Bowling lane maintenance machine
AssigneeKegel, LLC
InventorsJohn M. Davis, Mark E. Davis, David G. Jennings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The oil pattern laid down by the automatic machine across the width of the lane and along the length of the lane can be precisely controlled and varied through the use of a series of independently controllable wick assemblies that are individually movable into and out of contacting engagement with the oil applicator of the machine. A programmable controller for the wick assemblies determines which of the wick assemblies will be in oil-transferring contact with the applicator and when.
Claims18
In a bowling lane maintenance machine for applying a lane dressing to the surface of a bowling lane, the improvement comprising:
- applicator means for receiving lane dressing from a source thereof and for applying lane dressing so received to the lane surface as the machine moves therealong;
- and
- lane dressing delivery means comprising reservoir means and a plurality of wicks in fluidic communication with said reservoir means for receiving a lane dressing therefrom, said delivery means further including means for independently and selectively shifting each of said wicks between a first position in operative fludic communication with said applicator means and a second position out of operative fluidic communication with said applicator means to apply the lane dressing in a desired lane dressing profile.
In a bowling lane maintenance machine for applying a lane dressing to the surface of a bowling lane, the improvement comprising:
- a maintenance assembly comprising means for storing lane dressing, a rotatable buffer means for applying the lane dressing to the bowling lane, and transfer means for transferring lane dressing from said storage means to said buffer means,
- said transfer means including a transfer roller and a plurality of transversely arrayed wicks, each wick having one end positioned in fluidic engagement with said storage means and an opposed end selectively shiftable between a first position in engagement with said transfer roller for transferring lane dressing to said buffer means and a second position disengaged from said transfer roller for avoiding the transfer of lane dressing to said buffer means,
- said transfer means further including means for selectively and independently shifting each of said wicks between said first position and said second position.
In a bowling lane maintenance machine for applying a lane dressing to the surface of a bowling lane, the improvement comprising:
- means for storing lane dressing;
- applicator means disposed to extend across the width of the lane when the machine is in use for applying the lane dressing to the bowling lane;
- wick means for transferring lane dressing from said storage means to said applicator means;
- a plurality of selectively and independently actuatable wick shifting members corresponding to respective transfer portions of said wick means for shifting said corresponding transfer portions independently of one another into and out of a delivery position in which the transfer portion is operable to deliver lane dressing to the applicator means;
- and
- control means operably coupled with the wick shifting members for actuating the same with a control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.