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Safety and interlock system for use with an automatic bowling pinsetter

Safety and interlock system for use with an automatic bowling pinsetter description/claims

Automatic bowling pinsetters automatically organize, orient, and position bowling pins without the need for manual intervention or control. Some automatic bowling pinsetters are mechanically driven and controlled and include one or more cams, gears, and pulleys to control the timing and movement of the pinsetter. Other automatic bowling pinsetters are computerized or electrically-controlled and include a controller or logic system that is programmed to monitor and direct the mechanical components of the pinsetter. Both mechanically-driven and computer-controlled automatic bowling pinsetters have numerous moving parts and elements that may be dangerous to maintenance personnel, machine operators, casual observers, and others who are in proximity to the equipment. While some automatic bowling pinsetters have manual switches to turn off these moving parts, injury may still occur when a person is in proximity of the moving parts and is unaware of or chooses not to use the switch.

The present invention is defined by the claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.

By way of introduction, the embodiments described below provide a safety and interlock system for use with an automatic bowling pinsetter. In one embodiment, a safety interlock system is provided comprising a bowling pinsetter; a masking unit disposed in a first position near the bowling pinsetter, wherein the masking unit is movable from the first position; a sensor in communication with the masking unit, wherein the sensor is configured to provide an indication after the masking unit is moved from the first position; and circuitry in communication with the sensor and configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor. In another embodiment, a safety interlock system is provided comprising a bowling pinsetter defining a bowling pinsetter area; a sensor positioned to detect movement into the bowling pinsetter area, the sensor configured to communicate an indication representative of movement into the bowling pinsetter area; and circuitry in communication with the sensor and configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

The embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of an automatic bowling pinsetter;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a masking unit that may be utilized with the automatic bowling pinsetter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a safety system that may be utilized with the automatic bowling pinsetter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged top view of the safety system shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a safety system;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart representative of one operational embodiment of the safety system.

The present disclosure provides examples and embodiments of safety systems and/or interlocks that may be designed or retrofitted into new or existing automatic bowling pinsetters. It will be understood from the examples discussed below that the safety systems and interlocks may be implemented individually or may be implemented cooperatively depending on the type of pinsetter equipment, the safety applications, and/or the applicable regulations or standards.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an automatic bowling pinsetter (or “pinsetter”) 100. The pinsetter 100 is mounted adjacent to the end of an elevated bowling lane surface 102. The pinsetter 100 includes a sweep 104 configured to push one or more bowling pins 106 towards a ball pit conveyor 108 disposed substantially adjacent to, and below the level or plane defined by, the elevated bowling lane surface 102. A pin elevator 110 is arranged to receive and vertically transport the individual bowling pins 106a supplied by the ball pit conveyor 108. The individual bowling pins 106a are supplied by the pin elevator 110 to a pivotable tray or shark switch 112 that guides or directs bowling pins 106 to a desired station on a pin distributor 114. The bowling pins 106 may be supported within the pin distributor 114 until they are required by a pin table 116 for placement on the elevated bowling lane surface 102.

In operation, a player (not shown), from a position distal to the pinsetter 100, rolls a bowling ball (not shown) along the lane surface 102 towards a rack, i.e., grouping of bowling pins 106, disposed within a pin or pinsetter area PA. The impact of the bowling ball and the bowling pins 106 may knock or scatter one or more of the individual bowling pins 106a out of the pinsetter area PA along the surface of the bowling lane 102 or out of the pinsetter area PA towards the ball pit conveyor 108. The sweep 104 may be deployed along the surface of the bowling lane 102 to slide the remaining displaced bowling pins 106 towards the bowling pit conveyor 108 and to protect against the possibility of additional balls thrown by the player. The individual bowling pins 106a are moved towards the pin elevator 110 where they are supported and carried between a base position B toward a top position T.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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