Offset motor mount adaptor device

An adapter device (18) for a hollow motor mount shaft (19) of an automatic pinsetter bowling machine having a bowling ball retrieving device (1) mounted on a rotating ball return wheel (6), comprising:

• a base (20) having a longitudinal axis;
• a first arm (31) having first and second sides (41, 42), wherein the first and second sides are opposite each other, further wherein the base adjoins the first side and is rigidly connected to the first arm;
• a second arm (32), wherein the base is rigidly connected to the second arm, further wherein the first arm and the second arm extend perpendicularly from the base in the same direction;
• a shaft (21) having a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to the second side;
• and
• means for securing the shaft to a hollow motor mount shaft;
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the base is offset from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• further wherein the base, the first arm and the second arm form an offset opening which allows for unobstructed passage of the bowling ball retrieving device as the ball return wheel rotates.

An adapter device (18) for a hollow motor mount shaft (19) of an automatic pinsetter bowling machine having a bowling ball retrieving device (1) mounted on a rotating ball return wheel (6), comprising:

• a base (20) having a longitudinal axis;
• a first arm (31) having first and second sides (41, 42), wherein the first and second sides are opposite each other, further wherein the base adjoins the first side and is rigidly connected to the first arm;
• a second arm (32), wherein the base is rigidly connected to the second arm, further wherein the first arm and the second arm extend perpendicularly from the base in the same direction;
• a shaft (21) having a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to the second side;
• a first end where the base is rigidly connected to the second arm;
• and
• means for securing the first end to an elevator assembly of an automatic pinsetter bowling machine;
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the base is offset from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• further wherein the base, the first arm and the second arm form an offset opening which allows for unobstructed passage of the bowling ball retrieving device as the ball return wheel rotates.

A method of modifying an automatic pinsetter bowling machine, comprising:

• removing a predetermined length from a hollow motor mount shaft (19) of an automatic pinsetter bowling machine;
• using an adapter device (18) including a base (20) having a longitudinal axis, a first arm (31) having first and second sides (41, 42), wherein the first and second sides are opposite each other, further wherein the base adjoins the first side and is rigidly connected to the first arm, a second arm (32), wherein the base is rigidly connected to the second arm, and a shaft (21) having a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to the second side, wherein the longitudinal axis of the base is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, further wherein the base, the first arm and the second arm form an offset opening, the adapter device having a first end where the base is rigidly connected to the second arm;
• and
• securing the shaft to the hollow motor mount shaft.