US3197205A

US3197205A - Switch control system for out-of-range pin and new set solenoids

Info

Publication number: US3197205A
Application number: US254259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cyril B Shelton; Alois R Weiser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-28
Filing date: 1963-01-28
Publication date: 1965-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-27

Description

July 27, QSS c. B. sHELToN ETAL. 3,195'5205 SWITCH CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OUT-OF-RANGE PIN AND NEW SET SOLENOIDS Filed Jan. 28, 1963 NVENTOR cy@ 5 5 I BY @A5371 United. States Patent .O

3,197,205 Sid/'HCH CQNTRL SY TEM FOR GUT-GF-RANGE PLN AND NEW SET SLENOIDS Cyril B. Sheitan, 1825 35th St., and Alois R. Weiser, 515 Sheridan Road, both of Kenosha, Wis. iFiied Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,259 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates, generally, to automatic pinsetters for bowling alleys and it has particular relation to `automatic pinsetters of the kind and character shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,973,204, issued February 28, 1961, to `Jilliam F. Huck et al. The disclosure of that patent is incorporated by reference in this specication.

The automatic pinsetter of the above patent employs a pin deck that sets the bowling pins at the start of a two ball frame or when a new set of pins is required. The pin deck also picks up the standing pins after delivery of the first ball and resets them for delivery of the second ball. Prior to resetting of the pins for the second ball a rake sweeps away the deadwood from the alley bed. Included with the pin deck is -a lower plate which, among other functions, is arranged to detect the presence of an out of range pin. When the presence of such a pin is detected, the operation of the pinsetter is stopped in one embodiment of the invention disclosed in the patent. Provision is made through the manual operation of a rod or out of range lever in the rear of the pinsetter for raising the pin deck but leaving the rake in elevated position to prevent the delivery of the second ball. The operation of the pinsetter under out of range conditions is described in the patent in column 16, lines 56-75, and column 17, lines l-53, to which reference can be had for a more complete understanding of the pinsetter and its operation.

Since the rod or out of range lever is located in the rear of the pinsetter, it is necessary to have an attendant yat that location or to send one to restart the pinsetter under those conditions involving an out of range pin. This is an inconvenience and often entails substantial delay before it can be accomplished.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are: To provide for operating the rod or out of range lever of the above patent from a remote point, for example by the bowler at the head of the alley or by an attendant at the counter from which the operation of the alleys is directed; to initiate from a remote point or points the elevation of the pin deck when it encounters `an out of range pin during its downward movement while maintaining the rake in its normal inoperated position; in response to the detection of an out of range pin to disable the energizing circuit for the new set or new pin solenoid which is controlled from the remote point or points and to shift the circuit to energize an out of range solenoid for effecting only the elevation of the pin deck to permit delivery of the second ball; to accomplish these operations by the provision of -a switch which isshifted from one position to another in response to movement of a detector lever that is operated to a certain position corresponding to the detection of an out of range pin by the pin deck; and to energize automatically the out of range solenoid in response to the detection of lan out of range pin after the energizing circuit for the new set or new in solenoid has been disabled.

In the drawing accompanying this specification the single ligure shows diagrammatically how the present invention can be incorporated in the pinsetter disclosed in the above patent, particular reference being had to FIGS. l, 2, 6 and 9 thereof. In the drawing and description comprising this specication certain of the elements of the above patent are illustrated and referred to. They are referred to herein by the reference characters of the ice,

patent and to distinguish them from the reference characters of this specification, they are shown as (elli).

Reference iirst is had to the above patent and the particular portion referred to for lan understanding of the details of construction of the pinsetter with respect vto which this invention is particularly applicable.

A detector leverr(52) is arranged to be positioned in accordance with the elevation at which the pin deck stops. It is operated to a predetermined counterclockwise position from that shown in the drawing in response to the detection of an out of range pin. In order to provide a mechanism that is responsive to this positioning of the detector lever (521) a nose portion 1t) is arranged to engage it and to operate an arm 11 which is rotatably mounted at 12 and is connected as shown by broken line 13 to operate a switch member 14 which forms a part of a single pole double throw switch that is indicated, generally, at 16. The switch 16 includes a back contact member i7 that normally is engaged by the switch member 1d. A circuit is maintained through the switch member 1d and back contact member 17 from control switches (622) and (623) for energizing -a new set or new pin solenoid (58%) by connecting it for energization between main lines (60d) and (dill). As pointed out in the patent the control switch (622) can be located in the rear of the pinsetter while the control switch (o23) is located at the head of the alley where it can be operated by the bowler. If desired, another control switch, in parallel with `the control switches (622) and (o23) can be connected in parallel therewith and located in the oiiice or' at the counter where an attendant is located. The main lines (69d) and (661) are connected for energization to a suitable 1l() volt 60 cycle per second alternating current source. It will be understood that a higher voltage can be employed `and that a relay can be inserted between the control switches (22) and (623) and the new set or pin solenoid (53%) in accordance with conventional practice. ln such case the control switches (622) and (623) are located in a low voltage control circuit for safety reasons.

It will be observed that, when the detector lever (521) is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in response to the detection of an out of range pin, the energizing circuit for the new set or new pin solenoid (586) is opened so that the operation of either of the control switches (622) or (o23) is ineffective to energize it and start the cycle of operations which include the operation of the rake which sweeps the deadwood from the alley bed and then places a new set of pins thereon. Since the out of range pin is the result of the delivery of the first ball of a two ball frame, it is desirable that it remain standing for delivery of the second ball. Accordingly, provision is made to prevent operation of the rake under Lhese particular circumstances.

When the switch member 14 is moved out of engagement with the rack contact member 17 in response to the rotation of the detector lever (521) in a counterclockwise direction through an extent corresponding to the detection of an out of range pin, a circuit is completed by engagement with front contact member 1S and through conductor i9 to energize an out of range solenoid 29 upon the subsequent closure of either of the control `switches (622) or (623).

Associated with the out of range solenoid 20 is an armature 21 which is connected by a link 22 to a pivotal connection 23 at one end of a semicircular lever 24. The other end of the sernicircular lever 23 is pivotally connected at 25 to a yoke 25 which depends from the underside of the machine platform that is indicated at 27. At a location nearer to the pivotal connection23 than to the pivotal connection 25 at 28 a link 29 is connected to the semicircular lever 24. The other end of the link 29 alemana has an elongated slot 39 through which a double lock bolt 3i extends and is secured to one end of a link (546) which, as described lin the patent, is arranged to operate the deck holding latch (400) to hold the deck in the elevated position and also to operate the rake latch (145) in such manner'as to prevent its operation. In addition the endwise movement of the link (546) herein referred to as a deck link is effective to rotate starter arm (549) for the purpose of elevating the pin deck and leave the out of range pin ready for the delivery of the second ball. Under these operating conditions it is necessary, according to the patent, for an attendant to operate a rod or out of range lever (545) which is attached to the deck link (S46) in order to effect the elevation of the pin deck after it has detected an out of range pin and to operate the latch (400) for holding it in the elevated position and also for operating the rake latch (14S) to prevent operation of the rake.

In accordance with this invention these operations can be initiated by the bowler merely by depressing the control switch (623) upon the detection of an out of range pin and th-e subsequent operation of the switch member 14 from engagement with the back contact member i7 to engagement with the front contact member 18. When this takes place, on closure of the control switch (62.3) the out of range solenoid 20 is energized and armature 21 is attracted to rotate the semicircular lever 24 in a clockwise direction. The movement of the semicircular lever 24 is effective through the link 29 to move the deck link (546) in the same manner that it otherwise would be operated manually by the attendant in pulling on the rod or out of range lever (S45).

lf it is desired that the out of range solenoid 20 be energized in response to the operation of the detector lever (52E) to the position that it occupies on detection of an out of range pin, the switch, shown generally at 33, can be used. The switch 33 includes a movable switch member 34 which is operated by an extension of the operating connection 13 to the arm 11. This is indicated by broken line 35. Normally the switch member 34 is in engagement with a back Contact member 36 and, on rotation of the detector lever (521) in the manner described to rotate the switch member i4 out ofengagement with the back contact member 17, the switch member 34 is moved to engage a front contact member 37 which is connected by conductor 38 to the conductor 19. Energizing circuit for the out of range solenoid 20 is completed through a conductor 39 and a manually operable switch 40 to the main line (661). When it is desired to energize the out of range solenoid 20 automatically in response to the detection of an out of range pin, the switch 40 is left closed. Then it is unnecessary to operate either the control switch (622) or (523) in order to effect the operation of .the deck link (546) in the manner described. At the same time, by moving the switch member 14 out of engagement with the back contact member 17, the energizing circuit for the new set or new pin solenoid (586) is disabled and, during this period, it cannot be energized by operation of either of the control switches (622) or (623).

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an automatic pinsetter for use on a bowling alley, said pinsetter having:

(a) a pin deck for picking up and setting bowling pins in predetermined positions on the bed of the alley,

(b) rake means for sweeping the deadwood from the alley,

(c) a new set solenoid for initiating operation of said rake means and of said pinsetter to provide a new set of pins after operation of said rake means,

(d) a manually operable switch for effecting energization of said new set solenoid,

(e) means including a detector lever for detecting whether any pin left standing is `out of range of the pickup means after the first ball is delivered,

(f) means for stopping operation of the pinsetter in response to the detection of an out of range pin, and

(g) a deck link operable to effect raising of said pin deck after detection thereby of an out `of range pin, to hold said pin deck in elevated. position, and to prevent operation of said rake means, in combinanon:

(h) a first switch means operated by said detector lever on detection of an out of range pin for disabling the energizing circuit for said new set solenoid as controlled by said manually operable switch means,

(i) an out of range solenoid operatively connected to said deck link, and

(j) a second switch means operated by said detector lever after the energizing circuit for said new set solenoid has been disabled for controlling the energization of said out of range solenoid to operate said deck link and raise said pin deck without loperating said rake means whereby the out of range pin is left standing and awaiting delivery of the second ball.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connection between the out of range solenoid and the deck link includes:

(a) an armature inthe magnetic field of said out of range solenoid,

(b) a lever pivotally connected at one end to said armature and pivoted about a fixed axis at its other end, and

(c) a link pivotally connected at one end intermediate the ends of said lever and at the other end to said deck link.

3. The invention, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the lever is semicircular in shape, and

(b) the link is connected thereto closer to the pivotal connection of the armature than to its fixed axis.

4. The invention, as set forth in claim l, wherein the second switch means is connected in series circuit relation with the manually operable switch whereby the out of range solenoid is energized on operation thereof.

5. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second switch means is arranged and adapted to effect energization of the out of range solenoid upon closure thereof in response to operation of the detector lever as a result of the presence of an out of range pin.

6. In an automatic pinsetter out-of-range reset actuating device for reactuating a pinsetter machine after the same has been stopped by an out-of-range pin; said pinsetter machine having out-of-range pin sensing means, an out-of-range reset lever, new set solenoid means, and a manually operable first switch means; said actuating device comprising a second switch means for controlling said new set solenoid means, out-of-range solenoid means operable in response to said sensing means on manual closure of said first switch means to operate said reset lever, a third switch means for controlling said out-ofrange solenoid means, switch actuating means movable in response to said sensing means to `open said second switch means and to close said third switch means, and means connecting said out-of-range solenoid means and said reset lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 2,514,457 7/50 Schmidt 273-43 2,559,274 7/51 Broekhuysen 27343 2,75,146 3/55 Montooth et al. 273-43 2,973,204 2/61 Huck et al. 273-43 3,081,086 3/ 63 Butterfield 273-43 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

6. IN AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTER OUT-OF-RANGE RESET ACTUATING DEVICE FOR REACTUATING A PINSETTER MACHINE AFTER THE SAME HAS BEEN STOPPED BY AN OUT-OF -RANGE PIN; SAID PINSETTER MACHINE HAVING OUT-OF-RANGE PIN SENSING MEANS, AN OUT-OF-RANGE RESET LEVER, NEW SET SOLENOID MEANS, AND A MANUALLY OPERABLE FIRST SWITCH MEANS; SAID ACTUATING DEVICE COMPRISING A SECOND SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID NEW SET SOLENOID MEANS, OUT-OF-RANGE SOLENOID MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO SAID SENSING MEANS ON MANUAL CLOSURE OF SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS TO OPERATE SAID RESET LEVER, A THIRD SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID OUT-OFRANGE SOLENOID MEANS, SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS MOVABLE IN RESPONSE TO SAID SENSING MEANS TO OPEN SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS AND TO CLOSE SAID THIRD SWITCH MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID OUT-OF-RANGE SOLENOID MEANS AND SAID RESET LEVER.