US3093373A

US3093373A - Selector and ejector for bowling balls and pins

Info

Publication number: US3093373A
Application number: US862597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip J Russo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-12-29
Filing date: 1959-12-29
Publication date: 1963-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-11

Description

P. J. RUSSO 3,093,373

SELECTOR AND EJECTOR FOR BOWLING BALLS AND PINS June 11, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1959 Phi/4'0 J Russo INVENTOR.

Q BY 2652100; ZQ/mg P. J. RUSSO 3,093,373

SELECTOR AND EJECTOR FOR BOWLING BALLS AND PINS June 11, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1959 INVENTOR.

P/7/7ip J Russo BY WW Em June 11, 1963 P. J. RUSSO 3,093,373

SELECTOR AND EJECTOR FOR BOWLING BALLS AND PINS Filed Dec. 29:, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.6 1E- 6 I I: l

E I 3" I 5 Q '1 |l| 60 c lgl r Igl I Cb i l l f I- It F; 84

y: g Q .21 ijaw 36 J i 52 f 1/ 82 /A M 96 60 Philip J. Russa INVENTOR ca U BY m W 5 Attorney:

| l I I. I l 1 l l I I Unitd States Patent 3,093,373 SELECTOR AND EJEGTORFOR BOWLING BALLS AND PINS Philip J. Russo, 1401 Boulevard, New Haven, Conn. Filed Dec. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 862,597 15 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention comprises a novel and useful selector and ejector for bowling balls and pins and more particularly relates to an apparatus to effect with a greater certainty the ejection of bowling balls and bowling pins from the elevator mechanism of an automatic bowling pin setter at their respective ball and pin ejection stations.

The subject matter of this invention is similar tothat of my prior copending applications Serial No. 760,432 filed September 11, 1958, now Patent No. 3,044,775, and Serial No. 800,571 filed March 19, 1959. As in my preceding applications, the primary object of this invention is to provide a means and a method to eiiect the selected discharge of bowling balls and bowling pins from the ball and pin elevating mechanism forming a part of an automatic pin setter.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism whereby with only slight structural altera- 'tions the conventional elevator mechanism of an automatic bowling pin setter may be easily converted to effect withce'rtainty the automatic ejection of either unbanded duckpins or rubber banded duckpins at the pin ejection station of the mechanism.

Another object is to provide a means, in accordance with the preceding object whereby the mechanism of this invention can be easily altered to convert it from hard duckpins to the handling of rubber banded duckpins and vice versa.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in accordance with the foregoing objects which shall be capable of ejecting with equal facility rubber banded duckpins whether the same are carried in their erect or in their inverted position by the support bars of the elevating mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a means which will efiectively prevent the accidental and undesired ejection of pins at the ball ejection station of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means to shift either the hard pin or the rubber banded pin on the support bars ofthe elevator mechanism to both prevent the ejection of the pin at the ball ejection station and to better position the pin to ensure :and facilitate its ejection at the pin ejecting station of the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ejector mechanism which will impart a purely horizontal lateral thrust without an upward component of movement to the pin during the ejection of the latter from the elevator mechanism at the pin ejection station.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will simplify as much as possible the automatic ejection of balls and pins from the elevating mechanism of a bowling pin setter.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a support bar construction for the elevator chains of the automatic .pin setting mechanism which is especially adapted for use in handling rubber banded pins and bowling balls.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully herein-after described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numrals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURES 1-3 are fragmentary views in vertical sec- 3,093,373 Patented June 11 1963 "ice tion through a bowling'ball and pin elevator mechanism of an automatic bowling pin setting machine of aconventional type" but showing the ejecting mechanism of this invention and its operation-for ejecting unbanded or hard duckpins from the elevator mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal viewthrou'g'h a portion of the elevator mechanism and showing the mounting of the pin ejector thereon; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the pin ejector which is employed to eject balls and' pins at the ball and pin ejection stations respectively of the apparatus;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are'fragmentary views similar to FIGURES l-3 but showing the modified mechanism and its operation for ejecting rubber banded pins from the elevator mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a view of a further modified construction of the pin ejecting mechanism of FIGURES 6 and 7 by which a horizontal line thrust is impantedto the pin for ejecting the same from the elevator and showing a rubber banded pin in full lines in its normal position and in dotted lines in a reverse position on the support bars of the elevator;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal view of the ejecting mechanism of FIGURES;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the construction of the novel pin and'ball' support bars ofthe elevator mechanism, which are especially adapted for handling -rubber banded duekpins; and

FIGURE 1 1 is a horizontal view showing the support bars of FIGURE 10 in use.

Although the present invention is not limited thereto, it is particularly applicable for association and use with the automatic ball and pin elevating mechanism forming a part of a conventional automatic bowling pin setting machine such as the Sherman pin setter. Since elevator mechanisms and automatic pin setting machines of this type are well understood by those skilled in the art, a detailed description of the construction and operation of the same is deemed to be unnecessary for an understand- 40 ing of the construction and operation of the present invention. Briefly, however, it will be observed that a portion of the elevator mechanism for the balls and pins of the pin setting machine has been illustrated the same consisting of two pairs of vertically extending conveyor chains. As will be best understood from FIGURE 1 in conjunction with FIGURE 4, the four conveyor chains are disposed in two pairs of chains forming a vertical passage therebctween through which the pins and balls are elevated with the chains of each pair being disposed in parallel relation.

Thus, there is in each pair a front chain 10 and a rear chain 12 mounted for vertical travel in parallel'vertical planes, with the vertical flights of the chains 10 and 1-2 of one pair confronting those of an adjacent pair. A pluralityof support bars or supports 14 are provided, each pair of supports consisting of one bar 14 carried by

chains

10 and,12 of one pair and disposed in parallel relation .to a similar bar carried by the corresponding chains of the other pair of chains. These bars are spaced from each other a suflicient distance whereby they may support upon their. top surface either a bowling ball or a bowling pin.

In the case of the usual hard or unbanded duekpin 16 due to the position of the center of gravity, the neck of the pin will lie in depending relation between a pair of support bars 14 with. the enlarged lower portion of the pin being carried by the top surface of the support bars.

The conventional Sherman pin' setting machine, owning to the necessary close tolerances and shapes in the components thereof, will not handle rubber banded pins.

In the case of a rubber banded duckpin 18, the pin is seated upon the support bars by its rubber band 20 and since the latter has parallel annular flat top and bottom surfaces, such a pin is inherently capable of resting in stable position upon the support bars in either the full line position shown at 18 in FIGURE 8 which is the normal position of the pin when carried by the elevating mechanism or in a relatively inverted position shown in dotted lines at 22 in FIGURE 8.

In accordance with the operation of conventional elevating mechanisms, only hard or unbanded duckpins 16 are handled by the elevator, the present invention being adapted to handle with equal facility after appropriate slight adaptations of the mechanism, either the plain unbanded pins or the rubber banded duckpins.

The conventional elevator mechanism also includes vertically spaced ejection stations at which the balls and pins carried by the support bars 14 of the elevator mechanism are selectively ejected, these comprising a lower ball ejection station indicated by the numeral 30 and by means of which bowling balls ejected from the apparatus are returned to the bowler for use in a manner which forms no part of the present invention. There is also provided in such conventional mechanisms an upper station 32 constituting the pin ejection station and which is usually provided with a conveyor belt 33 by which the bowling pins ejected at that station are delivered to the pin setting mechanism of the automatic pin setting mac me.

In the'Sherman machine, an entirelydifferent mechanism is provided at the station 30 to eject balls from the elevator from that provided at the station 32 to eject pins, it being necessary to precisely coordinate and synchronize the drive means for the two ejectors with that of the elevator. In the present invention, however, cooperating with the two stations and disposed on opposite sides of the elevator mechanism therefrom are a pair of ejector means 34 and 36 for the two stations respectively identical in principle but of slightly different properties. These ejector means are automatically operated by the support bars 14 of the elevator chains in a manner to be subsequently set forth and which are described in detail and claimed in my prior Patent No. 3,044,775. Since both of the ejector means 34 and 36 are identical in principle and of similar construction, the description of one will suflice for an understanding of both. Accordingly, attention is now directed to FIGURE wherein it will be seen that each ejector means consists of a flat metal plate 40 constituting an ejector blade having one edge formed as a tubular bead 42 by means of which the ejector blade is pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 44, see FIGURE 1, which pivot pin in turn is mounted by bearing blocks 46 secured to any suitable portion of the elevator mechanism framework. v

The opposite edge of the blade 40 from the pivot bead 42 is provided with a recessed portion 48 which terminates in a pair of ends 50. .At the midportion of the recess a portion of the material of the plate 40 is bent or stretched downwardly at 52 in an angular relation to the fingers 50 as will be apparent from FIGURES 1-3. The fingers 50 comprise actuating fingers for the ejector blade 40 while the tab 52 comprises a thrust or ejector finger which imparts the desired lateral thrust to the bowling ball or the bowling pin for the purpose of ejecting the latter from a the support bars 14.

A pair of limit stops 60 and 61 are mounted upon a suitable portion of the framework of the apparatus in appropriate position adjacent each ejector means shown at 32 or 34 whereby the stop member 60 will engage the ejector. finger 52 and limit swinging movement of the ejector blade'in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 1-3, 6-8 and will stop or hold the ejector thrust or ejector finger 52 whereby the latter will engage the ball or pin and discharge the same laterally from the support bars at the respective ball or

pin discharge stations

30 and 32.

It will be understood that the two actuator fingers 50 are so positioned that they will each rest upon the top surface of the pair of support bars as the latter move upwardly past the ejector means with the ejector finger 52 being disposed for movement between the two support bars. Thus, the upward movement of the support bars which carries the bowling ball or bowling pin thereon will produce an upward swinging of the ejector means whereby the ejector finger will impart an upward and outward thrust to the ball or pin and thus eject the same from the conveyor. In my prior Patent No. 3,044,775 there is set forth a full and detailed description of the operation of this ejector means.

The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to the conventional Sherman pin setter machine construction previously described and constitutes improvements thereover. Reference is made first to the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1-5 which relates to the form of machine adapted to handle the hard or unbanded duckpins, after which the further changes necessary in the machine to enable it to handle rubber banded duckpins will be discussed in connection with FIGURES 6-11.

In modifying and adapting the operation of the Sherman machine for handling hard duckpins in accordance with this invention, the following structural changes, described in detail hereinafter, are required:

(1) A ball and pin shifting cam 72 is added.

(2) A ball ejector 34 and a pin ejector 36 of simplified construction are substituted for the Sherman ball and pin ejector.

(3) Limit stops 60 and 61 are added for each ejector (4) A guide member 63.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be observed that there is secured to a suitable portion of the framework of the elevator mechanism a cam member 72 which extends between the opposed pairs of conveyor chains and lies within each pair of support bars 14 as the latter moves upwardly as seen in FIG. 4. The cam member has a lower portion 74 which is inclined upwardly and inwardly between the conveyor chains to a portion 76, from which the remaining upper portion of the cam member inclines upwardly and outwardly.

The purpose of the cam member 72 is to effect a lateral shifting and a tilting of the bowling pin 16 upon its support bars 14 in order that the pin may successfully pass the ball ejector 34 and thus avoid being ejected at the ball ejection station 30, and whereby the pin will be further more effectively positioned for engagement by and ejection by the pin ejector 36 at the pin ejection station 32. The cam member 72 cooperates with the specific shape of the top surface of the support bars 14 to effect this purpose in the following manner.

The support bars 14 of the conventional Sherman machine have their top surfaces inclined downwardly from their ends towards their central portions whereby balls and pins will tend normally to seat in the recessed central portion.

As the bowling pin 16 is lifted vertically by the elevator mechanism as shown in FIGURE 1, it first strikes the cam surface of the portion 74 and is then and by means of engaging this cam surface as the pin is lifted therealong, tilted or inclined with its upper portion towards the right and is shifted on the support barstowards the right as shown in FIGURE 1. Since the pin has a rounded surface which engages the previously mentioned inclined surface of each support bar, it is thus readily tilted and shifted towards the right upon the support bar and thus moves the pin upwardly from the central depression and up the inclined surface at the right end of the bar.

However, as soon as the bowling pin has passed the point 76 of the cam member 72, it encounters the oppositely inclined receding cam surface of the upper portion of the cam member and the natural center of gravity of the pin causes the same to tilt in the opposite direction so that the large portion of the pin will ride against the upper cam surface as shown in FIGURE 2. As the pin tilts so that its axis is inclined towards the left as in FIGURE 2, the extent of this tilting is limited by a guiding action of the upper portion of the cam 72. Thus, the cam member 72 engages and supports the enlarged portion of the pin while as shown in FIGURE 2 the guide surface of the guide member 63, attached to the stop 60, engages the neck of the pin. In this manner the pin axis is inclined at an angle of about 30 to 69 to the horizontal and usually about 45. This opposite tilting of the pin as shown in FIGURE 2 will cause the same to clear the ball ejector 34 as suggested in FIGURE 2 so that the recess 48 in the ejector will permit the displaced upper portion of the pin to pass therethrough.

As the elevator conveys the pin still further upwardly, the pin being no longer supported by the cam 72 will slide to the left to and slightly past the center of the support bars and will now again tilt towards the right as shown in FIGURE 3 and thus be properly positioned for engagement by the ejector finger 52 to the best advantage. The ejecting operation is just beginning in FIGURE 3 and it will be understood that further upward travel of the support bars 14 will lift the actuator fingers 50, causing the ejector finger 52 to rapidly engage and push the pin out of the elevator mechanism and onto the belt conveyor 33 at the pin ejection station 32.

When the elevator lifts a bowling ball on the support bars, the ball will necessarily be shifted momentarily from its central position on the bars 14 by the

cam surface

74, 76. This however is incidental and serves no useful purpose and the ball at once returns to its central position on the bars after the point 76 is passed.

Reference is now made specifically to FIGURES 6-8 for an understanding of the modified construction and operation of the mechanism when rubber banded duckpins 18 are being lifted by the elevator mechanism.

In modifying the Sherman machine to enable it to handle rubber banded pins, the structural alterations required are:

(1) The Sherman support bars are replaced by the support bars of FIGURE 10.

(2) A pin positioning cam roller 65 is added.

(3) A pin shifter cam 80 is added.

(4) Ball ejector 34 and pin ejector 36 are substituted for the Sherman ejectors.

(5) Limit stops 60, 61 for each

ejector

34, 36 are added.

(6) Pin orienting stop 67 is added.

(7) A lateral thrust ejector lever 90 is added.

As in the preceding arrangement there is also provided a cam member shown at 80 for shifting the pins on the support bars. However, this cam member is disposed on the opposite side of the elevator mechanism from the cam member 72 previously described. It includes a relatively long upwardly and inwardly sloping or inclined portion 82 which at the point 84 joins with an upwardly and outwardly inclined upper portion 86. As in the preceding embodiment, this cam member may be in the form of a band or strap which is rigidly secured at its two ends to appropriate'portions of the frame of the elevating mechanism.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 6-11, and which is specifically adapted to handle rubber banded duckpins, a novel construction of support bar 71, shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, is substituted for the conventional support bars 14.

Thus, the support bars 71 are rectangular in cross-section having a fiat, planar top surface 73 of varying width upon which the bands 20 of the rubber banded pins 18 6 are slidably seated in either their normal, inverted position of FIGURES 6, 7 and shown in full lines in FIG URE 8 or in the occasional erect position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 8.

The inner or adjacent vertical faces of each pair of bars is indicated at 75 while the opposite or outer vertical faces are shown at '77. Laterally projecting outwardly from the faces 77 are bifurcated lugs 79 which are slidably guided as shown in FIGURE 11 on the edges of housing plates 19 with which the conventional Sherman pin setter is provided to enclose the elevator chains.

Tapering, beveled surfaces 87 are provided extending from the ends 'of the bars 71 to the midportion thereof upon the adjacent edge portions of the top and side surfaces 73 and 75 to provide a recessed portion of greatest depth and width at the center of the bar. This serves to receive and normally retain a bowling ball at the center of the bars.

At the ejection end of the bars a beveled or cutaway surface 83 is provided in the top surface 73 and the outer vertical face 77. The purpose of this structure is to reduce the width of the top surface 73 of the bar, at its ejection end to a relatively narrow rib 85, thereby reducing sliding friction of the rubber band 20 on the bar to a minimum.

The arrangement is such that as the rubber banded duckpin 18 in either its normal or inverted position is carried upwardly by the support bars, it will engage by the band 20 the cam surface of the lower portion 82 of the cam member 80. This will gradually shift the pin upon the support bars laterally away from the ball ejector means 34 previously described, the pin being supported in a horizontal position by means of the annular flat downwardly facing surface of the rubber band 20 during its travel. By virtue of this lateral displacement, the pin will therefore be so positioned relative to the ejector. 34 that when the latter is operated automatically by passage of the support bars 71 thereby, the ejector will be ineffective to discharge the pin from the elevator.

However, when the ball ejector 34- is actuated, its ejector finger 52, as shown in 'FIGURE 7, will engage the undersurface of the band 20 and lift that side of the band and pin and slide them towards the right. The pin is thereby shifted closer to the pin ejector 36 by the action of the ball ejector 34.

When the pin reaches the pin ejector 36 opposite the pin ejection station 3 2, the ejector means 36 will be effective to have its ejector finger 52 engage the large portion of the pin beneath the band 20 and thus lift and tilt the pin while ejecting it from the support bars.

It is necessary for the successful operation of the Sherman pin setter when modified in accordance with this invention for handling rubber banded pins/that the pins shall emerge at the pin ejection station 32 onto the con veyor 33 butt first. This automatically occurs when hard 'or unbanded duckpins are being handled. In their normal inverted position, see the full line showing in FIGURE 8, the pin when ejected will strike its depending neck against the end of the conveyor 33 thus ensuring that the pin will rest butt first on the conveyor. However, with rubber banded pins, it is possible for the pin to occasionally become seated in the dotted line position of FIGURE 8 on the support bars. In that case, since the pin neck is upward, it would not strike the conveyor end 33 and might emerge neck first, thereby jamming the magazine of the machine. To avoid this possibility, there is provided an orienting stop 67 which is suitably mounted upon the framework of the elevator and is so positioned relative to the pin ejection station that when the pin is discharged from the support bars 71 by the pin ejector 36, the neck of the pin will strike the stop 67 causing the pin to turn and drop upon the conveyor 33 in a butt first position.

As just described, the pin has been displaced to the left of its central position on the bars 71 by the cam 82 a sufficient distance so that the ball ejector 34 will not strike the body of the pin and thereby inevitably eject it, but will engage the band, draw the pin to the right and better position it for the pin ejector 36 to discharge it at the pin ejector station.

Occasionally a pin will become seated on the support bars 71 so far to the left that it will not be engaged by the cam member 82 or either

ejector

34 or 36. To overcome this possibility there is provided a pin positioning camming element which may be in the form of a roller cam 65 in the form of a cylindrical roller suitably mounted upon the frame of the machine and positioned to engage the left side of the rubber band 20 when the pin is positioned too far to the left on the support bars and shift the pin towards the right to the desired position for further shifting action by the ball ejector finger as previously set forth; or for action by the longer or the extended ejector finger of the pin ejector as previously described.

It will further be understood that when balls are carried by the support bars, the cam means previously described will likewise cause a displacement of or shifting of the balls upon support bars. However, owing to the inclined or beveled surfaces 87 of the support bars, the balls will promptly return to their original center position' thereon. Consequently, the operation of the ball ejector will-not be affected by the shifting of the balls upon the support bars.

In some instances it is preferred in the ejection of rubber banded pins to impart a horizontal thrust thereto in a straight line from the ejector means towards the ejection station, to thus discharge or slide the pins from the support bars without tilting the pins in the manner shown in FIGURE 7. For this purpose there is provided an ejector assister which as shown in FIGURE 8 consists of an elongated strap or bar 90 having its upper end pivoted as by a pivot pin 92 to a suitable journal block 94 and with its lower end having an arcuate portion 96. The lower portion is disposed between the ejector means 36 and the elevator mechanism whereby a swinging movement towards and from the ejection station 32 will be imparted to the assister ejector 90 by the action of the ejector means 36.

The curvature of the face of the portion 96 of the ejector assister which engages the rubber band 20 of the duckpin is of such contour that the thrust imparted by this face of the ejector assister to the rubber band of the pin will lie either in or below the horizontal plane giving the pivotal swinging movement of the member 90 to thus impart a straight line thrust which will slide the rubber banded pin from the support bars and eject the pin at the ejection station 32.

It is obvious that other structure than that illustrated could bedesigned and employed to carry out the principles and the method of this invention. The method consists in the steps of shifting a bowling pin upon the support bars of the elevator mechanism so that the pin will assume a position on the support bars and an inclination which will enable it to pass the ball ejector without being ejected by the latter and yet thereafter will automatically be affected by the center of gravity and the inclining surfaces on the top of the support bars and returned to a position where it will be most effectively engaged by the pin ejector. Thus the apparatus will enable the elevating mechanism which handles both bowling balls and bowling pins indiscriminately to effectively distinguish between the presence of a bowling ball or a bowling pin at the ball ejection station whereby only the ball will be ejected; and which will facilitate and ensure the ejection of the pin whether a rubber banded duckpin in either normal or inverted position or an unbanded duckpin, at the pin ejection station.

When it is desired to convert the device of the present invention from the handling of hard or unbanded duckpins to the handling of rubber banded duckpins, the device can be easily altered by the following steps:

(1) The pin shifting cam 72 of FIGURE 1 is removed and replaced by the shifting cam and the member 65 of FIGURE 6;

(2) The support bars 14 of FIGURE 1 are replaced by the support bars 71 of FIGURE 10;

(3) The clearance between the pin conveyor 33 and the elevator will be increased;

(4) The ejectors 36 will be replaced by ejectors having longer ejector fingers 50;

(5) The ejector assister may be installed.

(6) The bar 67 of FIGURE 8 will be installed.

For converting a device handling rubber banded pins to one for handling hard or unbanded duckpins a reversed procedure which will be readily apparent will be employed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair ofsupports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said elevating means, ejector means positioned at each of said stations at the opposite side of the elevator therefrom and each operable to eject a ball or pin from said elevator at its respective station, means for effecting operation of each ejector by movement of said supports past the latter, means including a cam mounted in fixed relation to said elevator and said ball ejector and extending into the path of travel of balls and pins carried by said supports for shifting a ball or pin on said supports toward said ball ejector and for subsequently allowing the pin after said shifting to tilt by its center of gravity away from said ball ejector whereby to clear the latter and avoid ejection thereby at the ball ejection station.

2. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said elevating means, ejector means positioned at each of said stations at the opposite side of the elevator therefrom and each operable to eject a ball or pin from said elevator at its respective station, an injection assister, means mounting said assister for to and fro movement between said pin ejector and said pin ejector station for imparting upon actuation by said pin ejector an ejecting thrust to said pin in a horizontal direction and towards said pin ejection station.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said assister comprises a vertically elongated bar, said mounting means pivotally supporting the upper end of said bar, said bar at its lower end having a curved contact surface for engaging the side of a pin and of a curvature such that the thrust of said bar during pivoting of the latter maintains the thrust of said bar against the pin in a horizontal plane.

4. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each 9 pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said elevating means, ejector means positioned at each of said stations at the opposite side of the elevator therefrom and each operable to eject a ball or pin from said elevator at its respective station, said supports having each a top surface for supporting thereon a ball or the enlarged base portion of a pin with the neck of the pin projecting downwardly between said supports, said top surfaces being depressed at an intermediate portion and inclined upwardly towards the opposite ends of the support whereby t-o normally seat a ball or pin upon said depressed intermediate portion, means including a cam disposed to shift said pin upon said inclined portion whereby the center of gravity of the pin will tilt the larger diameter portion of said pin away from said ball ejector and thereby prevent ejection of the pin thereby.

5. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin discharge stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said pairs of supports, ejector means positioned each at one of said stations and at the opposite side of the elevator therefrom and each operable to eject at their respective stations a ball or pin from said pairs of supports, means for effecting operation of each ejector by movement of said supports past the ejector, means including a cam mounted in fixed relation to said elevating means and said ball ejector and extending into the path of travel of balls and pins carried by said supports for shifting a pin upon its associated supports relative to said ball ejector a distance sufiicient to render the latter ineffective toeject said pin.

6. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin discharge stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said pairs of supports, a pair of ball and pin ejectors of identical construction mounted each at one of said discharge stations but on the opposite side of the elevating means therefrom, means for operating each ejector when a pair of supports passes the ejector and the associated discharge station, means for displacing a pin upon said supports to a position where the ball ejector will be ineffective to eject the pin at the ball discharge station.

7. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin discharge stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said pairs of supports, a pair of ball and pin ejectors of identical construction mounted each at one of said discharge stations but on the opposite side of the elevating means therefrom, means for operating each ejector when a pair of supports passes the ejector and the associated discharge station, a ball ejector disposed at said ball ejector station but on the opposite side of the elevating means therefrom, means mounting said ejector *for swinging movement towards said ball discharge station in an ejecting stroke, means for causing an ejecting stroke of said ball ejector each time a pair of supports passes said ball ejector and said ball discharge station, means for shifting the position of a pin in advance of passage of the pin past said ball 10 ejector to a position upon the supports in which the ball ejector will be ineffective to eject the pin at the ball discharge station.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a stationary cam disposed adjacent to the ball discharge station and prior thereto and on the same side of the elevating means therewith, said cam projecting between the supports of each pair in a position to engage a pin carried by said supports and shift it towards said ball ejector for tilting away from the latter.

9. The combination of claim -6 wherein said last named means comprises a stationary cam positioned adjacent and in advance of the ball ejector, said cam projecting between the supports of each pair and disposed to shift a pin carried by said supponts away from the ball ejector a sufficient distance to escape ejection at said ball discharge station.

10. The oombination of claim 8 including guide means disposed opposite said cam, said cam and guide means cooperatively engaging the ends of a pin for limiting the tilting movement thereof.

11. In the combination of a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating means mounted upon said frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means, each pair of supports being positioned for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin ejectors, vertically spaced ball and pin discharge stations associated with said ejeotors but on the opposite side of the elevating means therefrom, means for operating each ejector when a pair of supports passes the ejector and the associated discharge station, said ball ejector having an ejector finger movable between the supports of each pair during the operation of the ejector, means disposed in advance of and adjacent said ball ejector for displacing a rubber banded pin upon said supports away from said ball ejector a sufficient distance to prevent said ejector finger from engaging said pin but enabling it to engage the under surface of the rubber pin and upon operation of said finger to lift and tilt the pin and slide it on said supports towards said ejectors and position it for engagement by the pin ejector.

12. The combination of claim 11 including means movably mounted adjacent said pin ejector and disposed between the latter and said pin discharge station for engagement by said pin ejector on its ejecting stroke and imparting a horizontal thrust to said pin towards said discharge station.

13. The combination of claim 5 including means movably mounted adjacent said pin ejector and disposed between the latter and said pin discharge station for engagement by said pin ejector on its ejecting stroke and imparting a horizontal thrust to said pin towards said discharge station.

14. A method for selectively ejecting bowling balls and rubber banded bowling pins from an elevator of the type having ventically spaced, vertically moving supports for lifting balls and pins to vertically spaced discharge stations and having an ejector at each station for ejecting a ball or pin thereat comprising; ejecting balls from said supports at the ball discharge station, shifiting the pin on its support toward the ball discharge station out of the path of eifeotive ejecting movement of the ejector at the ball discharge station, lifting the pin at its side remote from the discharge stations and moving it toward the pin ejector and thereafter ejecting the pin from the support at the pin discharge station.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein during the last mentioned step the pins are ejected from the supports by a horizontal thrust applied to (the pins in the direction of the pin discharge station.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Parra et a1. Feb. 8, 1944 Farm et a1. Feb. 8, 1944 Parry May 31, 1955 Janes Dec. 15, 1959 Sherman Jan. 12, 1960

Claims

6. IN THE COMBINATION OF A BOWLING BALL AND PIN ELEVATOR, A SUPPORT FRAME, VERTICALLY MOVING ELEVATING MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME, VERTICALLY SPACED PAIRS OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED SUPPORTS ON SAID ELEVATING MEANS, EACH PAIR OF SUPPORTS BEING POSITIONED FOR SUPPORTING THEREON AND THEREBETWEEN BOWLING BALLS OR BOWLING PINS, VERTICALLY SPACED BALL AND PIN DISCHARGE STATIONS AT WHICH BALLS AND PINS ARE TO BE RESPECTIVELY EJECTED FROM SAID PAIRS OF SUPPORTS, A PAIR OF BALL AND PIN EJECTORS OF IDENTICAL CON-