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 Pinsetters: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - The GSX is the Brunswick's current state-of-the-art pinsetter. It is characterized by a sweep that descends as soon as the ball enters the pin deck. This machine uses a conveyor belt on the pit floor to move the pins to a vertical elevator system similar to the ones utilized on the Amf 82 series pinspotters, while the ball exits the pit at the side through a ball door. Pins are loaded using a combination of belts. The ball return system on this machine uses an under-lane accelerator as opposed to a lift. It lowers the pin table on every cycle to determine scoring.
- The AMF family of pinspotters has changed very little since the original version. There are three main pinspotter models, the 82-30 which is no longer in production, the 82-70 which is still in production and the newest version the 82-90 and the 82-90XLI. All operate generally the same with small improvements. The 82-30's operation was similar to the A-2 manufactured by Brunswick. After the bowler bowled the ball would strike the cushion block after knocking down the pins. This would activate the machine, which would lower the sweep to the guard position. Then the table would descend and the respot cells would close around the standing pins, the cells that had pins in them would complete an electrical circuit which would send the scoring information to the display and also would light one of ten "pindicator" lights. After the table had lifted the remaining pins, the machine would run the sweep, clearing the dead pins from the pin deck, then return to the guard position once more. The ball and pins would travel on a carpet belt on the bottom of the pit, the ball being heavier would travel to one of the side kick-backs where it would enter a shared ball return, the pins would travel under the cushion into the pin elevator which would bring the pins up to a distributor arm which travels laterally as well as forward and back to deliver the pins to the corresponding bins to await the next spotting cycle. After the table had returned to its upper position the sweep would also lift and the machine would shut down and await the next ball.
There have been specific upgrades and improvements made to the machines produced after the 82-30. The 82-70 is the general standard in most modern bowling centers today. It features an mp chassis that is upgraded to short cycle the machine for strikes, gutters, or 7 10 pick-offs. It also features solid state motors. The 82-90 and the 82-90XLI are upgraded even further, replaced controls with machine status indicator lights, single control centers that handle two machines, and perhaps the most important upgrade is the self shutdown control which shuts the machine down to prevent further damage by continuing to operate with a mechanical or other problem. QubicaAmf has also introduced many different scoring systems that are compatible with all pinsetters and pinspotters.
- The Mendes Company produced a magnetic pinsetter known as the MM-2001. It featured a flat magnetic pin table and magnets on the head of each pin. It had a pit similar to the AMF and an elevator similar to the GSX. Pin loading involves the combination of a carousel and magazine. The company claimed this technology reduces stops in play due to table jams on out-of-range pins. Mendes was bought out by Qubica, which sold the machine as the MAG3 until its partnership with AMF.
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