Bowling Game Machine

Abstract

This invention relates to a bowling game system that prevents a ball from falling into one of gutters with no players noticing. A bowling game system 1 is provided with a bowling ball b in which a plurality of permanent magnets are embedded with their faces along the surface of the ball b being same in polarity, an approach 2 where a player rolls the ball b down, a lane 3 on which the ball b players bowl rolls, a plurality of bowling pins 5 arranged and placed on the end of the lane 3 opposite to the approach 2, trough-like gutters 4 provided longitudinally on the both sides of the lane 3 to receive the ball b slipping off the lane 3, a plurality of electromagnets 21 embedded widthwise on the edges of the lane 3 and provided paralleling the lane 3, and a power source 22 for supplying the electromagnets 21 with electric power to magnetize them. The electromagnets 21 repel the permanent magnets in the ball b to prevent the ball b from falling into the gutters 4.

1 . A bowling game system furnished with a ball a player bowls, an approach as an area where the player bowls the ball, a lane extending from the approach and on which the bowling ball bowled by the player rolls, a plurality of bowling pins arranged and placed on an end of the lane opposite the approach, trough-like gutters provided paralleling both sides of the lane to receive bowling balls slipping off the lane; the bowling game system characterized in being further provided with:
 a plurality of first permanent magnets embedded in said ball in such a way that their polarity along the surface of said ball is the same; and   a travel direction-changing mechanism for exerting magnetic force on said first permanent magnets in said ball when rolling down the lane so as to attract or repel said first permanent magnets to prevent said ball from falling into the gutters.   
   
   
       2 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said travel direction-changing mechanism is configured with a plurality of second permanent magnets embedded longitudinally in the midportion of the lane, with their polarity along the surface of the lane being opposite to the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball. 
   
   
       3 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said travel direction-changing mechanism comprises a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed either longitudinally on both outer sides of the lane, or embedded longitudinally along both edges of the lane, with the polarity of said second permanent magnets opposing said ball being the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball. 
   
   
       4 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said travel direction changing mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed facing each other on the outer sides of the lane, with the polarity of said second permanent magnets along the lane being the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; and   a driving means for supporting each of said second permanent magnets and shifting them longitudinally along the lane; and therein characterized in being further provided with:   a speed detecting means, more toward the approach-area end than the limit to which said second permanent magnets can be shifted, for detecting the traveling speed of said ball; and   a control means for controlling said drive driving mechanism to shift said second permanent magnets, keeping pace with said ball, from along the approach area toward the bowling pins at a speed corresponding to the ball speed detected by said speed detecting means.   
   
   
       5 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said travel direction-changing mechanism is comprises:
 a plurality of electromagnets embedded longitudinally in the midportion of the lane, with their polarity along the surface of the lane being opposite to the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; and   an electric-power supplying means for supplying power to said electromagnets so as to magnetize them.   
   
   
       6 . The bowling game system of  claim 5 , characterized in being further provided with:
 position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said electromagnets; and   a control means for checking, based on ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, whether or not said ball is positioned within preestablished lane-bordering regions, and when said ball is determined to be so positioned, for controlling said power supplying means so as to supply power to the electromagnets corresponding to the position-detecting locations to magnetize them for a fixed duration.   
   
   
       7 . The bowling game system of  claim 5 , characterized in being further provided with:
 detecting means, more toward the approach-area end of the lane than that of said electromagnets nearest the approach area, for detecting position of said ball in the lane widthwise, and moving speed and travel direction of said ball; and   a control means for predicting, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, travel path of said ball, and based on the predicted travel path, to check whether said ball will travel within preestablished lane-bordering regions and decide upon any of said electromagnets to be magnetized, and controlling said power supplying means so as supply power to the decided-upon electromagnets to magnetize them for a fixed duration timed, based on the ball speed detected by said detecting means, to when said ball passes through the region where the magnetic force of those electromagnets acts.   
   
   
       8 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said travel direction-changing mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of electromagnets disposed either longitudinally on both outer sides of the lane, or embedded longitudinally along both edges of the lane, with the polarity of said second permanent magnets opposing said ball being the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; and   an electric power supplying means for supplying power to said electromagnets so as to magnetize them.   
   
   
       9 . The bowling game system of  claim 8 , characterized in being further provided with:
 position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said electromagnets; and   a control means for checking, based on ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, whether or not said ball is positioned within preestablished lane-bordering regions along where said electromagnets are disposed, and when said ball is determined to be so positioned, for controlling said power supplying means so as to supply power to the electromagnets to magnetize them for a fixed duration.   
   
   
       10 . The bowling game system of  claim 8 , characterized in being further provided with:
 detecting means, more toward the approach-area end of the lane than that of said electromagnets nearest the approach area, for detecting position of said ball in the lane widthwise, and moving speed and travel direction of said ball; and   a control means for predicting, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, travel path of said ball, and based on the predicted travel path, to check whether said ball will travel within preestablished lane-bordering regions and decide upon any of said electromagnets to be magnetized, and controlling said power supplying means so as supply power to the decided-upon electromagnets to magnetize them for a fixed duration timed, based on the ball speed detected by said detecting means, to when said ball passes through the region where the magnetic force of those electromagnets acts.   
   
   
       11 . The bowling game system of  claim 8 , characterized in being further provided with:
 position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said electromagnets; and   a control means for controlling said electric power supplying means so as to guide said ball toward a predetermined part of the bowling pins, by adjusting, in accordance with ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, power supplied to said electromagnets corresponding to the position-detecting locations, to vary the magnetic force of said electromagnets.   
   
   
       12 . The bowling game system of  claim 8 , characterized in being further provided with:
 detecting means, more toward the approach-area end of the lane than that of said electromagnets nearest the approach area, for detecting position of said ball in the lane widthwise, and moving speed and travel direction of said ball; and   a control means for predicting, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, ball travel path, and based on the predicted travel path, deciding upon which said electromagnets to magnetize, and with what magnetic force, so that the actual travel path will be a path leading to a predetermined part of the pins, and controlling said power supplying means so as to supply the decided-upon electromagnets with power corresponding to the decided-upon magnetic force and timed, based on the ball speed detected by said detecting means, to when said ball passes into the area where the magnetic force of the decided-upon electromagnets acts on the ball.   
   
   
       13 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that said direction-changing mechanism is configured with:
 two electromagnets provided facing each other on either outer side of the lane, with their polarity along the lane being the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball,   an electric power-supplying means for supplying power to said electromagnets so as to magnetize them, and   a drive means for supporting said electromagnets and shifting each along the lane lengthwise; therein characterized in being further provided with:   a speed detecting means, more toward the approach-area end than the limit to which said second electromagnets can be shifted, for detecting the traveling speed of said ball; and   a control means for controlling said drive means to shift said electromagnets, keeping pace with said ball, from along the approach area toward the bowling pins at a speed corresponding to the ball speed detected by said speed detecting means, and so that the ball is positioned ahead of said discharging means in its discharging direction, and meanwhile for controlling said power supplying means so as to supply said electromagnets with electric power to magnetize them either continuously or intermittently while said electromagnets are shifting.   
   
   
       14 . The bowling game system of  claim 13 , further provided with:
 position detecting means for detecting the widthwise position of a ball on the lane, in a plurality of position-detecting locations defined along the lane lengthwise; therein characterized in that:   said control means is configured to check, based on ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, whether or not said ball is positioned within preestablished border regions on either side of the lane, and when a ball is determined to be so positioned, to control said power supplying means to supply power to at least that electromagnet along the lane-bordering region where said ball is located, so that the electromagnet is magnetized for a fixed duration.   
   
   
       15 . The bowling game system of  claim 13 , further provided with:
 detecting means, more toward the approach-area end than the limit to which said electromagnets can be shifted, for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise and ball travel direction; therein characterized in that   said control means is configured to predict, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, ball travel path, and based on the predicted travel path, to check whether said ball will travel within preestablished lane-bordering regions, to decide upon which said electromagnets to magnetize and to decide upon the interval, in the direction in which the electromagnets travel, along which to magnetize the decided-upon electromagnets, and to control said power supplying means to supply power to, so as to magnetize, the decided-upon electromagnets while passing through the decided-upon interval.   
   
   
       16 . The bowling game system of  claim 13 , further provided with:
 position detecting means for detecting the widthwise position of a ball on the lane, in a plurality of position-detecting locations defined along the lane lengthwise; therein characterized in that:   said control means is configured to control said electric power supplying means so as to guide said ball toward a predetermined part of the bowling pins, by adjusting, in accordance with ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, power supplied to said electromagnets, to vary the magnetic force of said electromagnets.   
   
   
       17 . The bowling game system of  claim 13 , further provided with:
 detecting means, more toward the approach-area end than the limit to which said electromagnets can be shifted, for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise and ball travel direction; therein characterized in that   said control means is configured to predict, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, ball travel path, and based on the predicted travel path, to decide upon which said   electromagnets to magnetize, and with what magnetic force, and to decide upon the interval, in the direction in which the electromagnets travel, along which to magnetize the decided-upon electromagnets   so that the actual travel path will be a path leading to a predetermined part of the pins, and to control said power supplying means to supply to the decided-upon electromagnets power corresponding to the decided-upon magnetic force, while the decided-upon electromagnets pass through the decided-upon interval.   
   
   
       18 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said travel direction-changing mechanism is composed of
 direction-changing means provided with a plurality of groups of magnetic force-exerting units, each group comprising a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, the groups being either embedded in said lane running along its longitudinal orientation, or arranged outside the lane running along its longitudinal orientation, and 
   an electric-power supplying means for supply each said electromagnet of said direction-changing means with electric power so as to magnetize said electromagnets; and   said first electromagnets of said direction-changing means are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the opposite of the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball, and said second electromagnets are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; therein characterized in being further provided with:   position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said magnetic force-exerting units; and   a control means for checking, based on ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, whether or not said ball is positioned within preestablished border regions on either side of the lane, and when a ball is determined to be so positioned, for controlling said power supplying means so as to supply, in response to said ball being located in a lane border region, power to either said first electromagnets or said second electromagnets of said magnetic force-exerting units corresponding to the position-detecting locations to magnetize them for a fixed duration.   
   
   
       19 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said travel direction-changing mechanism is composed of
 direction-changing means provided with a plurality of groups of magnetic force-exerting units, each group comprising a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, the groups being either embedded in said lane running along its longitudinal orientation, or arranged outside the lane running along its longitudinal orientation, and 
   an electric-power supplying means for supply each said electromagnet of said direction-changing means with electric power so as to magnetize said electromagnets; and   said first electromagnets of said direction-changing means are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the opposite of the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball, and said second electromagnets are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; therein characterized in being further provided with:   detecting means, more toward the approach-area end of the lane than that of said magnetic force-exerting units nearest the approach area, for detecting position of said ball in the lane widthwise, and moving speed and travel direction of said ball; and   a control means for predicting, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, travel path of said ball, and based on the predicted travel path, to check whether said ball will travel within preestablished lane-bordering regions and decide upon any of said electromagnets to be magnetized, and controlling said power supplying means so as supply power to the decided-upon electromagnets to magnetize them for a fixed duration timed, based on the ball speed detected by said detecting means, to when said ball passes through the region where the magnetic force of those electromagnets acts.   
   
   
       20 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said travel direction-changing mechanism is composed of
 direction-changing means provided with a plurality of groups of magnetic force-exerting units, each group comprising a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, the groups being either embedded in said lane running along its longitudinal orientation, or arranged outside the lane running along its longitudinal orientation, and 
   an electric-power supplying means for supply each said electromagnet of said direction-changing means with electric power so as to magnetize said electromagnets; and   said first electromagnets of said direction-changing means are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the opposite of the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball, and said second electromagnets are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; therein characterized in being further provided with:   position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said magnetic force-exerting units; and   a control means for controlling said electric power supplying means so as to guide said ball toward a predetermined part of the bowling pins, by adjusting, in accordance with ball position in the position-detecting locations successively detected by said position detecting means, power supplied to said electromagnets of the magnetic force-exerting units corresponding to the position-detecting locations, to vary the magnetic force of said electromagnets.   
   
   
       21 . The bowling game system of  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said travel direction-changing mechanism is composed of
 direction-changing means provided with a plurality of groups of magnetic force-exerting units, each group comprising a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, the groups being either embedded in said lane running along its longitudinal orientation, or arranged outside the lane running along its longitudinal orientation, and 
   an electric-power supplying means for supply each said electromagnet of said direction-changing means with electric power so as to magnetize said electromagnets; and   said first electromagnets of said direction-changing means are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the opposite of the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball, and said second electromagnets are configured so that their polarity where they oppose said ball is the same as the polarity of said first permanent magnets along the surface of said ball; therein characterized in being further provided with:   position detecting means for detecting ball position in the lane widthwise, in position-detecting locations defined respectively corresponding to, and nearer to the approach end than, said magnetic force-exerting units; and   a control means for predicting, based on the ball position and ball travel direction detected by said detecting means, ball travel path, and based on the predicted travel path, deciding upon which said electromagnets to magnetize, and with what magnetic force, so that the actual travel path will be a path leading to a predetermined part of the pins, and controlling said power supplying means so as to supply the decided-upon electromagnets with power corresponding to the decided-upon magnetic force and timed, based on the ball speed detected by said detecting means, to when said ball passes into the area where the magnetic force of the decided-upon electromagnets acts on the ball.   
   
   
       22 . The bowling game system of  claim 5 , characterized in being further provided with a control means for determining, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a player's skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and for subsequently monitoring the progress of the game to supply power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       23 . The bowling game system of  claim 6  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       24 . The bowling game system of  claim 8 , characterized in being further provided with a control means for determining, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a player's skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and for subsequently monitoring the progress of the game to supply power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       25 . The bowling game system of  claim 7  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       26 . The bowling game system of  claim 9  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       27 . The bowling game system of  claim 10  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       28 . The bowling game system of  claim 11  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       29 . The bowling game system of  claim 12  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       30 . The bowling game system of  claim 13  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       31 . The bowling game system of  claim 14  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       32 . The bowling game system of  claim 15  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       33 . The bowling game system of  claim 16  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       34 . The bowling game system of  claim 17  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       35 . The bowling game system of  claim 18  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       36 . The bowling game system of  claim 19  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       37 . The bowling game system of  claim 20  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame. 
   
   
       38 . The bowling game system of  claim 21  characterized in that said control means is configured to determine, based on handicaps defined in accordance with a players' skill, in which frames during a game said power supplying means is to be activated, and to then monitor the progress of the game to supply electric power from said power supplying means to said electromagnets when the game has reached an applicable frame.