Bowling Alley Pin Resetting Machine (Patent No: 533481)

Inventor: Scherzinger, Bruno (assignor)

Location: Calgary

Comments: N/A

Description: 533,481

Issued November 20, 1956

Bowling Alley Pin Resetting Machine

Bruno Scherzinger, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, assignor to Mechanical Pin Resetter Co., Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Application February 6, 1956. Serial No. 701,135 7 Claims

1. A pin holding mechanism for a bowling alley pin resetting machine, comprising a framework, pressure plate means mounted beneath said framework for exerting a downward pressure on the head of an upright pin to clamp said pin against horizontal displacement, a normally horizontal beam centrally freely pivotally mounted on said framework, a pair of depending pick-up levers respectively pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said beam about axes parallel to the pivotal axis at said beam, a pair of elongated clamping bars secured each to a lower part of a respective such pick-up lever to extend parallel to each other and to said axes, means for rotating said pick-up levers about said beam to move said clamping means downwardly and towards each other into firm engagement with the neck of said pin "to clamp the same against vertical displacement relatively to said pressure plate means, and means for locking said beam in whatever position it may occupy.

2. A pin holding mechanism for a bowling alley in resetting machine, comprising a framework, pressure plate means mounted beneath said framework for exerting a downward pressure on the head of an upright pin to clamp said pin against horizontal displacement, a normally horizontal beam centrally freely pivotally mounted on said framework, a brake disc co-axially secured to said beam, a pair of depending pick-up levers respectively generally centrally pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said beam about axes parallel to the pivotal axis of said beam, a pair of elongated clamping bars secured each to a lower part of a respective such pick-up lever to extend parallel to each other and to said axes, a pair of actuating levers respectively pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said framework, a pair of links connecting the free end of each said actuating lever to the upper arm of a respective one of said pick-up levers, brake shoe means secured to at least one of said actuating levers for co-operation with said brake disc, power operated means including a toggle mechanism for rotating said actuating levers in opposite directions to rotate said pick-up levers about said beam to move said clamping bars downwardly and towards each other into a position in which they are in firm engagement with aligned areas on opposite sides of the neck of said pin, said toggle mechanism being effective to lock said actuating levers in such position of the clamping bars and said brake shoe means being effective to prevent rotation of said brake disc in such position of the clamping bars.

6. A pin holding mechanism for a bowling alley pin resetting machine adapted to receive a pin falling from recharging apparatus, said mechanism comprising a framework, laterally movable supports mounted on said framework, means to urge said supports together, a pair of levers each pivotally mounted on one of said supports, the lower ends of said levers having inwardly projecting portions adapted to form seats for the pin and the upper ends of said levers having inwardly projecting fingers adapted to embrace the upper part of the pin and maintain the same erect, a pair of plates pivotally mounted on said framework and movable between an operable position in which said plates form an uninterrupted horizontal under-surface to said mechanism and a withdrawn position in which said plates are moved outwardly and away from one another to the sides of said framework, and means for urging apart said supports to move outwardly the pivotal points of the levers and for simultaneously moving said plates to their withdrawn position whereby to allow a pin to move downwardly onto the surface of the alley.

7. In a bowling alley pin resetting machine, a vertically movable carriage, a plurality of pin holding mechanism mounted on said carriage, each such pin holding mechanism comprising a framework, pressure plate means mounted on the lower part of said framework to form a horizontal under-surface therefor, a normally horizontal beam centrally freely pivotally mounted on said framework, a pair of depending pick-up levers respectively pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said beam about axes parallel to the pivotal axis of said beam, a pair of elongated clamping bars secured each to a lower part of a respective such pick-up lever to extend parallel to each other and to said axes, means for locking said beam in whatever position it may occupy, and timed operating means for first lowering said carriage to bring said pressure plate means into engagement with the head of a pin standing on the alley beneath said carriage to exert a downward pressure on said pin and clamp the same against horizontal displacement, then rotating said pick-up levers about said beam to move said clamping bars downwardly and towards each other and into firm engagement with the neck of said pin to clamp the same against vertical displacement relatively to said pressure plate means, then operating said beam locking means to prevent further tilting thereof, then elevating said carriage to permit an alley sweeping operation to take place, again lowering said carriage, releasing said beam locking means and effecting reverse rotation of said pick-up levers to move said clamping bars outwardly and upwardly to release said pin, and finally re-elevating said carriage to raise said pressure plate means out of contact with the head of said pin.