A bowling ball return mechanism having a unitary frame structure which is mounted above a lifting track which curves upwards from the end of an underlane bowling ball return track up to the ball storage tray at the approach of the bowling alley. The unitary structure maintains the complete unit including a rotating tire with a compressable surface for positive engagement of an incoming bowling ball for movement up the lifting track, a rotating lifting belt which runs over the tire at one end and...

In bowling establishments, the bowling balls being returned on a ball return race must be lifted to a higher level in the vicinity of the player's position. This is effected by means of a belt drive, which is seated on a pivotable ball lift mechanism (6). If a ball (3) is not engaged by the belt (9), a feeler causes the arm (12) of the pivotable mechanism (6) to be lowered, as a result of which the ball is engaged by the belt (9) and is transported obliquely upward along the return race (2). As ...

A portion of an AMF ball return system is disclosed wherein the ball lift belt is shown with two humps thereon, and when the belt is rotated, a bowling ball is compressed between a hump on the belt and the adjoining lift rail. A ball placed thereon rolls up the lift ramp and down the engaging hump while moving the ball.

A tire wheel for a bowling ball return system is provided with a high friction surface. The high friction surface is achieved by way of a circumferential strip of a flexible elastomeric material which is adhered to the surface of the tire wheel. One end of the strip is provided with a bevel which faces in the direction of wheel rotation. The wheel is disposed along an upwardly inclined portion of a bowling ball return track.

A bowling ball is returned from the pit area of the bowling alley to the ball storage rack in the approach area of the alley through a pneumatic transfer apparatus and method. The bowling ball is delivered from the pit area to an elongated tube via an inclined track and sucked into the elongated tube where it is accelerated through the tube located under the alley toward the approach area of the alley. As the bowling ball reaches the approach area it is diverted from its travel in the elongated ...

A lift for a ball elevator wheel for an automatic pinsetting bowling machine is formed of a substantially rectangular strip of flexible elastomeric material with a first bevel in the direction of rotation of the elevator wheel and a second bevel facing the open front of the elevator wheel. At least one and preferably two strips are provided. The strips cover only a minor portion of the inner circumference of the elevator wheel.

A ball-kicker pressure device is provided for use in improving the operation of ball-kicker assemblies of the type which assist the introduction of bowling balls into a ball-lift device within an automatic pinspotter machine, having an automatic ball return mechanism. The device includes an adjustable pressure means rotatably affixed to the ball kicker assembly and adjustably affixed to the kickback plate of an automatic pinspotter machine.

A covered rail assembly for the bowling ball return of a bowling alley. The rails are made of cylindrical metal and the cover for the rail fits over the engaging surface thereof and is secured thereto by ties, with the ball engaging surface of the cover of concave semi cylindrical shape so as to conform to a ball's surface contacted thereby. The cover is impregnated with oil absorbing particles.

The ball lift device includes an improved track structure for stabilizing a bowling ball along a path of travel or guide path as it is lifted within the device. The device includes a means for lifting the ball by use of a pair of rotating V wheels and a drive means which rotates the V wheels through a drive belt which is driven by a motor. The V wheels are housed within a frame which has an entrance point for receiving the bowling ball to be lifted, and an exit point which ejects the bowling bal...

A mechanism for lifting bowling balls from the pit area of a bowling alley to a ball return runway at or above the level of the bowling alley includes a ball elevator mechanism in which a bowling ball is moved upwards along a track by frictional engagement with a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven by two pulleys mounted on a support rod which is itself pivotal about a rolling pivot in response to an eccentric cam arrangement which moves the lower pulley away from the track in order to pr...