US1573643A - Bowling machine - Google Patents

Description

I Feb. 16 1926.

J. F. PROCH sowuue MACHINE 5 SheefSs-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1925 77 2,4??? for: Jose 27? 2.11"

.Feb. 16 1926. I 1,573,643

J. F. PROC-H BOWLING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet z d cy g WQL Feb. 16 1 926. 1,573,643

- J.F.PROCH.

Bdwuue momma Filed March 11. 1925 1 s Sheets-Sheet T 'uac".

Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

\UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- JOSEPH F. rnocu. or CHICAGO, ILIINoIs.

BOWLING MACHINE.

Application flledMaroh 11, 1825. Serial No. 14,665.

that the pins so removed from the pit may be automatically framed. Mechanism is also provided whereby the device may be so operated as to reset the entire number of pins in anew frame, as after a strike, or may be so operated as to remove from the alley any down pins and reset the standing pins for another shot, as in the case of a spare.

In connection with the above, it will be understood that in operating a bowling alley if the bowler knocks down all of the pins on the first ball this is known as a strike whereas, if he knocks down only a portion ofthe pins leaving the other pins standing, so that he is entitled to roll another ball, this is known as a spare. In the case of a strike it is necessary for the machine to remove all of the down pins and reset them in the proper fashion for a new frame, whereas in the case of a spare only the down pins are to be removed, the standing pins remaining in their respective positions or being returned to such positions preparatory to the second ball. The main object of the present invention is to provide means for accomplishing the results and operations above explained; and a further object is to accomplish said results selectively at the wish of the operator. This will make it possible for the operator to control the mechanism according to the conditions as they exist.

A further object of, the invention is to provide an arrangement such that the various operations may be readily controlled from a distance, as, for example, from a position at the front end of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which shall be relatively simple in construction and which can be h ply built and installed- In oonnecpit of the alley and return the balls to the front end. It is also so arranged tion with the foregoing it is a further object to grovide an arrangement of rugged type an which will not readily get out of order.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a machine embodying the features of thepresent invention;

2 shows a fragmentary horizontal sectlon on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 shows a side elevation correspondng to Fig. 1, a portion of the machine be- 111 shown in section;

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary detail'view of the selector mechan sm whereby the movements of the frame are controlled, the same being on enlarged scale as compared to Figs. 1 and 2, and may also be considered a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary detail view of the tripping mechanism for controlling the periodic advancements of the turn ta ble and cups, on enlarged scale as compared to Figs. 1 2 and 7, and may also be considered as a section on the line 5-5 of" Fig. 7, looking 1n the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 shows a fragmentary view of the clutch pawl of the construction shown in Fig. 5, being a-section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 shows a back view of the operating mechanism, being a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 shows a pla-nview corresponding to Figs. '1 and 3;

Fig. 9 shows a typical section through one of the operating clutches illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, being a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows and on enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 shows a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 1l--11 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 is a detail side face view of one of which the pins and balls strike in. the usual manner.

The floor of the pit is provided with a conveyor or the like 16, preferably in the form of a belt traveling over suitable rollers.

The top side of this conveyor moves towards the rear, and any pins or balls resting thereon will be carried rearwardly.

At the rear end of the pit is a vertical conveyor 17 working over pulleys at its upper and lower ends. This vertical conveyor is provided with a series of outwardly reaching arms 18 which travel close to the rear end of the horizontal conveyor 16 as they swing around the lower vertical conveyor pulley. The halls and pins delivered at the rear end of the wnveyor 16 to these arms 18 are carried up within a shaft e'Jtablishcd by a front wall 19. The lower portion of this shaft is of enlarged size to accommodate, the balls, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Near the upper end of this enlarged portion there is a side delivery opening 20 through which the balls are delivered sidewise onto the rails 21 and 22, saidrails sloping downwardly towards the front end of the alley, so that the balls will run down to the front end by gravity.

Theupper portion 23 of the wall 19 establishes a passage 24 of proper size to accommodate the pins lying on the arms 18. so that said pins will be carried up and delivered onto a chute 25 at the upper end of the device The rear end of said chute is of sutlicient width to accommodate the length of the pins as indicated in Fig. 8, but the chute tapers in size towards its front end, so that the pins will be straightened around as they roll down to the delivery opening at the front end of the chute. This will be easily understood from Figures 1, 3 and 8.

The front end of the chute terminates in a vertical slide 26 through which the pins are delivered. Provision is made for moving a series of cups 27 past the lower end of the slide 26. For this purpose said cups are carried by radial arms reaching outwardly from a central wheel 28 mounted on the spindle 29. Said wheel 28 is preferably a gear wheel and driven by a pinion 30 on the upper end of a drive shaft 31, as shown in Figs 5, 6, 7 and 8. The lower end of this drive shaft carries a disk 32 having a dog 33 pivoted thereon. The tooth of this dog is normally thrown inwardly by a spring 34 on the disk. When so moved it engages a ra chet e l 35 an th 19 31 a 91 svaeas surrounding the shaft 31, the upper end of said collar carrying a bevel gear 36. This gear meshes with another bevel gear 37 on a short horizontal shaft 38 which in turn is driven by a pair of bevel gears 39 from a jack shaft 40. This jack shaft in turn receives its power from the main drive shaft 41 by means of a chain 42 and suitable sprockets. The main drive shaft 41 is in turn driven by a motor 43 through the medium of a chain 14: and suitable sprockets.

A finger 45 is at the point 46. The rear end of said finger is in turn connected by a link 47' with a short rock arm 18, the other end of said rock arm being connected by a link -19 with a plate 56 which is pivoted to a stationary part and reaches through a slot in the delivery slide 26 to a point where the inner end of said plate will be tripped each time a in falls down through the delivery slide. weight 51 on the link 47 tends to restore the finger 45 to the full line position, so that the plate normally stands in the position indicated in vFig. 3. After the pin has passed, the plate will move back to the position in l ig. 3.

Upon the passage of a pin down through the slide the plate 50 is swung down so as to raise the link 49, thus turning the arm 46 into the dotted line position and rasing the finger 45 into the dotted line position of Fig. 5. Immediately that this takes place the tooth of the pawl 33 will be swung over to engage the ratchet35 and by reason 0 the continuous rotation of said ratchet, the pawl will be engaged and the disk 32 compelled to rotate. This will drive the shaft 81 and the gear 28 so as to move the turn table around and bring an empty cup into place beneath the lower end of the delivery slide 26.

The instant the pin passes the finger 50 the finger 4.5 will drop back into the full line position of Fig. 5, so that towards the completion of the revolution of the disk 32, the pawl 33 will be engaged and swung into the position of Fig. 6 so as to disengage from the ratchet wheel Accordingly, the disk 32will make only one revolution which is the proper amount to bring a new cup into place beneath the delivery slide 26.

Beneath each cup is a plate 52 by means of which the pin therein is normally sustained. These plates 52 are carried by radial arms 53 on a hub 54 which is above the gear wheel 28. A spring 55 connects the hub and gear wheel together and tends to turn the hub into such a position that the lates 52 stand beneath their respective cups. -llpon retarding the plates and hub with respect to the gear wheel when the latter is turned, the lower ends of all of the cups will be uncovered, so that they can discharge their respective pins directly down.

pivoted to a stationary part i f me For this purpose, one of the cups is provided with a lug 56 which normally engages a stop finger 57 at the completion of one complete-turn of the gear wheel, namely, ten pins.

Beneath the cups and associated mechanism is a table havingtihe'openings 59 which are directly beneath the stopped positions of the cups. A series of chutes, shown by dotted lines 60 in Figs. 1, 3 and 7, lead downwardly through a box-like structure (31 to a series of collars 62 at their lower ends. These collars (32 each comprise a fixed back semi-circularsection and a swinging front semi-circular companion section. The different collars are arranged in'rows across the box-like structure 61 corresponding in position to the frame positions which the pins are intended to occupy when set up. The chutes 60 are, therefore, rorrespoudingly twisted or curved as they extend down through the box-like structure.

The front swinging sections of the col-' lars 62 are carried by rock shafts 63 and said rock shafts are in turn provided with cranks connected together by a link 6st reaching to the rear side of the box-like structure. Upon drawing this. link 64: to the rear, the front sections of all of the collars will be swung'forward so as to release the pins and allow them to drop down into the frame.

In connection with the above it will be understood that the various collars are so shaped and of such size that the various pins will be properly sustained within them when the collars are closed.

Beneath the positions of the collars there is a frame (35 which is so mounted that it can be raised and lowered with respect to the collars 62 and the rear end of the alley. This frame is in turn provided with collars 66 corresponding in position to the collars 62 and the desired frame positions of the pins. This frame is provided with a cross bar 67 (see Fig. 2) having the sleeves 68 which are slidably mounted on the guide posts 69. Said sleeves serve to keep the frame in a horizontal position as it moves up and down. a

The frame has three definite positions: A fully raised position, a partially lowered position and a fully lowered position. In the raised position the frame collars come close beneath the fixed collars 62; in the fully lowered position the frame collars come close to the floor of the alley, so that the pins will be set in the proper manner; and in the partially lowered position the frame collars move down only far enough to take hold of the upper neck portions of the standing pins; This condition is desired, for example, in the case of a spare where it is desired to lift the standing pins away'from the .fioor ofthe alley; so that the fallen ins may be swept into the pit, the frame eing afterwards lowered so as to restore the standing pins to their re-- spective ositions.

In or er to secure the above possible movements of the frame. I have provided suitable mechanism which I will now'explain. For this purpose an arm 70 is prof vided'fo'r each of the sleeves 68. The outer portion of said arm is slotted as at 71 to receive a pin 72 on the sleeve. A shaft 73 reaches across the machine at a position behind the box-like'structure 61, said shaft being provided with a sprocket which can be driven by a chain. 74. On the ends of this shaft are located the cam blocks 7 5 and 76 adjacent to the arms 70. Each of these cam blocks has on its inner face a circular eccentrimlly placed slot 77. A link 78 has at its outer end a pin 79 engaging the slot 77, the inner end of said link being connected to the arm 70, already referred to.

and 76 will cause the links 78 to be projected down and then up so as to. rock the arms 70 with a peculiar movement depending upon the position of the cross bar 80.

Furthermore, the extent of the lowering movement of the sleeves 68 thus brought about will depend upon the elevation of the bar 80, the sleeves being projected lower down when the cross bar 80 is raised into the dotted line position of Fig. 4:. The ends of' said cross bar 80 travel in slots 83 of upright. frame members, as indicated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the cam blocks and '76 are peculiarly shaped and their edges work against the bar so as to either hold it in the lowermost position, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, or to allow it to rise to the top ends of the slots 8;) as will be evident from the shape of the cam blocks. This construction will insure holding the bar 80 at its lowermost position when desired.

An arm 84'is swung on the shaft 73 at a point such that its lower portion 85 may engage the bar 80 so as to raise and sustain the same in .the dotted line position of Fig. 4, when the arm 84 is forced forwardly. Behind the arm 84 is a cam block 86 located on the shaft 41. An arm 84 is located between the cam block 86 and the arm 84, being pivoted at the point 86*. When the cam block 86 is moved around into the dotted line position of Fig. 4 it will compel the arm 84* and therefore the arm 84 to swing forward and raise the bar 80.

.From the above it is evident th t h n the cam blocks and 76 are turned over the frame will be either fully or partially lowered towards the floor of the alley depending. entirely upon the position of the cam 86. In this way by properly co relating these parts, the frame will either be fully lowered so as to set up a new frame of pins, or will be partial y lowered so as to either pick up or reset the standing pins after a spare.

The bar 6-1 which operates the opening and closing of the movable sections of the collars 62, has a cross extension v87 behind the box-like structure 61, and an arm 88 reaches rearwardly from said extension '87. The rear end of the arm 88 is slotted at 89 to receive the shaft 41, and a disk 90 journaled on said shaft carries a cam block 91 which will ride behind a pin 92 on the end of the arm 88 when the cam block 90 is turned over in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 12. From this it follows that by turning over said cam block the collars 62 will be opened to discharge their pins into the frame 65.

The collars 66 carried by the frame 65 also include front swinging sections operated by short cranks 93. These are all connected together and are also connected with a movable rack 94 carried by the frame 65, said movable rack being normally retained in position to close the collars by reason of the springs 95.

At the sides of the movable rack there are a pair of upstanding arms such as 96 having outwardly reaching hooks at their upper ends in position to engage the top edges of the sills 97 and 98 as the frame approaches the bottom limit of its movement; In this way the movable section 94 is arrested and the collars 66 are opened shortly before the pins reach the floor of the alley, so that the pins will drop doWn and stand on the floor.

In order to cause a premature opening of the collars 66 when the machine is being operated for a spare, I have provided the following mechanism:

A cross bar 99 is provided at the back side of the rack 94, the end portions thereof passing through cam blocks 100 and 101 which are so arranged that when the cross bar is pulled rearwardly the bars 9% are raised. A link 102 extends from the center of the cross bar 99 to a bell crank 103 pivoted to a stationary part. reaches from said bell crank to a slot 105 in a disk 106 which is journaled upon the shaft 11, already referred to. Therefore, by turning the disk 106, the parts will be operated to open the collars before the frame reaches the fully lowered position to bring about normal operation by the arms 96 In, order to sweep the down pins from A link 104.

the floor of the alley into the pit 13, the following .mechanism is provided A U-shaped member 107 has its arms pivoted to upright frame members at the points 108. One of said arms is also provided with a bell crank extension 109, and

a link 110'reaches therefrom rearwardly and is connected to the upper end of a swinging arm 111. The lower end of said swinging arm is pivoted to a stationary part, said arm being provided with a pin 112 working in a cam slot 113 of the operating disk 114:. By rotating said disk the U-sh. ed member will be swept downwardly ant then rear-.

magnets 115 and 116 at the sides of the back of the machine (see Fig. 7). As already explained, the shaft 41 is continuously driven by the chain 44 from the motor -13. Said shaft carries the disks 117, 118, 119 and 120 for the four movements just referred to, as well as other disks 121 and 122. Each of these disks is secured to the shaft and is provided around its periphery with an internal toothed periphery 123 as typically shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The teeth of these flanges therefore rotate continuously with the shaft 41.

Adjacent to these disks 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122 are the other disks 123, 124, 125, 126, 127 and 128, all of which are loose on the shaft 41. Each of these loose disks has a finger 129 slidably mounted within a slot 130 in its face, and normally projected outwards by a spring 131 (see Figs. 9 and 10). When these fingers are thus projected outwards the full extent they engage the teeth of the adjacent rotating flanges so as to lock or clutch the parts together. This is the normal condition, and results in a driving connection. The flanges 123, 124, and 126 are connected to the cam plates 1.14, 86 and 90 and to the sprocket which drives the chain 74 for the shaft 73, respectively.

Beneath each of the aforesaid loose disks and its finger 129 is a lug such as 132 (see Fig. 10), and each of these lugs has a slanting face looking in the direction of approach of the corresponding finger 129. Then such lug stands in the interfering position the finger will ride up onto it as the disk completes its revolution, thus forcing the finger inwards against its siring 131 and causing disengagement of the clutch. This is clearly evident from examination of Fig. 10.

The lugs 1 2 or the fo r lu he are e mac ine there extend a pair of slide bars 137 and 138, respectively. These bars are respectively oper ted for a strike a and'for a spare. The bar 137 has lugs 139,140,141 and 142 respectively in os1- tion to engage the fin ers 133, 134 an 135 in such sequence as to rst operate the sweep arm 107, then the cam 90 to operate the collars 62 and allow the pins to drop into the frame, then the chain 74 to rotate the shaft 73 for moving the. frame down, and then the cam 86 for insuring a full downward movement of the frame so as to set the pins in place.

The bar 138 for a spare carries the lugs 143, 144 (behind 141) and 145 soplaced as to first cause operation of the chain 74 to drive the shaft 73 in order 'to commence downward movement of the frame, then operation of the cam block 90 to cause the cups of the frame to ;open and receive the heads of the standing pins, and then close said cups and raise the frame, thus lift- I ing the standing pins in order, then to cause the arms 107 to sweep the down pins into the pit, and .then to allow the chain 74 to make a second turn of the shaft 73 so as to again partially lower the frame, and cause the cups to be again opened so as to set the ins which they carry into the same positions which they formerly occupied, after which the frameis again raised to its uppermost position.

In order to operate the bars 137 and 138 I have provided the cam blocks 146 and 147 adjacent to the clutch plates 127 and 128, respectively. These cam blocks are provided with peripheral grooves, as indicated in Fig. 7, which engage pins on the adjacent ends of the bars 137 and 138, respectively. Upon exciting the magnet 115 its lug 132 will be withdrawn allowing the clutch 121-427 to operate and causing the cam disk 146 to make a complete revolution for a strike. On the other hand by energizing the magnet 116 its lug 132 will be withdrawn allowing the clutch 122128 to operate and rotate the cam disk 147 a revolution for a spare.

Themagnets 115 and 116 may be energized from a distance by suitable switches and electric wiring the arrangement of which will be well understood in view of the state of the art relating to such devices.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invent-ion, still I do not intend to limit myself to the same, except as I may do so in the claims.

' I claim:

1. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit series of' radially mounted immediately behind the same, and the rails downwardly sloping towards the frontend' of the alley for the return of balls thereto, of a horizontal conve or reaching rearwardly from theback en of the pit, a vertical conveyor adjacent to the rear end of the horizontal conve or and having a series of outwardly reachin carriers traveling close to the rear end of t e horizontal conveyor to raise the pins' andballs delivered thereby through a vertical chute, the lower portion of said chute being of enlargedsize for the accommodation of the balls, a side delivery opening from said enlarged chute portion to the rear raised end of the ball rails, a forwardly and downwardly reaohin .pin chute at the up or end of the vertica conveyor, a pin de ivery slide at the front end thereof, a series of cups radially mounted with respect to a common spindle for rotation thereabout and movement beneath the lower delivery end of the slide aforesaid, a lates also mounted for rotation about t e spindle aforesaid movable with respect to the cups aforesaid, spring means normally causing the plates and cups to travel in harmony, means for momentarily. arresting the movement of the plates with respect to the cups at the completion of one complete revolution to uncover the lower ends of the cups for the delivery of pins therefrom, a series of guide chutes beneath the uncovered cup positions to receive the pins sodelivered, means in conjunction with the on s and the pin slide aforesaid operable to a vance the series of cups the distance of one cup each time a pin is delivered through the slide, a series of collars at the lower ends of the guide chutes corresponding in position to the frame positions of the pins, each of said collars including a movable part normally retained in position to retain a pin therein, a vertically movable frame beneath said collars, a series of frame collars therein cor responding in position to the'positions of the first mentioned collars, each of said frame collars including a movable part normally retained in position to retain a pin therein, a sweep arm, a horizontal pivotal mounting therefor about which it may be swept to remove pins from the rear end of the alley into the pit, means operable to release the pins from thefirst mentioned cups, means operable to move the movable parts of the frame cups, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the .floor of the alley, means for, swinging the sweep arm back and forth, and means under control of the operator for actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, and the rails downwardly sloping towards the front end of the alley for the return of balls thereto, of a horizontal conveyor reaching rearwardly from the back end of the pit, a vertical conveyor adjacent to the rear end of the horizontal conveyor and having a series of outwardly reaching carriers traveling close to the rear end of the horizontal conveyor to raise the pins and balls delivered thereby through a vertical chute, a side delivery opening from said chute portion to the rear raised end of the ball rails, a forwardly and downwardly reaching pin chute at the upper end of the vertical conveyor, a pin delivery slide at the front end thereof, a series of cups radially mounted with respeet to a common spindle for rotation thereabout and movement beneath the lower delivery end of the slide aforesaid, aseries of radially mounted plates also mounted for rotation about the spindle aforesaid movable with respect to the cups aforesaid, spring means normally causing the plates and cups to travel in harmony, means for momentarily arresting the movement of the plates with respect to the cups at the completion of one complete revolution to uncover the lower ends of the cups for the delivery of pins therefrom, a series of guide chutes beneath the uncovered cup positions to receive the pins so delivered, means in conjunction with the cu s and the pin slide aforesaid operable to a Vance the series of cups the distance of one cup each time a pin is delivered through the slide, a series of collars at the lower ends of the guide chutes corresponding in position to the frame positions of the ins, each of said collars including a movab e part normally retained in position to retain a pin therein, a vertically movable frame beneath said collar, a series of frame collars therein corresponding in position to the positions of the first mentioned collars, each of said frame collars including a movable part normally retained in position to retain a pin therein, a sweep arm, a horizontal pivotal mounting therefor about which it may be swept to remove pins from the rear end of the alley into the pit, means operable to release the pins from the first mentioned cups, means operable to move the movable parts of the frame cups, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, means for swinging the sweep arm back and forth, and means under control of the operator for actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, and the rails downwardly sloping towards the front end of the alley for thc'return of balls thereto, of a horizontal conveyor reaching rearwardly from the back end of the pit, a vertical conveyor adjacent to the rear end of the horizontal conveyor andshaving. a series of outwardly reaching carriers traveling close to the rear end of the horizontal conveyor to raise the pins and balls delivered thereby through a vertical chute a side delivery openingfrom said chute to t e rear raised end of the ball rails, a forwardly and downwardly reaching pin chute at the upj the pins delivered there rom, means inconv junction with the cups and the pin slide aforesaid operable to advance the series of cups the distance of one cup each time a pin is delivered through the slide, a series of,

collars at the lower ends of the guide chutes corresponding in position to the frame positions of the pins, each of said collarsincluding a movable part normally retained 1n position to retain a pin therein, a vertically movable frame beneath said collars, a

series of frame collars therein corresponding in position to the positions of the first mentioned collars, each of said frame collars including a movable part normally retained in position to retain a pin therein, a sweep arm, a horizontal pivotal mounting therefor about which it may be swept to remove pins from the rear end of the alley into the pit, means operable to release the pins from the first mentioned cups, means operable to move the movable parts of the frame cups, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, means for swinging the sweep arm back and forth, and means under control of the operator for actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, and the rails downwardly sloping towards the front end of the alley for the return of balls thereto, of means adjacent to the pit for raising the balls to the rear raised end of the ball rails and for raising the pins, a forwardly and downwardly reaching pin chute to which the pins are delivered, a pin delivery slide at the front end of said chute, a series of cups mounted for movement about a common spindle and beneath the lower delivery end of the slide, aforesaid, means for retaining the pins within their cups until a complete movement of the cups has been accomplished, a series of guide chutes beneath the cup positions to receive the pins delivered therefrom, means in conjunction with the cups and the pin slide aforesaid operable to advance the series of cups the distance of a cup each time a pin is delivered to the slide,

ill

1 lower delivery end releasing the pins from the collars, a vertically movable frame beneath said collars, means for releasing the pins from the frame collars, a sweep arm, a horizontal pivotal mounting therefor about which it may be swe t to remove the ins from the rear end of t e alley into the p1t, means for operating the pin releasing means of the chute cups, means for operating the releasing means of the frame cups, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, means for sweeping the sweep arm back and forth, and means under control of the operator for actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, of a in delivery slide above the position of t e pit, means for removing pins from the pit and for delivering them to the slide aforesaid, a series of cups mounted for movement about a common spindle and beneath the of the slide aforesaid, a series of guide chutes beneath the. cup positions to receive the pins delivered therefrom, means in conjunction with the cups and the pin slide aforesaid operable to advance the series of cups the distance of one cup each time a pin is delivered to the slide, a series of collars at the lower ends of the guide chutes corresponding in position to the frame positions of the pins, means for releasing-the ins from said collars, a vertically movab e frame for said collars, a series of frame collars therein corresponding in position to the positions of the first mentioned collars, means for releasing the pins from the frame collars, n'leans for sweeping the pins from-the rear end of the alley into the it, means for operating the first mentione pin releasing means, means for operating the pin releasing means of the frame collars, means for moving the sweeping means, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, and means under control of the operator for actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley havin a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, of a pin delivery slide above said parts, means for moving pins from the pit and delivering the same to said slide, a series of cups mounted for movement about a common spindle and beneath the lowerdelivery end of the slide aforesaid, a series of guide chutes beneath the cup positions to receive the pins delivered therefrom, means for bringingfthe cups successively into position to receive pins delivered from the lower end of the slide, a series of collars at the lower ends of the guide chutes corresponding in position to the frame positions of the pins, means for releasing the pins from said collars, a vertically movable frame beneath said collars, a series of frame collars therein corresponding in position to the positions of the first mentioned collars, means for releasing the pins from the frame collars, means for sweeping pins from the rear end of the alley into the pit, means for'operating the first mentioned pinrcleasing means, means for operating the frame .pin releasing means, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, and means under the control of the operator f or actuating said parts selectively, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the rear end of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, of a pin delivery slide above said parts, a series of cups mounted for movement past said slide,

means for bringing said cups successively into position to receive pins delivered from the slide, a series of collars corresponding in position to the frame positions of the pins, means for delivering the pins from the cups to said collars, means forreleasing the pins from the collars, a vertically movable frame beneath said collars, a series of frame collars therein corresponding in position to the positions of the firstmentioned collars, means for releasing the pins from the frame collars, means for sweeping the pins from the alley into the pit, means for operating the first mentioned collar releasing means, means for moving the frame vertically towards and from the floor of the alley, means for operating the frame collar releasing means, and means under the control of the operator for actuating said parts sclectivc'lv, substantially as described.

'8. The combination with the rear cnd of a bowling alley having a pin stand and a pit immediately behind the same, of a series of cups above the position of said partsu means for raising the pins from the pit and delivering them to the cups, a series of collars beneath the cups corresponding in position to the frame positions of. the pins, means for delivering pins from the cups to said collars, means for releasing the pins from the collars, a verticallymovable frame beneath the position of said collars, a series of collars in said frame, means for releasingpins from the frame collars, means for sweeping the pins from the alley into the pit, means fonoperating the first mentioned collar releasing moans, means for operating the frame collar releasing means, and means under the control of the operator for act-uating all of said parts selectively, substan tially as described. ,7

9. The combination with the rear end of a bowlin alley having a pin stand and a sponding to the cups aforesaid, means for pit imme iately behind the same,- of a series releasing pins from the first mentioned cups, 110' of cups above the position of said parts, means for releasing pins from the second means for raising the pins from the pit mentioned 'cups, means for sweeping the and deliver them to the cups, a series of pins into a pit, and means under the control collars beneath the cups corresponding in of the operator for actuating all of said position to the frame positions of the pins, parts, substantially as described.

, a series of vertically movable cups corre- JOSEPH F. PROCH.

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