Abstract A machine for removing excess filling material and refinishing the surface to a true sphere after one or more of the finger holes in a bowling ball have been filled in. The machine frame carries a motor-driven sanding disc and a pair of ways. Slidable on the ways is a carriage, which may be moved by means of a lead screw rotated by a hand wheel with a calibrated dial. The bowling ball to be refinished is supported rollably on a number of ball casters or the like which are mounted on the carriage. The ball may be rotated or rolled by hand about any axis, but is constrained against motion in translation except by translation of the carriage itself. In use, the carriage is advanced until the ball just touches tangentially the rotating sanding disc. The ball is then rolled manually to present its surface to the disc. The carriage may then be advanced 0.05 mm or so and the process repeated. Dust from the operation is collected in a novel housing by a combination of centrifugal and suction means.
A resurfacing machine for a bowling ball, comprising: a frame; ways on said frame; a carriage slidable on said ways; an abrasive disc and a shaft and motor means to rotate said disc mounted on said frame, the plane of said disc being perpendicular to the plane of said ways, and the diameter of said disc being substantial compared to the diameter of said bowling ball; a plurality of ball-like rollable supports for said bowling ball mounted on said carriage and disposed around a circle in a plane parallel to said ways and permitting manual rotation of said ball about any axis but preventing its translation; the center of said circle being displaced from the axis of said shaft in a plane parallel to said ways, the friction force of said disc acting to urge said bowling ball against said supports; a shroud enclosing said disc; an opening in said shroud for intrusion of a portion of said bowling ball and having a shape and a protruding dust-catching lip fitting closely around said portion on the trailing side; a tangentially-disposed exit spout on said shroud; and external suction exhaust means connected to said spout to withdraw dust.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A resurfacing machine for a bowling ball, comprising: a frame; ways on said frame; a carriage slidable on said ways; an abrasive disc and a shaft and motor means to rotate said disc mounted on said frame, the plane of said disc being perpendicular to the plane of said ways, and the diameter of said disc being substantial compared to the diameter of said bowling ball; a plurality of ball-like rollable supports for said bowling ball mounted on said carriage and disposed around a circle in a plane parallel to said ways and permitting manual rotation of said ball about any axis but preventing its translation; the center of said circle being displaced from the axis of said shaft in a plane parallel to said ways, the friction force of said disc acting to urge said bowling ball against said supports; a shroud enclosing said disc; an opening in said shroud for intrusion of a portion of said bowling ball and having a shape and a protruding dust-catching lip fitting closely around said portion on the trailing side; a tangentially-disposed exit spout on said shroud; and external suction exhaust means connected to said spout to withdraw dust.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A machine as in claim 1, wherein: said ways lie substantially horizontally, the plane of said abrasive disc being substantially vertical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine as in claim 1, further comprising: a lead screw disposed to displace said carriage along said ways, and a dial on said lead screw calibrated to permit such displacement in known increments of about 0.02 millimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine as in claim 1, wherein said motor means rotates said disc at a speed lower than about 2000 revolutions per minute.