US3103358A - Bowling ball and pin separating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1963 R. L. HOLLOWAY BOWLING BALL. AND PIN SEPARATING MECHANISM INVENTOR ROBERT L HOLLOWAY BY M Original Filed July 10, 1958 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,103,358 BOWLING BALL AND PIN SEPARATING MECHANISM Robert L. Holloway, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to American Machine dz Foundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Original application July 10, 1958, Ser. No. 747,654, now Patent No. 3,068,006, dated Dec. 11, 1%2. Divided and this application June 24, 1960, Ser. No. 38,473

7 Claims. (Cl. 27343) The present invention relates to bowling ball handling apparatus and. more particularly to apparatus for removing a bowling ball from the pit of a bowling alley to a ball return device.

In the game of bowling and especially in bowling alleys served by bowling pin spotting machines, the problem exists in expediting the removal of bowling balls form the alley pit in order that balls may be returned to the bowlers in a minimum of time, and play speeded up thereby.

The present invention is characterized by the provision in the pit of improved means operative to urge a ball deposited into the pit toward an opening in the kick-back of the alley and to a ball return device. Mechanism embodying the invention preferably comprises a transverse spiral roller and a bounce board or platform spaced longitudinally therefrom. These members are located in the pit preferably beneath a travelling surface in the pit, forming a guide trough for the ball which is impelled by the spiral roller laterally of the pit to a ball exit in one of the kick-backs of the associated alley.

This application constitutes a division of my copending application SN. 747,654 filed July 1958, and now Patent No. 3,068,006, for bowling ball return mechanism.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel device for removing a ball from the pit of a bowling alley. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel pit conveyor embodying a spiral roller to remove a bowling ball from the pit of a bowling alley.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel ball handling mechanism for removing a ball from the pit of a bowling alley to a ball return device.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the pit end of a conventional bowling alley.

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the bowling ball return mechanism chosen to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown mounted in the pit P of a conventional bowling alley A. Bowling balls 10 and pins (not shown) removed into pit P from thepl-aying surface of alley A are deposited onto the upper lap of a flexible, endless belt constituting a conveyor or travelling apron 12 which in the embodiment illustrated is pit wide. Conveyor 12, which preferably is continuously in motion in the direction of arrow B, FIGURE 2, in pit P, describes an inclined path of travel around rollers 14 and 16 mounted on transverse shaft 18 and 20, suitably supported in plates 22 and 24 at the front and rear of pit P. Shafts 18 and 20 and rollers 14 and 16 mounted thereon are driven in any secured to suitable framework (not shown).

convenient manner in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 2 to deliver balls 10 andpins (not shown) to the rear of pit P. Plates 22 and 24 are, in turn, secured to the conventional kick-backs K of alley A, as shown in FIGURE 1. V Pins (not shown) on conveyor '12 are delivered thereby to chute 21 at the rear of pit P and into a suitable elevating mechanism M mounted between plates 22-and 24 at the rear of pit P adjacent rear cross-member 26. Plows 28 and 30 located at opposite sides of conveyor 12 and suitably secured to the inner faces of plates 22 and 24 respectively operate to direct pins on conveyor 12 over chute 21 and into elevating mechanism M.

Conveyor 12, chute 21 and pin elevating mechanism M and plows 28 and 30 may be similar in construction and operation to those shown in Holloway et a1. Patent 2,767,983 for Bowling Pin Elevating Mechanism. Only so much of a disclosure thereof as is necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention is ineluded herein in the interests of brevity.

Platform 32 is mounted beneath the upper lap of conveyor 12 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 on sets of brackets 31 and 36 secured to plates 22 and 24 respectively. Platform or bounce board 32 thus prevents the upper lap of conveyor 12 from sagging under the weight or impact of bowling balls 10' or pins deposit-ed thereon. In addition platform 32 is provided with a diagonal beveled edge 33. for reasons more fully set forth hereinbelow.

Mounted beneath and adjacent the upper lap of conveyor 12 is a third roller 34 having a spiral configuration by virtue of being provided with a circumferential spiral grooving 35. Roller 34 is secured to shaft 37 supported in plates 22 and 24 generally parallel to but spaced from the beveled edge 33 of platform 32 less than the diameter of bowling ball 10. Shaft 37 is driven preferably constantly in any convenient manner to rotate spiral roller 34 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In operation, a ball 10 deposited on conveyor 12;gravitates or is carried thereon rearwardly toward elevating mechanism M until it engages backstop member 38 supported transversely above conveyor 12 on brackets 39 Backstop 38 is spaced from the upper lap of conveyor 12 a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball but greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin. Thus backstop 38 permits free passage therebeneath of pins on conveyor 12 but intercepts all balls carried thereon. Backstop 38 is positioned to engage a ball '10 on conveyor 12 adjacent spiral roller 34 and is mounted in a generally parallel relationship thereto as shown best in FIGURE 1.

Ball '10 engaged by backstop 38 will be deposited thereby in the groove or trough 40 formed by spiral roller 34 and the beveled edge 33 of platform 32. It will be understood that if ball 10 is moving sufiicien-tly slowly on conveyor 12, it will enter trough 40 without first being engaged by backstop 38. In normal operation, however, ball 10 possesses an excess of forward momentum which is first dissipated by engaging backstop 38 before it is deposited thereby into trough '40. I v

Ball '10 in trough 40 is positively urged by'the spiral .groovings 35 of rotating roller 34 in the directions of arrow D, FIGURE 1, and through an opening '42 provided therefor in plate 22. Ball 10, thus moved by roller 34 through opening 42, emerges into the space S, preferably between two side-by-side or adjacent bowling alleys.

Ball 10, entering into space S, is deposited onto the upper lap of a second travelling conveyor 44. Conveyor 44 which preferably is continuously 'in motion in the direction of arrow C, FIGURE3, in space S, describes an inclined path of travel around rollers 46 and 48 mounted on transverse shafts 50 and 52 suitably supported at one side in plates 22 and at the other, in plate 54 of the adjacent alley. Plate 54- is secured to the associated kickback K of the adjacent alley and provided with an opening 55 corresponding to opening 42 to permit the release of balls from its. associated pit to a suitable common ball return device serving 'both alleys. Shafts 5d and 52k and rollers 46 and 48 mounted thereon are driven in any convenient manner in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 3.

Any pins which gravitate or are inadvertently urged by ball, through openings 42 and 55 and onto conveyor 44". are engaged thereby and carried thereon in the direction of arrow E.. Pins, thus carried on conveyor 44, engage diverter member 56 and are cammed by either of the inclined faces 57" thereof back through either respective openings 55' or 42for delivery to the associated mechanisms M.

Ball 10; however, because of its weight and spherical shape will gravitate "on conveyor 44, opposite to its direction of travel, toward and onto rails R of a suitable ball return runway for rapid return by a ball return device (not shown) to the head end of alley A.

What I claim is:

1. Bowling ball handling apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, comprising a travelling. conveyor, means supporting said conveyor in said pit, means for travelling said conveyor to move balls and pins thereon from the playing surface of said alley rearwardly of said pit, means for separating balls from pins onisaid conveyor, 21 support plate positioned beneath the upper surface of said conveyor, a roller mounted in the path of travel of balls towards said separating means and beneath the upper surface of said conveyor and spaced fromsaid plate" to form a ball path across said pit, spiral groovings on the outer surface of said roller operative to, urge a ball in said ball path transversely of said pit, meansfor rotating said roller, a discharge station at one side of said pit adjacent said ball path through which balls are urged by said roller to a ball return device and means at: said discharge station to return pins removed there-through back onto said' conveyor in saidpit;

2..Ilhe invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for separating balls from pins includes a stop member andmeans supporting said stop member transversely of said pit and spaced above said conveyor less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball but, greater than themaximum diameter of a bowling pin whereby pins on;said conveyor pass freely beneath said stop memher while balls onsaid conveyor are engaged by said stop member. and delivered between said first and second supports.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said last-named means includes a second travelling conveyor, means inclinedly supporting. said conveyor between said discharge stationand said. ball return device, a diverting member adjacent said second conveyor at said discharge station, and meansfor travelling. said conveyor to move pin-s removed from said pit at said discharge station against said diverting member whereby said pins are urged back. into. said pit through said discharge station, the inclination. of said". second conveyor being operative to deliver. 'ballsonly to said: ball return device.

4. In a bowling alleywhaving a pit at one end, ball and pin handling mechanism comprising a travelling ball and pin; engaging surface" in said pit, means for driving said surface toconduct balls and pins thereon toward the rear of saidpit, means in said pit for separating balls from pins, a support located. beneath. said surface, a guide element, said surface, support and guide element coacting to urge a ball, insaid pit laterally thereacross, a ball exit atone sideof said. pit for effecting the passage of balls from said pit, a second travelling member, means supporting said member adjacent said ball exit for receiving halls passing therethrough and conducting them to a ball return'device, a diverting member positioned in closely spaced relation above said second travelling member at a point remote from said ball return device, and means for travelling said member to move pins inadvertently removed from said pit in adirection opposite to the movement of balls toward said ball return device whereby pins on said second travelling member are moved against said diverting member and urged back into said pit.

5. A pair of side-iby-side bowling alleys, each of said alleys having a pit at one end and conventional kickbacks at the sides of said pit, said alleys mounted with adjacent kickbacks thereof spaced at distance apart greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, pin and ball handling mechanism comprising an endless travelling member in each of said pits, means for driving said members to conduct balls and pins received thereon from the playing surface of its associated alley rearwardly of its associated pit, means in each of said pits for separating balls from pins, a support in each of said pits located beneath each of said travelling members, a guide element positioned on each. of said supports, said surface, support, and a guide elment in each of said pits coacting to urge a ball therein llaterally thereacross, said balls being urged in each of said pits toward said adjacent kickbacks, an opening in each of said adjacent kickbacks through which bowling balls exit from said pits, an endless travelling surface located in said space between said adjacent kickbacks, means mounting said surface adjacent said ball exits for receiving balls passing through said exits and conducting them to a common ball return device, a diverting member positioned in closely spaced relation above said travelling surface at a point remote from said ball return device, said diverting member being provided with two opposed deflecting faces, and means for driving said travelling surface to move pins inadvertently removed from said pits into operative relationship with said deflecting faces of said diverting member whereby said pins are urged thereby back into their respective pits for delivery therefrom.

6. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, apparatus for handling bowling balls in said pit comprising an endless traveling apron in said pit, means supporting said apron for movement over substantially the entire width of said pit, means for traveling said apron to move balls and pins thereon from the playing surface of said alley rearwardly of said pit, means in said pit for separating saidballs from said pins on said apron, a first support located beneath the upper surface of said apron, a second support beneath the upper surface of said apron and spaced from saidfirst support'to define a generally transversely extending path of travel, a discharge station at the side of said pit adjacent said path of travel of balls operative to deliver balls from said pit to a ball return device, said second support including positively actuated means located in said path" of travel for moving balls along said path of travel to said device, a second traveling member, means supporting said member adjacent said discharge station, a. diverting member adjacent said member at said discharge station and means for traveling said member to move pins inadvertently removed from said pit against said diverting member whereby said pins are carried back into said pit.

7. In a bowling alley having a'pit at one end, mechanism for handling bowling balls in said pit comprising an endless belt conveyor, the belt of said conveyor comprising material having substantial flexibility and a width substantially coextensive with the width of said pit, means driving said conveyor in adirection to conduct pins and balls rearwardly in the pit, means in the pit for separating said balls from said pins on the upper lap of the conveyor, and means supporting said upper lap at a location forwardly of said separating means and forming a path of travel for balls transversely across the pit toward a mile discharge station at the side thereof, said supporting means including an elongate roller extending transversely beneat-h said upper lap and having a spiral external configuration in engagement with the undesrurfiace thereof, whereby said flexible material of the belt tends to confoltn to said spiral configuration due to the weight of a ball supported thereon, and means rotating said roller to conduct halls supported thereabove on the upper lap of the belt in a direction toward said discharge station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rundell et a1. May 10, 1949 Simpson Nov. 21, 1950 Montooth et al Oct. 28-, 1952 Zuercher et a1 Oct. 2, 1956 Holloway et a1. Oct. 23, 1956 Zuercher Mar. 19, 1957 Came et a1. Aug. 2, 196 0

Claims (1)

1. 7. IN A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A PIT AT ONE END, MECHANISM FOR HANDLING BOWLING BALLS IN SAID PIT COMPRISING AN ENDLESS BELT CONVEYOR, THE BELT OF SAID CONVEYOR COMPRISING MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIAL FLEXIBILITY AND A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE WIDTH OF SAID PIT, MEANS DRIVING SAID CONVEYOR IN A DIRECTION TO CONDUCT PINS AND BALLS REARWARDLY IN THE PIT, MEANS IN THE PIT FOR SEPARATING SAID BALLS FROM SAID PINS ON THE UPPER LAP OF THE CONVEYOR, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID UPPER LAP AT A LOCATION FORWARDLY OF SAID SEPARATING MEANS AND FORMING A PATH OF TRAVEL FOR BALLS TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE PIT TOWARD A DISCHARGE STATION AT THE SIDE THEREOF, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS

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