DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A RUNNING SURFACE OF A WINTER SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for processing a running surface of a winter sports device and a method for processing a running surface of a winter sports device.

[0002] Winter sports equipment can include, for example, skis, snowboards, or other means of transport that have a tread surface for gliding over a surface. The following outlines the state of the art using skis as an example. The same applies to winter sports equipment in general.

[0003] It is generally known from the prior art to treat the running surface of winter sports equipment, in particular skis or snowboards, with ski wax.

[0004] Ski wax is a wax applied to the base of a ski. This wax reduces friction between the base and, for example, the snow surface by making the base water-repellent.

[0005] This water-repellent effect of the wax is used because the pressure of the ski on the ground, preferably the snow, or generally on wet snow, causes the ski to glide mostly on water. By applying wax to the running surface of the ski, the friction can be significantly reduced and thus the gliding ability of the ski (and furthermore the speeds and accelerations that can be achieved) can be significantly increased.

[0006] It is known to apply ski wax to the skis in liquid, molten or powder form on the running surface and then melt it by applying heat.

[0007] It is also known to rub the ski wax in solid form (usually block form) against the running surface so that the wax adheres to the running surface (rubs off the block, so to speak), whereby the ski wax on the running surface is then heated by external heat.

[0008] By heating or applying the ski wax to the running surface in liquid form, the ski wax penetrates into the pores, openings, depressions or scratches of the running surface, which keeps the ski wax on the running surface.

[0009] After heating, a certain amount of time is waited for the ski wax to return to a solid state (harden, so to speak). The excess ski wax can then be removed, for example with a scraper, thus completing the waxing process of the ski.

[0010] This is usually done during a service of one ski, although the increasing popularity of winter sports means that an ever-increasing number of winter sports equipment is coming to the service stations for processing, making it increasingly important to achieve the highest possible throughput rates in order to be able to handle the volume of winter sports equipment and increase efficiency.

[0011] Corresponding devices for machining running surfaces of winter sports equipment are known, for example, from US 2007 / 272145 A or US 5 209 780 A.

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for machining a running surface of a winter sports device and a method for machining a running surface of a winter sports device, by means of which a resource-saving machining and / or more efficient machining and / or faster machining and / or higher cycle time of the machining can be achieved.

[0013] This object is achieved by a device for processing a running surface of a winter sports device having the features of claim 1 and a method for processing a running surface of a winter sports device having the features of claim 13.

[0014] According to the invention, the device for processing a running surface of a winter sports device comprises the following: at least one movement device for generating a relative movement between the device and the running surface of the winter sports equipment, at least one application device for applying a ski wax to the running surface of the winter sports equipment, at least one heating device for generating the ski wax applied to the running surface of the winter sports equipment above the melting temperature of the ski wax, and at least one cooling device for actively cooling the ski wax melted by the heating device below the solidification temperature of the ski wax.

[0015] By providing at least one cooling device designed to actively cool the ski wax melted by the heating device, the ski wax can be solidified in a shorter time, allowing a subsequent stripping process to proceed sooner. Thus, longer cooling times are no longer necessary, which can significantly reduce the processing time for the tread coating.

[0016] This immense reduction in the processing time for the running surface allows higher cycle rates to be achieved and a larger number of winter sports equipment to be processed in the same time, which increases efficiency, speed and productivity.

[0017] In the context of this document, active cooling is to be understood as cooling with a higher cooling efficiency than mere heat dissipation to the environment.

[0018] In the context of this document, active cooling is understood to mean that heat is actively dissipated by a cooling device, which goes beyond mere cooling by ambient conditions (e.g. by the room temperature and stagnant air in the room).

[0019] Thus, heat can be extracted very quickly from the ski wax heated by at least one heating device in order to reduce the processing time of the winter sports equipment.

[0020] Winter sports equipment can preferably be skis, snowboards, or similar items. Any other embodiment of a winter sports equipment with a tread surface that serves for gliding on a surface, preferably snow, is also conceivable and can be processed using a method or device according to the invention.

[0021] The melting temperature of ski wax can be understood as the temperature or a temperature range above which the ski wax changes from a solid to a liquid state.

[0022] The solidification temperature of ski wax can be understood as the temperature or a temperature range below which the ski wax changes from a liquid to a solid state.

[0023] Advantageous embodiments and exemplary variants are defined by the dependent claims.

[0024] It is preferably provided that the at least one cooling device has at least one cold air dryer, wherein a gaseous fluid - preferably air - is inflatable to cool the ski wax melted by the heating device.

[0025] It can also be provided that the cold air dryer has a cooling device that lowers the temperature of the pumped fluid.

[0026] Thus, a cold air dryer can actively cool ski wax heated by at least one heating device through convective air flow.

[0027] The cold air dryer, for example, can suck in ambient air and release it into the desired area for cooling, whereby increased heat dissipation can be achieved through the increased flow and the conveyed air.

[0028] This can of course be encouraged by using the cold air dryer to cool the ambient air drawn in, for example, using a cooling device, and then releasing it into a cooling area.

[0029] Preferably, it can be provided that the at least one cooling device has a cooled section which can be brought into contact with the winter sports device, preferably with the upper side opposite the running surface.

[0030] For example, an upper side of the winter sports equipment (here, for example, a ski) can be placed on a cold object (such as a cold metal plate or a block of ice), whereby the running surface coating and thus the ski wax heated thereon by the at least one heating device can be actively cooled through the winter sports equipment.

[0031] However, variants are also conceivable in which, for example, the upper side or the entire winter sports equipment is passed through a water bath or an ice bath and thus cooled.

[0032] At least one stripping device can be provided, preferably a brush and / or a polishing station, wherein excess, solidified ski wax can be removed from the running surface of the winter sports equipment by the at least one stripping device.

[0033] Furthermore, it can be provided that the wax is subjected to a structure after solidification by the at least one stripping device or is removed from the tread surface to such an extent that the wax extends with a constant cross-section over the entire tread surface, whereby the wax with its surface can also assume, for example, an "odd" shape of the tread surface.

[0034] It is preferably provided that the at least one heating device has at least two heating stations.

[0035] It can be provided that the at least one heating device comprises at least one hot air dryer, an IR radiator and / or an ironing device.

[0036] For example, it can be provided that the heating device is designed as a contactless heating device, wherein a ski wax and / or a running surface coating can be heated without contact via the at least one heating device.

[0037] Preferably, a hair dryer is provided which is designed to operate selectively as at least one heating device and at least one cooling device by adjusting the temperature of the emitted gaseous fluid, preferably air.

[0038] Accordingly, it can be provided, for example, that one and the same hair dryer functions as both a heating device and a cooling device. For example, in a first step, the hair dryer can be moved over the running surface as a heating device at an elevated temperature to melt a ski wax. Subsequently, the temperature of the hair dryer can be lowered, whereby the hair dryer serves as a cooling device and can be moved over the running surface again to cool the previously melted ski wax below its solidification temperature.

[0039] It can be provided that the ski wax can be applied in a powdery or liquid state by the at least one application device.

[0040] Preferably, the ski wax comprises a hydrocarbon wax and / or a fluorocarbon wax. However, all other ski wax configurations known from the prior art are also conceivable.

[0041] It is preferably provided that the at least one movement device has a controlled or regulated feed device.

[0042] This controlled or regulated feed device can be designed to generate a relative movement between the device and the winter sports equipment via a drive unit, for example by moving the device or the winter sports equipment.

[0043] The feed device can, for example, comprise an electric motor and preferably a transmission gear to drive the feed movement.

[0044] It can be provided that the at least one movement device is designed to move the device for processing a running surface past the winter sports device during a first processing movement along a longitudinal axis of the winter sports device and to move the device past the winter sports device counter to the first processing movement along the longitudinal axis of the winter sports device during a subsequent second processing movement.

[0045] In this case, it can be provided, for example, that during a first processing movement a hair dryer serves as a heating device and is used to melt a ski wax applied to the running surface, wherein during the second processing movement the temperature of the hair dryer can be reduced in order to serve as a cooling device and to cool the previously applied ski wax below the solidification temperature of the ski wax.

[0046] Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the movement device is designed to carry out a continuous processing movement between the winter sports device and the device, wherein the winter sports device with its running surface can be guided, for example, sequentially past the at least one application device, the at least one heating device, the at least one cooling device and, if appropriate, the at least one removal device.

[0047] Furthermore, protection is sought for a method for processing a running surface of a winter sports equipment, preferably a ski or snowboard, wherein the following steps are carried out: Executing a relative movement between the device and the running surface of the winter sports equipment, applying a ski wax to the running surface of the winter sports equipment, heating the ski wax applied to the running surface of the winter sports equipment above the melting temperature of the ski wax and actively cooling the heated ski wax below the solidification temperature of the ski wax.

[0048] Preferably, it can be provided that at least 50 winter sports equipment, preferably 100 winter sports equipment, particularly preferably 120 pairs of skis, are processed per hour

[0049] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device for processing a tread covering, Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device for processing a tread covering and Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a feeding device of a device for processing a tread covering.

[0050] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device 1 for processing a running surface 3 of a winter sports device 2.

[0051] In this shown embodiment of the Fig. 1 the winter sports device 2 is shown as a ski, which is arranged on a holding device 17 of the device 1.

[0052] Here, the winter sports equipment 2 is arranged with the running surface 3 facing upwards, wherein the upper side 9 of the winter sports equipment 2 facing away from the running surface 3 is supported on the holding devices 17.

[0053] In this embodiment, the winter sports device 2 is held stationary via the holding devices 17 and the device 1 - more precisely: the receiving plate 16 of the device 1 - is moved relative to the winter sports device 2 via the movement device.

[0054] The movement device is not shown in more detail in this embodiment, whereby a relative movement between the receiving plate 16 of the device 1 and the winter sports device 2 can be carried out via the movement device.

[0055] This relative movement is to be understood as a movement along the longitudinal axis of the winter sports equipment 2 and is indicated by the first direction of movement 19 and the second direction of movement 20.

[0056] The movement device can be designed merely as a guide, whereby an operator can carry out the relative movement, for example, using a hand lever.

[0057] However, it can also be provided that the movement device has a drive device, wherein the relative movement between winter sports device 2 and receiving plate 16 can be controlled or regulated.

[0058] After arranging the winter sports device 2 on the holding devices 17, a movement in a first direction of movement 19 can be carried out by the device 1 - more precisely: the receiving plate 16 - whereby the receiving plate 16 moves in a first direction of movement 19 parallel to a longitudinal axis of the winter sports device 2 over the winter sports device 2.

[0059] In the course of this, a brush roller 15 is first moved over the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2, which brush roller 15 is arranged on the mounting plate 16.

[0060] By means of this brush roller 15, for example, old wax or impurities on the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2 can be removed in a first process step and the running surface 3 can be cleaned for the subsequent process.

[0061] Subsequently, a ski wax 5 is applied to the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2 via the application device 4, which is also arranged on the mounting plate 16.

[0062] In this embodiment, this application device 4 is designed as a wax roller 14, which rolls along the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2 while releasing ski wax 5.

[0063] By means of this wax roller 14, for example, ski wax 5 can be distributed in liquid or powder form - preferably uniformly - over the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2.

[0064] Subsequently, the heating device 6 is brought to the running surface 3 and the ski wax 5 applied thereon.

[0065] In this embodiment, this heating device 6 is implemented by two heating stations 11, wherein the first heating station 11 is implemented by a hot air dryer 12 and the second heating station 11 is implemented by an IR radiator 13.

[0066] Ambient air is sucked in and heated by the hot air dryer 12, and the heated ambient air is then blown onto the ski wax 5 on the running surface 3.

[0067] Heat radiation (infrared radiation) is then applied to the ski wax 5 and the running surface 3 via the IR radiator 13.

[0068] Thus, the heating device 6 and the two heating stations 11 heat the applied ski wax 5 on the running surface covering 3 above the melting temperature of the ski wax 5, whereby a sufficient cross-linking of the ski wax 5 on the running surface covering 3 can be carried out.

[0069] Due to the further relative movement of the device 1 - more precisely: of the receiving plate 16 relative to the winter sports device 2 - the area of the ski wax 5 and running surface 3 heated by the heating device 6 is brought closer to the cooling device 7.

[0070] This cooling device 7 of the embodiment of the Fig. 1 is intended as a cold air dryer 8.

[0071] This cold air dryer sucks in ambient air and conveys it to the running surface 3 and the ski wax 5 heated there for active cooling, whereby the ski wax 5 is cooled below the solidification temperature of the ski wax 5.

[0072] The cold air dryer 8 can additionally have a refrigeration system, whereby the ambient air which is sucked in by the cold air dryer 8 can be cooled before being blown onto the ski wax 5 on the running surface 3.

[0073] Now, when the entire tread coating 3 has passed the device 1 - more precisely: has passed through the cooling device 7 - the relative movement is reversed in a second direction of movement 20, wherein the tread coating 3 first comes into contact with the cooling device 7 again and is further cooled in a second step.

[0074] During the movement in this second direction of movement 20, the heating device 6 is shut down, whereby when the receiving plate 16 moves over the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2 in the second direction of movement 20, the running surface 3 is no longer actively heated.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, it can even be provided that the hot air dryer 12 of the heating device 6 is designed in such a way that its temperature can be varied, whereby in a second direction of movement 20 the hot air dryer 12 can be switched over if necessary, whereby only ambient air can be conveyed to the running surface covering 3 and thus the applied ski wax 5 without heating or possibly even with cooling for further active cooling of the running surface covering 3.

[0076] Furthermore, in a second direction of movement 20, no more ski wax 5 is applied to the running surface covering 3 by the application device 4, for example by the wax roll 14 being able to be lifted off the running surface covering 3 when the second direction of movement 20 is carried out.

[0077] Subsequently, the cooled ski wax 5 on the running surface 3 is treated by the stripping device 10, whereby excess ski wax 5 can be removed from the running surface 3 of the winter sports device 2.

[0078] This removal device 10 is implemented by the brush roller 15, which thus performs a dual function in this embodiment (in addition to the initial cleaning function).

[0079] The device 1 of this embodiment can be set up via the feet 18 and lifted off a floor or surface, whereby a comfortable working height for an operator can be set.

[0080] Unlike in Fig. 1 As shown, the tip of the ski can also point to the right during the run.

[0081] Fig. 2shows a further embodiment of a device 1 for processing a running surface 3 of a winter sports device 2, whereby only a purely schematic representation has been chosen.

[0082] In this embodiment, the Fig. 2 the winter sports device 2 is moved continuously with only a first direction of movement 19 relative to the device 1. Here, the winter sports device 3 is again arranged with the running surface 3 facing upwards and the surface 9 facing downwards relative to the device 1.

[0083] Thus, the winter sports device 2 first comes into contact with its running surface covering 3 with a wax roller 14 of the device 1, wherein a powdered or liquid ski wax 5 is applied to the running surface covering 3 via the wax roller 14.

[0084] In this embodiment, the application device 4 is formed by the receiving container 21, which applies ski wax 5 to the wax roll 14, and the wax roll 14.

[0085] The running surface coating 3 with the applied ski wax 5 then passes through a heating device 6, wherein the applied ski wax 5 is heated above a melting temperature of the ski wax 5.

[0086] Subsequently, the heated ski wax 5 is again actively cooled via a cooling device 7 and the ski wax 5 is brought below the solidification temperature of the ski wax 5.

[0087] Finally, the solidified ski wax 5 on the running surface 3 is fed to the stripping device 10, which in turn is designed as a brush roller 15, whereby excess ski wax can be removed.

[0088] The stripping device 10 can also be used to supply a desired structure to the running surface 3 - more precisely: to the ski wax 5 arranged on the running surface 3.

[0089] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a feeding device 23 of a device 1 for processing a running surface 3 of a winter sports device 2.

[0090] In this case, a row of winter sports equipment 2 can be placed on a first guide rail (an upper guide rail) with the surface side 9 and pushed forward one after the other into a processing position of the device 1 for processing the running surface 3.

[0091] Subsequently, two winter sports equipment 2 can be processed synchronously by the device 1 for processing the running surface 3 of the winter sports equipment 2.

[0092] This device 1 can, for example, according to the embodiment of Figure 1 be implemented, whereby the Figure 3 could be seen as a side view of the figure.

[0093] After processing with the device 1 for processing the running surface 3, the winter sports equipment 2 can be thrown onto the second (lower) guide rail, wherein this second guide rail represents the removal device of the winter sports equipment 2 after processing by the device 1.

[0094] This second guide rail is designed at an angle, which means that the winter sports equipment 2 can slide off due to gravity, as shown.

[0095] Here, one of the winter sports equipment previously processed by the device 1 is shown as a snowboard, which makes it clear that either two skis or one snowboard can be processed by the device 1, since the device 1 has a corresponding width.

[0096] Furthermore, loading and unloading devices based on the paternoster system or by a robot are also quite conceivable.

[0097] By means of the device 1 shown in the embodiments from the Figure 1-3 Processing capacities of 120 pairs of skis per hour are certainly achievable. List of reference symbols:

[0098] 1Device for processing a running surface 2Winter sports equipment 3Running surface 4Applicator 5Ski wax 6Heating device 7Cooling device 8Cold air dryer 9Top 10Scraping device 11Heating station 12Hot air dryer 13IR radiator 14Wax roller 15Brush roller 16Receiving plate 17Holding device 18Stand 19First direction of movement 20Second direction of movement 21Receiving container 22Direction of movement 23Feeding device

Claims

1. Device for treating a running-surface coating (3) of a piece of winter sports equipment (2), preferably of a ski or snowboard, comprising: - at least one movement device for generating a relative movement between the device (1) and the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2), - at least one application device (4) for applying a ski wax (5) to the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2), - at least one heating device (6) for heating the ski wax (5) applied to the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2) to above the melting temperature of the ski wax (5), and characterized in that - at least one cooling device (7) for actively cooling the ski wax (5) melted by the heating device (6) to below the solidification temperature of the ski wax (5) is provided.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling device (7) has at least one cool air blower (8), wherein a gaseous fluid, preferably air, can be blown to cool the ski wax (5) melted by the heating device (6).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the cool air blower (8) has a cooling apparatus which lowers the temperature of the conveyed fluid.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one cooling device (7) has a cooled section, which can be brought into contact with the piece of winter sports equipment (2), preferably with the upper side (9) opposite the running-surface coating (3).

5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one stripping device (10), preferably a brush and / or a polishing station, is provided, wherein excess solidified ski wax (5) can be removed from the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2) by the at least one stripping device (10).

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heating device (6) has at least two heating stations (11).

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heating device (6) has at least one hot air blower (12), IR heater (13) and / or ironing device.

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a blower is provided, which is formed to operate selectively as at least one heating device (6) and at least one cooling device (7), by the temperature of the released gaseous fluid, preferably air, being adjustable.

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the ski wax (5) can be applied by the at least one application device (4) in a powder or liquid state.

10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the ski wax (5) comprises a hydrocarbon wax and / or a fluoro wax.

11. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one movement device has a controlled or regulated infeed device.

12. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one movement device is formed to move the device (1) for treating a running-surface coating (3) past the piece of winter sports equipment (2) along a longitudinal axis of the piece of winter sports equipment (2) in the course of a first treatment movement and to move the device (1) past the piece of winter sports equipment (2) contrary to the first treatment movement along the longitudinal axis of the piece of winter sports equipment (2) in the course of a subsequent second treatment movement.

13. Method for treating a running-surface coating (3) of a piece of winter sports equipment (2) with a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the following steps are executed: - executing a relative movement between the device (1) and the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2), - applying a ski wax (5) to the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2), - heating the ski wax (5) applied to the running-surface coating (3) of the piece of winter sports equipment (2) to above the melting temperature of the ski wax (5) and characterised in that - actively cooling the heated ski wax (5) to below the solidification temperature of the ski wax (5) takes place.