Apparatus and method for conditioning a bowling lane using precision delivery injectors
View Patent ↗The invention relates generally to the conditioning of bowling lanes, and, more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically applying a predetermined pattern of dressing fluid along the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of a bowling lane.
1. A surface conditioning system comprising:
a dressing application system including at least one precision delivery injector for injecting high viscosity dressing fluid directly onto a surface, said at least one precision delivery injector including a valve reciprocable between open and closed positions for respectively injecting and preventing injection of the dressing fluid through said at least one precision delivery injector; and
a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system, wherein the cleaning fluid delivery and removal system comprises:
a cleaning fluid reservoir;
at least one cleaning fluid delivery nozzle in communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir; and
a vacuum.
2. A bowling lane conditioning system comprising:
a dressing application system including at least one precision delivery injector for injecting high viscosity dressing fluid directly onto a bowling lane, said at least one precision delivery injector including a valve reciprocable between open and closed positions for respectively injecting and preventing injection of the dressing fluid through said at least one precision delivery injector; and
a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system, wherein the cleaning fluid delivery and removal system comprises:
a cleaning fluid reservoir;
at least one cleaning fluid delivery nozzle in communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir; and
a vacuum.
3. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said dressing fluid having a viscosity greater than 10 centipoises.
4. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on an injector rail reciprocable generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis thereof.
5. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on an injector rail and being shuttled in predetermined intervals generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis of said injector rail.
6. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a buffer for smoothing the dressing fluid applied onto the bowling lane and being reciprocable generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis thereof.
7. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a buffer for smoothing the dressing fluid applied onto the bowling lane and being rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of travel of said lane conditioning system.
8. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a buffer for smoothing the dressing fluid applied onto the bowling lane and being rotatable in the same direction as a direction of travel of said lane conditioning system.
9. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on an injector rail reciprocable generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis thereof, said lane conditioning system further comprising:
a buffer for smoothing the dressing fluid applied onto the bowling lane and being reciprocable generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis thereof.
10. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a buffer disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bowling lane when said lane conditioning system is positioned orthogonal to the bowling lane.
11. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a control system for controlling various functions of said lane conditioning system.
12. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a user interface for controlling said control system.
13. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a calibration system for calibrating said at least one precision delivery injectors.
14. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
thirty-nine precision injectors for injecting dressing fluid onto thirty-nine respective boards of a bowling lane.
15. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a reciprocable agitation mechanism for agitating the dressing fluid prior to being smoothed by a buffer.
16. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a rotatable agitation mechanism including a plurality of resilient paddles for agitating the dressing fluid prior to being smoothed by a buffer.
17. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on an injector rail reciprocable generally vertically relative to the bowling lane.
18. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on an injector rail pivotable about an axis disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal length of the bowling lane.
19. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a buffer for smoothing the dressing fluid applied onto the bowling lane; and
a dispersion roller disposed in contact with said buffer for dispersing dressing fluid on said buffer.
20. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 19 , wherein said dispersion roller is reciprocable generally parallel relative to a central longitudinal axis thereof.
21. A bowling lane conditioning system according to claim 2 , said at least one precision delivery injector being mounted on a fixed injector rail.
22. A bowling lane conditioning system comprising:
a dressing system including at least one precision delivery injector for injecting high viscosity dressing fluid onto a transfer roller, said at least one precision delivery injector including a valve reciprocable between open and closed positions for respectively injecting and preventing injection of the dressing fluid through said at least one precision delivery injector; and
a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system, wherein the cleaning fluid delivery and removal system comprises:
a cleaning fluid reservoir;
at least one cleaning fluid delivery nozzle in communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir; and
a vacuum.