Herein, a bowling lane provided with automated bowling equipment refers to a bowling lane having a string pinsetter for automatically clearing fallen pins on the pin deck and setting them back in their original positions for the next roll.

Bowling lane pinsetters are divided into two groups, depending on how they operate. One group consists of string pinsetters wherein pins are connected to the pinsetters by strings, and, once a ball has knocked down some or all of the pins, the strings of all the pins are wound on the pinsetter spools to lift all the pins upwards off the pin deck, whereafter the leftover pins of the roll, identified by the machine and stabilized in the table, are reset onto the pin deck for a second roll. After the second roll, the entire pin rack is reset onto the pin deck. The other group consists of so-called free pinsetters with free-standing pins. After rolling a ball, the leftover pins are lifted up by the pinsetter, the pins knocked down by the ball are moved to the rear of the pinsetter by means dedicated thereto and the leftover pins are reset onto the pin deck for a second roll. After the second roll, any leftover or fallen pins are moved to the rear of the pinsetter and, therefrom, by means dedicated thereto, to the pinsetter organizing them into a rack and setting the rack onto the pin deck. Both these pin- setters include a ball return unit.

The string pinsetters are significantly simpler in structure than the free pinsetters. The free pinsetters may comprise a number of components which is ten-fold compared to the string pinsetters. As automation was developed, the free pinsetters replaced the string pinsetters but now the situation is the opposite. Today, most of the machines used for entertainment and spare time bowling are string-operated. The free pinsetters have only maintained their position in competition bowling requiring a more accurate behavior of the falling pins. The invention is applicable to the above-described bowling lane structures associated with string pinsetters. The invention is suited for use with these pinsetters as they have a simpler structure than the free pinsetters. The arrangement and method according to the invention are suited for use with all string pinsetters, regardless their operating principle.

In the prior-art string-operated solutions, the structural parts associated with a string-oper ated pin-setting apparatus include a backend with sidewalls, provided behind the pin deck, a pinsetter provided above the pin deck, pinsetter brackets and a ball return unit provided next to the backend. Principally, these structural parts are made of plywood and wood, and/or other similar materials, and fixed in place by means of screws, glue and nails. Should the structural parts include metal structures, they are joined by welding and/or riveting.

The prior-art is presented in a product brochure of System-300 Group Oy. The sidewalls of the backend provided behind, i.e. as an extension of the pin deck, disclosed in the brochure, preferably are put together out of steel sheets, and, preferably, the pin deck is integrally fixed to an underlying base. The sidewalls provided on the sides of the pin deck have a wooden structure and are integrally fixed to the base, the backend and the bowling lane, through gutters. Preferably, pinsetter brackets, consisting of a variety of steel profiles, are attached to the upper edge of the sidewalls of the backend and the pin deck, the actual string pinsetter being attached onto them. The pinsetter comprises string spools, strings, pins connected to the strings, motion detectors, computer-assisted control units and any other components needed. A pin table having holes for stabilizing the pins is provided beneath the pinsetter.

Said prior-art string-operated pin-setting apparatus is operated by fixedly installing pinset- ters, in a given position with respect to the pin deck, as a bowling lane comprising an auto mated bowling machine is set up. Bowling lanes comprising an automated bowling machine are structures fixedly installed in sports and spare-time facilities and applying different ways of fixing to fix the parts of the pinsetter together, including welding, screws etc. It is the fixed installation of the string-operated pin-setting apparatuses that involves most of the drawbacks of the prior art, by making very difficult and expensive to move the string- operated pin-setting apparatuses from one place to another. Therefore, they are not moved, but, at the same time, a possible application thereof is lost: setting up a bowling lane at a given place for a given period of time and moving it to its next location of use thereafter.

This invention aims at providing an arrangement and method, hereafter briefly referred to “as the solution”, related to a string-operated pin-setting apparatus of a bowling lane pro vided with automated bowling equipment and avoiding, inter alia, the drawbacks encoun tered in the prior art. The solution according to the invention is characterized in what is set forth in the characterizing parts of claims 1 and 10. Compared to the prior art, the major advantage of the invention is that the solution according to the invention allows a string-operated pin-setting apparatus, and the entire bowling lane along therewith, to be moved from one place to another by simple operations and inexpen sively. The string-operated pin-setting apparatus is the most complicated individual structure of a bowling lane, and also the most difficult one to move, but this invention makes it pos- sible to temporarily place a bowling lane provided with automated bowling equipment in almost any public facilities. The solution according to the invention allows a full-scale bowl ing lane equipped with a string-operated pin-setting apparatus to be inexpensively set up, for a given period of time, in an entertainment center, night club, bar, hotel, shopping mall or residential building, for example, and to be moved to a next location thereafter. It also has the advantage that dimensionally accurate predesigning results in the string-operated pin setting apparatus having dimensionally accurate structural parts, with dimensionally accu rate stampings and fastening holes, and, therefore, a precise alignability, without any need of shaping or machining at the installation site. This reduces or even eliminates the need of measuring, machining, welding etc. which make the installation slower and more difficult at the installation site. The modular, dimensionally accurate structural parts are easy to put together during the installation at the location of use, and they form, when packed, a compact product package which is very space-saving and, therefore, very easy and inexpensive to store and transport. The following lists features characteristic of the solution according to the invention and the advantages achieved by them: • Easy and inexpensive manufacture of the structural parts:

• Effective utilization of the metal sheets serving as the source material of the struc tural parts, such as sidewalls of the backend, the pinsetter brackets and the lateral supports of the sidewalls, by dimensionally accurate predesigning, as well as the use of a sheet-metal working center.

• Easy, quick and reliable installation of the structural parts, as well as uninstallation thereof without causing damage to the structure: Ready-to-use, dimensionally accurate stmctural parts and fastening holes with their intended locations Joints, such as screw joints with removable fasteners, such as threaded joints with bolts and nuts, which can be disconnected and reconnected with out machining and breaking the parts, No nails, weld joints or spots, rivet joints or bore drilling Dedicated locations for the inserts, such as a ball elevator, ball pit, ramps etc. Installation spots precisely defining/forcing the location and position of all the structural parts, including the inserts listed above, intended to be in stalled with the pin-setting apparatus. This eliminates the need of building, positioning, measuring or adjusting in situ. Easy mutual positioning of the units by support beam lines extending throughout the machine line. As an example, the extendable transversal sup ports automatically provide position information to the transversal supports connected thereto and belonging to an adjacent bowling lane.

Pre-defined and pre-established connection points for control units and pe- ripheral devices (wire lines and covers) associated with the pin-setting appa ratus

Clean worksite. • Dimensioning required for all types of bowling, including competition bowling: Adjustability during or after installation Internal adjustability within the unit and structural pairs as well as within the entire structural line - External adjustability with respect to the base structure of the lane as well as structures and machines from different manufacturers Possibility of fully implementing the surroundings of the pin table, for ex ample, by following the regulations of an umbrella organization, or, in an alternative way required by the client. · Soundproofing, highly important in restaurants, for example: Rubber mats, coatings and soundproofing inside the structure associated with the pin-setting apparatus

Sound and vibration proofed adjustable legs, soundproofed dampening doors and walls outside the structure associated with the pin- setting appa- ratus.

Safety: Door safety operations and, possibly, optical safety barriers for entrance into the structure associated with the pin-setting apparatus

Durability of the metal structure compared to the traditional plywood solu- tion Long working life and unchanged safety level also when moved to a new location Clean worksite, no glue, paint, only a few tools.

• Low maintenance, easy to service and maintain

Optimized control of balls and pins to avoid jamming Stable, hard-wearing and easy-to-care surfaces, Small or non-existent amount of wearable parts Easy replacement of parts,

High adjustability.

In this document, the term ’’machining” refers to welding, soldering, riveting and cutting. Cutting covers all ways of cutting, including, inter alia, machining by stock removal, grind ing as well as laser, plasma and flame cutting. The invention will be described in more detail in the accompanying drawings wherein

Figures 1 and 2 are three-dimensional views of a string-operated pin-setting apparatus ac cording to the invention, Figure 3 is a direct top view of said pin-setting apparatus, Figure 4, is a view taken along line A- A in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a direct lateral view of said pin-setting apparatus, Figure 6 is a view taken along line B-B in Figure 5, Figures 7a to 7c show details 1 to 3 of Figures 1 and 2, Figures 8a and 8b show details 4 and 5 of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 9 shows detail 6 of Figure 6, Figure 10 is a view of a sidewall of the backend of said pin-setting apparatus, and

Figure 11 shows another embodiment according to the invention. In the following, the structure and operation of a solution according to a preferred embodi ment of the invention will be described with reference to the above-listed Figures.

Figures 1 and 2 as well as Figures 3 to 6 are three-dimensional views as well as top, lateral and local cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the invention in the backend of a bowl ing lane 1, respectively. In the solution according to the invention, the string-operated pin setting apparatus 100 and the structures associated therewith are provided at a pin deck 201 in the backend 1 of the bowling lane 200, on the sides thereof, as well as in the area behind and above it. The structures of the backend 1 are indirectly and/or directly supported and removably attached to a base 203. The structures are made to be easily uninstallable and re- installable, at another location of use, for example.

Preferably, the structures associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 provided in the backend comprise, at least, kickbacks 202 on both sides of the bowling lane, sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2 as extensions thereof, lateral supports 7 of the sidewalls, a string pinsetter 2 above the pin deck 201, pinsetter brackets 3 with struts 7a and a ball return unit 4 next to the second sidewall 1.2.

In this embodiment, the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2, the pinsetter brackets 3 and the lateral supports are stamped metal- sheet structures, preferably steel- sheet structures. The preferably wooden kickbacks 202 provided on the sides of the pin deck 201 and the pinsetter brackets 3 are attached to said kickbacks 202 of the backend 1 and to the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2. The string pinsetter 2, in turn, is attached onto the brackets 3, above the kickbacks 202 and the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2. The ball return unit 4 is provided in the gap 5 between the second sidewall 1.2 of the backend 1 and the first sidewall 1.G of the backend of an adjacent bowling lane. Said sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 and 1.G of the backend, the pinsetter brackets 3 and the lateral sup ports 7 consists of one or more pieces and are provided with any necessary stampings, flanges and fastening holes to reinforce the structure and to make it easier to install. A pre ferred way of manufacturing them is to use a sheet-metal working center or the like, allowing the stampings and holes to be made in the same work process.

The kickbacks 202 are made of wood, by following the teachings of the prior art, and the string pinsetter 2 is installed onto the bracket 3, as a package. A substantially horizontal pin table 6 with holes 6.1 needed to stabilize the pins, is provided beneath the pinsetter 2, the pin table 6 being supported against the pinsetter 2 by supporting members 6.2. The strings connected to the pins are adapted to run to the pinsetter 2, through the holes 6.1. Alterna- tively, the pin table 6 can be supported against the kickbacks 202, brackets 3 or lateral sup ports 7. In this example, the pin table 6 is made of wood but the kickbacks 202 can be made of metal or any other appropriate material, instead of wood. The lateral supports 7, which are two in number in this example, lie transversely to the lon gitudinal direction of the bowling lane and support the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2 of the backend 1 together. The lateral supports 7, similarly to the brackets 3 of the pinsetter 2, are metal- sheet structures, such as steel structures, having a stamped U-shaped profile. A vertical strike wall 8 is attached to the rearmost lateral support 7 of the upper edge of the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2, for the purpose of stopping the ball, the ball thus entering, after rolling over the ball pit

9 of the backend 1, into a chute 10 to be guided to the ball return unit 4. In this embodiment, the strike wall 8 is made of rubber.

Typically, the ball return unit 4 is positioned between two adjacent bowling lanes and com- prises, in this example, a ball elevator 4.1 and ball tracks 4.2. The ball elevator brings the ball upwards to the elevated ball tracks to roll along them and out of the pin-setting apparatus 100.

In this example of the solution according to the invention, all of the joints of all of the struc- tures associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100, made by means of fasteners 12 at the installation site, are removable joints that allow for rejoining, i.e. joints that can be discon nected and reconnected. An example of this type of joint is a screw joint employing screws, bolts, nuts and threaded holes, in this application commonly referred to as “a fastener” 12. That is, all the attachments and joints herein, stated to be made by means of the fasteners 12, are disconnectable and reattachable and reconnectable . However, due to the fact that screws and nuts, for instance, may wear out and suffer damage when installed and uninstalled, new, previously unused fasteners 12 can be used for the reattachment.

The attachment of the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2 of the backend to the base 203 and the kickbacks 202, the attachment of the brackets 3 of the pinsetter 2 to the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2 and the kickbacks 202, the attachment of the pinsetter 2 to the brackets 3, the attachment of the ball return unit, the attachment of the lateral supports 7 to the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2 of the backend and the attachment of the kickback 8 to the lateral support 7 are all implemented by easily disconnectable and reconnectable joints employing easily removable fasteners 12, prefera bly screws, bolts and/or nuts, for example. Thus, the joints are screw joints. Figure 7a shows how a pinsetter bracket 3 is attached to a sidewall 1.1, 1.2 of the backend. The bracket 3 stamped into a U-shaped cross-sectional profile has a first flange 3.1, the flange 3.1 and the attachment point on the sidewall 1.1, 1.2 being provided with matching fastening holes 11 having removable fastening bolts acting as fasteners 12. Figure 7b shows how a pinsetter bracket 3 of is attached to a kickback 202. At the lower end of the bracket 3, a second flange 3.3 is provided, having bolt/screw holes through which the pinsetter bracket 3 is attached to the kickback 202 by removable fasteners 12, such as bolts or screws. Figure 7c shows an example of the structure of a comer of a pinsetter bracket 3. The vertical and horizontal parts are made match and join together through holes 11 by fasteners 12, such as bolts, the structure being supported by means of struts 3.2 fastened to the vertical and horizontal parts by removable fasteners 12, such as bolts. If needed, the vertical parts of the pinsetter brackets 3 can also be provided with means for adjusting the overall height thereof.

Figure 8a shows how a lateral support 7 is attached to a sidewall 1.1, 1.2 of the backend 1. The substantially horizontally stamped upper flange of the sidewall 1.1, 1.2 and the lateral support 7 are provided with superimposed matching fastening holes 11 with inserted remov able fasteners 12, such as bolts and nuts. Both the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 and the lateral supports 7 comprise several fastening holes 11 in a row, allowing for mutual positional adjustment of the sidewalls and the lateral supports, both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the bowling lane.

Figure 8b shows how a lateral support 7 and an adjacent lateral support 7’, i.e. a lateral support 7’ of the backend of an adjacent bowling lane, are joined together. The ends of the lateral supports and the joint are provided with fastening holes and an overlying connecting member 7.1, having holes 22 matching the holes 11, respectively, the lateral supports and the connecting member 7.1 being joined together through these holes by means of fasteners

12.

Figures 4 and 6 show a ball pit 9 provided inside the backend 1 and comprising a surface board 9.1. The front edge of the surface board 9 is flush with the lowest point 204.1 of extension gutters 204 running on the sides of the pin deck 201, or underneath it, and is pref erably attached to the rear edge of the pin deck 201. The surface board 9 slopes downwards toward the rear end and is extended by a chute 10. The surface 10.1 of the chute, comprising two inclined parts, slopes downwards toward the second sidewall 1.2 of the backend, the chute passes into an opening provided in the second sidewall 1.2 and leading to the gap 5 where the ball return unit 4 is situated. The lower edges of the ball pit 9 and the chute 10 are supported onto the horizontally stamped lower flanges ff of the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 and, there fore, need not to be separately attached to the backend 1. The chute 10 may also comprise a curved surface. The ball pit 9 can be replaced with a board similar to the surface board 9.1 of the above type, for example.

In the solution according to the invention, the pin-setting apparatus 100 can be installed on a new bowling lane or an existing bowling lane to replace its old pin-setting apparatus. In the solution according to the invention, the structures associated with the pin- setting ap paratus 100 are installed on the new bowling lane by first putting the lane 200, the pin deck 201 and the kickbacks 202 in place. The rear edges of the kickbacks 202 are positioned at a given longitudinal distance “a” from the position of the first pin 13 and at given transversal distances bl, b2 from the position of the first pin. The distances bl and b2 can also be equal. The kickbacks 202 are fastened to the base 203 by removable fasteners 12, such as nuts or screws.

The sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 of the backend 1 are attached, at their vertical edges, at their vertically stamped flanges or by using separate installing inserts, by means of removable fasteners 12, such as bolts/screws/nuts, to the kickbacks 202, at a given horizontal distance from each other in the direction of thickness of the lane 202 and at a given height with respect to the kickbacks 202. In this embodiment of the invention, the base 203 is made of wood, the side- walls 1.1, 1.2 being attached, through the fastening holes 11 provided in the horizontal flanges ff of their lower ends, to the base 203 by removable fasteners 12, such as screws, to position them in the right longitudinal line. Thereafter, the lateral supports 7 are connected to the backend 1 by fastening them to the upper surface of the sidewalls 1.1 and 1.2, by means of fasteners 12, such as to a horizontal flange hf provided at the upper edge, as shown in Figure 8 a.

Once the kickbacks 202 and the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 have been put in place, at least one setter bracket 3 and at least one setter bracket 3 is fastened to the upper part of the kickbacks 202 by means of fasteners 12, preferably to the upper edge, and to the upper part of the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2, preferably to the upper surface hf, by means of fasteners 12, respectively. The num ber of the brackets 3 can be more than two per one bowling lane. The above-described at tachment of the pinsetter brackets 3 is depicted in more detail in Figures 7a and 7b.

Once the pinsetter brackets 3 have been fixed in place, a string pinsetter 2 is placed on the brackets 3, above the pin deck 201, and fastened to the brackets 3 by removable fasteners 12. Thereafter, the pin table 6 is fixed in place, beneath the pinsetter 2, into fastening holes already made at the right locations, by means of removable fasteners 12.

The strike wall 8 is attached to the rearmost lateral support 7 through fastening holes 11 made therein, by means of removable fasteners 12, such as bolts and nuts.

To adjust the backend 1 and the kickbacks 202 at the right height level with respect to the height of the pin deck 201, a platform 14 can be provided under the backend 1. In this case, the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 are attached to the platform 14 at their lower portion.

Bowling lanes are usually installed at the same site in an even number which is at least two. A gap 5 for a ball return unit 4 is left between each two adjacent lanes. The ball return unit comprising a ball elevator 4.1 and ball tracks 4.2 is placed in the gap 5 in such a way that, as a ball rolls into the gap 5 along a downsloping chute 10, it is received by the ball elevator which is adapted to lift the ball upwards to elevated ball tracks. The ball tracks are provided in the pin-setting apparatus 100 to guide the ball out of the pin-setting apparatus. The ball tracks 4.2 provided in the pin-setting apparatus 100 are connected to ball tracks extending to the heads. When the solution according to the invention with the new pin-setting apparatus 100 is in stalled in the backend structure of an existing bowling lane, the current kickbacks can be left in place if they are in a sufficiently good condition to continue in use.

The invention is characterized in that easily disconnectable joints, such as screw joints, are used as the joints between the structural parts associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 at the location of use of the bowling lane and for the attachment of the structures to the base 203, to allow the pin-setting apparatus 100 and the structures associated with to be effort lessly dismantled without machining or breaking the structures. The backend 1 implemented according to the solution and associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 is easily and quickly movable from one place to another by minor operations and, therefore, applicable at a variety of sites.

If only a single bowling lane is installed, a separate wall defining the gap 5 for the ball return unit 4 can be provided next to the second sidewall 1.2 and the second kickback, or, on the opposite side, at a given distance therefrom, and fastened to the rest of the parts associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 and to the base 203 by means of removable fasteners 12.

In the solution according to the invention, the dimensionally accurate prefabrication of the structural parts associated the pin-setting apparatus 100, and of the fastening holes 11 made therein, as well as the positioning of the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 of the backend 1 in relation to the location 13 of the first pin, guide the rest of the structures of the backend 1 to the right positions in the directions of length, width and height of the bowling lane. In the solution according to the invention, any desired joints of the structures associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 can be implemented by making the internal joints of given structural parts, the positions of the parts with respect to each other and to the structures associated with the pinsetter 2 adjustable. The numerous successive fastening holes and their shapes allow for versatile adjustments. Thus, the basis is a modular structure to which more individual fea tures can be added.

The most preferable material for the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2, brackets 3, lateral supports 7 and the struts 3.2, 7a associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 is steel. They, or some of them, can also made of some other material, such as aluminum or composites. A possible reason for why aluminum is selected as the material of some of the parts is its low weight.

Figure 9 is a top of view of how the chutes 10, 10’ of two adjacent pin-setting apparatuses are mutually positioned. As the lowest points 10.2, 10.2’ of the upper surfaces 10.1, 10.1’ of the chutes are offset by an amount c, balls arriving into the gap 5, from both directions at the same time, do not get jammed against each other but the ball closer to the pin deck is the first one to move into the gap 5 and the ball elevator 4.1. This feature of the invention elim inates the above-mentioned known problem encountered in this field and requiring help from the staff. The change of direction of the balls towards the ball return unit can be contributed to by a guide 16. The invention is also fulfilled by offsetting at least the trailing ends 10.3, 10.3’ by the amount c. The amount c can be selected to suit the dimensions of the pin-setting apparatus. Figure 10 is a detailed view of a backend sidewall 1.1, 1.2 used in the above-described em bodiment of the invention. Flanges hf, ff, sf have been stamped out of its upper edge h, lower edge f and lateral edges s, and a plurality of fastening holes 11 have been made in these flanges and, on the other, in the sidewall, for fastening the pinsetter brackets 3, the lateral supports 7 and the ball return unit, as well as any other parts, to the sidewall, and, for fas- tening the sidewall to kickbacks 202 and the base 203. The shape and exact locations of the holes 11 can always be determined and implemented in advance considering how the pin setting apparatus 100 concerned and the structures associated therewith are equipped and positioned. Figure 11 shows an inventive alternative for the platform 14. Legs 28 adjustable in height are provided in the flanges ff of the lower edge of the backend sidewall 1.1, 1.2. The legs 28 inserted into the fastening holes 11 have a screw thread and nuts enabling the lower edge of the sidewalls to be positioned at a given height d above the base 203 against which the feet 28.1 of the legs rest. In the solution according to Figure 11, the number of the legs 28 for each sidewall is three but any other preferable number of them can also be used. The height- adjustment of the legs 28 can be implemented by any known prior-art solution. The leg 28 is attached to the base by a screw joint or by any other means of attachment removable without machining.

A dampening element, such as a rubber mat, can be attached to the inner face of the sidewalls 1.1. 1.2 to dampen the impacts from the pins and the noise caused by them.

The ball return unit described in the example above may comprise an accelerator, instead of a ball elevator 4.1, wherein the ball is not lifted to elevated ball tracks 4.2 but the ball tracks are provided in the lower portion of the gap 5, the ball carried by them being be given an initial speed so high, by the accelerator, that the ball is able to roll to the starting end. In the solution according to the invention, the accelerator is also attached to the backend 1 by easily disconnectable joints, by means of fasteners 12, for example.

In the solution according to the invention, the backend 1 associated with the pin-setting ap paratus 100 can be entirely sound-proofed. A preferable way of sound-proofing is to add a first sound-proofing element 23 corresponding to the width of the backend, and a second sound-proofing element 24 corresponding to the width of the backend, on top of the side- walls 1.1, 1.2, and behind of the backend, respectively. The sound-proofing elements enclose the interior of the backend and prevent the noise caused by the ball and the pins from spread ing to the outside of the apparatus. It is also possible to provide an insulation 25 under the backend 1 to reduce the transmission of the vibration caused by the impacts from pins to the base 203.

The sound-proofing can be expanded by providing a third sound-proofing element 29 above the pin deck and the extension gutters 204, in the area between the kickbacks 202. It can be connected to the pin table 6 and/or to the supporting structures thereof and it may cover the areas between the kickbacks 202 and the pin table 6, partly or entirely. A service aperture 16 can be made in the sound-proofing element and equipped with a safety switch to switch off the pin-setting apparatus 100 as the door 27 of the aperture 27 is opened. The service apertures and doors can also be more than two in number. A light-line switch or a similar device can be provided on the lane 200, in front of the pin deck 201, at a given distance therefrom, to switch off the pin-setting apparatus 100 when an obstacle appears within the range of the light line or the like. This safety device works when a child, for example, has gone down the lane 200, up to the light line. The number of the lateral supports 7 and struts 3.2, 7a included in the structure according to the invention may differ from the example above. In some cases, the brackets 3, the lateral supports 7 and the struts 3.2, 7a, or some of them, can alternatively be made out of profiles, such as tubular girders, flat bars etc. The struts 7a are also fastened to the structures associ ated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 by removable fasteners 12 although this is not sepa- rately depicted in the drawings.

The sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 with sheet design, and the other structural parts constructed of sheets, can also be stamped and perforated in a way differing from the above. The invention is char acterized in that the parts are made rigid and durable enough and in that all of the fastening holes needed in the installation of the parts are accurately dimensioned and positioned therein. The inventive step is also met when additional apertures necessary for installation are made in the parts associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 at the installation site.

There are many other ways than those described in the examples above for implementing the screw joints between said structural parts. What is essential is that they can be imple mented considering the conditions at the installation site and disconnected without machin ing. The structure can always be provided with in any necessary number of brackets 3, lateral supports 7 and struts 3.2, 7a. In the solution according to the invention, the joints used for putting together the structures associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100, which preferably are disconnectable and re- connectable joints, may comprise different kinds of fastener combinations, such as bolt/nut or wood/metal screw combinations etc. The fastener 12 used in the solution according to the invention may comprise a bolt/nut combination, merely a bolt inserted into a threaded hole or replaceable by a screw. The lengths of the bolts/screws can always be adapted to suit each individual situation. The fastening hole 11 can be round or square in shape or have any other shape preferable in terms of manufacture or installation, such as an elongated shape for easier adjustment.

In the solution according to the invention, the pin-setting apparatus 100 can be assembled and attached to the base 203 and the kickbacks 203, partly or entirely, not just by means of screw joints but by means of other disconnectable joints not requiring machining to come off. Examples thereof include different types of locks, wedges etc.

Unlike in the prior-art solutions (on a wall in proximity of the pin-setting apparatus), the electric control unit 205 of the pin-setting apparatus 100 can be attached to the string pinset- ter 2 itself. Figure 5 shows a preferable location for the electric control unit 205. In this solution, it is attached to the front end of the pinsetter 2.

The solution according to the invention is characterized in that, out of the structural parts of the pin-setting apparatus 100, at least sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 of the backend, the pinsetter brackets 3 and the lateral supports 7, comprising, at least substantially, all the fastening holes 11 provided therein and needed when assembling and installing the pin-setting apparatus 100, are made dimensionally accurate in a sheet-metal working center or a similar machine. Pref erably, all the joints created when assembling and installing the structural parts associated with the pin-setting apparatus 100 to the base 203 or the platform 14 and/or kickbacks 202, and to each other, are made to be disconnectable without machining, such cutting, milling or similar operations.

The dimensionally accurate predesigning allows the dimensionally accurate structural parts associated with the pin-setting apparatus, with their dimensionally accurate stampings and fastening holes, to be precisely aligned in place, in the step of installation, without dimen sioning, shaping or machining at the installation site. The modular, dimensionally accurate structural parts which are easy to assemble together, when installed at the location of use, make it possible, during the assembly of the parts, to use a part that already has been installed in place, as an alignment for the next part to be added. Thus, the rear edges of the kickbacks 202, for example, act as an alignment for the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 which are attached, at their front edges, to the rear edges of the kickbacks 202. Correspondingly, the upper edges of the kickbacks 202 and the upper edges of the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2 act as alignments for the pinsetter brackets 3 which are attached, at their lower portions, to the upper edges of the kickbacks 202 and the sidewalls 1.1, 1.2. Likewise, the rest of the structural parts intended to be in stalled in association with the pin-setting apparatus can be aligned and attached to the already installed structural parts, in a dimensionally accurate manner.

It is to be noted that although this specification is confined to only one type of preferred exemplifying embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to restrict the use of the inven tion to this type of example but many variations are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the claims.