US3297322A - Pin and ball handling mechanism with cyclically movable separating means - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1967 J. M. ERNST ETAL 3,297,322

PIN AND BALL HANDLING MECHANISM WITH I CYCLICALLY MOVABLE SEPARATING MEANS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 vQ M TEN m .NQ. RN

{MHz 0 ATTORNEY Jall- 1967 J. M. ERNST ETAL 3,

PIN AND BALL HANDLING MECHANISM WITH CYCLICALLY MOVABLE SEPARATING MEANS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m? :E- ii tlfi tKNMQQ 3% 5: W MN Q Q Q 5 s V am Q w W M Eu m I S a. NWMML NWN Ii g H 1 5 V gs mg g Q EN 3 k P. E .35 RN 3 2 in A z 5 3 g k 3 Q VJ. ,W n v M w r\ \V Q\@ 1 -L m 01 ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 13, 1963 FIG. 3

U 2 0 H fi 0 l m 0 4 M 2 .0 0 H J m M 2 OJ INVENTORS JOHN M. ERNST B gOHN ZUERCHER I? M- ATTORNEY 1967 J. M. ERNST ETAL 3,

PIN AND BALL HANDLING MECHANISM WITH CYCLICALLY MOVABLE SEPARATING MEANS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q NM a, Q 1L1? ATTORNEY J. M. ERNST ETAL PIN AND BALL HANDLING MECHANISM WITH CYCLICALLY MOVABLE SEPARATING MEANS Jan. 10, 1967 Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o 5 0a K95 M FIG. 7

ATTORN EY United States Patent PIN AND BALL HANDLING MECHANISM WITH CYCLICALLY MOVABLE SEPARATING MEANS John M. Ernst, Shelby, and John Zuercher, Mansfield,

Ohio, assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 279,870 20 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to the game of bowling, and more particularly to improvements in mechanism for handling bowling balls and pins in the pit of a bowling alley and effecting a rapid separation of balls and pins and speedy delivery of balls back to the player at the approach end of the bowling lane.

In the game of bowling it is always desirable to return the ball to a bowler as soon as possible. However, as a result of rolling each ball of a frame, the number of pins falling into the pit and their relationship with a ball may be such that the movement or delivery of the ball out of the pit may be delayed and even pin and ball jams may occur. Hence, under such circumstances, the return of the ball to a bowler, and the play of the game may be delayed. The present invention constitutes a solution of these problems and insures that each ball will be returned to the bowler with the greatest possible dispatch, even if a ball and pin jam should occur.

The novel results obtained by the invention are accomplished by providing an oscillating member, such as a vertical rudder which is located midway between the kickbacks of two adjacent bowling lanes where it may serve one or both lanes. The kickbacks are provided with openings or doors through which a ball may roll from the pit of a single bowling alley or through which balls may roll from the pits of two side by side bowling alleys into the range of operation of a bowling ball lift, such as an endless belt and ball track combination wherein a ball is rolled by an endless belt along a track to an elevated point of discharge for return by a bowling ball runway to the approach end of the bowling lane. The rudder is moved back and forth between the opening and the kickback so as to effectively prevent pins from entering and interfering with the operation of bowling ball lift or elevator. If for any reason a pin tends to move through an Opening or door in a kickback when there is no ball ahead of it, or ahead of a ball, the oscillating rudder will push the pin back into the pit so that the conveying mechanism in the pit can convey such pin into the pin elevating mechanism of the machine whence it is delivered to the pinspotter. The ball then can travel unobstructedly through the opening or door in the kickback and be raised by the ball elevating mechanism. As a ball rolls through an opening in a kickback it passes beneath a pivotally mounted driving roller having a frictional driving surface which propels the ball forwardly into position to be engaged by and lifted by the ball elevator.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin and ball separating mechanism and ball handling device including an oscillating rudder located between the kickbacks of two side by side bowling lanes which separates ball from pins and ensures the rapid return of a bowling ball to the head end of the lanes.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of a novel bowling ball handling mechanism which is located in the space between two side by side bowling lanes wherein there is provided an oscillating plate which operates to separate pins from balls and with novel ball advancing means which coact to control the movement of balls into the range of operation of a ball elevating mechanism located between the two lanes.

The invention also consists in the provision of a novel bowling ball and pin separating and handling mechanism "ice which includes means for delivering bowling balls into the range of action of a ball elevating mechanism and also a moving displacing member located between the kickbacks of two lanes or exteriorly of one of the kickbacks of a single lane, which is operative to control the movement of balls from the pits of either of the two lanes or the single lane into the range of operation of the bowling ball lifting mechanism for rapid return to the head or approach end of the lanes or lane.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of novel pin and ball handling mechanism which affords a rapid separation of balls and pins in the pit of a bowling lane, and one in which balls are delivered out of the pit to a ball elevator and pin and ball jams are practically eliminated.

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

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

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view taken on line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional end elevation taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional front view of the driving mechanism taken on line 4--4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing a preferred form of ball and pin separating mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on line 66 in FIG. 3 illustrating the connection of the ball displacing element with respect to an opening in the kickback of a bowling lane.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional end elevation taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of FIGURE line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

The mechanism embodying the invention can be used with any type of bowling pinspotting machine or bowling installation in which the kickback of a bowling lane is provided with an opening or ball door through which. a ball may roll out of the pit of a bowling lane into the range of operation of a bowling ball elevating mechanism which effects the return of the ball along a bowling ball return runway to the head end of the bowling lane, The present invention can be used with either a single bowling lane or with two side by side bowling lanes in which the adjacent kickbacks are provided with openings through which balls may roll into the range of operation of the ball elevating mechanism. In the disclosure herein, the invention is shown in operative relationship with two side by side bowling lanes, which are served by automatic bowling pinspotting machines. The machines which can be used are many but it has been found that the mechanism embodying the invention works very satisfactorily with a bowling pinspotting machine of the type disclosed in Holloway et al. Patent 2,930,616 granted on March 29, 1960, or with a machine of the type disclosed in copending Congelli et al. application, Serial No. 195,926, filed May 18, 1962, and now Patent No. 3,245,684. 7

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 discloses a bowling lane designated generally A, on which pins designated generally P are located in usual playing arrangement. Pins and 'balls falling into pit 2 are received on a pit conveying mechanism comprising an endless conveyor 4 which extends transversely across the pit from inside wall of kickbacks K to K. Conveyor 4 runs on driven pulley 6 and over driving pulley 8 fixed to shaft 180.

7 taken on One kickback K of each pair of kickbacks is provided with a ball door or opening 12 formed at a suitable position along the length of the kickback between the end of bowling lane A (or B) and the rear portion of pit 2. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6 opening 12 is located in front of backstop or cushion 14. The bottom edge of backstop 14 which extends transversely across pit 2 is located above conveyor belt 4, a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, but greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin, so that pins P can readily pass rearwardly beneath backstop 14 to a point of discharge from conveyor 4 into a pin elevating mechanism (not shown).

As indicated in FIGURE 2, 'backstops 14 are inclined somewhat diagonally across each pit 2 and act to assist in directing a ball which may strike thereagainst back into position to roll through opening 12 into the range of operation of the ball elevating mechanism 48 shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. Backstop 14 may be similar in construction and operation to that shown in Zuercher Patent 2,815,954, granted December 10, 1957.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 6, it will be seen that pins P and balls D drop into pit 2 from alley A (or B) and are carried rearwardly in pit 2 in the direction of arrow C by the upper lap 5 of conveyor 4. Located beneath upper lap 5 of conveyor 4 are bounce boards 16 which extend transversely across pit 2 between kickbacks K. The ends of each bounce board 16 are attached to brackets 18 secured to resilient blocks 20, preferably made from rubber, secured to the outer walls of channels 22 attached to brackets 24 mounted on kickbacks K.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, bounce boards 16 are spaced longitudinally from each other a short distance, as at 26, for the major part of their length. This spacing provides a groove into which a ball on conveyor 4 may depress upper lap 5 thereof, and thereby provide a guide fora ball rolling across a pit 2 into an opening 12 for delivery therethrough to the ball elevating apparatus. Adjacent each ball door or opening 12, bounce boards 16 are provided with diverging or tapered portions 28 so disposed as to form a V-shaped space 30. This construction serves to locate a ball properly for movement through a ball door 12. A suitably shaped plate 32 secured to the under sides of bounce boards 16 limits the extent of downward depression of lap 5 of conveyor 4 under the Weight of a ball as it rolls into space enroute to a ball door 12. It also serves as a support for the ball until it passes through opening 12. Straps 34 (only one of which is shown) attached to bounce boards 16 secure them in proper longitudinally spaced relationship.

Each bowling ball delivered through an opening or ball door 12 serving alley A or alley B is conveyed upwardly by a ball elevating mechanism, designated generally 40, from its point of delivery to the ball elevating mechanism to a point of discharge onto a return runway, designated generally R. Ball elevating mechanism comprises a frame F including an endless belt conveyor 42 running upon driven pulley 44 and driving pulley 46. Driven pulley 44 is rotatably mounted on stub shaft 48 supported in the spaced arms of yoke 50 which forms an integral part of sleeve 52. Driving pulley 46 is rotatably mounted on stub shaft 58 supported in the spaced arms of yoke 56 which forms an integral part of rod 54. Rod 54 is slideably or telescopically coupled to sleeve 52. The construction and operation of frame F may be generally similar to that disclosed in Zuercher Patent 2,931,651 granted April 5, 1960. As shown in FIGURE 4, belt 42 is substantially T shaped in cross-section. The stem of the T rides in a central groove in each of pulleys 44 and 56.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be apparent that due to the manner in which it is supported by levers and 72, frame F can swing upwardly and away from track 68 whenever a ball B is engaged by belt 42 for rolling thereby upwardly along track 68. The normal position of belt 42 relative to track 68 is as shown in FIGURE 1. At this time the space between the lower portion of belt 42 and track 68 where a ball D moves into the range of operation of belt 42 and track 68 is such that as soon as this occurs the ball under the propelling influence of belt 42 is rolled upwardly along track 68. The geometry of the system is such that, although in its normal inoperative position the upper ball elevating portion of belt 42 is spaced from track 68 a distance less than the diameter of a ball, levers 78 and 72 allow frame F, and hence belt 42 carried thereby to move upwardly and away from track 68 such that a ball is firmly, yet resiliently gripped by belt 42 on track 68 and rolled thereby upwardly to station II where it is deliver onto runway R. Rubber bumpers 77 mounted on plates 79 attached to kickbacks K are engaged by shaft 78 to limit the downward extent of movement of frame F relative to track 68.

Sleeve 52 carries a collar 60, preferably formed integrally therewith, against which one end of encircling spring 62 presses. A collar 64 on the upper end of rod 54 (see FIGURE 1) is engaged by the other end of spring 62. In this manner spring 62 is operative to maintain proper tension in belt 42. Pin 66 which secures collar 64 to rod 54 extends into slot 67 in plate 69 carried by collar 60. This arrangement, in addition to maintaining pulleys 44 and 46 in alignment, insures that, should belt 42 break, frame P will be held in assembled relationship.

Belt supporting frame F formed by yoke 50, sleeve 52, yoke 56 and rod 54 is supported in operative relationship relative to ball track 68 by means of levers 79 and 72, as shown in FIGURE 1. Levers 70 and 72 are formed generally in the shape of an H (not shown). Each lever has a transverse central member (not shown) and two pairs of spaced parallel arms extending in opposite directions therefrom. The construction of levers 70 and 72 may be similar to that shown in the above referred to Zuercher Patent 2,931,651. The construction of these levers forms no specific part of the invention, and further description and showing, therefore, are considered to be unnecessary.

One pair of arms of lever 78 is supported on a shaft 74 having its ends mounted in brackets 76 (only one is shown) attached to the two adjacent kickbacks K between which ball elevating mechanism 40 is installed for operation. The other pair of arms of lever 70 is pivotally connected to the ends of pin 78 supported in bracket 80 fixed to rod 54.

One pair of arms of lever 72 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 82 having its ends suitably supported in two spaced adjacent kickbacks K which support shaft 74. The other pair of arms of lever 72 is pivotally connected to the ends of pin 84 extending outwardly from opposite sides of bracket 86 which, as shown in FIGURE 1, forms an integral part of yoke 56.

It should be noted that during its engagement with ball D, belt 42 is subjected to tension, and also spring 60 is compressed. Thus, when ball D reaches the top of track 68 and is delivered onto runway R, it is positively propelled or pushed by belt 42 and frame F along runway R. Only a portion of runway R is shown in FIGURE 1. It should be clear, however, that the portion shown constitutes what is commonly known as the downsweep section of a ball return runway. or that portion along which a ball rolls downwardly from an elevated position en route to the approach end of a bowling alley. The propelling effect of belt 42 on a ball D insures that at all times, regardless of its weight, it will have suificient energy to travel the entire length of the ball return runway and come to rest finally in a ball storage track adjacent the approach end of the alley.

In the illustrated embodiment, track 68 includes two spaced rods or tubes 88spaced apart a suitable distance to form a supporting track along and upon which balls are elevated from a receiving station I to a delivery station II onto runway R. As shown in FIGURE 1, track 68 has a lower straight portion adjacent station I and an upper curved section adjacent station 11. The upper ends of rods 88 are attached to plate 90 secured to cross bar 92 fixed to standards 94 mounted on kickbacks K. The lower ends of rods or tubes 88 are attached by screws 96 to bracket 98 secured to brackets 100 mounted on kickbacks K. Rods or tubes 88 preferably are covered with a frictional surface covering, such as rubber tubing, which aids in the elevation of balls from receiving station I to discharge station II.

As best shown in FIGURES3 and 5, each ball door or opening 12 is provided with a curved bracket 102 having a flange 104 which seats into opening 12, and a flange 106 at right angles thereto by. means of which bracket 102 is attached by screws (not shown) to the outer wall of a kickback K adjacent opening or ball door 12. Bracket 102 also is provided with a third or support flange 108 formed at right angles to flanges 104 and 106. Each support flange 108 is provided with a plurality of open end slots 110 for a purpose described more in detail hereinbelow.

When a ball passes through an opening or ball door 12 it rolls onto a filler support 114, curved to conform with the arc of the opening 12, extending across the space between kickbacks K. As shown in FIGURE 3, filler support 114 is triangular in cross section so that in effect a ball will roll uphill as it moves to the center of the space S between kickbacks K. This construction allows any pins which may have entered space S on support 114 to slide and/or roll on support 114 out through ball 1 doors 12 back onto conveyor 4 for delivery to the pin elevating mechanism (not shown). It should be noted further that a ball can still roll up the incline 116 of filler support 114 under the influence of a driven member, such as a kicker roller 118, described more in detail hereinbelow.

Filler support 114 is attached by bolts 117 passingthrough slots 110 in support flanges 108. The purpose of open end slots 110 is to adapt a structure embodying the invention for ready installation between kickbacks K where, because of space requirements, the width of space S may vary. These slots provide means for making such adjustments as are necessary in order to effect a proper installation.

The filler support 114 also is provided with a transverse groove 120, which, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, is U-shaped in cross section in which is secured a rubber strip 122. The top edge of strip 122 is inclined from each end towards the center. Rubber strip or block 122 is squeezed by a ball passing through an opening 12 and thereby assists in its movement from alleys A or B into position to be elevated by belt 42.

Also mounted between the kickbacks K and secured to the flanges 108 of brackets 102 is a second filler support member 130 conforming generally in shape with filler support 114 and spaced therefrom to form a slot or transverse opening 132 to permit projection and oscillat ing movement of a paddle or rubber support rod 134 which is described more in detail hereinafter. Member 130 is secured by means of bolts 137 (FIGURE 3) protruding through suitable open end slots 138 provided in the support flanges 108 of brackets 102.

The filler support 114 at the center portion of its uppermost end is provided with a cut-out 136 (FIGURES 2 and 7) through which protrudes a rubber pad 139 preferably detachably held by a suitable shell 140 carried by a pair of spaced arms 142 and 144. Arms 142 and 144 are pivotally supported bya suitable stud 146 held by means of sleeve 148 welded to one of the flanges of bracket 98. A torsion spring 150 encircles stud 146.

One end of spring engages bracket 98; the other end contacts the bottom side of the pad carrying shell 140. Spring 150 is employed for the purpose of urging rubber pad 139 into the path of an incoming ball and asserting pressure against the same, so that elevator belt 42 has a firmer and instant grip on the ball, thereby resulting in a faster delivery of a 'ball to station II. The upward urge of pad 139 by spring 150 is checked by means of stop lug 152 (FIGURES 7 and 8) attached to the upper edge of the free end of the pad-supporting arm 144 and contacting the lower side of one of the spaced rods or tubes 88 of ball track 68. For added guidance of the ball onto the return ball track 68 the upper side edges 154 of the filler support 114 are provided with curved surfaces 155 in a-trough-like fashion, as illustrated in FIGURE 8.

In order to assist a ball entering space S through an opening 12 in either kickback K to ride up the inclined surface 116 of the filler support 114 for engagement by the ball elevator belt 42, a ball advancing member, such as a resilient rotating kicker roller 118 is mounted adjacent each opening 12 and between kickbacks K, as illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 6. Rollers 118, which are positively driven, are provided for the purpose of engaging each ball moving from a pit 2 through a ball door 12 and giving it an additional forward movement or push and thereby insure its positive delivery to station I into the range of operation of the ball elevating mechanism. In this manner each ball is rapidly engaged between pad 138, belt 42 and track 68 for delivery to station II.

Each roller 118 is secured to the top end of a shaft 156, rotatably supported in a suitable bearing bracket 158. Rollers 118 are formed of rubber or other suitable type of elastomeric resilient frictional material. Each bracket 158 is provided with a pair of arms or lugs 160 which are integral therewith and project outwardly from the center portion thereof. The free ends of each pair of arms 160 of each bearing bracket 158 pivotally engage with and are supported by a transverse shaft 162 held by suitable bearing lugs 164 of bracket 166 secured by bolts 168 to a pair of angle brackets 170, one of each of which is mounted on the inside wall of each kickback K. A plurality of washers 163 encircling shaft 162 between arms 160 maintain brackets 158 in proper spacing on shaft 162. A pulley 172 is secured to the lower end of each shaft 156. Each pulley 172 is driven through belt 174 by a pulley 176, each of which is integral with a larger pulley 178 mounted on an individual pit conveyor driving shaft 180, one of each serving alley A and B.

Each belt 174 is led over a pair of idler tension pulleys 182, pivotally mounted on and supported by tension arm 184, pivotally mounted at one end on horizontal shaft 186 supported in bearing lugs 188 integral with and projecting from bracket 166. The free end of each tension arm 184 is connected to one end of a tension spring 190. The other ends of springs 190 are anchored to a horizontal stud shaft 192 mounted in a suitable boss 194 (FIGURE 2) secured to the inner wall of one of the kickbacks K. Arms 184 are maintained in desired spaced relationship on shaft 186 by a plurality of washers 185. The tension mounting of each pair of pulleys 182 through belt 17 4 and pulley 1-72 on shaft v156 ur-ges each bearing bracket 158 which carries shaft 156 and roller 118 to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, so that the roller 118 is partially in the path of a ball when the latter enters space S in moving out of a pit 2 through the opening 12 in a kickback K. This downward or innermost position of each roller 118, is controlled by means of the upper edges of second filler support member 130 which acts as a stop (FIGURE 3) for the bearing brackets 158 for the shafts 156. When a ball moves through an opening 12 in a kickback it is engaged by the respective rotating roller 118, just described, adjacent the respective kickback and the ball, due to the tension mounting of the bracket 158 and its associated mechanism described above pushes the roller 118 and bracket 158 upwardly or to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1. The action of a roller 118 on a ball is such that it presses yieldingly thereagainst and gives the ball the added momentum or forward movement mentioned heretofore.

In order to prevent pins from entering through an opening into space S where they would interfere with the ball and cause jams and to insure the removal of such pins if this should occur, a horizontally oscillating paddle or rudder 200 is provided to push any pin which may enter through the opening 12 back onto pin conveyor 4 in the pit of alley A or B. Rudder 200 is provided with a cutout portion 201 (FIGURES 1 and 6) which enables it to move into close adjacency with kickbacks K, free from obstruction by kicker rollers 118.

Paddle or rudder 200 is secured to one end of a tubular arm or rod 134, the other end of which is mounted on a horizontal hub 204 of an oscillating member 206 which is provided with vertical bearing lugs 208 (FIGURE 1) rotatably supported on vertical shaft 210. The ends of shaft 210 are mounted in spaced brackets 212 secured to suitable flanges of kickbacks K (FIGURES 1 and A horizontal boss 214 extending outwardly from upper bearing lug 208 carries a stud 216 which is pivotally connected to a conventional self-aligning ball type of swivel lug 218, attached to a suitable conventional hydraulic dash pot 220 such as one designated as number 8270-2006, made by The Gabriel Company, Cleveland, Ohio. This dash pot is a two-way resistance unit, which is calibrated to meet the operating conditions to which it is subjected. In operation, the hydraulic fluid can flow from one side to the other through a control valve (not shown) when pressure is applied to rudder 200, as by a ball. The calibration is such that dash pot 220 is not actuated when rudder 200 is engaged only by a pin. Piston rod 222 of each .dash pot 220 is connected to crank pin 224 on pulley 226 rotatably supported by stud shaft 228 mounted in a suitable bearing hub integral with one of the kickbacks K (FIGURES 2 and 5).

Pulley 226 is driven by belt 230 from pulley 232 mounted on horizontal shaft 234 rotatably supported by a pair of spaced bearing arms 236 (FIGURE 1) loosely mounted on horizontal shaft 238 which in turn loosely supports a pair of spaced brackets 240 loosely mounted on horizontal stud shaft 192. A suitable torsion spring (not shown) encircling shaft 238 coacts with arms 236 and 240 and provides the desired tensioning action on belts 230 and 244. Also mounted on shaft 234 is a larger pulley 242 which is driven through belt 244 from pulley 246 keyed to the main drive shaft 58 (FIGURE 4). It

will be apparent that through the driving mechanism described above, the rotating crank pin 224 on the hub of pulley 226 through piston rod 222 and its connected piston will effect a reciprocating motion of dash pot 220. Since the self-aligning ball swivel lug 218 carried by dash pot 220 is connected to the horizontal boss 214 of the member 206, the reciprocating motion of the dash pot 200 imparts oscillating motion to the member 206 and thus through rod 134 to paddle or rudder 200.

In operation, paddle or rudder 200 oscillates from side to side, or back and forth, in space S between kickbacks K, as indicated by the arrow 0 and the two dotted positions of the paddle 200' shown in FIGURE 5, thus pushing any pin which may have entered or which is attempting to enter space S back through either one of the openings 12 in kickbacks K back into pit 2 of the respective alley.

However, as mentioned above, the dash pot 220 is so calibrated that when a ball moves through an opening 12 and is engaged by the paddle on its approaching stroke, the operating members of dash pot 220 yield in response to the pressure exerted by the ball against paddle 200. Depending on the position at which the paddle 200 is arrested by a ball, a momentary arrest of the ball may occur. However, the ball will follow the paddle to its disposal position as soon as said paddle 200 is caused to change its direction of travel by the mechanism described hereinabove. Since the paddle 200 oscillates quite rapidly through the space between the kickbacks and the ball, after entering the opening 12 is positively urged by one of the rollers 118, the ball isforced to its disposal position in the center of the kickbacks without delay.

A range of twenty-five-forty-five oscillations per minute or other desired rate can be used in effecting the movement of rudder 200. It has been found that with thirtyfive -or thirty-six oscillations per minute excellent results are obtained. Any desired increase or decrease in the oscillatory movement of rudder 200 can be made by increasing or decreasing the rotation of shaft 228.

In order to limit the extent of the oscillating motion of the paddle 200 its supporting rod 136 may be provided wit-h a suitable stop bracket 248 (FIGURE 5) attached thereto and carrying a pair of spaced rubber stop buttons 250.

The machine is so arranged that the main drive shaft 58 of the ball and pin handling mechanism may be actuated or driven when either alley A or B is used alone or when both alleys are in operation at the same time. For this reason each alley is provided with its own motor M which is set in motion at the start of the game in the respective alley. To each motor shaft 252 (FIGURE 1) is mounted a pulley 254 and each pulley drives a belt 256 which runs over a pulley 178 and also over a pulley 258. As illustrated in FIGURE 2 one of the pulleys 178 drives the pit conveyor 4 in alley A and also drives the ball kicker roller 118 adjacent the opening 12 in the kickback of that alley. The other pulley 178 drives pit conveyor 4 in alley B and the ball kicker roller 118 adjacent opening 12 in the kickback of that alley. The two pulleys 258 over each of which one of the driving belts 256 runs are rotatably mounted on individual sleeves or bushings 260 (FIGURE 4) both of which are loosely supported by the shaft 58. The hub of each pulley is provided with a suitable recess 262 which engages with one end of a conventional spring clutch 264. The other end of one of the clutches projects into a recess of the pulley 246 which drives the paddle 200 as described heretofore and the other end of the second clutch projects into a recess of a collar 266 keyed to the shaft 58. It will be apparent that when one of the pulleys 258 is driven through belt 256 by its respective motor, the spring clutch 264 either engages with the pulley 246 or the collar 266 as the case may be. Since pulley 246, as well as collar 266, is keyed to shaft 58 the driving of either pulley 258 will impart driving motion or rotation to the main drive shaft 58. As indicated above, however, the rotation of one pulley 258 will effect the driving of only that ball kicker roller 118 and pit conveyor belt 4 which is associated with the alley in operation. Each driving belt 256 is also provided with a belt tightener pulley 268 (FIGURE 1) each of which is rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 270 held by an arm 272. The arms 272 of the two belt tighteners are pivotally supported by a transverse shaft 274 and provided with a suitably anchored tension spring 276, the ends of which are secured to shafts 270 and an arm of levers 271, loosely mounted on shaft 74. Each lever 271 is provided with another arm 273 (FIGURE l), the free end of which engages with a cross rib 273 of the forked arm 70. Transverse shaft 274 is held and supported by suitable bosses on the inner walls of the kickbacks K.

The construction just described insures that proper tensioning will at all times be applied to frame F while a ball is being rolled upwardly by belt 42 along track 68 to station II. Also, because of spring 276, when a ball reaches station II, it will be seen that spring 276 coacts with frame F and belt 42 in effecting the desired propelling of a ball along the downsweep section of return run way R for return to a bowler.

As viewed in FIGURE 1, in its normal inoperative position, frame F is so located that the lower end of belt 42 is positioned to be engaged by a ball, as the ball moves 9 sideways from the pit of either alley A or B under the influence of a kicker roller 118 into ball elevating posi tion in station I. During the time that belt 42 is rolling a ball upwardly along track 68, frame F is swung upwardly to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, and the lower end of belt 42 then is located with respect to station I in such manner that belt 42 cannot engage another ball until the ball which is being rolled along track 68 has been ejected at station II. Thus the construction of the ball elevating mechanism 40 is such that only one ball at a time can be lifted and hence ball jams cannot occur. This is particularly desirable in installations where bowling balls travel beneath a portion Of a bowling lane en route to the bowlingend of a bowling lane where it is important that no stoppages occur at intermediate points between the pit end of a bowling lane and the head, or approach end thereof.

It will be appreciated that as used herein, the terms bowling alleys and bowling lanes are synonymous.

As illustrated hereinabove, calibrated dash pot 220 is disclosed as providing the desired yieldable driving connection in the operating mechanism for rudder 200. It will be appreciated, however, that any other suitable conventional type of yieldable calibrated driving connection could be used in order to obtain the same result. This connection is provided for the purpose of allowing rudder 200 to yield under the pressure of a bowling ball (which may weigh between and 16 pounds) but not under the pressure exerted thereagainst by a pin which may weigh approximately 3 /2 pounds.

The mechanism embodying the invention insures the proper delivery of bowling balls moving out of the pits of two side-by-side alleys into the range of operation of a common bowling ball elevating apparatus. Even though two balls should move through the openings in the two adjacent kickbacks substantially simultaneously, the operation of the novel ball handling rudder is such that no obstruction can occur which would prevent the rapid delivery of one or the other of the balls to the ball elevating apparatus for return to a player. Thus, the return of balls is effected with markedly increased rapidity than heretofore known in the art.

Also, because of the novel mechanism embodying the invention the separation of pins from balls, and the minimizing of possible ball jams is decreased to such an extent that they can be termed practically eliminated.

What we claim is:

1. A bowling ball and pin handling apparatus comprising a bowling ball elevating device, means mounting said device in operative position exteriorly of the kickback of a bowling alley, said kickback having an opening through which a ball may exit from the pit of said alley, ball support means mounted without said opening and coacting with said elevating device to receive and support a ball exiting from said pit of said alley, movable means mounted exteriorly of said kickback for engaging and moving any pins tending to pass out of said pit through said opening onto said support means back through said opening into said pit, driving means for movingsaid movable means to and from said opening a plurality of times during a given time cycle, and means for conveying such pins from said opening.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises an inclined plane, and wherein said -movable means comprises a substantially vertical rudder,

and said driving means oscillate said rudder back and forth in a horizontal path of travel relative to said opening to effect the removal of pins from said support means back into said pit.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, including means mounted exteriorly of said kickback above the path of travel of a ball for engaging a ball passing through said opening and propelling it upon said support means into the range of operation of said ball elevating device.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said lastnamed means comprises a friction surface roller, means mounting said roller for yielding movement into engagement with a ball passing therebeneath, and means for rotating said roller to cause a ball engaged thereby to advance on said support means into the range of operation of said ball elevating device.

5. A bowling ball and pin handling apparatus comprising a bowling ball elevating device, means mounting said device in operative position exteriorly of the kickback of a bowling alley, said kickback having an opening through which a ball may exit from the pit of said alley, ball support means coacting with said elevating deviceto receive and support a ball exiting from said pit of said alley, movable means mounted exteriorly of said kickback for engaging and moving any pins tending to pass out of said pit through said opening into said pit, means for conveying such pins from said opening, means engaging a ball passing through said opening and propelling it upon said support means into the range of operation of said ball elevating device, said last-named means comprising a friction surface roller, means mounting said roller for yielding movement into engagement with a ball passing therebeneath, means for rotating said roller to cause a ball engaged thereby to advance on said support means into the range of operation of said ball elevating device, and a strip of elastomeric material mounted on said support means for firmly holding a ball being advanced by said roller upon said support means for engagement and elevation by said elevating device.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said ball elevating device includes spaced, generally vertically positioned ball tracks, an endless belt spaced from said tracks for rolling a ball upwardly therealong to a point of discharge therefrom, and curved guides carried by said support means coacting with the lower ends of said spaced tracks assisting in positioning a ball for rolling by said belt along said tracks.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, including a resilient elastomeric pad located between said tracks and adjacent their lower ends, and a resiliently supported member mounting said pad to project it outwardly between said tracks into position to be engaged by a ball moving into the range of action of said belt.

8. Ball and pin handling apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a conveyor in said pit for conveying balls and pins received thereon to sepparated points of delivery therefrom, kickbacks located at opposite sides of said pit, and a ball discharge opening in one of said kickbacks at the point of discharge of balls from said conveyor, mechanism for insuring the exiting of balls only from said pit through said opening in said kickback comprising a vertical rudder, means mounting said rudder exteriorly of said kickback for movement to and from said opening, a ball support located without said opening beneath said rudder, and driving means for oscillating said rudder back and forth to and from said opening a plurality of times during a given time cycle to push any pins moving through or attempting to move through said opening back onto said conveyor for delivery thereby to said point of pin delivery in said pit.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said lastnamed means includes a yieldable operating member, and means controlling the operation of said member to actuate said rudder to push a pin back through said ball discharge opening onto said conveyor in said pit, but to yield in response to the pressure of a ball against said rudder whereby said ball can pass completely through said opening onto said support.

10. The invention defined in claim 9, including means mounted exteriorly of said one kickback above the path of travel of a ball for engaging a ball after it has passed partially through said opening for advancing it onto said support, and ball elevating mechanism operative to engage a ball on said support for elevating said ball to a point of discharge from said mechanism.

11. Ball and pin handling apparatus for use with a pair of side-by-side bowling alleys, each having a pit at one end, a conveyor in each of said pits for conveying balls and pins received thereon to separate points of delivery therefrom, kickbacks at the sides of said pit, said alleys being mounted with adjacent kickbacks spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, and a bowling ball discharge opening in each of said adjacent kickbacks, comprising bowling ball support means located in the space between the two openings in said kickbacks, a vertical rudder located above said support means, means mounting said rudder for oscillatory movement to and from each of said openings, mechanism for oscillating said rudder a plurality of times within a given time cycle, said mechanism including a yieldable connection member operative to allow one ball only at a time to move to a centralized position on said support member, and ball elevating mechanism operative to engage and lift said last-named ball to an elevated point of discharge.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, wherein said ball elevating mechanism comprises a frame mounting an endless relatively narrow conveyor having a ball engaging lap, track means spaced from said belt a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, means biasing said frame towards said track to position said belt at said distance from said track, and resilient means coacting with said tracks in assisting the engagement of a ball on said support means between said belt and said tracks for rolling along said tracks by said lap of said belt.

13. The invention defined in claim 11, including positively actuated bowling ball propelling devices, means mounting one of said devices adjacent each of said openings for engagement with a ball passing out of a pit of an alley through said opening, and means for actuating said devices to propel a ball engaged thereby onto said support means for lifting engagement by said ball elevating mechanism.

14. The invention defined in claim 13, wherein each of said devices includes a friction surface kicker roller, pivotal supports for each of said rollers, and yieldable means biasing each of said supports to locate said rollers in the path of travel of balls exiting from said pits, whereby a ball may pass beneath one of said rollers and then be advanced thereby onto said support means.

15. The invention defined in claim 14, wherein said support means provides inclined planes up which balls may roll from said openings into position to be engaged between said belt and tracks, said inclined planes being operative to coact with said rudder in effecting the removal of pins which may have entered upon said support means back into said conveyors in said pit in response to the oscillating movement of said rudder.

16. Ball and pin handling apparatus for use with two side-by-side bowling lanes having-kickbacks located at the sides of each of the pits of said lanes, and two adjacent kickbacks spaced from each other a distance greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, each of said adjacent kickbacks being provided with a ball exit opening through which balls may exits from said pits into the space between said adjacent kickbacks, a ball elevating mechanism mounted in the space between said adjacent kickbacks, a ball and pin separating rudder located in said space and coacting with said mechanism, means for moving said rudder back and forth between said openings to push any pins tending to enter said space back into said pit, and control means associated with said last-named means for discriminatnig between the weight of a ball and a pin whereby a ball may exit from a pit into said space for elevation by said mechanism.

17. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said mechanism comprises a frame supporting an endless ball propelling belt and a ball support track spaced from said belt, means mounting said frame to dispose said belt on one side of said openings in said kickbacks, means mounting said track on the opposite side of said openings in ball receiving relationship relative to said belt, and means for propelling balls exiting through said openings in said kickbacks sideways into ball engaging position between said belt and track.

18. A bowling ball elevating apparatus comprising a generally upwardly extending ball track including spaced rails for supporting a bowling ball for delivery from a receiving station to a ball discharge station, an endless belt having an active ball engaging lap for rolling a ball upwardly along said track to said discharge station, a frame supporting said belt, spaced pivotally mounted levers supporting said frame for movement to and from said track, a ball support located at said receiving station beneath said belt and the lower ends of said rails, a resilient ball engaging pad at said receiving station positioned between the lower ends of said rails, means mounting said pad to extend outwardly between said rails into position to be engaged by a ball delivered to said receiving station, and mean for engaging a ball moving towards said receiving station to propel it forwardly into said station where said ball is engaged by said lap of said belt for rolling thereby upwardly along said rails to said discharge station, said last-named means comprising a resilient roller, and means mounting said roller for yielding movement into engagement with a ball passing thereby, and means for driving said roller.

19. A bowling ball elevating apparatus comprising a generally upwardly extending ball track along which a ball is rolled from a receiving station to a delivery station comprising a frame, means mounting said frame for movement to and from said track, an endless 'belt carried by said frame, said belt having a ball engaging lap normally spaced from said track a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, means for delivering a ball sideways from the pit of a bowling lane into a position to be gripped between said belt and said track, means for driving said belt to roll said ball upwardly along said track, means coacting with said frame for maintaining said belt adjacent said receiving station positioned a distance greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball during the time while said belt is traveling a, ball along said track to said discharge station whereby to prevent a second ball from being rolled along said track concurrently with said first ball, said belt and track being located in the space between adjacent kickbacks of two side by side bowling lanes, and each of said kickbacks being provided with an opening through which balls may exit from the pits of said two side by side lanes, and a common movable ball engaging member coacting with each of said openings to be engaged 'by 'balls and control their exit from said pits through said openings to effect the separate, spaced elevation of single 'balls by said belt to said discharge stations.

20. A bowling ball elevating apparatus comprising a generally upwardly extending ball track along which a *ball is rolled from a receiving station to a delivery station comprising a frame, means mounting said frame for movement to and from said track, an endless belt carried by said frame, said belt having a ball engaging lap normally spaced from said track a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, means for delivering a ball sideways from the pit of a bowling lane into a position to be gripped between said belt and said track, means for driving said belt to roll said ball upwardly along said track, means coacting with said frame for maintaining said belt adjacent said receiving station positioned a distance greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling 'ball during the time while said belt is traveling a ball along said track to said discharge station whereby to prevent a second ball from being rolled along said track concurrently with said first ball, said belt and track being located in the space between adjacent kickbacks of two side-by-side bowling lanes, and each of said kick-backs is provided with an opening through which balls may exit from the pits of said two side-by-side lanes, a common movable member coacting with each of said openings to control the exit of balls from said pits through said openings to effect the separate, spaced elevation of single balls by said belt to said discharge station, said member including a vertical, generally planar rudder of a size suflicient to block the exit of a ball through an opening in a kickback, and means for moving said rudder back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane to control the exiting movement of balls from the pits of sad lanes through said openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Keesling 27349 Zuercher et a1. 27349 Gruss 27349 X Gruss et a1 27349 X Easterling et al. 27349 Cougelli et a1 27349 Zuercher 27349 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A BOWLING BALL AND PIN HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BOWLING BALL ELEVATING DEVICE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID DEVICE IN OPERATIVE POSITION EXTERIORLY OF THE KICKBACK OF A BOWLING ALLEY, SAID KICKBACK HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH A BALL MAY EXIT FROM THE PIT OF SAID ALLEY, BALL SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED WITHOUT SAID OPENING AND COACTING WITH SAID ELEVATING DEVICE TO RECEIVE AND SUPPORT A BALL EXITING FROM SAID PIT OF SAID ALLEY, MOVABLE MEANS MOUNTED EXTERIORLY OF SAID KICKBACK FOR ENGAGING AND MOVING ANY PINS TENDING TO PASS OUT OF SAID PIT THROUGH SAID OPENING ONTO SAID SUPPORT MEANS BACK THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO SAID PIT, DRIVING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE MEANS TO AND FROM SAID OPENING A PLURALITY OF TIMES DURING A GIVEN TIME CYCLE, AND MEANS FOR CONVEYING SUCH PINS FROM SAID OPENING.

Images