Bowling Pin Positioning System Cable Disentanglement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bowling pin positioning systems are inefficient in disentangling entangled cables, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and prolonged operation times due to the inability to accurately identify which cables are entangled.
Innovation Solution
The system employs sensors, such as photocells, to specifically identify entangled cables, and a control unit that monitors motor energy absorption to activate brakes and adjust the carriage position, minimizing operations and energy use, while also using secondary and third guides for compact design and precise pin positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the positioning device lifts and releases all pins to disentangle cables, then the cables can be disentangled, but the operation time and energy consumption increase due to unnecessary operations on non-entangled cables
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pin array into individual controlled units, each associated with a specific cable. When cable entanglement is detected, only the brakes corresponding to affected cables are activated, and only the carriage positions corresponding to entangled cables are adjusted. This segmented approach prevents unnecessary operations on non-entangled cables, reducing overall operation time while maintaining reliable cable disentanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor cable position and tension to detect entanglement conditions. This feedback mechanism enables the control unit to identify which specific cables are entangled and trigger targeted disentanglement operations only for those cables, avoiding unnecessary operations on all pins and reducing operation time while ensuring reliable disentanglement where needed.
2Reliability
If the positioning device lifts and releases all pins to disentangle cables, then the cables can be disentangled, but the energy consumption increases due to unnecessary operations on non-entangled cables
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pin array into individual controlled units, each associated with a specific cable. When cable entanglement is detected, only the brakes corresponding to affected cables are activated, and only the carriage positions corresponding to entangled cables are adjusted. This segmented approach prevents unnecessary operations on non-entangled cables, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable cable disentanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor cable position and tension to detect entanglement conditions. This feedback mechanism enables the control unit to identify which specific cables are entangled and trigger targeted disentanglement operations only for those cables, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption on non-entangled cables while ensuring reliable disentanglement where needed.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and control units are added to identify entangled cables, then the precision of cable identification improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where existing carriage components and brakes serve dual purposes: they are not only used for pin positioning but also function as sensors and actuators for cable entanglement detection and resolution. The control unit integrates multiple functions including position control, entanglement detection, and targeted brake activation, reducing the need for separate dedicated components and minimizing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for faster and more energy-efficient disentanglement of cables, reducing operation time and energy consumption, while maintaining a compact and precise pin positioning system.
Implementation Method 1
each sensor can comprise a photocell
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A positioning system (10) for bowling pins (1) comprising: a support frame (15), a plurality of levers (30), each of which is rotatably associated to the support frame (15), independently of one another according to an oscillating axis X in order to be able to oscillate between a rest position and a perturbed position, a plurality of cables (40), each comprising a first end (45) fixed to a respective pin (1) and a second end (50), fixed to a respective lever (30), a carriage (65) slidably associated to the support frame (15), a plurality of first guides (80) connected to the carriage (65), each configured for contacting a portion of a respective cable (40) comprised between the respective lever (30) and the respective pin (1), a positioning template (125), which is provided with a plurality of accommodating openings (130) of the pins (1), internally of each of which a portion of a corresponding cable (40) is slidably inserted, a plurality of brakes (120), each of which is connected to the support frame (15), is associated to a respective cable (40) and is activatable between a blocking position, in which it retains the cable (40), and an unblocking position, in which it frees the cable (40), an electric motor (150) configured for activating the carriage (65) between a first position, wherein the distance between the carriage (65) and the plurality of levers (30) is maximum, and a second position, wherein the distance between the carriage (65) and the plurality of levers (30) is minimum, a plurality of sensors (175), each of which is associated to a corresponding lever (30) and is configured for detecting the position of such lever (30), a control unit (180) able to detect, via the plurality of sensors (175), the position of the plurality of levers (30) and to manage the electric motor (150) and the plurality of brakes (120).