Bowling systems and methods of use

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to bowling systems and, more particularly, to bowling systems comprising a string pinspotter system for recovering and setting bowling pins on a bowling lane and methods of use. The system includes: a plurality of strings associated with corresponding bowling pins; a pulley system configured to place the corresponding bowling pins into a first position onto a bowling lane and a second position raised above the bowling lane; and an actuator independent of the pulley system, the actuator adjusting a string length of the plurality of strings between at least a first string length and a second string length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of strings associated with corresponding bowling pins;   a pulley system configured to place the corresponding bowling pins into a first position onto a bowling lane and a second position raised above the bowling lane; and   an actuator independent of the pulley system, the actuator adjusting a string length of any combination of the plurality of strings to allow a slackening of the plurality of strings associated with the corresponding bowling pins when the bowling pins are in the first position to allow the bowling pins to fall freely.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is moveable between at least a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the retracted position provides the plurality of strings with a first length and the extended position provides the plurality of strings with a second length. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first length is shorter than the second length. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is moveable between any position between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust a string length of the plurality of strings. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is remote from the plurality of strings when the bowling pins are above the bowling lane. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulley system moves the plurality of strings such that the pins are placed between the first position and the second position, independent of any movement of the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is at least one of a electromechanical actuator or an electronic actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive control system configured to control movement of the actuator into different operating positions allowing the plurality of strings to be slackened to different lengths, independent of movement by the pulley system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator interacts with the plurality of strings when the corresponding bowling pins are knocked down. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulley system comprises a motor driven drawbar, movable along a predetermined path and operatively configured to manage a predetermined length of each string present along the pulley system to place the corresponding bowling pins into the first position or the second position, independent of actuator adjusting the string length for a bowling game. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a drive motor unit for controlling the position of the movable drawbar. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the drive motor unit comprises a brushless motor with Hall effect sensor assemblies or probes used for controlling the position of the movable drawbar. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to determine a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine a working length of the plurality of strings. 
     
     
         16 . A bowling center system comprising:
 a plurality of pins positionable at predetermined points on a bowling lane;   a plurality of strings, associated with a corresponding pin of the plurality of pins;   a pulley system comprising a drawbar movable along a predetermined path and independently operative to manage placement of the plurality of bowling pins onto the bowling lane; and   an actuator which is independently controlled from the pulley system, the actuator being independently moveable between a retracted position and an extended position such that an operating position of the strings can be slackened to different lengths independent of the bowling pins being placed onto the bowling lane.   
     
     
         17 . The bowling center system of  claim 16 , further comprising a control device controlling the position of the actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The bowling center system of  claim 16 , further comprising a control system to independently move the drawbar. 
     
     
         19 . The bowling center system of  claim 16 , further comprising a sensor to determine a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The bowling center system of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator comprises one of a mechanical actuator or an electronic actuator.