SKI SLOPE SNOW GROOMING EQUIPMENT AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ski slope snow grooming equipment.

BACKGROUND ART

A ski slope snow grooming equipment normally advances in a travelling direction, and comprises a frame and a working device for snow grooming. The working device may be any device designed to modify the snow surface, and normally comprises a shaft rotating about an axis transverse to the travelling direction, and having teeth for tilling a surface layer of the snow surface. Alternatively, the working device comprise a smoothing board towed in the travelling direction .

Alternatively, the working device comprise a flexible finish mat.

The working devices mentioned can be connected to the frame individually or in combinations. The equipment, when it comprises the rotary shaft mentioned, is known as a snow rotary tiller.

Known equipments of the above type have proved particularly effective in grooming ski slopes, but fail to leave a precise trail indicating the type of equipment used on the slope or other information.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide

a ski slope grooming equipment designed to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art in a straightforward, low- cost manner, and which in particular provides information . According to the present invention, there is provided a ski slope grooming equipment designed to advance in a travelling direction; the equipment comprising a frame, and a working device for working the snow surface; and the equipment being characterized by comprising a printing device for printing information on the worked snow surface.

By virtue of the present invention, information is printed directly on the ski slope.

The present invention also relates to a ski slope grooming method.

According to the present invention, there is provided a ski slope grooming method comprising the step of working the snow surface in a travelling direction using a working device for working the snow surface; the method being characterized by comprising the step of imprinting the worked snow surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of a ski slope grooming equipment in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 1 ski slope grooming equipment .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a ski slope grooming equipment which is towed in direction D by a snow groomer vehicle not shown in the drawings.

In the example shown, equipment 1 is a rotary snow tiller for tilling a surface layer of the snow surface M, and comprises a frame 2; a shaft 3 mounted to rotate with respect to frame 2 about an axis Al, and extending transverse to travelling direction D; a protective casing 4 surrounding shaft 3; a normally flexible finish mat 5 which is connected to casing 4, extends behind shaft 3, and is drawn over the surface of the tilled snow surface M; and a printing device 6 for printing information on the worked snow surface M.

Frame 2 comprises a bar 7 parallel to axis Al; a connecting device 8 fixed to bar 7 and for connecting equipment 1 to the snow groomer vehicle (not shown in the drawings) ; two arc-shaped segments 9 fixed to and transverse to bar 7; and plates 10 (only one shown in Figure 1) for supporting shaft 3 by means of bearings not shown in the drawings . Equipment 1 comprises two adjustable panels 11 which have the purpose to protect, to a certain extent, casing 4 and finish mat 5 from the snow thrown up by the groomer vehicle not shown in the drawings.

Shaft 3 comprises a number of teeth 12 (only one shown in Figure 1) equally spaced about and along axis Al, and each of which projects radially from shaft 3 to penetrate snow surface M. The length of shaft 3 defines the work range and the width of equipment 1 as a whole.

With reference to Figure 2, printing device 6 comprises a roller 13 rotating about an axis A2 parallel to axis Al; two arms 14 for supporting roller 13 and hinged to bar 7 about an axis A3 parallel to axis Al; and two actuators 15 which, in the example shown, are hydraulic cylinders connected to frame 2 and to respective arms 14 to selectively arrange roller 13 in contact with snow surface M and to give sufficient force to imprint the worked snow surface M.

Roller 13 has portions in relief 16 which penetrate, to imprint information on, the worked snow surface M.

In use, grooming snow surface M of a ski slope comprises the steps of working snow surface M in travelling direction D using equipment 1, and impressing information on the worked snow surface M.

In the embodiment described with reference to the attached drawings, grooming comprises the steps of tilling a surface layer of snow surface M, and levelling the surface layer with finish mat 5. The information printed by printing device 6 is printed on the tilled, levelled snow surface M.

The impression is preferably made in low relief by means of roller 13, which has portions in relief 16.

Roller 13 is selectively raised off or pressed onto snow surface M by actuators 15 to selectively imprint information on snow surface M.

Information can thus be imprinted on snow surface M at the discretion of the operator of equipment 1.

In a variation, not shown, of the present invention, equipment 1 is equipped with a number of printing devices, each equipped with a respective roller for printing respective information, so more than one type of information can be printed by the operator on snow surface M.

Though reference is made to a snow rotary tiller, the equipment may obviously comprise any type of working device capable of working snow surface M to a sufficiently good finish for it to be printed.