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What is back their!
Our machines are AMF 82-70 Pinspotters, the most widely used AMF equipment in the world. The 82-70 is a reliable machine that is fairly easy to work on due to the fact that it's components are separated or individualized. This allows us to more easily troubleshoot and identify problems and get you back to bowling. In some cases, we can troubleshoot and repair problems while you are bowling, and you'll never know it. There are approximately 4,000 parts per machine. This is nothing because the first AMF automatic pinspotter was 2 tons, 9 feet tall, and about 6,000 parts!
There are many components to the AMF 82-70 pinspotter. There is the sweep, table, pit, pinwheel, distributor, bin assembly, shuttle and chassis (Meanings are at the bottem). And these are just the major components. All of these parts work in conjunction with each other during the different cycles of the machine which are listed at the bottem. Any one of which can be effected by the other if a problem occurs.
Scoring Interface
In order to bring our pinspotters up to current technology, we have upgraded our pinspotter chassis's with new circuit boards, which also interface with our scoring. They provide "short cycles", meaning that the scoring system determines what the machine does. Example - If you throw a strike on a machine without the upgrade, the pinspotter will feel (try to sense by sending the table down to spot the pins) for pins before setting a new rack. With the upgrade, the pinspotter will take it's cue from the scoring camera and simply set the new rack, thereby eliminating the table haveing to go down and feel for pins. The main benefit's this is to reduce wear and tear on the pinspotter, and it allows us to eliminate some components which saves us on labor and parts. It also speeds up your bowling experience. All 10 of our pinspotters are converted to these expander boards, just watch how your machine cycles next time you bowl.
Backend Ball Returns
Since our pinspotters are one of the early designs, we have first generation backend ball return systems, called kicker returns. They were designed for the bowling balls and lane conditions used in the late 60's early 70's. As we all know, equipment and conditions have changed drastically since that time. It's a very technical sport , far different than when the pinspotters were designed. And the area of the machine that takes the biggest hit in performance is the backend ball return.
Fortunately, technology changes have allowed us to keep up, for the most part, to changing equipment and conditions. There is no single factor that points to ball return problems. Oil, ball construction, ball weight, ball cleanliness, ball delivery (if thrown down the center of the lane the ball travels through the heaviest oil), and equipment condition, factor into ball return problems. From a mechanical standpoint, we attack the ball return problem with many different styles of kicker rollers, spring tension and equipment adjustments/cleaning. Occasionally, there is nothing we can do about a ball return problem. We just have to push them into the ball exit. Example - if a bowler uses an old or dirty ball (they get oil soaked), particularly plastic and especially if it's a light ball. Again, normally not a problem.
Some Down Back Terms!
Ball Lift
Takes the bowling ball from the ball exit to the top of the ball lift where it is gravity fed back in the subway to the ball return by the lane.
Subway
Where the ball travles under the capping from the top of the ball lift to the ball return at the lane.
Kicker Wheel
Round rubber or urethane wheel that pulls the ball into the ball exit to the ball lift.
Bin Assembly
The pins (up to 20) are stored here prior to being placed on the deck. (2 per bin)
Chassis
The chassis is the computer or "brains" of the pinspotter. Has nothing to do with the scoring system, it controls all machine functions including the sweep, table, pit, etc. It interfaces indirectly with the scoring system to determine on/off and cycling. With the proper circuit board upgrade, most other functions can be completely controlled by the scoring system.
Cycles
There are 5 cycles to the AMF pinspotter. first ball cycle, second ball cycle, first ball foul, strike cycle, and out of range.
First Ball Cycle
After the ball is thrown, the sweep drops to first guard, the table feels for and picks up any standing pins, the sweep run's through and clears any deadwood and returns to second guard, and the table re-spots the pins.
Foul Cycle
After dropping to first guard after a foul has been committed, the sweep will run through clearing the deck, and a new rack of pins will be set. And the pinspotter will be put on second ball.
Out Of Range
If a pin is moved off spot, the table is prevented from picking it up due to a limited range of the cells. The sweep will stay at first guard. The mechanic must manually remove any deadwood and raise the sweep from the control box. All out of range pins must be left where standing.
Second Ball Cycle
After the ball is thrown, the sweep drops to first guard, delay's, then run's through to clear deadwood and returns to second guard. The table spots a new rack of pins.
Strike Cycle
After the ball is thrown, the sweep drops to first guard, delay's and then the sweep runs through to clear deadwood - returning to first guard. The table then spots a new rack of pins. If the pinspotter has not been upgraded then the tabel would feel for pins before the sweep runs to clear deadwood.
Distributor
The distributor does just that, it distributes the pins in a preset pattern to the corresponding bin locations. The last pin in - the 9 pin. Their is a switch in the bin that tells the chassis that a full rack is ready for transport to the deck. If the pinspotter goes out of cycle the pins get stuck on the distributor. Also an new rack won't set because their is no pin in the 9 pin bin.
Control Panel
This is where the mechanic can directly control the different functions of the machine (sweep, cycle the pinspotter, etc).
Pinwheel
The pinwheel transports the pins from the pit up top to the distributor.
Pit
Area behind pindeck where pins are transferred to the pinwheel, and the ball is transferred to the ball return system.
Re-Spot Cells
10 per table, they close to lift standing pins for removal of deadwood, and re-open upon re-spotting.
Shuttle
Part of bin assembly that transfers pins to the cups in the table.
Spotting Cups
Ten per table, they catch the pins when released from the shuttle, and rotate to spot them in a standing position on the deck.
Table
A multi function device consisting of 10 spotting cups, 10 re-spot cells, an yoke assembly, and the base table itself. Responsible for spotting and re-spotting pins.
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