Abstract: In one aspect, a personal care cleaning composition in tablet form may include a surfactant and a starch composition formed from starch, alcohol and water. The tablet may be formed using a method that includes preparing the starch slurry composition comprising the starch, alcohol and water, preparing a mixture of the starch slurry composition and the surfactant, and pressing the mixture into tablet form. In another aspect, a personal care cleaning composition in tablet form may include a surfactant, a starch composition formed from starch, alcohol and water, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, and glycol ether. The tablet may be formed using a method that includes preparing the starch slurry composition comprising the starch, alcohol and water, preparing a mixture of the starch slurry composition and the surfactant, the sodium carbonate, the sodium bicarbonate, the citric acid and the glycol ether, and pressing the mixture into tablet form.

Abstract: A lane maintenance machine has a cleaning system that includes at least one liquid dispensing head that reciprocates back and forth transversely of the lane as the machine travels along the length of the lane. The dispensing head includes a dispensing tip therein that emits a pin deck treatment product and applies it to a pin deck. The system provides accurate, precise metering of the pin deck treatment liquid and affords board-by-board control of the dispensing action. A wiping assembly immediately behind the dispensing head provides a web of cloth-like material looped under a compressible backup roller to wipe or smear the applied liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing head is a double head, and it includes a second tip for dispensing a cleaning solution so that pin deck treatment can take place with the same piece of equipment, after lane cleaning has taken place, making the entire process automated.

Abstract: This invention is related to compositions that can be used to protect surfaces, such as those found on bowling lanes (both synthetic and wood). The compositions are low viscosity and contain little to no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In one embodiment, the flowable compositions are 100% solids, while in another embodiment, they are solvent-borne compositions that only include VOC-exempt solvents. Regardless of the embodiment, the compositions can be cured via UV LED light to yield scratch, abrasion, and impact resistant coatings.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine is provided with separate reservoirs for constituent conditioning components to allow separate storage of the conditioning components and mixing of the conditioning components just prior to application to a surface of the bowling lane. One conditioning component may be a polar component such as a polyethylene glycol and another conditioning component may be a non-polar component such as a mineral oil based product. Separate reservoirs for constituent cleaning components are also provided so that the cleaning components may also be stored separately and then mixed together just prior to application to the bowling lane surface. Primary and secondary drive wheels are positioned on opposite sides of the machine forwardly of a conditioner application roller in the intended forward direction of travel of the machine so that they do not leave “tracks” on the conditioner after its application on the bowling lane.

Abstract: A bowling ball elevating assembly for an automatic pinsetter includes an idler pulley assembly having an idler arm and a tension spring causing the idler arm to maintain tension on a ball wheel belt driving a ball elevating ring member. An adjustment arm and a tension arm are mounted to an idler pulley shaft enabling adjusting the amount of tension applied by the tension spring to the idler arm, and consequently the tensioning force applied by an idler pulley to the ball wheel belt, thereby permitting slippage of the ball wheel belt relative to the ball elevating ring member when bowling pins and a bowling ball become jammed in the pinsetter. An improved idler v-pulley wheel has a reduced frictional engagement with the ball wheel belt, and improved positioning of the ball lift drive belt pulley reduces stress on the ball wheel belt.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine is provided with separate reservoirs for constituent conditioning components to allow separate storage of the conditioning components and mixing of the conditioning components just prior to application to a surface of the bowling lane. One conditioning component may be a polar component such as a polyethylene glycol and another conditioning component may be a non-polar component such as a mineral oil based product. Separate reservoirs for constituent cleaning components are also provided so that the cleaning components may also be stored separately and then mixed together just prior to application to the bowling lane surface. Primary and secondary drive wheels are positioned on opposite sides of the machine forwardly of a conditioner application roller in the intended forward direction of travel of the machine so that they do not leave “tracks” on the conditioner after its application on the bowling lane.

Abstract: A bowling ball elevating assembly for an automatic pinsetter includes an idler pulley assembly having an idler arm and a tension spring causing the idler arm to maintain tension on a ball wheel belt driving a ball elevating ring member. An adjustment arm and a tension arm are mounted to an idler pulley shaft enabling adjusting the amount of tension applied by the tension spring to the idler arm, and consequently the tensioning force applied by an idler pulley to the ball wheel belt, thereby permitting slippage of the ball wheel belt relative to the ball elevating ring member when bowling pins and a bowling ball become jammed in the pinsetter. An improved idler v-pulley wheel has a reduced frictional engagement with the ball wheel belt, and improved positioning of the ball lift drive belt pulley reduces stress on the ball wheel belt.

Abstract: This invention is related to compositions that can be used to protect surfaces, such as those found on bowling lanes (both synthetic and wood). The compositions are low viscosity and contain little to no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In one embodiment, the flowable compositions are 100% solids, while in another embodiment, they are solvent-borne compositions that only include VOC-exempt solvents. Regardless of the embodiment, the compositions can be cured via UV LED light to yield scratch, abrasion, and impact resistant coatings.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine has a cleaning assembly in which liquid cleaner is deposited on the lane surface at the front of the machine as the machine moves down the lane. Immediately behind the point of application of the cleaning solution, a wiping web assembly spreads the solution across the entire surface of the lane and presses the solution down into the conditioner for subsequent pickup by a suction pickup head behind the wiper web assembly. The web is looped under a backup roll having an exposed fibrous pile face that engages the inside surface of the web while the outside surface engages the lane. The fibrous pile encourages the web to remain in intimate contact with the lane surface at all times while accommodating surface irregularities such as depressions and other variations in lane contour.

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.

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.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine utilizes flexible wick segments to transfer lane dressing to the applicator roll of the machine. The wick segments are caused to flex into and out of contacting engagement with a transfer roll associated with the applicator roll by rotatable cams that engage cam followers associated with the wick segments. The cams are all secured to a common cam shaft and are rotated in unison through successive short segments of rotational travel by an indexing motor that responds to a controller. Each wick segment has at least one spring that urges the segment into contacting engagement with the transfer roll, while the cam for that segment is disposed to engage the follower and flex the wick segment off the transfer roll against the action of the spring when the lobe of the cam is in contacting engagement with the follower.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine, after completing a maintenance operation on one lane, moves onto the approach behind the foul line, turns and indexes over to the next lane, then turns again and moves up to the foul line of the next lane. Preferably, the machine is self-indexing so that all operations are carried out without operator intervention. Left and right wheels that drive the machine on the approach can be driven at relatively different speeds and in opposite directions to enable the machine to turn about a zero radius.

Abstract: New cleaning compositions and methods of forming and using those compositions are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions are in tablet form, with the tablets being dissolvable in water at the point-of-use for ease of storing and shipping. The compositions comprise sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, an alkali metal alkylbenzene sulfonate, an ingredient selected from the group consisting of a trialkyl glycol monoalkyl ether, limonene, and mixtures thereof, and other ingredients depending upon the embodiment. The diluted cleaner has a very low impact on the environment due to the low levels of surfactants in the diluted solution. Furthermore, the cleaning solution performs well on protein stains due to the production of CO2 and the presence of sodium perborate. The inventive composition can be used on a wide range of substrates, from hard surfaces to fabrics.

Abstract: A lane maintenance machine has a cleaning system that includes at least one cleaning liquid dispensing head which reciprocates back and forth transversely of the lane as the machine travels along the length of the lane. In a preferred embodiment the dispensing head emits successive squirts of liquid from a positive displacement pump, such as a peristaltic pump. The positive displacement pump provides accurate, precise metering of the cleaning liquid and affords board-by-board control of the dispensing action. A wiping assembly immediately behind the cleaning liquid dispensing head provides a web of cloth-like material looped under a compressible backup roller to wipe the applied liquid into a thin film and to pick up a measure of the liquid along with oil and dirt.

Abstract: A bowling lane conditioning machine has dressing application mechanism that includes an elongated, non-rotating strip brush which transfers dressing from a dispensing means to another surface, such as a bristle-type, lane-engaging applicator roll, a metal transfer roll that in turn transfers the dressing to the applicator roll, or the lane surface itself. In a preferred embodiment, dressing is dispensed to an upper one of two strip brushes that extend along the length of an applicator roll and engage its bristles at circumferentially spaced locations around its periphery. Dressing dispensed to the upper strip brush migrates by gravity to the bristles of the applicator roll and becomes applied to the lane surface as the roll rotates down into engagement with the surface. No dressing is dispensed to the second strip brush, which feathers the dressing on the applicator roll and reduces splattering.

Abstract: The topography of a bowling lane may be adjusted after installation through the use of special truss assemblies beneath the lane that are provided with a height adjustment mechanism that is remotely actuatable at a convenient location. Lane tilt, including side-to-side tilt, may be adjusted through the use of upright, threaded members that raise or lower opposite ends of beams associated with the truss assemblies. Crowns and depressions can be adjusted by way of independently adjustable devices that raise or lower isolated portions of the lane relative to the beam of the truss assembly. Adjustment for crowns and depressions can be provided with or without the ability to adjust for lane tilt. In one embodiment, chains and sprockets associated with such adjustment mechanism can be manipulated from a convenient access opening off to one side of the lane and located below the lane surface, such access opening being covered by an easily removable cap.

Abstract: A lane maintenance machine has a cleaning system that includes at least one cleaning liquid dispensing head which reciprocates back and forth transversely of the lane as the machine travels along the length of the lane. In a preferred embodiment the dispensing head emits successive squirts of liquid from a positive displacement pump, such as a peristaltic pump. The positive displacement pump provides accurate, precise metering of the cleaning liquid and affords board-by-board control of the dispensing action. A wiping assembly immediately behind the cleaning liquid dispensing head provides a web of cloth-like material looped under a compressible backup roller to wipe the applied liquid into a thin film and to pick up a measure of the liquid along with oil and dirt.

Abstract: An automated lane surface measuring device comprising a controller for operating a drive mechanism for propelling the measuring apparatus and one or more sensors operated by the controller to measure topographical parameters of the bowling lane surface. In one embodiment the apparatus measures bowling lane surface elevation by measuring bowling lane height with respect to the measuring apparatus in selectable increments along the surface of the bowling lane. The measuring apparatus may also measure crosswise tilt along the width of a bowling lane in selectable increments. The measuring apparatus may also measure lengthwise tilt of the length of the lane surface in selectable increments.

Abstract: A machine for automatically applying lane dressing travels up and down the lane to apply dressing according to a certain predetermined and preselected pattern. A single dispensing head travels back and forth across the lane as the machine moves linearly along the lane so that dressing is transferred to a buffer brush that engages the lane surface and applies the dressing thereto. The oil pattern is determined by actuation and deactuation of the dispensing head as it traverses the lane, such control of the head being provided by a special pattern control device in the nature of a cylindrical pattern tube that extends alongside the path of travel of the dispensing head. A sensor on the dispensing head detects pattern structure on the control device to responsively actuate and deactuate the head. In a preferred form, such structure takes the form of a series of metallic strips extending parallel to the path of travel of the dispensing head and spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the pattern tube.