Lane maintenance machine suitable for battery operation

Abstract

A bowling lane maintenance machine has its operating functions designed and controlled in such a manner that the machine may be battery-operated without loss of performance. Included in the operation are special movements of the machine at the pin deck to flick moisture off blades of the squeegee assembly and limited activation of the vacuum motor to reduce battery drain.

1 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine adapted to travel in a forward direction along a bowling lane from the foul line to the pin deck and then in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line, the improvement comprising:
 a drive motor operable to cause the machine to travel in the forward and reverse directions, a lane sensor operable to determine the distance the machine has travelled along the lane, and a control system operably connected to the lane distance sensor and the drive motor for controlling operation of the drive motor in response to input signals from the lane distance sensor;   a cleaning system including a cleaning solution reservoir and liquid dispenser fluidically connected to the cleaning solution reservoir and operable for delivering cleaning solution to the lane, a vacuum suction head that is movable between a raised position in which the head is spaced above the lane and a lowered position in which the head is in operating contact with the lane for removing cleaning liquid therefrom as the machine travels along the lane, and a squeegee assembly including at least one squeegee-type blade and a squeegee lift motor operable for selectively moving the said at least one squeegee-type between an operating position with the squeegee-type blade in engagement in engagement with the lane and a raised position out of engagement with the lane;   said suction head communicating with a vacuum motor that draws a suction at the head when the motor is in an energized condition,   said vacuum motor being in an energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the forward direction and in a de-energized condition during at least most of the travel of the machine in the reverse direction,   said control system being operable to stop operation of said drive motor when the lane distance sensor determines that the machine has traveled in the forward direction from the foul line a distance which causes the squeegee blade assembly to pass beyond and overhang the edge of the pin deck of the lane   said control system being further operable for causing the squeegee lift motor to move the squeegee assembly to a raised position when the lane sensor detects that the machine has stopped in its position overhanging the edge of the pin deck of the lane, for then maintaining the squeegee assembly raised as the drive motor causes the machine to move in the reverse direction for a predetermined distance, for then moving the squeegee assembly to a lowered position in engagement with the lane, for then causing the drive motor to move the machine in the forward direction with the squeegee assembly in the forward direction, and for then causing the drive motor to stop movement of the machine when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time.   
     
     
         2 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said vacuum motor being in a de-energized condition when the machine is at the foul line before commencing travel in the forward direction,   said vacuum motor being energized only after the machine has traveled a predetermined distance in the forward direction.   
     
     
         3 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said control system further being operable to move the suction head to its raised position after the machine overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time and to maintain the suction head raised and the vacuum motor de-energized as the machine returns to the foul line in the reverse direction.   
     
     
         4 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine adapted to travel in a forward direction along a bowling lane from the foul line to the pin deck and then in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line, the improvement comprising:
 a cleaning system including a vacuum suction head that is movable between a raised position in which the head is spaced above the lane and a lowered position in which the head is in operating contact with the lane for removing cleaning liquid therefrom as the machine travels along the lane,   said suction head having a squeegee blade assembly associated therewith;   a drive motor operable to cause the machine to travel in the forward and reverse directions;   a lane distance sensor operable to determine the distance the machine has traveled along the lane; and   a control system operably connected to the lane distance sensor and the drive motor for controlling operation of the drive motor in response to input signals from the lane distance sensor,   said control system being operable to stop operation of said drive motor when the lane distance sensor determines that the machine has traveled in the forward direction from the foul line a distance which causes the squeegee blade assembly to pass beyond and overhang the edge of the pin deck of the lane.   
     
     
         5 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said control system being operable to cause the suction head to move to the raised position after the machine has stopped in its position overhanging the edge of the pin deck of the lane, then cause the suction head to remain raised as the machine moves in the reverse direction for a predetermined distance, then cause the suction head to move to its lowered position, then cause the suction head to remain lowered as the machine moves in the forward direction, and then cause the drive motor to stop operation when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time.   
     
     
         6 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said suction head communicating with a vacuum motor that draws a suction at the head when the motor is in an energized condition,   said control system further being operable to move the suction head to its raised position after the machine overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time and to maintain the suction head raised and the vacuum motor de-energized as the machine returns to the foul line in the reverse direction.   
     
     
         7 . In a bowling lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said vacuum motor being in a de-energized condition when the machine is at the foul line before commencing travel in the forward direction,   said vacuum motor being energized only after the machine has traveled a predetermined distance in the forward direction.