and position it adjacent the end of one of said gutters of said alley, whereby said sweep on its forward movement engages said ball and propels it along said gutter towards the head end of said alley, a ball transfer guide, a ball return track paralleling said alley, and means mounting said guide for movement with said sweep from a position above said alley into operative position relative to said track and said gutter as said sweep is moved into operative position adjacent the playing surface of said alley, said ball transfer guide being operative to direct a ball advanced by said sweep from said gutter into said track.

9. Ball return apparatus for a bowling pin spotting machine comprising a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement from an inoperative position above a bowling alley into operative position adjacent the playing surface of said alley and reanwardly therealong to remove bowling pins and balls on said playing surface into a pit at the rear of said alley and then forwardly to its inoperative position, an endless pit wide conveyor in said pit, means supporting said conveyor in an inclined manner to convey balls falling into said pitto the point of lowest travel on said conveyor, a ball elevator mounted adjacent the lowest point of travel of said conveyor to elevate balls conducted thereto on said conveyor to a delivery station above said pit and in substantial alignment with one of the gutters of said alley, means on said sweep for engaging a ball at said delivery station and propelling said ball along said gutter of said alley as said sweep is moved forwardly to its inoperative position, a guide track, a ball return track paralleling said alley, means pivotally mounting one end of said guide track for movement with said sweep mounting means from a location adjacent the inoperative position of said sweep into operative position connecting said gutter and said track, whereby a rolling ball propelled by said sweep moves from said gutter onto said track.

10. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end and gutters extending along the sides of said alley from said pit to the head end thereof, a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement back and forth along a portion of the playing surface of said alley for removing fallen pins and unwanted standing pins from said alley into said pit on one movement of said sweep, operating means for said sweep, and means for removing a ball from said pit and positioning it in general alignment with one of said gutters and in the path of travel of said sweep on its return movement along said alley to inoperative position thereabove whereby said ball is propelled thereby along said gutter towards the head end of said alley.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 including a ball return track extending along said alley in substantial parallelism with said gutter and guide means for transferring a rolling ball from said gutter onto said return track for delivery to the head end of said alley.

12. The invention declined in claim 11 wherein said guide means comprises a movable track, means connecting said track to said sweep mounting means and means operative in response to the movement of said sweep towards the head of said alley for locating said guide means in operative position for transferring a rolling ball from said gutter onto said return track.

13. The invention defined in claim 10 including means for preventing the operation of said sweep operating means until said ball removing means has moved into a predetermined position locating a ball between said sweep and said gutter.

14. The invention as defined in claim 10 including mechanism for controlling the movement of said sweep and said ball removing means, said mechanism comprising an operating circuit, a motor for operating said sweep connected in said circuit, a second motor connected in said circuit for operating said ball removing means and means connected in said circuit for selectively operating said motors to effect the removal of a ball from said pit and its delivery by said sweep towards the head end of said alley.

15. The invention as defined in claim 10 including mechanism for controlling the movement of said sweep and said ball removing means, said mechanism comprising an operating circuit, a motor operating said sweep connected in said circuit, a second motor connected in said circuit for operating said ball removing means and means connected in said circuit for selectively operating said motors, said last-named means including a relay operative to incapacitate said first-named motor stopping said sweep at a predetermined position and to start said second-named motor operating said ball removing means and a second relay operative to incapacitate said secondnamed motor when said ball removing means has positioned a ball in the path of travel of said sweep and to operate said first-named motor to move said sweep along said alley, said second-named motor being incapacitated until said sweep propels said ball positioned by said ball removing means along said gutter.

16. In a bowling pin spotting maohine for use with a bowling alley having a' pit at one end and gutters extending along the sides of said alley from said pit to the head end thereof, a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement back and forth along a portion of the playing surface of said alley for removing fallen pins and unwanted standing pins from said alley into said pit on one movement of said sweep after the rolling ofa ball and its arrival in said pit, and means for positioning said ball adjacent and generally aligned with one of said gutters in the path of travel of said sweep on its return movement along said alley toward the head end thereof whereby said ball is propelled thereby along said gutter towards the head end of said alley.

17. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement b ack and forth along a portion of the playing surface of said .alley for remove ing fallen pins and unwanted standing pins from, said alley into said -pit on one movement of said sweep,'oper-:

ating means for said sweep, and means for removing a ball from said pit and positioning it in the path of travel 2,470,052 2,591,265 Johns et al. Apr. 1,1952 2,791,426

Rundell a a1. May 10, 1949 Janes May 7, 195,7,

Images