Patent Publication Number: US-8968056-B2

Title: System for machining the running surface on skis and snowboards

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This nonprovisional application claims priority to Swiss Application No. 00045/12, filed Jan. 10, 2012. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention provides a system for machining the running surface on skis and snowboards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The running surface of skis and snowboards, by a general term called skis, are exposed on hard snow slopes, especially in snow-poor areas, to high mechanical strain, thereby the running characteristics being negatively influenced, i.e., the frictional resistance increases. In high-performance skis, the running surface is not completely smooth; rather it usually has a structure in the form of grooves or other patterns, which is on the one hand caused by wear and tear by hard ice crystals of snow, or just due to damage of other kinds. In order to give the ski again the original properties or to adapt it to special conditions (soft snow or hard snow), devices are known that renew the original structure or produce a structure at the request of the skier by grinding and subsequent machining Together with the structuring of the running surface, there must also be re-sharpened the steel edges and/or changed the angle of the outer edge to the bottom. 
     For many years, there have been commercially available different devices, in which the skis are inserted at one end of the device and then passed through various machining stations. Such systems are suitable for machining thousands of skis each year, but not for smaller businesses, such as sporting goods stores, service stations, etc. Simple known devices are capable to grind the running surface and, simultaneously, by the grinding disks, the steel edges on its lower surface are ground to flush with the running surface. Larger systems are also equipped so that the lateral edges are ground into a new fixed angle. Here, the devices must capture the contours of today&#39;s most highly specialized skis and the grinding disks are then led along these contours. 
     One technical task of the present invention is now to create a system that allows performing all machining steps in a small space, while an optimal running surface is produced in which both the running surface and the lateral edges are adaptable to the respective requirements. 
     This technical task is solved by a system according to the features of patent claim  1 . Advantageous embodiments of the system are described in the dependent claims. 
     This process succeeds by holding a ski with a downward facing running surface or bottom in the center of machine frame while a carriage holding the machining tools is passing under the fixed ski and processes the surface with a very narrow tolerance that does not damage the ski bottom covering. The ski is constantly supported by a variety of carrier rollers, and during the machining keeps the required alignment. The carrier rollers, movably mounted in the machine frame and arranged at very short mutual distances, can reliably carry the ski thereby preventing the ski from being bent when the machining tools are applied. The positioning of the ski in the machine frame is ensured by partly fixed and partly moving carrier rollers so that the ski is always precisely aligned, when the machining tools are passed under the ski. The machining tools are guided by distance sensors at a set distance to the ski and along the bottom and the mostly curved side edges. In order to maintain an optimal surface of the machining tools, they are newly whetted with a whetting member, for example with a diamond, which is fixed on the machine frame, in time-selectable intervals and/or patterns are formed on the grinding disks in order to achieve corresponding finish or structures on the running surface of the skis. The whetting element is preferably supplied with cooling water from a through bore, thus reducing the wear and the development of heat. In the area of the lower apex of the grinding disks, they are cleaned with a water jet precisely directed to the grinding disk surface, i.e., the sanding dust and any debris are continuously removed from the grinding disks before the latter again come into contact with the ski. In order to avoid errors due to unbalance, particularly of the sliding surface and structure-grinding disk, with which the cover is being processed, means for detecting and/or correcting the unbalance may be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of the system after inserting a ski; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the system during the machining of the ski; 
         FIG. 3  shows a horizontal section through the system along the line III-III in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view of area A in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the stand and carrier rollers as shown in  FIG. 1  on the left side; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a stand and a carrier roller, and the clamping element; 
         FIG. 7  shows a view of a cleaning nozzle at the sliding surface and structure-grinding disk; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the whetting device for the grinding disks. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the figures, with the reference numeral  1 , a system for the machining of the running surface on skis and snowboards, broadly referred to as skis  5  throughout the specification, is presented. The system  1  comprises a machine frame  3 , which is supported on the floor of the room by the frame support  7 . In the central part of a machine frame  3  having a rectangular cross-section, there are arranged downwardly acting pneumatic or hydraulic pressing cylinders  9  on a suitably designed base  11 . The pressing cylinders  9  are used to press the ski  5  to the carrier roller  13  located under it in such a way that the ski  5  or its bottom  21  is pressed from its domed shape into an elongated, linear position. The carrier rollers  13  are rotatably mounted on shafts on stands  15 , so rollers  13  are free to rotate. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the stands  15  have at their lower ends a widening  15 ′, in which the roller pairs  16  are mounted, which are guided on two parallel rails  18  in the machine frame  3 . In the area of the rails  18 , there extends a band or cogged belt  17 . The individual stands  15  with the carrier rollers  13  are designed such that, with suitable clamping mechanisms  20 , they can be connected to and again detached from the cogged belt  17 . Also, however firmly connected to the cogged belt  17 , there is arranged a carriage  19 , on which are arranged the cutting tools for the machining of the bottom  21  and the edges  23  of the clamped ski  5 . 
     In  FIG. 2  on the right side of the carriage  19 , there are arranged, for example, two more stands  15  with carrier rollers  13 , and in contrast to the two stands  15  with roller carriers  13  on the left side, they are pushed together on the right side of the carriages  19 . Also on the carriage  19  are mounted carrier rollers  13  which thus can move along with the carriage  19 . The carriage  19  is supported by rollers (not shown), which, for example, roll on the same rails  18  as the stand  15  for the carrier rollers  13 . The two stands  15  located on the left side of the carriages  19  are provided with clamping means  20 , with which a temporary connection to the cogged belt  17  can be established. The control of the clamping means  20  is ensured via flexible control and power cables. 
     On the carriage  19 , on the left side, there is arranged a sliding surface and structure grinding disk  25  with a drive motor. On the right side of the carriage  19 , tuning grinding disks  27  are arranged on overhung shafts, each with a drive motor. Between the sliding surface and structure-grinding disk  25  and the tuning grinding disk  27  are in turn mounted, on driven shaft stubs, cup wheels  29  on the carriage  19 . The sliding surface and structure-grinding disk  25  and the tuning grinding disks  27  are mounted with possible vertical adjustment and can be moved, with a predetermined force, to the bottom  21  and/or the edges  23  of the ski  5  and pressed to it. The two tuning grinding disks  27  can also be moved in the axial direction into an optimal position in order to completely cover the entire course of the edges  23 , which, as is well known, in the case of modern skis  5  are non-linear but rather curved. The same applies to the two cup wheels  29 , which can be simultaneously moved to the outer edges, i.e., substantially perpendicular to the bottom  21  extending edges  23 , and can be pneumatically pressed to them. Furthermore, the axes of rotation of the tuning grinding disks  27  can be pivoted from the horizontal position into an acute angle. This allows changing the angle between the lower edge surface in the bottom plane and the lateral surfaces of the edges  23 . 
     With a programmable control system, the functions of the different grinding disks  25 ,  27  and  29  as well as their heights and lateral positions during the machining of a ski  5  can be controlled individually or together. The lateral movement towards the ski  5  is controlled by distance sensors so that the contour of the ski  5  need not be known, but rather any arbitrary ski  5 , including any new creations, can be processed in system  1 . This possibility is also simplified in that the tip  31  of the ski  5  is always placed at a fixed point, which is formed for example by an arc-shaped mount  33  (See  FIG. 3 ). 
     For the purpose of care and maintenance of the grinding surfaces of the disks  25 ,  27  and  29 , there can be arranged on the machine frame  3  at least one whetting element, e.g., a diamond  35 , on a surface planing device  36 , which on the one hand can be lowered from above on the jacket of the sliding surface and structure-grinding disk  25  and the jackets of the tuning grinding disks  27  and can be displaced parallel to their axes of rotation or to the surfaces. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the surface planing device  36 , the diamonds  35  have, in the direction to the cutting tip, at least one bore for the passage of cooling water. On the one hand, this allows an optimal cooling of the diamond  35  and, on the other, it increases its service life. The diamond  35  can create not only smooth surfaces lying at the desired angle on the grinding disks, but it can also insert grooves in the surfaces of the grinding disks, which create a special grinding pattern on the bottom  21  of the processed ski  5 . 
     In the area of the lower apex S u  of the grinding disks, nozzles  37  can be arranged for the passage of water to clean the grinding disk surfaces. The nozzles  37  are aligned directly and at an appropriate angle to the lateral surfaces of the grinding disks so that grinding dust and any debris from the surface can be removed. With each rotation of the grinding disk, it is cleaned and therefore is clean and not clogged so that the grinding effect is always consistent. 
     The functioning of the system  1  will now be shortly explained. After placing a ski  5  to the carrier roller  13  located right of the carriages  19  and the pushing of the ski tip  31  into the mount  33 , the ski  5  is pressed by the pressing cylinder  9  from the top onto the carrier roller  13  and thus its bottom  21  is linearly aligned. The ski  5  is held in its clamped position. Subsequently, the carriage  19  begins to ride from its parking position (left side in the machine frame  3 ) to the right. It is cogged here by the side-mounted belt  17  without clearance. First, the sliding surface- and structure-grinding disk  25  comes in contact in the area of the tip of the ski  5  with the bottom  21  and is pressed, by the pressing means (not shown) having a predetermined and controlled contact force, to the bottom  21 . In this first passage, wherein the carriage  19  drives from its left position to a right position, the other two grinding disks  29  and  27  are not in contact with the ski  5 . 
     When driving the carriage  19 , the carrier roller  13  located to the left side of the grinding disk  27  arrives under the ski and supports it. During the further movement to the right, the other carrier rollers  13  on the carriage  19  and those on the left of the carriage  19  also arrive under the bottom  21  of the ski  5  the two carrier rollers  13  (to the right of the carriage  19 ), which at the beginning were carrying the ski  5 , leave to the right the bottom  21  of the ski  5  and are joined together. While the carriage  19  is moving to the right side, the two carrier rollers  13  previously arranged on the left side of the carriage  19  and closely adjacent carrier rollers  13  are coupled to the cogged belt  17  and carried along and, at predetermined positions, again decoupled, in order to support the ski  5  even in the present position. During a working passage of the carriage  19  from the left to the right, the ski is therefore constantly supported by a plurality of rollers  13 , but not always by the same carrier rollers  13 . 
     Upon return of the carriage  19  from its position on the right side, the two grinding disks  29  and  27 , i.e., the tuning grinding disk  27 , which machines the edge underside, and the grinding cup  29 , which machines the edge outer surface, come into engagement after having previously been placed in the correct position by the controller or the sensors. Of course, if necessary, the sliding surface- and structure-grinding disk  25  can machine again the bottom  21  during the retraction. During the return movement, as before the carrier rollers  13  on the left side, now the carrier rollers  13  on the right side of the carriage  19  are connected by the clamping elements  20  to the cogged belt  17  so that the ski  5  is always and at approximately constant intervals supported from the bottom such that the vertical position of the bottom  21  of the ski  5  always remains in the spatially exactly same position. Of course, the positions of the carrier rollers  13  in relation to the ski  5  can be set up by distance sensors so that regardless of the length of the ski, the latter is always supported at regular intervals. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in the lateral bearings, in particular of the sliding surface- and structure-grinding disk  25 , there can be arranged means  39  in order to determine an unbalance, which may occur due to wear of the grinding disk  25 . After detecting an unbalance, either balancing weights can be attached to an appropriate place on the grinding disk  25  or already mounted balance weights are shifted accordingly and re-fixed at an appropriate point of the grinding disk. 
     The need for scraping the surfaces of the grinding disks can be determined at fixed time intervals depending on the number of the processed skis  5  or by sensors, which detect irregularities. 
     On the carriage  19 , there can be arranged, if desired, in addition to the grinding disks, also embossing devices, which stamp into the bottom  21  of the ski  5  suitable structures. This can be done with heated embossing rolls or by heating and subsequent embossing the softened surface. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.