Apparatus for selectively metering dressing onto a bowling lane surface

• US 5,629,049 A
• Filed: 03/18/1996
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: QubicaAMF Worldwide LLC
• Original Assignee: AMF Bowling Centers Incorporated (AMF Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald L., Feldman, Leonid, Caffrey, Stephen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Shrive
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAIORANA, DAVID MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/618,255
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 427/428, 427/429, 15/98
• US Class Current: 427/429
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/10 Apparatus for cleaning balls, pins, or alleys

Abstract

An apparatus applies dressing fluid to a bowling lane surface in a discrete pattern laterally across a plurality of zones on the bowling lane. A carriage, for movement along a bowling lane, has an applicator mounted thereon for applying the dressing fluid to the bowling lane surface. Dressing fluid is supplied from a reservoir by means off a plurality of pulse valves which supply the dressing fluid to a plurality of fluid dispersion chambers, each having an inlet connected to one of the pulse valves and having an outlet positioned to apply dressing fluid to the applicator. The outlet has a width equal to the width of one of the zones. A controller is provided for selectively activating each of the pulse valves to discharge a discrete amount of fluid dressing into each dispersion chamber. Each zone may be the width of one board across the bowling alley so that different discrete amounts of oil can be applied to each board. A method is provided to supply discrete amounts of bowling lane dressing to each of a plurality of zones wherein each zone is one board width or portion of a board width.

Claims

1. A method of applying lane dressing to the boards of a bowling alley, said method comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of bowling lane dressing to be applied on the bowling alley;

placing an applicator across the bowling alley for applying the lane dressing directly to the bowling alley;

locating a plurality of dispersion chambers, each having a corresponding slit opening across the applicator;

providing at least one reservoir for storing lane dressing;

supplying a predetermined discrete amount of lane dressing into each dispersion chamber from the at least one reservoir; and

discharging the lane dressing from said slits directly onto the applicator; and

applying the lane dressing from the applicator to the boards of the bowling alley.

2. The method, claimed in claim 1 wherein said discharging step further includes:

applying a different amount of bowling lane dressing to each board across the bowling alley.

3. A method of applying lane dressing to the boards of a bowling alley, said method comprising the steps of:

placing an applicator across the bowling alley;

locating plurality of dispersion chambers, each having a corresponding slit opening, across the applicator;

providing at least one reservoir for storing lane dressing;

positioning the dispersion chambers to apply a predetermined discrete amount of lane dressing to corresponding selected portions of the applicator;

supplying the predetermined discrete mount of lane dressing into each dispersion chamber from the at least one reservoir; and

discharging the lane dressing from the slits directly onto the applicator; and

applying the lane dressing from the applicator to the boards of the bowling alley.

4. The method, claimed in claim 3, further including the step of:

causing each dispersion chamber to introduce a selected quantity of lane dressing independent of or in tandem with the other dispersion chambers.

5. A method of applying lane dressing to the boards of a bowling lane by a bowling lane maintenace machine as it travels along the length of the bowling lane, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of lane, dressing dispersion means for discrete and variable volumetric controlled application of lane dressing to the applicator as the bowling lane maintenance machine travels along the bowling lane; and

activating the plurality of lane dressing dispersion means to apply lane dressing according to a desired lane dressing pattern, the activation of the dispersion means occuring repeatedly along a predetermined distance along the length of the bowling lane as the bowling lane maintenance machines moves along the bowling lane.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, further including the step of:

applying the desired lane dressing pattern in mounts of lane dressing which vary laterally across at least each board of the bowling lane and longitudinally along the bowling lane a desired distance.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5, further including the steps of:

providing a plurality of dispersion chambers corresponding to said dispersion means;

supplying a predetermined discrete mount of lane dressing into each dispersion chamber from a corresponding one of said dispersion means; and

discharging the lane dressing in each dispersion chamber onto an applicator for application to the bowling lane.