Camera-Guided Ski Base Repair for Selective Defect Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tread repair methods for skis and snowboards are material and time-consuming, as they involve applying a surfacing material over a large area, including both defective and undamaged areas, and require laborious removal of excess material, leading to inefficiencies and increased fume and odor exposure.

Innovation Solution

A tread repair device equipped with an image recognition system and a movable repair applicator that selectively applies repair material to defective areas, using camera-guided technology to detect and fill only the damaged sections, reducing material consumption and subsequent grinding efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If base material is applied over a large area to cover defective areas, then complete coverage of defective areas is achieved, but material consumption increases and time-consuming grinding is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage completenessVSAvoidbase material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies base material selectively only to defective areas rather than uniformly across the entire running surface. The application device is guided by image recognition data to deposit material precisely where scratches or damage are detected, creating localised repair zones with appropriate material properties while leaving undamaged areas untouched.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of defective areas using image recognition technology before applying base material. This advance identification allows the application process to be precisely targeted to only those areas requiring repair, preventing unnecessary material application and subsequent grinding of sound surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If base material is applied over a large area, then defective areas are completely covered, but the repair process becomes time-consuming due to laborious removal of excess material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefective area coverageVSAvoidrepair process duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By applying material locally only to detected defective areas rather than uniformly across the entire surface, the system eliminates the need for extensive grinding and removal operations. This targeted approach significantly reduces the time required for both application and post-processing while maintaining complete coverage of damaged zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical approach of broad material application followed by manual or mechanical grinding with an automated system that combines image recognition with precision-controlled material deposition. This substitution of mechanical brute force with intelligent targeted application reduces both time and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional large-area base material application is used, then all defective areas are covered, but fume and odor exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefective area coverageVSAvoidfume and odor exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates harmful emissions locally and minimally by applying base material only where defects are detected. This localized material application proportionally reduces the volume of material processed, thereby reducing the generation of fumes and odors compared to conventional large-area application methods while maintaining effective coverage of all defective areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4344756A1Running base repair apparatus and method for repairing a ski and snowboard running base
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 REICHMANN & SOHN GMBH
  • EP4344756A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344756A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344756A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Ski (1) and/or snowboard base repair device comprising: - an image recognition device (19) with a camera (17), wherein the camera (17) is configured to capture an image of a base (3) or a base area of ​​a ski (1) or a snowboard, and wherein the image recognition device (19) is configured to detect a defective area (5) in the base (3) or the base area, - a movable repair base applicator (13, 15) configured to selectively apply a repair base material to the defective area (5), - a control device (27) configured to control the movement and operation of the repair base applicator (13, 15) so that the repair base applicator (13, 15) selectively applies the repair base material to the defective area (5) of the base (3).