PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A BOWLING MACHINE

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a guard for a bowling machine, where the bowling machine is provided at a second end of a bowling alley and intended for collecting a number of play objects, preferably a bowling ball and a number of pins, and wherein the bowling machine is provided with one or more mechanical means and at least one control unit for arranging the play objects at predetermined positions close to the first and second ends of the bowling alley, where the bowling machine is provided with a play guard at the part of the bowling machine facing the bowling alley, where the play guard is provided with a play opening for passage of a bowling ball.

Background of the Invention

Bowling is most often played in bowling halls where a number of parallel bowling alley provide for the player to roll the bowling ball from a first end of the bowling al- ley against an array of a number of pins at the second end of the bowling alley. At this second end of each bowling alley there is provided a bowling machine which is adapted to receive bowling balls and bowling pins and to bring these play objects into position for every new shot by the bowling player. Bowling pins are collected and via a transport mechanism brought to an elevating/lowering frame with pin grippers, whereby the pins can be disposed at the second end of the bowling alley. Bowling balls are collected and via a conveyor belt brought back to a depot near the player at the first end of the bowling alley.

Bowling machines are thus typically arranged side-by-side in bowling halls in order thereby to serve each their bowling alley. The bowling machines are most often disposed in an elongated, narrow compartment where there is only very little space around the bowling machine.

If during operation a bowling machine makes an unplanned stop and is to be in- spected, it is therefore necessary that the operator inspecting the bowling machine has to pass close behind or across a number of bowling machines, which most often are in use.

Such a passage across a bowling machine during operation is a great hazard to the operators, since they by an erratic movement may fall down into the bowling machine with ensuing risk to life and use of the limbs.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an operationally friendly guard in a bowling machine as well as a method for operating the guard, which safeguards the operator against the danger associated with passing a number of operating bowling machines.

Description of the Invention

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a guard of the type mentioned in the introduction which is peculiar in that the guard, which partly or entirely encloses the mechanical means of the bowling machine, is provided with at least one mechanical means for disposing the guard in an open position and a closed position, respectively, and that in the closed position, the guard is arranged above the bowling machine and along its extension, preferably along the horizontal extension of the entire bowling machine.

Hereby is achieved that the operator may pass across one or more bowling machines during operation without risking falling down into a such. This may e.g. be in order to reach a bowling machine which is to be serviced after an unplanned interruption, while bowling is played on one or more of the remaining bowling alleys. At the same time it is achieved that the guard can be opened by mechanical means when the bowling machine is to be serviced, thus facilitating the servicing work for the operator.

In a preferred embodiment, in the closed position the guard may furthermore be provided with a complete or partial shielding of the sides of the bowling machine, preferably the sides facing away from the play guard.

By a shield or guard of the sides of the bowling machine, the operator is further safeguarded against life and mobility hazards in that the operator e.g. does not risk getting his limbs jammed in an operating bowling machine, if the operator accidentally should slide down between the upper guard of two bowling machines and into the side of the

bowling machine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the guard is provided with an opening switch for stopping the operation of the bowling machine by changing the position of the guard from the closed position to an open position.

That the bowling machine is stopped automatically if the guard is changed from the safe closed position is an efficient safeguard against the risk of the operator getting dangerously close to a bowling machine in operation. Advantageously, it may be the main power supply to the entire individual bowling machine which is interrupted. Thereby the risk that possible fault current keeps the machine operating is avoided, and at the same time stopping of other close-lying bowling alleys during maintenance of a single bowling machine is avoided as well.

By a further variant of the invention, an opening switch may be an electric switch, e.g. of the magnetic switch type, which by pulling out a magnet from the switch causes interruption of electric current through the switch.

An electric switch provides a simple and reliable method of interrupting the current since by the arranging of the control unit for the bowling machine an electric circuit can be designed so it has to be connected in order for the bowling machine to operate.

The electric switch can be made in all prior art variants of a such, as the specific design of the guard is adapted to the selected electric switch. Examples may be a press button with spring, toggle switch with spring, photo cell, moving sensor or fork switch. It may also be a switch of the magnetic switch type where interruption of the power occurs as soon as two magnets in the switch are not disposed in the basic position opposite each other, as one magnet is lifted up together with the guard. Correspondingly, power is switched on when the magnet is disposed correctly in the switch again. By coding there is provided for the magnet switch not being actuated by commonly occurring magnets. The latter design of the switch will provide great safety against faulty operation, as it is a simple mechanical solution without any springs or other delicate mechanics which tend to have shorter service life on mechanical parts.

The electric switch may e.g. be built into the guard itself or be integrated in the mechanical means for disposing the guard in open position and closed position, respectively.

In a particularly preferred variant, the guard is capable of carrying a point load corresponding to the weight of at least one person.

By making the guard with sufficient carrying ability it is achieved that the operator has great freedom of movement in his moving across bowling machines in operation, and he does not have to tread any specific places. At the same time it is avoided that the guard is deformed if the operator falls.

A further variant of the invention may be that the guard is a grate, preferably a metal grate.

This design with a grate ensures that the guard is a lightweight construction with great strength. Furthermore, a design in metal may provide further options for special adaptation of the guard, as various metal fittings, flat irons, plates or adjacent metal gratings may be welded on for providing additional shielding.

In a special embodiment, the mechanical means for placing the guard of the bowling machine in open position may be at least one actuator, e.g. a number of gas springs.

With the aid of mechanical means in the shape of one or more actuator, such a pneu- matic springs, for opening the guard, it is achieved that the operator does not have to lift a guard when he is to get access to a bowling machine to be serviced. The design options for the guard are thereby increased, as the guard does not have to comply with a maximum weight corresponding to what one operator is allowed to lift according to the existing rules for the work environment. Instead, by designing heavy guards the number of actuators required for lifting the guard concerned may be added. Moreover, an operation-friendly opening of the guard is achieved.

Applicable to a particularly preferred embodiment and method, in the closed position

the guard is retained by a holding mechanism adapted for single-handed operation of the holding mechanism, where an operator inspecting a bowling machine opens the guard by a single-handedly switching off the holding mechanism, whereby an opening switch stops operation of the bowling machine, and where the guard is brought to open position by at least one actuator.

If using this embodiment and method, there may be achieved a very operation-friendly handling of the guard, as the operator can open the guard with one hand. The retaining mechanism with single-handed operation can be designed according to various known principles, particularly by methods known from door handles, door locks, window handles and furniture, such as kitchen drawers. Examples of these may be turn-handles with pawl, cremone handle, fixed handle with magnetic retention, sliding bolt.

The guard may furthermore be provided with a lock preventing unauthorised persons from accessing the guarded bowling machine. Hereby is achieved great certainty that only staff instructed in the handling of bowling machines will have access to the latter.

Description of the Drawing

In the following, the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shown a plan view of a bowling hall with bowling machines; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through three bowling machines.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

On Fig. 1 is shown part of a bowling hall 1 with three bowling alleys 2. Each bowling alley 2 has a first end 3 and a second end 4, where a bowling machine 5 is provided at each bowling alley 2 for collecting a bowling ball 6 and a number of bowling pins 7 at the second end 4 of the bowling alley 2. The bowling machine 5 is equipped with me- chanical means 8 and a control unit 9 for arranging bowling ball 6 and a number of bowling pins 4 at predetermined positions 10, 11 close to the first end 3 and second end 4 of the bowling alley. The mechanical means 8 may thus be with a number of gripping arms that may grip about the upper end of the pins 7 and lift them, such that a

bar can be moved under the elevated pins 7 for removing possible overturned pins. The same mechanical means may supply new bowling pins 7 for array before a new round of the play. Moreover, the mechanical means 8 of the bowling machines 5 may include a collecting unit and a conveyor that may bring the bowling ball 6 back from the second end 4 of the bowling alley to the first end 3 of the bowling alley.

The bowling machines 5 are shown with a play guard 12 on the part of the bowling machine 5 facing the bowling alley.

The bowling machine 5 and its mechanical means 8 are entirely or partly enclosed by a guard 13 arranged over the bowling machine 5 and along the entire horizontal length of the bowling machine 5.

As a further safeguard, the bowling machine 5 can be equipped with a safety system 25 at the part of the play guard 12 facing the bowling alley 2. The safety system has the purpose of safeguarding that the bowling machine 5 stops if persons or objects larger than a bowling ball 6 come close to the play guard 12. The safety system 25 may of any kind of sensors for identifying objects or persons in the vicinity of the sensor. The safety system 25 may thus consist of one or more photo cells 26 with associ- ated components 27.

If something is detected by the sensors during operation, the safety system 25 may be adapted such that the main power supply to the machine 5 concerned is interrupted. Alternatively, a bowling machine 5 of one or more of the closest-lying bowling alleys 2 may also have their main power supply interrupted, possibly in that a photo cell 26 with associated components 27 covers the area in front of two or more play guards 12.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of three bowling machines 5 provided with a guard 13 partly enclosing the upper part 14 of the bowling machines and shown in closed posi- tion. The right bowling machine 5' is shown with bowling ball 6 and three bowling pins 7, and furthermore with a gas spring 15 for disposing the guard 13 in open position (not shown). The gas spring is mounted on the guard 13 and a fixed frame 16, which may be part of the bowling machine 5 or an immovable part of the guard 13.

The guard is held in closed position by a sliding bolt with a spring lock 17 and it is also provided with an opening switch 18 coupled to the control unit 9 of the bowling machine 5.

The guard 13 on the bowling machine 5' is provided with a movable side guard 19 connected with the guard 13 by a hinge 20. By moving the guard 13 from open to closed position, the movable side guard 19 will pivot as a consequence of the closing movement, why there is shown a V-shaped closing device 21 which can receive movable side guard 19 during the closing movement, and with a slit at the bottom 22 of the V-shaped closing device 21 it may function as retainer in the closed position of the guard 13.

Between the bowling machines 5 is shown a staircase 23 by which an operator, after easy passage across the guard 13 over the bowling machines 5, has easy access to the lower parts 24 of the bowling machines 5 and may thus collect possible foreign objects which accidentally may have been thrown into the bowling machine 5.