Returned bowling ball lifting apparatus
First Claim
1. Return bowling ball lifting apparatus, for combination with a bowling ball return race or track (2) in which bowling balls (3) are moved towards a playing position (100),said apparatus includinga support frame (4)a ball lift mechanism (6) havingan elongated frame (18, 20, 21),a pair of rollers (7, 8) positioned on the frame adjacent the end positions thereof,belt means (9) engageable with a bowling ball (3) to be lifted from the race (2) to an elevated position (100), looped about the rollers (7, 8),a latch lever (22) and a movable latch (32),and comprising,feeler means (30, 62, 130) extending into the path of the bowling ball (3) on the race (20 and sensing presence of the ball (3) at a predetermined unusual position on the race;
- means (38;
132, 132a) for coupling the latch (32) to the feeler means (30, 62,
130) for unlatching movement of the latch lever upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined, unusual position;
means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32, 38;
66, 68, 70-98,
38) for permitting moving the entire ball lift mechanism from a first, or normal position in which the lowermost point of the lower roller (7) of the pair (7,
8) is clear of a ball passing therebeneath, to a second or lower position,said moving means being coupled to and controlled by the feeler means and operative to effect said movement upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined position on the race and thereby engage the ball and lift the ball,said moving means includinglink means (10, 12,
13) pivotably and linkably retaining the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) on the support frame for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis (23);
a support arm (28) attached to the moving means for the ball lift frame (18);
an adjustable fixed abutment (26) secured to the support frame (4), the support arm being engageable with the fixed abutment (26) and forming a fulcrum point for pivoting movement of the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) upon movement of the ball lift mechanism (6) from the second position to said first, or normal position;
the elongated frame, and the ball race, in a rising portion (19) of the ball race narrowing in an upward direction, a ball between the frame and the race pivoting the elongated lift mechanism frame about said fulcrum point and moving the ball lift mechanism frame into the normal position for retention thereof by said latch upon engagement with the latch lever (22);
and reset means (26,
28) coupled to the ball lift mechanism (6) to return the ball lift mechanism to said first or normal position upon lifting of the ball beyond a predetermined level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In bowling establishments, the bowling balls being returned on a ball return race must be lifted to a higher level in the vicinity of the player'"'"'s position. This is effected by means of a belt drive, which is seated on a pivotable ball lift mechanism (6). If a ball (3) is not engaged by the belt (9), a feeler causes the arm (12) of the pivotable mechanism (6) to be lowered, as a result of which the ball is engaged by the belt (9) and is transported obliquely upward along the return race (2). As a result of this upward movement of the ball (3), the pivotable ball lift mechanism (6) is pivoted in the direction of the arrow A and the latch arm (22) again locks into place behind the latch (32), so that the pivotable ball lift mechanism (6) subsequently assumes its normal position. The operational reliability of the apparatus is thereby increased, because even balls (3) rolling quite closely to one another are lifted with assurance to the proper level.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Return bowling ball lifting apparatus, for combination with a bowling ball return race or track (2) in which bowling balls (3) are moved towards a playing position (100),
said apparatus including a support frame (4) a ball lift mechanism (6) having an elongated frame (18, 20, 21), a pair of rollers (7, 8) positioned on the frame adjacent the end positions thereof, belt means (9) engageable with a bowling ball (3) to be lifted from the race (2) to an elevated position (100), looped about the rollers (7, 8), a latch lever (22) and a movable latch (32), and comprising, feeler means (30, 62, 130) extending into the path of the bowling ball (3) on the race (20 and sensing presence of the ball (3) at a predetermined unusual position on the race; -
means (38;
132, 132a) for coupling the latch (32) to the feeler means (30, 62,
130) for unlatching movement of the latch lever upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined, unusual position;means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32, 38;
66, 68, 70-98,
38) for permitting moving the entire ball lift mechanism from a first, or normal position in which the lowermost point of the lower roller (7) of the pair (7,
8) is clear of a ball passing therebeneath, to a second or lower position,said moving means being coupled to and controlled by the feeler means and operative to effect said movement upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined position on the race and thereby engage the ball and lift the ball, said moving means including link means (10, 12,
13) pivotably and linkably retaining the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) on the support frame for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis (23);
a support arm (28) attached to the moving means for the ball lift frame (18);an adjustable fixed abutment (26) secured to the support frame (4), the support arm being engageable with the fixed abutment (26) and forming a fulcrum point for pivoting movement of the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) upon movement of the ball lift mechanism (6) from the second position to said first, or normal position;the elongated frame, and the ball race, in a rising portion (19) of the ball race narrowing in an upward direction, a ball between the frame and the race pivoting the elongated lift mechanism frame about said fulcrum point and moving the ball lift mechanism frame into the normal position for retention thereof by said latch upon engagement with the latch lever (22); and reset means (26,
28) coupled to the ball lift mechanism (6) to return the ball lift mechanism to said first or normal position upon lifting of the ball beyond a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Return bowling ball lifting apparatus, for combination with a bowling ball return race or track (2) in which bowling balls (3) are moved towards a playing position (100),
said apparatus including a ball lift mechanism (6) having an elongated frame (18, 20, 21), a pair of rollers (7, 8) positioned on the frame adjacent the end positions thereof, belt means (9) engageable with a bowling ball (3) to be lifted from the race (20) to an elevated position (100), looped about the rollers (7, 8); -
and comprising, feeler means (30, 62,
130) extending into the path of the bowling ball (3) on the race (2) and sensing presence of the ball (3) at a predetermined unusual position on the race,wherein the feeler means comprises a feeler lever (30) positioned to be engaged by a ball, the feeler lever being mounted for free pivoting movement upon engagement with a ball operating in ball supplying direction (L), the feeler lever being actuated by the ball when the ball is running on the race or track (2) in reverse direction (P), and actuating the feeler for operating the ball lift mechanism moving means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32,
38),means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32, 38;
66, 68, 70-98,
38) for permitting moving the entire ball lift mechanism from a first, or normal position in which the lowermost point of the lower roller (7) of the pair (7,
8) is clear of a ball passing therebeneath to a second or lower position,said moving means being coupled to and controlled by the feeler means and operative to effect said movement upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined position on the race and thereby engage the ball and lift the ball; and reset means (26,
28) coupled to the ball lift mechanism (6) to return the ball lift mechanism to said first or normal position upon lifting of the ball beyond a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. In a bowling alley having a bowling ball return race or track (29 in which bowling balls (3) are moved towards the player'"'"'s position, said return race or track (2) for the ball having a rising part,
a return bowling ball lifting apparatus installed at the player'"'"'s position including a support frame (4) a ball lift mechanism (6) having an elongated frame (18, 20, 21), a pair of rollers (7, 8) positioned on the frame adjacent the end positions thereof belt means (9) engageable with a bowling ball (3) to be lifted from the race (2) to an elevated position (100), looped about the rollers (7, 8) and comprising, feeler means (30, 62, 130) extending into the path of the bowling ball (3) on the race (2) and sensing presence of the ball (30) at a predetermined unusual position on the race, including a feeler lever positioned in interfering relation with the movement of the ball (30) when the ball moves in a direction (P) contrary to supplying or running direction (L) thereof, means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32, 38; - 66, 68, 70-98,
38) for permitting moving the entire ball lift mechanism from a first, or normal position in which the lowermost point of the lower roller (7) of the pair (7,
8) is clear of a ball passing therebeneath, to a second or lower position, said moving means being coupled to and controlled by the feeler means and operative to effect said movement upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined position on the race and thereby engage the ball and lift the ball,link means (10, 12,
13) pivotably and longitudinally movably mounting said lifting mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) on the apparatus support frame (4) in position for pivotal movement of the lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) by the ball being lifted thereby and automatic operation of the rest means (26,
28) as the lift mechanism frame (18, 20,
21) is pivoted by the ball being transported along a rising path (19) of the race (2),a latch lever (22) and a movable latch (32), and means (38;
132, 132a) for coupling the latch (32) to the feeler means (30, 62,
130) for unlatching movement of the latch lever upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined, unusual position, and reset means (26,
28) coupled to the ball lift mechanism (6) to return the ball lift mechanism to said first or normal position upon lifting of the ball beyond a predetermined level.
- 66, 68, 70-98,
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15. Apparatus according to clain 14, including a time delay mechanism (66-98;
- 38) interposed between the feeler lever and the ball lift mechanism moving means.
Specification