Automatic bowling lane stripper
First Claim
1. In combination in an automatic bowling lane cleaning apparatus:
- a carriage;
a reversible drive mechanism housed within said carriage including a drive shaft and surface-engaging drive wheels mounted on said shaft operative to advance same along a predetermined course in a forward and reverse direction;
solvent applicator means including a wettable pad extending transversely of the carriage mounted for movement relative thereto between an operative position extended into lane-engaging relation and an inoperative position retracted up into the carriage;
solvent supply means including a solvent reservoir, a manifold positioned atop the wettable pad adapted to receive a charge of solvent and distribute same along the latter, and valve-controlled means interconnecting the reservoir and manifold operation upon actuation to control the delivery of solvent to the latter;
applicator pad shifting means connected to the applicator pad operative upon actuation and deactuation to extend and retract same;
first control means responsive to the position of the carriage along the lane during the forward run thereof to actuate the reversible drive means so as to commence the return run, and said first control means being effective upon completion of the forward run to act upon the shifting means in a manner to retract the applicator pad;
residue removal means including a pick-up roller having an absorbant surface in continuous side-to-side contact with the lane surface and drive means for rotating same, said roller being positioned and adapted to remove the solvent applied to the lane by the applicator pad during the forward run and both the solid and liquid residues remaining during the return run;
solvent transfer means including an absorbant curtain, supply and storage rollers so arranged relative to one another and to the pick-up roller as to remove at least a substantial proportion of the liquid residues removed thereby in advance of their being redeposited on the lane surface;
curtain drive means connected to the solvent transfer means for continuously moving a fresh area of the curtain across the pick-up roller;
manually adjustable means connected to the solvent supply means operative to vary the interval during the forward and return runs of the carriage during which solvent is transferred to the applicator pad; and
, second control means responsive to the return of the carriage to its starting point effective to shut-off the drive therefor along with those for the curtain and pick-up roller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to an automatic self-propelled machine for stripping oil from bowling lanes which is characterized by a solvent applicator made of absorbant material that applies the oil-dissolving solvent to the lane surface, means for moving the applicator into engagement with the lane surface at predetermined points in the excursion of the stripper, a cam-actuated solvent supply system automatically operative to wet the applicator during a portion of its forward travel toward the pin deck and return trip to the foul line, a rotating residue pick-up roller for continuously picking up the liquid and solid residues from the surface of the lane during both forward and return excursions of the stripper, and a moving curtain wiper mechanism positioned between the applicator and residue pick-up roller in contact with the absorbant surface of the latter and preferably also with the lane surface effective during both the forward and return runs to remove the residues from the pick-up drum as it dries the lane. The invention also relates to a novel arrangement of drive rollers, support rollers and casters cooperating with one another and with the various mechanisms for applying the solvent and removing same that both guide the unit and insure treatment of the lane all the way from the foul line to the pin deck. In addition, the invention encompasses a control system including lane position sensing mechanisms which govern the movements of the stripper as well as its operating cycle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. In combination in an automatic bowling lane cleaning apparatus:
- a carriage;
a reversible drive mechanism housed within said carriage including a drive shaft and surface-engaging drive wheels mounted on said shaft operative to advance same along a predetermined course in a forward and reverse direction;
solvent applicator means including a wettable pad extending transversely of the carriage mounted for movement relative thereto between an operative position extended into lane-engaging relation and an inoperative position retracted up into the carriage;
solvent supply means including a solvent reservoir, a manifold positioned atop the wettable pad adapted to receive a charge of solvent and distribute same along the latter, and valve-controlled means interconnecting the reservoir and manifold operation upon actuation to control the delivery of solvent to the latter;
applicator pad shifting means connected to the applicator pad operative upon actuation and deactuation to extend and retract same;
first control means responsive to the position of the carriage along the lane during the forward run thereof to actuate the reversible drive means so as to commence the return run, and said first control means being effective upon completion of the forward run to act upon the shifting means in a manner to retract the applicator pad;
residue removal means including a pick-up roller having an absorbant surface in continuous side-to-side contact with the lane surface and drive means for rotating same, said roller being positioned and adapted to remove the solvent applied to the lane by the applicator pad during the forward run and both the solid and liquid residues remaining during the return run;
solvent transfer means including an absorbant curtain, supply and storage rollers so arranged relative to one another and to the pick-up roller as to remove at least a substantial proportion of the liquid residues removed thereby in advance of their being redeposited on the lane surface;
curtain drive means connected to the solvent transfer means for continuously moving a fresh area of the curtain across the pick-up roller;
manually adjustable means connected to the solvent supply means operative to vary the interval during the forward and return runs of the carriage during which solvent is transferred to the applicator pad; and
, second control means responsive to the return of the carriage to its starting point effective to shut-off the drive therefor along with those for the curtain and pick-up roller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a carriage;
Specification