Field of invention

The invention generally relates to bowling games. It more precisely relates to bowling string machines that include a pinsetter for automatically picking up and setting down the pins.

State of the art

Automated string pinsetters for resetting pins are commonly used.

The existing systems operate on high voltage, i.e. 1 10 V or higher, require a relatively high power and may be harmful to the human body.

US patent 4,592,548 discloses a bowling string machine having a control circuit operating with low voltage. The motor circuit is however operated under high voltage.

General description of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to provide a safer bowling string machine, which, in addition, requires less power than existing machines.

This object is achieved with the pinsetter according to the invention which comprises a frame, a carriage mounted to slide within said frame, a set of pins connected with strings to said carriage, a frame motor for vertically moving said frame, a carriage motor for horizontally moving said carriage and string holders for individually holding or releasing said strings, a control circuitry and a motor circuitry, wherein said motors are DC motors and wherein said string holders, said control circuitry and said motor circuitry operate under low voltage.

In the present document « low voltage » has to be understood as a value which is less than the AC voltage from the grid, usually 1 10 V, 220 V or 380 V.

The pinsetter according to the invention may be advantageously used with a DC voltage of 24 V. In one embodiment the pinsetter comprises a logic board that is adapted to receive a high voltage current, such as 1 10 VAC, 200 VAC or 380 VAC, and convert it into a low DC voltage and wherein the DC motors are supplied by cables, directly from the logic board. Each string holder is designed in a way as to be electrically connected to the scoring unit of the bowling machine. Depending on the score, i.e. if the pin associated to the string holder is up or down, the string holder is either activated or deactivated, in order to either clamp or release the string, and therefore retain or release the pin movement.

In one preferred embodiment the string holder comprises an actuator and a box that includes a passage through which one string may slide. In this configuration the actuator is adapted to either hold (active mode) or release (passive mode) a string within said passage.

The actuator may advantageously be a solenoid actuator linked to a clamping element which, in active mode, is adapted to clamp a string within the passage.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is discussed below in a more detailed way with examples illustrated by the following figures:

Figure 1 shows a pinsetter for a string bowling machine

Figure 2 is an example of two pinsetters according to the invention

Figure 3 illustrates an example of an incomplete pinsetter according to the invention

Figure 4 shows the pinsetter of figure 3 from an opposite side

Figure 5 represents an example of a row of string holders according to the invention Figure 6 shows some string holders of figure 5, with their associated strings Figure 7 is another view of some string holders of figure 6

Figure 8 shows one string holder

Figure 9 is a transparent view of the string holder of figure 8

Figure 10 is an internal representation of the string holder of figures 8 and 9.

Numerical references used in the figures

1 . Pinsetter

2. Frame

3. Carriage

4. Frame motor

5. Carriage motor

6. String holder

7. Pin

8. String

9. Logic board

10. Carriage motor cable

1 1 . Frame motor cable

12. Actuator

13. Box

14. Passage

15. . Actuator arm

16. . Clamping element

17. . Activator signal cable

18 . Pin deck

19 . Gear belt

20 . Rotating shaft

21 . Guide

22 . Power board

23 .Wheel Figure 1 represents a pinsetter 1 which may be used with the present invention. It comprises a frame 2, a carriage 3 (see also figures 3 and 4) that may slide within the frame 2. A set pins 7 is positioned on a pin deck 18. The head of each pin 7 is fixed to a string 8 end, the other string 8 end being fixed to the carriage 3. As it can be seen on figure 2 a frame motor 4 is used for moving the frame 2 along a vertical direction and a carriage motor 3 is used for moving the carriage 3 along an horizontal direction. The movements generated by the motors 4,5 allow a proper repositioning of the pins 7 on the Pin deck 18.

A logic board 9 receive a high voltage from the grid and convert it into a low DC voltage which is then supplied to the motors 4,5 through cables 10,1 1 .

The complete pinsetter 1 is therefore working with a low voltage.

The carriage motor 5 is located on a side of the frame 2. It is mechanically linked to the carriage 3 is by means of a mechanism comprising a rotating shaft 20 and least one gear belt 19.

Preferably two gear belts 19 located on each side of the frame 2 are used . This ensures an identical movement on both sides of the carriage 3. The frame 2 is designed robust enough to hold the complete accessories, and at the same time light enough to ease the transport and installation process.

The upper face of the carriage 3 is provided with a series of parallel guides 21 that separate and isolate the strings. Such a configuration avoids any string tangling .

The pinsetter 1 shown in this example contains two electronic boards that supply the machine, namely a power board 22 and the logic board 9 that has been already discussed previously. The power board 22 preferably provides 24VDC for the loads to be run. At the same time it serially communicates with the logic board 9.

The logic board 9 manages the actual status of the machine mechanics by the help of the sensors placed on the machine (not illustrated). The sensor inputs are evaluated in the logic board, 9 to decide the next status of the loads.

The logic board 9 may also consider which loads will be active and which will be in OFF-state. All electrical motors on the machine are preferably working on 24VDC.

One of the most important advantages of the low voltage DC supply is that the cables 10, 11 supplying the power to the electrical motors 4,5 are at low voltage. This secures the protection for technicians' and customers' health all the time.

The low voltage usage is therefore very important for the protection and safety of the people who may touch the metal body frames of the machine. The string holders 6 (see figures 5 to 10) ensure the correct number of pins 7 to be set on the pin deck 18. On figure 5 one pin 7 and one associated string 8 are schematically illustrated .

Each string holder 6 may clamp a string 8, and block therefore the related pin 7 which should stay up during the carriage 3 movement, or releases the strings 7/pins 8 that should be set down and vice a versa.

A string holder 6 is releasing or blocking the string 8 that crosses it, so that the pin 7 will make the required movement, or just stay blocked in position. More precisely a string holder comprises a box 13 containing a passage 14 through which a string 8 may slide. The box interior contains a wheel 23 and a rotating clamping element 16. An actuator, preferably a solenoid actuator 6, is mechanically linked to the clamping element by means of a rotating arm 15.

The actuators 1 receive a signal from the display unit (not shown) through an activator signal cable 17. When the signal is turned ON, the actuator arm 15 generates a rotation of the rotating arm 15, which then activates the clamping element 16. The string 8 is blocked, which results in a pin 7/string 8 movements when the carriage 3 is moved .

The invention is of course not limited to the examples and figures shown in this document.