JP2805568B2 - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a body of an automobile or the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus which is provided with a charge receiving device and operates at a fee.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-36422, for example, there is known an apparatus which is installed in a plurality of car washing spaces and performs a car washing operation upon receiving a car washing fee. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 2-38367, there is known an apparatus which includes a card reader into which a prepaid card or the like is inserted and receives car washing with a card instead of cash.

[0003] Such a conventional apparatus includes a door which is opened and closed when performing repair and management work, and a charge storage section provided in the door, and both the door and the charge storage section are provided with locking means. And is normally kept closed. Therefore, in order to perform management work such as collection of charges, it is necessary to unlock the door after unlocking the door, and furthermore, the key for unlocking the door is the door and the door to which the charge is stored or another car washing device. Since it is practically difficult to use the same key as the first key, it has been troublesome to manage many different keys corresponding to a plurality of car washing spaces.

[0004] Further, there is known a car washing apparatus which is provided with a means for counting actual data such as a charged car washing fee and the number of executed car washes, and which can collate the counted actual data with a collected fee. . However, since such performance data is only displayed on a display or printer, it takes time to record the displayed data each time it is collected, and this performance data can be directly used as various management data. There was an inconvenience that could not be done.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the trouble of unlocking and the number of keys to be managed due to management work such as fee collection and to collect and utilize actual data. The point is that it is easy to streamline management work.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a door which is opened and closed when collecting a charged car washing fee, locking means for normally holding the door in a closed state, and a card for replacing the car washing fee. A card reader that accepts the insertion, a unit that determines whether the card inserted into the card reader is a specific card owned by the owner, and unlocking the locking unit on condition that the determination unit determines that the card is a specific card. And means for controlling the number of keys to be unlocked and the number of keys to be managed are reduced.

[0007] Further, means for counting actual data such as the car washing fee charged or the number of times the car was executed, a card reader / writer for accepting insertion of a card in place of the car washing fee, and a card inserted into the card reader. Means for determining whether or not the card is a specific card owned by the owner, and means for transferring the result data provided by the counting means to the specific card and resetting the counting means on condition that the determination means determines that the card is a specific card. This makes it easy to collect and utilize performance data.

[0008]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
2 ₁ - 2 ₂ ... is a terminal device provided in each of a plurality of car washing space. 3 ₁ , 3 _2, ... Are discharge lines, 4 is a cable consisting of a power supply line and a signal line, and each is a main unit 1
And it connects the terminal device 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ .... Reference numeral 5 denotes a cleaning gun, which is provided in each of the terminal devices 2 ₁ 2 ₂ .

The main unit 1 is provided with a hot water tank 6, a detergent tank 7, a cold water tank 8, a two-circuit hot water device 9, a high-pressure pump 10, and a control unit 11. The hot water tank 6 includes a pipe 12 directly connected to a water source and a first water heating device 9.
Ball tap 14 by pipe 13 through the hot water circuit
Water is supplied through the circulating pump 15 and connected to the second hot water circuit of the hot water device 9 through a circulation pipe 17 having a circulation pump 16, and stores hot water heated to an appropriate temperature by the hot water device 9. . The detergent tank 7 can be supplied with water from a pipe 13 via an on-off valve 18 and stores the detergent liquid to be used for dilution. The cold water tank 8 is supplied with water from the pipe 12 via a ball tap 19.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a hot water pipe which communicates with the hot water tank 6 and has an electromagnetic valve 21 and is connected to the suction side of the high-pressure pump 10. Reference numeral 22 denotes a detergent pipe communicating with the detergent tank 7, which is provided with a solenoid valve 23 and a flow control valve 24,
5 is connected to the hot water pipe 20. 26 is a chilled water pipe communicating with the chilled water tank 8 and provided with an electromagnetic valve 27 and connected to the suction side of the high-pressure pump 10. Therefore, if the high pressure pump 10 is driven by appropriately forming flow paths by the respective solenoid valves 21, 23 and 27, hot water, cold water or detergent water is selectively pumped to the discharge pipes 3 ₁ 3 _2. can be released from the washing gun 5 _1, 5 ₂ ... terminal.

The hot water pipe 20, the detergent pipe 22 and the cold water pipe 26 are connected to the terminal devices 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ connected to the main body 1.
Is branched according to the number of ..., so that the high pressure pump 10 and solenoid valve 21, 23, 27 is also provided the same number and the terminal device 2 _1, 2 ₂ .... On the upstream side before the hot water pipe 20, the detergent pipe 22 and the cold water pipe 26 are branched, manual on-off valves 28, 29, and 30 are provided, respectively. Maintenance and repair of pipeline equipment can be performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. The control unit 11 mainly includes a control board 11a and a relay board 11b. The control board 11a includes a microcomputer and outputs a control signal in accordance with a program based on a car wash request transmitted from the terminal via the cable 4. The relay board 11b uses the control signal to control the pump 10, the solenoid valves 21, 23,. An energizing operation such as 27 is performed. In addition, the control board 11a includes a data memory DM for storing sales data such as the number of times of car washing executed at each terminal and a deposit amount, and a calendar clock CC for detecting date and time. Data is counted and stored according to date and time. Reference numeral 31 denotes a group of various sensors provided in each part of the main body device 1, and detects a shortage of water, running out of detergent, malfunction of the pump, and the like.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a management device connectable to the control unit 11 via a telephone line 33, and reference numerals 34 and 34 denote modems. The management device 32 is installed in an office or the like of a car wash owner,
The personal computer is used as hardware, and the sales data stored in the data memory DM is transferred from the control board 11a and counted. The data can be collected and managed collectively from a plurality of car wash areas of the same business. 3
Reference numeral 5 denotes a notification unit that is activated when a notification of an abnormality occurrence such as a shortage of water, running out of detergent, or malfunction of the pump is received from the control unit 11. It is a card reader. The result data read by the card reader 36 is
It is stored and accumulated in the management device 32, and is used for various management data in addition to collation with the collected amount.

Each of the terminal devices 2 ₁ , 2 _2, ... Has a terminal control board 41 and an operation panel 4 as shown in FIG.
2. Locking device 43, door switch 44, detection switch 45
Is provided. The terminal control board 41 includes a microcomputer and includes a control board 11a via a cable 4.
When a car wash fee is entered on the operation panel 42 and a car wash is input, a car wash request signal is output to the control board 11a. Further, the terminal control board includes a data memory dm for counting the number of times of car washing executed by the terminal and the received car washing fee and storing the counted result as actual data.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower part of the operation panel 42 on the front side of the terminal device 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ ... Is covered by a door 46 provided with a locking device 43. Is detected. The locking device 43 is fixed to the main body side of each terminal device.
Is locked in a closed state, and when the provided solenoid is energized, a hook (not shown) is pulled in to open the door 46. Further, the locking device 43 includes a detection switch 43a for detecting that the hook is projected to a predetermined locking position. Inside the door 46, a coin container 47 for receiving coins inserted as a car wash fee is provided.
Numeral 7 is locked in a state housed in the housing part, and the housing part is provided with a detection switch 45 for detecting that the container 47 is unlocked and taken out. Reference numeral 48 denotes a stand of the terminal device. In a car wash where the rear surface is a wall, the stand may be mounted on a wall without using the stand 48.

The operation panel 42 includes a car wash fee receiving unit 5.
0, a car wash input section 51 and a car wash display section 52. The car wash fee receiving unit 50 includes a coin device 53 having a coin insertion slot 53a, a return button 53b, and a coin return port 53c, and a card reader / writer 54 having a card insertion slot 54a and a card return button 54b.
We accept coins or prepaid cards as a car wash fee.

The car wash input section 51 has a car wash course selection key 55, a start key 56 and a stop key 57. After inserting a coin or a card, the user can select a desired car wash course set to A to F with the select key 55 and press the start key 56 to start the car wash, and to temporarily stop the car wash, the stop key 57 To stop the car, and then press the start key 56 again to restart the car wash. Reference numeral 55a denotes a display lamp for lighting and displaying a car wash course executable for the amount of money or the number of cards received by the fee receiving unit 50.

The car wash display unit 52 includes a numerical display 58 for displaying the amount of money or the number of cards received by the fee reception unit 50 and the remaining time of the car wash course being executed. Among them, there are a process display lamp 59 for lighting and displaying the process being executed, and a status display lamp 60 for lighting and displaying a status to be notified to the customer such as "temporary stop", "operation stop", and "out of detergent".

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts for explaining the program of the terminal control board 41. The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4A, the normal terminal device 2 is in a state of waiting for insertion of a coin into the coin device 53 or insertion of a card into the card reader / writer 54 (1) (2). When coin insertion is detected in step (1), a routine of "normal car washing" is executed (3), and a car washing operation according to the inserted amount becomes possible. When the card insertion is detected in step (2), it is determined whether the inserted card is a general card used by the customer or a specific card for the owner based on the code recorded on the card (4). If it is recognized, the process proceeds to the "normal car wash" routine, and the car can be washed according to the number of remaining points recorded on the card. If it is determined in step (4) that the card is a specific card for the owner, a routine of "owner car wash" is executed (5), so that the car can be washed free of charge and management work such as totaling of charges can be performed.

When car washing is executed in the "normal car washing" routine, the number of car washings and the fee thereof are added to the data memory DM on the control board 11a side according to the date, terminal, car washing course, and the like. The number of car washes and the fee are also added to the data memory dm in 41. Sales data stored in the data memory DM is a daily total according to the date,
The data is aggregated in units such as monthly total and annual total and used as management information of the car wash. The actual data stored in one data memory dm is collected to give the number of times of car washing and the deposit amount after the reset following the previous charge collection. Used as data for matching with charges.

FIG. 4B shows a routine of the "owner car wash". When the card inserted into the card reader / writer 54 is confirmed to be a specific card for the owner, all the display lamps 55a are turned on, and a state in which car washing is unconditionally accepted without requiring a car washing fee (11). Here, the owner or the management worker can freely operate the car wash device and use it to wash a dirty car wash space.
Car wash performed in this “owner car wash” routine is not counted in the data memory dm, and is also added to the data memory DM as an owner car wash execution count in an area different from the sales data. Will be treated.

When the stop key 57 is pressed in the car wash input section in a state where the car wash is not being executed, a password input mode is set (12).
Is input and the stop key 47 is pressed again, the code of the predetermined digit input immediately before the stop key 47 is pressed is collated with the code pre-recorded in the data memory DM to confirm the coincidence. (1
3), the power is supplied to the locking device 43 to unlock it, and the door 46 can be opened and closed (14). Thereafter, when it is detected that the door 46 is opened by the door switch 44 (15), the mode is set to the fee collection mode, and the result data stored in the data memory dm is displayed on the numerical value display 58 (16). First, the display 58 shows the amount of coins inserted into the coin device 53 since the last charge collection (100 yen unit).
Is displayed, and when any one of the keys A to F is pressed with the car wash course selection key 55, the number of executions of the corresponding course is displayed for a predetermined time. The charge collection mode is the door 46
Is released by being closed, and the vehicle can be returned to a state where it can be washed.

In the fee collection mode, when the detection switch 45 detects that the coin container 47 has been unlocked and taken out of the accommodating portion, it is determined that the fee has been collected (17).
The result data stored in the data memory dm is transcribed to a predetermined memory area of the specific card inserted into the card reader / writer 54 (18), and thereafter, the contents of the data memory dm are cleared and each counter is reset (19). ). Note that prepaid cards that are normally used have a limited memory capacity, and if there are many terminals in the car wash, there is a need to store the actual data for the number of terminals on one specific card. The data transcribed in the step (18) may be limited only to the amount of money deposited into the coin device 53.

When the management work such as the collection of the fee and the cleaning of the car wash space is completed, the operator presses the card return button 54b of the card reader / writer 54, removes the specific card, and returns to a state in which the car can be washed for a normal fee. . When the return button 54b is pressed (20), the specific card inserted from the card reader / writer 54 is ejected (21), and the display lamp 55a is turned off to return to the normal pay car wash mode. The energization is stopped to return to the locked state (22). Finally, it is confirmed that the door 46 is securely closed and locked by the detection switch 43a and the door switch 44 (23), and if the door 46 is open or not locked, it is canceled until it is cleared. A warning sound is issued from an alarm device (not shown) to call attention
(twenty four). When the “owner car wash” routine is completed in this way, the flow returns to the flow of FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, the door 46 can be unlocked by using the specific card for the owner, and the actual data such as the inserted car wash fee or the number of executed car washes is stored in the specific card. Can be transcribed.
The transcribed performance data can be read by the card reader 36, downloaded to the management device 32, used for collation with the collected car wash fee, or accumulated and used as management data. In addition, when managing a car wash area using a management worker in addition to the owner, by comparing the reported collection amount with the actual data recorded on the specific card, fraudulent acts by the worker, etc. Can be used to monitor.

It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to a device in which the main body and the terminal are separated from each other as in the embodiment, and to a device in which each device functions alone without any trouble. The present invention can be similarly applied to a gate-type car washer or the like that automatically operates in the above manner.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the door can be unlocked using the specific card for the owner.
The number of keys required for management work such as fee collection can be greatly reduced, and management becomes easy. In addition, since actual data such as the amount of car washing charged or the number of car washings executed can be transferred to a specific card, it can be compared with the data posted after collecting the fee, or the data read from the card can be used as it is for various management data etc. In addition, the utilization of the performance data can be easily promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external explanatory view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body device 2 ₁ 2 ₂ Terminal device 41 Terminal control board which functions as a counting means and a control means 42 Operation panel 43 Locking device as locking means 46 Door 47 Coin container 51 Car wash input unit 53 Coin device as charge receiving means 54 Card reader

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-263155 (JP, A) JP-A-2-293239 (JP, A) JP-A-1-266046 (JP, A) JP-A-2-99451 (JP) JP-A-2-293237 (JP, A) JP-A-2-293238 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60S 3/00-3/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A car washing apparatus of a type having a charge receiving means and performing a car washing operation when a car washing charge is input, wherein a door which is opened and closed when the inserted car wash charge is collected, and the door is normally kept in a closed state. Locking means, a card reader for accepting insertion of a card in place of a car wash fee, means for determining whether the card inserted into the card reader is a specific card owned by the owner, and determining the specific card by the determining means Means for controlling the locking means to be unlocked on condition that the locking is performed. 2. A car washing apparatus of a type comprising a fee receiving means and performing a car washing operation by inputting a car washing fee, wherein a means for counting actual data such as an inserted car washing fee or the number of executed car washes, A card reader / writer that accepts the insertion of a card, means for determining whether or not the card inserted into the card reader is a specific card owned by the owner, and the counting on condition that the determination means determines that the card is a specific card. Means for transferring the result data given by the means to a specific card and resetting the counting means.