ES2869242T3 - Tennis court automatic maintenance system - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic maintenance system for a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) comprising: (a) at least one robot (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) comprising a casing (58, 60a, 60b, 60c) containing one or more tennis court maintenance elements (34, 46; 36, 38; 40, 42; 62; 64, 68; 70, 72) having a width corresponding to at least the extent of the line of end, preferably at the distance from the double posts that support the track net and that is equipped with (a1) movement means (4, 6, 8, 10) to move said robot (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) ; (a2) a control unit (12) for controlling said tennis court maintenance elements and said moving means (4, 6, 8, 10), wherein said tennis court maintenance element or elements are are selected from a court covering unit containing a rolled canvas (34) on a relative axis (46) that can be driven with a rotational movement, a grass cutting unit (38), a striping unit (40, 42), a smoothing unit (62), a moistening unit (68, 64), a cleaning unit (70, 72), and combinations thereof; and (b) a communication device (28) for communication with said control unit (12) to allow remote management of said track-keeping elements (36, 38; 40, 42; 62; 64, 68; 70, 72) and the movement means (4, 6, 8, 10), characterized in that said automatic maintenance system further comprises (c) a supply station for each robot locatable / located behind the end line of the tennis court; wherein said supply station comprises: (α) fixing means, preferably magnetic hooks, to be able to reversibly hold said canvas (34) which in this sense is equipped with respective second fixing means (16) that can be coupled to said first fixing means; and/or (β) in the presence of a humidification unit (64, 68), a hydraulic accessory for filling the water tank; and/or (γ) devices for charging the battery(ies) inside the robot.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Tennis court automatic maintenance system

Technical field

The invention relates to an automatic system for maintaining a tennis court and can be adapted to different types of courts: grass, clay and concrete. Routine maintenance includes covering the court with an all-surface tarp, cutting the grass and scribing the white lines for grass courts, smoothing and wetting for clay courts, and cleaning debris and water for concrete courts. Another maintenance job is brushing the white lines on the track.

Background of the technique

Tennis courts need continuous maintenance. The following tasks are performed periodically manually on tennis courts: covering the tennis court with a tarp in case of rain, smoothing and spraying water on the clay court, which is usually done between sets or at the end of a game, cutting the grass and drawing the white lines of the grass court, which is usually done outside the opening hours of the courts, cleaning the surface of the concrete court, which could also be done to suck up the rainwater that remains on the surface. White lines also need to be brushed, especially on clay courts.

These tasks are done manually with a lot of human resources and with the right tools, such as brooms, tarps, water hoses, grass trimmers or a machine that is pushed by hand to draw the white lines as described in the French document. FR 2586358 A1.

The state of the art knows some devices for covering surfaces, in particular also a tennis court, with a protection, as described in documents WO 2010/054960 A1, FR 2803 769 A1, US 3,108,804 A, WO 2014 / 068131 A1 and FR 2743 502 A1. All these devices do not allow other maintenance of the tennis court.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention aims to propose a flexible, reliable and economical automatic system from the point of view of construction that is capable of carrying out maintenance tasks even during a tennis tournament (for example, covering the court) and between one set and another. (for example, smoothing and moistening the track).

The purpose is achieved by an automatic maintenance system for a tennis court that comprises:

(a) at least one robot comprising a housing containing one or more tennis court maintenance elements having a width corresponding to at least the extension of the end line, preferably at the distance of the two double posts that support the track net, and that it is equipped with

(a1) movement means for moving said robot;

(a2) a control unit to control said tennis court maintenance elements and said movement means,

wherein said tennis court maintenance elements are selected from a court covering unit containing a canvas rolled up on a relative axis that can be driven with a rotational movement, a grass cutting unit, a striping, a smoothing unit, a moistening unit, a cleaning unit, and combinations thereof; and

(b) a communication device for communication with said control unit to allow remote management of said track maintenance elements and movement means. The automatic system is characterized in that it also includes

(c) a supply station for each locatable / located robot behind the tennis court end line;

wherein the supply station comprises:

(a) fixing means, preferably magnetic hooks, to be able to reversibly fix said canvas which in this sense is equipped with respective second fixing means that can be coupled to said first fixing means; me

(p) in the case of the presence of a humidification unit, a hydraulic accessory for filling the water tank; me

(And) devices to charge the battery (s) inside the robot.

Advantageously, said movement means are rollers and / or wheels, of which at least one can be driven to produce the movement of the robot. Due to the means of movement, the robot can advance from the supply station or from the end of the track towards the net and, backwards, from the net towards the supply station or the end of the track and optionally laterally , if required.

In an exemplary embodiment, the supply station may comprise an automatic system for supplying water and electricity and locking the robot when idle at the end of the track.

The communication device can be a PC, a tablet or a remote control equipped with specific software to communicate.

Advantageously, the robot incorporates the maintenance units necessary for the maintenance of the specific type of surface, namely the following tasks: covering the track with a tarpaulin, wetting the track, cutting grass (for example, with one or two grass trimmers), drawing lines with one or more tracers, smoothing and cleaning. In a preferred embodiment variant of the invention, the robot also comprises a maintenance unit necessary to brush the white lines. Such a robot can perform all the maintenance tasks described above in relation to a particular area ranging from the two double posts that support the net to the fence at the end of the track. Advantageously, the supply station is located near the fence. Preferably, the communication device is a device suitable for two-way communication between a computer and the robot.

The control unit installed in the robot and the communication device, for example a PC or tablet or remote control, communicate bi-directionally.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the robot has limited shape and dimensions to occupy the least possible space when it is located in the supply station at the end of the track. Advantageously, the control unit comprises a data transmission and reception device for remote management of the robot. Preferably, one or more sensors that are installed at strategic points of the robot are connected to the control unit, selected from: sensors to accurately determine the position of the robot, such as ultrasonic and / or optical and / or electromechanical sensors; volumetric sensors or other proximity sensors to detect any obstacles from objects and / or people when the robot is moving; an anemometer and a humidity sensor to automatically activate the winding of the tarpaulin in the event of wind exceeding a certain speed or to activate the unfolding of the tarpaulin in the event of rain.

In a variant embodiment of the invention, with the PC or the tablet or remote control it is possible to program the tasks of the robot and define its behavior in the event of activation of the humidity sensors and the anemometer.

Preferably, the covering unit further comprises a bar with toothed wheels and a counter bar between which the slotted canvas passes during unfolding or rolling up. The presence of such bars makes it possible to keep the canvas stretched. Advantageously, the covering unit comprises a canvas cleaning system that is installed where the canvas is introduced into the unit, such as, for example, a pair of brushes and / or a pair of vacuum cleaners between which the canvas passes during its deployment. or its rolled up. Therefore, the canvas is cleaned and debris that could compromise the winding is avoided. The covering unit can optionally comprise a lateral support roller with the function of supporting the weight of the canvas and its axis and keeping the canvas pressed towards its own axis for correct winding. Advantageously, the grass cutting unit contains one or two grass cutters and a tank that collects the cut grass, equipped with a level controller. Preferably, this unit is moved along rails for this purpose and can cut grass from the net posts to the fence at the end of the track. Preferably, a striping unit is associated with the grass cutting unit, as it uses the same offset on the rails of the grass cutting unit, to draw the white lines of the playing area. Advantageously, the guides allow movement along a distance corresponding at least to the width of the playing area or to the distance between the two double posts.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the line tracing unit comprises a dye dispensing device, in particular plaster powder or the like, which is fed from a reservoir containing said powder and which is optionally provided with a level controller. .

Advantageously, the smoothing unit is a panel with brushes designed to be vibrated. Vibrating brushes make it possible to obtain a homogeneous surface on a clay tennis court and at the same time clean the white lines on the ground. The area in question preferably ranges from the net posts to the fence at the end of the court.

In an advantageous embodiment variant of the invention, the moistening unit comprises a water tank optionally equipped with a level controller, and a sprinkler to moisten the track from the net posts to the end fence of the track.

The cleaning unit for concrete tennis courts preferably provides one or two vacuum cleaners to remove both small debris and water present on the court. The aspirator advantageously collects what is aspirated in a tank optionally equipped with a level controller.

Advantageously, the white line brushing unit inside the robot is composed of a shaft with a plurality, for example nine, motorized circular brushes dimensioned to clean the vertical and horizontal lines of the track when the robot moves from the supply station to the network or vice versa. In a particular variant of embodiment of the invention, the circular brushes work only when they are located on the vertical or horizontal white lines. The same circular brushes are advantageously locked around their own axis when they are not located on the white lines, thus leveling the surface of the track. Therefore, with a single axis with motorized circular brushes it is possible both to brush the white lines and to level the surface. The leveling area preferably spans from the double posts to the supply station. Advantageously, the robot according to the invention always comprises, regardless of the type of track surface, a covering unit. In the case of clay courts, the moistening and smoothing units can be associated. Advantageously, a unit is also associated to brush the white lines. In the case of grass tracks, the grass cutting and striping units can be associated. In the case of concrete tracks, the cleaning unit can be associated. Other combinations are conceivable, some of which are found in Table 2 below.

Advantageously, the robot is equipped with an electronic control unit (control unit) that supervises all its movements, all the tasks of the maintenance units and remote communication with a remote administrator, such as a PC, a tablet or a control. remote. Preferably, one or more batteries power all electrical and electronic components.

In a preferred embodiment variant of the invention, the supply station for the robot is located at the end of the track near the fence. The supply station advantageously comprises first fixing means, preferably magnetic hooks, to be able to reversibly fix the canvas which, in this regard, is equipped with respective second fixing means that can be coupled to the first fixing means and dock the same robot. Such fixing allows to hold one end of the canvas to be able to unroll it and place it on the track by moving the robot towards the track net.

The robot, when idle, is preferably located at the end of the runway at the supply station near the fence. In this regard, the supply station is advantageously equipped with a magnetic locking system for the tarpaulin and the robot.

In the presence of a humidification unit, the supply station comprises a hydraulic accessory for the filling, preferably automatic, of the water tank.

Preferably, the robot comprises one or more batteries that power the contained components and the supply station comprising a device for charging the battery (s) within the robot. Batteries power electrical and electronic components. Batteries can be charged by induction at the supply station.

In another advantageous variant of the invention, the communication device for communication with the control unit is a computer, a PC, a tablet or a remote control to communicate at a certain distance with the robot to manage its movements and the different units. track maintenance. In this way, it is possible to move it remotely from the supply station to the track network and vice versa and to activate or stop the different maintenance units.

The communication between the computer, PC, tablet or remote control and the robot is advantageously bidirectional, so that the messages of any malfunction and the status of its components, such as tank levels, battery charge level (s) ( s), etc., can be received on the computer, PC, tablet or remote control.

Through the computer, PC, tablet or remote control, the robot can be activated, for example, online, or according to a weekly schedule, or automatically in reaction to signals related to sensors (such as anemometers or humidity sensors, as shown will explain later).

The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court according to the invention is therefore composed of three parts: the treatment part of the real court carried out by the robot, the refuge part as a rest station and supply of the robot and a remote system management part.

Merely by way of example, the system according to the invention is composed of two robots, automatic supply and lock devices for the robot when it is in the supply station and a PC or tablet or remote control for remote management of the system. To facilitate remote management of the robot, a camera may be installed on the fence of the tennis court to show the movements of the robot.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a tennis court which is equipped with a net and an automatic maintenance system for a tennis court according to the invention with a robot and a supply station for each side of the court. Advantageously, the automatic supply station is equipped for an automatic supply of water and electricity and with means for fixing the canvas. Advantageously, a single communication system is provided, for example a PC, tablet or remote control to manage the remote communication. Advantageously, the single communication system remotely manages all the robots in a tennis club.

The last aspect of the invention refers to a tennis court maintenance process that comprises the following phases:

(i) make available a maintenance system for a tennis court according to the invention;

(ii) in the case of court covering, activation of the covering unit and covering of the court from the supply station to the tennis court net with the canvas attached to the supply station;

(iii) in the case of grass cutting, activation of the grass cutting unit and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network;

(iv) in the case of tracing lines, activation of the tracing unit and tracing the horizontal and vertical lines of the track according to a pre-established program;

(v) in the case of smoothing the runway, activating the smoothing unit and moving the robot from the supply station to the runway network;

(vi) in the case of wetting of the track; activation of the humidification unit and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network;

(vi) in the case of cleaning the runway; activation of the cleaning unit and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network.

Optionally in the case of brushing the white lines of the track, the process according to the invention comprises the step (viii) of activating a brushing unit and moving the robot from the supply station to the track network.

In a preferred variant of the invention, a combined white line brushing and track smoothing unit is provided. Such a unit can work with circular brushes as discussed above.

Preferably, during phases (iii) to (vii), the tarpaulin is separated from the supply station ensuring that the tarpaulin remains rolled up inside the robot.

With the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, possible embodiment variants are illustrated below to carry out phases (ii) to (vii) that can be carried out and combined independently of each other.

The process can be integrated by returning the robot to the supply station where the canvas can be attached, the batteries recharged and / or the humidification unit's water tank can be filled if present. Devices for filling the tank with colorant (eg gypsum powder) and / or emptying the tanks of the vacuum cleaner and grass trimmer are also conceivable. All these steps preferably work automatically. Advantageously, the leveling of the surface and the brushing of the lines is carried out under electronic control with the use of ultrasonic, optical or electromechanical sensors to ensure a perfect leveling and brushing.

Preferably, the cleaning of the concrete or similar tracks is carried out under electronic control with the use of ultrasonic, optical or electromechanical sensors to ensure the cleaning of the track surface ranging from the double posts to the end of the track.

Advantageously, the grass cutting is done under electronic control with the use of ultrasonic, optical or electromechanical sensors to determine the exact position of the grass cutter while the robot is moving to ensure a perfect cut of the grass from the double posts to the end of the track. Preferably, the wetting of the court is regulated by means of a PC or tablet or remote control in which the liters of water to be sprayed on the playing area are defined. If necessary, the robot can be automatically fed with water several times at the supply station, spraying the track evenly. The movement of the robot is advantageously carried out under electronic control with the use of ultrasonic, optical or electromechanical sensors to determine exactly its position in order to be able to wet the track from the double posts to the end of the track with the same amount of water per m2. The batteries can finally be charged by induction. Advantageously, the various supplies are carried out automatically.

The characteristics described for one aspect of the invention can be transferred, making the necessary modifications, to any other aspect of the invention.

In summary, it can be seen that the invention achieves the intended objective, and in particular provides a system for the maintenance of a tennis court that in a flexible way allows to carry out all the tasks mentioned at the beginning with reference to the technical field and that takes little time. and personal, since it can be managed independently and automatically.

To the applicant's knowledge, the state of the art does not currently know systems for the automatic management of the maintenance of a tennis court, in particular, that manage to comfortably combine all the tasks of maintenance described above and required for individual surface types within a single system.

Said objects and advantages will be better highlighted in the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided by way of non-limiting example.

Variant embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The description of preferred embodiments of the automatic maintenance system for a tennis court, the tennis court and the process for maintaining a tennis court according to the invention is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to attached drawings.

Description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective view a maintenance system for a tennis court according to the invention with the robot outside the supply station.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tennis court maintenance system of Figure 1 with the robot at its supply station.

Figure 3 illustrates in a perspective view a tennis court with two robots according to the invention located in the net of the court.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a tennis court with two robots according to the invention, one located in the net of the court and the other in the supply station.

Figure 5 illustrates in cross section a first embodiment of a robot suitable for grass courts.

Figure 6 illustrates in cross section a second embodiment of a robot suitable for clay courts.

Figure 7 illustrates in cross section a third embodiment of a robot suitable for concrete runways.

Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective view a maintenance system 2 of a tennis court according to the invention outside its supply station. On the front side of the robot 2 are arranged laterally 4 and centrally located wheels 6. Below the robot 2 are arranged an intermediate roller wheel 8 and a rear roller wheel 10. The wheels may have, for example, a diameter of 4 cm . On both short sides, lateral distribution boards 12 are arranged. In the central part 14 the robot has, for example, a height of 28 cm and a depth of 69 cm. The robot 2 is housed in the supply station on anchoring elements 16 and spacers 18 located on the fence 20 with the protection net 22 for the recovery of the tennis balls. On the same fence 20 are installed the three raised end plates of the track 24. The three plates 24 do not move with the robot 2. A user 26 operates the robot 2 with a computer 28 with software for this purpose.

Figure 2 illustrates in perspective view the tennis court maintenance system of Figure 1 at its supply station. The robot 2 is located above the spacers 18 and attached to the anchoring elements (not visible) and below the raised plates 24.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a tennis court with two robots 2 according to the invention located in the net of the court 32. On the left a part 30a of the grass tennis court can be seen. On the left side of runway 30a the tarpaulin is not stretched out, while robot 2 on the right side of runway 30b covered it with tarpaulin 34.

Figure 4 illustrates in a perspective view a tennis court with two robots 2 according to the invention, one located in the net of the court 32 and the other in its supply station. Only canvas 34 was laid out in one half of the court.

Figure 5 illustrates in cross section a first embodiment of a robot 2a suitable for grass courts. You can see a grass tank 36, a grass cutter 38, a liner 40 supplied by a tank 42 containing gypsum powder, a level controller 44. The canvas 34 is wound on a shaft 46. The shaft can have in an exemplary shape a diameter of 19 cm and the canvas a height of 1 mm, a width of about 13 m and a depth of about 19 m. A support bar 48 helps to support the tarpaulin 34. A sprocket bar 50 along with a counter bar 52 guides and drags the tarpaulin 34 during unfolding and rolling. To clean the passing canvas 34, brushes 54 and vacuum cleaners 56 are arranged. The cover unit T is in a first compartment 58 of the robot and the module for maintaining the grass tracks E in a second compartment 60a.

Figure 6 illustrates a cross section of a second exemplary embodiment of a robot 2b suitable for clay courts. Also in this case the robot 2b is composed of two compartments, and precisely of the cover unit T in its compartment 58, which corresponds to that described with reference to Figure 5, and of a second compartment 60b with the TB clay court maintenance module. You can see a panel, which is a shaft with brushes 62 to smooth the beaten earth, a water tank 64 with a respective water level controller 66 and water sprinklers 68. The brushes 62 can also be used to brush the lines. white.

Figure 7 illustrates in cross section a third embodiment of a robot 2c suitable for concrete runways. Furthermore, in this case the robot 2c is composed of two compartments, and precisely the cover unit T in its compartment 58, which corresponds to that described with reference to Figure 5, and a second compartment 60c with the module for the maintenance of concrete tracks C. Vacuum cleaners 70, a tank 72 for the collection of dust and sucked water and a level controller 74 can be seen inside the tank 72.

A first 58 and a second compartment 60a, 60b and 60c respectively, create the robot housing that contains the relative maintenance items.

The central part of the robot 2 is located between two switchboards 12. All the long internal components of the central part, except the tarpaulin, are divided into five parts. The robot from the side view (figures in section 5 to 7), is divided into two compartments, front 60a, 60b, 60c and rear 58. In the rear compartment 58 is installed the module to roll up the canvas 34 and in the compartment front 60a, 60b, 60c alternatively one of three different court maintenance modules is installed which vary according to the surface of the tennis court: grass, clay or concrete.

The movement of the robot 2, 2a, 2b, 2c is electronically controlled, but other forms of actuation are also conceivable. Its structure is roughly, in section, the shape of a rectangular trapezoid to occupy as little as possible the area of the track when placed in the supply station.

The system has been designed in a modular structure and is segmented into five parts to facilitate transport, installation and maintenance. The shapes and dimensions of the housing, as well as the number of segments, can vary without departing from the scope of the invention. The housing can be divided into compartments.

In the embodiments presented, the robot 2 is lying on three wheels 6, 4 at the front and two roller wheels, a central 8 and a rear 10. The three front wheels 6, 4 and the rear roller wheel 10 have the function of supporting the robot 2.

The wheel of the central roller 8, in addition to supporting the robot 2, serves to move the same robot back and forth. The central roller wheel 8 is therefore motorized. The two side segments are independent, so that the direction of the robot 2 can also be adjusted laterally. Obviously, other configurations of wheels or rollers or of movement systems are conceivable that the person skilled in the art easily identifies with his general knowledge.

Depending on the type of surface of the tennis court, the system includes the following maintenance units (table 1):

Table 1

The individual tasks that can be provided by the maintenance system of a tennis court according to the invention and that can be combined in various ways within the system will now be described.

Track cover

The system 2, 2a, 2b, 2c locks the canvas 34 with magnetic hooks (not shown) against the anchor element 16 of the supply station. The robot 2, 2a, 2b, 2c to unfold the canvas 34 moves towards the net 32 and at the same time rotates the bar 50 with toothed wheels. The unfolding of the tarpaulin 34 therefore takes place under the control of the toothed bar 50 to avoid that the unfolding is affected by stresses in the tarpaulin 34 itself. The robot moves forward and stops when the net is reached 32 then returns to the supply station after a certain period of absence of rain (detected by means of relative rain sensors not shown), or by means of a remote command from a computer. If an anemometer (not shown) detects a wind speed greater than a given value, the runway coverage can be automatically deactivated.

The robot 2, 2a, 2b, 2c for winding the canvas 34, returns to its supply station by activating the motorized axis 46 of the canvas with a slight delay. In this way, the winding is carried out under the control of the bar with toothed wheels 50 avoiding external stresses on the canvas.

When the two robots 2 arranged on a track have unrolled their tarpaulins 34 and have reached the track net 32, the track area, spanning from the two net posts to the end of the track, will be fully protected of rain.

Canvas 34 is in an exemplary form 1mm or less thick and may be made of elastic rubber or similar materials to prevent wrinkles and folds. Some grooves are located in the lateral parts of the canvas 34 which slide on the toothed wheels of the roller 50 to ensure the correct winding of the canvas 34 around its own axis 46. The canvas that is being introduced into its compartment 58 is cleaned by external brushes 54 and by two internal vacuum cleaners 56 to prevent sand, dirt and grass from interfering with its winding around the axis 46.

Grass cutting

The robot 2a unlocks the tarpaulin 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent its unfolding and advances step by step towards the net 32. During each step it stops and the grass cutter 38 moves from side to side on its rails cutting the grass from post to post and to the end of the track. After the task is finished, robot 2a returns to its supply station. Other configurations and numbers of grass trimmers are conceivable. White line tracing

The robot 2a unlocks the tarpaulin 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent them from unfolding and advances step by step to the runway net 32. During each step it stops and the line markers 40 move back and forth over the mower rails, tracing the white horizontal lines. Then the robot 2b steps back to its supply station, tracing the white vertical lines. Each step is carried out under electronic control to guarantee a perfect layout. Other algorithms are conceivable for plotting the horizontal and vertical lines, as described above, or plotting in one go, for example, according to the operation of ink jet printers. A level 44 controller reports the level of gypsum in tank 42.

Track smoothing

Robot 2b unlocks tarp 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent it from unfolding. A brush shaft 62 is activated on the surface of the track. It then proceeds to the net 32 by leveling off the surface of the clay track by vibrating the brushes 62. The leveling of the track is also carried out while the robot 2b returns to its supply station. The white lines on the track are cleaned by the vibration of the panel.

Track smoothing and line brushing

In another variant, the robot 2b unlocks the canvas 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent its deployment. A brush shaft 62 is activated on the surface of the track. It then proceeds to the net 32 by leveling the surface of the clay court and cleaning the lines by rotating the brushes 62. To properly clean the court lines parallel to the net, the robot stops for approximately one second.

Track wetting

The robot 2b fills the water tank 64 when it is located in the supply station and unlocks the tarp 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent its deployment. Then he advances to net 32 spraying water on the tennis court. In case more water is needed, the robot 2b returns to the supply station to fill the tank 64. A level controller 66 reports the level in the tank. The track moistening unit can also be provided for grass tracks.

Cleaning ( aspiration)

The robot 2c unlocks the canvas 34 from its magnetic hooks to prevent its unfolding and advances step by step towards the network 32. During each step it stops and the vacuum cleaners 70 move from one side to the other cleaning the track from one net post to the other and to the end of the track. The robot 2c advances to network 32. Once the entire area has been cleaned of water, small residues, sand and dust, it returns to its supply station.

A level controller 74 reports the level of material in tank 72.

In the case of grass trimmers, line liners, brushes, vacuum cleaners, different numbers and configurations are conceivable which the person skilled in the art easily selects with his general knowledge.

All electronic and electrical components for control, movement and communication are located on both sides in switchboards 12 of robot 2.

A distribution board 12 comprises in an exemplary form the following main components: a main electronic board that has the control and supervision of all the components of the system, a reception and transmission unit to be able to communicate with the remote computer, batteries , a video camera, a microphone, alarm light and buzzer, a humidity sensor, an anemometer and a volumetric sensor for safety reasons. The function of the components mentioned above that are not yet illustrated will be explained later.

The robot supply station. 2, 2a, 2b, 2c is the space that the system occupies when it is not working, here it is made up of three anchoring elements 16 located at the end of the tennis court and a series of spacers 18 to keep the system elevated. The number and configuration of anchor elements and spacers can vary. The three anchoring elements 16 have the following functions: to keep the system locked when it is not working through the magnetic hooks at the end of the tennis court, to charge (for example by induction) the batteries from the local mains or by example of a solar panel, load the water into the robot's tank and keep the tarp blocked when it has to be unrolled.

Safety precautions are provided. The robot 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, before starting any task, activates an alarm light and a buzzer for a specified time. A volumetric sensor detects that no one is occupying the playing area.

Additional accessories can be provided, such as a microphone that is frequently used during a tournament, a video camera and other security devices.

The system models depend on the built-in work units and the surface of the tennis court. The following table 2 indicates some possible models:

Table 2

During operation, additional modifications or variants of embodiment not described can be applied to the maintenance system of a tennis court, to the tennis court and to the process of maintaining a tennis court, object of the invention. If such modifications or such variants were within the scope of the following claims, all of them should be considered protected by the present patent.

Claims (11)

1. Automatic maintenance system for a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) comprising: (a) at least one robot (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) comprising a housing (58, 60a, 60b, 60c) containing one or more tennis court maintenance elements (34, 46; 36, 38 ; 40, 42; 62; 64, 68; 70, 72) that has a width corresponding at least to the extension of the end line, preferably to the distance of the double posts that support the net of the track and that is equipped with (a1) movement means (4, 6, 8, 10) for moving said robot (2, 2a, 2b, 2c); (a2) a control unit (12) to control said tennis court maintenance elements and said movement means (4, 6, 8, 10), wherein said element or elements for maintaining the tennis court are selected from a court covering unit containing a rolled canvas (34) on a relative axis (46) that can be operated with a rotary movement, a unit grass cutting unit (38), a striping unit (40, 42), a smoothing unit (62), a moistening unit (68, 64), a cleaning unit (70, 72) and combinations of the same; and (b) a communication device (28) for communication with said control unit (12) to allow remote management of said track maintenance elements (36, 38; 40, 42; 62; 64, 68; 70 , 72) and the movement means (4, 6, 8, 10), characterized in that said automatic maintenance system also comprises (c) a supply station for each robot locatable / located behind the end line of the tennis court; wherein said supply station comprises: (a) fixing means, preferably magnetic hooks, to be able to reversibly hold said canvas (34) which in this sense is equipped with respective second fixing means (16) that can be coupled to said first fixing means; me (p) in the presence of a humidification unit (64, 68), a hydraulic accessory for filling the water tank; me (And) devices to charge the battery (s) inside the robot. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) according to claim 1 characterized in that said covering unit further comprises a bar (50) with toothed wheels and a counter bar (52) between which the canvas (34) passes with grooves during its unfolding and rolling and a cleaning system (54, 56) of the canvas that is installed where the canvas is introduced into the unit, such as a pair of brushes and / or a pair of vacuum cleaners between which the canvas passes during its unfolding or rolling. 3. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2a) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said line tracing unit comprises a colorant dispensing device (40), in particular powdered plaster or similar, which is fed by a tank (42) containing said powder and which can be moved on respective guides arranged for this purpose in said housing (60a) over a distance that corresponds at least to the width of the area of play. 4. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2b) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said smoothing unit (62) is a panel with brushes that can be made to vibrate. 5. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cleaning unit (70, 72) comprises at least one vacuum cleaner (70) and a tank (72 ) to collect the aspirated material. 6. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said grass cutting unit (38) comprises one or two grass cutters, for example in the form of a toothed cutter bar and / or a rotating blade, which can be moved along rails for this purpose and a tank to collect cut grass. 7. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said humidification unit comprises a water tank (64) optionally equipped with a level controller, and a sprinkler (68) powered through said water tank (64). 8. The automatic maintenance system of a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a maintenance element of the tennis court which is a brushing unit of White lines. 9. Tennis court equipped with a net (32) and an automatic maintenance system for a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) according to any of the preceding claims with a robot (2) and a supply station for each side of the track. 10. Process for the maintenance of a tennis court that includes the following phases: (i) make available an automatic maintenance system for a tennis court (2, 2a, 2b, 2c) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; (ii) in the case of covering the court, activation of the covering unit (T) and the covering of the court from the supply station to the tennis court net with the canvas (34) hooked to the station supply; (iii) in the case of grass cutting, activation of the grass cutting unit (38) and movement of the robot (2a) from the supply station to the track network; (iv) in the case of tracing lines, activation of the tracing unit (40, 42, 44) and tracing of horizontal and vertical lines of the track according to a pre-established program; (v) in the case of smoothing the runway, activating the smoothing unit (62) and moving the robot from the supply station to the runway network; (vi) in the case of wetting of the track; activation of the humidification unit (68, 64) and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network; (vi) in the case of cleaning the runway; activation of the cleaning unit (70, 72) and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network; wherein for phases (iii) to (vii) in case of presence of a covering unit (T), the canvas (34) is preferably separated from the supply station. 11. Process for maintaining a tennis court according to claim 10, characterized in that in step (i) an automatic system is made available according to claim 8 and that the process also comprises step (viii ) activation of the brushing unit and movement of the robot from the supply station to the track network.