Bowling lane conditioning machine

• US 20060130754A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Burkholder, Roy A., Prinz, Robert J., Mitchell, Patrick J., Ibrahimovic, Damir, Recknagel, Troy A., Mead, Matthew E., Sias, William C.
• Application Number:
  US11/015,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/695
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/10 Apparatus for cleaning balls, pins, or alleys

Abstract

A bowling lane conditioning machine is disclosed with circuitry that is operative to perform one or more of the following: dynamically updating a graphical representation of a lane dressing fluid pattern and/or zone, displaying confirmation that a selected component completed a desired function, displaying a log of activity, changing a language of text displayed on a display device, and displaying a graphical user interface with different menu options displayed differently. Also disclosed is a bowling lane conditioning machine with a display device located on a housing and an input device located on a handle, and/or with a first input device located on a handle and a second input device located on a housing. Further disclosed is bowling lane conditioning machine with two processors that operate independently from one another: one that controls a lane dressing fluid application system, and the other that provides a graphic user interface.

Claims

1. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a lane dressing fluid application system; and

a user interface system in communication with the lane dressing fluid application system, the user interface system comprising;

a display device;

an input device; and

circuitry in communication with the input device and the display device, wherein the circuitry is operative to;

(a) display a graphical representation on the display device of a lane dressing fluid pattern to be applied to a bowling lane by the lane dressing fluid application system;

(b) receive input from the input device indicating a change to the lane dressing fluid pattern to be applied to the bowling lane by the lane dressing fluid application system; and

(c) dynamically update the graphical representation in response to the input.

2. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1, wherein the input indicates a change in an amount of lane dressing fluid to be applied to a single board of the bowling lane.

3. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1, wherein the input indicates a change in an amount of lane dressing fluid to be applied to a plurality of boards of the bowling lane.

4. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further operative to:

display a graphical representation on the display device of at least one zone along a longitudinal length of a bowling lane, wherein each of the at least one zone comprises a respective lane dressing fluid pattern;

receive input from the input device for one or more of the following;

adding a zone, deleting a zone, and adjusting a length of a zone; and

dynamically update the graphical representation in response to the input for said one or more of the following.

6. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the circuitry comprises a processor operative to perform (a), (b), and (c).

7. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 6 further comprising an additional processor operative to control the lane dressing fluid application system.

8. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the input device is integrated with the display device.

9. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the input device and the display device are separate devices.

10. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5 further comprising:

a housing carrying the lane dressing fluid application system, wherein the display device is located on the housing.

11. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5 further comprising:

a housing carrying the lane dressing fluid application system; and

a handle coupled with the housing, wherein the display device is located on the handle.

12. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5 further comprising:

a housing carrying the lane dressing fluid application system, wherein the input device is located on the housing.

13. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 12 further comprising:

a handle coupled with the housing; and

a second input device located on the handle;

wherein the circuitry is operative to dynamically update the graphical representation in response to the input from either the first-mentioned input device or the second input device.

14. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5 further comprising:

a housing carrying the lane dressing fluid application system; and

a handle coupled with the housing, wherein the input device is located on the handle.

15. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the graphical representation comprises a two-dimensional graphical representation.

16. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the graphical representation comprises a three-dimensional graphical representation.

17. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the graphical representation comprises a plurality of colors, each color indicating a different amount of lane dressing fluid.

18. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the circuitry is further operative to allow a user to choose a predetermined lane dressing fluid pattern from a plurality of stored lane dressing fluid patterns.

19. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 18, wherein the circuitry is further operative to allow a user to customize the predetermined lane dressing fluid pattern.

20. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the dressing application system comprises at least one injector comprising at least one opening and a valve.

21. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 20, wherein the at least one injector is positioned to output lane dressing fluid directly onto the bowling lane as the bowling lane conditioning machine moves along the bowling lane.

22. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 20 further comprising a transfer roller, wherein the at least one injector is positioned to output lane dressing fluid onto the transfer roller.

23. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the dressing application system comprises a spray nozzle.

24. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the dressing application system comprises a pulse valve.

25. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the dressing application system comprises a wick.

26. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5, wherein the dressing application system comprises a metering pump.

27. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 or 5 further comprising:

a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system.

5. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a lane dressing fluid application system; and

a user interface system in communication with the lane dressing fluid application system, the user interface system comprising;

a display device;

an input device; and

circuitry in communication with the input device and the display device, wherein the circuitry is operative to;

(a) display a graphical representation on the display device of at least one zone along a longitudinal length of a bowling lane, wherein each of the at least one zone comprises a respective lane dressing fluid pattern;

(b) receive input from the input device for one or more of the following;

adding a zone, deleting a zone, and adjusting a length of a zone; and

(c) dynamically update the graphical representation in response to the input.

28. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a handle coupled with the housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing;

a display device located on the housing; and

an input device located on the handle.

29. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 28, further comprising:

a second input device located on the housing.

30. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 29, wherein the second input device is integrated with the display device.

31. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 29, wherein the second input device and the display device are separate devices.

32. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 29, wherein the first-mentioned input device and the second input device comprise identical functionality.

33. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 29, wherein the first-mentioned input device and the second input device comprise different functionality.

34. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 29, wherein the second input device and the display device are packaged together in a single unit that is removable from the housing.

35. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 28, wherein the display device comprises a graphic display.

37. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 35, wherein the first and second input devices comprise identical functionality.

38. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 35, wherein the first and second input devices comprise different functionality.

36. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a handle coupled with the housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing;

a first input device located on the handle; and

a second input device located on the housing.

39. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a display device carried by the housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing;

a first processor carried by the housing and operative to control the lane dressing fluid application system; and

a second processor carried by the housing and operative to provide a graphic user interface on the display device;

wherein the first processor is operative to operate independently from the second processor.

40. The bowling lane condition machine of claim 39, wherein the first and second processors are configured in a server-client relationship, respectively.

41. The bowling lane condition machine of claim 39, wherein the first and second processors are each associated with respective memories.

42. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 39, wherein the first processor is less susceptible to temperature than the second processor.

43. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 39, wherein the first processor is less susceptible to shock than the second processor.

44. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 39, wherein the first processor is less susceptible to vibration than the second processor.

45. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 39, wherein the second processor and the display device are packaged together in a single unit that is removable from the housing.

73. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 45, wherein the second processor comprises a dedicated, single-purpose computer.

74. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 45, wherein the second processor is operative to be programmed after the single unit is removed from the housing.

75. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 45, wherein the single unit comprises a memory device that retains its stored programming when removed from the housing.

46. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a handle coupled with the housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing;

a first processor in communication with the lane dressing fluid application system and operative to control the lane dressing fluid application system; and

a user interface system in communication with the first processor and comprising;

a display device located on the housing;

a first input device located on the housing;

a second input device located on the handle; and

a second processor in communication with the display device the first and second input devices, the second processor being operative to provide a graphic user interface on the display device;

wherein the first processor is operative to operate independently from the second processor.

47. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

at least one of a lane dressing fluid application system, and a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system;

a display device; and

circuitry in communication with the display device and operative to;

(a) receive a user request for activation of a component of the bowling lane conditioning machine; and

(b) display confirmation on the display device that the component completed a desired function.

48. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the component is part of the lane dressing fluid application system.

49. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the component is part of the cleaning fluid delivery and removal system.

50. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the component comprises a drive motor.

51. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the component comprises an end-of-lane sensor.

52. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the component comprises a speed sensor.

53. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 47, wherein the circuitry is further operative to display the following on the display device:

a first set of display regions indicating which components a user can request activation of, and a second set of display regions that indicate confirmation that the component completed a desired function.

54. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

at least one of a lane dressing fluid application system, and a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system;

a display device;

a storage device storing a log of activity of the bowling lane conditioning machine; and

circuitry in communication with the storage device and the display device, the circuitry operative to display the log on the display device.

55. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log comprises a pattern change log.

56. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log comprises a pattern run log.

57. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log comprises a maintenance log.

58. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log comprises a messages log.

59. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log stores at least one of a date and time for each activity in the log.

60. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log stores pattern changes made on the bowling lane conditioning machine.

61. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log stores at least one of an error message, a status message, and a general message from a user interface or controller system of the bowling lane conditioning machine.

62. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54, wherein the log stores at a text message and counter value.

63. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 54 further comprising a network connection in communication with the circuitry, wherein the circuitry is operative to provide the log to an external device via the network connection.

64. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 63, wherein the network connection comprises an Ethernet connection.

65. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 63, wherein the network connection comprises a modem.

66. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

at least one of a lane dressing fluid application system, and a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system;

a display device; and

circuitry in communication with the display device and operative to change a language of text displayed on the display device.

67. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 66 further comprising:

a storage device in communication with the circuitry, the storage device storing a plurality of files, each file comprising text of a different language;

wherein the circuitry is operative to access a file associated with a language requested by a user.

68. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 66, wherein the circuitry is operative to change the language of text displayed on the display device without a need to restart the bowling lane conditioning machine.

69. A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

at least one of a lane dressing fluid application system, and a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system;

a display device; and

circuitry in communication with the display device and operative to display a graphical user interface on the display device, wherein the graphical user interface displays a plurality of menu options including a menu option of a presently-displayed screen, wherein the menu option for the presently-displayed screen is displayed differently from the menu option for a screen displayed prior to the presently-displayed screen.

70. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 69, wherein menu option for the presently-displayed screen is displayed in a first color, and wherein the menu option for the screen displayed prior to the presently-displayed screen is displayed in a second color.

71. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 69, wherein one of the menu options allows a user to specify a lane dressing fluid pattern.

72. The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 69, wherein one of the menu options allows a user to add, delete, or adjust a length of a zone along a longitudinal length of a bowling lane.