Bowling pin orientation device for orienting falling bowling pins in a bowling pin conveyor system

A bowling pin orientation device for orienting to a single axial orientation bowling pins of the type having a relatively heavy base portion and a relatively light neck portion comprising:

• a substantially horizontal shelf;
• means for horizontally sliding bowling pins axially from said shelf with a selected one of a neck-first orientation and a base-first orientation;
• a pan disposed beneath said shelf for receiving bowling pins sliding from said shelf, said pan having a downwardly angled trough having an upper end and a lower end and said trough being disposed generally perpendicularly with respect to axial orientations of bowling pins sliding from said shelf;
• and
• an arm having a first end, a second end and a smooth surface therebetween for carrying the neck portion of a bowling pin slidingly therealong, said first end of said arm being connected to said upper end of said trough of said pan and said arm extending downwardly and away from said shelf across said trough such that a neck portion of a bowling pin sliding from said shelf in a neck-first orientation will be received on said surface of said arm and slide downwardly therealong allowing a bowling pin falling from said shelf in a neck-first orientation to fall into said trough in base-down orientation, while the base portion of a bowling pin sliding from said shelf in a base-first orientation will not be received on said surface and will fall into said trough in a base-down orientation.