US3643945A

US3643945A - Control for practice bowling

Info

Publication number: US3643945A
Application number: US830815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Torresen; Herbert D Grosvenor
Original assignee: Brunswick Corp
Current assignee: Brunswick Corp
Priority date: 1969-06-05
Filing date: 1969-06-05
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22
Also published as: DE2028775A1; GB1304562A

Abstract

The improvement in a bowling scoring system including means for enabling the rolling of one or more practice balls without the cycling of the system so that pinfall achieved by the practice balls is not tabulated. In the exemplary embodiment, the same is achieved with the maintenance of various peripheral functions involving the automatic pinsetter and bowler identification interlocks.

Description

United States Patent Torresen et al.

[54] CONTROL FOR PRACTICE BOWLING [72] Inventors: Robert Torresen; Herbert Di Grosvenor,

both of Muskegon, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Brunswick Corporation [22] Filed: June 5, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 830,815

52 us. Cl. ..273/s4'c l 58 Field of Search ..273/s4 c, 43 R, 43 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,444 3/1952 Millman et a1... ...273/V 4cux Feb. 22, 1972 3,435,120 3/1969 Cornelletal ..273/54C 3,516,665 6/1970 Danielson ..273/54C Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT The improvement in a bowling scoring system including means for enabling the rolling of one or more practice balls without the cycling of the system so that pinfall achieved by the practice balls is not tabulated. In the exemplary embodiment, the same is achieved with the maintenance of various peripheral functions involving the automatic pinsetter and bowler identification interlocks.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 22 I972 SHEET 8 OF 9 QNN IE 3 WQRvR kxhzq l I I l l I I I I. MN I WM H I CONTROL FOR PRACTICE BOWLING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there has been a number of proposals for bowling scoring systems wherein pinfall information is automatically detected and from suchv information, the bowlers score on a frame-by-frame basis was computed and recorded. Most of such proposals were of a noncommercial nature and as a result, there was no consideration of various peripheral features which would be extremely desirable to the proprietor of a bowling establishment utilizing such scoring systems. For example, the proposed systems did not provide for the permitting of a bowler to roll one or more practice balls in that pinfall achieved by any ball would be automatically detected and tabulated.

Many league bowlers have been quite accustomed to rolling one or more practice balls before the evenings competition is initiated and would therefore not be totally satisfied with a system for automatically scoring a bowling game that would not permit such practice balls to be rolled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention seeks to provide an improved bowling score computing system that permits the rolling of practice balls without the cycling of the computation system so that pinfall achieved by such practice balls will not be tabulated. In the exemplary embodiment, the rolling of practice balls is limited to league bowling and various interlocks with automatic pinsetters customarily used in such systems as well as bowler identification means are still permitted to function even though computation will not take place.

Specifically, provision is made for stopping an automatic pinsetter with its rake in a lane blocking position so as to suggest to those bowlers using the lanes that manually operable bowler identification means should be appropriately operated to either identify a bowler to the computer for computation or to indicate to the computer that the lane is to be used for practice bowling. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that in order to use the system for practice bowling, after each practice frame (either the rolling of a strike or the rolling of two balls if a strike is not achieved on the first ball) is completed the bowler identification means must be reset for practice bowling in order that the pinsetter rake be moved from the lane blocking position. Of course, if after the use of the system for practice bowling, it is desired to start a game requiring actual computation, alteration of the bowler identification means by a bowler to a bowler identifying condition as opposed to a practice condition will cause the raising of the pinsetter from the lane blocking position so that regular bowling may proceed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling establishment embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computation system used in conjunction with the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one form of av bowler identification device which may be used with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the electrical components of the bowler identification device;

FIG. 5 is comprised of FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, which are schematics depicting control circuitry for control of an automatic pinsetter;

FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship of FIGS. 5a through 5d to each other; and

FIG. 7 is comprised of FIGS. 7a and 7b, FIG. 7b adapted to be located to the right of FIG. 7a and depict logic for controlling the overall system when the same is used for practice bowling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One form of a bowling score system embodying the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is seen to include two adjacent bowling lanes 10 and 11 separated in the usual manner by a divider 12. Each of the bowling lanes 10 and 11, includes in the installation, an automatic pinsetter, indicated generally at APL and APR at the pinsetting end of the lane. Each of the pinsetters APL and APR includes a rake 13 which is used to clear deadwood from the lane in a manner well known in the art. Additionally, in the system, the same may be used to block the respective lanes 10 and 11 when a bowler has failed to identify himself to the computing system. The manner in which such is accomplished is described in greater detail in the commonly assigned, copending application of Jerome F. Walker, entitled Electronic Scorer for Bowling Games," bearing U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 612,665, and filed Jan. 30, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,939.

Balls are bowled in the usual manner and return through a conventional ball return system to a storage rack 14 from which balls may be removed for bowling.

A bowler identification console 15 is provided for use by bowlers bowling on lanes 10 and 11 to identify the bowler bowling on a particular lane to the scoring system. One form of a console that may be advantageously used with minor modification in a system made according to the invention is disclosed in the copending application of Robert Torresen, entitled Bowler Identification Device," U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 612,682, filed .Ian. 30, 1967, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

There is also provided a structure in the form of a housing 16 which encloses and supports components of the scoring system, such as components used for computation of scores, printing and projection of the scored game. The game scores may be printed by a printer on a score sheet and an image of the score sheet may be projected by a projection means in the housing 16 through a port 17 to a mirror 18 to be reflected to a viewing screen 11. Preferably, the scoring components in the housing 16 are in the form of those disclosed in the aboveidentified application of Walker and in such a case, there will be one housing 16 for four lanes and two of the identification consoles 15, one for each lane pair.

In order to more fully understand the instant invention, reference may be had to FIG. 2 which illustrates a block diagram of the computing system. The computing system is operative to score a plurality of lanes and in the illustrated form, to control the scoring of four lanes. To this end, there are provided four sets of pin detecting means 20, 22, 24 and 26 for each of four lanes. Operative in conjunction with respective ones to the pin detecting means 20; 22, 24 and 26 are respective pinfall buffers and

steering gates

28, 30, 32, and 34. The pinfall buffers 28-34 receive information from the respective pin detecting means 20-26 relative to the position of standing pins. This information is gated through the steering gates 28-34 respectively to a pinfall register 36 in such a manner that the pinfall register 36 receives the information from only one lane at a time. The purpose of the pinfall buffers is to preserve pinfall information for short periods of time in the event that an automatic pinsetter having the pin detecting means thereon for independent pin detecting means used in conjunction with the pinsetter is reset during cycling of the pinsetter and before the information may be channeled through the pinfall register 36. Additionally, the pinfall buffers 28-34 serve to preserve pinfall achieved by the first ball in a frame such that it may be utilized for computing the bowlers score in the event the bowler commits a foul in the second ball in the frame.

Foul detecting and verification means 38 are provided for each lane and arranged to preclude the pinfall buffers 28-34 from reading pinfall information in the event of a first ball foul and for precluding the resetting of the pinfall buffers in the event of a second ball foul. Additionally, the foul detection and verification means 38 provide a signal which is utilized to cause the printing of a foul symbol in an appropriate position on a score sheet.

There is also provided a manual pinfall input means 40 which may be used to correct errors in a score caused either by an erroneous computation by the computer, erroneous pin detection by the pin detecting means -26 or erroneous foul detection and verification caused by improper manual operation of the foul detection and verification means 38. Additionally, if a bowler improperly identifies himself to the computer such as by the latter causes pinfall to be credited to the wrong bowler, this may be corrected by use of the manual pinfall input means 40.

The pinfall information received from the pinfall buffers in steering gates 28-34 and the manual pinfall input means 40 are utilized as inputs by the pinfall register 36 such that the condition of the latter will indicate the particular position of each pin that is either standing or down. The information relative to each pin is read simultaneously into the pinfall register by control of the steering gates 28-34 as mentioned above,

The arrangement of standing and falling pins as it appears in the information contained within the pinfall register 36 is sensed by split detecting means 42. If the arrangement of the pins is such that a split exists, the split detecting means 42 will sense the same to ultimately cause the printing ofa split symbol on a score sheet.

In order to determine the number of fallen pins for box score purposes and for addition to the bowlers cumulative score, an arithmatic register 44 is provided, The arithrnatic register consists of a pinfall counter 46 and a three decade binary coded decimal up counter 48. The pinfall counter 46 counts the pinfall achieved by the first ball in each frame and by means of a system associated therewith according to the invention, also counts the pinfall achieved solely by the second ball in a frame except in the case of a spare. This information is then printed in a box score position on a score sheet as is well known.

The binary coded decimal up counter 48 drives the pinfall achieved by both balls in a frame to the bowlers cumulative score such that the cumulative score may be printed at a frame score position on a score sheet as is well known.

Pinfall register control 50 causes the pinfall information present in the pinfall register 36 to be placed in the pinfall counter 46 after each ball in a frame and into the binary coded decimal up counter 48 after either a strike in a frame, a second ball in a frame, or after the first ball in a frame preceded by a frame in which a spare was achieved.

A bowler state control 52 includes a bowler state register which contains the state of a bowlers game. The bowler state control 52 is also provided with a bowlers state decoding matrix which decodes the information contained in the bowler state register. Finally, the bowler state control 52 includes a bowler state of dating matrix which redetermines and updates the bowler state information contained in the bowler state register after each ball in a frame is rolled. The bowler state information contained in the bowler state control is utilized to control the computation and printing of bowlers scores. In this connection, a bowlers score cycle control 54 receives bowler state information from the bowler state control and in conjunction with the computer cycle control 56 causes such functions as may be necessary to compute a bowlers score and enable the reading out of a bowlers score such as a printed record thereofwill be formed.

When it is necessary to score a bowler, the bowler score cycle control 54 and the computer cycle control 56 issue appropriate signals to a printer cycle control 58 which controls four printers 60, 62, 64 and 66 associated with respective ones of the four lanes which the system is operative to score. The printer cycle control 58 in conjunction with the computer cycle control directs one of the printers 60-66 to print in a thousands, hundreds, tens or units column within a frame column and to print at a box score level or at a frame score level in each scoring column. The particularframe column which pinfall information is to be printed is determined by a frame counter 68, a printer frame control 70 and a frame selection matrix 72 together with the computer cycle control 56. Frame information relative to the bowler to be scored is contained in the frame counter 68. The frame information therein corresponds to the frame in which the bowler is bowling as opposed to the frame in which he is to be scored, It will be apparent that this is a necessary distinction as when a bowler working on a spare, a strike or two successive strikes, cumulative score for the frames in which the mark or marks were made will not be complete until the bowler has rolled one or more balls in one or more succeeding frames.

The printer frame control 70,receives information from the frame counter 68 relative to the bowlers current frame. Computer cycle control 56 in conjunction with the bowler state control 52 causes the printer frame control 70 to assume a condition indicative of the frame in which a printed cumulative score is to be placed. Resulting condition of the printer frame control 70 is sensed by the frame selection matrix 72 which thereby issues a signal to a particular one of the printers 60-66 to direct the same to print the cumulative score in a particular frame column while the computer cycle control 56 enables the particular one ofthe printers 60-66 to print.

A character selection matrix 74 is arranged to sense the condition of the pinfall counter 46. In the case of box scores, the condition of the pinfall counter 46 is decoded by the character selection matrix 74 which, in turn, causes the printer cycle control 58 to direct a particular printer 60-66 to print a particular character. In the case of printing cumulative scores, each digit of the cumulative score is decoded individually and printed in a serial manner. As set forth in detail in the Walker application, the printing of such digits occurs with the thousands digit being printed first if necessary, the hundreds digit printed second, the tens digit printed third and the units digit printed last. In order to achieve the serial decoding of the digits of the cumulative score in the required order, the printer cycle control 58 causes the cumulative score information contained in the binary coded decimal up counter 48 to be shifted, one digit at a time, into the pinfall counter 46 where it is decoded by the character selection matrix 74 and ultimately printed by a selected one of the printers 60-66. In the printing of cumulative scores, the printer's cycle control has an additional function suppressing leading or nonsignil'icant zeros.

In order to direct a selected one of the printers 60-66 to print in a selected bowler lane, bowler identification means 76 are provided. The bowler identification means 76 serve to direct a corresponding printer 60-66 to print at a particular box score level for a particular bowler. When it is necessary to print at the frame score level for that bowler, the bowler identification means 76 together with the computer cycle control 56 serve to indicate that printing should be accomplished at the frame score level.

The bowler identificationvmeans 76 provide yet another function. A memory 78 includes a word for each of the 24 bowlers that may be accommodated by this system. The bowler identification means 76 serve to connect the appropriate bowler word in the memory to the computer when that bowler is to be scored.

Each bowler word therein includes information relative to that bowlers cumulative score, the frame in which he is bowling, the state of his game, and the complement of the pinfall achieved by his first ball in a frame. Through appropriate gating 80, the particular bowler word is selected and the frame information that is in each word is directed to the frame counter 68. By the same token, the state information in the selected bowler word is directed to the bowler state control 52 and the bowler score information is directed to the binary coded decimal up counter 48. Finally, the first ball pinfall complement is directed to the pinfall counter 46.

The first three types of information mentioned above are used in each respective register to control the computation and read out of a bowlers score in the manner previously described, it is then updated and subsequently written back into the memory 78. In the case of the first ball pinfall complement information, the same is used following the second ball in a frame for ascertaining pinfall achieved by the second ball only in that frame.

Since there may be as many as four different bowler identifications at any given instant (one on each of the four lanes), and the computer is arranged to handle the scoring of only one bowler at a time, means are provided in the form of a scanning cycle control 82 for permitting association of the computer with but a single bowler word in the memory 78 at any given time. The scanning cycle control 82 scans the pin detection systems 26 together with the manual pinfall input system 40 and senses when one of the aforementioned information sources is ready to provide information for computation. When such a situation is detected, the scanning cycle control 82 locks on that particular information source and enables the gating 80 to select only the bowler word or the bowler associated with that particular source.

When the scanning cycle control 82 is locked on a particular information source, it, together with the computer cycle control 56 will cause the bowler information contained in the memory 78 for the selected bowler to be directed to the various registers as mentioned previously. Additionally, the computer cycle control 56 will cause the bowler score cycle control 54 to score the bowler which will cause the printing cycle control 58 to cause such printing as may be necessary. In the latter respect, the scanning cycle control 82 causes computer cycle control to select the particular one of the printers 60-66 for the lane for which the pinfall information is being made available or for the team with which the bowler is associated. Upon completion of the scoring of a bowler, the computer cycle control 56 causes such updating of bowler information as may be necessary and the writing of such information back into the memory 78.

Means are also provided for computing and printing running team totals when incurred the team total control 84, a-

frame buffer 86, a frame comparator 88 and a binary coded decimal down counter 90. The various instrumentalities used and enumerated above are not of great significance with respect to the instant invention and thus will not be described further. It is merely sufficient to note that the memory 78 includes four words for team totalizing purposes which words receive team total information from binary coded decimal up counter 38 as well as the least significant bit of the pinfall counter 46 in the manner generally set forth in the Walker application.

In conjunction with the provision of team totals, the computer also includes means whereby the manual pinfall input 40 may be used to provide handicap information for each team. Again, there is very little need to explore the logic utilized for this purpose in detail, it being sufficient to note that the memory 78 additionally includes four words for handicap information.

Finally, the computer additionally includes a pinsetter control 92 which receives information from the foul detection and verification means 38 together with information from the bowler state control 52 and information from the scanning cycle control 82. Foul information is used to cause appropriate recycling of the pinsetter, bowler state information is used for the same purpose in certain tenth frame situations and information from the scanning cycle control is used to control an interlock to assure bowler identification.

FIG. 3 illustrates a form of an identification console 15 suitable for use in the instant invention and which is con structed according to the principles set forth in the aboveidentified application of Torresen.

The identification console 15 is operative to provide bowler identification information for two lanes, and to this end, includes a first slide 93L for the left lane in a pair and a second slide 93R for the right lane in a pair, both of which may be independently moved by a bowler to a bowler identifying position unique to that bowler. As will be seen, switch means are associated with the slides 93R and 93L providing various information to the computing system.

In order to designate the possible positions of each of the slides 93R and 93L, interposed between the two is a bowler identification plate 94 which illustrates 13 possible positions for each of the slides 93R and 93L.

The first six positions are designated Al though A6 and provide for the five members of a team plus one pace bowler if the device is to be used for league bowling, or six bowlers bowling on one lane of a lane pair if the system is used for open bowling. The last six positions are designated Bl though B6 and are functionally equivalent to positions A1 through A6 except that they are used for another team plus one pace bowler in league bowling or, if the system is used for open bowling, for the other lane of the lane pair.

The seventh position, located between the positions designated A6 and B1, is designated practice and, when one of the slides 93R or 93L is at the practice position, the system will be conditioned for the rolling of a practice ball without the occurrence of computation.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in schematic form, certain of the electrical and mechanical details of the identification console 15. Only the slide 93R is illustrated in FIG. 4, it being understood that a symmetrical arrangement is provided with respect to the slide 93L. The slide 93R is mounted for sliding movement on a rod 95 between each of the thirteen positions mentioned previously in conjunction with the description of FIG. 3. Slide 93R carries electrical wiper means, generally designated 95, which are adapted to make electrical contact with a plurality of sets of contacts at each of the 13 positions. As illustrated in FIG. 4, two sets of

contacts

96 and 97 are provided but other sets of contacts not shown and not necessary for an understanding of the instant invention may be present.

Each of the contacts 96 are connected in common so as to generate a SET LANE ID signal which is used in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter. The contacts 97 are used to provide bowler identification information to the computing system. Thus, depending upon which of the contacts 97 is engaged by the wiper means 95, the computing system will be informed that a particular bowler is bowling on a lane and that any pinfall occurring on that lane should be credited to that bowler.

One of the contacts 97 is designated 97?, and corresponds to the practice position. Whenever the wiper means 95 electrically engages the contact 97P, a PRACTICE signal is generated. As will be seen, the generation of the PRACTICE signal accounts to a connection of the contact 97F to ground and the purpose of the signal will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Finally, there is a pushbutton lock solenoid 98 mechanically associated with the slide 93R and which is adapted to receive a BOWLER PANEL PUSHBUTTON LOCK SOLENOID signal from the computing system at certain times to lock the slide 93R in one of the 13 positions at which it is located when such a signal is received. The specific mechanical details of the lock solenoid 98 with respect to the slide 93R may be ascertained from the above-identified application of Torresen.

The pinsetter control system is shown principally in FIGS. 5a-5d which illustrate pinsetter control circuitry for a single pinsetter and which is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 34 of the above-identified Walker application. Similar circuitry not shown is provided for each automatic pinsetter in the installation. As in the Walker application, the circuitry is designed for use with a Brunswick Model A-2 pinsetter which operates normally as follows. When any ball is rolled, the ball striking the pinsetter pit cushion causes movement of the pit cushion so as to actuate a mechanical linkage which causes the rake 13 to lower preparatory to sweeping, as described in US. Letters Patent No. 3,301,557, to Rogers and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

The motion of the mechanical linkage then operates a trigger switch which, in turn, energizes a circuit including a pinsetter cycle solenoid for starting the pinsetter to put the deck structure and rake structure appropriately in motion. As is well known, the cycle solenoid is ordinarily energized through a time delay module which delays the start of the pinsetter operation a predetermined time period, usually 3 seconds, of sufficient length to assure that any wobbling pins have had an opportunity to fall. However, there are also some circumstances when it is desirable to operate the cycle solenoid without a time delay, such situations will become apparent hereinafter. The manner in which the cycle solenoid starts the pinsetter is well known in the art and need not be described further.

Ordinarily, in operation when a strike has been achieved, the deck of the pinsetter is lowered at about 90 in a 360 pinsetter cycle and will find no standing pins as a result ofwhich it proceeds to the fourth level down among five possible levels and detects the strike condition. The deck then moves upwardly and the rake sweeps the fallen pins into the pit at about 180. At about 270, the deck comes down and spots a new set of pins in the lane surface. The deck and rake then return to the original positions at 360 and the lane is ready for the next ball.

In a first ball cycle, when pins are left standing, the deck structure is lowered to a third level down of five possible levels where it finds the standing pins and the switches of the pin detection system are actuated corresponding to standing pins at about 90 in the cycle. Pin gripping scissors associated with the deck structure close on the standing pins and the deck returns upwardly as the rake sweeps the deadwood into the pit. At about 270, the deck returns downwardly and resets the standing pins previously picked up. At 360, the deck and rake return to their original positions and the lane is ready for the second ball and the frame.

In an ordinary second ball cycle, the pinsetter deck will remain at its highest position until at about 180, the rake will sweep the deadwood into the pit. At 270, the deck will then come down and spot a new set of pins while at 360 the deck and rake will return to their original positions and the lane is ready for the next ball. v

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that during an unmodified second ball cycle, the pinsetter deck is not moved downwardly at 90 to detect whether or not pins remain standing and modification for detection after a second ball is made according to the teaching of the above-identified Walker application.

Furthermore, a number of switches are added to the pinsetter and in general, correspond to similar switches described in the Walker application. Specifically, switches illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5d and identified as 98, 60-300, 270 and 345 correspond respectively with the 105, 90- 270 and 350 switches disclosed in the Walker application. In a like manner, the switches identified as trigger lockout and scissor switches are similar to correspondingly identified switches disclosed in the Walker application.

With the foregoing in mind, FIGS. 5a-5d will now be explained in detail. The time delay module is generally designated 100 and includes a line 102 on which power is received; a line 104 connected to ground; a line 106 on which a signal may be present when the pinsetter is to be cycled after a time delay; and a line 108 which may have a signal thereon when the pinsetter is to be cycled without a time delay.

The pinsetter trigger switch is generally designated 110 and has its normally closed contact connected to the line 108 and its common contact connected through a trigger switch relay 114 to the line 106. The trigger switch relay is energizable to close normally open contacts 114a thereof which are located in a line 116 which is run to the computer. Normally, the relay 114 will be deenergized but when a ball strikes the pit cushion to cause the trigger switch 110 to be closed through its normally open contact, the relay 114 will be energized to close contact 114a thereof to thereby connect line 116 to computer ground. As will be seen, this has the effect of informing the computer that the bowler identification device should be locked by providing an AP TRIGGER SIGNAL READY signal so that bowler identification cannot be changed until the computer cycle is completed.

The pinsetter triggering system further includes a number of switches and relay contacts associated with the line 102. For example, there is provided a normally open trigger lockout switch 118, a normally open 270 switch 120, and a normally closed scissor switch 122. Each of the

switches

118, 120, and 122 is connected in parallel and to the normally open contact of the trigger switch 1 10.

Referring specifically to the trigger lockout switch 118 normally open contact thereof is connected through the normally open contacts 1240 of a trigger lockout relay 124 to the normally open contact of the trigger lockout switch 110. In the case ofthe 270 switch 120, the normally open contact thereof is connected through the serial combination of normally open contact 12611 of a rake control relay 126 and the normally open contacts 128a of a recycle relay 128 to the normally open contact of the switch 110. Finally, the normally closed contact of the scissor switch 122 may be connected to the normally open contact of the trigger switch by means of a circuit including the contacts 1280 of the recycle relay 128.

The

switches

120 and 122 may also be connected directly to the line 108. Specifically, the normally closed contact of the scissor switch 122 is continually connected to such a line while the column junction of the contacts 126a and 128a is connected to the line 108. As a result, if the contacts 126a are closed, the normally open contact of the 270 switch 120 will be connected directly to the line 108.

The. trigger lockout relay 124 has one side connected to a source of power 129 while the other side is connected to the computer circuitry to receive a DISABLE LANE 1 PIN- SETTER TRIGGER signal. The arrangement is such that the relay 124 will normally be energized thereby closing contacts 124a thereof so that should the switch 118 be closed, the line 102 will be connected to the normally open contact of the trigger switch 110. Thus, if the ball were to hit the pit cushion at this time and the switch 110 thereby closed to its normally open contact, the pinsetter would be triggered with a time delay.

The trigger lockout switch 118 must be closed for the foregoing to happen. The same corresponds to the trigger silencing switch 1236 described in the Walker application and would normally be closed at the 0 point at each pinsetter cycle. As a result, whenever the pinsetter is at 0, the trigger lockout relay is energized and a ball moves the trigger switch 110 to close to its normally open contact, the pinsetter will be cycled after a time delay.

As will become apparent in greater detail hereinafter, at various points the trigger lockout relay 124 is deenergized when the DISABLE LANE 1 PINSETTER TRIGGER signal is generated as described in the Walker application. The purpose ofsuch disabling will become apparent hereinafter.

The Walker application further discloses a modification to a pinsetter whereby the same may be caused to stop at 270 at each pinfall cycle, and the pinsetter used in a scoring system made according to the invention should include such a modification. The purpose of the modification is to remind the bowler to identify himself to the computer by operating the bowler identification device and this is accomplished by stopping the pinsetter at 270 at which time, it will be recalled, the same has its rake in a lowered, lane blocking position. The bowler seeing the lane being blocked by the pinsetter rake will thereby be reminded to operate the bowler identification means. I

Those familiar with the Walker computing system will recognize that there are times when such a reminder need not be made. For example, where the first ball in a frame has not resulted in a strike, the bowler having already identified himself to the computer prior to the first ball need not identify himself to the computer for the rolling of the second ball. Therefore, means are provided whereby the pinsetter, following the first ball in a frame wherein pins remain standing, will not stop 270. Specifically, the scissor switch 122 is utilized for this purpose.

As disclosed in the Walker application, the scissors switch 122 is normally held open by a scissors cam follower but will be closed when the scissors cam follower is on the low dwell of a scissors cam which those skilled in the art will recognize occurs during a first ball cycle when standing pins are detected. In other words, when the pinsetter is cycling following the first ball in a frame and standing pins are detected, the scissors switch 122, which is normally held open, will be permitted to close, thereby completing a circuit from the line 102 to the line 108 so that the pinsetter will be retriggered without a time delay of 270 of its cycle thereof. Thus, for the situation when pins remain standing after the first ball in a frame, the pinsetter will continue through the 270 point of its cycle without stopping. On the other hand, when a strike is achieved on the first ball, the scissors switch 122 will be held in its open condition with the result that the pinsetter will stop at 270 with its rake down to remind the subsequent bowler to operate the bowler identification means.

The 270 switch 120, even though normally closed at 270 of a pinsetter cycle, will not cause triggering of the pinsetter unless the contacts 1260 of the rake control relay 126 are closed. The relay 126 has one side connected to the source of power 129 and the other side is connected to the computer circuitry in a manner to be seen in greater detail hereinafter such that the relay 126 will be energized when there is bowler identification. Stated another way, when a bowler identifies himself to the computer, the relay 126 is energized to thereby close the contact 126a. With the pinsetter standing ready at 270 of its cycle, having been stopped at that point by the above referred to means disclosed in the Walker application, the switch 120 will be closed and the closing of the contact 126a will cause the pinsetter to be triggered without a time delay by connection of the line 102 to the line 108 through the switch 120 and the contacts 126a.

The system further includes the relay 128 for recycling the pinsetter without actual pinfall and, in addition to the already mentioned contact 128a thereof, the same includes another set of normally open contacts l28b and two sets of normally closed contacts [28c and 128d. One side of the relay 128 is connected to the power supply 129 through the normally closed contacts of the 345 switch 140 while the other side is connected to a line 142 which is adapted to receive a signal from a pushbutton or a switch, or the like, to indicate that the pinsetter should be recycled without cycling the computer. The purpose of such an arrangement is described in the Walker application.

The switch is adapted to connect the line 142 to ground momentarily so that the relay 128 will be energized. As a result, the contacts 1280 of the relay 128 will be closed. Additionally, by virtue of the common connection of the relay 126 through a diode 144 to the line 142, the relay 126 will be energized thereby closing the contacts 126a thereof.

Simultaneously with the opening of the contacts 128a, the contacts 128]; will be closed to provide a holding circuit for the relay 128 until the normally closed contact of the 345 switch 140 is opened. Additionally, the contacts 1280 are opened and the same are located in a line 146 on which a PIN- FALL READY signal may be sent to the computing system. As a result, it will be impossible to send a PINFALL READY signal to the computing system and the same will not cycle even though the pinsetter will be cycled. Finally, the contacts 128d, which are located in the line 116, will be opened, so that there can be no locking of the bowler identification device.

The net result of all of the foregoing will be that the pinsetter is cycled without the generation ofa PINFALL READY signal which would cycle the computer. During such cycling, when the pinsetter reaches 345 of its cycle, the normally closed contact of the switch 140 will be opened and as a result, power to the relay 128 will be cut off, thereby causing the contacts l28a-l28b to revert to their normal condition. As a result, contact 128!) will open to break the holding circuit thereby deenergizing both the relay 128 and the relay 126.

The system additionally includes a foul cycle relay 150 which, like the relay 128, is connected through the normally closed contact of the 345 switch 140 to power. The other side of the relay 150 is connected to a line 152 which is adapted to receive a NEW PINS signal from the computing circuit. As a result, when such a signal is generated, the relay 150 will be energized until the normally closed contacts to the switch 140 are opened.

The relay 150 includes a first set of normally open contacts 150a which is connected to ground and serves as a holding circuit for the relay 150 once the same is momentarily energized by the NEW PINS signal. Additionally provided is a second set of normally open contacts 150b which are in series with a ,QQ sw h tiwhi9b. in wall n s r t a new P n solenoid relay 158. The arrangement is very much like that described in the Walker application and inspection of FIG. 5b will illustrate that the operation is essentially the same.

The pinsetter further includes out-of-range pinfall circuitry, generally designated 160, which is described in the copending application of Gautraud et al., entitled Pin Detection System," filed Sept. 23, 1968, bearing US. Pat. Ser. No. 761,577, now US. Pat. No. 3,506,264, and assigned to the same assignee in the instant application.

Other peripheral circuitry is also illustrated in FIGS. Sa-Sd. For example, in FIG. 5d, 10 masking unit lights, generally designated 162, are seen to have common connection to the power supply 129. Another connection not illustrated is to respective ones of the lamp drivers of the associated lane as disclosed in the above-identified Walker application.

The circuitry additionally includes a strike light 164 which is controlled by a set of normally open contacts 166 which are closed by the pinsetter in a conventional manner when a strike is obtained by a bowler.

FIG. 50 illustrates the pin detecting circuitry utilized in the computing system and is seen to include 10 normally closed switches PSI-P510, one for each of the ten pins in a bowling game, which are utilized to provide pinfall information in the manner described in the above-described Walker application.

Finally, there is provided an additional switch 162 which has one contact connected to computer ground and its normally open contact connected to a line 164 which is adapted to convey a PRACTICE signal to the computer circuitry. The switch 162 is arranged with respect to the pinsetter so that it will be closed at 270 of a second ball cycle. In other words, when the computer is cycling, following the second ball in a frame or following a ball on which a strike was achieved, the switch 162 will be momentarily closed at that point in the cycle.

Turning now to FIG. 7a and 7b, certain of the logic utilized for one lane in a scoring system made in accordance with the invention may be observed. It is to be understood that similar logic not shown is provided for each lane to be scored by the scoring system. The logic includes a line 200 on which the PRACTICE signal may be received. The PRACTICE signal amounts to a connection to the computer ground and in order to provide a nonzero-volt signal, an inverter 202 is used. Thus, when the PRACTICE signal is present, the output of the inverter 202 will swing to a nonzero-volt level while when the PRACTICE signal is not present, the inverter 202 will have a zero-volt output.

One output from the inverter 202 is taken as an input to a NOR-gate 204 which has its output connected to a Lane 1 pinfall ready memory flip-flop 206. A second input to the NOR- gate 204 is taken from a line 208 including a noise filter circuit, generally designated 210. The line 208 is connected to receive the PINFALL READY signal from the circuitry of FIGS. 5a-5d. A third input to the NOR-gate 204 is taken from a line 212 which may be connected 'to a switch (not shown) operable by the manager of a bowling establishment to disable the NOR-gate 204 whereby the flip-flop 206 can never be set. Finally, a fourth input to the NOR-gate 204 is taken from the output of the set section of the flip-flop 206 so that the gate 204 will be disabled whenever the flip'flop 206 is set corresponding to a pinfall ready on Lane 1 condition.

The output from the inverter 202 is also utilized as an input to a NOR-gate 214 which additionally receives, as a second input, the foul indicating signal, if present, from conventional foul detecting equipment. The output of the NOR-gate 214 is utilized as one input of an AND-gate 216 which has a second input from a line 218. At the moment, it is sufficient to note that the AND-gate 216 will be enabled only when a foul signal is present from the foul detecting equipment, the PRACTICE signal is not present, when bowler identification is present, and when the automatic pinsetter from the lane has been triggered. When all four conditions are present, a foul memory flip-flop 220 will be set. The foul memory flip-flop 220 corresponds to a similar foul memory flip-flop disclosed in the Walker application and when the same is set, an output from its set section is utilized both by AND-gates 222 and 224 as inputs. The use of the signal will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The output of the inverter 202 is also taken as an input to an AND-gate 226, another AND-gate 228, and a third AND-gate 230. The AND-gate 226 includes a second input connected to the output of the set section ofa pushbutton lock memory flipflop 232 which will be set whenever the condition of the bowler identification device is to be unchanged The flip-flop 232 is caused to assume a set condition in response to a signal from the output of a NOR-gate 234 which includes a first input from a line 236 including a noise filter circuit 238 and which is connected to the line 116, illustrated in FIG. 5c.

It will be recalled from the description of FIGS. 5a-5d that, when the pinsetter is triggered, a signal will be issued on the line I16 to ultimately cause locking of the bowler device. Of course, the locking of the bowler identification device should only occur when there is bowler identification present and to this end, second input to the NOR-gate 234 is taken from the output of a lane identification memory flip-flop 240 which is arranged to enable the NOR-gate 234 only when the same is set. The flip-flop 240 may be set by the output of a pulse generating gate 242 adapted to receive an input from a bowler identification device. The arrangement is such that when bowler identification device is shifted to a bowler identification position or to a practice position, the gate 242 will issue a momentary pulse to set the flip-flop 240. Thereafter, the flipflop 240 may be reset but inasmuch as the gate 242 is of the pulse generating type, it will not generate a further pulse to the flip-flop 240 until the bowler identification device is changed.

Returning now to the pushbutton lock memory flip-flop 232, a second output from its set section is utilized by an inverter 246 which in turn feeds a driver 248. The arrangement is such that then the flip-flop 232 is in a set condition, the driver 248 will drive a bowler identification locking device, such as the lock solenoid for the pushbutton system disclosed in the above-identified Walker application, or the lock solenoid for the movable slide disclosed in the above identified application of Torresen. In either case, the condition of the bowler identification device cannot be changed as long as the flip-flop 232 remains set.

Returning now the the AND-gate 226, the output of the same is utilized as an input by a NOR-gate 250 which receives a second input from an output of the reset section of the lane identification flip-flop 240. A third input to the NOR-gate 250 is taken from the set section of the pinfall ready flip-flop 206 with the arrangement being such that whenever the flip-flop 206 is set, the gate 250 will be disabled. The just described arrangement is such that the NOR-gate 250 will be enabled when the following conditions exist: the flip-flop 206 is in a reset condition indicating that a PINFALL READY signal has not been received; the flip-flop 240 is in a set condition indicating that bowler identification is present; and the AND- gate 226 is disabled indicating that the flip-flop 232 is reset or the PRACTICE signal has not been generated. When such is the case, the output of the NOR-gate 250, when inverted by an inverter 252, will connect a line 254 to ground. The line 254 is connected to the rake control relay 126 (FIG. 5) to trigger the pinsetter without a time delay so that the same will proceed from 270 to 360 even though no bowler identification is present. 232.

In a normal cycle, the lane identification memory flip-flop 240 may be reset by the output of an OR-gate 260 when a frame is finished by means of a signal provided by gating not illustrated but generated as described in the Walker application. Additionally, the flip-flop 240 may be reset following practice bowling by the output of the AND-gate 228. The AND-gate 228, it will be recalled, includes one input from the inverter 202. A second input is taken from an inverter 262 which in turn receives its input through a noise filter circuit 264 and a line 266 which is connected to the line 164 illustrated in FIG. 3a which, it will be recalled, is connected to ground at 270 at every pinsetter cycle following the second ball or a strike in a frame. A third input is taken from the set section of the push button lock memory flip-flop 232 is As a result, when a PRACTICE signal is present, the flip-flop 232 is set and when the automatic pinsetter is at 270 of a cycle as mentioned above, the flip-flop 240 will be reset to remove bowler or practice identification.

When the flip-flop 240 is reset, an output from its reset section taken through an OR-gate 268 causes the resetting of the pushbutton lock memory flip-flop 232 which in turn causes the disabling of the AND-gate 228. Thereafter, the flip-flop 240 may be again caused to assume a set condition in the manner described previously.

Oftentimes, a bowling proprietor will wish to limit the rolling of practice balls to those customers bowling in league competition, and during open bowling, it is desirable to disable the practice bowling mode. To this end, there is provided a line 280 which may be associated with switch means for controlling the system to condition the same for open bowling or league bowling as described in the Walker application, which lead has applied thereto an enabling signal whenever the computing system is conditioned for open bowling. The line 280 is connected as an enabling input to an AND-gate 230 which, it will be recalled, receives a second input from the output of the inverter 202. The arrangement is such that when OPEN BOWLING and PRACTICE signals are present, the AND- gate 230 will be enabled. The output of the same is taken as an input to the OR-gate 260 which, it will be recalled, causes the resetting of the lane identification memory flip-flop 240. Therefore, every time the system is conditioned for practice and open bowling, the lane identification memory flip-flop 240 will be reset and in such a case, the NOR-gate 250 will be disabled. Accordingly, the rake control relay 126 cannot be energized and the rake will remain down in a lane blocking position. As a result, bowling cannot take place without cycling the computer during open bowling.

The remaining logic illustrated in FIGS. 7a-7b is either identical to or functionally equivalent to corresponding logic in the Walker application and is shown mainly to illustrate the association of the practice control logic therewith. For the most part, it will be noted that presence of a PRACTICE signal disables such logic. For example, the presence of a PRACTICE signal disables the NOR-gate 214 to preclude the setting of the foul memory flip-flop 220 thereby preventing a foul signal from being issued to the computer. Similarly, the disabling of the NOR-gate 204 precludes the setting of the pinfall ready flip-flop 206 so that the scanner, described in the Walker application, will not stop to issue a SCORE LANE 1 signal. By the same token, the PINFALL READY LANE 1 signal will not be issued.

As a result, cycling of the computer for computational purposes on the lane for which a PRACTICE signal is present will not take place but yet operation of the automatic pinsetter in conjunction with bowler identification means is retained. If, at any time, those bowlers on a team wish to begin competition, they need merely alter the condition of the bowler identification device to identify the particular bowler about to bowl to the computer. Such operation of the bowler identification means will remove the PRACTICE signal for that lane and inasmuch as the PRACTICE signal is responsible for disabling the NOR-gates 204 and 214 thereby precluding the foul memory flip-flop 220 and pinfall ready flip-flop 206 from being set, as long as the bowler identification device is not again altered to indicate that practice bowling is taking place, the pinfall ready flip-flop 206 and foul memory flip-flop 220 may be set in accordance with the conditions enumerated in the Walker application and computation as appropriate will take place.

We claim:

1. in a bowling score computing system including an automatic pinsetter cyclically operable to clear deadwood from a bowling lane and for setting new pins thereon; pinfall detecting means for determining pinfall achieved after each ball is rolled; a score computer normally responsive to said pin detecting for receiving pinfall information and converting the same into frame-by-frame bowling scores; bowler identification means operable by bowlers to identify pinfall achieved to the computer as being attributable to a particular bowler; an interlock means for disabling the automatic pinsetter when a bowler has not operated said bowler identification means, the improvement whereby the system may be used with the pinsetter interlock means without the computing of bowling scores comprising: practice bowling signaling means operable by a bowler when the bowler desires to roll a ball without having the same scored by the computer; means responsive to said practice bowling signaling means for precluding a scoring signal from being issued to said computer whereby the computer will not score pinfall achieved; and means responsive to actuation of said practice bowling signaling means for enabling the pinsetter to clear deadwood from the lane and for setting new pins thereon.

2. The combination of claim 1 further including means for indicating to the system whether the same is being used for open bowling; and means responsive to said indicating means for disabling said practice means when open bowling is taking place.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said automatic pinsetter includes a rake for clearing deadwood from a bowling lane, said rake being operable during certain portions of the cycle of operation of the pinsetter to block the bowling lane; and said interlock means comprises means for stopping the pinsetter with the rake in a lane blocking position.

4. A bowling scoring system for a plurality of bowling lanes, each having an automatic pinsetter cyclically operable to set new pins in its associated lane and including a rake movable to a lane blocking position for clearing deadwood from the associated bowling lane; a plurality of pinfall detecting means, one for each lane, for determining pinfall achieved after each ball is rolled on the associated lane; a single score computer connectable to each of said pin detecting means for normally receiving pinfall information therefrom and for converting the same into frame-by-frame bowling scores; a plurality of bowler identification means, at least one for each bowler on each lane and including at least one manual operator adapted to be actuated by a bowler preliminary to rolling the first ball in a scoring frame so that pinfall achieved by the balls rolled by that bowler in that frame will be credited by the computer to that bowler; and an interlock for disabling the automatic pinsetter and the pinfall detecting means for a given lane when the bowler identification device for that lane has not been operated by the bowler, said interlock being operative to stop the pinsetter with its rake in a lane blocking position; a manually operable practice bowling signaling means operable by a bowler when the bowler desires to roll a ball on the lane without having the results thereof scored by the computer for providing a practice bowling signal; and means responsive to said practice bowling signal for precluding pinfall information from being utilizedlby the computer and for signaling said interlock means to enable the pinsetter to cause the same to raise its rake from the lane blocking position whereby a practice ball may be rolled. v

5. The combination of claim 4 further including means for receiving a signal indicative that open bowling is being played on one of said plurality of lanes; and means responsive to receipt of said open bowling signal for disabling said means responsive to said practice bowling signal whereby practice bowling can only take place on bowling lanes when the lane is conditioned for league bowling.

6. A bowling scoring system according to claim 4 wherein said computer includes a pinfall-ready memory operative in response to the determination of pinfall by said pinfall detecting means for signaling the computer that pinfall information is available for use in computation; and said means responsive to said practice bowling signaling means includes means for disabling said pinfall-ready memory.

7. In a bowling scoring system including means for automatically detecting pinfall and providing pinfall information after each ball is rolled, a computer normally responsive to the pinfall information for computing bowling scores for a plurality of players, bowler identification means manually settable to any one of a plurality of unique, bowler identifying conditions by a bowler to identify to the computer the particular one of the plurality of bowlers bowling at a given time so that the pinfall information will be attributed by the computer to the correct bowlers score, and means operable at the completion of each frame in a bowling game to indicate to the bowlers that the bowler identification means should be operated, the improvement wherein said bowler identification means is further settable to an additional unique, practice bowling condition for indicating tothe computer that practice bowling is to take place, said system further including means responsive to said practice bowling means for disabling one of said computer and said pinfall detecting means whereby pinfall achieved during practice bowling will not be attributed to a bowlers score, and means operative at the end of each frame of practice bowling for operating said indicating means.

8. The scoring system of claim 7 wherein said indicating means comprises an automatic pinsetter having a rake movable to a lane blocking position.

Claims

1. In a bowling score computing system including an automatic pinsetter cyclically operable to clear deadwood from a bowling lane and for setting new pins thereon; pinfall detecting means for determining pinfall achieved after each ball is rolled; a score computer normally responsive to said pin detecting for receiving pinfall information and converting the same into frameby-frame bowling scores; bowler identification means operable by bowlers to identify pinfall achieved to the computer as being attributable to a particular bowler; an interlock means for disabling the automatic pinsetter when a bowler has not operated said bowler identification means, the improvement whereby the system may be used with the pinsetter interlock means without the computing of bowling scores comprising: practice bowling signaling means operable by a bowler when the bowler desires to roll a ball without having the same scored by the computer; means responsive to said practice bowling signaling means for precluding a scoring signal from being issued to said computer whereby the computer will not score pinfall achieved; and means responsive to actuation of said practice bowling signaling means for enabling the pinsetter to clear deadwood from the lane and for setting new pins thereon.

4. A bowling scoring system for a plurality of bowling lanes, each having an automatic pinsetter cyclically operable to set new pins in its associated lane and including a rake movable to a lane blocking position for clearing deadwood from the associated bowling lane; a plurality of pinfall detecting means, one for each lane, for determining pinfall achieved after each ball is rolled on the associated lane; a single score computer connectable to each of said pin detecting means for normally receiving pinfall information therefrom and for converting the same into frame-by-frame bowling scores; a plurality of bowler identification means, at least one for each bowler on each lane and including at least one manual operator adapted to be actuated by a bowler preliminary to rolling the first ball in a scoring frame so that pinfall achieved by the balls rolled by that bowler in that frame will be credited by the computer to that bowler; and an interlock for disabling the automatic pinsetter and the pinfall detecting means for a given lane when the bowler identification device for that lane has not been operated by the bowler, said interlock being operative to stop the pinsetter with its rake in a lane blocking position; a manually operable practice bowling signaling means operable by a bowler when the bowler desires to roll a ball on the lane without having the results thereof scored by the computer for providing a practice bowling signal; and means responsive to said practice bowling signal for precluding pinfall information from being utilized by the computer and for signaling said interlock means to enable the pinsetter to cause the same to raise its rake from the lane blocking position whereby a practice ball may be rolled.

7. In a bowling scoring system including means for automatically detecting pinfall and providing pinfall information after each ball is rolled, a computer normally responsive to the pinfall information for computing bowling scores for a plurality of players, bowler identification means manually settable to any one of a plurality of unique, bowler identifying conditions by a bowler to identify to the computer the particular one of the plurality of bowlers bowling at a given time so that the pinfall information will be attributed by the computer to the correct bowler''s score, and means operable at the completion of each frame in a bowling game to indicate to the bowlers that the bowler identification means should be operated, the improvement wherein said bowler identification means is further settable to an additional unique, practice bowling condition for indicating to the computer that practice bowling is to take place, said system further including means responsive to said practice bowling means for disabling one of said computer and said pinfall detecting means whereby pinfall achieved during practice bowling will not be attributed to a bowler''s score, and means operative at the end of each frame of practice bowling for operating said indicating means.