Bowling ball and pin separator

摘要

A bowling ball and pin separator to prevent bowling pins from being caught up by a ballwheel within an electromechanical pinsetter machine. The separator includes a base plate, a hinge with a spring, and a rigid arm. The hinge connects the rigid arm to the base plate, and the spring provides sufficient tension such that only the weight of a bowling ball is enough to cause the arm to be moved. In certain embodiments, the rigid arm is an elongated member having a plurality of bends.

主权项

1. A pinsetter device, comprising:
a. a pinsetter casing; b. a ballwheel device within said casing for lifting a bowling ball to be returned; and c. a ball and pin separator, said ball and pin separator comprising:
i. a base plate for attaching to the pinsetter casing next to a lift rod base to a first side,ii. a movable rigid arm having a distal end that rests a distance from the ballwheel device sufficient to prevent bowling pins from entering the ballwheel device, and
i. said base plate having a hinge mounted thereon, and having a spring connected at one end to the base plate, and the spring connected at another end to a proximal end of the rigid arm with the rigid arm connected to the hinge and to the spring in a manner to apply sufficient spring tension to urge the rigid arm into a position blocking entry into the ballwheel device, and sufficient tension to prevent said rigid arm from moving when contacted at the distal end by a pin to thereby prevent the pin from entering the ballwheel device, and insufficient tension to prevent the right arm from moving when contacted by a bowling ball to move and allow the bowling ball into the ballwheel device.