Century International Corporation

Amf Bowling, Inc.

Donald E Ingermann

Ronald L Smith

Stephen F Caffrey

Lonney J Steinhoff

Jimmie L Knoll

Joseph C Dechant

Endre Barsi

Ronald G Sullivan

Eldon G Sauer

Alan R DeVoe

In accordance with this invention, a bowling lane dressing apparatus is provided which has a carriage for movement along the bowling lane between the foul line and the pit. Drive wheels are rotatably mounted on the carriage for moving the carriage along the bowling lane by means of drive means connected thereto. A lane buffer roller is journaled on the carriage in lane-contacting relation which extends transversely to the direction of travel. A reservoir is mounted in the carriage for storage of lane-dressing fluid. A transfer roller is mounted in rolling engagement with the lane buffer roller and in fluid communication with the reservoir for transferring fluid from the reservoir to the lane buffing roller. Variable speed drive means is connected to the transfer roller for rotating it at variable speeds to vary the rate of transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the lane buffer roller.

Variable speed transfer roller for bowling lane dressing apparatus

A vacuum bowling lane stripper is provided which has a carriage for movement along a bowling alley from a foul line to the pit. The carriage has a forward portion and a rear portion. A cleaning applicator is provided in the forward portion and a cleaner reservoir is provided in the rear portion. A conduit is provided for supplying cleaner from the reservoir to the applicator for applying cleaner to the bowling alley ahead of the carriage as the carriage is moved along the lane. A vacuum device is provided for removing cleaner and dirt from the surface of the lane, the vacuum device having a vacuum head extending transversely of the forward portion of the carriage and in an operative lane-engaging position.

Fluid handling apparatus for bowling lane cleaning device

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided wherein cleaner is applied to all or a portion of the lane and the cleaner, oil and other residue is picked up by a vacuum head trailing the cleaner applicator in one trip from the foul line to the pit leaving the lane clean and dry. The cleaner can be applied either by means of an applicator pad or by a sprayer. If desired, the cleaning operation can be limited to the last forty-five feet or so, since it is generally desirable to clean this portion of the lane more often than the front portion. On the return or reverse movement of the stripper, no cleaning operations are undertaken but cleaner may be permitted to flow from the cleaner storage tank to the applicator so that the applicator will have sufficient cleaner in it for the beginning of application on the next lane. A mechanism is provided for bowing the vacuum head so that the center is lower than the side edges so that it conforms generally to the concave shape of a bowling alley. A waste tank is provided with appropriate baffles to separate the waste liquid and solids from an air stream created by a vacuum motor attached to the outlet of the waste tank.

Automatic vacuum bowling lane stripper

In accordance with the present invention, a combination apparatus is provided wherein cleaner is applied to all or a portion of the lane and the cleaner, dressing and other residue is picked up by a vacuum head trailing the cleaner applicator followed by a buffer roller to apply new dressing to the lane. If desired, the cleaning operation can be limited to the last forty-five feet or so, since it is generally desirable to clean this portion of the lane more often than the front portion. On the return or reverse movement of the stripper, no cleaning operations are undertaken but cleaner may be permitted to flow from the cleaner storage tank to the applicator so that the applicator will have sufficient cleaner in it for the beginning of application on the next lane. In an alternative embodiment, the applicator may be in the form of a spray nozzle to spray cleaner onto the lane. A distance wheel is provided which supplies digital signals to a control apparatus which sequences each operation at the appropriate position of the carriage along the bowling alley.

Combination bowling lane stripper and dressing apparatus

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided wherein cleaner is applied to all or a portion of the lane and the cleaner, oil and other residue is picked up by a vacuum head trailing the cleaner applicator in one trip from the foul line to the pit leaving the lane clean and dry. If desired, the cleaning operation can be limited to the last forty-five feet or so, since it is generally desirable to clean this portion of the lane more often than the front portion. On the return or reverse movement of the stripper, no cleaning operations are undertaken but cleaner may be permitted to flow from the cleaner storage tank to the applicator so that the applicator will have sufficient cleaner in it for the beginning of application on the next lane. Means is provided for bowing the vacuum head so that the center is lower than the side edges so that it conforms generally to the concave shape of a bowling alley. A waste tank is provided with appropriate baffles to separate the waste liquid and solids from an air stream created by a vacuum motor attached to the outlet of the waste tank.

An improved bowling lane stripping apparatus is disclosed of the type wherein the squeegee-equipped pickup head whose function it is to wipe the alley free of dirt-laden solvent is pivotally connected to the carriage carrying the power unit such that this head is free to raise up without gouging the lane surface as the carriage support wheels roll down the ramps leading into the gutters alongside the lane thereby causing the unit to tip forwardly. As a further improvement, the pickup head is so weighted and displaced forwardly of its pivotal connection to the carriage a distance chosen to cooperate with the weighted head and define a cantilevered mounting capable of maintaining the squeegee carried thereby in continuous wiping contact with the lane surface that thus becomes effective to remove even puddles and pools of liquid left in depressed areas of the latter.

Bowling lane vacuum with floating head

This invention relates to a golf club cleaning machine characterized by a compartmented carousel having an annular tray-forming basket suspended therebeneath which holds several clubs in side-by-side upstanding circular relation for rotation therewith one-at-a-time past one or more nozzles which spray a high-pressure jet of cleaning fluid at least against the hitting face and sole of each club as it passes. An internal baffle having a concave undersurface redirects any cleaning fluid directed or splashing upwardly thereagainst back down onto the exposed portions of the club shafts and the club heads before it can reach the handgrips or otherwise escape from the machine through the opening in the lid. This baffle has inwardly-extending radially-directed slots that divide same into a plurality of individual flaps which deflect as needed to pass the club heads as they are inserted and removed from the tray.

Golf club cleaning machine

Bowling lane duster

This invention relates to a manual bowling lane stripping and dusting apparatus characterized by a frame journalling three rollers spaced one behind the other for independent relative rotation in parallel relation, the rear roller comprising a clutched supply roller for holding a supply of bowling lane dusting cloths, the front roller consisting of a ratcheted take-up roller for storing the soiled toweling or cloth dispensed from the supply roller, and an intermediate pressure roller offset beneath the other two and equipped with a cushioned surface tapered toward each end for pressing the portion of the cleaning web bridging the gap between the front and rear rollers into continuous area contact with the lane across the full width thereof.

Combination bowling lane stripper and duster

This invention relates to an automatic self-propelled machine for stripping oil from bowling lanes which is characterized by a solvent applicator made of absorbant material that applies the oil-dissolving solvent to the lane surface, means for moving the applicator into engagement with the lane surface at predetermined points in the excursion of the stripper, a cam-actuated solvent supply system automatically operative to wet the applicator during a portion of its forward travel toward the pin deck and return trip to the foul line, a rotating residue pick-up roller for continuously picking up the liquid and solid residues from the surface of the lane during both forward and return excursions of the stripper, and a moving curtain wiper mechanism positioned between the applicator and residue pick-up roller in contact with the absorbant surface of the latter and preferably also with the lane surface effective during both the forward and return runs to remove the residues from the pick-up drum as it dries the lane. The invention also relates to a novel arrangement of drive rollers, support rollers and casters cooperating with one another and with the various mechanisms for applying the solvent and removing same that both guide the unit and insure treatment of the lane all the way from the foul line to the pin deck. In addition, the invention encompasses a control system including lane position sensing mechanisms which govern the movements of the stripper as well as its operating cycle.

Growing community of inventors

Arvada, CO, United States of America

Donald E Ingermann