Abstract: A pit cushion assembly of an automatic pinsetter is fitted with a pit cushion follower assembly that includes a cam and roller assembly that allows a pit cushion of a pin setting mechanism to move toward and away from a support arm on which the pit cushion is movably mounted without restricting a range of motion of the pit cushion away from the support arm. The cam is operative, upon movement of the pit cushion toward the support arm from an initial position thereof, to ride along the roller while driving the support arm to move. The cam is also operative to permit return movement of the pit cushion to the operative position thereof without restricting the range of pit cushion motion. The cam and roller-based follower assembly allows the pinsetter to operate more efficiently with less moving parts and with less maintenance requirements than with a traditional link-based follower assembly.

Abstract: The Follower Link Assembly acts as a pivot to raise the pit cushion upon ball impact allowing the bowling ball to pass under the pit cushion and to lower the pit cushion at the end of the pinsetter cycle. By design, the pit cushion was an integral part and dependent upon the follower link assembly for it's movement. The forward, rearward, and upward position of the pit cushion was restricted and controlled by the elongated slot design of the follower link assembly. The Pit Cushion Cam & Roller Kit does not restrict the forward position of the pit cushion. The free rotation of the urethane roller controls rearward and upward rotation of the pit cushion. The steel cam is solidly secured to the pit cushion mount. The free rotation of the urethane roller allows pit cushion to raise allowing the bowling ball to enter ball elevator assembly.

Abstract: The Triple P Turnbar (Turnbar) is manufactured of 11 gauge steel sheet stock bent to specified dimensions and mounted to the turnaround pan to help prevent or eliminate improper bowling pin orientation to the cross conveyor for all Brunswick A and A-2 Automatic Pinsetters. The difference between the Tumbar and previous turnaround pan cam designs is the Tumbar has vertical and horizontal designs to contact and “turn” the bowling pin to result in base first delivery to the cross conveyor. Previous turnaround pan cam designs did not guarantee the contact between the bowling pin and turnaround pan cam would result in base first delivery to the cross conveyor.