Economical bowling control system

• US 4,592,548 A
• Filed: 11/20/1984
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russell K. Oldson
• Original Assignee: Russell K. Oldson
• Inventors: Oldson, Russell K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oechsle, Anton O.
• Application Number:
  US06/673,413
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 273/43 R, 273/43 A, 273/54 R, 318/484, 361/23
• US Class Current: 473/66
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/08 Arrangements for setting-up or taking away pins

Abstract

A simplified, low voltage control circuit operates the motor for a pinsetter intermittently, instead of having the motor operate continuously. The low voltage system is mounted in the existing electrical control box for the pinsetter. The control circuit includes the relay for turning the high voltage motor circuit on or off, and a low voltage input electromagnet coil for the relay. To operate the motor control relay, circuitry is coupled to the existing 24 volt (low voltage) circuit of the pinsetter, and the control circuit includes a switch coupled to the clutch between the motor and the pinspotter mechanism, and a second switch which is coupled to the deck filler mechanism to indicate when the pinspotter deck is full. In addition, a delay circuit is provided to maintain the relay energized and the motor turned on, for a brief period of time until the system completes its cycle after an indication is given that the pinspotter deck is full. An additional bypass switch is provided to energize the relay and turn the motor on regardless of the state of the clutch or the deck.

Claims

1. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system for addition to an original installation bowling alley pin-setter wherein the pin-setter includes:

(a) a pinspotter mechanism including a deck for holding bowling pins;

(b) deck filler means for supplying bowling pins to said deck;

(c) motor means for operating said pinspotter mechanism and for driving said deck filler;

(d) clutch means for selectively coupling said motor means to said pinspotter mechanism; and

(e) a pin-setter electrical box including both low voltage control circuitry, and high voltage circuitry for energizing said motor means;

wherein the improvement comprises;

relay means mounted in said original installation pinsetter electrical box, said relay means including output terminals included in said high voltage circutiry for turning said motor means on and off, and a low voltage input circuit for operating said relay means;

first switch means coupled for operation by said clutch means to operate said relay means from said low voltage control circuitry to turn said motor on when said clutch is actuated;

second switch means coupled to indicate when the deck filler means has filled said deck with bowling pins, for maintaining said relay means energized from said low voltage control circuitry to keep said motor means running unril said deck is full;

circuit means for coupling said switches to said low voltage control circuitry;

means mounted in said original installation pin-setter electrical box for delaying the operation of said relay following operation of said second switch means to continue operation of said motor for a few seconds to complete the cycle of operation of the system;

said low voltage control circuitry being energized with AC voltage, and rectifier means coupled between said low voltage control circuitry and said relay means; and

said delaying means including at least one capacitor and resistor means for supplying current to said input circuit to said relay means from said capacitor after said switch means have opened;

whereby intermittent, energy saving operation of said motor means is achieved by the addition of a few inexpensive low voltage components included within the original installation pinsetter electrical box.

2. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first switch means is a microswitch including an arm mounted for actuation by a mechanical linkage as said clutch is operated.

3. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second switch means is a mercury switch, and means are provided for mounting it for rotation and selective operation when said deck is filled.

4. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system as defined in claim 1 further comprising manual bypass switch means connected in parallel with said first and second switch means for actuating said relay means and operating said motor, independently of the state of said clutch means and said deck filler means.

5. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system as defined in claim 1 further comprising antisparking circuit means coupled to the input to said motor to assist in preventing motor burn-out as said motor is turned on and off.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 further including manually operable switch means connected across the output terminals of said relay, whereby said motor means may be manually operated regardless of the state of the remainder of the system.

7. A simplified, low voltage control circuit and system for addition to an original installation bowling alley pin-setter wherein the pin-setter includes:

(a) a pinspotter mechanism including a deck for holding bowling pins;

(b) deck filler means for supplying bowling pins to said deck;

(c) motor means for operating said pinspotter mechanism and for driving said deck filler;

(d) clutch means for selectively coupling said motor means to said pinspotter mechanism; and

(e) a pin-setter electrical box including both low voltage control circuitry, and high voltage circuitry for energizing said motor means;

wherein the improvement consists essentially of the following;

relay means mounted in said electrical box, said relay means including output terminals included in said high voltage circuitry for turning said motor means on and off, and a low voltage input circuit for operating said relay means;

first switch means coupled for operation by said clutch means to operate said relay means from said low voltage control circuitry to turn said motor on when said clutch is actuated;

second switch means coupled to indicate when the deck filler means has filled said deck with bowling pins, for maintaining said relay means energized from said low voltage control circuitry to keep said motor means running until said deck is full;

circuit means for coupling said switches to said low voltage control circuitry;

means included in the original installation pin-setter electrical box for delaying the operation of said relay following operation of said second switch means to continue operation of said motor for a few seconds to complete the cycle of operation of the system;

said low voltage control circuitry being energized with AC voltage, and rectifier means coupled between said low voltage control circuitry and said relay means; and

said delaying means including at least one capacitor and resistor means for supplying current to said input circuit to said relay means from said capacitor after said switch means have opened;

whereby intermittent, energy saving operation of said motor means is achieved by the addition of a few inexpensive low voltage components.