Bowling Lane Machine

Abstract

In one embodiment, a bowling lane machine is presented having a drive system with at least two front non-swiveling wheels and at least one rear swiveling wheel. In another embodiment, a bowling lane machine is presented that retains a squeegee assembly in a down position while the bowling lane machine begins its reverse travel along the bowling lane such that a rear blade of the squeegee assembly contacts the rear end of the pin deck. The squeegee assembly is then positioned in an up position for the remainder of the reverse travel of the bowling lane machine along the bowling lane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bowling lane machine comprising:
 a housing;   a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system carried by the housing, wherein the cleaning fluid delivery and removal system comprises:
 a cleaning fluid reservoir; 
 at least one cleaning fluid delivery nozzle in communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir; and 
 a squeegee assembly; 
   a controller configured to:
 position the squeegee assembly in a down position during forward travel of the bowling lane machine along a bowling lane toward a pin deck such that when the bowling lane machine reaches the pin deck, the squeegee assembly is pushed beyond the pin deck and drops below a rear end of the bowling lane; 
 retain the squeegee assembly in the down position while the bowling lane machine begins its reverse travel along the bowling lane such that a rear blade of the squeegee assembly contacts the rear end of the pin deck; and 
 position the squeegee assembly in an up position for the remainder of the reverse travel of the bowling lane machine along the bowling lane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee assembly is v-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee assembly comprises a front absorbent wiper and a rear elastomer blade. 
     
     
         4 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 3 , wherein the front absorbent wiper and the rear elastomer blade have metal strips clamped around their top edges. 
     
     
         5 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 1  further comprising a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 5 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises at least one injector comprising at least one opening and a valve. 
     
     
         7 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bowling lane machine is powered by an AC power source. 
     
     
         8 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bowling lane machine is powered by a DC power supply. 
     
     
         9 . The bowling lane machine of  claim 8 , wherein the DC power supply is selected from one of the following: a DC lithium battery pack, a DC lead acid battery pack, and a DC transformer.