In bowling, a pinsetter or pinspotter is an automated mechanical device that sets bowling pins back in their original positions, returns bowling balls to the front of the alley, and clears fallen pins on the pin deck. Prior to the machine's invention, pinsetters were boys or young men (pin boys) hired at bowling alleys to manually reset pins and returned balls to the player. The first mechanical pinsetter was invented by Gottfried (Fred) Schmidt, who sold the patent in 1941 to AMF. Pinsetting machines have largely done away with pinsetting as a manual profession, although a small number of bowling alleys still use human pinsetters. While humans usually no longer set the pins, a pinchaser (or "pin monkey") is often stationed near the equipment to ensure it is clean and working properly, and to clear minor jams. Beginning in the 1970s, modern pinsetters were integrated with electronic scoring systems of varying sophistication. Many pinsetters have a manual reset button in case they do not automatically activate after a ball is rolled. Others have no automatic tracking of the state of the game, especially in candlepin and duckpin bowling sports, which use smaller balls, and in which the machines are manually activated. Common terms and design features The designs of automatic pinsetters vary depending on each company's hardware implementations, and on a particular bowling sport's rules and specifications. Bowling-game variants may use different sizes, shapes, and weights of pins and balls, requiring equipment specifically made to handle them. Part descriptions common to nearly all pinspotting units include: Sweep bar – removes fallen and leftover pins from the pin deck. It may also stay lowered throughout the pinsetter operating cycle, to act as the primary physical protective barrier against improperly thrown balls. The sweep bar is activated by ball movement when it enters the pit, usually via an optical sensor. Table (also used in pre-automated manual units, often as their sole mechanical device) – places the pins onto the lane for the next frame, then lifts the remaining pins for the sweep bar to remove fallen pins for the bowler's next roll. Deck (Brunswick A series only) – a fixed sheet-metal enclosure, usually fastened to the spotting table's framework and diagonal forward frame edges, that provides secondary protection (in addition to the sweep bar) for the spotting table system from improperly thrown balls and flying pins, and covers the pin chutes used