Lane Maintenance Machine Suitable for Battery Operation
First Claim
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1. In a bowling lane maintenance machine adapted to travel in a forward direction along a bowling lane from the foul line to the pin deck and then in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line, the improvement comprising:
- a cleaning system including a vacuum suction head that is movable between a raised position in which the head is spaced above the lane and a lowered position in which the head is in operating contact with the lane for removing cleaning liquid therefrom as the machine travels along the lane,said suction head communicating with a vacuum motor that draws a suction at the head when the motor is in an energized condition,said vacuum motor being in an energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the forward direction and in a de-energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the reverse direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bowling lane maintenance machine has its operating functions designed and controlled in such a manner that the machine may be battery-operated without loss of performance. Included in the operation are special movements of the machine at the pin deck to flick moisture off blades of the squeegee assembly and limited activation of the vacuum motor to reduce battery drain.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a bowling lane maintenance machine adapted to travel in a forward direction along a bowling lane from the foul line to the pin deck and then in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line, the improvement comprising:
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a cleaning system including a vacuum suction head that is movable between a raised position in which the head is spaced above the lane and a lowered position in which the head is in operating contact with the lane for removing cleaning liquid therefrom as the machine travels along the lane, said suction head communicating with a vacuum motor that draws a suction at the head when the motor is in an energized condition, said vacuum motor being in an energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the forward direction and in a de-energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a bowling lane maintenance machine adapted to travel in a forward direction along a bowling lane from the foul line to the pin deck and then in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line, the improvement comprising:
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a cleaning system including a vacuum suction head that is movable between a raised position in which the head is spaced above the lane and a lowered position in which the head is in operating contact with the lane for removing cleaning liquid therefrom as the machine travels along the lane, said suction head having a squeegee blade assembly associated therewith; a drive motor operable to cause the machine to travel in the forward and reverse directions; a lane distance sensor operable to determine the distance the machine has traveled along the lane; and a control system operably connected to the lane distance sensor and the drive motor for controlling operation of the drive motor in response to input signals from the lane distance sensor, said control system being operable to stop operation of said drive motor when the lane distance sensor determines that the machine has traveled in the forward direction from the foul line a distance which causes the squeegee blade assembly to pass beyond and overhang the edge of the pin deck of the lane. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane using a maintenance machine, the steps of:
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applying a liquid cleaner to the lane as the machine travels in a forward direction from the foul line toward the pin deck; drawing liquid cleaner off the lane using a vacuum motor during at least a portion of the travel of the machine in the forward direction from the foul line to the pin deck; and maintaining the vacuum motor turned off during at least most of the travel of the machine in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane using a maintenance machine, the steps of:
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applying a liquid cleaner to the lane as the machine travels in a forward direction from the foul line toward the pin deck; using a squeegee assembly in engagement with the lane to help remove cleaning liquid from the lane as the machine travels in the forward direction; and stopping movement of the machine in the forward direction when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification