PIN POSITIONING
Between throws, machinery restores pin configurations. This illustration shows what occurs behind the scenes
1 SWEEP After each roll, this lowers in front of the pins and moves towards the back of the lane to clear all knocked pins. 2 PIN ELEVATOR
There are more than 20 pins in the machine, so there are always some pins readily available at the setter. This elevator consists of two pulleys and trays that each hold one pin. When the trays reach the top, the pin is released and the empty tray returns to the bottom for collection.
3 PIN DISTRIBUTOR
When the pin table has fully risen after a player’s second roll, the pins that have climbed the elevator are released into the ten free slots, ready for the next player. 4 PIN TABLE
This holder has enough slots for each pin. It’s lowered onto the lane and clamps around the top of each remaining pin. As it does this, it relays the points scored to the automatic scoring software. The pin table lifts the standing pins out the way of the sweeper and lowers them to resume play.
5 SENSOR
A sensor lies slightly in front of the pins. When it detects the movement of a rolling ball, it will trigger the pinsetter’s actions after two seconds have passed and the bowl is complete.
6 CONVEYOR BELT
This belt is constantly moving towards the back of the lane. It rolls swept pins onto the pin elevator. It is tilted slightly so that the ball rolls towards the ball return tunnel underneath the lane. 7 FILTERING BARRIER
This component is set at a specific height to work as a filter. It makes a gap big enough for the pins to roll through to the elevator, but not the ball.
8 PIN FEED DEFLECTORS The sides of the elevator are angled to guide the pins to the centre of the lane. This lines them up perfectly to enter the pin elevator. 9 PIN COUNT SWITCH As pins roll off the elevator, they move a switch. Each movement is relayed to the next part of the machine to record how many pins are returning. 10 OVERFLOW CHUTES If all the spaces in the pin distributor are filled, the pins fall down these chutes to the base of the elevator, ready to rise back to the top.