Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine (10) performs selected maintenance operations on the surface of the bowling lane, shifts itself to the approach area spanning a plurality of lanes behind the foul line end of the lanes, indexes to another lane, and then shifts to the lane to again perform a maintenance operation thereon. The machine (10) includes structural housing (12) cleaning maintenance assembly (14), propulsion assembly (16), and electronic control system (18); which cooperate for controlled maintenance operations as described above.

Abstract: The oil pattern laid down by the automatic machine across the width of the lane and along the length of the lane can be precisely controlled and varied through the use of a series of independently controllable wick assemblies that are individually movable into and out of contacting engagement with the oil applicator of the machine. A programmable controller for the wick assemblies determines which of the wick assemblies will be in oil-transferring contact with the applicator and when.

Abstract: The frame of the apparatus carries a pair of front and rear rollers extending across the normal path of travel of the frame during use, and a soft web of absorbent material such as terry cloth has its opposite ends coiled around the two rollers and a mid-portion thereof looped beneath a transverse fulcrum roller on the frame which is located between the two coil rollers. Inasmuch as the fulcrum roller is disposed with its lower lane-engaging periphery out of alignment with the peripheries of the other two rollers, the terry cloth web bears against the surface only at two spaced locations, i.e., either the fulcrum and the forward roller or the fulcrum and the rear roller.