Bowling pin setting systems and methods with reconfigurable pinsetting array

A bowling pin setting system for setting Candlepin bowling pins on a pin deck of a Candlepin bowling lane, the bowling pin setting system comprising:

• a. a pin deck for the placement of bowling pins in a predetermined array, the bowling pins placed in the predetermined array representing the targets for a bowling ball;
• b. a rotational turntable and at least one pivoting magazine positioned to a rear of the pin deck such that pins from the pin deck collect on the rotational turntable and dispense to a conveyor means;
• c. conveyor means for receiving a plurality of bowling pins, in a horizontal orientation, from the rotational turntable and feeding them to the pivoting magazine;
• d. said pivoting magazine comprising a frame capable of receiving the plurality of pins from the conveyor in an adjacent and horizontal orientation, and pivoting about an axis, through the action of a lifting mechanism means to orient the received pins in an adjacent and vertical orientation;
• e. a means to bring the at least one pivoting magazine into alignment and adjacent with at least one pin loading magazine;
• f. a push drive mechanism means for laterally sliding in series the pins from the at least one pivoting magazine to at least one pin loading magazine and;
• g. a pin setting array having pin retention mechanisms and a means for lowering it in a contracted configuration to receive the pins from at least one pin loading mechanism and raising it to move the pins over the in deck, lower and adjust the pins to an expanded configuration and release them.