Bowling ball return and handling mechanism

April 23, 1963

J. ZUERCHER

3,086,776

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND HANDLING MECHANISM

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April 23, 1963

J. ZUERCHER

3,086,776

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND HANDLING MECHANISM

Filed Aug. 5, 1959

Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEY

United States Patent Office _Palented

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved ball actuated latch mechanism for use with doors mounted in the openings of the kickbacks in adjacent bowling alleys, the latch mechanisms being positioned in their associated doors to effectively prevent a pin from opening a door, insuring against pin and ball interference as a ball exits through one of the openings.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention as employed with two adjacent bowling alleys.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the door mechanism is shown mounted between two adjacent alleys and arranged to deliver balls from the pits Pl and P2 of these alleys for automatic delivery to a ball return runway common to the two alleys. The ball lifting and return mechanism illustrated in the drawings is of the same general type as described and claimed in Patent 2,765,172 to Zuercher et al. for Bowling Ball Handling and Return Mechanism. If desired, other types of ball return mechanisms can be used.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the doors or gates, designated generally 10, is shown mounted in an opening 12 formed in adjacent kickbacks or side plates 14 of pits Pl and P2 of two side-by-side bowling alleys. Doors 10 are preferably concave to facilitate handling of balls. However, if desired, doors 10 could be flat without affecting the operation described hereinbelow. Each door 10 is supported on a bracket 16 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 18. Shaft 18 is supported at its upper and lower extremities in bearing blocks 20, the lower bearing block 20 being supported on guide block 22 positioned in space S between side plates 14 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

Each bracket 16 is provided with an arcuate extension 24 adjacent the upper portion thereof. Pivotally mounted in the free end of extension 24 is a vertical pivot pin 26. Pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of pin 26 is one end of a link member 28. The free ends of each link member 28 associated with each door 10 are pivotally mounted in common together with one end of another link 30 on pin 32; thus forming a horizontal toggle joint. The other end of link 30 is secured to the upper end of a shaft 34 pivotally mounted in bracket 36 adjacent the mid-point thereof. Bracket 36, in turn, is mounted transversely in space S and secured at each end by brackets 38 to the inner face of each side plate 14.

To urge doors 10 into closed position in openings 12, each pin 26 associated with a door 10 is provided with a preferably U-shaped bracket 40 having a horizontal exten1

3,086,776

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND HANDLING MECHANISM

John Zuercher, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to American „ Machine &amp; Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey

Filed Aug. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 831,846

Claims. (Cl. 273—49)

This invention relates to bowling ball return and han- 10 dling mechanism and more particularly to apparatus for effecting the removal of bowling balls from the pit of a bowling alley and delivering them to a return mechanism for return to a player at the head end of a bowling alley. ¹⁵

In the game of bowling, it is most desirable to remove a ball delivered into the pit of a bowling alley as rapidly as possible therefrom to a ball return device for return to the player at the head end of the alley. The rapid removal of the ball decreases the amount of elapsed 20 time between successive deliveries of a ball by a player, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the game by the participants.

In many bowling establishments, it is customary to provide a common ball return for use with two adjacent 25 bowling alleys, the ball return being located between the two alleys. With this type of arrangement, when balls are delivered from the pits of the alleys to the return runway, it is desirable to control the delivery of the balls in order that they will not be removed or delivered 30 from both pits simultaneously and collide as they leave the pits.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of novel ball doors mounted in openings in the adjacent kickbacks of two side-by-side bowling alleys utilizing a 35 common toggle connection for preventing the simultaneous exiting of balls from adjacent pits. Further, each door is provided with a novel ball-actuated latch mechanism for unlocking a door to permit the exit of a ball therethrough. This latch mechanism is provided with 40 a freely rotatable locking element having a two-step locking action; the first step locks the door in partially open position when pins attempt to exit therethrough together with the ball, the second step releasing the door for complete opening when a ball only is exiting through the 45 opening in the kickback.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel ball release apparatus for effecting the removal of bowling balls from the pit of a bowling alley.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to 50 provide mechanism for removing bowling balls from the pits of two adjacent bowling alleys for delivery to a common ball return in which a toggle interlock ball door system is provided for preventing the simultaneous removal of bowling balls from the pits of the alleys to the 55 mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ball actuated latch mechanism for use with doors mounted in openings of the kickbacks in bowling alleys.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball actuated latch mechanism for use with doors mounted in openings of the kickbacks in bowling alleys operative to retain a door in partially opened position to· prevent the exiting of pins together with a ball through 65 the opening.

3,086,776 sion 42. The free end of each extension 42 supports one end of a tension spring 44, in the manner seen in FIGURE 3, which is operative to urge each door 10 through pin 26 and bracket 16 into closed position in openings 12 in side plates 14.

To maintain doors 10 in closed position in openings 12, each door 10 is provided with a latching mechanism. This latching mechanism includes a bumper 46 mounted in an elongated arcuate slot 48 in door 10 with a portion thereof extending through slot 48 to the pit-side of door 10. Bumper 46 is mounted in the lower end of arm 50 which, is swingably mounted at its upper end on shaft 52 carried between a pair of downwardly depending arms 54. Arms 54 are preferably formed as an integral part of hub 56 which is rotatably supported on a horizontal shaft 58. Shaft 58 is supported at one end in a suitable bearing in the upper portion of its associated door 10. The other end of shaft 58 is supported in a suitable bearing in arm 60 formed preferably as an extension of bracket 16, as shown best in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In operation, a ball is delivered into pit Pl or P2 onto conveyor Cl and C2, moving continuously therein toward the rear thereof. A ball thus delivered is guided by back stops B and ball guide strips G, extending transversely beneath conveyors Cl and C2 laterally of its respective pit Pl and P2 toward its associated side plate 14. Balls delivered to side plate 14 are seated in a notch 62 formed in bounce boards 64 located beneath conveyors Cl and C2 adjacent ball doors 10. The continuous movement of conveyors Cl and C2 is operative to rotate a ball against door 10. A ball so rotating against door 10 frictionally engages bumper 46 which is formed preferably of a material having a high coefficient of friction; such as rubber or other suitable material. Bumper 46 so engaged by a ball rotating thereagainst, is pivoted in the direction of arrow A (FIGURE 4). Such movement of bumper 46 in turn rotates arms 50 and 54 and hub 56.

However, during play if a bowling ball is delivered to door 10 at too great a speed to become properly seated in notch 62, such ball strikes bumper 46 which pivots about shaft 52, thus yielding with the ball and thereby preventing the ball from rebounding out of engagement therewith. Having thus dissipated the excess energy of the ball, spring 55 encircling an extension 53 of shaft 52 having one end 57 thereof bearing against an extension 51 of arm 50, is operative to return bumper 46 back into operative position in door 10. The other end 59 of spring 55 is positioned beneath a shoulder 61 formed in hub 56. Thus, spring 55 is operative to return bumper 46 to its operative position in door 10 and also assists in maintaining bumper 46 in frictional engagement with a ball delivered thereto.

Referring specifically now to FIGURES 4 and 5, hub 56 is provided at its upper end with a latch element 66, preferably formed integrally therewith, which, when door 10 has closed opening 12 is positioned adjacent the front or leading edge 63 of a pawl 68. Pawl 68 is rotatably mounted at one end on generally horizontal shaft 70, suitably supported at each end by a bracket 72 secured to the inner face of side plate 14 above opening 12. In addition, pawl 68 is provided with a transverse extension 74 which, when door 10 is in closed position and pawl 68 is in operative locking position with edge 63 adjacent element 66, bears against the top of one of the brackets 72 as shown in FIGURE 5. Extension 74 thus limits the downward rotation of pawl 68 about shaft 70.

As hub 56 is rotated as described hereinabove, latch member 66 is pivoted away from the leading edge 63 of pawl 68 thus permitting doors 10 to be swung under the weight of a ball bearing thereagainst inwardly in the direction of arrows B into space S (see FIGURE 2).

It will be understood that the latch mechanism detailed above greatly expedites ball removal from the pit of a bowling alley since a ball delivered to the ball door 10 can readily actuate latch element 66 by engaging bumper 46.

As a door 10 is thus rotated inwardly; for example, the lowermost door in FIGURE 2, extension 24 on bracket 16 is likewise pivoted inwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 2, to the position shown in dotted lines therein. This movement of extension 24 operates to urge the end of its associated link 28 in the direction of arrow C toward side plate 14. Such a movement of link 28 is operative to urge the other link 28 and link 30 in the direction of arrow D to the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. With one door 10 thus in open position, links 28 and 30 forming a horizontal toggle joint, in effect, move to an overcenter locked position, thereby preventing the opening of the other door 10 until the first door 10 has returned to a closed position, moving links 28 and 30 back into the position illustrated in full in FIGURE 2. Such an arrangement obviously prevents the simultaneous discharge of bowling balls from pits Pl and P2 into space S.

In addition, it will be understood that the movement of links 28 and 30 into over-center position, operates to extend spring 44 which thereby assists in maintaining the second door 10 in closed position until the first door 10 has returned to closed position.

A ball thus actuating the latch mechanism to open door 10 is free to pass through opening 12 onto guide block 22 for delivery to rails R of ball elevating mechanism M, for return on a ball return track (not shown) to the head end of the alley.

As a ball disengages door 10 as it passes onto guide block 22 and rails R, door 10 is urged back into closed position in opening 12 by the action of spring 44 as described hereinabove. It will be understood that as a ball passes out of engagement with bail door 10, bumper 46, arm 50 and hub 56 pivot under their own weight back to generally a vertical position with bumper 46 resting against a rib 17 of bracket 16. In this position, as door 10 is pivoted back to closed position, latch element 66 engages the underface of the inclined or cam section 69 of pawl 68, pivoting pawl 68 upwardly about shaft 70 thus permitting free passage of door 10 back to closed position. Pawl 68 then drops back to its original locking position shown in FIGURE 5 when latch member 66 is moved out of contact therewith as door 10 moves into opening 12.

Means is provided to prevent the exiting of a bowling pin through opening 12 together with a bowling ball. It is evident from the elevated position of bumper 46 in door 10 that only a ball can actuate the latch mechanism to effect the opening of door 10. However, as often happens, as door 10 is opened, as described hereinabove, a portion of a bowling pin lying in front of or in the way of a ball as it exits from the pit may precede the ball through opening 12. When this occurs, a wedging action occurs and such a bowling pin operates to urge the ball away from ball door 10, in order to exit first through opening 12. However, when a ball is thus moved out of engagement with bumper 46, bumper 46, hub 56 and latch element 66 attempt to return to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 with bumper 46 adjacent rib 17. However, the latch mechanism is prevented from so returning since an edge 65 of latch element 66 engages edge 67 of pawl 68. In this partially-rotated position, with edge 65 thereof in contact with edge 67 of pawl 68, latch element 66 is engaged by shoulder 71 formed in pawl 68. The engagement of latch element 66 by shoulder 71 thus prevents further opening of door 19 in the direction of arrow B, FIGURE 2. Thus ball door 10 is retained in partially open position until the bowling pin attempting to exit through opening 12 has been moved by its associated conveyor Cl or C2 around the bowling ball and back into its respective pit Pl or P2, thus substantially minimizing pin and ball interference at the ball exits. The bowling ball, now free to reengage bumper 46, pivots bumper 46 and latch element

3,086,776 to its fully-open position described hereinabove, moving edge 65 out of contact with edge 67 and urging latch member 66 away from shoulder 71. This permits ball door 16 under the urging of a bowling ball to move to fully opened position allowing the ball to exit through opening 12 into space S for elevation by mechanism M to the ball return track (not shown) for return to a player at the head end of the alley.

It will be understood that the above described construction and operation has been limited to a single door in the interests of brevity. However, the construction and operation of the other door of a pair of side-by-side installations is of like construction and operates in like manner.