U.S. patent number 3,604,037 [Application Number 04/785,991] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-14 for automatic floor maintenance machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Paul V. Horst. Invention is credited to Robert E. Varner.
United States Patent |
3,604,037 |
Varner |
September 14, 1971 |
AUTOMATIC FLOOR MAINTENANCE MACHINE
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention is specifically adapted
for use in dressing, buffing and cleaning bowling lanes
automatically through a coordinated sequence of operations which
can be preselected and automatically performed over a given
distance of travel. The machine is equipped with retractable
cleaning and dressing buffer units which are driven independently
of the main drive to selectively engage the lane surface either
independently of one another, or simultaneously; and in association
with the activation of liquid- or fluid-dispensing units is capable
of carrying out a variety of different operations at selected
intervals automatically and without interruption along the course
of travel of the apparatus.
Inventors: |
Varner; Robert E. (Cheyenne,
WY) |
Assignee: |
Paul V. Horst (Eastlake,
CO)
|
Family
ID: |
25137259 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/785,991 |
Filed: |
December 23, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
11/4011 (20130101); A47L 11/4047 (20130101); A47L
11/4088 (20130101); A47L 11/4066 (20130101); A47L
11/4069 (20130101); A47L 11/00 (20130101); A47L
11/4072 (20130101); A47L 11/4055 (20130101); A47L
2201/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
11/00 (20060101); A47l 011/282 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/4,98,103.5,372,373,370,368,320,319,49,50-52
;118/259,207,108,110,106,11,75,8,305 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Machlin; Leon G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In automatic bowling lane maintenance apparatus having a support
frame and a reversible drive system including surface-engaging
drive wheels to advance the apparatus along a predetermined course
in a forward and reverse direction, the combination therewith
comprising:
a plurality of generally cylindrical retractable rollers mounted
for rotation about axes which extend transversely of the direction
of travel of said apparatus and parallel to the floor surface, said
rollers being movable between a raised position above the floor
surface and a lowered, surface-engaging position,
independent drive means for rotating said retractable rollers in a
given direction of rotation independently of the direction of
advancement of the apparatus, and
roller actuating means for selectively actuating each of said
rollers between said raised and lowered positions for predetermined
intervals over the course of travel of said apparatus.
2. In automatic bowling lane maintenance apparatus according to
claim 1, said roller actuating means for each of said rollers being
operative automatically to sequentially actuate said roller between
the raised and lowered positions in response to the distance of
travel of said apparatus.
3. In automatic bowling lane maintenance apparatus according to
claim 2, said actuating means for each of said rollers being
further operative to simultaneously actuate said rollers from the
raised to the lowered positions.
4. In automatic bowling lane maintenance apparatus according to
claim 1, one of said rollers being an oil dressing roller, and
further including liquid-dispensing means for applying liquid to
said dressing roller when said roller is in the lowered
surface-engaging position.
5. In automatic bowling lane maintenance apparatus according to
claim 1, one of said rollers being a cleaning roller, and
liquid-dispensing means associated with said cleaning roller for
selectively applying liquid to said roller when in the
surface-engaging position.
6. In automatic floor maintenance apparatus having a support frame
and a drive system including surface-engaging drive wheels to
advance the apparatus along a predetermined course, the combination
therewith comprising:
a plurality of retractable rollers mounted for rotation on axes
extending transversely of the direction of travel of said
apparatus, said rollers being movable between a raised position
above the floor surface and a lowered, surface-engaging position,
each of said retractable roller units including a rotatable shaft
and end brackets for pivotal mounting of each roller on said
support frame,
drive means for rotating said retractable rollers, and
roller actuating means for selectively actuating each of said
rollers between said raised and lowered positions for predetermined
intervals over the course of travel of said apparatus, biasing
means yieldingly urging each said roller to normally raised
position, and said actuating means being selectively energized to
overcome said biasing means to positively force said roller
downwardly into the surface-engaging position.
7. In automatic floor maintenance apparatus according to claim 6,
said actuating means being further characterized by including a
rocker arm provided with a cam surface thereon engageable with the
pivotal bracket at each end of said rotatable shaft, and a solenoid
being selectively energized to pivot the cam surface on said rocker
arm downwardly against said bracket to force said roller into the
surface-engaging position.
8. In automatic floor maintenance apparatus according to claim 7
said actuating means further including means correlated with
advancement of said apparatus over the course of travel of said
apparatus to selectively energize each of said solenoid for a
predetermined distance interval, means to maintain each of said
rollers in the surface-engaging position over the entire course of
travel of said apparatus, and means to selectively disable said
actuating means for each of said rollers over the predetermined
course of travel of said apparatus.
9. In automatic floor maintenance apparatus according to claim 6,
further including a duster unit including a supply roll for an
endless cloth, a surface-engaging pad, a takeup roller, and an
independent drive system to advance the endless cloth continuously
beneath said surface-engaging pad over the course of travel of said
apparatus.
10. An automatic bowling lane maintenance machine comprising in
combination:
a drive carriage and a drive mechanism including lane-engaging
drive wheels for advancement of the machine from a selected
starting point along the lane, guide wheels to maintain the machine
in aligned relation to the lane, and a reversing mechanism
including a feeler switch to sense the end of the lane and to
effect automatic reversal of the machine for return to the starting
point,
generally cylindrical, retractable rollers mounted for rotation on
the drive carriage on axes which extend transversely of its
direction of travel and traversing the width of the lane, said
roller each being independently movable between a raised position
retracted within the drive carriage and a lower, lane
surface-engaging position, drive means for each of said rollers
being operative to rotate each of said rollers independently of one
another and independently of said main drive mechanism and
roller actuating means for selectively and individually advancing
each of said roller units between a raised and lowered position as
said machine is advanced along the lane.
11. An automatic bowling lane maintenance machine according to
claim 10, said roller actuating means including means responsive to
energization and advancement of the machine by said main drive
mechanism to sequentially actuate said roller units between the
raised and lowered positions over predetermined distances of travel
along the lane surface.
12. An automatic bowling lane maintenance machine according to
claim 11, further including liquid-dispensing means for each of
said roller units, each of said dispensing means including valve
means selectively opened to dispense liquid to each of said roller
units for a predetermined time interval when the associated roller
unit is advanced to its lowered, surface-engaging position, and the
opening of said valve means being correlated with the distance of
travel of said machine over the lane.
13. An automatic bowling lane maintenance machine according to
claim 12, wherein further characterized in that the
roller-actuating means and valve means for one of said roller units
is responsive to activation of said reversing mechanism at the end
of the lane to apply liquid to said roller unit advance said roller
unit into the lane-engaging position as the machine is advanced in
the reverse direction.
14. An automatic bowling lane maintenance machine according to
claim 10 further including first control means responsive to
starting and advancement of said machine from the foul line to a
predetermined point ahead of the pin zone to activate one of said
roller actuating means to advance its associated roller unit into
surface-engaging position, liquid-dispensing means for selectively
applying liquid to said one roller unit when said roller unit is in
the surface-engaging position, second control means for
deenergizing said one-roller-actuating means for return of said one
roller unit to the raised position and simultaneously activate the
other of said roller-actuating means to advance said other roller
unit to the lowered, lane-engaging position as the machine is
advanced from a selected point in front of the pin zone through the
pin zone, is reversed and returns to the selected point whereupon
said control means is further operative to deenergize the other of
said roller actuating means and energize the one actuating means
for advancement of the one roller unit into the lane-engaging
position over the remaining distance of travel of said machine to
the foul line.
Description
This invention relates to floor maintenance apparatus; and more
particular relates to a novel and improved bowling lane cleaning
and maintenance machine of the type which is capable of performing
a number of different cleaning and maintenance operations
automatically and without interruption under forward and reverse
travel over a selected distance of travel.
Bowling lanes require close daily attention in order to be kept in
the proper condition, and this is especially true where the lanes
are in constant use and are subject to continual wear. In the
cleaning and maintenance of the lanes, it is also important that
any cleaning, dressing or buffing operations be uniform and
consistent from lane to lane, particularly in tournament play where
the bowling contestants bowl on several different lanes in the
course of play. Generally, the lanes are of equal length and each
characteristically includes a dressed area, which extends from the
foul line to a selected point immediately in front of the pin zone,
and a scoring area which is the area extending beyond the dressed
area through the pin zone to the end of the lane or pit. Each area
has a definite function to perform and therefore must be maintained
in a different manner. Typically, an oil dressing is applied and
buffed onto the dressed area, but the scoring area should be kept
clean and free of the oil or any dirt accumulations; further to
establish and maintain highest possible scoring conditions a
dry-cleaning solvent should be applied to the scoring area.
Presently, while automatic equipment is available to perform
certain of the cleaning and maintenance operations required on a
bowling lane, such equipment is limited in the extent and number of
operations that it can perform, and coupled with the cost of hand
labor involved, the absence of uniformity from lane to lane and the
reluctance of maintenance personnel to perform daily maintenance by
hand, has not been entirely satisfactory.
It is therefore highly desirable to provide maintenance apparatus
which is capable of meeting virtually all of the cleaning and
maintenance requirements of a bowling lane in an automated,
uninterrupted sequence of operations, and specifically wherein the
apparatus is capable of dusting and cleaning the channels, cappings
and lane surfaces, applying and buffing an oil dressing to the
dressed area of the lane, and by the interchange from one buffer
unit to another at a preselected distance from the pin zone,
continue to traverse the entire lane to apply a separate or
different cleaning solution to the scoring area. At the same time,
it is desirable that the apparatus be capable of performing any
cleaning operations along the channels and cappings between lanes
and be closely adjustable to regulate the distance of travel of the
machine, the volume of liquid dispensed in each operation and the
pressure applied in buffing the liquid dispensed both onto the
dressed and scoring areas. Moreover, the apparatus should be
sufficiently versatile to meet other special job requirements, such
as, for example, coating and finishing operations or the
application of special solvents or liquids when required.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for
novel and improved floor maintenance apparatus which is capable of
performing a variety of floor-cleaning tasks automatically and
without interruption over a given area in an efficient and highly
dependable manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for
bowling lane maintenance apparatus which can be preset to traverse
the entire length of a bowling lane, forwardly and in reverse, and
to carry out a coordinated sequence of cleaning, dressing and
buffing operations automatically and without interruption.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
for a novel and improved bowling lane maintenance machine capable
of automatically traversing either a selected portion of or the
entire length of a bowling lane and incorporating retractable
buffer units which are driven and controlled independently of the
main drive system and can be individually regulated to selectively
engage a lane surface either simultaneously or in sequence; and
further, wherein the buffer units of the present invention may be
operated either independently of or in correlation with
liquid-dispensing controls in the apparatus to perform a number of
different selected cleaning, dressing and buffing operations.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide in
bowling lane maintenance apparatus and the like for means directly
associated with the apparatus and operable as the apparatus is
advanced along the lane surface to dust and clean the entire lane
surface, selectively apply and to buff a dressing over a selected
area of the lane surface and to selectively apply and buff a
dry-cleaning solvent over another selected area of the lane
surface.
In accordance with the present invention, the preferred form of
maintenance apparatus comprises a drive carriage with a reversible
motor for traversing in a forward and reverse direction the entire
length of a bowling lane surface, or any selected portion thereof;
and, to perform the basic cleaning, dressing and buffing operations
required includes a pair of retractable buffer units, each of which
is separately driven and controlled to advance into rotatable
engagement with the lane surface along all or any selected portion
of the lane. Since the buffer units are operated independently of
the main drive they are rotated in the same direction whether the
machine is driven in the forward or reverse direction thereby
avoiding possible damage to the grain of the lane surface. Each
buffer traverses the width of the lane and through selective
independent control liquid-dispensing units associated with the
buffer units may selectively apply dressing or cleaning solutions
through either one or both of the buffers in selected quantities
and over selected distance intervals as the apparatus traverses the
lane. Furthermore, a duster unit may be driven off the main drive
system and is operative in cooperation with the buffer units both
to clean the lane surface and to prevent undesired overlap in the
cleaning and dressing operations performed at different selected
areas along the bowling lane. A novel form of cam control unit is
provided in association with the liquid-dispensing and buffing
units to permit highly simplified but close control over the
operations to be performed.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from
a consideration of the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention when taken together
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of apparatus
illustrated in position to traverse a bowling lane.
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the preferred form of apparatus
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover panels
removed and parts broken away to illustrate the internal
construction and arrangement of the control system.
FIG. 4 is a section view taken about lines 4--4 of FIG. 3 from one
side of the apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a section view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3 and
showing the opposite side of the apparatus.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view in detail of the dressing
buffer unit.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view in detail of the cleaning
buffer unit.
FIG. 8 is a top fragmentary plan view illustrating one of the spray
nozzle portions of a liquid dispensing unit for the dressing
buffer.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged side sectional view of the preferred form of
cam control unit forming a part of the apparatus of the present
invention.
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the cam
control unit shown in FIG. 9.
Fig. 11 is a top view partially in section of an enlarged scale of
the cam control unit shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; and
FIG. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system for the
preferred form of apparatus of the present invention.
The present invention is best exemplified by illustrating and
describing its use in the cleaning and maintenance of a bowling
lane, although its ready conformability for other applications will
be readily appreciated. In the preferred form, apparatus 10 is
specifically adaptable for use in cleaning and otherwise
maintaining a bowling lane represented at L. Typically,
professional bowling lanes of standard length and width have a lane
area 11 running from a foul line 12 to a pin zone, not shown, outer
depressed gutters 13 and intermediate cappings 14 between adjacent
lanes. The apparatus 10 is intended to travel along the lane from
the foul line 12 through the pin zone, then to automatically
reverse and return to the foul line. In traversing the entire
length of the lane, the apparatus of the present invention can be
preset to automatically perform various cleaning, dressing and
buffing operations either simultaneously or in a selected sequence
of steps. For this purpose the apparatus is broadly comprised of a
relatively low, flat housing which as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4
comprises front and rear wall panels 19 and 20, respectively,
sidewall panels 21 and 22, and a bottom intermediate panel 23.
Upper hinged cover panels include a main cover panel 24 and a
duster cover panel 25 hinged about a common axis 26. It will be
noted that the main cover panel 24 includes an inclined panel
control section 27 which contains a number of controls for
regulating and determining the operations to be performed by the
apparatus.
As best seen from a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus
is made up of a front duster section 30, a cleaning buffer section
31, an intermediate control section 32, followed by a rear dressing
buffer section 33 and a duster or lint-collecting section 34. The
control section 32 is internally divided from the buffer sections
31 and 33 by main partition walls 28 and 29 traversing the width of
the apparatus.
Generally, the guide and drive systems employed for automatically
advancing the apparatus along the lane is conventional and brief
reference will therefore be made to these systems for the purpose
of illustration but not limitation. Forward and rearward pairs of
outer guide wheels 36 project laterally in spaced relation to
opposite sides of the apparatus and a series of inner guide rolls
include the rearward, laterally spaced rolls 37, rollers 38 beneath
the control section and front rollers 39 at the front duster
section 30. Relatively side drive wheels 40 are disposed on
opposite sides of the apparatus beneath the control section and are
driven by main motor drive 41 through speed reduction gearing 42
into drive shaft 43 with the side drive rollers 40 located at
either end of the drive shaft.
In a conventional manner, capping and channel mops 45 are located
toward the front end and at opposite sides of the apparatus, the
mops being pivotally mounted to swing outwardly in order to towel
or dust off the cappings 14 as the machine advances in one
direction and to pivot inwardly to towel or dust off the channels
13 as the machine is run in the opposite direction.
Brief reference is made also to the duster sections 30 and 34 at
the front and rear ends of the machine: The front duster section,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in the sectional views 4 and 5,
comprises a main supply roll 50 and a takeup roll 51 which is
continuously driven by speed reduction gearing 52 off an
electrically energized speed reduction motor 53 to advance a
dusting cloth 54 across a stationary, elongated pad 55 projecting
slightly beneath the lower edge of the apparatus. The speed
reduction unit may effect a substantial reduction in speed between
the main drive motor and the takeup roll 51 so that the dusting
cloth is very slowly but continuously drawn across the weight pad
55 and prevents the pushing of dust and other foreign matter onto
the scoring area located directly in front of the pin zone. The
section 34 at the rear end of the apparatus merely consists of a
supply roll 57 for a lint cloth 58 which is passed downwardly along
a vertical panel 59 into contact with the buffer for the dressing
buffer section 33 and primarily serves to remove any lint from the
buffer element as it is advanced along the lane.
An important feature of the present invention resides in the
cooperative disposition and working relationship between the
cleaning and dressing buffer sections 31 and 33. Like parts
comprising each of the buffer sections are correspondingly
enumerated with those of the cleaning buffer section designated by
prime numbers. The common elements include a buffer roll 60 mounted
on a shaft 61 and traversing the substantial width of the machine.
Opposite ends of the shaft 61 project for mounting in pivotal
bracket plates 62, the latter being pivotally mounted on inner
surface of opposite sidewalls of the apparatus. Each bracket 62
includes an inwardly projecting sleeve 63 journaled therein with
diametrically opposed slots 64 in the sleeve for insertion of a
pin, not shown, at either end of the shaft 61, whereby the shaft is
free to rotate independently of the bracket plates 62.
An enlarged plate 66 is keyed to the mounting bracket 62 and is
provided with a bearing surface 67 bracket 62 and is provided with
a bearing surface 67 engageable by the free end of a heavy duty
coiled spring 68 which is attached to the sidewall alongside of the
bracket member. The entire bracket assembly is pivotal about a pin
69 on one side of the bracket opposite the spring element 68 so
that the bracket assembly and attached buffer are normally biased
upwardly, as shown in FIG. 6, to a position in spaced relation
above the lane surface. In order to force the buffer section
downwardly into rolling engagement with the lane, a solenoid
assembly 70 is mounted at opposite ends of each buffer unit and
correspondingly includes a solenoid plunger 71 provided with a
spring 72 at one end which is looped over a grooved ring 73, the
latter being fixed to a rocker arm 74. When the solenoid for each
buffer unit are energized, the plunger 71 is retracted to swing the
rocker arm 74 about a fixed but rotatable shaft 75 as to cause a
second rocker arm 76 and associated cam 77 to be urged downwardly
against the free end of the pivotal bracket 62 opposite to the
pivot pin 69 thereby urging the brackets and affixed buffer unit
downwardly against the force of the spring element 68. In the
solenoid-actuated assemblies 70' for the cleaning buffer unit the
essential parts are the same but differ in configuration since the
solenoids for space considerations are not mounted directly above
the ends of the brackets but instead are located somewhat inwardly
thereof, as seen from FIG. 3. Accordingly, the rocker arm
74.degree. operates through an elongated rotatable shaft 75' with
the second rocker arm 76' at the outer end of the shaft opposite to
the rocker arm 74' but which swings downwardly in response to
activation of the plunger arm 71' against the free end of the
bracket assembly 62' and which motion is imparted through pivotal
cam 77' to a threaded bolt 78 engageable with the free end of the
bracket 62.
Each of the cleaning and dressing buffer units 33 is independently
driven by a separate motor drive 80 which operates through a power
transmission unit including drive pulley 82 on the motor drive
shaft, a drive belt 83 and a driven pulley 84 at one end of the
buffer unit. A tension roll 86 maintains the necessary tautness on
the belt 83 to assure continuous transmission of power from the
motor drive 80 to each of the buffer units whether in the raised or
lowered positions.
In the buffer assemblies, the pressure of the dressing buffer on
the lane surface is controlled by the setting of the cam 77, and
that of the cleaning buffer is controlled by the setting of the
pressure screw 78. In this connection, the cam 77 may be adjusted
by a suitable locking bolt or shim, not shown, between the cam 77
and rocker arm 76.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 for the dressing buffer unit, each
of the buffer units further includes a pivotal applicator is
pivotally mounted directly above each buffer and is weighted as at
89 so as to be free to swing downwardly against the top surface of
the buffer pad. The applicator body 87 may be slightly recessed or
channeled as to 90 along its upper surface to receive a spray
solution from inwardly directed spray nozzles 91 located at
opposite ends of the buffer and connected through oil lines 92 to a
pressurized oil tank 93 or cleaning solvent tank 95, as shown in
FIG. 3. In the dressing buffer unit, as further schematically shown
in FIG. 12 the oil or other solution is contained under pressure in
the tank 93 and a solenoid control valve 94 is positioned in each
of the oil lines to control delivery of the oil solution to the
nozzles 91 above the dressing buffer unit. In a similar manner, a
cleaning solvent may be contained under pressure in a second tank
95 which through delivery lines 96, each having a solenoid or pilot
control valve 97, may be connected into the spray nozzles 91' above
the cleaning buffer. In addition, a delivery pipe 98 may extend
above and along the length of the cleaning buffer unit to receive a
cleaning solvent from a source of supply, such as, a chlorinator
cup, not shown, which may be mounted on one side of the machine in
communication with the pipe 98. The pipe is provided with a series
of openings which are normally directed upwardly but which upon
activation of a solenoid are rotated downwardly to spill the
solvent onto the applicator 87.
In a manner to be described, the oil is supplied through the spray
nozzles 91 preferably over a limited distance from the foul line to
a point in front of the pin zone then is cut off as the machine
advances in its travel through the pin zone; and upon reversal, a
cleaning solution is delivered to spray nozzles 91' for application
to the pin zone. In either case, the oil or cleaning solution is
distributed by spraying directly onto the applicator and saturating
the felt insert which in turn will uniformly apply the liquid to
the rotating buffer pads. As designated in FIG. 12, the oil and
solvent tanks 93 and 95 are suitably equipped with safety solenoid
valves 93' and 95' respectively, which in a conventional manner
regulate the maximum pressure levels in the tanks.
In order to automatically regulate the operations performed by the
apparatus, the main drive 41 for the drive wheels 40 has a power
transmission belt unit, represented at 99, for rotation of a worm
100 through drive shaft 101, at a selected speed reduction from the
rate of advancement of the machine. In FIGS. 9 to 11, it will be
noted that the worm drives a worm gear 102 at the end of a
spring-loaded shaft 103 which is located in a cam block housing
104. Cams 105, 106 and 107 are fixed for rotation with the shaft
and, as shown in FIG. 10, each cam has a notched surface area 108,
hereafter referred to as the "low side," and an outer peripheral
surface area 109 hereafter referred to as the "high side" of the
cam. The end of the shaft opposite the gear 102 projects through
the control panel 27 and has a manually adjustable pointer 110 as
at is outer end which can be set to predetermined distances on a
footage dial 112 on the cover panel.
A bank microswitches 113, 114 and 115 are mounted in the cam block
housing 104, and the microswitches include roller arms 116, 117 and
118, respectively, which are spring biased against the outer
surface of an aligned cam whereby rotation of the cam will control
the contact position of the microswitch through its spring-loaded
roller arm member. In addition, a locking arm 119 is located on the
shaft 103 just inwardly of the cover panel to control the position
of start of the dressing or oil spray and as a safety feature to
limit the distance of dressing by restricting movement of the arm
between limit screws 120 and 121. It will be noted that each cam is
also provided with a releasable locking or setscrew 122 for initial
adjustment of the cam relative to the shaft 103 and the cam
microswitch members.
In the cam control unit, the shaft 103 is rotated by the main motor
drive wherever the machine is activated and set in motion. Under
rotation when the high side of the cam 105 is engagement with the
roller arm 116 it will close one contact C of its microswitch
whereby to energize the oil buffer motor drive, as will be seen by
reference to FIG. 12. Here the cam 105 preset so that when the
pointer has advanced to a predetermined point on the dial
indicating the distance of travel of the machine, the low side of
the cam 105 moves into engagement with the arm 116 causing the
microswitch 113 to be switched over to contact point B in order to
deenergize the oil buffer motor drive and at the same time energize
the cleaning buffer motor drive.
The cam 106 is associated with a "short run" toggle switch 152 on
the control panel and is preset so that when the low side moves
into engagement with the roller arm 117 at the end of microswitch
114 it will close contact B of the microswitch to cause reversal of
the machine at a given distance from the foul line in a manner to
be described. The short run toggle 152 is manually switched on only
when it is desired to run the machine over some distance less than
the full course of travel of the lane. Otherwise, in normal
operation, a tripper or feeler switch which although not shown in
FIGS. 1 to 5, is represented at 155 in FIG. 12 and is located at
the leading end of the machine will, upon reaching the end of the
pin zone, be activated to reverse the machine through the same
circuitry as the cam control microswitch 114.
The cam 107 is preset to regulate the oil spray system. On its high
side, the oil spray solenoids 94 are deenergized and, as the low
side moves into engagement with the arm 118 will switch microswitch
115 to close its contact B thereby energizing the oil spray
solenoids 94 for the limited time interval that the cam remains on
its low side. As will become more apparent, in normal operation the
oil spray solenoids are energized only in the forward run toward
the pin zone but not on the return run.
These is shown in FIG. 12 a preferred form of control system for
the apparatus of the present invention. At the outset, it will be
noted that a grounded male inlet 130 is recessed in one side of the
machine for electrical connection to an outside electrical source.
A main terminal block 132 contains a bank of 14 terminals, the
terminal 2 being connected over one line to the terminal B of inlet
130 and by a jumper to terminal 12. Inlet 130 has another line
connected to terminal A of the relay 134 which is in turn
electrically connected to the terminal A of a master control
microswitch 135 associated with the started button 128. The started
button is depressed to close terminal B of the microswitch 135
which is connected through drive motor fuse 136 into a second
directional traverse control microswitch 137. Also, terminal C of
the microswitch 137 is connected to terminal 8 in the terminal
block thereby energizing the solenoid of relay 134 and causing
contact between terminals A and B of the relay to energize terminal
l in the terminal block 132. This terminal is connected to the
common terminal A of microswitch 113; and through the contact C
which is closed by the high side of the cam 105 is connected to the
main terminal 3 and the terminal A of an oil buffer and motor
control toggle 138. When closed, the toggle 138 completes the
circuit to the pilot light 138' and terminal A of oil buffer motor
80. In addition, terminal A of pilot light 138' is closed through
terminal A of one of the oil buffer solenoids 70 while terminal A
of the motor 80 is closed through terminal A of the other oil
buffer solenoid 70 thereby energizing the solenoids to cause the
buffer unit to be lowered into contact with the lane surface when
the motor 80 is energized.
After the apparatus has advanced through a selected distance
interval set on the dial 112, the low side of the cam 105 moves
into engagement with the pressure arm of its microswitch 113
thereby shifting the microswitch from terminal C to terminal B, the
latter being connected to main terminal 4 in the terminal block
which in turn is connected to terminal A of a cleaning buffer
control toggle switch 140. In the "on" position this toggle will
complete the circuit through pilot light 140' to terminal A of one
of the solenoids 70' for the cleaner buffer unit. Terminal B of the
toggle switch 140 is also connected to terminal B of the motor 80'
for the cleaning buffer unit and the terminal B of the other of the
solenoids 70'. Accordingly, both of the buffer solenoids 70' are
energized to force cleaning buffer unit downwardly into engagement
with the lane surface when the motor 80' is energized and, since
the dressing buffer unit solenoids and motor are deenergized, the
dressing buffer is urged by the spring mechanism to the raised
position away from the lane surface.
In the terminal block, it will be seen that the terminal 8 is
jumpered to terminal 9 which in turn is connected to the duster
gear reduction motor 53 as well as terminal D, K and I of a time
delay circuit 142 associated with reversing switch unit 143.
Terminal 9 is also connected to terminal A of the main motor drive
41, and the contact J in the time delay circuit is connected to
terminal 10 of the terminal block as well as the starter winding
through capacitor 41' at terminal B of the motor 41. Contact L in
the time delay circuit is connected to terminal 11 which in turn is
connected to starter winding terminal C of the motor 41; and
terminal 12 is jumpered to terminal 2 and in turn is connected to
terminal D of the motor 41 thereby completing the circuit to the
main motor drive for forward operation. When the machine reaches
the end of the lane the trigger microswitch 155 at the front end of
the machine is spring biased to close terminal B and energize
reversing solenoid 145 which mechanically shifts terminal C to
terminal B in the directional control traverse microswitch 137. The
terminal B is connected through main terminal 7 to terminal M of
the time delay circuit thereby to energize the time delay coil and
through switch control arm 142' change the contact points in the
reversing unit 143. As a result, the feed current to the terminals
B and C of the motor drive 41 is reversed to cause the machine to
reverse its direction of travel toward the foul line. The main
terminal 7 is also connected to terminal B of the directional
control microswitch 137 and to terminal A of the reversing switch
143 so as to complete the circuit through terminal B of the
reversing switch 143 to terminal 5 for a predetermined time
interval, as governed by the time setting of the time delay
circuit. Assuming that the solvent spray control toggle switch 146
is in the "on" position it will complete the connection from
terminal 5 to terminal 13 thereby energizing the solvent control
solenoids 97 to apply solvent to the cleaning buffer unit. The
pilot light 146' will be turned on for the duration of time that
the solenoids 97 are energized to spray the solvent onto the
cleaning buffer, generally over a portion of the time interval
required to return through the pin zone. Thereafter, as the high
side of the cam 105 returns into engagement with the arm of the
microswitch 113 the cleaning buffer solenoids 70' and motor will be
deenergized at the end of the scoring area and the return run is
completed toward the foul line.
In the forward run, the oil spray is regulated through terminal 10
which is connected to terminal J of the reversing switch 143 and in
turn is connected to terminal A of the cam control microswitch 107.
When the low side of the cam moves against the pressure arm of the
microswitch 115, the microswitch is shifted for connection through
terminal 6 with oil control time delay 148 and with oil spray
control toggle switch 149 and its as associated pilot light 149'.
Preferably on the time delay 148 is pneumatic timer, and the amount
of oil dressing applied can be regulated by a manually adjustable
pointer 151 on the control panel 27 which is operative through
setting of the pneumatic timer control the length of time that the
solenoid valves 94 are energized. Solenoid control switches 150 and
150' are interconnected between the toggle switch 149 and the coil
control solenoid valves 93 and 94 for the predetermined time
setting of the delay unit 148. Thus the oil is sprayed immediately
upon movement of the low side of the cam into engagement with the
pressure arm of its microswitch 115 and will continue over the time
setting of the delay unit. In this connection, the toggle switches
150 are manually controllable to permit the operator to shut off
each of the oil control solenoid valves 94 to the spray nozzle 70
for either side of the lane. While the run distance of the oil
buffer and cleaning buffer units are controlled through the high
and low dwell of the cam 105, the time duration and area over which
the oil is sprayed is separately controlled through the cam
107.
The middle cam 106 independently controls travel of the unit over a
shortened distance less than the full run traversing the entire
lane. The terminal A of microswitch 114 completes its circuit
through short run toggle switch 152 each time that the low side of
the cam moves into engagement with its pressure arm. If the toggle
switch 152 is in the "on" position the reversing solenoid 145 is
energized when the low side of the cam moves into engagement with
the pressure arm thereby causing reversal of the unit in the same
manner that normally obtains when the machine reaches the end of
the lane as previously described.
If desired, the machine can be operated with both buffer units
engaging the lane surface. To this end, a toggle switch 153 to the
buffer motor 80' and to pressure solenoids 70' when closed will
cause the buffer unit to engage the lane surface when the other
buffer unit is engaging the surface. In addition, a chlorinator
toggle switch 154 when closed will interconnect the reversing
microswitch 155 and reversing solenoid 145 so as to energize
chlorinator solenoid 144 and effect release of a chlorine solution
through the openings by rotation of the delivery pipe 98 each time
that the machine is reversed. This will permit heavy duty cleaning
in the pin zone where it is most needed as the machine begins its
return toward the foul line.
Preferably the main motor drive 41 is provided with a built-in
braking system which may be a spring-loaded braking member, not
shown, including a braking solenoid represented at 158 and which is
activated from terminal 8 through terminal 9 of the main terminal
block. For instance, when the machine is started by the starter
button 128 the solenoid 158 is energized to remove a suitable
plunger element from the brake disc and permit forward travel of
the machine. However when the machine reverses at the end of the
lane, the circuit to terminal 8 is interrupted thereby deenergizing
the braking solenoid to permit momentary braking. The time delay
coil which was energized upon reversal of the unit will through
terminals 7, 8 and 9 once again energize the braking solenoid to
release the braking unit for movement of the machine in the reverse
direction.
It will be helpful to consideration of the operation of the unit to
refer to the toggle switches and controls mounted on the control
panel 27 and as broadly designated in FIG. 1. When viewed from the
rear of the machine, the short run toggle switch 152 and the
continuous run toggle switch 153 are located on the left side of
the control panel. Briefly, as described, the toggle switch 152 is
turned off if the machine is to run its full course, and the toggle
switch 153 is turned off if the buffer units are to be alternately
raised and lowered in a typical operation under the control of the
cam 105.
The distance pointer 110 is set to the desired footage on the dial
112 for application of the oil spray, the setting on the dial being
intended to indicate the distance from the head pin at which the
dressing operation is to be terminated. Thus, when the machine is
started at the foul line, the dressing buffer unit is lowered, if
the toggle switch 138 is turned on, and the pilot light 138' will
remain lighted for the entire distance that is dressed with oil by
the buffer unit. In turn, if the toggle switch 149 is "on" oil is
sprayed onto the dressing buffer over the distance controlled by
the cam 107 and time delay unit 148, and the pilot light 149' will
be lighted over that distance.
When the cam 105 deenergizes the dressing buffer solenoids and
energizes the cleaning buffer solenoids 70', the light 140' is
energized, and the light 146' is energized over the time interval
selected to spray solvent onto the cleaning buffer unit, as
determined by the timer delay circuit 142. The chlorinator toggle
switch 154 merely controls a separate source of chlorine solution
for application to the cleaning buffer unit as previously
described.
It will be evident that a great number of operations can be
performed by the apparatus through a minimum number of control
elements. If it is desired to perform only a dressing operation,
the toggle switch 152 is turned on and the toggle switches 140 and
146 are turned off. The machine will then advance a predetermined
distance controlled by the cam 106 and reverse itself for return to
the starting point. Moreover, both the dressing and cleaning
buffers can be held down for engagement over a short run or the
entire run by flipping on the toggle switch 153. Either one or both
sides of the lane can be dressed by suitable regulation through the
toggle switches 150.
Accordingly, the apparatus of the present invention is
characterized by its versatility as well as its dependability in
carrying out each desired maintenance operation. Of course the
apparatus is readily conformable for other applications, such as,
gym floors or other large floor areas.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
disclosure has been made only by way of example and that changes in
details of structure and system components may be made without
departing from the spirit scope thereof.
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