US3809398A - Method and apparatus for automatic bowling pin setting - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for automatic bowling pin setting Download PDF

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Publication number
US3809398A
US3809398A US00290514A US29051472A US3809398A US 3809398 A US3809398 A US 3809398A US 00290514 A US00290514 A US 00290514A US 29051472 A US29051472 A US 29051472A US 3809398 A US3809398 A US 3809398A
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United States
Prior art keywords
basket
pin
frame
baskets
pins
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00290514A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Schmid
G Goens
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Patentverwertungs und Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania AG
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Patentverwertungs und Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania AG
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63D—BOWLING GAMES, e.g. SKITTLES, BOCCE OR BOWLS; INSTALLATIONS THEREFOR; BAGATELLE OR SIMILAR GAMES; BILLIARDS
    • A63D5/00—Accessories for bowling-alleys or table alleys
    • A63D5/08—Arrangements for setting-up or taking away pins

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method, and a mechanism in an automatic bowling pin setting installation for set ting up the bowling pins in a bowling alley, for cord-less pin setting.
  • a plurality of tipping baskets is provided, one basket each for the reception of one bowling pin.
  • the baskets are so mounted that each can tilt about a horizontal axis, to release a pin. They are mounted on a common frame which can be raised and lowered.
  • cordless pinsetting installations i. e. in installations in which the bowling pins are not attached to cords mechanism must be provided to ensure that the several bowling pins can be set up in their proper places on the floor of the bowling alley.
  • a frame is provided-which can be raised and lowered.
  • facilities must be available to set up only some of the pins to permit different variants of the game to be played, for instance games in which pins left standing after rolling a first bowl may be knocked dow by a second or third bowl.
  • the apparatus is simple, and easy to construct; the mechanism and procedure permit standing pins to be picked up, lifted, and a full complement or only some pins relowered and set up on the floor of the alley.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic general view of an automatic pin setting installation
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of a single tipping basket containing a bowling pin
  • FIG. 3 is a view of a tipping basket from below after activation of the solenoid
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a tipping basket with the flaps open.
  • Bowling pins 1 which have beenknocked over are first collected in a pin pit 11 (see cross referenced application, Ser. No. 290,533) whence they are conveyed on a belt conveyor and then by an elevator 12 to a pin distributor contained in a fixed part 13 of a frame supported from the ground .on uprights 26 see cross referv enced application, Ser. No. 290,547).
  • the pin distribunism which is simple, and capable of lifting the bowling pins that have been left standing and for then selectably setting up either all the pins or only particular pins.
  • the method comprises lowering the frame carrying the tipping baskets each time a bowling ball has been rolled, securing the bowling pins that are still standing in the baskets so that they are lifted when the frame ascends, and in raised position 'of the frame refilling the empty baskets, if desired, with bowling pins before the frame is relowered and sets up the pins on the floor of the alley again.
  • tor delivers the individual pins 1 into bins 30 in which they remain in a ready position.
  • a further frame 18 which can be lowered and raised, and which contains a number of tipping baskets 10 at least equal-in number to the number of pins used in the game.
  • the frame 18 can be lowered and raised by a motor-driven crank 36 and a chain 27 fastened to the free end of the crank remote from its axis of rotation 17.
  • the bottom end of the chain is attached to a bolt'19 on the frame 18.
  • Horizontality of the frame 18 is ensured by a parallelogram linkage 28 having parallel linkshinged to pins 38 on one of the uprights 26 and to pins 31 on the frame 18.
  • the bowling pins 1 selectively drop out of the bins 30 in part 13 of the frame into the baskets 10 on the movable frame 18 (see aforementioned application, Ser. No. 290,547). For ninepin bowling there will therefore be nine such baskets; for tenpin bowling ten baskets 10 will be provided.
  • the baskets 10 are each independently tiltable about a horizontal axis out of a horizontal intoa vertical upright position. In order to avoid complicating the drawing only one bin 30 and one basket 10 are shown in FIG. .1.
  • Each basket 10 is fitted with a pin holder formed as two hingeable deflectable flaps 6.
  • the purpose of these flaps is to embrace the neck of a bowling pin 1.
  • the tipping basket 10 has a main body 2 in the form of a metal casting or a plastics moulding.
  • a pivot pin 3 of which the ends swing in bearings 4 in the frame 18 is fitted into the body 2 of the basket.
  • Two flaps 6 which project from the top of the body 2 of the basket are hingeably deflectable through angles of about These two flaps 6 can turn about relatively spaced hinge pins and their purpose is to grip the neck of a bowling pin when they close.
  • the flaps 6 are simultaneously turned in opposite directions through angles of 3.
  • the transmission of, the movement of the plunger 34 of the solenoid 7 to the flaps 6, is effected by rods 8 arranged in the form of a letter V.
  • the rods are attached to eccentrics 9 which are motion-coupled to the flaps 6 by Cotter pins or the like.
  • a spring 25 is biased to re store the plunger to its position of rest.
  • the body 2 of the-basket also carries a microswitch 22 which cooperates with a pivoted feeler lever 23.
  • the feeler lever 23 has two arms and it is adapted to tilt about a horizontal pivot 14.
  • One end of the feeler lever 23 which is loaded by a weak leaf spring 35 depresses the contact button of the microswitch 22 when the'basket carries no bowling pin.
  • the other end of the feeler lever. 23 is adapted to cooperate with the body of a bowling pin resting on the basket. Hence the position of the microswitch 22 depends upon the presence or absence of a bowling pin 1 on the tipping basket 10.
  • a control means now energises the solenoids 7, causing solenoid plunger 34 to pull on rods 8, thus causing the flaps 6 to swing open and to release the neck of the pins.
  • the frame 18 carrying the empty tipping baskets 10 is raised again and the baskets 10 are tiltedback into the horizontal by virtue of the cam follower rollers riding up the earns 17.
  • the flaps 6 remain open'to permit the bowling pins 1 resting in the bins 30 of the pin distributor to drop into the empty baskets 10 (see application, Ser. 290,533).
  • a bowling pin 1 drops into a basket it simultaneously deflects the feeler lever 23 and causes the microswitch 22 to de-energise the solenoid 7, permitting the flaps 6 to be pulled into the positions in which they grip the neck of the bowling pin.
  • the control means can be set to de-energise the solenoid 7 so that the flaps .6 will swing shut before the upward motion of the frame 18, thus simulating presence of a pin in the basket 10, although no pin is actually present therein.
  • This is easily accomplished by placing a single pole, single throw, normally closed switch in series with microswitch 22, the normally closed switch being opened upon the upward movement of frame 18 so that all flaps will be closed, regardless of whether there are pins in the basket or not.
  • the release of bowling pins from the boxes 30 is triggered by the operation of a releasing member 37 in a locking mechanism by the open flaps 6 when the frame 18 ascends and approaches its upperend position:
  • the bowling pins are thereby allowed to fall out of the boxes into the empty tipping baskets 10 below.
  • the flaps 6 be closed during the ascent of the frame and this will be the case if the basket 10 carries or simulates carrying a bowling pin then the bin 30 will not be opened because the closed flaps 6 cannot operate the release 37 of the locking mechanism.
  • empty baskets 10 having tipped into an upright position make contact with pins 1 that are still standing,
  • either the flaps 6 may be automatically closed by the electrical control system energizing the solenoids 7, or the frame 18 may not be lifted into its extreme upper end position.
  • the electrical control system permits the flaps 6 to be so controlled that .either all the pins are set up or only some, for'instance those that had been left standing by the preceding roll of the ball.
  • the electrical control system may be controlled by a manual keyboard at the delivery end of the bowling ball return way such that any desired bowling pin can be set up on the floor at the end of the alley.
  • Automatic pin setting apparatus for setting up bowling pins in a bowling alley comprising a common frame 18);
  • baskets each adapted to hold a bowling pin 1
  • said baskets being swingably mounted on said frame (18) to tip about a essentially horizontal axis (3);
  • hinged flap means (6) movably mounted on each of the baskets and adapted to engage the neck of a pin in the basket and prevent release of the pin from the basket upon tipping of th'e basket from essentially horizontal to' essentially vertical position;
  • said flap means comprises a pair of hinged flaps connected to be jointly operable by the electromagnetic operating means (7, 8, 9) and mounted to swing towards or away from each other and located on a basket jointly to engage the neck of a bowling pin l) resting on the basket between the hinged mounting means of said flaps.
  • camming surfaces (17) are located at a fixed location with respect to the frame and adjacent to each basket;
  • the baskets each include a cam follower l6) engaging a respective cam surface 17);
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising feeler means (23) located on the baskets in interfering position with bowling pins to be placed in-the baskets;
  • switch means (22) operated by said feeler means (23) and changing switching state upon sensin presence of a pin in the basket.
  • said feeler means (23;) located on the basket comprises a biased lever swingable about an essentially horizontal shaft (114), swinging movement of the lever being controlled by the presence of a pin in the basket regardless of whether said basket is in horizontal or vertical position, so that said lever will operate said switch to sense presence of a pin in the basket when the basket is in essentially horizontal position, as well as presence of a pin straddled by a basket, when the basket is lowered over a still standing pin, in vertical position.
  • the tilt axis of the basket and the axis of rotation of the flaps being closely adjacent to each other.
  • a spring (25) is provided normally maintaining the hinged flaps inclosed, oppositely facing position, the hinged flaps being resiliently deflectable against said spring by the head of the bowling pin standing upright on the bowling alley;
  • the electromagnetic operating means engaging said hinged flaps to open said flaps against the force of the spring when energized.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a pin release lever 37) located above the frame when the frame is in its uppermost position and operable to release a fresh bowling pin to the basket;
  • said release lever 37 being located above the basket in interfering position with respect to the holding means when the holding means are open and when the basket is horizontal so that new pins are supplied to the basket if and only if:
  • the basket is horizontal and b. the holding means are open.
  • Patent No. 3,809,398 Dated May 7, 1974 Inventor(s) August Schmid et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent: are hereby corrected as shown below:

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  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
  • Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
  • Discharge By Other Means (AREA)
US00290514A 1971-09-22 1972-09-20 Method and apparatus for automatic bowling pin setting Expired - Lifetime US3809398A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1387071A CH558189A (de) 1971-09-22 1971-09-22 Kegelstellanlage.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3809398A true US3809398A (en) 1974-05-07

Family

ID=4396054

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00290514A Expired - Lifetime US3809398A (en) 1971-09-22 1972-09-20 Method and apparatus for automatic bowling pin setting

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3809398A (OSRAM)
JP (1) JPS561109B2 (OSRAM)
AT (1) AT326006B (OSRAM)
CA (1) CA967604A (OSRAM)
CH (1) CH558189A (OSRAM)
DD (1) DD99098A5 (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2245863C2 (OSRAM)
HU (1) HU172879B (OSRAM)
SU (1) SU545246A3 (OSRAM)
YU (1) YU34839B (OSRAM)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4068845A (en) * 1975-05-30 1978-01-17 Patentverwertungs-Und Finanzierungsgesellschaft, Serania Ag Bowling pin positioning apparatus
US4813673A (en) * 1986-02-10 1989-03-21 Patentverwertungs-Und Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania Rapid loading and distribution apparatus for bowling pins
US5080358A (en) * 1990-04-11 1992-01-14 Brunswick Corporation Bowling pin orienting and directing system
US5372551A (en) * 1993-06-21 1994-12-13 Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Energy conserving pinsetter with minimized pin overflow
US5439418A (en) * 1994-08-19 1995-08-08 Amf Bowling, Inc. Molded distributor receiver and pin storage magazine
US5575718A (en) * 1995-09-01 1996-11-19 Simmons; Nathaniel Manually operated bowling apparatus
US5616084A (en) * 1995-10-17 1997-04-01 Heddon Development Corp. Single cycle pin setting apparatus and method
US20150035303A1 (en) * 2013-07-31 2015-02-05 Sven Gunnar Klang Tong operating device for a pinsetter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1190651A (en) * 1914-10-28 1916-07-11 Brunswick Balke Collender Co Machine for setting pins on bowling-alleys.
US2231842A (en) * 1938-07-28 1941-02-11 American Mach & Foundry Pin setting device for bowling alleys
US2944818A (en) * 1948-03-24 1960-07-12 American Mach & Foundry Bowling pin setting machine
US3272508A (en) * 1963-06-06 1966-09-13 Otis Elevator Co Elevator discharge orienting means operated in response to orientation of pins on the elevator

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3056604A (en) * 1958-11-13 1962-10-02 Gee Bee Inc Bowling apparatus
CH404501A (de) * 1963-11-11 1965-12-15 Schmid August Kegelhalteeinrichtung

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1190651A (en) * 1914-10-28 1916-07-11 Brunswick Balke Collender Co Machine for setting pins on bowling-alleys.
US2231842A (en) * 1938-07-28 1941-02-11 American Mach & Foundry Pin setting device for bowling alleys
US2944818A (en) * 1948-03-24 1960-07-12 American Mach & Foundry Bowling pin setting machine
US3272508A (en) * 1963-06-06 1966-09-13 Otis Elevator Co Elevator discharge orienting means operated in response to orientation of pins on the elevator

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4068845A (en) * 1975-05-30 1978-01-17 Patentverwertungs-Und Finanzierungsgesellschaft, Serania Ag Bowling pin positioning apparatus
US4813673A (en) * 1986-02-10 1989-03-21 Patentverwertungs-Und Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania Rapid loading and distribution apparatus for bowling pins
US5080358A (en) * 1990-04-11 1992-01-14 Brunswick Corporation Bowling pin orienting and directing system
US5372551A (en) * 1993-06-21 1994-12-13 Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Energy conserving pinsetter with minimized pin overflow
US5439418A (en) * 1994-08-19 1995-08-08 Amf Bowling, Inc. Molded distributor receiver and pin storage magazine
US5575718A (en) * 1995-09-01 1996-11-19 Simmons; Nathaniel Manually operated bowling apparatus
US5616084A (en) * 1995-10-17 1997-04-01 Heddon Development Corp. Single cycle pin setting apparatus and method
US20150035303A1 (en) * 2013-07-31 2015-02-05 Sven Gunnar Klang Tong operating device for a pinsetter
US9084928B2 (en) * 2013-07-31 2015-07-21 Sven Gunnar Klang Tong operating device for a pinsetter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATA815072A (de) 1975-01-15
DD99098A5 (OSRAM) 1973-07-20
JPS561109B2 (OSRAM) 1981-01-12
AT326006B (de) 1975-11-25
YU229272A (en) 1979-10-31
CH558189A (de) 1975-01-31
DE2245863A1 (de) 1973-03-29
DE2245863C2 (de) 1983-11-10
CA967604A (en) 1975-05-13
JPS4862538A (OSRAM) 1973-08-31
SU545246A3 (ru) 1977-01-30
HU172879B (hu) 1978-12-28
YU34839B (en) 1980-04-30

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