Another possibility, is one robotic oil machine that travels horizontally beneath the pin decks...the entire length of the center. So, it would 'pop up', clean the lane, go under the pin deck, move to the next lane, 'pop up', clean the lane, go under the pin deck, move to the next lane, etc...
Technologically, it's not very sophisticated. The oiling machine would just need wheels like on a suitcase...that allow it to travel in two directions. It wouldn't slow down the oiling process...of matter of fact, it would speed it up...because you wouldn't have to wait for the person to go get the oil machine from "the back" or wherever it's kept. And it frees up space because the oil machine is kept beneath the lanes.
Like a wireless printer, it would alert you when the oil level is low and it would come to the front of whatever lane it was on to be filled.
The biggest advantage is that it could resurface lanes prior to any pair being bowled on by simply the counter pressing a button at the desk. So, if I were to go to the desk and say I was there to practice and would like a THS shot applied...they'd just put be on 17 and 18 and hit the button. The oil machine would travel beneath the lanes to 17/18, pop up, oil the pair, then go back down below the pin deck.
You could even specify whatever pattern you wanted. I could specify the USBC White pattern and it could apply that.
And when leagues were about to start, the desk would simply order the machine to start oiling lanes 1 through 24...but the machine would know that 17 and 18 were still in use so it would skip that pair and alert the desk that all lanes are oiled except 17 and 18. Once 17 and 18 games are completed...the machine would immediately go to those lanes and oil them for league play for the pattern specified for that league.
The initial cost would be a little higher for the machine and software. Much higher for the lanes to install the hydraulics and track underneath. And, obviously there would be upkeep. And, you'd still need a back-up machine should the robot 'break' or 'get stuck' somewhere.
The BIGGEST problem with the concept is making sure that the pin deck is flush with the lane. You'd almost have to extend the lane and have the machine pop up from where the pins fall in the back...otherwise you'd have to make sure that the place where the lane meets the 'trap door' where the oil machine comes out is completely and perfectly flush...otherwise you'd mess with the integrity of the game because the ball would hit the lip right at the point before it hits the pocket.
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